Why: If you were disappointed to see Jerusalem Cafe close in Battle Ground a few years ago, then you will be among many who are welcoming Pita House into the neighborhood. Owner Fadul Farran, who also owns Old Town Burgers and Breakfast, has brought back the much-loved Greek and Mediterranean cuisine of Jerusalem Cafe to his new restaurant, Pita House.
What I tried: I had the chicken shawarma lunch entree, which is made of seasoned meat slowly roasted and served with house pita bread. I also sampled the tabbouleh salad, house rice and the Mediterranean salad (entrees allow one choice of these three). Entrees come with a set of selected appetizers, which on my visit included house pita, pickled cabbage, potato salad and a somewhat spicy conglomeration that reminded me of salsa or chili. For dessert I had the pistachio baklava.
The appetizers provided a range of sweet, spicy, starchy and tangy goodness to start out, and the house pita bread made a wonderfully fresh accompaniment. My entree arrived just as I was finishing up the appetizer. The chicken was chopped and deliciously tender, seasoned and sprinkled with fresh chopped parsley. I appreciated that there were not any chewy chicken pieces. The tabbouleh had a super fresh presence with a tang of lemon. The house rice is a rice-and-pasta blend that provides a mellow flavor between the rest of the dishes’ elements. Although the Mediterranean salad contained onions, they did not overwhelm the chopped tomatoes and cucumber, which were the most memorable components of the salad.
The housemade baklava was a perfect, sweet ending to my meal – delicate filo pastry filled with sweetened nuts and honey – there’s nothing quite like it!
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Where: 715 W. Main St., Suite 117, Battle Ground.
Contact: 360-666-9017. Pita House also may be found on Facebook for more information.
Health score: Pita House has received a pre-opening inspection, for which a score is not available, and is scheduled for a routine inspection in the near future. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
Atmosphere: Pita House is part of the strip mall in the Wilco shopping center that has been in long need of full occupancy. The windows are painted in a bright mosaic design of white, blue and orange, which makes it stand out from the other storefronts. Inside, the restaurant has a warm, welcoming, comfortable and uncluttered atmosphere. Old-world-style light fixtures provide most of the lighting in addition to natural light from the large windows on the front wall. Seating is available at the counter, at tables and chairs, and at wall benches paired with tables and chairs.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: The Baba Ghanoush sandwich sounded delicious. It is made with roasted eggplant mixed with garlic, natural tahini and lemon, and is topped with olive oil. All sandwiches come stuffed with pickled cabbage, tabbouleh and the Pita House tahini sauce.
The Kofta Kabob, made with a mix of ground lamb and beef, onion and a blend of Middle Eastern spices, sounded intriguing. The kabob is charbroiled and made to order. And, of course, you cannot go wrong with the garlic lemon chicken.
Other observations: The service was outstanding — friendly and polite. I enjoyed the flavorful, authentic cuisine, and I am looking forward to another visit. It was easy to tell from observing other diners that they are happy to have this cuisine back in their neighborhood.
Cost: Lunch entrees cost $8.99 and $9.99. Dinner entrees cost $12 and $13.99. Sandwiches are $5.99 to $7.99. Soup is $4.49 for a cup and $5.99 for a bowl. Salads are $4.99 to $8.99. Dips and plates range from $3.99 to $8.99. You may add a shish kebab or kofta kebab to the veggie mazza platter for $2. Desserts are $2.49. Beverages are $1.99 for soda, $2.99 for lemonade, and $1.99 for Turkish coffee and hot tea with mint.
