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Cafe Pita +
Category: Restaurants Mediterranean Mediterranean [Edit]
10890 Westheimer RdHouston, TX 77042
Neighborhood: Westchase
(713) 953-7237
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
127 reviews for Cafe Pita +
Review Highlights
"Definitely want to come back and try some more Bosnian food."
(in 34 reviews)
"The lamb shank was so tender and juicy."
(in 24 reviews)
"Cevap, Beef Kabob, Grilled Chicken and some Lepinja bread."
(in 15 reviews)
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127 reviews in English
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Review from Niana K.
Silver Spring, MD
1/26/2012 2 photos
Probably one of the best meals I've had in a very long time.
We ordered the Hadzijski cevap and the mix platter (cevapi, chicken and beef shish kebabs, stuffed pljeskavice, veggies, basmati rice, tomato based dipping sauce and cheese spread). Every single thing on that platter was packed with fresh herbs, seasoning, and flavor. My favorites were the super tender chicken shish kebab, cevapi, and the basmati rice. Oh, and of course their pita was amazing! The texture of the pita was just perfect--nice crust on the outside and super soft and spongy on the inside. I couldn't stop dipping that pita in my friends Hadzijski cevap tomato cream sauce, which by the way, was absolutely delicious. If I were to go there again, that would be the dish I'd get for sure.
I can't complain about the service like other reviewers b/c we went on a rainy Tuesday night and there weren't that many people there, but I must say that our waitor was spot on. I also must say that everything on that menu was very very affordable and didn't make me cringe.
I'd pass the Tex Mex and BBQ for Bosnian food. It was just that good. -
Review from Joanna W.
Sugar Land, TX
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Why must we have a love/hate relationship Cafe Pita? I want to give you 5 stars, I really do, especially since you've moved to a much larger location (couple doors down in the same complex) to make getting a table more convenient. It must be because that even though you've moved to a larger location, you STILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF WAITSTAFF WORKING THERE! Which is a total of what? TWO? Please, let me love you like I want to and HIRE MORE SERVERS.
Okay so obviously you know how I feel about the service, I don't even want to go into detail of how patient you need to be with them. On to a much much lighter note, their food. The food is absolutely delicious (it was featured on Food Network so it kinda has to be right?). If you've seen them on Diners, Dine-Ins, and Dives, you know to order either the Cevap, the lamb, or they're incredibly-difficult-to-pronounce-stuffed-meat- with-pita-bread dish. My boyfriend and I like to get greedy every time we come here and just order the Mixed Platter which basically includes a sampling of their big dishes along with rice. It's honestly large enough to feed 3 people, or 4 tiny girls. The fried cheese appetizer is pretty good (and greedy). They give you roughly 5 of palm-sized fried feta cheese triangular pieces. Two was enough to get me satisfied and ready for the main course. -
Review from Casey P.
Houston, TX
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I found this place from Yelp since it was close to where I was taking a training class so I stopped in for a quick lunch during the week.
There are not many tables, and it was packed during the lunch hour. It started to clear out around 1 though. I only had to wait 5 minutes, maybe.
I was especially excited to try the food since I had just spent a few days in Bosnia over the summer. I ordered the cevap sandwich, which was promptly brought out no more than 5 minutes later. A bite of sausage with the bread and some of the white and red sauce (not sure what they're called) all together is all I needed to be transported back to Bosnia. It was perfect.
The service was meh, but let's be honest, you don't go to places like this for the service. All in all, this place is a fantastic find. I never would have thought I'd find Bosnian food In Houston, but I am more than ecstatic that I did. -
Review from Ai Vy N.
Arlington, TX
I was in Houston for the second time and had sum extra time to check out the city. I decided to try sum new restaurants from http://restaurant.com and found this place. I looked it up on Yelp and was surprised to know that it was on Triple Ds so I definitely had to try it out.
The restaurant was super crowded when I came in. Felt kinda bad to take a table for 4 all by myself lol. I ordered the eggplant dip and the mix platter. The lepinja bread was super soft and awesome. The food was full of flavor. I especially like the grilled stuffed beef, forgot wat it's called. However both the eggplant dip and my mix platter were pretty greasy. I thought that was unnecessary. The food was good and I didnt wanna stop eating but the greasiness actually put a stop to it lol. I want to give it a 3.5 stars but the waitress was really nice and friendly so i think they deserve the other half a star. The restaurant could definitely get a 5 stars if they use less oil on all the dishes. -
Review from Ivan C.
Houston, TX
11/16/2011 3 photos
Bosnian Food? In Houston!!??? Try this Place at least once.
Ambiance: This is a Diner so expect a crowded evening especially during rush hour.
Food: I only tried the Bosnian dishes because I've had plenty of Mediterranean food elsewhere. You want to try the Bosnian dishes. The Cevap and Pljeskavice is decadent. The Kajmak is creamy and the Ajvar a bit sweet like preserve. The lepinje bread is soft on the inside and toasty on the outside like a giant butter roll bursting with flavor. I believe they drench the bread in chicken broth before grilling it for a superb finish.
Service: The service is good when it peaceful but ok when busy. Be prepared to wait outside the restaurant for tables to clear.
Value: Definitely worth the money. You will not be disappointed with the food. -
Review from Zero C.
Houston, TX
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is OK. Their prices are reasonable and portion is pretty big.
Their pita breads were very good, nicely toasted and very moist.
The Cevap was very tasty. Those sausage links were very flavorful but not overpowering. Highly recommended.
Stuff Pljeskavice was just OK. It didn't has a lot of flavor.
BYOB and no cork fee is nice. -
Review from Andrew C.
10/26/2011
I only trekked this far because I saw this place featured on Diner's, Drive-ins, and Dives. I convinced a couple of friends to make the journey with me. We arrived right at 12 pm on Sunday and they weren't open yet. We sat around in the car hoping that we didn't drive out here for nothing. After about 10 minutes, the owner arrived and told us that it would be about 30 min before they would be ready. For real? We were a little annoyed but we killed some time at a nearby Starbucks.
The extra waiting made us extra hungry so we immediately ordered some hummus. That was OK, but the bread they served with it was awesome. It's like a lighter, doughier pita bread. None of us had any knowledge of Bosnian food so had no clue what to order. Our server was very friendly and answered all of our questions. I went with the Pljeskavice, which is their version of a hamburger. It's kinda like a Juicy Lucy since the cheese, mushrooms, and onions are stuffed between two patties. Great idea but not so great execution. The portion was big but the flavors were bland so I got tired of eating it. The burger was a little well done and tough. They used the pita like bread again and it doesn't make for a very good bun. After about two bites, It just falls apart. Fail.
My friend had the Cevap. This was sausage links with the same bread and onions plus a cream sauce. I tried some and the sausage tasted like my burger. I guess they only use one kind of spice around here. Another friend had the stuffed cabbage. This reminded me of a cabbage roll. It was stuffed with meat and rice. It was in a tomato based sauce/broth that was quite sour. My friend though it was too sour but I thought it was pretty good. That might also be because it didn't taste like my burger.
The service was great and it's cool that they were on Food Network. I like to try different foods but if this if representative of Bosnian food, I'm not a fan. The portions are large but there wasn't much flavor. This was worth a try but I don't think I'll be coming back.
p.s. Only some plexiglass separates the kitchen from the rest of the dining area. Be prepared to smell after you eat here. -
Review from Alison A.
Updated - 10/14/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Ok, my 2nd update and my bf and I had a word with the manager. He apologized for what happened (our being turned away from dinner when we didn't have problems coming to dinner before at the same time we'd always come). He asked for us to describe the waitresses who turned us away and stated that they no longer work there. I don't go here as often anymore since those incidents, so I can't verify if those waitresses were in fact let go.
So I've bumped back up to one more star since the manager was very kind to us about the whole situation. I will say though on this visit that the food flavors for certain items have changed and unfortunately, not for the better. The hummus didn't have the flavor it usually does - it was a little more sour and I thought maybe my taste buds were off or something so I kept trying more. Nope. Just sour.
Also, since their deep fryer had broken a couple of months ago, they took their french fries off the menu, which I LOVED. I was so disappointed to know I wouldn't get to have those perfectly seasoned, crispy fries ever again. Sad. Face. They've now replaced the side of fries with a side salad.
Well I guess it's good looking out, Cafe Pita. I shouldn't be eating anymore french fries in general anyway. =P2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/26/2011
It pains me to write this update, a bad one at that, but it has to be said.
I come to Cafe Pita at… Read more »
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Review from Shervin J.
Houston, TX
9/22/2011
Place is simply great.
Nice service. Really tasty food and close to my office.
Will be back again. -
Review from Luigi C.
This place is around my part of town, but for some reason, I never heard about it until I saw it on Food Network. I actually liked this place and the food I got, but I wasn't crazy about it. I do plan to go back, but it's not on the top of the list at the moment.
Bosnian food is simple and appetizing, especially at Cafe Pita! I really enjoyed the Cevap sandwich and the spread that came with it but I felt like it was missing another ingredient to tie the sausage links with the lepinja bread. The lepinja bread is the Bosnian version of a pita bread, pretty much the same though. I thought the lepinja and sausage were good together, but after awhile it just became repetitive. I felt like it needed more to kick up the dish.
I also tried the Pljeskavice (try pronouncing that) sandwich or burger, whatever you want to call it. I'm assuming it's Bosnia's homage to burgers. Anyways, it was actually very tasty! It was like an inside-out burger where all the mushrooms, onions, and I believe the cheese were stuffed in between the two patties. I found it to be very flavorful, juicy, and tender! But then again, just like with the Cevap, after eating it halfway, it was so plain that it just became repetitive after awhile.
Here's how I rate the dishes individually:
Cevap Sandwich - 3/5
Pljeskavice - 4/5
Just an FYI, it's a pretty small restaurant, but they have outdoor and indoor seating. I wouldn't prefer the outdoor seating for two reasons - one, it's Houston and its always hot and humid. Two, the outside scenery is not very appealing to the eye. -
Review from Donald M.
Houston, TX
8/12/2011
Am I thrilled to give Cafe Pita +, Houston's lone Bosnian restaurant, Yelp's highest possible rating - five big red commie stars for this humble little joint west of the Beltway on Westheimer. I am further thrilled to say that I did not go there based on Food Network tool Guy Fieri's imprimatur. No, I read about Cafe Pita + in local rag Houston Press. Robb Walsh, part-owner of the stellar El Real, wrote a glowing review. That's why I went.
Cevapi is regarded by some to be "the Best Ground Meat Product in the World [http://www.seriouseats...]" Without having tried haggis yet, I tend to agree. If the cevapi sandwich is Bosnia's answer to the hamburger, then we Americans have a lot to learn from our Bosnian comrades.
Lots of unpronounceable dishes here. Many of them don't sound good to me. I didn't oder any of those. I think one of those dishes might be a dried beef called kojak, something like that. I did ask for more avjar at one point, and the owner (?) quickly, yet gently, corrected my pronunciation. That, my friends, that's service.
That reminds me, I've read some of the other reviews written about Cafe Pita, and most of the grousing is reserved for service. Some reviewers mercilessly remove stars if their whims aren't granted at the snap of their fingers. If that's you, how about you quit acting like an entitled crybaby. Their eyes aren't trained on you and they can't read your mind. Instead, try politely asking your waiter for more chips and hot sauce or water. You might be astounded by the effectiveness of this non-petulant approach. -
Review from Vyacheslav f.
Houston, TX
7/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Here is the truth. Very tasty ! food is great! no ambiance, forget the service, someone forgat to turn the lights on. No AC or maybe there was. Place is packed and i really enjoyed the poached apple ! Oh was so tasty ! Look, this place should be a pitta stand. now if you people like to play restaurant, ( and you are busy ) have some restaurant feel, or better yet; HIRE SOMEONE who can help !
I will be back many times and many times more! but i hope one day you will clean up the place a bit and turn the lights on! Congratulations! Original , good food dive, and something to come back to.
One more thing. if you have something on the menu like pizza, dont run out. One time you may think you are busy, when it happens 3 times on the row, its poor management. HIRE ONE! -
Review from Shane D.
Bosnian food? Yes, Bosnian.
Whenever I'm in Houston for work, I always want to try new places for dinner. Luckily, one of my co-workers is a foodie like me, and he saw this place on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. I've never had Bosnian before, so I was eager to try it out.
It's not easy to find. It's in a strip mall and hidden from view on the main road. It's also a very tiny place. They actually had to build the kitchen in the area that was normally the dining area, and then wall it off in plexi glass so that it's separate from the seating area. Looks strange, and makes it feel even smaller. There are literally only about 7 tables in this place, so you might have to wait awhile to be seated.
Upon sitting down we are asked for our drink orders. We ask for beer. The waitress explains they do not have a alcohol license, so the restaurant is a BYOB restaurant! Conveniently there is a liquor store next door. So we get a 6 pack of Shiner Black. Most restaurants charge $3-5 per beer, so this is a great way to save a little since we got a whole 6 pack for less than $10.
The menu is pretty diverse, but it seems to be a cross between Greek/Meditterean food and middle eastern. Being the gluttons that we are, we had to order the sampler appetizers and entree to try a little of everything.
The appetizer included marinated and smoked pastrami slices, bosnian salami, imported cheeses, olives, roasted peppers, and TONS of their own fresh baked bread. The pastrami was a little tough, kind of like a soft jerky, but very flavorful. The rest was outstanding. Smoky flavors that melted in your mouth.
The entree platters were even more massive and included a marinated beef kabob, marinated chicken kabob, 10 (yes 10) Bosnian sausages, roasted vegetables, basmati rice, meditterean salad, and a beef pattie stuffed with bosnian cheeses, peppers, and mushrooms. Plus more of their fresh baked bread. The kabobs and patties were slightly over cooked, but with the included bosnian dipping sauces, they were still delicious.
The appetizer was a pretty good deal at $9, but the entree was a great deal at only $19 for all that food. I eat a lot, but I couldn't finish it. I had to take a full box home with me and had leftovers for lunch the next day.
I love places that are unique like this. Even though it had some rough edges, I can safely say that I would likely come back. 3.5 stars. -
Review from Lauren E.
New Orleans, LA
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
So excited to get some Bosnian food! The Cevap is so tasty and greasy, the portion is huge so I would split between two people. As my aunt would say, this is not what you would call health food. BYOB. We had a short wait at 8 on a Saturday night. Try it once if you've never had Bosnian, maybe you'll love it
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Review from Tek L.
Houston, TX
8/22/2011
Notoriety: *Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
*Cevap sandwich with onions and kajmak dipping sauce: This was essentially sausage links, pita bread, and onions.
Note: If you get the onions, don't plan on making out for the next 24 hrs.
*Pirjan (lamb shank with potatoes, egg plant, zuccini, basmati rice, kajmak, and lepinja bread): Interesting mild flavors that I've never had before. The lamb meat just melted right off the bone (since it was roasted for several hours in a clay pot).
OVERALL: I've never had Bosnian food before this place and I was impressed. This place is definitely worth trying. I intend on taking Mama Food Crasher here when she visits one day. -
Review from Victoria M.
Houston, TX
9/4/2011
Short on time, so here are some notes:
ground/sausage like meat extremely flavorful
bread like a cross between pita and a giant English muffin
grilled sardines very fishy, as expected
apple dessert delicious enough to order a second in the same sitting
variety platter HUGE. as are general portions
fried cheese is not battered (more like griddled cheese) w/ roasted red pepper puree for a touch of sweetness
BYOB, good for take out -
Review from Mercedes C.
Houston, TX
7/16/2011
This is one of boyfriends favorite food places. The cevapi is the dish to try. I thought the food was pretty delicious and different.
This is a farily small restaurant. The tables are pretty close to one another but it wasnt' packed so we were comfortable. I liked the fries and the sauces that accompanied the meat. I've only eaten here once, so I'll have to try it again later. Maybe the lamb dish next. -
Review from Andy W.
Katy, TX
7/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
If it wasn't for the service...
This would probably be four stars.
But really, the terrible service tempered any shine on the meal. I didn't receive any bread with my cevapi. That should say everything.
I really cannot recommend dining there. At least until I go back and get better service.
It's a shame. -
Review from Paula G.
7/7/2011
What brought me to this place was a living social coupon, I bought it because I saw the restaurant featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on Food Network, and Guy was right the food is good...even the Humus was amazing...
This cozy place right off the beltway serves excellent food...the portions are on point, the staff is very nice...I ordered the mixed platter and had to take half of it home....the meat was amazing, even the rice was good, and rice is easy to mess up, but their rice was moist and wonderful..
I really hope they open a place in the loop one day....I would visit more often....hey that should be incentive enough! LOL -
Review from Zaid R.
Sugar Land, TX
9/21/2011
I saw this on Diners, Drive ins and Dives.
And then I JUST HAD to go there.
I got the Turkish sandwich, which was very good, The bread really shines at this place. The bell pepper spread complimented the sausage very well.
But the baklava: the best I have ever had.
Flaky, sweet and filled with walnuts. I haven't had baklava anywhere else since I visited this place. Any other place's baklava would be disappointing and depressing.
GO HERE. -
Review from Brian H.
Houston, TX
9/21/2011
Cafe Pita + is my favorite restaurant near my neighborhood in Houston. I discovered it while googling Greek places after moving here from Austin and was glad I didn't let the misleadingly generic name cause me to overlook it.
My favorite places to eat are cheap, tasty, ethnic holes-in-the-wall, and Pita + is certainly all of these.
Everyone talks about the cevap, and for good reason. Its the perfect dish to ease yourself into Bosnian cuisine and all-around fun to eat.
Any plate that comes with avjar is guaranteed to be good. I believe its the best condiment I've ever had. I need to remember to ask if I can buy some jars to bring home so I can put it on everything.
I've found the best way to tackle the funny-sounding meals is to try them all. In the past six months I've worked my way down the menu and tried every last thing on it except the sardines, which I plan on tackling after a few drinks sometime soon (I'm not into fish).
Out of the 20 or more times I've eaten there I've only once had bad service, so I'd say that is about as good as you'll find anywhere. This is true especially because of A) how busy it can get at certain times a day, and B) considering how half the patrons in there ask a bunch of goofy questions about what these dishes are they've never heard of and can't pronounce.
The prices are really cheap, though I noticed most of the menu went up about one dollar recently. Still, you usually get huge portions for under $10.
I love how you can bring your own wine without any corkage fees.
If you're on a date make sure you get her the nutella crepes for dessert.
If you want something tasty, cheap and unique, made by good people, Pita + can not be beat. -
Review from Devin M.
Houston, TX
7/11/2011
Had heard alot about Cafe Pita and then a co-worker of mine went recently and was raving so after I got through a recent stomach flu, (i Know!) I decided to go...
Do you Love Hummus? Well I do and the hummus plate at Cafe Pita will definitley satisfy your taste buds...notes of lemon and just the right touch of herbs...but the bread is what the killer is....homemade and almost doughy...Sooo Good!
I ordered the tri-color salad (tomatoes, avocado, feta cheese, balsamic vinagarette) Wow! this combo was phenomenal
My date had the lamb entree, succulent, meat falling right off bone, and he even liked the rice and potatoes, said they had a nice, different taste
I had a meat-like soup...the tomato gravy almost had a cheesy like taste to it and it seemed like little meat sausages were in the soup along with sliced peppers and onions....Probably not the best option on my stomach, but it was good, probably a real score for Bosnian food lovers...
I really liked this place and next time will go and order some of their pizzas which might garner a fourth star...:) -
Review from Lawrence T.
Sugar Land, TX
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
1) came due to a coupon
2) came also due to DTD with Guy tv show
3) the interior was so dark around 6pm. Like I can understand the dark hole in the wall feeling but the show made it seem like a bright and festive place. It was just a bit too dark for me.
4) never had bosnian food before so let me justify my 3 star rating.
bread is good, eggplant appetizer is pretty good. The weekend only lamb is $18 and it had some tough pieces (if you have weak teeth don't apply) but the pieces near the bone were very tender. Maybe I was eating the fatty parts that was chewy?
wife had the stuffed burger pattie thing and it's pretty good. it was hot and had some flavor.
Female waitress was awesome and very nice
The 2 minuses
- price. The lamb was a HUGE portion for $18 but there really wasn't mind blowing for price/taste. My wife's little stuffed burger thing was like $10 and had NO sides. they actually crossed out the french fries on the menu. I think we complained 2-3 times while eating that this plate needs a side.
- you really had to dig the flavor. I've had a lot of different food all over the world and if you HAD to have this then I guess it would hit your spot. This has a big of greek flavor with the salad and olives. I think I would rather get a schawarma or gyro with fries and call it a day.
Plus
if your dying for lamb i guess this is the spot. I hate to say that an austrialian chain restaurant has a rack of lamb that is about the same price that might just be a bit tastier.
Would I come again? probably with a coupon or just to eat the pita -
Review from Jeannette S.
Sugar Land, TX
6/26/2011
We came by on a Saturday night and it was packed. The whole dining area consisted of roughly 10-11 tables and we waited about 15 mins so it wasn't too bad. There were 2 servers, 1 was super sweet and the other was like a machine. Hahha we were lucky to get the sweet lady.
We had the Fried Cheese, Cevaps in Cream Sauce and the Meat Combo Plate.
Fried cheese was okay but the sauce that came with it was fabulous. I had the Cevaps in cream sauce. Cevaps were flavorful and the cream sauce I drank it like soup. It was so creamy with lots of seasonings and I'm sure I drank 1000 calories of cream sauce. Bf had the meat combo plate with beef, chicken, cevaps, veggies and rice. Meats and veggies were grilled nicely full of flavors. Meats were a little tough and dry for me but bf had no complain.
I had my eyes on the pizzas though. Saw the pizza on the next table and the crust seemed to be thin and crispy. I am definitely coming back to get the pizzas and the lamb shank.
http://Restaurant.com has gift certificate 80% off on top of sale. Coupon code is SUMMER. Go get it and try this place out. -
Review from Kate F.
7/28/2011
I love everything about Cafe Pita!! I usually go for lunch or right after work for some dinner. Everything I have has has been realy delicious. The cevap is by far my favorite sandwich there. I also enjoy it in the tomato sauce for dinner. My favorite appetizer is the feta feta. A large chuck of feta cheese sitting on olive oil and a home made tomato sauce. It is also served with delicious bread.
It is a small dining room, and get there early for lunch if you dont want to have to wait! -
Review from candy b.
Spring, TX
11/12/2011 2 photos
The CEVAPI was excellent, I loved the bread they used everything was fresh and delicious, friendly service five stars. NOTE, may not have a place to sit but who cares eat in your car! The CEVAPI is huge and should cost more yes I said it raise the price it's worth it.
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Review from Jarrod M.
3/22/2011
It seems that the more negative yelp reviews seem to be coming from those who watched the insufferable Guy Fieri. All I can say is that DDD does not do the place justice. If anything, I wish it hadn't been on the show (less crowded). In fact, one of the worst times I have been there was the night after a rerun had aired. Invariably, the restaurant is caught off guard and there are not nearly enough servers available for the crush of ddd acolytes.
Here's the deal. Before you even get to Pita +, you have to stop at a Spec's to grab your alcohol. I'm a beer kind of guy, so I like to go with a eastern-european type of beer. The first time I went, I brought a six-pack f czechvar with me. It goes great with anything. I'd probably bring your own bottle opener because sometimes, it can take awhile to get one.
Yeah, Cevap is great and all, and the bread (lupinja I think) is fine as well, but those aren't the stars of Cafe Pita +. What is? Why, burek of course! To psyche myself up before a visit to Pita +, I chant "Burek...Burek...Burek." It doesn't matter what kind of Burek you get, they're all good. Cheese has seemed to be my goto Burek, though. Spinach, too.
Second place for me is the Pirjan, which is a kind of lamb stew. The meat just falls off of the bone and is so, so good. This is another dish that is just great the next day as leftovers. Lamb and eggs for breakfast? Yes please. I really should try more dishes here, but I love what I've had so much I have a hard time branching out.
The only thing preventing this place from getting five stars is the service. It is hit or miss, and can be especially slow on Friday or Saturday night (and especially avoid the place if Guy Fieri has been on recently). Still, if you haven't yet, give this place a chance. You won't regret it.Listed in: Outside the Loop, Pizza Party
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Review from Lasairiona M.
Missouri City, TX
4/29/2011
We had a $25 http://Restaurant.com voucher, so my hubby, 2 friends and I went. We were immediately surprised by how small this place was - and it was full to bursting.
What a fantastic restaurant - we started with some hummus and fried cheese - both of which were delicious!
For our main course, we each had something different, I had the Pirjan/lamb shank which just about fell off the bone, it was cooked to perfection and full of flavour. (Pretty fatty but that just goes with the territory of a lamb shank.)
My hubby had the Pljeskavice (an inside out burger with cheese and mushrooms inside) and the Cevap (Bosnian sausage) - he only managed to eat one and brought the other home for the next day. Both were divine!
Friend no.1 had what I she said was a delicious pizza and her hubby had the mixed plate.
Delicious food, great atmosphere and very reasonably priced - we'll definitely be going back! -
Review from Gilbert L.
Houston, TX
Started with the Meza Plate. A combination of prosciutto, salami, mozzarella, this really awesome tomato dipping sauce and some pickles, olives. It had a bunch of different tastes that went well together. I make sandwiches with the bread they give me because that is just a habit i have from when i was a kid and figured this place was casual enough for me to do it.
I always want to try the Lamb Shank but every time I go there isn't any more left...which tells me its just that much more awesome. I have tried the Cevap, Bosnian Pizza, Turkish Sandwich, Gyro and a few things I cant even pronounce or type at this point. The Cevap continues to be a go to meal there. The flavor of the spices and the meat is something I cant find at any other Mediterranean style place.
I give it five starts because its got a great feel, , its unique, the food is consistently good, the pricing point is good and the people are friendly. Combination of consistency and good foodness is really important at least to me it is.
Oh...PS - Its BYOB no corkage fee...that's just icing on the cake that is already awesome.Listed in: Die, Die Must Try!
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Review from Sara G.
Gilbert, AZ
8/9/2011
I decided to try this place after seeing it on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and because I've never tried Bosnian food. I had the cevap and it was delicious! Huge sandwich, great sauce, and I probably would have polished the whole thing off had I not run out of sauce, which is definitely not like me. I am usually a small eater.
The location was a little divey, and I went in August and it felt like the a/c wasn't working and there were a few too many flies for my liking. There were also no other customers. People don't know what they're missing! -
Review from Frances L.
Houston, TX
10/23/2011
After coming here twice in two weeks, this place is still pretty good. Order the cevap or the goulash both come with huge portions. If you're here with a friend, the mix platter for 20 bucks is a good choice but lots of meat.
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Review from Amanda M.
Houston, TX
4/25/2011
Despite de facto living by Cafe Pita for several months, I didn't try it until l moved back in the loop, and then I wished I had frequented it much earlier. The first trip we tried the Pirjan (lamb shank) and a mixed grill plate Pljeskavice (stuffed hamburgerish meat with cheese and mushrooms), cevap (an amazing Bosnian sausage), and beef and chicken kebab. The cevap was the star of the mixed grill; I could've lived without the rather dry plejeskavice.
In subsequent trips I usually get the pirjan, cevap sandwich, and a dish that combines cevap and beef kebab in this wonderfully creamy tomato based sauce. I disagree with the review that didn't like the sauces. I always end up using the amazing lepinja bread to soak up every last drop of the sauce in the pirjan and the tomatoey sauce in the cevap/beef kebab dish. I'm not a huge bread eater, but I make an exception for Cafe Pita.
I've had to wait for a table on a Friday or Saturday night, but service has always been good, and I somehow have ended up with the same waiter all but one visit. Last time I wanted to try something new, the pizza, but it was lunch time and the pizza oven or maybe the dough weren't going to be ready for another hour. Also, they substituted chicken for beef in a dish, and they offered us a free dessert (nutella crepes) to make up for it.
I love the food, prices, and the byob policy. Yum! -
Review from Kimberly E.
Austin, TX
4/14/2011
Great place to try new things. The inside is small and the normal crowd seems a little off-putting but don't let that deter you. The wait staff is always nice and I've never ordered anything I didn't like.
I try and get something new every time I go. If you like cheese, get the FetaFeta appetizer. The Cevap & Turkish sandwiches are awesome. The Tricolore salad is yummy too. Its not going to be a place to eat if you are on a diet but its worth it.
The food comes quick, is cooked to perfection and its BYOB. -
Review from Michael P.
Bryan, TX
10/14/2011
Awesome food (at a great price)! The cevap is excellent, the bread is fantastic, and the cream-cheesy spread makes it incredible! My personal favorite is the lamb shank-falls off of the bone! Wait staff has always been great. The host of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" was spot on!
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Review from Susana L.
4/1/2011
My first Bosnian food experience and a wonderful one, at that. The çevapi is the most outstanding sausage that I have had recently, category: lamb. They manage to cook it perfectly--moist and flavorful. Lamb sausage can get quite dry, but they manage to keep it juicy.
I also quite enjoyed the eggplant dip. All the food seems to be served with this soft, heavenly bread. It's the best bread ever. I love spongey, soft bread that manages not to be bland. It also looks like it might be a multigrain bread--though I did not ask.
I was a tad bit disappointed in the sauces. They don't add all that much to the overall dish, but otherwise this is perfect! -
Review from Rohman R.
Houston, TX
12/13/2011
Great Place. The food is amazing, especially if you are not to try new things and very good if you are of eastern european origin. Not to mention, the fact that this place is BYOB is great. You also don't have to worry about any corking fees, so just enjoy a nice bottle of wine or soem cold beer with your delicious food.
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Review from Kevin W.
Houston, TX
1/28/2011
What. A. Letdown...
Saw this place on ddd and decided i had to try it. The food was very bland and i feel like this place is not as unique as it sounds.
I will say that the cevap was pretty fantastic.
However, the service was terrible. There were 2 waitresses. 1 was workong her tail off and the other... Not so much. We got stuck with "not so much" and literally saw people seated after us that got their food long before our order was taken.
Not worth the hype. -
Review from jeena l.
My coworker highly recommended this place yesterday and when he mentioned it was great Bosnian food, I was curious to try this place out with my boyfriend since I've never had Bosnian food before. It's pretty similar to Mediterranean food.
Honestly we felt the restaurants across the street looked better than any of the the restaurants along the side of where Cafe Pita + was and were reluctant to step in. Luckily there were a lot of patrons inside and outside eating so we mustered up the confidence to give it a try.
Tried the eggplant dip but wasn't that great, I couldnt even taste any of the eggplant but the bread served with it was absolutely delicious! We kept getting refills :) Probably shouldn't have filled up on carbs, but it was that good! So the tip is to try not eating too much of the bread before your meal because the meal also comes with guess what, more bread.
What gave this place 4 stars instead of 3 was the Cevap. WOW! I'm not a fan of eating sausages but this was delicious! It's so simple too, bread and sausages with onions and sour cream.
My bf and I ended up switching dishes because he loved the Cevap. Boys gotta have their meats. I ended up eating his lamb shank. I wasn't a fan. It was really tender and good flavor. It just wasn't very filling as there wasnt much meat on the phone. I didnt really eat anything else that came with the dish (veggies, rice, potatoes) since it didn't look very appetizing nor taste that great. We'll probably stick to the Cevaps next time.
Service wasn't super great either. The waiter wasn't too attentive to us as it seemed that he paid more attention to patrons that spoke the language. But it wasn't a big deal to us anyways. -
Review from Ada L.
3/28/2011 5 photos
Nothing really impressive. All those 5-Star reviews on this restaurant....hmmmm....aight, whatever.
Went in on last Sunday evening with four friends. The five of us sat down and were sadly told by the server that they were running out of bread, meaning "no sandwiches or anything served with bread!" Fine. I asked if they had the fried anchovies, and the server said, "Oh, nothing fried, either!" (cuz the kitchen was cleaning the fryer or something....) *SIGHS*
Ok. so now, our selections became very limited with no sandwiches or bread and no fried stuff available off the menu *sighs, again*
Three of the five of us ordered the cevaps in creamy sauce, which was pretty good. I got the lamb shank, which was the best!! Falling off the bone, the meat was so tender and I loved it so much that i even sucked the bone marrow :P
However, another friend ordered the "Sarma" (stuffed cabbage) as per the server's recommendation, and that thing was such a failure! My friend didn't like it at all because of the weird sour taste. I tried it, and to me, it tasted like Campbell's vegetable soup (very heavy on tomatoes) with some weird spice in the rice/ meat mixture wrapped inside the cabbage. Oh well. i didnt not like it either.
For dessert, we shared the crepes, which sucked though! :( The crepes were not crispy but sorta sticky and chewy(?!) oh well, perhaps, Bosnian people do crepes a different style.
I wish the kitchen had bread so i could try to the burek and the cevap sandwiches that all yelpers said they loved and enjoyed! -
Review from Anabel R.
Houston, TX
7/16/2011
This place is great! Everything in the menu has been great and we keep coming back even though we live 20 miles away. My favorite is the lamb shank! ohh and the bread!
