Pita House & Grill ticks all the boxes for this particularly jaded eater. No hyperbole-stuffed press release accompanied the hoisting of modest signage along 3300 South. Social media feeds offer minimal trace of the small mom-and-pop. And what’s that on the menu, kebobs? Catnip.
The business makes use of the space (389 E 3300 S) which was once home to Alibaba, a restaurant/market combo that sported a similarly-minded menu – though it’s unclear if PH is a rebrand, remodel, or otherwise.
Pictured top is the full zatt’r – a dinner plate-sized flatbread enthusiastically sandblasted with za’atar, a spice blend that leans on sesame seeds and sumac to deliver a crave-able nutty, and citrusy profile. While it’s a dish I’ve enjoyed around town before (Beirut Cafe’s preparation is also excellent), here it’s finished with a bright salad of sorts. Lightly dressed tomato and cucumber are joined by invigorating mint leaves. It’d be a fine meal in and of itself, and at just six or so dollars, it’s both a steal and exemplary Summer snackin’.
Another highlight was an entree of two ground beef skewers. The star of the plate for me however was the rice lurking underneath, happily outshing the beefy topping. It’s well-cooked fluttery rice subtly flavored with a good amount of butter and floral spice. Digging through the pile, a cardamom pod falls by the wayside here, a bay leaf shred there. The Middle East is a region of the world where rice is taken seriously, and this is indeed, serious stuff.
One dish that was completely new to me though – Iraqi samoon flatbread – a dish I’ve never encountered around these parts, or frankly anywhere else for that matter. Think of it as an analog to the more common pita, with plenty of pliant chew and puff, albeit formed into a unique diamond shape. Wikipedia suggests the core differentiator is “live-culture yogurt as a leavener”. Ask for it by name, mine appeared as a happenstance freebie in a togo order. Catnip, catnip.
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Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC. I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.
I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV. Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.
Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.
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