By Sandi Masori
SAN DIEGO — The State Route 56 corridor has grown over the past 15 years and now is home to a lot of restaurants that look really interesting. Israeli -owned Pita 22, off Camino Del Sur, is one of these restaurants.
It’s a cute, little fast-casual restaurant that does a brisk lunch hour. Owner Avi Gerassi prides himself on making everything they can in house. That includes all the salads and spreads, the pita and even the challah that they use for the weekend French toast. The menu features Israeli comfort food- shawarma, kabobs, falafel, pita, humus, etcetera.
Many of the meats are halal, though for a slight up-charge you can get kosher shawarma. The restaurant itself is not kosher though. I asked Avi why he featured so much halal meat and he said he wants to be welcoming to everyone, and that it’s about good food, not politics. I wondered if he had gotten any pushback for being Israeli owned or having “Israeli couscous” on the menu (many other restaurants and stores have dropped the word “Israeli” from the dish). He said that he hasn’t seen much though he has gotten some phone calls asking what nationality the restaurant ownership was and then hanging up when they learn it’s Israeli and not Arab owned.
It’s a shame, because the feeling when you walk into the restaurant is very haimish. Manager Jessica makes everyone feel wanted and welcome, though she is careful to credit it to a team effort. I arrived before they opened and she welcomed me in, while letting me know they weren’t ready to take orders yet. This may seem like a small thing, but I’ve always found it irksome when the restaurant makes you wait for them to open outside rather than graciously letting you in. So from the first moment they had won my cautious approval.
But back to what’s most important, the food. As always, I tried a bit of multiple things and brought the rest home for later. I asked Jessica for her recommendations and was led to the shawarma plate that comes with a variety of Israeli salads, with an extra chicken kabob skewer, and a side of the roasted cauliflower.
The portions were generous. I really loved the chicken kabob. It was succulent and juicy, well marinated and tasty. Very enjoyable and something I would go back for. I also really liked their pita- it easily opens to use the full pocket without tearing the pita. It’s not super fluffy but was a nice density. The harissa was also really good, though my Yemeni-Israeli ex-husband felt it was more of a schug than harissa. I’m not knowledgeable enough on the difference between the two to say, so I’ll just say that it was flavorful with just the right amount of heat.
The shawarma on its own was okay. It was a little dry, and I would’ve liked a little more flavor, but when I put it together in the pita with all the salads and everything it was a really good sandwich.
The cauliflower was tender without being squishy. It comes covered in tahini, and I think next time I get it I’ll get the tahini on the side and mix some of the harissa in it before dipping the cauliflower in the sauce. Actually thinking of it that way is making my mouth water, so that’s definitely what I’m going to do.
I was intrigued by some of the menu items that they didn’t have the day I visited, especially the homemade baklava ice cream. I also want to try the weekend brunch menu which has items that are only available on Saturday and Sunday. Yes, you read that right, they’re open on Saturday, as previously noted, the restaurant is not kosher.
I recommend dropping in the next time you’re in the area, both to support a community member and to have a good meal. You can find Pita 22 at 7825 Highlands Village Place. They’re open 6 days a week, from 11:30-8 Tuesday through Friday, 8:30-8 Saturday and Sunday and closed on Monday.
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Sandi Masori is a restaurant and theater reviewer for San Diego Jewish World.