North Siders no longer need to travel south to experience the flavors of Pita Palace, a restaurant which opened last summer at 789 W. Layton Ave.
That’s because a satellite location has opened in the former Kebab Hub at 2713 N. Bremen St. in Riverwest.
The restaurant, which is owned by Yousef Abdallah, proprietor of the the Al Yousef Supermarket & Restaurant in Oak Creek, is far smaller than the South Side location. But it offers a menu that showcases a good number of the same dishes.
Beyond the usual hummus and baba ghanouj, there are appetizers like foul mudamas, a tasty puree of mashed, boiled fava beans that originated in Egypt but which can now be found across the Mid-East.
The robust legumes, which taste vaguely grassy, are enhanced by lemon, crushed garlic and cumin and served with pita bread. If you'd prefer, you can also order hummus/foul mix, which combines the nutty flavor of chickpeas with the vegetal notes of the favas, resulting in a dish that's a nice departure from the norm.
Entrees like the mix grill include options like chicken shish tawook, a flavorful marinated chicken kebab that's eaten widely across the Middle East from Turkey and Lebanon to Syria, Palestine and Iraq and beef kufta, a ground meat kebab which is notably tender – even juicy – with a meaty flavor that's redolent of garlic. It's lovely with the bright tahini sauce, which cuts the fattiness a bit.
There are also falafel, shawarma, kebab and kufta sandwiches and platters along with a selection of salads including fattoush, tabbouleh, Jerusalem and Arabic.
Family platters serving up to 10 people and catering (for larger groups) are also available.
Pita Palace in Riverwest is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Carry out and delivery are both available.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
