Pita! Pita!

With Pita! Pita! being one of my favorite restaurants a few years back while it was still in Old Town Pasadena, I was curious as to how the "new" location on Colorado Boulevard would compare. One day, I dropped by for lunch to check it out.

Changes were obvious right away. This second rendition had a much more casual ambiance than its predecessor and the wait staff was replaced by counter service. None of this phased me because the quality of the food is far more important than the restaurant atmosphere. As for my meal, it consisted of a side of hummus, pita bread as well as my main entree, a spicy chicken dish.

I was fine with the hummus, but not as happy with the fried pita bread. It was a little burnt and also a little hard. Considering that the name of their restaurant is Pita Pita, I would think they would have taken more care in how their namesake is served.

When it came to the spicy chicken dish, which was almost like a stew or soup, I was definitely a much happier camper. The restaurant was generous with their chicken pieces, which I appreciated. The chunks of tomato and onion added additional flavor to the already tasty broth and I liked how that soup had just the right amount of heat and kick.

As for the sides, they were almost expendable. The tabbouleh needed a bit more tartness. I found to the rice to be a little watery and as for the beans, I couldn't quite understand why they were even included on my plate. I kept on wondering where the franks were.

Overall, you can't compare the old vs. the new based on just one meal. I'd say that for the most part, the delicious spicy chicken reminded me why I used to enjoy dining at the old location so much. However, the sad sides that accompanied that chicken makes me want to turn the clock back to tastier times.

In general, I wouldn't go out of my way to have a meal at this Pita! Pita!, but if I were in the neighbornood, I'd be more than happy to try other things on their menu.

To see pics, go to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/la_addict/sets/72157602212294685/

Pita! Pita!
927 E Colorado Blvd # 101
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 356-3099

Zorba Chicken

Looking for a quick lunch while in Pasadena one day, I came across Zorba Chicken and decided to check it out. With a name like Zorba Chicken, of course, I opted to try their chicken that came with pita bread, a garlic sauce, which was more like a paste, hummus and pickled veggies plus I ordered a tabbouleh salad on the side.

I tried the tabbouleh salad first and was a little disappointed. It was lacking a tartness that I normally look for in this type of dish but overall, it tasted fresh and was a nice starter.

Then it came time to try out the chicken. Looking at it, I would have liked a crispier skin plus it looked kind of bland. It was obvious that other than probably a little salt, it lacked spices or a marinade. By the appearance alone, it needed something.

As for the chicken itself, I found it pretty tender and moist and considering that breast meat can lean towards dry, I was happily surprised that this chicken was not tasting like the Sahara desert. However, having a palate that likes big flavors, this chicken was boring.

When I tore pieces of the chicken, put it in my bread and added either the garlic paste, the hummus and/or the tabbouleh, finally, it became more of an enjoyable meal, but man, I had to work hard for it. Who wants to work that hard for a meal? But at least, it was hearty and my hunger pangs were taken care of. Sometimes that's all you can ask for.

Considering that that there are other lunch options in the area, I doubt I'd go back to Zorba Chicken anytime soon, but at least for my meal there, I was fairly content.

To see pics, go to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/la_addict/sets/72157600262722483/

Zorba Chicken
3621 East Foothill Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91102
(626) 351-9200