"This little family run restaurant is a delightful find.  We have visited many times and try to get there once a week.  Our favorite is the fish meal.  The fish is mild and very tender with subtle but delicious seasoning. We have also tried the chicken kabob and lamb chops.  Both were delicious. The bulgar is lightly seasoned, perfectly cooked and tasty.  The hummus is fresh and contains just the right amount of garlic to avoid being overwhelming.  The salad has the freshest of tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, and radishes with a light but tasty dressing.  We have tried several of the desserts available, and each has been good.  Today we were offered  one made with farina and soaked in a sugary syrup.  Yum!  Lunch during the week is very busy.  If you would like a quieter experience, we suggest a visit on Saturday."

Dining on a budget

Irwindale eatery offers fresh Mediterranean fare

Fresh, healthy Mediterranean food is hard to find, but Pitas To Go in Irwindale offers light choices that do not steer away from their Greek authenticity. As we walked into this fast-food restaurant, the smell of fresh ingredients filled my nostrils and intrigued my appetite. The menu was simple - offering pita wraps, pita pockets and Mediterranean salads. The prices were reasonable even for a poor college student like myself. Small salads start at $2.99, a falafel wrap is $3.99 and a side of hummus is $2.99. But for those with more blessed bank accounts, there is the $7.99 beef shawerma with thin slices of beef marinated and seasoned with a special blend of spices and tahini sauce.

I was on a mission to see just how healthy I could be while still experiencing that Mediterranean taste, so I ordered the $5.59 falafel salad. One pleasant surprise was finding the Sobe Diet Cranberry Grapefruit option as a fountain drink. Not only was my meal healthy and tasty but so was my beverage. I ordered my food to-go and it was ready faster than I could fill up my drink. The food tasted as good as it smelled. The salad was full of fresh tomatoes, green and red bell peppers, sliced radishes, crunchy lettuce and tasty falafel.

This was my first encounter with falafel and it was a good one. The bite-size pieces were each packed with flavor and still not overwhelming. Overall, my meal was satisfying and not too filling. The nutritious food gave me enough energy to work and didn't cause the usual lunch food coma.

I give Pitas To Go two thumbs up. I will definitely go back again.

Pitas To Go is at 15652 Arrow Hwy. in Irwindale. It is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday and closed Sundays.
San Gabriel Valley Tribune 9/17/09.
- Amanda Newfield , Correspondent