A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
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Food and Life

Review: Beyond Pita, Montclair, New Jersey

February 28, 2012 · Narrative

Beyond Pita - outside
Over the weekend, we were watching an episode of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  One of the restaurants profiled were serving up falafel.  And all of the sudden, it was all I could think about.  I suggested to Mystic that our Sunday outing includes a stop at a falafel place.

I can’t say he was completely on board for a first taste of falafel, since chick peas are on his weird and wonderful little list of things he doesn’t like, but he was more than willing to help me satisfy my own absurd needs for it.

A few early morning text messages with friends to find the best place to go, and we were on our way to Montclair to get my falafel fix.  Beyond Pita is a little blink-and-you-miss-it place on Church Street; small doesn’t begin to describe it, but isn’t that how some of the very best places are?  There is a little one-person-wide counter where you can place your order, and a tiny spot for about four people to wait comfortably for their food.  No place to eat there, so this is a grab and go type of joint.  Or grab and sit in your car across the street, which is what we did.

Beyond Pita - dashboard dining

Beyond Pita - Menu board

Not knowing if he was going to like falafel, Mystic went with their beef kebabs to play it safe.  These are not your traditional kebabs on a stick, though.  The meat is stuffed into a pita, along with a dressing, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions.  In fact, as we were opening up the packages, I actually thought his was mine, because aside from the main component, they look pretty much the same.  The beef was pretty tender (even though he gets his meat super well done, nothankyou), but although the meat was not high-flavored, it had a slight hint of something sweet.  The most ridiculously messy sandwich to eat, it was one of those that once you pick it up and start, you’re not setting it down until you’re done.  The pitas are soft and fluffy, but really do fall apart too quickly.

Beyond Pita - beef kebab

Beyond Pita - food prep

My falafel was stuffed into a pita with the same dressing/veg combination that Mystic’s kebab was, as well as the addition of crisp pickle pieces.  The fritter was crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside.  So.very.good.  I could have definitely gone back for a plate of the chick pea fritters on their own after that.

Beyond Pita - falafel
If beef kebabs or falafel is not your thing, fear not.  Their limited menu actually features many more non-Middle Eastern items as well.  Sandwiches, traditional salads, or french fries anyone?  They smartly cut a slit in the top of the french fry container to allow the steam to escape and keep the fries nice and crisp.  They were the perfect combination of crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  They were definitely worth getting, and I had to stop myself at just a few.

Beyond Pita - french fry slit

Beyond Pita also has stuffed grape leaves (not my thing), hummus, and baba ghanosh.  I would have loved to try the hummus and baba ghanosh, but that will have to wait for another visit.  My only gripe is that I wish they had smaller portions available of some things.  The hummus, for example, is $4.50, and I would have loved a little side option available so I could try it without the full-on commitment.  You know, like dating.  Crispy pita chips and baklava completed our spontaneous curbside afternoon feast.

Beyond Pita - pita crisps

While we were waiting for our food, we saw them making a Phillie’s Cheese Steak (their spelling, not mine), and I’ve got to say, it looked mighty tempting, especially given our recent search for a decent one.  After reading some reviews on Yelp and Urban Spoon, we’ll definitely be going back to try it.  It was even named the Best Cheese Steak in New Jersey in ’08, by readers of New Jersey Monthly magazine.

Falafel Hut is another place in Montclair to get your Middle Eastern foodie fix too, and on our list for another day.  Because Mystic?  Now likes falafel.  And I love that.

A few notes before you go:

  • Easy on-street parking is available
  • No credit or debit cards are accepted – cash only
  • They were voted the runners-up for Best Falafel in New Jersey in New Jersey Monthly magazine.

Beyond Pita
82 Church Street
Montclair, NJ
973-744-2115

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: baba ghanosh, Beyond Pita, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy Fieri, hummus, Middle Eastern food, Montclair, Urban Spoon, Yelp

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    February 29, 2012 at 7:19 am

    I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to NOT like falafel, if you have a pulse that is, so it’s a good thing that Mystic came around to it. :P

    And now you’ve inspired a craving in me. Thanks.

    Reply
  2. Kris #40 says

    March 6, 2012 at 12:21 am

    Oh yum! Might have to take a trip to my home town.

    Reply

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A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻

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A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍

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