Middle East Meets Deep South in Cumming, Georgia

Pita Mediterranean Street FoodImage by Author

Pita Mediterranean Street Food

Typically, when one thinks about lunch around Cumming, Georgia, fried chicken comes to mind. After all, Cumming was once one of the biggest poultry producers in the world. And although houses and condos have long since replaced the chicken houses, there is still a chicken processing plant in downtown Cumming. But lately, when I'm ready for lunch, I am likely to be found at Pita Mediterranean Street Food for some spicy chicken shawarma.

Don't get me wrong; I still love the fried chicken at places like Midway Meal House and Fagan's Biscuit Barn. You can even find me ordering fried chicken at Popeye's. But sometimes, you just want something different.

And you don't get much different from southern home cooking than middle eastern Shawarma, Falafel, and Couscous. So, when my taste buds crave something out of the ordinary, I find myself at the Pita Mediterranean Street Food restaurant in Cumming, Georgia, on Hwy 9 just south of Bethelview.

Pita Mediterranean Street FoodImage by Author

Pita Mediterranean Street Food is in a small strip center with an international food market, American Deli, and Marco's Pizza. The parking lot is small, but I've never had a problem finding a space. The restaurant is well lit, spotlessly clean, and the staff friendly and helpful. But what I go there for is the food.

On my first visit, I ordered the standard lamb gyro you can find in many similar restaurants and chains. I remember the first time I ever heard of (and mispronounced) the dish was in the 1970s in downtown Atlanta at a new place called Shipfeifer's Gyro. They closed after 35 years in the same location, but the venerable middle eastern sandwich has spread throughout metro Atlanta.

Pita Mediterranean Street FoodImage by Author

This wasn't my first visit to a Pita Mediterranean Street Food, as it is a locally owned and operated franchise that grew out of Alabama into Georgia several years ago. The store in Dunwoody became a weekly haunt of ours until we moved to Cumming, Georgia. My go-to meal there was their delicious gyro. But instead of the standard side of fries, I opted for the fresh grilled veggies. Sliced carrots and zucchini are seasoned and hot - delicious!

The original tenant in the Cumming, Georgia location served similar cuisine but was way overpriced, and 2020 did them in. So, I was excited last year when I saw the sign for a new Pita Mediterranean Street Food in Cumming. During the pandemic, it became one of the only restaurants with inside seating that we would trust. The wide-open tables and ultra-clean environment attracted us, and we have returned almost weekly since.

By my second visit, the menu attracted my attention, and I decided to try something other than the standard gyro. They have a lunch special each day of the week, so I went for the special of the day and ordered one of their bowls. That's when things got complicated. Not only do you have a choice of half a dozen meats, but you can have it served over rice or quinoa. And their quinoa is actually a mixture of the trendy grain and Pita's delicious tabouli.

Pita Mediterranean Street FoodImage by Author

I went with the spicy chicken shawarma bowl over quinoa, and my wife had a grilled chicken bowl over rice. I thought hers was a little boring until I had a bite. The chicken was delicious even without the spices, and the rice was amazing. I don't know what kind of rice they use or how they cook it, but it has become my favorite base when I order a bowl.

One of our companions always orders a chicken gyro salad. Again, I thought it was boring until I got a look at the salad. Huge portions with plenty of chicken and veggies. His wife orders something different every time, so I get to see a variety of choices. On one occasion, she even went crazy and ordered the loaded fried. It was definitely a meal portion of seasoned fries topped with chicken, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce.

Pita Mediterranean Street FoodImage by Author

Over the past few months, I have tried virtually everything on the menu, and it is always prepared hot, fresh, and delicious. If you are in Cumming, Georgia, and looking for something a little out of the ordinary, you can't go wrong with Pita Mediterranean Street Food.

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