Pitopia

Pitopia had been doing a string of amazing pop up restaurant collaborations with some tremendous Kosher establishments that are based outside of NYC. So this review is for the pop ups! (Though Pitopia in its own right is Felicia too, but that’s for another post)
The most recent pop up I’ve had the privilege of experiencing was the one day pop up with Milt’s bbq from Chicago this past Tuesday.
On an actually nice winters day in NYC… A crazy line of ppl assembled to get their hands on an original Milt’s smoked pulled brisket sandwich, pulled rib sandwich and a few other scrumptious items on the menu! Plus the not to be missed aioli!
Milt’s is my first go to when I land in Chi-​town. My car service is already instructed to do a stop there before heading to the hotel when it’s ordered. I order take out on the walk to the car and they have it ready piping hot and I’m a happy fat kid.
Wasn’t going to miss this pop up no matter what! The fries were delicious! Still piping hot, crunchy on the outside with a soft creamy center. I don’t know if they were serving up 2 different aioli’s but the one I got had no garlic flavor to it which was disappointing to say the least. The sammies… the pulled rib sandwich was scrumptious! Smothered in the right amount of their signature bbq sauce that has a little kick to it, the meat was unctuous with the right amount of marbling throughout each bite. I usually love their brisket, the meat quality is always phenomenal but this time it was a bit bland and dry, even with the aioli already on the there. Idk maybe I got the last scrappy pieces, so will not judge too harshly since I know what it usually is like.
But no regrets of devouring both, plus the fries, for the sake of the son to be new kid on the block in my tummy! I will see you in Chicago very very soon Milt’s & Chef Bryan!

I got the Israeli shwarma or whatever it was called. It was pretty meh. It was okay. But there’s better pita sandwiches in New York.
The salad bar is help-​yourself but they didn’t tell me that and I just forever reason don’t like buffets or open serve-​yourself things, idk why it just grosses me out. So I didn’t eat any.
So anyway, I like pita sandwiches but there are way better places in NYC to get them than here, it was pretty mediocre compared to other establishments. Also they seemed to be quite a bit pricier than I remember paying at other places. idk the whole vibe of the place was that the ownership was kinda stingy and all about the profits.
The little carboard box they give you your sandwich in is kind of cool though.

Great Israeli falafel. Love this place. Their schnitzel is also good. Prices are reasonable. The sauces are great as well.

Tthe quality of the food is very good here. I never had the falafel, but the lamb shawarma is scrumptious and succulent, and the schnitzels are delicious. I usually get the schnitzel platter with a sweet barbecue sauce, and it comes with round, seasoned fried potatoes and salad bar. These fries are crispy and well-​seasoned, and the salad bar is full of fresh, crisp vegetables, pleasing to the eye and the palate. I’m partial to the eggplant and the cole slaw. The location is very convenient, and they run great specials for schnitzel sandwiches, falafel, shawarma, and other meals, prices almost unheard of in a kosher store in Manhattan. The only issue is that the place is intended for takeout. It’s only a tad larger than a hole in the wall, and it gets packed in there during peak times. The garlic mayo is an addictive sauce for your fries, shawarma, and other items, and the sauces in general are a big draw. The line can be out the door sometimes. The food is delicious, but if you want to eat it there, be prepared to be packed in like sardines on those small, uncomfortable elevated stools.

I Ordered a grilled chicken cutlet with mashed potatoes. I specifically asked if the mashed potatoes is made from real potatoes ‘and not powder ’ –like many places do and she tols me yes, it it made with real potatoes. After receiving my food and tasting the mashed potatoes I realized that it is indeed made from powder and the grilled tasted uffel –it did not taste like GRILLED CHICKEN at all… so I asked the guy behind the counter how do you guys make the grilled chicken and he tells me, «we put it on top of the stove»

Flavour is very good. Pita is great. Falafel — crunchy. Hummus Original but not hardly enough. I got the Hummus plate with Falafel and had a bit of Humus at the bottom of the plate.

Enjoyed the Israeli schnitzel (pita sandwich) for lunch here recently. I had chicken although there is a veggie version, as well. It was delicious! The service was fast and friendly. Will definitely be back to try the falafel (or shawafel) next time!

Wow, I just got robbed of $ 13 for a chicken «shawarma.» They don’t even have a rotating spit of meat roasting. It’s already cut and lying in a bin. Oddly the meat has a sweet marinade. Pretty gross overall. Ate half of it before giving up.

Decent place for a fast lunch — Mediterranean style. Order at the register, keep your receipt and the nice people behind the line put your pita or platter together in a minute or two.
I had a schnitzel pita sandwich; it had lots of good chicken but not enough veggies.
Find one of their $ 3.00 discount coupons if possible.
Kosher — which helps a lot of people.

Wholesome and fresh! The falafel could use a little mow flavor though. Loved the salad bar. Fried onions with pickled cabbage and tahini sauce. Oh my god! Heaven!
A/​c wasn’t working and the place was a oven, but that’s not going to stop me from coming back.

The food is fast. The lines are constant. Sitting space is tight.
I would recommend this place when you need a quick meal. The food is good enough and the portion sizes are decent.
I found the service to be consistent with fast food lunch shops: no complaints — but that’s not their strong point.

The hummus and falafel bowl didn’t like much, but then I learned that the real action is at the other side of this tiny place, at the salad bar. I don’t know exactly what all the vegetables, but there was a nice item with cabbage in it plus a pretty good Israeli salad. The standout item is a yellow-​ish sauce, a powerful condiment with a curry/​cumin vibe.
The Yemenite soup with beef and vegetables wasn’t that memorable.

Pretty okay, but nothing spectacular.
Falafel balls were quite greasy, and even the baked eggplant was extremely greasy as well. Israeli Falafel Sandwich was a very average one (pita + falafel + sauce) that you can get anywhere, and both the hotdog and baguette were disappointingly small.
I guess the one upside is it’s cheap and kosher?.

Meh this place is ok. Happen to be on the corner where I was meeting my friend and we were hungry. It’s a tiny place with only seating along the window.
I had a humus pita, it was rather bland. It was about $ 6. I’ve had better elsewhere. The cashier that served me was not the sharpest tool in the shed. She placed the wrong order for me, and I showered her a Unilocal coupon for $ 2 off a pita and immediately after she forgot and didn’t apply the coupon. Said she was going to give me a refund. Never did.
Plenty of other pita places out there.

Nestled along the heavily foot trafficked corridor that is Broadway between Herald Square and Times Square sits this casual eatery and many others.
I’ve walked by many times than I could count but haven’t done so until now. I’m not certain why that is but perhaps it’s the same reason why I haven’t stopped in a Maoz either. I’ve been spoiled by the vast Middle Eastern eateries in Brooklyn Bay Ridge and my personal all-​time favorites, Ibby’s Falafel, Taïm, and Mamoun’s which, in my mind, provide the highest bar to compare against.
I ordered the Pitopia Falafel sandwich to give you proper feedback and that one-​to-​one comparison. As with fast casual, the sandwich didn’t take long to prepare, which was good. The falafel had good texture. Browned perfectly and each bite had good consistency. The only thing lacking was the spices that were used in this batch, and that I’ve come to expect from falafel. I wanted more of that, and these lacked the flavor that i craved. It was simply muted in comparison to their counterparts. It makes sense to have someone sample each batch for quality assurance. I hope they consider doing that and it could also use more hummus or sauce inside. Perhaps less salad or cucumbers?
They have the opportunity to be really great. For 6.95, it fits in the snack/​lunch segment nicely as well as falling into the category of cheap-​eats for which I’m a fan, but i didn’t care much for the salad, so maybe cut me a break?
I’m also tickled with the fascinating to-​go packaging. The top tears off… and you hold the bottom which contains the Pitopia (falafel) sandwich. Very neat design.
The location is narrow and doesn’t lend itself well to lines or queues so that could prove a problem for lunch-​goers unless this moves quickly. They also provide an area to gather your own salad (salad bar) with your meal, for which i lacked interest for, but it looked clean and tidy. I stopped in around the time when people start leaving work to return home.
All in all, a decent lunch stop for office workers. They have other sandwiches which i may try in the future but the falafel could use some improvement before i return just for that.

PITOPIA. Its a small spot pumping out some quality stuff & if anyones got a doubt on it i say get your head straight. $ 6 for a pita with 4 rock solid balls of falafel hummus and unlimited salad & its kosher. They also serve sushi swarma & other good stuff.
Tried there swarma & its good. Munched on salad like today is the last day. Chickpeas, corn salsa, coleslaw, cured tomatos, olives, cured peppers, caramelized onions & tons of condiments. When done eating i packed another salad up and brought it got later all included.
Bottom: — i’d go at this spot anytime. Things are clean. Its cheap. Its delicious. Its kosher. Unlimited salads. Staff is cool. Meat is good. Walk in. order. Sit. Eat. Get out. Its all see through glass so people can see your glorious moment of munching on unlimited salad like its your last meal. Mazel Tov.
Note: — People complain oh its $ 6 to much for falafel. Please its unlimited salad bar & clean kosher establishment. If you dont like greens & salad then u have an issue.

this place is a dream come true for me. Perfect for lunch or a meal on the go. I’m mostly vegetarian and love having salad items laid out in front me. This place has unique Pitas with falafel (I ordered a mexi guac pita). I love the topping items and sauces you can add to your pita, theres so many of them of them and such a good variety of sauces. All this for $ 6.50! you can’t beat that in the city. I wish this place was close to my job in Tribeca, I would be here more often.
The place does get busy and it’s pretty uncomfortable to eat their since it’s such a narrow space.

Got a $ 5 credit on groupon and decided to buy the $ 12 voucher to this place. What a mistake! This place was down right dirty. Sauce cups flying everywhere and found them resting in the salad. All the sauce bottle were empty. The floor and seating were sticky. I mean there were already limited seatings.
Didn’t matter if this place had unlimited make yourself salad bar — I. can’t possibly eat while standing. The salad selection was much more limited than previously posted pics. Fried eggplant were too salty and really greasy. The pickled vegetables were also really salty. The tomatoes were mushy. Half of the salad bars were empty by the time I arrived — 7pm.
I ordered the schwamna chicken platter which came with regular or hot fries, hummus, and a side salad. I stood around expecting my number to be called, only to learn that they will only make your order if u physically stand in front of them to remind them. They forgot my hummus and salad. I had to go back to the counter twice to retrieve each item. The staff was rude when I asked and seemed so confused. I really mentally prepped my mind expecting food poisoning after dining at this place.
$ 13 dollar (well I paid $ 2) — for my dinner — who in the right mind comes here to pay full price? If it wasn’t for the free cookies and crunchy hot fries — this place would be a 1 star in my book.

Pretty good falafel spot. I got the pitopia special: hummus, pickles, Israeli salad, and falafel (obviously).
I love the cardboard rectangle container it comes in… makes for easy handling and transportation!

I find them to be a solid 3 stars, even if they are inconsistent. Go for the food, but not for the service. The people who make your orders are good, but the people taking orders are slow and possibly idiots.
But as for the falafel sandwiches, you get a TON of food, and it’s pretty cheap (under $ 7 including tax). The Israeli sandwich is good (comes with eggplant) as well as the French Falafel (comes with French fries inside).
Go right before the lunch rush at 12:30 because then you’ll have people picking up catering orders, the line will be out the door, and they’ll be short on falafel and you’ll have to wait. Seriously, had to wait 10 minutes once. Not very fast food.
Also, child labor laws be damned. Pretty sure the kid who took my order was like 11.