A Pocket-Sized Restaurant: II

This has got to be the smallest restaurant I’ve seen, and very appropriately named: Pita Pocket. It’s at 21 East 12th Street in Manhattan; don’t blink, or you’ll miss it!

It’s essentially a small counter, opening out to the street, where you give your order – but it does qualify as a restaurant because there are a few tables up a narrow staircase (I believe there’s enough seating for 5 or 6). MMFLC and I have been there a couple of times, and the takeout business is very brisk.

The menu is pocket-sized as well – in fact, it fits on 2 sides of a business card. They have shwarma. They have falafel. They have hummus. They have salads. And that’s about it. BUT – the food is great!! Their shwarma is definitely in the running for the best we’ve had – moist and perfectly seasoned. Falafel is hot, crisp on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth on the inside. The assortment of salads is small, but all the ones we tried are tasty (warning – the tomato salad is a 3-alarm spicy one!). And the pita is freshly baked and fluffy. They don’t skimp on portion sizes either.

If you’re in the neighborhood and have somewhere else to eat this food, we heartily recommend it (those 6 seats upstairs fill up fast). They also offer free delivery. The phone number is 212-924-4333; supervision is by the NK.