Pita House Inc — Restaurant in Santa Monica

UPDATE :

I changed my star rating from 3 to 5! My thoughts on the service have completely changed. After I wrote my original review (below) the owner reached out to apologise for my experience. He also stated that he’s going to add the creamy spicy sauce to the menu as a stand-alone option!

We ordered from Pita House again today and I was able to get the sauce (in-store, coming to the online menu soon). Again, the quality of the food was never an issue. It’s alway so consistently delicious. I would strongly urge folks to add the creamy spicy sauce because it’s so great!

Original Review : We absolutely love this place, the food is consistently delicious, my wife and I order frequently (like at least twice a week) from there and we tried pretty much everything on the menu and everything is delicious!

The only thing is yesterday, February 20th, we didn't have a great experience. We placed an order online and we asked for the spicy creamy sauce (that normally comes with the spicy creamy chicken) on the side as we couldn't find it on the menu, and we mentioned that we'll pay for it when we come to pick up the food. I ordered the mixes Kebab, beef shawarma fries and my wife the salmon kebab and wanted the spicy creamy sauce on the side because we love putting that sauce on the latters.

Once I get to the shop to pick up the food, I saw that the woman who was putting the orders together didn't add the spicy creamy sauce in the bag so I asked her to and I mentioned that we couldn't find it on the menu but since usually they give it as a side anyway, it'll be great if she can add it and we pay for it separately.

She said no. That was shocking and disappointing, she said that it's not on the menu, so I told her that we know that that's why we added the note while placing the online order and it's not something that hard or impossible to do, that she could just put the sauce aside and we'll pay for it, she then replied by "I can't type it on the screen to add it as an order so it'll only comes if you order the spicy creamy chicken."

That was very frustrating since it was two of us, and per her solution, she suggested that we order a third entrée JUST for the sauce, why would that seem like a vaiable solution? They already charge 50 cents extra for sauces, she could've charged us for a few of those to adequately cover the spicy creamy sauce.

As I stated from the beginning, we love this place and we would've given 5 stars but this last experience left...

This place offers gluten-free options but at an expensive price tag. I was told that the plates in and of itself are gluten-free. I ordered the lemon chicken. It had some chewy parts and was difficult to cut. The sides were also limited due my gluten allergy. The hummus is gluten-free, but the chips are not. The only alternative option for dipping is cucumbers. I know I am in the minority in saying that I hate cucumbers! The only options are a side salad and to pay up charges for the other sides if you order the plate. The eggplant side had a smoky taste to it. Personally, I was not a fan. So, chose your sides carefully! The rice and quinoa are fried in a fryer with everything else. The fact that they use a shared fryer eliminates ordering a bowl with rice or quinoa as well. Bummer!

I ordered when I got there, and it took over 15 minutes to get my food. There was not a sense of hurriedness in preparing the food. Take heed that it may take some time when you order. It's not really a fast food type of restaurant. The space is also smaller than what the pictures indicate and is in a busy shopping center with homeless people walking by and a semi-dirty parking lot.

That being said, the person working the cash register was nice and understood the gluten allergy, so I am grateful for that! She was kind and honest.

My overall opinion is that the food is WAY overpriced for the quality. My meal was over $22 for one plate. I did not order a drink or dessert. The food weighs heavy in your stomach and is fair. I know that this restaurant gets a lot of great reviews, but I will not be returning due to the taste and quality...

Date of Visit: December 28, 2024, 9 PM

Literally, my family and I have spent thousands of dollars at this place over the years, and tonight? I’m done. The service here is a complete joke. The girl taking the order was so checked out—hands in her pockets, acting like she couldn’t care less. I have a hearing impairment and my hearing aid was broken, so I asked her to look at me so I could read her lips. Instead of showing even the smallest bit of basic courtesy, she got visibly annoyed. Like, seriously?

Then, she goes behind the counter, starts whispering to the cooks, and I knew they were talking about me. It was obvious. But honestly, I couldn’t care less. It was beyond disgusting. I came in to pick up food, not to start a damn telenovela. I’m spending my money here—get it together.

And when my order was ready, she literally handed the bag to me with her back turned! I know, it’s freakin’ sad!

Where is the owner? Where is the manager? If I had employees like this, I’d shoot myself in the head and call it a day.

And don’t even get me started on the food—it’s gone straight downhill over the years. Of course, that’s what happens when the cooks are too busy gossiping like little schoolgirls with the server instead of focusing on their work. The whole place is a joke.

This place is disgusting. I’ve seen reviews about the same terrible service from this girl, and it’s clear management doesn’t care enough to fix anything. You’re getting paid to serve people, not make them feel like crap. I’m done. I’m never coming back, and I won’t spend another cent here. Get your act together or keep losing customers, because this place is...