Brooklyn Pita Finally Open (Park Slope)
301 7th Ave, between 7th & 8th.
They put the shawarma sign up in February or March, and every time I passed by I wondered when the hell they'd open. I love lamb shawarma and hoped that would be on the menu. Well, on the way to Prospect Park bandshell last night I passed by and they were open (Thursday was opening day), so I gave them a try and was extremely satisfied.
The owners are Russian-Israeli, and very friendly and trying to please. It's most suited to takeout, but there's a counter with stools. They do indeed have real lamb shawarma, as well as chicken shawarma, kebabs (including lulya), falafel, etc.
Meat sandwiches are available on pita ($7) or $9 for wrap or baguette (I assume larger), humus on the sandwich included. It seems steep, but all sandwiches come with a nice size container for their excellent salad bar which had a nice choice--eggplant salad, grilled eggplant, marinated carrots, beets, cucumber salad, several kinds of cabbage salad, and a few other things. That size container of salad bar a la carte goes for $3.50, and a large salad bar is $5.50--I can see myself doing salad bar takeout regularly, the eggplant and carrots were so good. Meat platters with salad bar + fries or rice are generally $11.50.
The lamb shawarma was very good, but a bit dry and chopped finer than I prefer. It was almost finished, so that might have had something to do with it. They have tahini & hot sauces out, but also this wonderful mango sauce that one of the guys pointed out--it tasted like a wet version of Indian mango pickle and went great on the lamb.
This is a great addition to the neighborhood.
Peter Cherches
Jul 28, 2007 09:37AM
will definitely check it out--i had been wondering too! thanks for the heads up!
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I tried the lamb shish kebab last night. Disappointing, though they do give generous servings of meat in the sandwiches. I actually wanted to try the lulya, but they were out. My second lamb shawarma, the other day for lunch, was better than the first time around.
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Wet version of Indian mango pickle = Amba, a staple in most Israeli shawrma places. If they carry the Israeli-brand fruit juices, I highly recommend you wash down your amba-soaked shawrma with it.
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