Pita Lite Shawarma — Restaurant in Toronto

Title: Unpalatable Experience at Pita Lite: Where Flavor and Courtesy are Not on the Menu

Upon entering Pita Lite, it was clear that an unconventional dining experience was on the horizon. However, the anticipation of exotic, tantalizing Middle Eastern cuisine was met with nothing more than a storm of disappointments. It was a symphony of disarray that left a bitter aftertaste, one which no amount of peppermint tea could wash away.

The facade of Pita Lite, located in a bustling city center, was the only alluring aspect of this restaurant. Inside, the casual indifference to cleanliness was all too apparent. The interior bore witness to what can only be described as a monstrous combination of the remnants of unattended spills, ignored trash, and a disturbing abundance of unkempt tables. This fastidious lack of attention to sanitation set the stage for a dining experience that was as unsatisfactory as it was concerning.

As customers, we seek a particular level of service quality - a smile, a greeting, or simply the fundamental basics of politeness. However, the staff at Pita Lite performed a somber ballet of disrespect and discourtesy. The wait staff seemed more focused on gossip and personal chatter than on their responsibilities. Their inattentiveness was only matched by their discourtesy. Requests were met with sighs of exasperation, orders were delivered with a clatter rather than a smile, and the absence of gratitude for patronage was all too noticeable.

The food served was a tragic caricature of Middle Eastern cuisine. The hummus, a dish so central to the region's gastronomy, had the texture and taste of a poorly made, store-bought attempt. The falafel was both undercooked and over-spiced, and the pita bread tasted no better than cardboard warmed over a few times. The 'Shawarma Platter,' an enticing name on the menu, was a melancholic assembly of overcooked meat and soggy vegetables that seemed as though they had taken a long journey through time and temperature zones. Every dish that arrived at the table was a testament to culinary disaster.

And then there was the management. The owner, Davood, and his wife displayed an astonishing lack of respect for their clientele. Their responses to customer complaints were dismissive, verging on confrontational. When the concerns about cleanliness, quality of food, and the behavior of the staff were raised, they responded with a torrent of excuses and accusations rather than acknowledging the issues and promising improvement.

Overall, Pita Lite feels like an exercise in how not to run a restaurant. The combination of a dirty dining environment, rude staff, subpar food, and unapologetic management creates an atmosphere that is not only unwelcoming but downright disagreeable. This establishment is a stark contrast to the rich, flavorful traditions of Middle Eastern cuisine and hospitality that it purports to represent.

In short, if you're seeking a culinary experience that honors the tastes and traditions of Middle Eastern cuisine, save your taste buds, your patience, and your hard-earned money, and steer clear of Pita Lite. There are undoubtedly numerous establishments that offer a far superior and respectful dining experience. Avoid this gastronomic minefield...

The 3 stars can be debatable, The food was great however only because I had to heat (Not reheat) it when I got back home. I noted the Shawarma's I purchased were only left under the panini press for around 10 secs and the pitta was not even lukewarm let alone warm. It may benefit this particular branch to invest in another 1 or 2 panini presses so that they dont need to rush the orders. The customer service was okay. Will I be back? Probably...

Updating this review... Today we've had some horrendous downpour so I thought I have uber eats and a local that I have previously faulted on a few bits. I've got to be fair I'm in a fresh mind set and clearly want to order a Shawarma plate and a portion of extra meat with no sauce. What do I get, a standard box of a chicken shawarma, with tons of sauce. Not a large. A separate box with a few bits of salad. So where exactly is the extra meat and where is the egg plant, the pickles, the hummus the extra bits that you normally give when I do come to the branch. Clearly you have either run out of meat or salad. You've really got to fix up your portions and decide whether you give pickles and egg plant to walk in customers and not to uber or vice versa.

How do you differentiate you large and Medium portions of Shawarma salad plates, I have bought both and the large has had less than the medium. Whilst I'm writing this review I'm wondering how you operate?

You have got to address these issues you have great food but you've got to sort out portion sizes and how you put you food together. As a minimum give your patrons what they...

Jan 2023: After the owner replied to my previous feedback, we decided to give the restaurant another chance. Last week, the staff happily served us as per our regular request and customization. However, today they changed their tune, saying that they would have to charge me for any additional topping irrespective of not taking another 15 toppings. When I reminded them that the owner had said it wouldn't be a problem, they responded by saying that the owner's statement was only meant to improve the restaurant's image but policy remains same and that they would be fired if they didn't charge me. At the same time, a family friend who introduced me to the restaurant three years ago came to order and was disappointed by the staff response. I understand that this is a policy of owner but then boss don't post responses which u don't mean to honour.

July 2022: My family used to love this place and been a regular customer since last 2 yrs. Almost all staff members know us but now this place sucks. My family prefers only 4-5 toppings among their 20+ options and we always ask to double up the 4-5 toppings that we like. Now they started charging even for 1 extra spoon of hot sauce despite me not taking 15 other toppings. Staff says that the owner will fire them if they don't charge. So in this case, I asked them to discount the price for toppings i am not taking and now no answer. They lost a loyal customer today. It's good we will explore other...