I never yelp. I read but I don't contribute, but this establishment inspired me to become a "Yelper" It's hands down absof*ckinglutely best around. Try the shiahtawook and thank me later... It's cheap, quiet, refillable drinks, cute enough pictures on the wall, but most importantly made by hand, marinates with love, saturated with delicious ......AMAZING food. I live in new York and no shwarma (even the best, though close) as good. Oh and 9" or 12" wrap sizes. And chicken chunks like flavor explosions of goodness. Ohhh and the wraps are warm baked fresh to order I never knew the bread could come close to outshining the meat. Shishtawhaaattt Best ever. Please help me support their amazing presence in state college.
(5)
Lark P.
Delicious food and the owner is friendly.
(4)
Katie B.
Let me preface by saying that my boyfriend and I have eaten here 15-20 times. We love the food. We love the owner. We love half the staff (all the young women are wonderful). The rest of the staff are HORRIBLE. This is especially an issue when the owner is not in that day. If the owner is not there, or if the women are off that day we get 1.) overcharged (and then yelled at for trying to correct being charged incorrectly), 2.) the food is cold IN THE MIDDLE because no one bothered to heat it properly, 3.) our food gets forgotten or ordered wrong (inevitably it is the wrong sandwich or, today, our dessert was forgotten completely), 4.) lack of patience, complete with eye rolling and sighs when any of the above are mentioned, and 5.) the floors are NEVER mopped. I personally think if there is food and dirt ground into the floor tiles, something very wrong is going on. All of these have happened more than one time. Some visits, multiples happen (today was 3, 4, and 5- one employee forgot our food, another was out of commission with what looked like a hangover, and the third, one of the young ladies, was frantically cooking and trying to pick up the pieces). I want this place(s) to succeed badly. Again, the owner is a great guy and the food is by far some of the best in State College. I sincerely wish it was managed better, either with a few lessons in customer service or a few less employees. We always leave disgruntled but with happy stomachs.
(3)
Bunny B.
Yessss! Finally, a NON-Asian/Thai/Sushi/Chinese/Fusion place in town!!! Middle Eastern food has finally made its way to Centre County. Located in the same building complex as Big Bowl Noodle House (and, if I'm not mistaken, in BBNH's old spot), this sit-down & take out place will satisfy your cravings for DIFFERENT food. While we didn't have a chance to try everything on the menu, the things we did try were all flavorful, and are all prepared on site -- as opposed to, say, the Pita Pit with its frozen hockey pucks posing for falafel. Here, the super-friendly owner makes his own falafel, and generally comes across as someone who is very passionate about their food. We had the excellent tabbouleh, the very good fattoush, the slightly salty stuffed grape leaves (the leaves weren't rinsed, giving the dolma an unusual pickled flavor), a fusion-y "spring roll" stuffed with spinach - kind of a riff on spanakopita, I suppose, and the day's special -- roast leg of lamb over biryani rice. Everything else we saw delivered to other tables just made us want to come back. The roast chicken looked & smelled delicious, and I can't wait to try the various sandwiches -- the beef cabana (really, it's a shawarma) is made with local, pastured veal, but you can also get your shwarma fix with marinated chicken breast. Overall, I am STOKED to finally, finally have a food option that doesn't involve chopsticks - and, to top it all off, at student-friendly prices!
(5)
Tyler R.
Had some confusion redeeming the $10 for $20 offer (shouldn't it be $20 for $10?), but a phone call to the owner resolved it and I was glad to meet him, as he was a really affable guy. The $20 for $10 deal (that's what I'm calling it from now on) was fantastic, and the falafel was tremendous. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Mark S.
Looks like a hole in the wall but the food is incredible. Seriously, very friendly workers and very good food. Highly recommend stopping in and mentioning if it's you're first time. They're helpful and happy and the food is just so good.
(5)
Matt B.
I used to like this place until I got very sick from a cabana kabob. After eating 75% of it I realized the meet was not pink but raw. Two and a half weeks later I still have an intestinal infection. Really gross and really dangerous... Had the owner been there I would have said something but the only guy working was busy smoking cigarets and talking to his friends
(1)
Evan K.
My wife and I are new to State College and thought we'd try this place out because of the great reviews. First, their website claims they deliver but when I called for a delivery I was informed it was only takeout. I asked for their address because Yelp and their website had different addresses listed for the place and the guy (who barely understood me) just kept telling me "next to chipotle" because he didn't know what their address was. When I finally found the place (not at the Yelp address, but the website address) I'm pretty sure I was overcharged, but I didn't notice until after I had already left. As for the food, I got the Grenada Sandwich, my wife got the Falafel Sandwich and we shared an order of stuffed grape leaves. Mine was decent but excessive amounts of rice made it pretty bland. The falafel in my wife's sandwich was good, but the sandwich overall was really really dry. The grape leaves were good, but again kind of bland. We've both had better greek food. Maybe the high Yelp rating put this place at an unfair disadvantage because we had such high expectations. All in all, we'll probably try it again at some point to see if we get better service when the owner is there as some others have said.
(2)
Tara A.
Good food, good price, very friendly delivery service both on the phone and in person. Quick too!
(5)
MARK P.
Truly superb Lebanese fare. A real asset to the ethnic cuisine offerings here in State College. The chef/owner (Hitham - hope I spelled it correctly) is enthusiastic about his menu and it reflects in the wonderfully prepared dishes. My personal favorite is the Roast Leg of Lamb Cabana on pita, but I've never had anything at Pita Cabana that didn't leave me smacking my lips! And there's always some surprise goody waiting to be tried such as fresh prickly pears or figs. Hitham's macaroons are incredible. Have the hibiscus iced tea with your meal! Don't miss this diamond in the rough!!!
(5)
Andrew B.
I don't normally write reviews, but this place was AWESOME. Looks a little shady walking in, but don't let that give you second thoughts (trust me). Best meal I had all weekend, ended up going twice, and plan to go again a couple times when I come for Blue White. I recommend the beef cabana, I'm salivating thinking about it, if you guys had a place in NYC, I would eat there everyday!
(5)
Ben H.
Not only is the food always great here.....but the service is equally as great. Have had most of their chicken/beef sandwiches and desserts and have yet to have "an average" meal. The owner and staff are always helpful if you need some ideas when creating your sandwich and haven't led me astray yet. Would be nice if the sitting areas were a little more cozy but that certainly won't deter me from continuing to be a regular here.
(5)
Sang-Ik Terry C.
More people need to find out about this place. Not only is this the only Mediterranean restaurant in town, but the quality of the food (in terms of authenticity & freshness) is top notch under any standard. I think the place can improve in their business professionalism, but the food is great. The owner is a true connoisseur. You can tell he makes food with passion and pride.
(5)
Catherine J.
I walked in here off the street, excited for falafel in State College. The man behind the counter started making my sandwich and then turned toward the deep fryer for several minutes to load in new falafel, while I waited-- instead of finishing my sandwich. When I addressed the situation, another employee told me that they have phone orders too-- the person in the store in front of them was less important. The falafel ended up being tasteless and bland to boot. I wish it had been better - I would go once a week for good falafel.
(2)
Vin N.
I've always been a fan of mediterranean food but this is the first one I've tried in State College, PA. So far everything has been very good. Very different and unique. We definitely need more places like this in state college. I really hope this place will stay in business because I plan on coming back!
(5)
Minna R.
The pitas here are really good. I'm pescatarian, so I really like pita places because they tend to have a lot of delicious non-meat options. I got the hummus pita, my fiance got the felafel pita. They were both toasty and delicious. The felafel was really tasty and was cooked really well! We also got baklava, which I love! The food here was fresh and tasted great! It was way better than pita pit or that grab-and-go pita place right upstairs. While the food was good the atmosphere was.. meh. But I already knew it would be that way since I'd gone to Big Bowl before it moved to the new location. Basically if you're in the mood for a pita this is a great place to stop, but I wouldn't go on a date here. That said it was nice and quite, not crowded, so it might be a good place to get a little hw done while you eat if that's your thing. Great food, I'll just take mine to go!
(4)
K C.
Love the food here. Big fan of the shishtawooks!! Wish it was in a more accessible place and was more of a sit-down environment.
(5)
Matt O.
Great food. We were slightly hesitant walking in, as the place is located in an "off the beaten path" kind of location on E College. I am very glad we gave it a shot. I ordered the chicken cabana, and my wife had the chicken shishtawook. Both were amazing, the chicken was cooked well and it was not cheap or gross like some wrap places. The sauces available, specifically the curried hot sauce, was insanely good. The best part of the meal was by far the homemade baklawa. Up to this point I have only had baklawa that is covered in syrup, giving it an overly sweet flavor. This baklawa has no syrup, but literally melts in your mouth. It was so good my mother-in-law bought 8 pieces to bring home to her family. In the end, three wraps and three pieces of baklawa priced in under $20. Considering our wraps were 9" (which is the small), the value for the amount of food you get is great. This place is definitely worth a try, we will be coming back.
(5)
Ben E.
Went here for sandwiches and felafel. The sandwiches were pretty good, kind of like a Lebeanese chipotle. The felafel was really over cooked and tasted like burnt cooking oil. Owner was definitely not in.
(3)
Charlotte M.
Wonderful food. You will not be disappointed. Service was excellent.
(5)
Vin N.
I've always been a fan of mediterranean food but this is the first one I've tried in State College, PA. So far everything has been very good. Very different and unique. We definitely need more places like this in state college. I really hope this place will stay in business because I plan on coming back!
(5)
Bunny B.
Yessss! Finally, a NON-Asian/Thai/Sushi/Chinese/Fusion place in town!!! Middle Eastern food has finally made its way to Centre County. Located in the same building complex as Big Bowl Noodle House (and, if I'm not mistaken, in BBNH's old spot), this sit-down & take out place will satisfy your cravings for DIFFERENT food. While we didn't have a chance to try everything on the menu, the things we did try were all flavorful, and are all prepared on site -- as opposed to, say, the Pita Pit with its frozen hockey pucks posing for falafel. Here, the super-friendly owner makes his own falafel, and generally comes across as someone who is very passionate about their food. We had the excellent tabbouleh, the very good fattoush, the slightly salty stuffed grape leaves (the leaves weren't rinsed, giving the dolma an unusual pickled flavor), a fusion-y "spring roll" stuffed with spinach - kind of a riff on spanakopita, I suppose, and the day's special -- roast leg of lamb over biryani rice. Everything else we saw delivered to other tables just made us want to come back. The roast chicken looked & smelled delicious, and I can't wait to try the various sandwiches -- the beef cabana (really, it's a shawarma) is made with local, pastured veal, but you can also get your shwarma fix with marinated chicken breast. Overall, I am STOKED to finally, finally have a food option that doesn't involve chopsticks - and, to top it all off, at student-friendly prices!
(5)
Tyler R.
Had some confusion redeeming the $10 for $20 offer (shouldn't it be $20 for $10?), but a phone call to the owner resolved it and I was glad to meet him, as he was a really affable guy. The $20 for $10 deal (that's what I'm calling it from now on) was fantastic, and the falafel was tremendous. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Mark S.
Looks like a hole in the wall but the food is incredible. Seriously, very friendly workers and very good food. Highly recommend stopping in and mentioning if it's you're first time. They're helpful and happy and the food is just so good.
(5)
Charlotte M.
Wonderful food. You will not be disappointed. Service was excellent.
(5)
Em O.
I never yelp. I read but I don't contribute, but this establishment inspired me to become a "Yelper" It's hands down absof*ckinglutely best around. Try the shiahtawook and thank me later... It's cheap, quiet, refillable drinks, cute enough pictures on the wall, but most importantly made by hand, marinates with love, saturated with delicious ......AMAZING food. I live in new York and no shwarma (even the best, though close) as good. Oh and 9" or 12" wrap sizes. And chicken chunks like flavor explosions of goodness. Ohhh and the wraps are warm baked fresh to order I never knew the bread could come close to outshining the meat. Shishtawhaaattt Best ever. Please help me support their amazing presence in state college.
(5)
Lark P.
Delicious food and the owner is friendly.
(4)
Evan K.
My wife and I are new to State College and thought we'd try this place out because of the great reviews. First, their website claims they deliver but when I called for a delivery I was informed it was only takeout. I asked for their address because Yelp and their website had different addresses listed for the place and the guy (who barely understood me) just kept telling me "next to chipotle" because he didn't know what their address was. When I finally found the place (not at the Yelp address, but the website address) I'm pretty sure I was overcharged, but I didn't notice until after I had already left. As for the food, I got the Grenada Sandwich, my wife got the Falafel Sandwich and we shared an order of stuffed grape leaves. Mine was decent but excessive amounts of rice made it pretty bland. The falafel in my wife's sandwich was good, but the sandwich overall was really really dry. The grape leaves were good, but again kind of bland. We've both had better greek food. Maybe the high Yelp rating put this place at an unfair disadvantage because we had such high expectations. All in all, we'll probably try it again at some point to see if we get better service when the owner is there as some others have said.
(2)
Tara A.
Good food, good price, very friendly delivery service both on the phone and in person. Quick too!
(5)
MARK P.
Truly superb Lebanese fare. A real asset to the ethnic cuisine offerings here in State College. The chef/owner (Hitham - hope I spelled it correctly) is enthusiastic about his menu and it reflects in the wonderfully prepared dishes. My personal favorite is the Roast Leg of Lamb Cabana on pita, but I've never had anything at Pita Cabana that didn't leave me smacking my lips! And there's always some surprise goody waiting to be tried such as fresh prickly pears or figs. Hitham's macaroons are incredible. Have the hibiscus iced tea with your meal! Don't miss this diamond in the rough!!!
(5)
Andrew B.
I don't normally write reviews, but this place was AWESOME. Looks a little shady walking in, but don't let that give you second thoughts (trust me). Best meal I had all weekend, ended up going twice, and plan to go again a couple times when I come for Blue White. I recommend the beef cabana, I'm salivating thinking about it, if you guys had a place in NYC, I would eat there everyday!
(5)
Ben H.
Not only is the food always great here.....but the service is equally as great. Have had most of their chicken/beef sandwiches and desserts and have yet to have "an average" meal. The owner and staff are always helpful if you need some ideas when creating your sandwich and haven't led me astray yet. Would be nice if the sitting areas were a little more cozy but that certainly won't deter me from continuing to be a regular here.
(5)
Sang-Ik Terry C.
More people need to find out about this place. Not only is this the only Mediterranean restaurant in town, but the quality of the food (in terms of authenticity & freshness) is top notch under any standard. I think the place can improve in their business professionalism, but the food is great. The owner is a true connoisseur. You can tell he makes food with passion and pride.
(5)
Steven Z.
Usually, the food at the Pita Cabana is very good, fast, and relatively a healthier option than a majority of faster food available in the area. However, they employ most young college kids that clearly have no sense of pride in the place they work. This can be shown by the degraded level of service they provide, the inconsistency in the freshness of food (or even if rice is available for the rice bowls on the menu). I would rate five stars if they improved their employee's motivation.
(4)
D C.
I made a yelp account just to air my grievances with this place. Food was junk, service was junk. Worst part? Everyone behind the counter seems content with it. Microwaved stuffed grape leaves nonchalantly tossed on a plate with smear marks in places where no grape leaves had been laying. Saw them fry up my kebah, which came out warm on the ends and icy in the middle. Yuck. The baklava was probably made long ago and far away. The kebah definitely was (I saw it's frozen, pre-fried stage), and the grape leaves probably were too, given their unnaturally uniform appearance. The people behind the counter were in the midst of discussing how many customers were currently waiting extraordinarily long times for their deliveries. The tables were dirty, too. How this place survives as a business is beyond me.
(1)
Frank S.
The best falafel sandwiches in town! Soooo much better than anything that you can eat a Pita Pit like a block away. Lebanese/Jordanian owner, food tastes like true authentic middle eastern cuisine. The falafel sandwich is my favorite, but the baba ghanoush sandwich is very good as well. Unlike other so-called pita/falafel restaurants, this one uses fresh ingredients and their pita bread is just so dang tasty. Varied toppings selection, handsome portion sizes. Yummy!
(4)
William M.
Excellent shawarma. Great price and generous portions. We lived in the Middle East for two years and know a good shawarma from a bad one.
(5)
Jacob S.
This place is the best. Been going here for awhile now and the owner always recognizes you and says hello/asks you how you are doing. Satay chicken sandwich is too easy.
(5)
Michael S.
I live this place. Food is fresh and delicious. Ask for Nasi Lemak (Malay dish they sometimes serve). Reasonably priced as well
(5)
Lily C.
great food,
(5)
Greg W.
fantastic service and delicious food. loved the home made hot sauce. had the mezza platter and the chicken shish ta wouk.
(5)
J A.
I love their falafels and falafel salads.
(5)
Anna M.
LOVED PITA CABANA! It is the Lebanese chipotle! The owner is amazing and I would come back again and again just to chat with him :) the employees really made the experience more than what is typically expected from a fast food type restaurant! They were great about giving me exactly what I asked for even though I made a couple substitutions! Everything is made 100% homemade and it was so delicious!
(5)
Ashleigh C.
I have definitely already reviewed this place and my review is now seemingly *gone* which is interesting to me. As an update, this place is still pretty awful. As a person from an area of the country where this kind of food is prevalent, this was really really awful. As a person with a Lebanese great grandmother, this food is not even edible. I find myself occasionally ordering just because I'm so desperate for this style food but every single time and each bite I'm wondering "why did I order this again?" Why was there KETCHUP SAUCE on my shistawook!?!?!? and for everyone calling this Lebanese Chipotle? no. The closest thing to that is Cava. And Cava is amazing.
(2)
Chris D.
I'm always impressed by how fresh everything tastes here. This might be one of the most underrated restaurants in State College. Perfect for lunch. Everything on the menu is fantastic.
(5)
Tony D.
I got one of their recommended chicken rice bowls, which was one of the best Mediterranean dishes I've ever had. The large size was very big, and all those spices, fresh vegetables, rice, and hummus mixed very well with the grilled chicken. The combined texture and taste made each bite full of flavor. The complimentary tea, which tasted kind of herbal and fruity, was the perfect drink to go with the meal as well.
(5)
M C.
The food here is DELICIOUS!!! My friend and I were originally planning on going to Chipotle but since the lines were so long, we ended up trying Pita Cabana instead. Chipotle is good, but this "Lebanese Chipotle" is AMAZING. It's basically the same thing -- you can choose a pita wrap or a rice bowl and it's made-to-order fillings. I had no idea what I put in my pita wrap (which had a cute design -- it had a pocket for all the fillings to go into so it wouldn't fall all over the place) -- I put a bunch of random ingredients: chicken, lettuce, beans, plus other stuff and some kind of garlic sauce that one of the owners recommended when they realized I didn't know what to order. Anyway, it was one of the best foods I've eaten at State College (plus it's relatively inexpensive) I'm definitely going to eat here again!
(5)
Gina C.
I am obsessed with this place!!! Hitham and Braden introduced me to this "Lebanese chipotle" and it's now one of my favorite places. The hummus is to die for, and the owner and employees couldn't be more helpful!
(5)
Justin R.
Ordered take out and food was good overall, but being from Cali, we have lots of Mediterranean restaurants so I may be spoiled. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma dinner plate. Overall plate was good, but chicken was a little tough. Ordered hummus as a side with my dinner and was disappointed didn't receive any pita bread which is pretty standard for most Mediterranean spots....
(3)
Ben A.
Great restaurant. I always go here while my girlfriend gets her Chipotle around the corner.
(5)
Kyle K.
After visiting Pita Cabana for the second time, I feel pretty comfortable reviewing it. I hesitated visiting this place for a long time, even though I live downtown State College, and tend to eat down here often. Something about the look or setup just wasn't appealing to me. What a mistake though... This place has some of the best food I've eaten in town, and that's coming from someone who went through an undergraduate program here, and is now in grad school. I wish I would have visited this place earlier. The food is fresh, well made, and homemade. It also might be the cheapest meal you can find in town... Both times that I've visited, I've gotten the half-chicken, and it's some of the best chicken I've ever had anywhere. Seasoned rice with fresh organic salad, on top of which they put a deep fried half young whole chicken (which is marinated and baked beforehand.) The food is so fresh, all homemade, with great flavor that isn't too intense. The half chicken plate is less than $10. I split it with a friend and it fed us both. This is quite a meal, and really filling food. I thought this place would be really exotic, which is what turned me off about it. Nothing could be further from the truth. This place is just right. My friend also got the salad with lamb chop meat. The meat was braised, and they put the salad together right there from whatever you want on it. They have things like their own hummus, pickled cabbage, baba ghanoush... All are homemade and exceptional. How silly was I for never checking it out before. I plan on going again and trying the many other things they have, but I'm really going to have trouble not ordering the half-chicken again. 5 stars for this place, and I'd easily give them more if I could.
(5)
Ashley B.
Portions were big and service was fast. We also got the groupon, $10 for $20 worth, which was awesome. The big problem was no parking. We are not from the area, we parked on the upper street and walked down, which woulda been ok if we didn't have a little one. I recommend a small pita, the large was too much for one person.
(3)
Francisco T.
The food was great. Authentic Lebanese dishes as reasonable prices!!!
(5)
Tim D.
I love the food here. It's different and is one of the only places in state college that has food that is healthy but also very good. I have gotten multiple items. The rice bowls are awesome and the roasted half or whole chicken is also very good. The baklava and middle eastern juice drinks they sell are really awesome. The free tea is a really nice touch too.
(5)
Nancy C.
We went here after a swim meet at Penn State - I found it because of its high rating on Yelp (which most restaurants in State College lack). It's a cute little place downtown, right next a giant Chipotle. It's similar to Chipotle in that you can create your own meal - you choose from a rice bowl, a pita, or a salad. I like how there's small and large sizes. Do yourself a favor and get a small, because it's deceivingly filling. The small pita is huge, the small salad is more than enough, and the small rice bowl is also guaranteed to fill you up. The rice they use is basmati rice filled simmered with spices and green peas. You pick your base, choose from hummus or baba ganoush, and then pick meats (or you can choose one of their bowls if you don't want to make your own - some of them sounded pretty good). Then you pick various toppings like red cabbage, coleslaw, etc. and finally pick a sauce. They have a variety, from hot sauce to tzatziki. The guys are nice enough to tell you what various things are and to give recommendations. I got a salad base with lamb and stewed beef, red cabbage slaw, tzatziki, baba ganoush, and beans. Definitely couldn't even finish it all. I should've added some rice though - it would've made it taste better. Be sure to try their free sweet tea and take a free fruit to go! Overall, a solid, interesting meal. Only reason that it didn't get more stars was because its falafel wasn't too great and the meats were slightly dry. The tzatziki wasn't as flavorful as I would've liked either, but if you're looking for a decent place to eat in State College that won't break the bank and is reasonably healthy, this is the place to go.
(3)
Mar T.
Tried this place tonight for the first time and loved it! I had their large bowl and was really impressed by the quality and freshness of the ingredients. You can choose your meat and add from a wide assortment of vegetables and sauces. Will definitely go back!
(5)
Korissa D.
Food is fresh and awesome, service is great, owner is extremely polite and genuinely appreciates their customers, plus free dessert (baklava) on your first visit! What's not to love?!
(4)
Sebrina D.
Ate at Pita Cabana for lunch today. Had the chicken pita. It was delicious as always. I also appreciate the consistently friendly service.
(5)
Siddharth G.
Good food, but the Pita bread comes apart because it's stuffed to the core. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be that way, but the food, price, and delivery are excellent. One of the few good places in State College.
(4)
Kristin N.
The worst delivery and service I've ever experienced. We ordered delivery over and hour and a half ago and when called to check the status (after one hour) the guy on the phone was a jerk. Never ever getting food from them again. Absolutely awful.
(1)
Joe M.
I also had to walk out. Empty yet three members of staff were unable or unwilling to take an order.
(1)
Andres L.
I had the fried half chicken with rice and veggies. it was ok but I regret getting it because I realized there were better options as I was waiting for it. this review will be updated
(2)
Scott C.
Awesome food and huge portions. Don't remember exactly what I ordered but I do not think you could go weong with anything. Definetly would eat here again.
(5)
Heidi W.
I really want to love this place after venturing in Pita Cabana after the exhausted line in neighboring Chipotle. Of course, I have no expectations of Pita Cabana being NY's The Halal Guys. But I do wish an employee (namely a tall blonde-ish male) would have some respect for its customers. I get that working behind counters all day might be tiring. But being professional is at least a bare minimum. Scolding at customers when they ask you for help? I find Chipotle employees to have more manners than a Pita Cabana employee. Food wise - the temperature of rice and appetizers were merely warm 4/5 times I've been here. If I wanted cold food, I would have eaten ice cream. Do I recommend this place? No. Please make a turn for Big Bowl, Primati Bro's, or Penn Hebab. Pita Cabana is disgusting.
(1)
Kim H.
How can you not love this place? Free desert your first trip, there was complimentary mint tea from the owners family's farm in Jordan when I went, and they're soooo nice there! The owner really takes pride in the food and rightfully so... It's delicious! The 10 for 20 deal on here is awesome and I totally reccomend it. The food is delicious and very affordable. There are lots of vegan options and outdoor seating. One of my favorite places in state college! Try their spinach egg rolls and their falafel and hummus :)
(5)
H C.
This place is awesome! Amazing food, and unlike the neighboring chipotle, no line (although all those people are missing out!) This place is one of the few places in State College that serves unique food, and also is vegetarian friendly (you can get everything with flafels, which even meat eaters will enjoy (although they have a good selection of meat for the more carnivorous eaters as well).
(5)
Whitney P.
I work two blocks away, so I eat here often. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. I usually pick up lunch and bring it back to the office, or pick up dinner and take it home. (I appreciate that the take away containers aren't hard plastic or styrofoam.) I also like the variety of options you can put in your meal -- makes it colorful, flavorful, and full of texture. If you don't dig meat, there are veggie options. The stuffed grape leaves are a favorite.
(5)
Jennifer V.
Boo! The service is terrible & the food is not good. They basically have grilled chicken sitting dry & throw it in a owl of warm rice. Not much flavor at all... Thumbs down
(1)
Eric H.
If the lines for Chipotle are too long, give the chicken gyros here. Free tea with sugar cubes are great too
(5)
Alex P.
Great food. I go for the sandwiches usually but their other stuff is good as well. The complimentary tea is great and they also make a hibiscus rose water tea there that is totally worth it. Look for that in the refrigerator near the register. As for sandwiches: the topping choices can be a bit confusing sometimes but don't be afraid to ask the employees. They're very helpful and will explain anything they have there.
(5)
Tyshawn T.
I had a lamb gyro. It sucked. No flavor. Tzitziki Sauce was terrible. The vuy who made the food for me was rude and not knowledgable about the food.
(1)
Tony L.
Okay I am slowly warming up to this place. However I find the wraps always being too saucy and a little bit on the watery side. Sometimes the toppings are on the salty side. Personally I might say the place is average, and I am only talking about the falafel, which is like the only vegetarian choice beside paying too much for just a salad. However repeatedly different people I go with come out disappointed with the flavor and texture of the meats.
(2)
Jack K.
There was a deal at this restaurant and I was in town for work so I thought i try it out! Its not one of my favorite place, its an average place that I would maybe go if i were to maybe get another deal but for the regular price I probably would not go there under my full attention. The ambiance of the restaurant was alright, its in a college town so I did not expect too much which was a good mindset since I would have been disappointed by it. The food was not all that spectacular, it was more towards the average side. It was an alright place I would say.
(3)
R M.
The falafel sandwich I had was delicious! They made their falafel in-house; it was super moist and flavorful and had a bit of a kick to it. The sandwich is grilled pita with falafel, hummus, tahini sauce, salsa, french fries, and yogurt sauce. It also typically comes with pickles inside but they were out of pickles when I came. I appreciated that it was reasonably priced for the large portion size. It tasted very authentic, almost as good as some of the falafel sandwiches I had in Israel. They also offer complimentary hot tea! Only complaint is the garlicky aftertaste I had for a while after I finished my meal.
(4)
Ashlyn C.
Came here for lunch. Vegetarian and meat options were available. I ordered a vegetarian platter that came with an okra stew and some type of green leaf vegetable stew served over rice. There were a bunch of fresh vegetables, sauces and feta cheese that can be added on top (olives, lettuce, peppers, tahini, tabouli, etc.) . The stews tasted very good but the rice was very oily and salty. My girlfriend had a baba ganoush sandwich with the same options for toppings. French fries were served on the sandwich that were mushy and were not fresh. I personally enjoyed my food. The person behind the counter seemed to rush our order a bit but not that big of a deal.
(3)
Sean M.
Being from Houston, which has a Mediterranean restaurant in literally every direction, I was thrilled to find this place. Unlike most places I've been to out here, the staff at Pita Cabana is always super friendly if first seemingly a bit reserved. The food is pretty fresh from the meat to the veggies and the sauces. My regular has become the large sandwich with half-sujuk (beef sausage) and half-shishtawook (chicken) with their hummus, salsa, onions, fries, parsley, and then, pro-move, garlic AND tzatziki sauce. This is a lunch and week-night dinner go-to for my friends and I, especially when we're studying, because it's fast, cheap, and tasty. Oh, and don't forget your reward card!
(3)
Hani S.
Good food, bad service. Man behind the counter was rude and not very helpful. I told him I have a big order and was annoyed by it. Only 3 stars till someone better stands behind he counter.
(3)
Phil K.
Pretty pricey for food that didn't impress. No staff was there when we showed up and we had to wait a bit. Even with a discount it was still a lot of money. Can't speak for the pitas but definitely avoid their meals.
(2)
Atina K.
Very good and fresh food. Suitable for vegetarians. I personally really like their falafels, and I think that hummus they serve is mad from scratch: very flavorful and delicious!!! :)
(5)
Yaima R.
Pretty good choice for lunch, tasty platters and very inexpensive if you get the the $10 for $20 coupons they seem to offer most of the time.
(3)
Sandy M.
I agree that the place just doesn't invite the passerby (though it looks clean). The food definitely lived up to it's billing on this site. The hummus and pita was fresh and tasty, the soup was spicy and delicious, our sandwiches were generously full pitas and you can choose among many condiments and seasonings to the sandwich. My favorite was the rice pudding. I was a little hesitant when it arrived - it looked slightly grey - but it was a remarkable combination of flavors that was delicious. The server initially told me they were out of soup. When he found out he was mistaken, he brought a cup of soup out to me, no charge. I would definitely go back!
(5)
S D.
Ewww .... not so much/. :/
(1)
Patrick R.
Great food in store. Unfortunately, I live far from downtown and had to place a delivery order. After spending close to $30 on two sandwiches & falafel and waiting 45 minutes, we opened our meals to find.....hair! These were short curly black hairs embedded in our falafel and our sandwiches. Safe to say, the quality control at Pita Cabana is low. It is unfortunate because the food is good, but I am not a big fan of hair in my food. My suggestion: anyone making food at Pita Cabana should considering wearing a hair net.
(2)
Nan P.
This is a new favorite spot. Yes, you order at the counter, but they are so helpful. We had a variety & it was incredible. Best ever Hummus, a variety of Egg Rolls, the satay chicken & the beef Pitas are terrific. And the free tea is a must.
(5)
Liz E.
Fabulous food, great service, sweet prices!
(5)
Lola I.
My friend and I ordered carryout from here. I really enjoy Mediterranean food and I was not disappointed that I came here. The food was quite good. We had the roasted chicken (a little dry), the beef kabob, stuffed grape leaves (yum!) and a greek salad. The biggest hurdle was getting through a charade of ordering and using my $10 for $20 coupon with the newbie cashier/server. It ended up requiring a phone call to the owner who seemed really nice.
(4)
Alex R.
Awesome food. Cheap. KIBBEH. HANDMADE FALAFEL. THE TEA. OH GOD. THE TEA.
(4)
Anya P.
Really good food. The guy who owns the place is super awesome. First time I went there I had a coupon and he took 20% off my bill and told me to use the coupon next time. I secretly wish it was more of a sit down place, though. Right now with the state of the place it's really just takeout.
(5)
Minna R.
The pitas here are really good. I'm pescatarian, so I really like pita places because they tend to have a lot of delicious non-meat options. I got the hummus pita, my fiance got the felafel pita. They were both toasty and delicious. The felafel was really tasty and was cooked really well! We also got baklava, which I love! The food here was fresh and tasted great! It was way better than pita pit or that grab-and-go pita place right upstairs. While the food was good the atmosphere was.. meh. But I already knew it would be that way since I'd gone to Big Bowl before it moved to the new location. Basically if you're in the mood for a pita this is a great place to stop, but I wouldn't go on a date here. That said it was nice and quite, not crowded, so it might be a good place to get a little hw done while you eat if that's your thing. Great food, I'll just take mine to go!
(4)
K C.
Love the food here. Big fan of the shishtawooks!! Wish it was in a more accessible place and was more of a sit-down environment.
(5)
Matt B.
I used to like this place until I got very sick from a cabana kabob. After eating 75% of it I realized the meet was not pink but raw. Two and a half weeks later I still have an intestinal infection. Really gross and really dangerous... Had the owner been there I would have said something but the only guy working was busy smoking cigarets and talking to his friends
(1)
Matt O.
Great food. We were slightly hesitant walking in, as the place is located in an "off the beaten path" kind of location on E College. I am very glad we gave it a shot. I ordered the chicken cabana, and my wife had the chicken shishtawook. Both were amazing, the chicken was cooked well and it was not cheap or gross like some wrap places. The sauces available, specifically the curried hot sauce, was insanely good. The best part of the meal was by far the homemade baklawa. Up to this point I have only had baklawa that is covered in syrup, giving it an overly sweet flavor. This baklawa has no syrup, but literally melts in your mouth. It was so good my mother-in-law bought 8 pieces to bring home to her family. In the end, three wraps and three pieces of baklawa priced in under $20. Considering our wraps were 9" (which is the small), the value for the amount of food you get is great. This place is definitely worth a try, we will be coming back.
(5)
Ben E.
Went here for sandwiches and felafel. The sandwiches were pretty good, kind of like a Lebeanese chipotle. The felafel was really over cooked and tasted like burnt cooking oil. Owner was definitely not in.
(3)
Katie B.
Let me preface by saying that my boyfriend and I have eaten here 15-20 times. We love the food. We love the owner. We love half the staff (all the young women are wonderful). The rest of the staff are HORRIBLE. This is especially an issue when the owner is not in that day. If the owner is not there, or if the women are off that day we get 1.) overcharged (and then yelled at for trying to correct being charged incorrectly), 2.) the food is cold IN THE MIDDLE because no one bothered to heat it properly, 3.) our food gets forgotten or ordered wrong (inevitably it is the wrong sandwich or, today, our dessert was forgotten completely), 4.) lack of patience, complete with eye rolling and sighs when any of the above are mentioned, and 5.) the floors are NEVER mopped. I personally think if there is food and dirt ground into the floor tiles, something very wrong is going on. All of these have happened more than one time. Some visits, multiples happen (today was 3, 4, and 5- one employee forgot our food, another was out of commission with what looked like a hangover, and the third, one of the young ladies, was frantically cooking and trying to pick up the pieces). I want this place(s) to succeed badly. Again, the owner is a great guy and the food is by far some of the best in State College. I sincerely wish it was managed better, either with a few lessons in customer service or a few less employees. We always leave disgruntled but with happy stomachs.
(3)
Catherine J.
I walked in here off the street, excited for falafel in State College. The man behind the counter started making my sandwich and then turned toward the deep fryer for several minutes to load in new falafel, while I waited-- instead of finishing my sandwich. When I addressed the situation, another employee told me that they have phone orders too-- the person in the store in front of them was less important. The falafel ended up being tasteless and bland to boot. I wish it had been better - I would go once a week for good falafel.
(2)
Anna M.
LOVED PITA CABANA! It is the Lebanese chipotle! The owner is amazing and I would come back again and again just to chat with him :) the employees really made the experience more than what is typically expected from a fast food type restaurant! They were great about giving me exactly what I asked for even though I made a couple substitutions! Everything is made 100% homemade and it was so delicious!
(5)
Ashleigh C.
I have definitely already reviewed this place and my review is now seemingly *gone* which is interesting to me. As an update, this place is still pretty awful. As a person from an area of the country where this kind of food is prevalent, this was really really awful. As a person with a Lebanese great grandmother, this food is not even edible. I find myself occasionally ordering just because I'm so desperate for this style food but every single time and each bite I'm wondering "why did I order this again?" Why was there KETCHUP SAUCE on my shistawook!?!?!? and for everyone calling this Lebanese Chipotle? no. The closest thing to that is Cava. And Cava is amazing.
(2)
Chris D.
I'm always impressed by how fresh everything tastes here. This might be one of the most underrated restaurants in State College. Perfect for lunch. Everything on the menu is fantastic.
(5)
Tony D.
I got one of their recommended chicken rice bowls, which was one of the best Mediterranean dishes I've ever had. The large size was very big, and all those spices, fresh vegetables, rice, and hummus mixed very well with the grilled chicken. The combined texture and taste made each bite full of flavor. The complimentary tea, which tasted kind of herbal and fruity, was the perfect drink to go with the meal as well.
(5)
M C.
The food here is DELICIOUS!!! My friend and I were originally planning on going to Chipotle but since the lines were so long, we ended up trying Pita Cabana instead. Chipotle is good, but this "Lebanese Chipotle" is AMAZING. It's basically the same thing -- you can choose a pita wrap or a rice bowl and it's made-to-order fillings. I had no idea what I put in my pita wrap (which had a cute design -- it had a pocket for all the fillings to go into so it wouldn't fall all over the place) -- I put a bunch of random ingredients: chicken, lettuce, beans, plus other stuff and some kind of garlic sauce that one of the owners recommended when they realized I didn't know what to order. Anyway, it was one of the best foods I've eaten at State College (plus it's relatively inexpensive) I'm definitely going to eat here again!
(5)
Gina C.
I am obsessed with this place!!! Hitham and Braden introduced me to this "Lebanese chipotle" and it's now one of my favorite places. The hummus is to die for, and the owner and employees couldn't be more helpful!
(5)
Kyle K.
After visiting Pita Cabana for the second time, I feel pretty comfortable reviewing it. I hesitated visiting this place for a long time, even though I live downtown State College, and tend to eat down here often. Something about the look or setup just wasn't appealing to me. What a mistake though... This place has some of the best food I've eaten in town, and that's coming from someone who went through an undergraduate program here, and is now in grad school. I wish I would have visited this place earlier. The food is fresh, well made, and homemade. It also might be the cheapest meal you can find in town... Both times that I've visited, I've gotten the half-chicken, and it's some of the best chicken I've ever had anywhere. Seasoned rice with fresh organic salad, on top of which they put a deep fried half young whole chicken (which is marinated and baked beforehand.) The food is so fresh, all homemade, with great flavor that isn't too intense. The half chicken plate is less than $10. I split it with a friend and it fed us both. This is quite a meal, and really filling food. I thought this place would be really exotic, which is what turned me off about it. Nothing could be further from the truth. This place is just right. My friend also got the salad with lamb chop meat. The meat was braised, and they put the salad together right there from whatever you want on it. They have things like their own hummus, pickled cabbage, baba ghanoush... All are homemade and exceptional. How silly was I for never checking it out before. I plan on going again and trying the many other things they have, but I'm really going to have trouble not ordering the half-chicken again. 5 stars for this place, and I'd easily give them more if I could.
(5)
Kristin N.
The worst delivery and service I've ever experienced. We ordered delivery over and hour and a half ago and when called to check the status (after one hour) the guy on the phone was a jerk. Never ever getting food from them again. Absolutely awful.
(1)
Ashley B.
Portions were big and service was fast. We also got the groupon, $10 for $20 worth, which was awesome. The big problem was no parking. We are not from the area, we parked on the upper street and walked down, which woulda been ok if we didn't have a little one. I recommend a small pita, the large was too much for one person.
(3)
Francisco T.
The food was great. Authentic Lebanese dishes as reasonable prices!!!
(5)
Tim D.
I love the food here. It's different and is one of the only places in state college that has food that is healthy but also very good. I have gotten multiple items. The rice bowls are awesome and the roasted half or whole chicken is also very good. The baklava and middle eastern juice drinks they sell are really awesome. The free tea is a really nice touch too.
(5)
Nancy C.
We went here after a swim meet at Penn State - I found it because of its high rating on Yelp (which most restaurants in State College lack). It's a cute little place downtown, right next a giant Chipotle. It's similar to Chipotle in that you can create your own meal - you choose from a rice bowl, a pita, or a salad. I like how there's small and large sizes. Do yourself a favor and get a small, because it's deceivingly filling. The small pita is huge, the small salad is more than enough, and the small rice bowl is also guaranteed to fill you up. The rice they use is basmati rice filled simmered with spices and green peas. You pick your base, choose from hummus or baba ganoush, and then pick meats (or you can choose one of their bowls if you don't want to make your own - some of them sounded pretty good). Then you pick various toppings like red cabbage, coleslaw, etc. and finally pick a sauce. They have a variety, from hot sauce to tzatziki. The guys are nice enough to tell you what various things are and to give recommendations. I got a salad base with lamb and stewed beef, red cabbage slaw, tzatziki, baba ganoush, and beans. Definitely couldn't even finish it all. I should've added some rice though - it would've made it taste better. Be sure to try their free sweet tea and take a free fruit to go! Overall, a solid, interesting meal. Only reason that it didn't get more stars was because its falafel wasn't too great and the meats were slightly dry. The tzatziki wasn't as flavorful as I would've liked either, but if you're looking for a decent place to eat in State College that won't break the bank and is reasonably healthy, this is the place to go.
(3)
Justin R.
Ordered take out and food was good overall, but being from Cali, we have lots of Mediterranean restaurants so I may be spoiled. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma dinner plate. Overall plate was good, but chicken was a little tough. Ordered hummus as a side with my dinner and was disappointed didn't receive any pita bread which is pretty standard for most Mediterranean spots....
(3)
Ben A.
Great restaurant. I always go here while my girlfriend gets her Chipotle around the corner.
(5)
Mar T.
Tried this place tonight for the first time and loved it! I had their large bowl and was really impressed by the quality and freshness of the ingredients. You can choose your meat and add from a wide assortment of vegetables and sauces. Will definitely go back!
(5)
Korissa D.
Food is fresh and awesome, service is great, owner is extremely polite and genuinely appreciates their customers, plus free dessert (baklava) on your first visit! What's not to love?!
(4)
Sebrina D.
Ate at Pita Cabana for lunch today. Had the chicken pita. It was delicious as always. I also appreciate the consistently friendly service.
(5)
Siddharth G.
Good food, but the Pita bread comes apart because it's stuffed to the core. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be that way, but the food, price, and delivery are excellent. One of the few good places in State College.
(4)
Joe M.
I also had to walk out. Empty yet three members of staff were unable or unwilling to take an order.
(1)
Andres L.
I had the fried half chicken with rice and veggies. it was ok but I regret getting it because I realized there were better options as I was waiting for it. this review will be updated
(2)
Scott C.
Awesome food and huge portions. Don't remember exactly what I ordered but I do not think you could go weong with anything. Definetly would eat here again.
(5)
Heidi W.
I really want to love this place after venturing in Pita Cabana after the exhausted line in neighboring Chipotle. Of course, I have no expectations of Pita Cabana being NY's The Halal Guys. But I do wish an employee (namely a tall blonde-ish male) would have some respect for its customers. I get that working behind counters all day might be tiring. But being professional is at least a bare minimum. Scolding at customers when they ask you for help? I find Chipotle employees to have more manners than a Pita Cabana employee. Food wise - the temperature of rice and appetizers were merely warm 4/5 times I've been here. If I wanted cold food, I would have eaten ice cream. Do I recommend this place? No. Please make a turn for Big Bowl, Primati Bro's, or Penn Hebab. Pita Cabana is disgusting.
(1)
Kim H.
How can you not love this place? Free desert your first trip, there was complimentary mint tea from the owners family's farm in Jordan when I went, and they're soooo nice there! The owner really takes pride in the food and rightfully so... It's delicious! The 10 for 20 deal on here is awesome and I totally reccomend it. The food is delicious and very affordable. There are lots of vegan options and outdoor seating. One of my favorite places in state college! Try their spinach egg rolls and their falafel and hummus :)
(5)
H C.
This place is awesome! Amazing food, and unlike the neighboring chipotle, no line (although all those people are missing out!) This place is one of the few places in State College that serves unique food, and also is vegetarian friendly (you can get everything with flafels, which even meat eaters will enjoy (although they have a good selection of meat for the more carnivorous eaters as well).
(5)
Whitney P.
I work two blocks away, so I eat here often. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. I usually pick up lunch and bring it back to the office, or pick up dinner and take it home. (I appreciate that the take away containers aren't hard plastic or styrofoam.) I also like the variety of options you can put in your meal -- makes it colorful, flavorful, and full of texture. If you don't dig meat, there are veggie options. The stuffed grape leaves are a favorite.
(5)
Jennifer V.
Boo! The service is terrible & the food is not good. They basically have grilled chicken sitting dry & throw it in a owl of warm rice. Not much flavor at all... Thumbs down
(1)
Eric H.
If the lines for Chipotle are too long, give the chicken gyros here. Free tea with sugar cubes are great too
(5)
J A.
I love their falafels and falafel salads.
(5)
Alex P.
Great food. I go for the sandwiches usually but their other stuff is good as well. The complimentary tea is great and they also make a hibiscus rose water tea there that is totally worth it. Look for that in the refrigerator near the register. As for sandwiches: the topping choices can be a bit confusing sometimes but don't be afraid to ask the employees. They're very helpful and will explain anything they have there.
(5)
Tyshawn T.
I had a lamb gyro. It sucked. No flavor. Tzitziki Sauce was terrible. The vuy who made the food for me was rude and not knowledgable about the food.
(1)
Tony L.
Okay I am slowly warming up to this place. However I find the wraps always being too saucy and a little bit on the watery side. Sometimes the toppings are on the salty side. Personally I might say the place is average, and I am only talking about the falafel, which is like the only vegetarian choice beside paying too much for just a salad. However repeatedly different people I go with come out disappointed with the flavor and texture of the meats.
(2)
Jack K.
There was a deal at this restaurant and I was in town for work so I thought i try it out! Its not one of my favorite place, its an average place that I would maybe go if i were to maybe get another deal but for the regular price I probably would not go there under my full attention. The ambiance of the restaurant was alright, its in a college town so I did not expect too much which was a good mindset since I would have been disappointed by it. The food was not all that spectacular, it was more towards the average side. It was an alright place I would say.
(3)
R M.
The falafel sandwich I had was delicious! They made their falafel in-house; it was super moist and flavorful and had a bit of a kick to it. The sandwich is grilled pita with falafel, hummus, tahini sauce, salsa, french fries, and yogurt sauce. It also typically comes with pickles inside but they were out of pickles when I came. I appreciated that it was reasonably priced for the large portion size. It tasted very authentic, almost as good as some of the falafel sandwiches I had in Israel. They also offer complimentary hot tea! Only complaint is the garlicky aftertaste I had for a while after I finished my meal.
(4)
Steven Z.
Usually, the food at the Pita Cabana is very good, fast, and relatively a healthier option than a majority of faster food available in the area. However, they employ most young college kids that clearly have no sense of pride in the place they work. This can be shown by the degraded level of service they provide, the inconsistency in the freshness of food (or even if rice is available for the rice bowls on the menu). I would rate five stars if they improved their employee's motivation.
(4)
D C.
I made a yelp account just to air my grievances with this place. Food was junk, service was junk. Worst part? Everyone behind the counter seems content with it. Microwaved stuffed grape leaves nonchalantly tossed on a plate with smear marks in places where no grape leaves had been laying. Saw them fry up my kebah, which came out warm on the ends and icy in the middle. Yuck. The baklava was probably made long ago and far away. The kebah definitely was (I saw it's frozen, pre-fried stage), and the grape leaves probably were too, given their unnaturally uniform appearance. The people behind the counter were in the midst of discussing how many customers were currently waiting extraordinarily long times for their deliveries. The tables were dirty, too. How this place survives as a business is beyond me.
(1)
Frank S.
The best falafel sandwiches in town! Soooo much better than anything that you can eat a Pita Pit like a block away. Lebanese/Jordanian owner, food tastes like true authentic middle eastern cuisine. The falafel sandwich is my favorite, but the baba ghanoush sandwich is very good as well. Unlike other so-called pita/falafel restaurants, this one uses fresh ingredients and their pita bread is just so dang tasty. Varied toppings selection, handsome portion sizes. Yummy!
(4)
William M.
Excellent shawarma. Great price and generous portions. We lived in the Middle East for two years and know a good shawarma from a bad one.
(5)
Jacob S.
This place is the best. Been going here for awhile now and the owner always recognizes you and says hello/asks you how you are doing. Satay chicken sandwich is too easy.
(5)
Michael S.
I live this place. Food is fresh and delicious. Ask for Nasi Lemak (Malay dish they sometimes serve). Reasonably priced as well
(5)
Lily C.
great food,
(5)
Greg W.
fantastic service and delicious food. loved the home made hot sauce. had the mezza platter and the chicken shish ta wouk.
(5)
Ashlyn C.
Came here for lunch. Vegetarian and meat options were available. I ordered a vegetarian platter that came with an okra stew and some type of green leaf vegetable stew served over rice. There were a bunch of fresh vegetables, sauces and feta cheese that can be added on top (olives, lettuce, peppers, tahini, tabouli, etc.) . The stews tasted very good but the rice was very oily and salty. My girlfriend had a baba ganoush sandwich with the same options for toppings. French fries were served on the sandwich that were mushy and were not fresh. I personally enjoyed my food. The person behind the counter seemed to rush our order a bit but not that big of a deal.
(3)
Sean M.
Being from Houston, which has a Mediterranean restaurant in literally every direction, I was thrilled to find this place. Unlike most places I've been to out here, the staff at Pita Cabana is always super friendly if first seemingly a bit reserved. The food is pretty fresh from the meat to the veggies and the sauces. My regular has become the large sandwich with half-sujuk (beef sausage) and half-shishtawook (chicken) with their hummus, salsa, onions, fries, parsley, and then, pro-move, garlic AND tzatziki sauce. This is a lunch and week-night dinner go-to for my friends and I, especially when we're studying, because it's fast, cheap, and tasty. Oh, and don't forget your reward card!
(3)
Hani S.
Good food, bad service. Man behind the counter was rude and not very helpful. I told him I have a big order and was annoyed by it. Only 3 stars till someone better stands behind he counter.
(3)
Phil K.
Pretty pricey for food that didn't impress. No staff was there when we showed up and we had to wait a bit. Even with a discount it was still a lot of money. Can't speak for the pitas but definitely avoid their meals.
(2)
Atina K.
Very good and fresh food. Suitable for vegetarians. I personally really like their falafels, and I think that hummus they serve is mad from scratch: very flavorful and delicious!!! :)
(5)
Yaima R.
Pretty good choice for lunch, tasty platters and very inexpensive if you get the the $10 for $20 coupons they seem to offer most of the time.
(3)
Sandy M.
I agree that the place just doesn't invite the passerby (though it looks clean). The food definitely lived up to it's billing on this site. The hummus and pita was fresh and tasty, the soup was spicy and delicious, our sandwiches were generously full pitas and you can choose among many condiments and seasonings to the sandwich. My favorite was the rice pudding. I was a little hesitant when it arrived - it looked slightly grey - but it was a remarkable combination of flavors that was delicious. The server initially told me they were out of soup. When he found out he was mistaken, he brought a cup of soup out to me, no charge. I would definitely go back!
(5)
S D.
Ewww .... not so much/. :/
(1)
Patrick R.
Great food in store. Unfortunately, I live far from downtown and had to place a delivery order. After spending close to $30 on two sandwiches & falafel and waiting 45 minutes, we opened our meals to find.....hair! These were short curly black hairs embedded in our falafel and our sandwiches. Safe to say, the quality control at Pita Cabana is low. It is unfortunate because the food is good, but I am not a big fan of hair in my food. My suggestion: anyone making food at Pita Cabana should considering wearing a hair net.
(2)
Nan P.
This is a new favorite spot. Yes, you order at the counter, but they are so helpful. We had a variety & it was incredible. Best ever Hummus, a variety of Egg Rolls, the satay chicken & the beef Pitas are terrific. And the free tea is a must.
(5)
Liz E.
Fabulous food, great service, sweet prices!
(5)
Lola I.
My friend and I ordered carryout from here. I really enjoy Mediterranean food and I was not disappointed that I came here. The food was quite good. We had the roasted chicken (a little dry), the beef kabob, stuffed grape leaves (yum!) and a greek salad. The biggest hurdle was getting through a charade of ordering and using my $10 for $20 coupon with the newbie cashier/server. It ended up requiring a phone call to the owner who seemed really nice.
(4)
Alex R.
Awesome food. Cheap. KIBBEH. HANDMADE FALAFEL. THE TEA. OH GOD. THE TEA.
(4)
Anya P.
Really good food. The guy who owns the place is super awesome. First time I went there I had a coupon and he took 20% off my bill and told me to use the coupon next time. I secretly wish it was more of a sit down place, though. Right now with the state of the place it's really just takeout.
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :334 E Calder Way
State College, PA, 16801
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Em O.
I never yelp. I read but I don't contribute, but this establishment inspired me to become a "Yelper" It's hands down absof*ckinglutely best around. Try the shiahtawook and thank me later... It's cheap, quiet, refillable drinks, cute enough pictures on the wall, but most importantly made by hand, marinates with love, saturated with delicious ......AMAZING food. I live in new York and no shwarma (even the best, though close) as good. Oh and 9" or 12" wrap sizes. And chicken chunks like flavor explosions of goodness. Ohhh and the wraps are warm baked fresh to order I never knew the bread could come close to outshining the meat. Shishtawhaaattt Best ever. Please help me support their amazing presence in state college.
(5)Lark P.
Delicious food and the owner is friendly.
(4)Katie B.
Let me preface by saying that my boyfriend and I have eaten here 15-20 times. We love the food. We love the owner. We love half the staff (all the young women are wonderful). The rest of the staff are HORRIBLE. This is especially an issue when the owner is not in that day. If the owner is not there, or if the women are off that day we get 1.) overcharged (and then yelled at for trying to correct being charged incorrectly), 2.) the food is cold IN THE MIDDLE because no one bothered to heat it properly, 3.) our food gets forgotten or ordered wrong (inevitably it is the wrong sandwich or, today, our dessert was forgotten completely), 4.) lack of patience, complete with eye rolling and sighs when any of the above are mentioned, and 5.) the floors are NEVER mopped. I personally think if there is food and dirt ground into the floor tiles, something very wrong is going on. All of these have happened more than one time. Some visits, multiples happen (today was 3, 4, and 5- one employee forgot our food, another was out of commission with what looked like a hangover, and the third, one of the young ladies, was frantically cooking and trying to pick up the pieces). I want this place(s) to succeed badly. Again, the owner is a great guy and the food is by far some of the best in State College. I sincerely wish it was managed better, either with a few lessons in customer service or a few less employees. We always leave disgruntled but with happy stomachs.
(3)Bunny B.
Yessss! Finally, a NON-Asian/Thai/Sushi/Chinese/Fusion place in town!!! Middle Eastern food has finally made its way to Centre County. Located in the same building complex as Big Bowl Noodle House (and, if I'm not mistaken, in BBNH's old spot), this sit-down & take out place will satisfy your cravings for DIFFERENT food. While we didn't have a chance to try everything on the menu, the things we did try were all flavorful, and are all prepared on site -- as opposed to, say, the Pita Pit with its frozen hockey pucks posing for falafel. Here, the super-friendly owner makes his own falafel, and generally comes across as someone who is very passionate about their food. We had the excellent tabbouleh, the very good fattoush, the slightly salty stuffed grape leaves (the leaves weren't rinsed, giving the dolma an unusual pickled flavor), a fusion-y "spring roll" stuffed with spinach - kind of a riff on spanakopita, I suppose, and the day's special -- roast leg of lamb over biryani rice. Everything else we saw delivered to other tables just made us want to come back. The roast chicken looked & smelled delicious, and I can't wait to try the various sandwiches -- the beef cabana (really, it's a shawarma) is made with local, pastured veal, but you can also get your shwarma fix with marinated chicken breast. Overall, I am STOKED to finally, finally have a food option that doesn't involve chopsticks - and, to top it all off, at student-friendly prices!
(5)Tyler R.
Had some confusion redeeming the $10 for $20 offer (shouldn't it be $20 for $10?), but a phone call to the owner resolved it and I was glad to meet him, as he was a really affable guy. The $20 for $10 deal (that's what I'm calling it from now on) was fantastic, and the falafel was tremendous. Will definitely go back.
(4)Mark S.
Looks like a hole in the wall but the food is incredible. Seriously, very friendly workers and very good food. Highly recommend stopping in and mentioning if it's you're first time. They're helpful and happy and the food is just so good.
(5)Matt B.
I used to like this place until I got very sick from a cabana kabob. After eating 75% of it I realized the meet was not pink but raw. Two and a half weeks later I still have an intestinal infection. Really gross and really dangerous... Had the owner been there I would have said something but the only guy working was busy smoking cigarets and talking to his friends
(1)Evan K.
My wife and I are new to State College and thought we'd try this place out because of the great reviews. First, their website claims they deliver but when I called for a delivery I was informed it was only takeout. I asked for their address because Yelp and their website had different addresses listed for the place and the guy (who barely understood me) just kept telling me "next to chipotle" because he didn't know what their address was. When I finally found the place (not at the Yelp address, but the website address) I'm pretty sure I was overcharged, but I didn't notice until after I had already left. As for the food, I got the Grenada Sandwich, my wife got the Falafel Sandwich and we shared an order of stuffed grape leaves. Mine was decent but excessive amounts of rice made it pretty bland. The falafel in my wife's sandwich was good, but the sandwich overall was really really dry. The grape leaves were good, but again kind of bland. We've both had better greek food. Maybe the high Yelp rating put this place at an unfair disadvantage because we had such high expectations. All in all, we'll probably try it again at some point to see if we get better service when the owner is there as some others have said.
(2)Tara A.
Good food, good price, very friendly delivery service both on the phone and in person. Quick too!
(5)MARK P.
Truly superb Lebanese fare. A real asset to the ethnic cuisine offerings here in State College. The chef/owner (Hitham - hope I spelled it correctly) is enthusiastic about his menu and it reflects in the wonderfully prepared dishes. My personal favorite is the Roast Leg of Lamb Cabana on pita, but I've never had anything at Pita Cabana that didn't leave me smacking my lips! And there's always some surprise goody waiting to be tried such as fresh prickly pears or figs. Hitham's macaroons are incredible. Have the hibiscus iced tea with your meal! Don't miss this diamond in the rough!!!
(5)Andrew B.
I don't normally write reviews, but this place was AWESOME. Looks a little shady walking in, but don't let that give you second thoughts (trust me). Best meal I had all weekend, ended up going twice, and plan to go again a couple times when I come for Blue White. I recommend the beef cabana, I'm salivating thinking about it, if you guys had a place in NYC, I would eat there everyday!
(5)Ben H.
Not only is the food always great here.....but the service is equally as great. Have had most of their chicken/beef sandwiches and desserts and have yet to have "an average" meal. The owner and staff are always helpful if you need some ideas when creating your sandwich and haven't led me astray yet. Would be nice if the sitting areas were a little more cozy but that certainly won't deter me from continuing to be a regular here.
(5)Sang-Ik Terry C.
More people need to find out about this place. Not only is this the only Mediterranean restaurant in town, but the quality of the food (in terms of authenticity & freshness) is top notch under any standard. I think the place can improve in their business professionalism, but the food is great. The owner is a true connoisseur. You can tell he makes food with passion and pride.
(5)Catherine J.
I walked in here off the street, excited for falafel in State College. The man behind the counter started making my sandwich and then turned toward the deep fryer for several minutes to load in new falafel, while I waited-- instead of finishing my sandwich. When I addressed the situation, another employee told me that they have phone orders too-- the person in the store in front of them was less important. The falafel ended up being tasteless and bland to boot. I wish it had been better - I would go once a week for good falafel.
(2)Vin N.
I've always been a fan of mediterranean food but this is the first one I've tried in State College, PA. So far everything has been very good. Very different and unique. We definitely need more places like this in state college. I really hope this place will stay in business because I plan on coming back!
(5)Minna R.
The pitas here are really good. I'm pescatarian, so I really like pita places because they tend to have a lot of delicious non-meat options. I got the hummus pita, my fiance got the felafel pita. They were both toasty and delicious. The felafel was really tasty and was cooked really well! We also got baklava, which I love! The food here was fresh and tasted great! It was way better than pita pit or that grab-and-go pita place right upstairs. While the food was good the atmosphere was.. meh. But I already knew it would be that way since I'd gone to Big Bowl before it moved to the new location. Basically if you're in the mood for a pita this is a great place to stop, but I wouldn't go on a date here. That said it was nice and quite, not crowded, so it might be a good place to get a little hw done while you eat if that's your thing. Great food, I'll just take mine to go!
(4)K C.
Love the food here. Big fan of the shishtawooks!! Wish it was in a more accessible place and was more of a sit-down environment.
(5)Matt O.
Great food. We were slightly hesitant walking in, as the place is located in an "off the beaten path" kind of location on E College. I am very glad we gave it a shot. I ordered the chicken cabana, and my wife had the chicken shishtawook. Both were amazing, the chicken was cooked well and it was not cheap or gross like some wrap places. The sauces available, specifically the curried hot sauce, was insanely good. The best part of the meal was by far the homemade baklawa. Up to this point I have only had baklawa that is covered in syrup, giving it an overly sweet flavor. This baklawa has no syrup, but literally melts in your mouth. It was so good my mother-in-law bought 8 pieces to bring home to her family. In the end, three wraps and three pieces of baklawa priced in under $20. Considering our wraps were 9" (which is the small), the value for the amount of food you get is great. This place is definitely worth a try, we will be coming back.
(5)Ben E.
Went here for sandwiches and felafel. The sandwiches were pretty good, kind of like a Lebeanese chipotle. The felafel was really over cooked and tasted like burnt cooking oil. Owner was definitely not in.
(3)Charlotte M.
Wonderful food. You will not be disappointed. Service was excellent.
(5)Vin N.
I've always been a fan of mediterranean food but this is the first one I've tried in State College, PA. So far everything has been very good. Very different and unique. We definitely need more places like this in state college. I really hope this place will stay in business because I plan on coming back!
(5)Bunny B.
Yessss! Finally, a NON-Asian/Thai/Sushi/Chinese/Fusion place in town!!! Middle Eastern food has finally made its way to Centre County. Located in the same building complex as Big Bowl Noodle House (and, if I'm not mistaken, in BBNH's old spot), this sit-down & take out place will satisfy your cravings for DIFFERENT food. While we didn't have a chance to try everything on the menu, the things we did try were all flavorful, and are all prepared on site -- as opposed to, say, the Pita Pit with its frozen hockey pucks posing for falafel. Here, the super-friendly owner makes his own falafel, and generally comes across as someone who is very passionate about their food. We had the excellent tabbouleh, the very good fattoush, the slightly salty stuffed grape leaves (the leaves weren't rinsed, giving the dolma an unusual pickled flavor), a fusion-y "spring roll" stuffed with spinach - kind of a riff on spanakopita, I suppose, and the day's special -- roast leg of lamb over biryani rice. Everything else we saw delivered to other tables just made us want to come back. The roast chicken looked & smelled delicious, and I can't wait to try the various sandwiches -- the beef cabana (really, it's a shawarma) is made with local, pastured veal, but you can also get your shwarma fix with marinated chicken breast. Overall, I am STOKED to finally, finally have a food option that doesn't involve chopsticks - and, to top it all off, at student-friendly prices!
(5)Tyler R.
Had some confusion redeeming the $10 for $20 offer (shouldn't it be $20 for $10?), but a phone call to the owner resolved it and I was glad to meet him, as he was a really affable guy. The $20 for $10 deal (that's what I'm calling it from now on) was fantastic, and the falafel was tremendous. Will definitely go back.
(4)Mark S.
Looks like a hole in the wall but the food is incredible. Seriously, very friendly workers and very good food. Highly recommend stopping in and mentioning if it's you're first time. They're helpful and happy and the food is just so good.
(5)Charlotte M.
Wonderful food. You will not be disappointed. Service was excellent.
(5)Em O.
I never yelp. I read but I don't contribute, but this establishment inspired me to become a "Yelper" It's hands down absof*ckinglutely best around. Try the shiahtawook and thank me later... It's cheap, quiet, refillable drinks, cute enough pictures on the wall, but most importantly made by hand, marinates with love, saturated with delicious ......AMAZING food. I live in new York and no shwarma (even the best, though close) as good. Oh and 9" or 12" wrap sizes. And chicken chunks like flavor explosions of goodness. Ohhh and the wraps are warm baked fresh to order I never knew the bread could come close to outshining the meat. Shishtawhaaattt Best ever. Please help me support their amazing presence in state college.
(5)Lark P.
Delicious food and the owner is friendly.
(4)Evan K.
My wife and I are new to State College and thought we'd try this place out because of the great reviews. First, their website claims they deliver but when I called for a delivery I was informed it was only takeout. I asked for their address because Yelp and their website had different addresses listed for the place and the guy (who barely understood me) just kept telling me "next to chipotle" because he didn't know what their address was. When I finally found the place (not at the Yelp address, but the website address) I'm pretty sure I was overcharged, but I didn't notice until after I had already left. As for the food, I got the Grenada Sandwich, my wife got the Falafel Sandwich and we shared an order of stuffed grape leaves. Mine was decent but excessive amounts of rice made it pretty bland. The falafel in my wife's sandwich was good, but the sandwich overall was really really dry. The grape leaves were good, but again kind of bland. We've both had better greek food. Maybe the high Yelp rating put this place at an unfair disadvantage because we had such high expectations. All in all, we'll probably try it again at some point to see if we get better service when the owner is there as some others have said.
(2)Tara A.
Good food, good price, very friendly delivery service both on the phone and in person. Quick too!
(5)MARK P.
Truly superb Lebanese fare. A real asset to the ethnic cuisine offerings here in State College. The chef/owner (Hitham - hope I spelled it correctly) is enthusiastic about his menu and it reflects in the wonderfully prepared dishes. My personal favorite is the Roast Leg of Lamb Cabana on pita, but I've never had anything at Pita Cabana that didn't leave me smacking my lips! And there's always some surprise goody waiting to be tried such as fresh prickly pears or figs. Hitham's macaroons are incredible. Have the hibiscus iced tea with your meal! Don't miss this diamond in the rough!!!
(5)Andrew B.
I don't normally write reviews, but this place was AWESOME. Looks a little shady walking in, but don't let that give you second thoughts (trust me). Best meal I had all weekend, ended up going twice, and plan to go again a couple times when I come for Blue White. I recommend the beef cabana, I'm salivating thinking about it, if you guys had a place in NYC, I would eat there everyday!
(5)Ben H.
Not only is the food always great here.....but the service is equally as great. Have had most of their chicken/beef sandwiches and desserts and have yet to have "an average" meal. The owner and staff are always helpful if you need some ideas when creating your sandwich and haven't led me astray yet. Would be nice if the sitting areas were a little more cozy but that certainly won't deter me from continuing to be a regular here.
(5)Sang-Ik Terry C.
More people need to find out about this place. Not only is this the only Mediterranean restaurant in town, but the quality of the food (in terms of authenticity & freshness) is top notch under any standard. I think the place can improve in their business professionalism, but the food is great. The owner is a true connoisseur. You can tell he makes food with passion and pride.
(5)Steven Z.
Usually, the food at the Pita Cabana is very good, fast, and relatively a healthier option than a majority of faster food available in the area. However, they employ most young college kids that clearly have no sense of pride in the place they work. This can be shown by the degraded level of service they provide, the inconsistency in the freshness of food (or even if rice is available for the rice bowls on the menu). I would rate five stars if they improved their employee's motivation.
(4)D C.
I made a yelp account just to air my grievances with this place. Food was junk, service was junk. Worst part? Everyone behind the counter seems content with it. Microwaved stuffed grape leaves nonchalantly tossed on a plate with smear marks in places where no grape leaves had been laying. Saw them fry up my kebah, which came out warm on the ends and icy in the middle. Yuck. The baklava was probably made long ago and far away. The kebah definitely was (I saw it's frozen, pre-fried stage), and the grape leaves probably were too, given their unnaturally uniform appearance. The people behind the counter were in the midst of discussing how many customers were currently waiting extraordinarily long times for their deliveries. The tables were dirty, too. How this place survives as a business is beyond me.
(1)Frank S.
The best falafel sandwiches in town! Soooo much better than anything that you can eat a Pita Pit like a block away. Lebanese/Jordanian owner, food tastes like true authentic middle eastern cuisine. The falafel sandwich is my favorite, but the baba ghanoush sandwich is very good as well. Unlike other so-called pita/falafel restaurants, this one uses fresh ingredients and their pita bread is just so dang tasty. Varied toppings selection, handsome portion sizes. Yummy!
(4)William M.
Excellent shawarma. Great price and generous portions. We lived in the Middle East for two years and know a good shawarma from a bad one.
(5)Jacob S.
This place is the best. Been going here for awhile now and the owner always recognizes you and says hello/asks you how you are doing. Satay chicken sandwich is too easy.
(5)Michael S.
I live this place. Food is fresh and delicious. Ask for Nasi Lemak (Malay dish they sometimes serve). Reasonably priced as well
(5)Lily C.
great food,
(5)Greg W.
fantastic service and delicious food. loved the home made hot sauce. had the mezza platter and the chicken shish ta wouk.
(5)J A.
I love their falafels and falafel salads.
(5)Anna M.
LOVED PITA CABANA! It is the Lebanese chipotle! The owner is amazing and I would come back again and again just to chat with him :) the employees really made the experience more than what is typically expected from a fast food type restaurant! They were great about giving me exactly what I asked for even though I made a couple substitutions! Everything is made 100% homemade and it was so delicious!
(5)Ashleigh C.
I have definitely already reviewed this place and my review is now seemingly *gone* which is interesting to me. As an update, this place is still pretty awful. As a person from an area of the country where this kind of food is prevalent, this was really really awful. As a person with a Lebanese great grandmother, this food is not even edible. I find myself occasionally ordering just because I'm so desperate for this style food but every single time and each bite I'm wondering "why did I order this again?" Why was there KETCHUP SAUCE on my shistawook!?!?!? and for everyone calling this Lebanese Chipotle? no. The closest thing to that is Cava. And Cava is amazing.
(2)Chris D.
I'm always impressed by how fresh everything tastes here. This might be one of the most underrated restaurants in State College. Perfect for lunch. Everything on the menu is fantastic.
(5)Tony D.
I got one of their recommended chicken rice bowls, which was one of the best Mediterranean dishes I've ever had. The large size was very big, and all those spices, fresh vegetables, rice, and hummus mixed very well with the grilled chicken. The combined texture and taste made each bite full of flavor. The complimentary tea, which tasted kind of herbal and fruity, was the perfect drink to go with the meal as well.
(5)M C.
The food here is DELICIOUS!!! My friend and I were originally planning on going to Chipotle but since the lines were so long, we ended up trying Pita Cabana instead. Chipotle is good, but this "Lebanese Chipotle" is AMAZING. It's basically the same thing -- you can choose a pita wrap or a rice bowl and it's made-to-order fillings. I had no idea what I put in my pita wrap (which had a cute design -- it had a pocket for all the fillings to go into so it wouldn't fall all over the place) -- I put a bunch of random ingredients: chicken, lettuce, beans, plus other stuff and some kind of garlic sauce that one of the owners recommended when they realized I didn't know what to order. Anyway, it was one of the best foods I've eaten at State College (plus it's relatively inexpensive) I'm definitely going to eat here again!
(5)Gina C.
I am obsessed with this place!!! Hitham and Braden introduced me to this "Lebanese chipotle" and it's now one of my favorite places. The hummus is to die for, and the owner and employees couldn't be more helpful!
(5)Justin R.
Ordered take out and food was good overall, but being from Cali, we have lots of Mediterranean restaurants so I may be spoiled. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma dinner plate. Overall plate was good, but chicken was a little tough. Ordered hummus as a side with my dinner and was disappointed didn't receive any pita bread which is pretty standard for most Mediterranean spots....
(3)Ben A.
Great restaurant. I always go here while my girlfriend gets her Chipotle around the corner.
(5)Kyle K.
After visiting Pita Cabana for the second time, I feel pretty comfortable reviewing it. I hesitated visiting this place for a long time, even though I live downtown State College, and tend to eat down here often. Something about the look or setup just wasn't appealing to me. What a mistake though... This place has some of the best food I've eaten in town, and that's coming from someone who went through an undergraduate program here, and is now in grad school. I wish I would have visited this place earlier. The food is fresh, well made, and homemade. It also might be the cheapest meal you can find in town... Both times that I've visited, I've gotten the half-chicken, and it's some of the best chicken I've ever had anywhere. Seasoned rice with fresh organic salad, on top of which they put a deep fried half young whole chicken (which is marinated and baked beforehand.) The food is so fresh, all homemade, with great flavor that isn't too intense. The half chicken plate is less than $10. I split it with a friend and it fed us both. This is quite a meal, and really filling food. I thought this place would be really exotic, which is what turned me off about it. Nothing could be further from the truth. This place is just right. My friend also got the salad with lamb chop meat. The meat was braised, and they put the salad together right there from whatever you want on it. They have things like their own hummus, pickled cabbage, baba ghanoush... All are homemade and exceptional. How silly was I for never checking it out before. I plan on going again and trying the many other things they have, but I'm really going to have trouble not ordering the half-chicken again. 5 stars for this place, and I'd easily give them more if I could.
(5)Ashley B.
Portions were big and service was fast. We also got the groupon, $10 for $20 worth, which was awesome. The big problem was no parking. We are not from the area, we parked on the upper street and walked down, which woulda been ok if we didn't have a little one. I recommend a small pita, the large was too much for one person.
(3)Francisco T.
The food was great. Authentic Lebanese dishes as reasonable prices!!!
(5)Tim D.
I love the food here. It's different and is one of the only places in state college that has food that is healthy but also very good. I have gotten multiple items. The rice bowls are awesome and the roasted half or whole chicken is also very good. The baklava and middle eastern juice drinks they sell are really awesome. The free tea is a really nice touch too.
(5)Nancy C.
We went here after a swim meet at Penn State - I found it because of its high rating on Yelp (which most restaurants in State College lack). It's a cute little place downtown, right next a giant Chipotle. It's similar to Chipotle in that you can create your own meal - you choose from a rice bowl, a pita, or a salad. I like how there's small and large sizes. Do yourself a favor and get a small, because it's deceivingly filling. The small pita is huge, the small salad is more than enough, and the small rice bowl is also guaranteed to fill you up. The rice they use is basmati rice filled simmered with spices and green peas. You pick your base, choose from hummus or baba ganoush, and then pick meats (or you can choose one of their bowls if you don't want to make your own - some of them sounded pretty good). Then you pick various toppings like red cabbage, coleslaw, etc. and finally pick a sauce. They have a variety, from hot sauce to tzatziki. The guys are nice enough to tell you what various things are and to give recommendations. I got a salad base with lamb and stewed beef, red cabbage slaw, tzatziki, baba ganoush, and beans. Definitely couldn't even finish it all. I should've added some rice though - it would've made it taste better. Be sure to try their free sweet tea and take a free fruit to go! Overall, a solid, interesting meal. Only reason that it didn't get more stars was because its falafel wasn't too great and the meats were slightly dry. The tzatziki wasn't as flavorful as I would've liked either, but if you're looking for a decent place to eat in State College that won't break the bank and is reasonably healthy, this is the place to go.
(3)Mar T.
Tried this place tonight for the first time and loved it! I had their large bowl and was really impressed by the quality and freshness of the ingredients. You can choose your meat and add from a wide assortment of vegetables and sauces. Will definitely go back!
(5)Korissa D.
Food is fresh and awesome, service is great, owner is extremely polite and genuinely appreciates their customers, plus free dessert (baklava) on your first visit! What's not to love?!
(4)Sebrina D.
Ate at Pita Cabana for lunch today. Had the chicken pita. It was delicious as always. I also appreciate the consistently friendly service.
(5)Siddharth G.
Good food, but the Pita bread comes apart because it's stuffed to the core. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be that way, but the food, price, and delivery are excellent. One of the few good places in State College.
(4)Kristin N.
The worst delivery and service I've ever experienced. We ordered delivery over and hour and a half ago and when called to check the status (after one hour) the guy on the phone was a jerk. Never ever getting food from them again. Absolutely awful.
(1)Joe M.
I also had to walk out. Empty yet three members of staff were unable or unwilling to take an order.
(1)Andres L.
I had the fried half chicken with rice and veggies. it was ok but I regret getting it because I realized there were better options as I was waiting for it. this review will be updated
(2)Scott C.
Awesome food and huge portions. Don't remember exactly what I ordered but I do not think you could go weong with anything. Definetly would eat here again.
(5)Heidi W.
I really want to love this place after venturing in Pita Cabana after the exhausted line in neighboring Chipotle. Of course, I have no expectations of Pita Cabana being NY's The Halal Guys. But I do wish an employee (namely a tall blonde-ish male) would have some respect for its customers. I get that working behind counters all day might be tiring. But being professional is at least a bare minimum. Scolding at customers when they ask you for help? I find Chipotle employees to have more manners than a Pita Cabana employee. Food wise - the temperature of rice and appetizers were merely warm 4/5 times I've been here. If I wanted cold food, I would have eaten ice cream. Do I recommend this place? No. Please make a turn for Big Bowl, Primati Bro's, or Penn Hebab. Pita Cabana is disgusting.
(1)Kim H.
How can you not love this place? Free desert your first trip, there was complimentary mint tea from the owners family's farm in Jordan when I went, and they're soooo nice there! The owner really takes pride in the food and rightfully so... It's delicious! The 10 for 20 deal on here is awesome and I totally reccomend it. The food is delicious and very affordable. There are lots of vegan options and outdoor seating. One of my favorite places in state college! Try their spinach egg rolls and their falafel and hummus :)
(5)H C.
This place is awesome! Amazing food, and unlike the neighboring chipotle, no line (although all those people are missing out!) This place is one of the few places in State College that serves unique food, and also is vegetarian friendly (you can get everything with flafels, which even meat eaters will enjoy (although they have a good selection of meat for the more carnivorous eaters as well).
(5)Whitney P.
I work two blocks away, so I eat here often. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. I usually pick up lunch and bring it back to the office, or pick up dinner and take it home. (I appreciate that the take away containers aren't hard plastic or styrofoam.) I also like the variety of options you can put in your meal -- makes it colorful, flavorful, and full of texture. If you don't dig meat, there are veggie options. The stuffed grape leaves are a favorite.
(5)Jennifer V.
Boo! The service is terrible & the food is not good. They basically have grilled chicken sitting dry & throw it in a owl of warm rice. Not much flavor at all... Thumbs down
(1)Eric H.
If the lines for Chipotle are too long, give the chicken gyros here. Free tea with sugar cubes are great too
(5)Alex P.
Great food. I go for the sandwiches usually but their other stuff is good as well. The complimentary tea is great and they also make a hibiscus rose water tea there that is totally worth it. Look for that in the refrigerator near the register. As for sandwiches: the topping choices can be a bit confusing sometimes but don't be afraid to ask the employees. They're very helpful and will explain anything they have there.
(5)Tyshawn T.
I had a lamb gyro. It sucked. No flavor. Tzitziki Sauce was terrible. The vuy who made the food for me was rude and not knowledgable about the food.
(1)Tony L.
Okay I am slowly warming up to this place. However I find the wraps always being too saucy and a little bit on the watery side. Sometimes the toppings are on the salty side. Personally I might say the place is average, and I am only talking about the falafel, which is like the only vegetarian choice beside paying too much for just a salad. However repeatedly different people I go with come out disappointed with the flavor and texture of the meats.
(2)Jack K.
There was a deal at this restaurant and I was in town for work so I thought i try it out! Its not one of my favorite place, its an average place that I would maybe go if i were to maybe get another deal but for the regular price I probably would not go there under my full attention. The ambiance of the restaurant was alright, its in a college town so I did not expect too much which was a good mindset since I would have been disappointed by it. The food was not all that spectacular, it was more towards the average side. It was an alright place I would say.
(3)R M.
The falafel sandwich I had was delicious! They made their falafel in-house; it was super moist and flavorful and had a bit of a kick to it. The sandwich is grilled pita with falafel, hummus, tahini sauce, salsa, french fries, and yogurt sauce. It also typically comes with pickles inside but they were out of pickles when I came. I appreciated that it was reasonably priced for the large portion size. It tasted very authentic, almost as good as some of the falafel sandwiches I had in Israel. They also offer complimentary hot tea! Only complaint is the garlicky aftertaste I had for a while after I finished my meal.
(4)Ashlyn C.
Came here for lunch. Vegetarian and meat options were available. I ordered a vegetarian platter that came with an okra stew and some type of green leaf vegetable stew served over rice. There were a bunch of fresh vegetables, sauces and feta cheese that can be added on top (olives, lettuce, peppers, tahini, tabouli, etc.) . The stews tasted very good but the rice was very oily and salty. My girlfriend had a baba ganoush sandwich with the same options for toppings. French fries were served on the sandwich that were mushy and were not fresh. I personally enjoyed my food. The person behind the counter seemed to rush our order a bit but not that big of a deal.
(3)Sean M.
Being from Houston, which has a Mediterranean restaurant in literally every direction, I was thrilled to find this place. Unlike most places I've been to out here, the staff at Pita Cabana is always super friendly if first seemingly a bit reserved. The food is pretty fresh from the meat to the veggies and the sauces. My regular has become the large sandwich with half-sujuk (beef sausage) and half-shishtawook (chicken) with their hummus, salsa, onions, fries, parsley, and then, pro-move, garlic AND tzatziki sauce. This is a lunch and week-night dinner go-to for my friends and I, especially when we're studying, because it's fast, cheap, and tasty. Oh, and don't forget your reward card!
(3)Hani S.
Good food, bad service. Man behind the counter was rude and not very helpful. I told him I have a big order and was annoyed by it. Only 3 stars till someone better stands behind he counter.
(3)Phil K.
Pretty pricey for food that didn't impress. No staff was there when we showed up and we had to wait a bit. Even with a discount it was still a lot of money. Can't speak for the pitas but definitely avoid their meals.
(2)Atina K.
Very good and fresh food. Suitable for vegetarians. I personally really like their falafels, and I think that hummus they serve is mad from scratch: very flavorful and delicious!!! :)
(5)Yaima R.
Pretty good choice for lunch, tasty platters and very inexpensive if you get the the $10 for $20 coupons they seem to offer most of the time.
(3)Sandy M.
I agree that the place just doesn't invite the passerby (though it looks clean). The food definitely lived up to it's billing on this site. The hummus and pita was fresh and tasty, the soup was spicy and delicious, our sandwiches were generously full pitas and you can choose among many condiments and seasonings to the sandwich. My favorite was the rice pudding. I was a little hesitant when it arrived - it looked slightly grey - but it was a remarkable combination of flavors that was delicious. The server initially told me they were out of soup. When he found out he was mistaken, he brought a cup of soup out to me, no charge. I would definitely go back!
(5)S D.
Ewww .... not so much/. :/
(1)Patrick R.
Great food in store. Unfortunately, I live far from downtown and had to place a delivery order. After spending close to $30 on two sandwiches & falafel and waiting 45 minutes, we opened our meals to find.....hair! These were short curly black hairs embedded in our falafel and our sandwiches. Safe to say, the quality control at Pita Cabana is low. It is unfortunate because the food is good, but I am not a big fan of hair in my food. My suggestion: anyone making food at Pita Cabana should considering wearing a hair net.
(2)Nan P.
This is a new favorite spot. Yes, you order at the counter, but they are so helpful. We had a variety & it was incredible. Best ever Hummus, a variety of Egg Rolls, the satay chicken & the beef Pitas are terrific. And the free tea is a must.
(5)Liz E.
Fabulous food, great service, sweet prices!
(5)Lola I.
My friend and I ordered carryout from here. I really enjoy Mediterranean food and I was not disappointed that I came here. The food was quite good. We had the roasted chicken (a little dry), the beef kabob, stuffed grape leaves (yum!) and a greek salad. The biggest hurdle was getting through a charade of ordering and using my $10 for $20 coupon with the newbie cashier/server. It ended up requiring a phone call to the owner who seemed really nice.
(4)Alex R.
Awesome food. Cheap. KIBBEH. HANDMADE FALAFEL. THE TEA. OH GOD. THE TEA.
(4)Anya P.
Really good food. The guy who owns the place is super awesome. First time I went there I had a coupon and he took 20% off my bill and told me to use the coupon next time. I secretly wish it was more of a sit down place, though. Right now with the state of the place it's really just takeout.
(5)Minna R.
The pitas here are really good. I'm pescatarian, so I really like pita places because they tend to have a lot of delicious non-meat options. I got the hummus pita, my fiance got the felafel pita. They were both toasty and delicious. The felafel was really tasty and was cooked really well! We also got baklava, which I love! The food here was fresh and tasted great! It was way better than pita pit or that grab-and-go pita place right upstairs. While the food was good the atmosphere was.. meh. But I already knew it would be that way since I'd gone to Big Bowl before it moved to the new location. Basically if you're in the mood for a pita this is a great place to stop, but I wouldn't go on a date here. That said it was nice and quite, not crowded, so it might be a good place to get a little hw done while you eat if that's your thing. Great food, I'll just take mine to go!
(4)K C.
Love the food here. Big fan of the shishtawooks!! Wish it was in a more accessible place and was more of a sit-down environment.
(5)Matt B.
I used to like this place until I got very sick from a cabana kabob. After eating 75% of it I realized the meet was not pink but raw. Two and a half weeks later I still have an intestinal infection. Really gross and really dangerous... Had the owner been there I would have said something but the only guy working was busy smoking cigarets and talking to his friends
(1)Matt O.
Great food. We were slightly hesitant walking in, as the place is located in an "off the beaten path" kind of location on E College. I am very glad we gave it a shot. I ordered the chicken cabana, and my wife had the chicken shishtawook. Both were amazing, the chicken was cooked well and it was not cheap or gross like some wrap places. The sauces available, specifically the curried hot sauce, was insanely good. The best part of the meal was by far the homemade baklawa. Up to this point I have only had baklawa that is covered in syrup, giving it an overly sweet flavor. This baklawa has no syrup, but literally melts in your mouth. It was so good my mother-in-law bought 8 pieces to bring home to her family. In the end, three wraps and three pieces of baklawa priced in under $20. Considering our wraps were 9" (which is the small), the value for the amount of food you get is great. This place is definitely worth a try, we will be coming back.
(5)Ben E.
Went here for sandwiches and felafel. The sandwiches were pretty good, kind of like a Lebeanese chipotle. The felafel was really over cooked and tasted like burnt cooking oil. Owner was definitely not in.
(3)Katie B.
Let me preface by saying that my boyfriend and I have eaten here 15-20 times. We love the food. We love the owner. We love half the staff (all the young women are wonderful). The rest of the staff are HORRIBLE. This is especially an issue when the owner is not in that day. If the owner is not there, or if the women are off that day we get 1.) overcharged (and then yelled at for trying to correct being charged incorrectly), 2.) the food is cold IN THE MIDDLE because no one bothered to heat it properly, 3.) our food gets forgotten or ordered wrong (inevitably it is the wrong sandwich or, today, our dessert was forgotten completely), 4.) lack of patience, complete with eye rolling and sighs when any of the above are mentioned, and 5.) the floors are NEVER mopped. I personally think if there is food and dirt ground into the floor tiles, something very wrong is going on. All of these have happened more than one time. Some visits, multiples happen (today was 3, 4, and 5- one employee forgot our food, another was out of commission with what looked like a hangover, and the third, one of the young ladies, was frantically cooking and trying to pick up the pieces). I want this place(s) to succeed badly. Again, the owner is a great guy and the food is by far some of the best in State College. I sincerely wish it was managed better, either with a few lessons in customer service or a few less employees. We always leave disgruntled but with happy stomachs.
(3)Catherine J.
I walked in here off the street, excited for falafel in State College. The man behind the counter started making my sandwich and then turned toward the deep fryer for several minutes to load in new falafel, while I waited-- instead of finishing my sandwich. When I addressed the situation, another employee told me that they have phone orders too-- the person in the store in front of them was less important. The falafel ended up being tasteless and bland to boot. I wish it had been better - I would go once a week for good falafel.
(2)Anna M.
LOVED PITA CABANA! It is the Lebanese chipotle! The owner is amazing and I would come back again and again just to chat with him :) the employees really made the experience more than what is typically expected from a fast food type restaurant! They were great about giving me exactly what I asked for even though I made a couple substitutions! Everything is made 100% homemade and it was so delicious!
(5)Ashleigh C.
I have definitely already reviewed this place and my review is now seemingly *gone* which is interesting to me. As an update, this place is still pretty awful. As a person from an area of the country where this kind of food is prevalent, this was really really awful. As a person with a Lebanese great grandmother, this food is not even edible. I find myself occasionally ordering just because I'm so desperate for this style food but every single time and each bite I'm wondering "why did I order this again?" Why was there KETCHUP SAUCE on my shistawook!?!?!? and for everyone calling this Lebanese Chipotle? no. The closest thing to that is Cava. And Cava is amazing.
(2)Chris D.
I'm always impressed by how fresh everything tastes here. This might be one of the most underrated restaurants in State College. Perfect for lunch. Everything on the menu is fantastic.
(5)Tony D.
I got one of their recommended chicken rice bowls, which was one of the best Mediterranean dishes I've ever had. The large size was very big, and all those spices, fresh vegetables, rice, and hummus mixed very well with the grilled chicken. The combined texture and taste made each bite full of flavor. The complimentary tea, which tasted kind of herbal and fruity, was the perfect drink to go with the meal as well.
(5)M C.
The food here is DELICIOUS!!! My friend and I were originally planning on going to Chipotle but since the lines were so long, we ended up trying Pita Cabana instead. Chipotle is good, but this "Lebanese Chipotle" is AMAZING. It's basically the same thing -- you can choose a pita wrap or a rice bowl and it's made-to-order fillings. I had no idea what I put in my pita wrap (which had a cute design -- it had a pocket for all the fillings to go into so it wouldn't fall all over the place) -- I put a bunch of random ingredients: chicken, lettuce, beans, plus other stuff and some kind of garlic sauce that one of the owners recommended when they realized I didn't know what to order. Anyway, it was one of the best foods I've eaten at State College (plus it's relatively inexpensive) I'm definitely going to eat here again!
(5)Gina C.
I am obsessed with this place!!! Hitham and Braden introduced me to this "Lebanese chipotle" and it's now one of my favorite places. The hummus is to die for, and the owner and employees couldn't be more helpful!
(5)Kyle K.
After visiting Pita Cabana for the second time, I feel pretty comfortable reviewing it. I hesitated visiting this place for a long time, even though I live downtown State College, and tend to eat down here often. Something about the look or setup just wasn't appealing to me. What a mistake though... This place has some of the best food I've eaten in town, and that's coming from someone who went through an undergraduate program here, and is now in grad school. I wish I would have visited this place earlier. The food is fresh, well made, and homemade. It also might be the cheapest meal you can find in town... Both times that I've visited, I've gotten the half-chicken, and it's some of the best chicken I've ever had anywhere. Seasoned rice with fresh organic salad, on top of which they put a deep fried half young whole chicken (which is marinated and baked beforehand.) The food is so fresh, all homemade, with great flavor that isn't too intense. The half chicken plate is less than $10. I split it with a friend and it fed us both. This is quite a meal, and really filling food. I thought this place would be really exotic, which is what turned me off about it. Nothing could be further from the truth. This place is just right. My friend also got the salad with lamb chop meat. The meat was braised, and they put the salad together right there from whatever you want on it. They have things like their own hummus, pickled cabbage, baba ghanoush... All are homemade and exceptional. How silly was I for never checking it out before. I plan on going again and trying the many other things they have, but I'm really going to have trouble not ordering the half-chicken again. 5 stars for this place, and I'd easily give them more if I could.
(5)Kristin N.
The worst delivery and service I've ever experienced. We ordered delivery over and hour and a half ago and when called to check the status (after one hour) the guy on the phone was a jerk. Never ever getting food from them again. Absolutely awful.
(1)Ashley B.
Portions were big and service was fast. We also got the groupon, $10 for $20 worth, which was awesome. The big problem was no parking. We are not from the area, we parked on the upper street and walked down, which woulda been ok if we didn't have a little one. I recommend a small pita, the large was too much for one person.
(3)Francisco T.
The food was great. Authentic Lebanese dishes as reasonable prices!!!
(5)Tim D.
I love the food here. It's different and is one of the only places in state college that has food that is healthy but also very good. I have gotten multiple items. The rice bowls are awesome and the roasted half or whole chicken is also very good. The baklava and middle eastern juice drinks they sell are really awesome. The free tea is a really nice touch too.
(5)Nancy C.
We went here after a swim meet at Penn State - I found it because of its high rating on Yelp (which most restaurants in State College lack). It's a cute little place downtown, right next a giant Chipotle. It's similar to Chipotle in that you can create your own meal - you choose from a rice bowl, a pita, or a salad. I like how there's small and large sizes. Do yourself a favor and get a small, because it's deceivingly filling. The small pita is huge, the small salad is more than enough, and the small rice bowl is also guaranteed to fill you up. The rice they use is basmati rice filled simmered with spices and green peas. You pick your base, choose from hummus or baba ganoush, and then pick meats (or you can choose one of their bowls if you don't want to make your own - some of them sounded pretty good). Then you pick various toppings like red cabbage, coleslaw, etc. and finally pick a sauce. They have a variety, from hot sauce to tzatziki. The guys are nice enough to tell you what various things are and to give recommendations. I got a salad base with lamb and stewed beef, red cabbage slaw, tzatziki, baba ganoush, and beans. Definitely couldn't even finish it all. I should've added some rice though - it would've made it taste better. Be sure to try their free sweet tea and take a free fruit to go! Overall, a solid, interesting meal. Only reason that it didn't get more stars was because its falafel wasn't too great and the meats were slightly dry. The tzatziki wasn't as flavorful as I would've liked either, but if you're looking for a decent place to eat in State College that won't break the bank and is reasonably healthy, this is the place to go.
(3)Justin R.
Ordered take out and food was good overall, but being from Cali, we have lots of Mediterranean restaurants so I may be spoiled. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma dinner plate. Overall plate was good, but chicken was a little tough. Ordered hummus as a side with my dinner and was disappointed didn't receive any pita bread which is pretty standard for most Mediterranean spots....
(3)Ben A.
Great restaurant. I always go here while my girlfriend gets her Chipotle around the corner.
(5)Mar T.
Tried this place tonight for the first time and loved it! I had their large bowl and was really impressed by the quality and freshness of the ingredients. You can choose your meat and add from a wide assortment of vegetables and sauces. Will definitely go back!
(5)Korissa D.
Food is fresh and awesome, service is great, owner is extremely polite and genuinely appreciates their customers, plus free dessert (baklava) on your first visit! What's not to love?!
(4)Sebrina D.
Ate at Pita Cabana for lunch today. Had the chicken pita. It was delicious as always. I also appreciate the consistently friendly service.
(5)Siddharth G.
Good food, but the Pita bread comes apart because it's stuffed to the core. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be that way, but the food, price, and delivery are excellent. One of the few good places in State College.
(4)Joe M.
I also had to walk out. Empty yet three members of staff were unable or unwilling to take an order.
(1)Andres L.
I had the fried half chicken with rice and veggies. it was ok but I regret getting it because I realized there were better options as I was waiting for it. this review will be updated
(2)Scott C.
Awesome food and huge portions. Don't remember exactly what I ordered but I do not think you could go weong with anything. Definetly would eat here again.
(5)Heidi W.
I really want to love this place after venturing in Pita Cabana after the exhausted line in neighboring Chipotle. Of course, I have no expectations of Pita Cabana being NY's The Halal Guys. But I do wish an employee (namely a tall blonde-ish male) would have some respect for its customers. I get that working behind counters all day might be tiring. But being professional is at least a bare minimum. Scolding at customers when they ask you for help? I find Chipotle employees to have more manners than a Pita Cabana employee. Food wise - the temperature of rice and appetizers were merely warm 4/5 times I've been here. If I wanted cold food, I would have eaten ice cream. Do I recommend this place? No. Please make a turn for Big Bowl, Primati Bro's, or Penn Hebab. Pita Cabana is disgusting.
(1)Kim H.
How can you not love this place? Free desert your first trip, there was complimentary mint tea from the owners family's farm in Jordan when I went, and they're soooo nice there! The owner really takes pride in the food and rightfully so... It's delicious! The 10 for 20 deal on here is awesome and I totally reccomend it. The food is delicious and very affordable. There are lots of vegan options and outdoor seating. One of my favorite places in state college! Try their spinach egg rolls and their falafel and hummus :)
(5)H C.
This place is awesome! Amazing food, and unlike the neighboring chipotle, no line (although all those people are missing out!) This place is one of the few places in State College that serves unique food, and also is vegetarian friendly (you can get everything with flafels, which even meat eaters will enjoy (although they have a good selection of meat for the more carnivorous eaters as well).
(5)Whitney P.
I work two blocks away, so I eat here often. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. I usually pick up lunch and bring it back to the office, or pick up dinner and take it home. (I appreciate that the take away containers aren't hard plastic or styrofoam.) I also like the variety of options you can put in your meal -- makes it colorful, flavorful, and full of texture. If you don't dig meat, there are veggie options. The stuffed grape leaves are a favorite.
(5)Jennifer V.
Boo! The service is terrible & the food is not good. They basically have grilled chicken sitting dry & throw it in a owl of warm rice. Not much flavor at all... Thumbs down
(1)Eric H.
If the lines for Chipotle are too long, give the chicken gyros here. Free tea with sugar cubes are great too
(5)J A.
I love their falafels and falafel salads.
(5)Alex P.
Great food. I go for the sandwiches usually but their other stuff is good as well. The complimentary tea is great and they also make a hibiscus rose water tea there that is totally worth it. Look for that in the refrigerator near the register. As for sandwiches: the topping choices can be a bit confusing sometimes but don't be afraid to ask the employees. They're very helpful and will explain anything they have there.
(5)Tyshawn T.
I had a lamb gyro. It sucked. No flavor. Tzitziki Sauce was terrible. The vuy who made the food for me was rude and not knowledgable about the food.
(1)Tony L.
Okay I am slowly warming up to this place. However I find the wraps always being too saucy and a little bit on the watery side. Sometimes the toppings are on the salty side. Personally I might say the place is average, and I am only talking about the falafel, which is like the only vegetarian choice beside paying too much for just a salad. However repeatedly different people I go with come out disappointed with the flavor and texture of the meats.
(2)Jack K.
There was a deal at this restaurant and I was in town for work so I thought i try it out! Its not one of my favorite place, its an average place that I would maybe go if i were to maybe get another deal but for the regular price I probably would not go there under my full attention. The ambiance of the restaurant was alright, its in a college town so I did not expect too much which was a good mindset since I would have been disappointed by it. The food was not all that spectacular, it was more towards the average side. It was an alright place I would say.
(3)R M.
The falafel sandwich I had was delicious! They made their falafel in-house; it was super moist and flavorful and had a bit of a kick to it. The sandwich is grilled pita with falafel, hummus, tahini sauce, salsa, french fries, and yogurt sauce. It also typically comes with pickles inside but they were out of pickles when I came. I appreciated that it was reasonably priced for the large portion size. It tasted very authentic, almost as good as some of the falafel sandwiches I had in Israel. They also offer complimentary hot tea! Only complaint is the garlicky aftertaste I had for a while after I finished my meal.
(4)Steven Z.
Usually, the food at the Pita Cabana is very good, fast, and relatively a healthier option than a majority of faster food available in the area. However, they employ most young college kids that clearly have no sense of pride in the place they work. This can be shown by the degraded level of service they provide, the inconsistency in the freshness of food (or even if rice is available for the rice bowls on the menu). I would rate five stars if they improved their employee's motivation.
(4)D C.
I made a yelp account just to air my grievances with this place. Food was junk, service was junk. Worst part? Everyone behind the counter seems content with it. Microwaved stuffed grape leaves nonchalantly tossed on a plate with smear marks in places where no grape leaves had been laying. Saw them fry up my kebah, which came out warm on the ends and icy in the middle. Yuck. The baklava was probably made long ago and far away. The kebah definitely was (I saw it's frozen, pre-fried stage), and the grape leaves probably were too, given their unnaturally uniform appearance. The people behind the counter were in the midst of discussing how many customers were currently waiting extraordinarily long times for their deliveries. The tables were dirty, too. How this place survives as a business is beyond me.
(1)Frank S.
The best falafel sandwiches in town! Soooo much better than anything that you can eat a Pita Pit like a block away. Lebanese/Jordanian owner, food tastes like true authentic middle eastern cuisine. The falafel sandwich is my favorite, but the baba ghanoush sandwich is very good as well. Unlike other so-called pita/falafel restaurants, this one uses fresh ingredients and their pita bread is just so dang tasty. Varied toppings selection, handsome portion sizes. Yummy!
(4)William M.
Excellent shawarma. Great price and generous portions. We lived in the Middle East for two years and know a good shawarma from a bad one.
(5)Jacob S.
This place is the best. Been going here for awhile now and the owner always recognizes you and says hello/asks you how you are doing. Satay chicken sandwich is too easy.
(5)Michael S.
I live this place. Food is fresh and delicious. Ask for Nasi Lemak (Malay dish they sometimes serve). Reasonably priced as well
(5)Lily C.
great food,
(5)Greg W.
fantastic service and delicious food. loved the home made hot sauce. had the mezza platter and the chicken shish ta wouk.
(5)Ashlyn C.
Came here for lunch. Vegetarian and meat options were available. I ordered a vegetarian platter that came with an okra stew and some type of green leaf vegetable stew served over rice. There were a bunch of fresh vegetables, sauces and feta cheese that can be added on top (olives, lettuce, peppers, tahini, tabouli, etc.) . The stews tasted very good but the rice was very oily and salty. My girlfriend had a baba ganoush sandwich with the same options for toppings. French fries were served on the sandwich that were mushy and were not fresh. I personally enjoyed my food. The person behind the counter seemed to rush our order a bit but not that big of a deal.
(3)Sean M.
Being from Houston, which has a Mediterranean restaurant in literally every direction, I was thrilled to find this place. Unlike most places I've been to out here, the staff at Pita Cabana is always super friendly if first seemingly a bit reserved. The food is pretty fresh from the meat to the veggies and the sauces. My regular has become the large sandwich with half-sujuk (beef sausage) and half-shishtawook (chicken) with their hummus, salsa, onions, fries, parsley, and then, pro-move, garlic AND tzatziki sauce. This is a lunch and week-night dinner go-to for my friends and I, especially when we're studying, because it's fast, cheap, and tasty. Oh, and don't forget your reward card!
(3)Hani S.
Good food, bad service. Man behind the counter was rude and not very helpful. I told him I have a big order and was annoyed by it. Only 3 stars till someone better stands behind he counter.
(3)Phil K.
Pretty pricey for food that didn't impress. No staff was there when we showed up and we had to wait a bit. Even with a discount it was still a lot of money. Can't speak for the pitas but definitely avoid their meals.
(2)Atina K.
Very good and fresh food. Suitable for vegetarians. I personally really like their falafels, and I think that hummus they serve is mad from scratch: very flavorful and delicious!!! :)
(5)Yaima R.
Pretty good choice for lunch, tasty platters and very inexpensive if you get the the $10 for $20 coupons they seem to offer most of the time.
(3)Sandy M.
I agree that the place just doesn't invite the passerby (though it looks clean). The food definitely lived up to it's billing on this site. The hummus and pita was fresh and tasty, the soup was spicy and delicious, our sandwiches were generously full pitas and you can choose among many condiments and seasonings to the sandwich. My favorite was the rice pudding. I was a little hesitant when it arrived - it looked slightly grey - but it was a remarkable combination of flavors that was delicious. The server initially told me they were out of soup. When he found out he was mistaken, he brought a cup of soup out to me, no charge. I would definitely go back!
(5)S D.
Ewww .... not so much/. :/
(1)Patrick R.
Great food in store. Unfortunately, I live far from downtown and had to place a delivery order. After spending close to $30 on two sandwiches & falafel and waiting 45 minutes, we opened our meals to find.....hair! These were short curly black hairs embedded in our falafel and our sandwiches. Safe to say, the quality control at Pita Cabana is low. It is unfortunate because the food is good, but I am not a big fan of hair in my food. My suggestion: anyone making food at Pita Cabana should considering wearing a hair net.
(2)Nan P.
This is a new favorite spot. Yes, you order at the counter, but they are so helpful. We had a variety & it was incredible. Best ever Hummus, a variety of Egg Rolls, the satay chicken & the beef Pitas are terrific. And the free tea is a must.
(5)Liz E.
Fabulous food, great service, sweet prices!
(5)Lola I.
My friend and I ordered carryout from here. I really enjoy Mediterranean food and I was not disappointed that I came here. The food was quite good. We had the roasted chicken (a little dry), the beef kabob, stuffed grape leaves (yum!) and a greek salad. The biggest hurdle was getting through a charade of ordering and using my $10 for $20 coupon with the newbie cashier/server. It ended up requiring a phone call to the owner who seemed really nice.
(4)Alex R.
Awesome food. Cheap. KIBBEH. HANDMADE FALAFEL. THE TEA. OH GOD. THE TEA.
(4)Anya P.
Really good food. The guy who owns the place is super awesome. First time I went there I had a coupon and he took 20% off my bill and told me to use the coupon next time. I secretly wish it was more of a sit down place, though. Right now with the state of the place it's really just takeout.
(5)