The "new" location (he has been there a minute) is across from Penn Station and Uptown. The trip inside is typical Bardstown road, you enter one door from the street (with a few tables outside!) and enter a hallway, with two immediate doors on your right and left. You see people on the left, but NOOOO, go right, though some seating, into and through the kitchen, where you will be helped to a seat on the blessed left side, sitting among other folk who look up at you as if to say "damn, someone else found this place!" before returning to their own food.
My husband was feeling ill, making the trek for my sake, and ordered some baba ghanouj and pita for himself, while I perused the menu. Khal suggested his new buffet, and while I saw several Mediterranean staples I wanted to sample with his style on the menu (his gyros, made with the same meat used in Chicago and New York, shaved off the spit properly, his falafel, etc) I wanted to support his new buffet, and (unable to see it behind my booth) I accepted sight unseen.
The Buffet, The Buffet. Small, succint, and from the best I can tell, the best examples of Mediterranean food done simply, right. The best thing, I couldn't tell it was a buffet. The baba ghanouj and pita provided on the buffet (we didn't look before we ordered for him on the menu) were not buffet product. On the entree buffet one is offered Italian meatballs, ravioli, and even an Italian sausage and veg medley. Travelling through the jasmine rice, and the rice with lentils, and the gyro meat (this did not come from a buffet!) the chicken kabob with onions and mushrooms. I say small, but I filled my plate round robin style with one spoon from almost all of the protein offerings. I didn't try the fish, but I saw two offerings.
The "salad" bar is just that, but for the intelligent person not overwhelmed by the variety of colour and flavour, who just wants to shovel spoonfuls of yum without components, one is able to see the ability to build your own gyro. Pitas are available, soup is available, components for a regular "house" salad are there, as well as your own "authentic" (snark jokingly intended
) Greek salad variations. The Mediterranean pasta salad, with the peppercorn dressing is my new favourite pasta salad. And hummus and ghanouj and pita on a buffet? That's all one needs right there.That is just the buffet, people. Khal mentioned his "sub" sandwiches are the same idea as the "authentic Penn Station" (sorry, couldn't help myself) subs (Italian meatball, turkey and ham) but on pita bread. We can all pretend together than we are doing it to save calories and carbs, but come on, we love the pita.
I didn't get to see the deli/bakery case until I was on my way out, but there is a whole other post that can be dedicated to this 6-8 foot case of miracles. You can buy your baklava, your bassima (sp) and burma (also reaching for spelling here) with variations of ground or pieced pistachios. You can buy lamb's meat pie. You can buy pastrami and salami. You can buy Sammi juices to wash it all down.
It sounds like people like it already, and Mr. Imam is truly a gentleman who is proud of his homeland and Mediterranean style fare, and is happy to share with you and yours. And yes, I can get to BTRoad, find a spot to park, get the quick buffet (I believe currently lunch at 11-3 M-F) and get back in an hour, satisfied and feeling authentic (last time I swear!).
Sorry for the long post, but once you try to explain this small place and the multitude of things to savour, it is hard to be brief, and even harder for me to restrain myself. I highly recommend the buffet, and the menu prices (online at myspace.com/pita hut) are such that even if you miss that window, you can still have the same experience a la carte at a good price. And even more cementing the case, this is Khal (yes, of the original locations) is still working on the new place; ie it is a work in progress that will continue to be fine tuned. Go Pita Hut!!!
and comforting as well. Please enjoy!
