You may have heard of takeaway kiosk Pita Tree Mediterranean Grilled Kebabs on Orchard Road, or perhaps you’ve previously splurged at its classier cousin, Persian restaurant Shabestan, once or twice. Well, if you enjoyed your experiences with these two brands, you’ll be pleased to know that the folks behind them have opened a new Pita Tree Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar at Boat Quay, which is meant to offer a fresh, relatively affordable option for diners who prefer to stay away from the touristy food options in the area.
Besides being wallet-friendly — there’s no GST or service charge here — the casual spot claims to lean toward the healthy end of the spectrum, with dishes made from superfoods and antioxidant-rich ingredients such as sumac berries, pomegranate, saffron, tahini, barberries, and yogurt.
If you pop by for lunch (Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:45pm), the buffet sets are what makes the restaurant stand out from its numerous competitors on the street. Sure, it’s not as cheap as a meal at the hawker a couple doors down, but we’re talking real value for money here if you’re the kind who can clear off several plates of food mid-day.
Fork out $17, and you can get access to the spread of all-you-can-eat salads and dips, as well as the soup and dessert of the day, pita bread, vegetable and meat stews, and a soda. In comparison, a mixed dip platter of four choices and four pitas on the à la carte menu will already set you back $29.
And we’ve gotta say, apart from the standard Mediterranean hummus and tzatziki dips here, the spicy eggplant one ($8) is a must-try for its creamy texture and flavorful blend of red peppers, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil, with a pronounced kick of dried chili, which adds a pleasantly surprising dash of heat in every bite.
However, the meats aren’t quite included in the price tag — so if you’d like more protein in your diet, you’ll have to top up $10 for just one lamb, chicken, or fish skewer. Still, those who tend to go for veggies at lunch will have a whale of a time piling your plates high with leafy greens and dips.
If you’re more of a light eater, the $11 salad set gets you one fill of any salad from the buffet counter, with an extra $3 for a helping of chicken, beef, fish, or falafel.
For those who don’t quite get the appeal of so-called rabbit food, browse through the menu for hearty mains like Greek moussaka ($24), a lasagna-style lamb casserole with eggplant, potato and béchamel sauce, or garlic yogurt chicken ($13/one skewer, $23/two skewers). Even though breast meat is used, the bird is tender and juicy, without the typical tough chewiness you may have come to expect from the cut.
Alternatively, Pita Tree’s signature item is its Arabic lamb shank biryani ($38/two person portion), with fall-off-the-bone meat served in an intricately detailed copper pot that brims with the fragrant aroma of mixed spices. To add more carbs to your meal, order the fries sprinkled with powdered sumac red berries ($7) for a tangy rendition of the ubiquitous side dish. Or get your fill of greens with the tabbouleh salad ($8) made of Italian parsley, onion, tomato, and bulgur dressing.
If you’re here for dinner, you can probably afford to consume a couple more calories in the form of pistachio ice cream ($9) or the Turkish baklava, although you’ll only get a minuscule square for $9 apiece. It’s steeped in honey and thus very sweet, but hey, traditional baklava is meant to be. Wash it all down with a strong cup of Turkish coffee ($5) or Persian mint tea ($5).
FIND IT:
Pita Tree Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar is at 14 Lor Telok.
6532-2098. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-11pm, Fri 11:30am-midnight, Sat 3pm-midnight.
MRT: Clarke Quay
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