Koshertopia has confirmed that two locations of the very popular chain are certified Kosher. One located at 688 Avenue of the Americas (22nd Street) and the other at 210 E 14th Street. Both are Glatt Kosher certified Kosher under the supervision of Rabbi Israel Mayer Steinberg of Vaad Harabanim Lemeshmeret Hakashrut.
Chickpea, best known for their delicious falafel and hummus bakes all of their signature dishes on site, giving them flavorful results without adding unnecessary fats.
On a Sunday afternoon, I decided to go to Olympic Pita for a late lunch/early dinner. Breakfast and lunch make brunch, so I guess you could call this a lunner or a dinch? Anyway, you know I like to say it how it is and all I can say after my meal at Olympic Pita is this place is a 5 out of 10 at best. Formerly known as Baraca, Olympic Pita is located at 58 W. 38th Street between 5th and 6th. So where do I begin? The hummus was fine. The babaganoush was fine. The salad bar was fine. The schwarma and fries were … you guessed it … just fine. Nothing I ate was exciting or worth the calories. Everything needed more flavor. With that being said, if you love Middle Eastern food, but don’t like too much going on in terms of spices, you will LOVE Olympic Pita because everything is super bland.
The service was subpar, but comedic. I explained I had never been to the restaurant before and the waitress was semi-helpful when it came to what I should order; however, when I went to the salad bar and came back with four different cabbages on my plate, it took several attempts before someone could tell me the difference between each one. It turns out I had two cabbage medleys on my plate and two different coleslaws. One coleslaw had mayonnaise and the other didn’t. One cabbage had a lot of vinegar and the other one had less. It wasn’t rocket science, although one waiter told me, “Two of them are red and two of them aren’t.” Wow, thanks! I thought to myself.
The ambiance was fine, but nothing stood out as super romantic or cozy. It was a cute place to go if you’re on a casual date or meeting up with a friend. I’d say the place had a chic look and nice mood lighting starting around 5 p.m. The portions were very good for the price and I highly recommend getting the sampler for the appetizer because you get three little sides with the laffa bread, which is Olympic Pita’s version of a big pita. Because I got to the restaurant before 4:30, I got to order from the lunch menu. I ordered chicken shawarma and fries. The portion was perfect, but it wasn’t worth finishing everything on my plate because everything tasted just OK. The salad bar with all of the pickles, cabbages, slaws and olives reminded me of an old Jewish deli. Had there been desserts spinning around in a refrigerator I would’ve thought I was in a Kosher diner for sure. Alas, there were no spinning desserts, but I have to say, there was nothing on the menu that stopped me in tracks, either. They have a huge sushi bar, tons of shish kebabs and if I had to do it all over again, I’d order the shawarma in a sandwich opposed to on a plate. Perpaps the falafel would’ve been a better route. I’ll keep it in mind for next time. It wasn’t bad by any means, so try it if you’re in the hood. It’s a good deal. Just don’t expect to be blown away.
KK
Click here for the Olympic Pita restaurant listing
Koshertopia has confirmed the Hummus Kitchen on 9th Ave (768 9th Ave.) is no longer under the Supervison of United Kosher Supervision (UKS). The Manager, Maor, reported to Koshertopia that indeed the meat that is being used is certified glatt, but the restaurant does not have supervision.
Hummus Kitchen on the Upper East Side remains kosher dairy under the UKS.
Café Classico truly is a classic café, with a menu so large and varied that there is bound be something for everyone’s tastes. The restaurant is located in the heart of Midtown on the second floor above The Great American Health Bar (also kosher), so be sure to take the stairway on the left up to the restaurant.
Given its location, Café Classico draws a very large lunch crowd, offering quick service and reasonable prices. During the evening, the dining room is much more subdued. If possible, ask for a table along the windows. It was really enjoyable watching the hustle and bustle of 57th Street from up above in a quiet, comfortable space.
I began to peruse the menu, and there were many items that caught my eye. The options covered a variety of cuisines: Israeli dishes like kabobs and falafel, deli sandwiches with pastrami or corned beef, and Italian dishes such as pastas and chicken.
I started with the Mediterranean combo platter, which featured hummus, babaganoush, pita, Israeli salad, and pickled vegetables. The hummus and babaganoush were both very tasty, but the Israeli salad lacked any seasoning whatsoever – rather disappointing.
I ordered the Chicken Scarpariello for my entrée, which consisted of pan sautéed chicken breast with balsamic and white wine. All portions of the entrees are all very large, and each one is served with three side items: wild rice, spring vegetables, and roasted red potatoes.
The pieces of chicken were extremely tender, and the sauce was very unique and flavorful. The potatoes were roasted nicely giving them a great crispy texture. The vegetables were straightforward, but the rice was cold and bland, unfortunately.
And finally, a few additional Miss Menu pointers…
Hummus Place is getting ready to open their fifth location in Manhattan and their second location on the UWS. They will be opening the new Hummus Place at 2608 Broadway between 98th and 99th Street in what was once La Creperie.
This location should be open sometime in August. More details to follow…
Kosher-NY has confirmed that the new hummus cafe on 72nd St. is being supervised by Rabbi Yaakov Spivak.
Soom Soom is located on 72nd St. (Between Columbus Ave. and Broadway). They will be serving hummus, falafel and all the other vegetarian fare that these hummus cafes have to offer.
Soom Soom becomes yet another Kosher restauarant opening on 72nd St. – Maybe the return to 72nd Street is on.