Extreme Pita- Ch Ch Chain/Franchise and good and healthy!

Unfortunately, Extreme Pita has closed

mmm-yoso is not on vacation, and Cathy is blogging while Kirk is not feeling like doing anything today...except maybe recovering from something exciting at his job.

Hello again.  Sometimes I have urges for something semi-healthy and also fast.  I also like a good cup of coffee.  So, I ran into Starbucks the other day, and there wasn't even a place to sit down.  Next door, I saw this new place- Extreme Pita.  I *had* to try it, you know.

It is a newer franchise, started in Ontario, Canada and this location on Convoy, in the parking lot of Dixieline, is the first one in San Diego, there is one in Mira Mesa and more are coming.  The menu should be the same at all of them, and I suppose prices may vary a little, since it is a franchise. 

The larger, color menu has descriptions and these are the price listings.     

Basically, its like Subway in that you walk up and order a pita and then they will be grilling some of what you ordered, asking what vegetables(mushrooms, onions and green peppers) you would like grilled with your meat (or falafel) or not  and then what cold veggies you would like,  and then what sauces you would like (Tzatziki, hummus, light mayo, light Caesar, light Italian, light Ranch, Greek Feta Dressing, Chipotle-Mayo, BBQ, hot sauce, Hot Cajun BBQ, Honey Mustard, Bistro Sauce, Guacamole).  The  the pita is tightly wrapped and put into an ingenious double paper/plastic wrapper that will tear off at a perforation IF YOU READ IT the first time, as I didn't... anyhow, so this is an opened small falafel pita ($4.69) with all the grilled veggies, all the available cold veggies, hummus and tzatziki sauce. Small is 6 inches, regular is 9 inches.

It tasted great and was sloppy.   The falafel(s) were the small nugget kind and had been cooked on the grill with the vegetables.  I liked it.  I read the packaging after I was done eating..

OK, went back with The Mister for lunch and got the small turkey pita (reg $4.99 but on Wednesdays its $3.99...there are daily specials posted at the back of the store; the best day to go is Friday when it is $3.99 for any small pita and a cup of soup).

It looks like this wrapped: and then when you tear at the clearly marked perforation, half of the pita is exposed and you can cut it in half..and viola! Turkey that was sauteed with all the veggies, and I had lettuce, tomato, olives, pickle and light mayo added. It was large enough, juicy, not overly turkey tasting but not weird chemical-ly tasting either. The pita was warm and very, very good. It was a good sandwich.

The Mister decided on an Extreme Classic Flat Baked Pita (its pizza style pretty much, with a pita as a crust)... ($5.29) It's the larger pita(9 inch), topped with a tomato-y (not spicy) sauce and cheese, then the toppings (4 slices of cooked bacon, pepperoni, mushrooms) are put on top and then more cheese. Then its warmed /melted/nicely crisped in a salamander type broiler. As you can see, its quite large...the mushrooms were good in that they were cooked from raw and not pre-cooked, the sauce was good. It was a very nice and more or less healthy (532 calories, according to the Nutritional Info Guide available at the counter).

This is a newer Franchise in San Diego/the US (many in Canada) and there is another one at 8250 Mira Mesa Boulevard more are planned in San Diego. 

I like that you can order online or by fax and that their mission is a healthy alternative. 

It isn't  authentic Greek by any means, although they do have gyros (its not on a spit, so its that frozen pre-sliced stuff that is sold in the Mediterranean markets around town..but it is pretty darn good)..and for the most part you can say the ingredients are mostly Mediterranian.  Its a unique product that can be extremely healthy.  If you think of it as food, it's good tasting and healthy food and a little bit of something different on Convoy Street.   Try it.  You will like it.

Website for this location is here.(if you want to order online).  The link on that website seems to not have the Nutrition Information link working.  The Corporate Link does have the nutritional info working.

Extreme Pita 4898 Convoy Street San Diego 92111 (in the Dixieline parking lot, next to Starbucks) Phone (858) 560-0142 Fax (858) 560-0563

Comments

[The Office Goat]

Interesting ... and vaguely healthy. We'll give the Mira Mesa one a shot (looks like it's next to the Baskin Robbins and Chipotle and Submarina and near the L&L).

[Andy 食神]

That food was all too wild... it was indeed "EXTREME". I could hardly restrain myself from popping out of my chair because it was so, "EXTREME". good heavens.... my heartrate is almost 90 beats per minute!

[cathy]

Hi OG- the Nutritional Guide is in the store and also on the main company website (www.extremepita.com)and, as with everything, there are some smarter choices than others. The flavors of so many fresh vegetables help with not feeling deprived. They even grill some of the veggies for the salads. Do try it.

[cathy]

Oh, Andy, I do understand your excitement. I tried to tone it down as much as I could...but it was so difficult. I am sure this is waaay unusual food up in Canada, where most of the stores are located. I think the Big Country (chicken and steak) sounds just too wild and crazy for me...but one day I probably will be *really * hungry and break down and get it...;)

[Rasa Malaysia]

The baked pita / pizza looks very delicious. :)

[cathy]

Hi Rasa, it was a very good pizza-like meal, heavy with cheese and the other ingredients. Thanks for stopping by.

[SK]

The felafel was actually good? I tried that at the Convoy store about 6 months ago and got try, tasteless felafel pucks.

[cathy]

I ate one falafel nugget by itself and it had a nice garlic flavor. There was, of course, more exterior crunchiness than just a bite of a whole falafel would have, kind of like how a tater tot is different than a hash brown patty. The combination of the falafel tots with the veggies did taste good. If I were to have a plate of the falafel tots with some hummus or tzatziki, then ...eh, maybe not.

[dietchilicheesefries]

that pizza looks muy bueno...

low carb too huh?

[cathy]

Hi DCCF- The nutritional guide says its about 62 carbs, which is better than a lot of whole small pizzas have...its mainly the larger sized pita and sauce(some sugar in there)that contribute to the carbs. It was very good tasting and large enough for a meal.

[trent]

Wow, i just tried the Philly Cheesesteak and it is out of this world. The guy behind the counter recomemmend, chopped tomatoes, pineapples, and peppercini's with their chipotle mayo sauce...

Mouthwatering, i will be going back this week!

[Cathy]

I am so glad you liked it here, trent. It is yet another place I may have ignored. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

[trent]

I'm not sure if any of you have been over to Extreme Pita lately. But they just started printing out all the particular nutritional information on the recipts when you pay. I must admit, it is pretty cool.

Trent

[Cathy]

Oooh, I've been to the Starbucks next door a lot, but had not gone over (I usually go whenit is crowded) Trent. I love looking at those nutritional info things, and with them giving you a receipt showing you that you are eating healthy, that's good advertising. I think I have a lunch planned now!