An acclaimed Houston Lebanese restaurant will soon open its second location. Craft Pita’s restaurant in West University Place opens this Saturday, November 19 at Plaza in the Park, the Kroger-anchored shopping center at the corner of Buffalo Speedway and Westpark.
First opened in Briargove in 2019 by chef-owner Rafael Nasr and his mother Claudia, Craft Pita has earned a devoted following for its flavorful Lebanese-inspired dishes. The menu includes pita sandwiches, bowls, and salads paired with proteins such as rotisserie chicken, beef kafta patties, and falafel, many of which are made with locally sourced ingredients such as Naked Truth chicken and akaushi beef from HeartBrand Beef. Cafe Pita’s olive oil comes from a family-owned orchard in Lebanon.
“West University is the perfect place to expand on what we have built with the Craft Pita community,” Nasr said in a statement. “We are a family-owned restaurant and look forward to serving the families of West University. The proximity to areas like Greenway Plaza and the Medical Center will also allow us to expand our catering and delivery opportunities.”
Nasr has stepped up the food offerings at the new location with some menu items that aren’t available in Briargrove. They include chicken and beef kebabs, a chicken shawarma pita, and a beef gyro pita. A mezze dinner for two — appetizers, entrees, and desserts for $60 — pairs well with the new location’s expanded selection of Lebanese wines.
"Kebabs are definitely popular now. It's also the average person's first exposure to Mediterranean food," Nasr said on a recent episode of CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast. "I think that and hummus and number one and two on the list. The nice thing about kebabs is when you use lean proteins it's a healthy option. Our akaushi kafta, when it has that kiss of a flame, it will take it up a few notches for sure."
Craft Pita has developed a significant following for both its quality food and friendly service. Yelp named it one of America’s top 100 places to eat in 2020, and the Houston Chronicle recently included it on its list of the city’s top 100 restaurants.
At 2,500 square feet, the new restaurant is considerably larger than the original. It also features a larger patio for outdoor dining. It joins a second location of Adair Kitchen as a new addition to Plaza in the Park.
Photo by Rebekah Flores
Craft Pita's Lebanese cuisine has arrived in West U.
Craft Pita will celebrate its grand opening at 11 am Saturday, November 19. The first 25 customers will receive a free pita, and the first 50 will receive a golden ticket that enters them into a raffle.
