Comments on: Thank You Baraca For Not Changing Too Much About Olympic Pita

By: YosefDov

YosefDov — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:49:28 +0000

JenJen, on June 3rd, 2009 at 4:30 pm, said:

“Am I the only one that finds Olympic pita to be the MOST confusing place ever??”

Unfortunately, Olympic/Barca is typical of far too many “Jewstaurants”… except the food here is actually really good. The Israeli’s that run the place either because they have no concept of things like “waiting your turn”, or they don’t care… The first time I went to Olympic, I had the same hideous experience- a mob of people standing around, with no order whatsoever. The tickets you get from the cashier do indeed have time and order numbers printed on them, but these are usually utterly disregarded. And complaining was pointless, because business was obviously good, so they didn’t care. I didn’t go back for several months…but then that damn bread and schwarma called to me and I just couldn’t resist. So now I try to go close to noon when it isn’t crowded yet (and I also know how the “system” works).

So if anyone from Baraca is looking at this, and cares, put up some signs or something at least to let newcomers know how to order! I.e. “Go to cashier towards back of restaurant (well, partway back now), place order, take order up front to counter man, get salad box and go back to far end of salad bar, fill it, come back to front to pick up order).

By: CR

CR — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:29:28 +0000

Wait – a Kosher/Israeli restaurant that’s kinda confusing, and adds weird food to the menu (like sushi)? Yeah, like that’s all that unusual…

The last time my gf and I went to Olympic Pita we were charged a gratuity fee. There were two of us total. I was pissed, and asked to be shown where on the menu it stated we would be charged – obviously the waitress couldn’t find it. I believe they did this because my gf didn’t order that much – although our bill still came to over $30. I was pissed and vowed to never go back – I don’t care how good the food is.

By: waves2ya

waves2ya — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:43:47 +0000

Btw – cruised past all the regular MTL joints and they were packed…! Mohammads’ Kwik Meal, swamped; Crisp, line out door; Carts, Kati Rolls – everything w/ :15 min lines.

Nothing like a name change to kill your business; almost empty at Olympic-cum-Baraca…

By: waves2ya

waves2ya — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:34:12 +0000

Yeah – but not the ‘burrito laffa falafel’ that Oly, er, Baraca has going; thing is enormous, bread perfect.

Name changed but rest hasn’t.

Props to Zach for NYT press from a orig lurker; don’t change a thing; your passion comes through in site and makes ‘midtownlunch’ authentic in a world of inet foodblogfluff…

Keep the eats coming…!

By: JenJen

JenJen — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:30:49 +0000

Am I the only one that finds Olympic pita to be the MOST confusing place ever?? I went there once and thought maybe it was becuase I was new that I wasn’t fully understanding their system, but there was no reason to it at all. it’s just a cluster of people trying to get their food, there were no defined lines, and when the guy behind the counter calls something out – everyone standing there claims that it’s “their order”. Sure the falafel was good, but not worth it. I even went back a 2nd time to see if I could make more sense of it and was more frustrated than ever. They really need to put numbers on the tickets so that you know when they are calling your order. I will stick with Kwik meal – in my opinion their falafel is better and so much easier to order

By: Zach Brooks

Zach Brooks — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:16:52 +0000

@TheFatBaron – I think you used to have to ask for it, but not it’s on the salad bar in a squeeze bottle. (looks like mustard)

By: Moons

Moons — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:14:12 +0000

I tried heading over to Maoz on Monday to see if it was open yet (which it wasn’t), but remembering my difficulty finding “Olympic Pita” last week, I headed there instead. All I can say is the thing was a revelation. Amazing bread, tasty falafel, and insanely huge. I’ve never carried a bonafide ‘fat guy card’ so I could only finish half, but man it was good. I even forgot about the mango sauce which for me would have taken it to another level.

By: TheFatBaron

TheFatBaron — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:12:58 +0000

So, I don’t recall ever seeing mango sauce there… is it something you just have to ask for?

By: kfat

kfat — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:08:59 +0000

Pretty good! And Zack, I’m sorry you’re so fat…

By: dahkter

dahkter — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:08:52 +0000

I miss the carrot salad they used to have in the appetizer bar.
Regarding Olympic, I was a big fan of the Brooklyn location, however was not so crazy about the midtown version. I know do the out of bounds thing and take the D train to West 4th and hit Mamoun’s that is sheer brilliance and perfection in the Falafel world…