Do you know that feeling when you're hungry and looking for something to eat that's comforting, filling, kinda healthy (but not reaaally that healthy) and out of your normal pizza/burrito/tikka curry routine? No? Maybe that's just me... the point is Jerusalem Pita & Grill is what fills that craving. The restaurant is bright, sunny and conveniently located right in Coolidge Corner. Good for take out or table service, you're served a trio of exotic Mediterranean salads as a teaser to your meal. In my aforementioned "healthy but not too healthy" craving, I chose a chicken pita, which was absolutely brimming with juicy, hot white meat chicken, fresh and crunchy green veggies, tomatoes and homemade hummus and a dash of special hot sauce. It was delicious, huge and hit the spot. The waitstaff was so attentive and friendly, and I honestly felt more like a guest than a patron. Constantly refilling my water and helpfully answering any and all questions, they won me over. I'll definitely be back. Oh, did I mention, they bake their own bread in house?
(5)
Keith C.
I was introduced to here by my now-wife while we were dating. We needed someplace kosher to eat out, and this is where she took her non-Jewish friends. The best compliment I can give to kosher food is that it tastes like non-kosher food. It's always been a pet peeve of mine that I feel kosher restaurants/suppliers don't bother with food quality and making a dish taste fantastic because they know there's no other competition in town. That's reasoning that makes kosher-keeping Jews stay home. That being said, I normally get the turkey shawarma. It's expensive, but you get a decent portion.
(4)
Jake M.
I had the falafel. They didn't ask me what I wanted to put in my pita, they just filled it with hummus, salad, and pickles. Very typical of Israeli food places - they assume they know how you want it. But i digress. The food tastes okay The wait for the food is long (I was alone in the restaurant at 11AM) There's a credit card minimum of $15 (wut?)
(3)
Sharon C.
This business is amazing!!! I'm part of a university club and we organized an international food festival with several other clubs. We ordered the food about 24 hours before (really bad idea, i know) and Jerusalem Pita & Grill was so accomodating! We ordered food for 200 people and the food was so great and the customer service was amazing. We had so many people ask about our caterer! Definitely recommend Jerusalem Pita & Grill for a sitdown dinner or any catered event! Thank you Rada for the incredible experience!!!
(5)
Brian N.
We called ahead and asked what time they were open till. We were told 10:00. We arrived at 9:15 and ordered our food and sat at a table. When the food arrived at 9:25, we were told to "hurry up and eat" as they wanted to close. When I spoke to the owner, she said " we are slow tonight and want to close early, I'll speak to the woman who told you to rush". Did not get any feeling the owner cared. We will not be returning
(1)
Glen K.
First place I stopped in after a 4 hour drive from Long Island because a friend recommended it to me. Ordered a shwarma laffa with a side of fries and it was delicious. The pita was soft, vegetables were fresh, and chicken very flavorful. Friendly staff that were accommodating.
(4)
Jonathan K.
Our party was just three people. The restaurant was nearly empty (only three parties). There were two people working the floor and two people working the grill. Our order was simple (plain hummus + pita, boureka appetizer + chicken fingers with fries, and the grilled tilapia special). It should have been _easy_ for them to give us a good experience, and yet they failed. The server brought us the trio of three salads that other reviewers mention, but did not bring any plates for us to eat it on. These are not finger salads; is everybody just supposed to dig their own forks into the shared plate. Um, yuck? The "chicken fingers" turned out to be chicken shnitzel cut into strips; this isn't what chicken fingers are supposed to be (look it up, they're supposed to be dipped in batter and deep fried). Also, they were not particularly tender, and the fries served with them were stale and luke-warm. The server brought the chicken fingers first, rather than the appetizer boureka. He then proceeded to forget about the boureka completely. He brought the hummus at the same time as the chicken fingers, but forgot the pita, forcing my son to sit, staring at his hummus, with nothing to dip in it. I finally gave in and complained after about 15 minutes, at which point he apologized for forgetting the boureka and pita and finally brought them. Note that at this point the fried tilapia entree still hadn't arrived. While we were waiting for our food, our server alternated between sweeping and cleaning other tables and serving food to the three tables that still had parties at them. As far as I could tell, he did not wash his hands when he switched (many times) between cleaning and serving. Um, yuck? When it did arrive, it was quite disappointing. I have fond memories of the heavenly tilapia I've had in Israel, and I gotta tell you, this wasn't it. for $20, you'd better be serving me pretty darn good fish, preferably fresh, not rubbery fillets which clearly came out of a freezer. The only saving grace of the whole meal was at least the french fries on the tilapia platter were fresh and tasty. We've been to this restaurant numerous times (with so few Kosher restaurants in Boston, you really don't have much of a choice about continuing to patronize even the mediocre ones, if you don't want to go to the same restaurant over and over). Sometimes they've managed to serve us good food, but it's luck of the draw, and the service is pretty much always bad, sometimes outrageously so.
(2)
Eli s.
Solid Israeli food. Dishes are spot on for the most part though not all. Service has been friendly over the years and amateurish. Nice alternative to Rami's considering the seating and quieter venue.
(4)
Carrie B.
The short: good food in a cramped space with spotty service. The menu is large, and includes a list of appetizers, several salads, about a dozen sandwiches, and a list of meat and fish entrees that are much pricier than everything else on the menu (about $15-21, compared to $10-13 for other items). The food is always flavorful and tastes fresh, and the babaganoush is delish! I recommend sticking to the sandwiches, salads, and appetizers. The restaurant is very small and typically cramped, with small tables (barely large enough to hold 2 peoples' food - and that's assuming appetizers are cleared before the meal is served) wedged in close together in a space that isn't particularly comfortable. Given the falafel joint atmosphere, I can't see dropping $20 on one of the grill entrees.
(3)
Mike M.
Not only is the Falafel good, but the freshly baked bread that it comes in just makes it that much better! Their wraps are perfectly made so that each bite has a little bit of everything. Will definitely be back to try more of their food!
(4)
Erica P.
I lived across the street from here for 3 years and went there often. Great for take out or eating there. Love the pickled veggies they give if you eat there. Their hummus is by far the best in the neighborhood and make sure to get extra pita!! Just moved out of Brookline and will definitely miss going here. Definitely recommend if you're in the mood for falafel or shawarma!
(4)
Mimi B.
I will start off by saying I did really like this spot. In a cold night it was warm and friendly when we for inside. A wonderful plate a pickled salad veggies were offered right away- and I liked them a lot. I was a bit shocked by the prices. I know it's kosher but 20 bucks for lamb kebab? Come on. I got a 15 dollar chicken kebab salad that was not really either salad or chicken kebab. A bunch of tomatoes and barely enough chicken to be considered kebab. Salad was shredded and tasteless. Humus came with the lamb and it was good. Rice was made with tomato paste and it tasted good. Lamb? Tasted good but was not a 20 value at all. Too tough. I think the lunch specials are a much better value. I will be back- for lunch!
(3)
Eli P.
I come here all the time for take-out. For kosher food in Boston this is a top choice.
(4)
Seth W.
Delicious home made Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine. The hummus is made in house. The falafel and schwarma were very tasty. The wait staff was very friendly. And the place was small but cozy. Would go back.
(4)
Tulan K.
this place is awesome. We had ordered the sampler for app and it was awesome and huge quantty and the dinner was good too. THE BEST THING IS THE BREAD. out of this world. Prices are too high for ingredients that are common and not to complex. Friday they close at 1 pm and that is a drawback too I would def go there once in 3 -4 mths span due to the HIGH PRICES
(4)
Robert S.
Whatever you do, NEVER be caught eating there at closing. Chairs were going up and tables being turned over exactly at closing time. Ten minutes later the place stank of ammonia, which was wet-mopped around our feet. I'm still coughing from the fumes. The food? Mediocre sandwiches at top-end prices. My lamb kebab pita sandwich was sodden with sauce/juice/whatever, with low-grade badly-gristled meat. But expensive! Better & cheaper, if not kosher, at Esperia Grill in Brighton! Service was slow and absent minded (we kept asking for forks, and water refills simply couldn't be produced) but pleasant, up until closing time. I'd be patient, but waiting ten minutes for the check is a problem when you're choking on fumes and being nuzzled by mop carts. Never again.
(1)
Charlotte H.
Decided to give this place a try as I'd been to the burrito place down the street one too many times for lunch. It's pretty small inside, but I liked the feeling of comraderie, and it's good for the soul to hear other languages being spoken. Once I figured out that I could get actual table service instead of ordering at the counter, things went smoothly. The waitress was very efficient, despite a big table of voluble international tourists. I got the lamb shish-kabob laffa and man, was it soooo fresh. We're talking fresh like the ingredients had just come in from the garden and out of the oven. Yeah, the price was maybe twice the price of a burrito, but there's simply no comparison taste-wise. Felt like I was eating real food for a change instead of food that'd been prepped and sitting in open vats for 16 hours. The cooks and the servers work really hard in here, and I appreciated all the care they were taking, as it definitely pays off for the customer. Can't wait to go back and try their hummus, etc. So glad I veered off my usual path.
(4)
Joseph L.
Best Shwarama in Boston. There's nothing I've ordered off the menu that has not been excellent. Service is friendly. Tables are a bit close together and it's often crowded; it would be great to have a larger space.
(5)
Carlos J.
A coworker and I visited this place today by chance. We were looking for dinner on the GPS and this one popped up. I'm glad it did. When we got there, a parking spot opened up exactly as we pulled up. Had it not, we'd have likely not found a place to park. The food was delicious, and the service was stellar. Our waitress was attentive, genuine, efficient, and just a wonderful, friendly human being. I had the Meorav Yerushalmi. We finished with Turkish coffee and a delicious baklava. I hope to visit this place again before I leave town.
(5)
Lindsey H.
There are a few highlights on the menu, but overall the dishes lack flavor and the service is deplorable. I only go here when coworkers who keep kosher are dining with us. I would not go there on my own choosing! The falafel and shwarma sandwiches are pretty bland. There are a couple pickled veggie apps that are decent. The red lentil soup tasted like watered down chicken broth with carrots - there was no taste or texture of lentils. Regarding the service, even if there are only two or three parties in there the waitress is running around like a chicken with her head cut off. In the half dozen times I've been there someone has had to ask multiple times for the soda, entree, coffee, etc.
(2)
Bansi V.
Food was good, VERY large portions. Service was poor and slow. My meal was actually put on the table next to me then picked up and put in front of me. One has to scratch their head and wonder how that happened as it is a very small restaurant. I'd probably do take-out next time...
(3)
Tammy R.
I'm going to write about my experience with the caveat that, on a day when NOT slammed with Groupon holders, Jerusalem Pita would likely be a good dinner. Granted, we arrived the day before our Groupon expired. As did many, many others. The line was out the door, and once we opted for takeout, we realized that THAT line was moving slowly as well. The staff were clearly overwhelmed, which is understandable. However, I found it ominous that a few of the regular customers admitted that "it's often like this." This, as in "OMG the food is so awesome that it's always crazy" or "they need more staff because this is ridiculous"? So! The visit. We arrived around 7 PM. After waiting for a bit in the dining room line, we discovered the takeout line, and decided to go with that option. I ordered at 7:28 PM, according to my receipt: Eggplant rolls Moroccan cigars Meorav Yerushalmi - rice and sweet potato fries as sides Turkey shawarma - salad and sweet potato fries as sides Two Cokes and one water They processed our Groupon ($30) and we paid an additional $26.23 plus tip. They said the order would be ready in about 20 minutes. At 8:15, we started asking about our food; one server said, "I don't do takeout" and another staff member said, "sorry, I don't know where your order is," with no attempt to point out who we should speak to. At 8:30, I finally found Anna, one of the servers working the dining room who went completely above and beyond to help as many disgruntled customers as she possibly could. She asked me what I ordered, and tried to find the slip. Which she did - with my name up top. She spoke quickly to the manager and told me that it would be 5 to 10 minutes. At 9 PM, we still hadn't received our order, but Anna kept checking for us (and others), and finally gave us our order shortly after 9 PM. We decided to just eat on the sidewalk at that point, discovering that they provided us with no forks (they were out, so we hunted down spoons) or beverages (which Anna graciously provided for us). The order was missing an appetizer (the Moroccan cigars), and the Meorav Yerushalmi was replaced by regular shawarma. We were also missing rice. The pita was fluffy and good, and the meat was good. The sweet potato fries were old, soggy, and somewhat cold. We didn't dare go back into the fray to ask for anything, since tempers were flaring among both staff and customers. I don't like writing bad reviews when it's obvious that the situation was NOT a typical situation; this was obviously a case of a small restaurant overwhelmed with customers. However, I place a lot of value in the way the situation is handled, and save for Anna (who picked one hell of a week to start working at Jerusalem Pita), I found the staff to be unable to meet the challenge. Shame, really. The food seems to have the capacity to be wonderful.
(2)
John Richard D.
Very tasty kosher/middle eastern food. Don't come looking for any dairy products here! Portions are a bit large and heavy on the fats, but delicious! I recommend the fish cakes. Also, it seems to be a favorite eating place for the high-school age boys from the local Orthodox Jewish school, with their payes and yarmulkes, which adds to the authentic atmosphere. One main course is good enough for two people. This is one of our favorite local dives.
(4)
Chrizzle D.
The food here is so-so. I wouldn't say it's the best schwarma I've had. I said I wanted the chicken schwarma and ended up getting the lamb and beef. No big deal, but when you're biting into it expecting chicken and get something as strong as beef and lamb, it definitely takes you aback. Likewise, I asked for the lentil soup, and somehow got chicken soup instead. The chicken soup wasn't bad, but not what I ordered. Seeing as I already took a spoonful of it (which is when I discovered it was the wrong soup) I decided I may as well just eat it. So I did. The reason this rating gets a 4 and not a 3 is the owner. He was very attentive and extremely personable. I enjoyed him and the rest of his staff. They were hospitable and I almost felt like I was dining at a friends house. I may come back, but with so many other great places to eat, its hard to think I'd spend that much money there when I could get comparable (if not better food) at other joints for a fraction of the cost.
(4)
Roxana F.
The food here was great and the server was attentive. I got a falafel sandwich and asked for it to be made a certain way, and the server was really nice about it and my food was excellent. For a falafel sandwich it was DEFINITELY better than Rami's around the corner, which everyone raves about but through my own experience was definitely not as good, and Jerusalem Pita is much cheaper as well. My only problem with the place was that it didn't seem very clean, but other than that this is a great place for takeout and falafel!
(4)
Alyssa F.
You're a little busy, okay, I understand, but inviting me to choose a table for dine-in sets the expectation that the table will be cleared of the previous occupants' mess at some point within a 1 - 10 minute window. The nutty crumbs and hummus smears that remained from our predecessors, though plentiful, were just not enough to call dinner.
(1)
Steven E.
Amazing wraps - the pita they use it outstanding! Yum!
(5)
Andrea B.
Simple truth: food is good, service is bad. Plenty of vegetarian items on the menu is a plus. With better service, I'd be a fan.
(3)
Cassie H.
My husband and I grabbed some lamb pitas from Jerusalem PIta & Grill on a lazy Friday night for dinner. The bread was soggy with hummus and juices from the vegetables and meat. My biggest complaint was that the meat was in very large pieces (not bite size), which wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't the toughest piece of meat to bite into. In a desperate attempt, I had to basically eat my sandwich with a knife/fork (which I think defeats the purpose of a sandwich). The best part about our meal was the french fries...
(2)
Dona F.
Best I could say about this restaurant is that it's laid out nicely. It has a real clean look. The tables are sleek, the countertops are made from real stone, and the mural on the back wall (of Israel )sets a cultural and homey atmosphere. I really don't enjoy giving a kosher establishment a negative review. But, unfortunately they deserve one. I came in with my buddy for a basic Mediterranean meal. First things first, the waitress was inattentive. From the time we sat down, it took ten minutes to receive our silverware and water, despite the fact that most of the other tables were empty. Once I finally got her attention, I ordered a hummus and falafel plate. Then Iproceeded to wait twenty minutes. Shocked, I thought back to all the other Kosher middle eastern restaurants I've been to over the years and never remembered a similar dish taking over five minutes to serve. Soon it became worse. My falafel came out...but it was cold. Aggravated, I gave it back to the waitress and asked for fresh hot falafel. 15 minutes later, my plate was ready, which means that in total I waited 35 min for my food. While we waited, other people who had arrived after we did were served first. Dissatisfied as well with the one piece of pita served with my hummus, I attempted to ask the waitress for more. Trying to act nice, she stood there ostensibly listening, but in reality not hearing a word. It wasn't as if I was making any outrageous request. For goodness sake, they only gave me one small pita for my entire hummus dinner! It wasn't nearly enough. Sweetly, she replied that I could have another piece, however it would cost extra...then she smiled as if that would make everything OK. As to my friend, he ordered their shawarma sandwich that took just as long as my hummus. Worse than that, it was stale. Shawarma is supposed to given straight off the spit, but instead it was room temperature, salty and dry--basically inedible. He took one or two bites and said "I'm done." He called the waitress over, sent the shawarma back to the kitchen, and asked her for his money back. Baffled, she began arguing that he had already eaten a small part of it and should pay for the rest. He didn't budge, he refused to spend money on bad food. On que, she smiled once again and it was obvious to us, that she was disconnected. We couldn't wait to leave and will not be coming back any time soon.
(1)
Adam A.
I'd give it 3 stars...but when you offer the best option of a cuisine in a metropolitan area, you must be doing a bunch of stuff right. And Jerusalem Pita does a lot right. The portions are huge. You will most likely over-order. The Laffe's are massive and so filling. The service was really attentive. For such a casual place, I was surprised to have my water glass re-filled multiple times without needing to ask. The waitress was sweet and made some solid recommendations. My main gripe is that everything we ordered seemed to lack enough flavor. Everything was decent to good. But nothing wowed me. However, the value and lack of better Israeli food makes this an above average spot.
(4)
Anya S.
Absolutely adorable and delish. Went here with a few friends on a Saturday night. The fact they open right after Shabbos should at least give them two extra starts. Obviously, they are 100% Kosher and my Rabbi would approve!! The waitress was a sweetheart. Yep, I said that , and if you read my other 200+ reviews, you can see that this particular compliment means that the waitress not only good, but really really good. The kitchen staff is great, we never had to wait for our food. Food comes up fast and the portions are generous. I also love the cute little decor and murals on the wall. Now, the food. SOOO delish and yummy, Ive been back twice already and I love it. Ive tried the hummus, which was the best hummus Ive had outside Israel. The falafel was delicious, and the rice that came with my chicken shawrma definitely had kick to it. The shwarma was delicious, yummy and tender. Basically I heart this place. Come here and eat up!!
(5)
Philippe B.
Love the place, would go there any day of the week (except Shabbos). I think it 's a really nice and timely addition to the Boston kosher food scene. After Zaatar's Oven disappeared and then Ruth's Kitchen I really didn't feel that drawn to any of the kosher establishments. Jerusalem Pita has changed all that! Nice, homey atmosphere, I've eaten there a dozen times and never been disappointed in the service, they are always extra compliant when I am "in a rush", and as an aspiring vegan I have a number of options although the meat-eaters of the party always seem satisfied too. The add-on salads are nice and the laffa really takes the cake, if you'll pardon my mixed metaphor. Falafel is as it should be and the soups are always hearty and warming. Now that I live around the corner this is my new watering hole. Sorry Veggie Planet!
(5)
Cwot W.
I'd say this place is absolutely underwhelming. Food is OK. Not great and not bad. I put this place in the category of "places I go to when there is a long line everywhere else"
(3)
Vlad B.
Don't listen to the naysayers, the food is just as good as, or even better than Ramis. The hummus is definitely more authentic Israeli-tasting, which is a rarity in the States. The entrees are larger and more creative, with surprisingly tasty grilled veggies on the side as opposed to the standard salad mix. Ramis is still great for shawarma fans, but there's more to the Brookline Kosher scene :) Visited with 5 co-workers on a busy night, and the service was completely fine, nothing to complain about..
(4)
Dan S.
Easy title for this place: Food good, kitchen service bad. 50 minutes to wait for a main dish? Perhaps if youhad to find the chickens, but really? And yes, we had a big group -- 10 people -- but even so, the food came out over a 10 minute span AFTER the wait. Oh, and the tables were shaky and the decor is non-existent. BUT, if you're not a rush (or want take out), and need kosher food, the food was good, above-average even. The cold appetizer plate was the typical middle-eastern fare (but with fresh pita, yummy). The mushroom soup had a nice spice to it and its meat platter (chicken, lamb, beef served with two sides) had enough for a second meal. They also have different fare for those keeping kosher and a kids menu (hot dogs, chicken fingers etc) too. The falafel got raves too. So if you're in town, or local and need a good kosher place (and you're not in a rush), it's a good choice.
(3)
Alyssa J P.
My boyfriend and I came here for a snack before going to the Coolidge for a show. We figured we'd have plenty of time as we were at least 45 minutes early for our show. I ordered hummus, and the waitress seemed astonished that we didn't want to order an entire meal. She didn't take our menus, and came back several minutes later to ask us for our order. I told her we were just getting hummus, she looked surprised, and then finally took our menus. We had to wait several more minutes to actually get the hummus, which was quite delicious and creamy. There was only one small piece of pita with it, which was just not enough. We had to eat the rest with a spoon. After trying to take a full order again, the waitress gave us some sort of appetizer dish, I think pickled veggies (they were okay), and disappeared for a while again. I really wanted my check, and the next time she came around I was able to ask for it. At this point we had been in the restaurant for half an hour, which seems like a long wait for a tiny dish of hummus. You can't pay credit card if your order is less than 10$ or 15$, so I had to run to CVS in order to pay. By the time we got to the Coolidge we had only a few minutes before the film started. Not a huge deal, but who wants to spend 40 minutes getting a snack? Next time I will just go to Trader Joe's and buy a package of pita and hummus for a lot less money and expense of time. I looked at the menu and as a vegan I wouldn't want to eat a full meal here, because most of their menu items seem pretty meat-centric. The other dishes, like falafel, are just too expensive. There are plenty of fine falafel shops that are more reasonably priced.
(2)
Dorise G.
Man, I'm surprised to see so many negative reviews of this place! My sister, a VERY religious jew who keeps pretty intense levels of kosher, came in from out of town to visit. We met up with our second cousins for what was a totally delicious, lovely meal. The falafel are extremely fresh, soft, and herby - totally unlike the poor excuses for falafel you tend to see in the States. The pickled cabbage, beets, olives, etc they bring for you to nosh on upon arrival are satisfying (though it would help if we had small plates from the get-go so we weren't all poking used forks into the same dish - this IS flu season, after all). The pita is outstandingly fluffy and light, and the Meorav Yerushalmi - beef/lamb/chicken/onions/spices in a pita is perfect - tender, juicy, flavorful, and a perfect serving size. I've begrudgingly accompanied my sister to kosher restaurants before and have always been tremendously disappointed by the quality of food, but this is a kosher restaurant I'd eat in even if my sister weren't around to accommodate. Pricing may be a little high, but that's typical of kosher restaurants because the ingredients are so much more expensive. I think the quality of the food definitely makes it worth the price, and I will absolutely be back for more authentic middle-eastern delight! Celiac-friendly note: many of the cold apps and entrees are gluten free, just ask your server!
(5)
Ella F.
I'm partially writing in response to clarify the owner's comments to Mike K's review from 3/14/11 (which got filtered). The delay is so long because I hadn't noticed the owner's response and the subsequent filtering until now. We went to Jerusalem Pita on 3/13, and the fine print on the coupon said the deal started on 3/14. We did not notice this and the owner is flat out lying when she wrote that the waitress informed us about it. We gave the waitress the coupon BEFORE ORDERING, and she did not mention anything about the date on the coupon until after she gave us the check without any discount on it. We gave her the voucher before we ordered and she took it to the back room right away. She came back after 5 or so minutes, and then took our order with no mention of the date. That is why we were so angry. If she had told us she noticed the coupon was not yet valid, we would have had no issues and would have stayed for the meal regardless. About an hour later when she brought the check and we asked why there was no discount, she came back with the coupon. The voucher was highlighted and underlined. Obviously, she saw the date issue (at some point), and didn't tell us. Not only that, but when she was explaining why there was no discount she initially started with telling us that the coupon was for take out only (which it wasn't). On top of the coupon fiasco, the service was pretty bad. Just read all the reviews! There's a nearly unanimous opinion about the horrible service. It was extremely awkward with the waitress disappearing for long periods of time (and a nearly empty restaurant, there were only 3-4 tables taken). The issues included me not having silverware (we ended up taking it from another table because when I asked for some she disappeared and never brought any out), and her taking 15 minutes to appear after the meal so we could ask for the check (even though she took our empty plates earlier). I understand that we screwed up the dates and that Jerusalem Pita "couldn't" honor a coupon that wasn't in effect yet. However, they could have saved themselves bad publicity and extremely disappointed customers by offering us a nominal discount (or at least a real apology) as the waitress clearly screwed up. She knew about the dates and never told us. The owner wasn't there at all (there was no manager), and any communication with the owner was only phone calls between her and the waitresses. We never spoke to anyone other than the two waitresses working, so please take what the owner wrote with a grain of salt.
(1)
Steph L.
The food's great. Service, not so great. The food - falafel laffes are awesome, the bread is fresh and really great and the free salad bar (all pickled veggies) is pretty kick ass. But the service is pretty bad. We were there yesterday around 7 for dinner and the place was packed, which is always a good sign for a small restaurant on a Tuesday night. We scooped up one of the last available tables and ordered a plate of hummus, and two laffes - one chicken shawarma and one lamb kabob. The hummus arrived about 25 minutes after ordering and the sandwiches arrived close to 45 minutes later. That's a really long time for hummus and sandwiches. The two waitresses, while friendly were busy and forgot some things, which is understandable. But ultimately, I think they really need to figure out how to get from kitchen to dining table in less time. Most people around us ordered pitas and laffes. The kitchen didn't seem very short staffed, so I don't know why things were so delayed. Skip dining in and grab some take out.
(2)
Chris C.
Food is a 4 Service is a 0 So I ended up here for dinner because one the need to get kosher food for a friend. So the restaurant is tiny and looks like it caters more to the take out crowd. The tables are very small and a bit on the crowded side. Those weren't that big of a deal though. The issue was every time someone opened the door the whole place dropped about 5 degrees so we ended up leaving our coats on through the whole meal. That said the food was really excellent. We had the cold appetizer platter and the kubeh. Both were very tasty although they only brought us out one small pita to share for 3 people. We had to ask for more which they brought out after an extended period of time. So once we finished our food we asked the server for the check and she said no problem. After about 10 or 15 minutes of waiting we asked her for it again. After another 10 or 15 minutes we asked again. Then after another 5 minutes we tried to get her attention again and she ignored us again. So we left about what we figured dinner came to on the table in cash and went left. The server saw us get up and start to walk towards the door and still made no effort to either check with us or stop us on the way out the door. It was very weird to say the least. So the moral of the story is get take out and enjoy the great food while skipping the terrible service.
(3)
Ido W.
The bottom line: I will come back, but only when I get a craving. The pros: Authentic very Israeli street food. The atmosphere is simple, homely and 'familiar'. The cons: I am all for many types of salads and 'Tapas' style dining. Here, the portions are huge, so I would recommend resisting the temptation to order one of each. That takes away from the potential to enjoy a varied meal.
(4)
Arinne B.
This place is fabulous--and kosher to boot! My absolute favorites are the decadent eggplant rolls, the amazingly moist and flavorful chicken shish kebab, and the tasty hummus & warm pita (that I think I heard was imported from Israel), and for dessert--the baklava and mint tea. I have a ton of food allergies, and there's always something I can eat there. As a result, I visit weekly, and Jeru. Pita never disappoints. I also love how they're always experimenting with new menu items. I forgot the name of it, but there was an AMAZING fish dish being offered the other week that I'll definitely be on the look out for again, and an impressive soup collection. As for the service, I'm really confused by some of the other posts here. I've been waited on by several different staff members, and they've always been courteous, sweet, and timely. Maybe the issue is that people should know it's a restaurant, not a "fast food" place. I get take out from here quite regularly, and my food's always waiting for me, nice and hot. Check it out for yourself...you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Aaron M.
This is a gem of place. Customer service is excellent as opposed to other Brookline middle easter eating places. The food is delicious! If you order the falafel platter, I guarantee that you won't have to eat for the rest of the day since there is so much food. Prices are kind of high, though. I will go back.
(4)
Rani P.
After eating middle eastern food in Israel- my expectations were high, but my mouth was salivating for the flavors and spices of the east. Walking past Jerusalem Pita & Grill in the past, I assumed that it was solely a take-out place. I was surprised to discover the hustle and bustle of the two, nice waitresses in the small but busy restaurant. It was packed for a weeknight- but soon we found out why. I could have just ordered appetizers and went on my way, but how can you not order about 10 things off the menu? Falafel, Potato Burekas, Shawarma, Schnitzel and 2 bottles of Goldstar Dark Lager. I haven't had falafel as good as this anywhere else in Boston.. it wasn't too fried, or overly seasoned- they were perfection. I wanted to bundle them up in a napkin and take them home with me, but they were just too tasty and delicious I had to devour every last crumb. The falafel came with a plate of hummus and tahini and absolutely phenomenal pita bread- warm, fluffy, rich- they basically could have floated away from our table. But don't you worry- I caught them and ate them almost as fast as the falafel. They had no chance of survival. The potato burekas were also authentic- although the portion size (1 on a small plate) was the worst tease imaginable. Once the Shawarma and Schnitzel came- all I wanted was more falafel and burekas. The shawarma was aight- the laffa was HUGE, and the schnitzel was ok- but both got so soggy near the end and collapsed from the weight of the tahini and cucumber salad. Favorite place for falafel? Jerusalem Pita and Grill. Best pita in Boston? Jerusalem PITA and Grill- go figure. Do I want another Goldstar Dark Lager? Sure.
(4)
Tim P.
Great laffa, friendly owners, kosher galore, whats not too like? Food is of a regular mideastern variety, they do have an optional salad bar as an add-on for entrees. Very tasty pita, it is served hot and puffy, more of a Syrian kind than lets say Greek Small detail is that one expects kebabs to be served with onions and parsley, in this case they come naked, but still taste great though. I don't care for falafel in any shape or form, so no comments on that, but it seems to be very well put together. tl;dr - great inexpensive place, come on down when in Brookline
(4)
Adham A.
Pros: accessible location, somewhat cozy atmosphere. Cons: over priced (I paid $18 for a kebab laffe that was not tasty nor did it have much kebab in it), staff not so friendly. Probably won't be eating there again. If you find yourself in the mood for a good wrap go to Shawarma King.
(2)
Bianca J.
I just ate here with my family and I had a wonderful experience! We were rushed for time, and it was a perfect place to get a quick dinner that was also enjoyable! Our server was attentive, friendly, and appreciative. The food was tasty and very reasonably-priced. I thought that the menu offered a great variety of healthy and yummy food. This is my new go-to place in Coolidge Corner!
(5)
Alex B.
Came here for lunch yesterday, gotta say the food is fantastic. I had the turkey shawarma and it tasted better than any other that I've had in a long time, very clean and great service. One downside is lack of healthy beverage choice and a little expensive. Otherwise it's great
(4)
Mike I.
I understand the allure of this place, as someone who spent a few years only being able to eat meat out at kosher restaurants. If I still kept kosher, this place would get a default 5 stars because the food is pretty good and when you get kosher meat cooked by someone else, it doesn't much matter how much it costs or how long it takes. However, I assume that most of the yelping world does not keep kosher, and for this part of the eating world I am writing this review. I went here once a few months ago, the food was good but a little pricey. The service was really slow, and there were a bunch of families with little kids so the dining room, which is about the size of my living room, was really noisy and crowded. If I wanted middle eastern food, there are a couple other places in Coolidge that are better and cheaper and even more choices when you venture a mile or two away. The real problem with this restaurant was the other night when my girlfriend and I went in to grab some takeout on our way home. There were five employees that I could see when we were standing at the counter waiting to order: two waitresses, a woman who was assisting another customer at the register when we came in, a cook behind the counter, and the owner of the restaurant. For nearly 10 minutes, no one made eye contact with us or said a word, they just brushed by us as if we weren't there. Another couple had come in around the same time as us and they had a similar lack of interaction while sitting at a table. We left after 10 minutes and went next door to get sushi, and still had no interaction with anyone in the restaurant. I can't say I'm surprised by this experience, but I'm never setting foot in here again without ordering beforehand. I've got a gift certificate, so I will call ahead and maybe even get in the employees way until I get my order.
(2)
matt s.
I have never in my life encountered such an enormous shawarma sandwich! You have the option of ordering your sandwich on a pita, which makes for a reasonable, very delicious portion, or you can order the laffa and gorge. I opted for the latter. When my sandwich arrived at my table, I was shocked. It must have been a foot long (a value at $11 and change). The laffa was soft and warm. The shawarma was tender, perfectly spiced and just a little fatty. Topped with an interesting variety of pickles (turnip, pepper and cucumber). Jarusalem pita is damn good shawarma.
(5)
Dave K.
If u need a glatt kosher place to eat in the Boston/Cambridge area,this place in Brookline is a great find. Went for lunch and had the schnitzel which was lightly breaded,delicious . You will not leave there hungry. The side orders were equally good. Went back for dinner and had a mixed meat platter of lamb,chicken,beef. Left there very happy and filled.I also ordered a sandwich to go for the next day. The wait staff were very friendly,professional,and added to the experience . Will definitely go back.
(5)
Graceypoo M.
Delicious falafel! I'm quite unsure if I was being a bad Catholic or an expert Filipino (or college student on a budget). There were concurrent "meet+greet" events today held for new students: one was a Catholic mass-then-lunch and one was a free feeding by the Jewish kids. The J-organization advertised "Free FALAFEL" so I made sure I woke up and got fresh & clean just for that. I know I'm not Jewish, but people should not advertise "Free Food" in common areas if they don't expect me to crash their party. That... and I was unsure if the post-mass lunch with the Catholic kids was free. The choice came down to acknowledging the intersectionalities of my identity: I'm a Filipino Catholic, triflin' student. All of those suggested that I go to the free feeding. They bought the falafel, pita, hummus, tahini, cucumber salad, +different veggies/fixin's from Jerusalem Pita & Grill. I love the fried goodness of falafel and was impressed at how delicious J P&G's falafel were. I mentioned to a classmate how hopeful I was becoming about Boston eats (having recently moved from the culinary locale of San Francisco, CA). My belly full of falafel is helping me ease a bit of the Catholic guilt for missing mass. ( | )
(4)
Ramon M.
As mentioned in other comments the food is delicious, but might be considered overpriced for what's offered. The service, however, was not particularly good. Our group waited twenty minutes before being able to order food and it wasn't a particularly crowded night. From what I could gather that might have been atypical.
(3)
Joshua M.
You know, the service WAS kind of weird. The lady said "YEAH?!" when I came to the register. Anyway, I liked that I could get a side salad with the meal, which KIND of made up for how expensive it was. But I'm really giving this place four stars cause the Pita bread was friggin amazing. Unusually thick (is that a good thing??) and fresh. The falafel seemed serviceable. Not too dry. As a Jew, I felt bad that wasn't donning a Yarmulke, since every other male Hebrew in there seemed to be adhering to the head covering rule.
(4)
Aia Y.
The food is not isreali at all more indian and I'll know I grow up in tel aviv The place to small over price and the waiters so stupid! Russian who have no idea who and how
(2)
irfan m.
I love this place. Again did you hear me haters ...I love this place. Kitchen is clean as hell. Are you seriously kidding me about their Falafel, its freaking awesome. How about when you are their they have some patience too on menu. They make their Laffe(Israeli Wrap). Way better experience than RAMIS for sure. This is place is Kosher if you care.Try their Falafel Laffes.... Seriously they are changing lifes by one laffe at a time.
(5)
Al E.
Wow!! Who knew a felafel could even get more expensive than at Rami's?? I ordered the Shakshuka...literally two eggs in a plate of tomato sauce with stale pita on the side for $11! They made us move tables (right next to the door) after the food arrived and then a woman asked us how much longer we thought we were going to be eating because she wanted to know if she should wait. Not the restaurant's fault, but who does that?? The ambience is fine, kind of feels like Jerusalem actually, but unless you keep kosher, it's not worth your time, money, patience, stomachache...
(2)
Mike K.
In short, the WORST service I have ever experienced. The food was good but not nearly worth the aggravation or the money for that matter. Do not come here. The long story: I came here with my girlfriend because we got one of those coupon deals (from a major site). The waitress took our coupon, then came back after a while and took our order. The service during the meal was awkward and poor. The waitress barely said two words to us, never checked on our food, never refilled our water, and took forever with our check. Both my girlfriend and I felt really uncomfortable through the entire process. Finally, the waitress came back with the bill and I saw that the amount of the coupon was never taken out. When I asked the waitress if she made a mistake or forgot to apply the coupon to the bill, she immediately came back with the coupon and told me that she spoke with the manager earlier and that cannot accept it. She tried to give me a couple of nonsense reasons saying that it was only for takeout (it was not) or that they did not have some kind of information and that I should come tomorrow. Clearly, she did not have her story straight! When I asked her why she did not tell me this BEFORE taking my order she had nothing to say except that she was sorry. Let me stop for a second and tell you how I felt. Saying that I was just robbed and that I was very upset would be a mild description. When I asked to speak with the manager she left and after a while another waitress came by and told me that there was no manager at the restaurant but that she spoke with the owner over the phone and that they cannot accept the coupon. After some more time of arguing back and forth I had no choice except to pay the bill in full while leaving zero for tip. I also wrote to the Coupon website to ask for my money back. As bad as this sounds, I am not making this up. Don't believe me? Check the other reviews on here - apparently nobody likes their service. The bottom line: these people are thieves and don't have the first clue about customer service. I WILL NOT COME HERE AGAIN and you should not either. There are plenty of other Israeli places in the area.
(1)
Jeff E.
If you're turned off by bland pita and hummus you get from supermarkets -- my only exposure to it before a Jewish friend took me to this place -- you've been missing out. It was all excellent. The pita. The hummus. The kebabs. The pita pockets, which are way overstuffed and delicious. I really like this place a great deal, and the waitstaff is friendly, if a bit scattered.
(4)
lily l.
Me and my husband came here before hebrew class. Didn't really know what to expect. The appetizer sampler was very good and so was the salmon. Kitchen was running a little slow, actually almost made us late for class, but at the end it was fine. Would definitely come back for the authentic menu. They also have some yummy juice from Isreal, just not sure what the name of it was.
(4)
Morgan H.
Ordered a falafel on a pita to go - I don't know if they understood that concept. Service was ridiculously slow. Also, it was a freakin' furnace in there - I just wanted my falafel, not the authentic Israeli experience. In the end the falafel was yummy but I'd never go if time was at all a concern....
(2)
Scott F.
These guys got a write up in the Globe, so I figured I'd give 'em a shot. I've been going to Rami's forever, and I actually felt guilty getting stuff somewhere else. That being said, I ordered the chicken shwarma and a side order of babaganoush. Total cost: $16.70 ... The shwarma was a bit on the dry side, and while the portion was generous, I'd rather have quality over quantity. Flavorwise, it was really nothing special. The babaganoush was "just being made" when I ordered it, and it was way over-seasoned with cumin. I waited a good 10 minutes for them to finish making it. The place looks nice enough, and the staff seemed friendly, but all things considered, just go to Rami's. Tastier, less expensive, and Chaim's a helluva nice guy...
(2)
Holly P.
My friend and I went in for dinner yesterday. When we first got there, we were the only two in the restaurant. You would think that would mean our server was attentive--absolutely not. First off, my friend had to go get a highchair for her 2-year herself, the server didn't even offer one, or offer to help get one.We were seated at a two person table, so it's not as if she could have thought the 2 year old was going to sit in her own seat. She brought the free appetizer promptly, but then disappeared for more than 5 mins before coming back with water. She came back after a few minutes to take our order. We waited a while for the food, which did not even come out at the same time. My friend's dinner plate came out a good 7or 8 minutes before my Laffa,which made barely any sense since only 1 other couple had come in after us, they were not that busy. Then our server never checked on us after we got our food to see how we liked it. After 20 minutes, we finally got her attention so we could get the rest to go and pay. The falafel itself was pretty dry, and there was not much hummus or tahini in the laffa. I didn't even want to finish my food. It was my first trip there, and I will be sure never to return.
(1)
Rosie F.
If you want to wait 30 minutes for horrible and overpriced food while the waitstaff is talking on their cell phones, while holding strange cleanliness standards (i.e. food to counter, then food to plate) and their family takes up most of the table space - this is the place for you. Taking in to consideration that this place is new, and has time to improve - I am completely underwhelmed.
(1)
S M.
Disappointing hummus and baba ganoush. Frankly the worst I've ever had. Ordered the fish cakes - mediocre. A bit salty actually. Was hoping for something special because everyone who works here and is in here seems to be from Israel. Did not meet my expectations. The laffa was good - that's about it.
(2)
Nora B.
I'm surprised to see such lousy reviews of this place. I've only been here once, but I was pleased with what I got -- a chicken shawerma lafa; takeout. It was full of crunchy veggies, hummus, and a *ton* of chicken. Maybe too much chicken actually. Overall, the thing was enormous, and I ended up eating half for dinner and half for lunch the next day. It also comes with a make-your-own-side from the pickle and olive bar, which is a nice touch.
I also had a terrible experience here. My boyfriend and I waited over 30 minutes for our food even though only one couple had placed an order before us. I was beyond annoyed and had I not already paid, would have left. The food ended up being really disappointing, they gave us the wrong $8 side salad, and no one so much as apologized for the delay. I know this place is new, but some things are common sense -- employees shouldn't be eating while making food, employees shouldn't ignore customers waiting to order while on their cell phones, and asking someone who has been waiting 30 minutes to please move to a more convenient location to wait is just rude.
(1)
rachel d.
I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. Out of all the places I have been to in Boston, this one was my favorite. We had their lamb Kebab entree with rice and vegetables. It was enough for two people to share. The service was great! I've noticed that there is a lot of negative feedback about the service here on yelp. People have bad days - we have to remember that. Bad service on one occasion doesn't necessarily mean consistent.bad service. The food was fantastic. Kebab found outside of the Middle East is generally a million times worse. But this meal was comparable to anything you'd find on the streets of Jerusalem. They had a nice salad bar where you could take seconds of cabbage, olives, and marinated other things. And to share they gave several pitot even though I wasn't aware that we ordered any. If I lived in Boston I would be dining here as much as possible. Delish.
(5)
Gen M.
Oh lord, how good this is this place! I was texting and writing to people about the lamb schawarma. I was plotzing as I was eating. The food came out to a bit more money than I wanted (for a glass of wine, an appetizer and a meal it was $31), but it was so delicious and I was so pleased with everything that I did not mind. 1. They achieved an oddly pleasing medium between fast food/family and elegant bistro atmosphere. It's because you can see people cook behind the counter (good!) and they give you soda out of the soda fridge in the dining area. I like it -- it's clean, it's crisp, it's amazing but there are a lot of families that dine there and the place is kind of small. 2. The food is fantastic. The lamb schawarma is amazing! I'm ill informed as to how they achieve perfection. The falafel is heavenly. 3. The waitress was VERY sweet and accommodating. The staff seems sweet and nice. I don't know who "shat" in the cereal of the people who left a bad review, but the place is very amazing. I had stuff at Rami's. It's comparable. Rami's is a fast food place hands down, it doesn't have a bistro atmosphere at all. Besides it's similar price. I have never tasted anything that curled my hair and toes at Rami's. 4. I ate the leftovers today and they were still fantastic to eat. The veggies were still springy and delicious, even better than fresh. The salad still rocked and the meat and falafel -- still amazing. I love them all!
(5)
Jamie G.
Actually a 2.5, but since the service was really ridiculous, I rounded down. So came here with a friend who eats kosher because it was one of the two kosher places open on Saturdays. The place is tiny, which is awful on a cold day because everytime the door opens a huge gust of cold air greets you at your table. We wore our winter coats during most of the meal because of it. And the service was absolutely ridiculously awful. Took us forever to have our order taken. Then we ordered a huge appetizer sampler with tabouleh and hummus etc etc and there were three of us but we only got 1 piece of pita, and it took awhile to get more. And we didn't get little plates until halfway through our eating (so we were eating of our napkins). But the worst was I must have asked for the check 5 times and never got it. Other customers had gotten theirs and left but not us. We estimated out bill was about $20 so we left a 20, got up and left... and the waitress STILL didn't stop us or give us our check or anything!! Unbelievable!! However, the food was pretty good. The pita was thick and soft, the hummus, tabouleh, tahini, babaganoush, and carrots were delicous. The beets and the salad thing were not very good. We also had the kubeh, which reminded me of Jewish corn dogs :) but were tasty. Gettings apps to share was great because it was cheap and filling. Pretty sure the only time I'd come back is if its a Saturday and I need kosher food.
(2)
Tad B.
Great spread of pickled vegetables, excellent falafel, and generally authentic israeli-style food. I disagree about the service, I think it was good - but then again, I'm well acquainted with middle eastern and western european service, so maybe I don't expect much! don't go for the service or atmosphere, go for the delicious food.
(4)
Lauren M.
I love this place. I've definitely heard reports of rude service, but I've been there 4 or 5 times and found the wait staff to be super friendly. The food is amazing, in my opinion better than Rami's, which has oddly small falafel. From reports I've heard, Shwarma King and Rami's are more authentic. Granted, my only legit falafel experience is from the south of Spain, so I definitely can't testify as to whether this is truly Israeli cuisine...
(5)
Matt B.
The food is quite good, particularly with the $1-extra laffah bread (it's almost like a poofy tortilla. Emphasis on "almost"). I've had the shawarma and the lamb-turkey-beef thing (I'm blanking on the name). Their Israeli salad I think is particularly good, and my eating partner was quite fond of their baba ganoush. Two quick notes: the restaurant is Kosher, so the food is more expensive than at a non-Kosher Middle Eastern place. Also, "traditional" Israeli service is not what I would call the most accommodating. I'm a patient man, however, so I just see it as part of the ambiance! If you don't like waiting, go for an early meal.
(5)
Todd C.
I ordered a Falafel Laffa ($1 more than the pita, but worth it considering the larger portion). Liked: Israeli salad and green spice (?) were very good Fries can be added to falafel sandwiches at no extra cost. Wait staff was friendly Disliked: Falafel balls were not seasoned well (needed salt) Fries were mushy and bland (also needed salt) Service was disjointed, not fast for falafel sandwich It is pretty obvious that Jerusalem Pita & Grill is run by first time restauranteurs. Certain things that are often taken for granted (properly layering a falafel sandwich), aren't done particularly well yet. The place is laid out inefficiently for seating, and with its glass counter, appears to be more of a take-out or fast food operation, which it definitely is not. My experience wasn't as slow as some of the other reviewers, but not as fast as most other comparable falafel/shawarma restaurants. While I think the portion was good enough, the fact that the falafel balls themselves were bland is discouraging. The texture was very good, but I had to add salt to my laffa, which made it pretty decent. But I shouldn't have to do that, right? The hummus was also virtually non-existent, which was a shame. Until they work out the kinks, I'll go to Shawarma King for falafel in the area, as its cheaper, and tastes better.
(2)
Aisha L.
Love this place!!! Great food, Best Israeli food i have had in Boston.
(5)
Catherine K.
The falafel here is so good. With a complimentary condiment bar, you can dress your falafel pita with all the yummy pickled veggies and peppers you heart desires.Yum
(5)
Risotto J.
This is my first review on Yelp. I usually read but never felt compelled to write. Until now. This, with no exaggeration, is the worst place I've been in Boston in 12+ years I've lived here. A few disclaimers: I'm Israeli and I only eat kosher meat. This might help explain how I ended up here for the 3rd time even though I swore to never come back after the first two times when my bill came up mysteriously higher than what we ordered. But, this review is about the last visit: First thing you notice when you enter is that absolute majority of people sat down wearing fully zipped coats. A couple had their hats on. No, it's not a weird Jewish ritual to dine fully clothed. It's just this damn cold inside. Guys who work the grill aren't cold cause they are, well, next to the grill. The waitress wore thick leg warmers and boots. I sleep with a partially open window now, in late December, and let me tell you: it's cold. The food: To start, we asked for hummus. We were given one pita with it. I assumed it was a simple mistake until I noticed that another two couples also were given one pita with their small $4.95 plate of hummus. Let me ask the management if they ever read this: how much does a pita cost? Hey, if we serve HALF a pita to everybody, we can save $327 a year! The meat was dry and chewy, with one exception: chunks of fat. I'm not on a diet, but when a significant portion of the meat you see before you bite is really not meat at all, but pure fat, you start wondering. Also, the meat in the wrap is placed like this: xx---------------------xx, where x is the meat and --- is the bread and veggies. Hey, Chaim, this trick saves us another $1439 a year! The lafa (a large pita-like wrap) was soggy. The hummus was not fresh. The thina (tahini) was not properly mixed - there were chunks inside that form when you take the tahini out of a box (as opposed to making it yourself) and don't bother mixing properly. My companion then asked for tea. She was told they have mint tea. She said "great!". She was given a small glass of hot water, surrounded, on a chipped plate with one bag of Lipton (still in the bag), one tiny (1/16th) piece of lemon, and one atrophied mint leaf. I kid you not. This whole charade is presided over by a woman with an expression of mourning on her face. It's not a singular occurrence - she had that exact expression in the other two times I was there 6 and 12 months ago. Majority of the time she stood right behind the back of one of the grillers and watched him cook. Perhaps she was portioning? The positive: our non-Jewish waiter was prompt, pleasant, and friendly. I gave him a large cash tip, only to see, as I was leaving, the head waitress asking him to hand it over. Total bill, for 2, for 2 sandwiches, hummus, one tea, and one desert: $64. This is similar to what you pay at Oleana (!) for a dinner for two not including wine. Please don't tell me how kosher meat is more expensive. There are plenty of better kosher meat places in NYC at third of the price. To sum up the experience, one word that defines this place is: cheap. This place is a disgrace to both parts of its name. In Jerusalem this joint would be out of business in a week, but not before one of the customers throws a soggy pita in the management's face.
(1)
Amaldo ..
I've been here twice now. Both times i ordered the turkey shwarma and both times I was fully satiated. Portions were big, salad size generous. Workers were nice and as a connoisseur of shwarma, it's the most authentic I've had compared to the ones I've had in Israel. Chips are meant to be non-crispy as this is how it's done in Israel. Also important to note: Workers always wore gloves when handling food AND since it's a glatt kosher establishment that respects the laws of Kashrut, of course, you can't walk in there with non-Kosher items, like drinks from Dunkin Donuts. On the flipside, you will need to wait a few minutes to get your food (both times I did) and if you're in a hurry, it might not be the best bet, but it was well worth it.
I wanted to love this place the minute I stepped inside. My work takes me to Israel twice a year, so I felt the vibe of a true Israeli restaurant--from the little kid running around the kitchen to the mural on the wall, it seriously is Jerusalem in Brookline. Management, take notice: your food was ruined by horrible experiences all around. 1. You gave away our reservation when we were less than 5 minutes late. Hold your horses. 2. There needs to be more than one waitstaff on the floor. Our waiter started the meal bright eyed and bushy tailed and ended frazzled by trying to keep up with a packed restaurant. The woman who manages him seemed like she had every intention of filling in the gaps but didn't quite cut it. Pay another $3.75 an hour and hire another waitperson. We ended up serving ourselves half of our meal as well as our plates. We weren't the only ones. 3. If there is a hair in the salad and someone brings it to the cook, do not ask to see the hair. 4. If there is a piece of rubber glove in the Shawarma, you probably won't have to ask to see the piece of rubber glove. 5. Get more waitstaff. And maybe some sort of cushions or cloth to put around, one of the people at our table is older and couldn't hear a thing (cushions on the bench would serve the dual purpose of making patrons comfortable and drowning out some noise). 6. If you're going to live up to the "Jerusalem" title in your name, you can't charge for extra pita. The appetizer "teaser" should come with more than one pita, especially when a table of six orders it to share. I've been to Jerusalem. There is no shortage of pita in that city. Honestly, there were other issues with the meal that screamed "bad management" but this is already getting too long. The only reason this restaurant gets two stars rather than one is that the food seemed like it would have been pretty good if it were served hot and properly.
(2)
David C.
The schwarma was very tasty, i had a good meal, and it came with this cold salad stuff that was tasty too. The food was definitely unique, and the guy behind the counter, i think he was the owner, was nice and made good recommendations. I'll be back with friends.
(5)
Emily F.
Just tried this place for takeout because they are right across the street. I will say that the staff was very attentive and friendly, and I liked the "cigar" appetizer and house hummus. I did NOT like the falafel (disapointing!!) and the shwarma looked dry (I didn't try it to be fair). And I got a nasty stomach ache. It's not cheaper than Rami's so I probably won't go back. Warning: I asked if either the lentil or white bean soups were vegetarian, and the server said that they were, and home made. At the last second, she added that "there might be a little bit of chicken stock, but thats pretty unavoidable". Um, no, its not, actually.
(1)
cj s.
Fantastic! I catered a lunch for 40 people, and it was absolutely perfect. The food was excellent (chicken schwarma, lamb kabobs, jerusalem kabobs, falafel, salads and pickles.) The pita was warm and delicious. Everyone kept talking about how great the food was. The people at the restaurant were friendly and very helpful in getting my order just right. And they delivered right on time! I couldn't be happier!
(5)
Steven K.
I also went here after reading the Globe review in the 'Cheap Eats' section. 2 sandwiches, 1 entree, and 1 appetizer later, the three of us were down over $53 dollars - cheap eats? In addition, 2/3 of us now have stomach aches. The 'Jerusalem Eggplant' appetizer was quite tasty, but not worth the $5.95 price tag. I could have accepted the price, however, had the rest of the meal been decent. The falafel sandwich on laffa was bland, and the ingredients were low-quality. The tomatoes and lettuce looked like cafeteria-grade bulk vegetables. Although, the actual falafel itself was spiced decently. Most importantly, half-way through the sandwich, my stomach began to turn. I gave it a break. I decided to help out my father, and help finish some of his chicken pita. It had been drenched in a thin tahini sauce, and his request for no hot sauce was not followed, as he had seen the line cook scraping the sauce from the pita before completing the sandwich. This dish really put my stomach over the edge. The restaurant was quite busy, yet there were only two servers working, which was not enough to handle all of the customers. And while I give the benefit of the doubt to over-worked and under-staffed servers, ours did not once ask us how the meal was, refill our empty water glasses, or thank us for our business. And, she literally tossed the paid-for check onto our table without stopping her stride, making eye contact, or even smiling. There is no website or e-mail address for the restaurant, so I'll have to call them to let them know how I feel about their restaurant. I will never ever go back, and wouldn't accept any free food from them, which is really sad, as this cuisine is generally one of my favorites.
(1)
Enday G.
Way too expensive for the low quality food. Service is bad and portions are small. Don't waist your money and time.
(1)
Eli V.
I love this place. The food is excellent and they have the best pita around. The chicken shish kebab is the best I've had in the States. They normally have a variety of soups on the menu - all very good. The waitresses are friendly and helpful, and the service has improved tremendously from when they first opened. They deliver to Newton for $5 - can't beat that!
(5)
Brittany A.
From other reviews, it sounds like people are rating it as more of a sit-down service restaurant; honestly, I saw it as a takeout or counter-to-table situation. And for that, it is awesome. They bake their own pita and it's so much better than the pita at the other places in the neighborhood (you'll think the other places' pitas are stale after eating this one). Baba ghanoush is delicious and creamy, just how I like it. The only word of advice I feel compelled to offer is that if you want hot sauce, ask for extra in your sandwich--they're pretty conservative with it.
(4)
Laila E.
I have now been to this place twice. Once when it originally opened and then this past week to give it a second chance. Both experiences were horrible. Not only is the space laid out ineffectively which causes pure chaos as you try to seat yourself first come first serve at a dirty table, but then the waitress who later discovers you and acknowledges you 20 mins later wipes down the table into your lap and sprays you with table cleaner. It then takes another 20 mins to receive your napkin and silverware at which time you beg her to place an order. After an hour of being seated, you finally get some water (warm water) and eventually your meal which is completely not what you ordered. When you address this issue, the waitress offers you free french fries on the house to make up for it. These french fries will never come. On top of it, the food is BAD - just plain BAD. You finally beg for your bill to get the hell out of the chaos and she brings you a paper hand written bill with an amount on it. You get up to go pay (since you know the waitress wont come for another 20 mins) and give your credit card and the credit card receipt was charged for a higher amount than on the bill. When you confront the waitress, she indicates that she had written your bill wrong and had to fix it. Not only is this place RIDICULOUSLY overpriced but it is HORRIBLE service and AWFUL food. I live walking distance to this place and LOVE Israeli food but will NEVER visit again and encourage everyone I know to stay away.
(1)
Kenneth K.
I was refused service for having a Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee in my hand on a beautiful sunny spring afternoon. I had just given blood and needed some sugar for my system and was excited to try the falafel for TAKE OUT. However.....I was advised by the chef who I assume was the store manager that it was NOT "BESEDER" to hold the iced coffee while putting in an order TO GO. So I had to take my business to Zaftig's where the pastrami is always excellent and the service is impeccable. PS. I'm don't even think they were practicing appropriate safe serve techniques as no one was wearing protective hats or using food handling gloves. The Board of Health should investigate further.
(1)
Alan B.
I was never much a fan of Rami's, so when this place opened up, I had the highest of hopes for it. It was a bit of a letdown that a falafel can cost over $10. A lot of the reviews on here ring true; my stomach is not sitting well after my turkey shwarma. My fries didn't have any crunch to them. And the turkey was barely seasoned.
(1)
Elizabeth R.
Nice casual cafe great food, beer and wine, and open late Saturday nights. There are many selections on the menu. The eggplant rolls were OUTSTANDING. The service was attentive and good.
(5)
Dan L.
I had very high hopes for this place but it was a complete disappointment. The service was fine but the food was not good -- the schwarma was cold and just not that tasty, the falafel plate included no fresh vegetables (only highly greasy grilled ones), israeli salad, or hummus. I truly wish I could recommend it but I most certainly cannot.
(1)
J A.
I'm not sure I feel comfortable giving Jerusalem Pita 4 stars but it is a solid 3.5* err 3*. The service is much like one would expect in Israel-the service was slow and staff was more interested in getting everyone through their meal than providing superior service. The food is alright, I've had both the chicken pita and falafel but definitely lacking compared to nearby Rami's. As others have mentioned, this restaurant is hechshered glatt and you pay for it.
(3)
Maria E C.
Jerusalem Pita and Grill has the very best hummus and the best falafel I've tried. Everything they serve is delicious. The prices are a bit high, but their food is kosher, so that is probably what makes it more expensive. Also, when I went there (during the summer) the AC was not working correctly and it was EXTREMELY hot inside. But the food was amazing. I highly recommend it if you want to try something authentic. Also, they have a good selection of Israeli beers.
(4)
L E.
I finally tried out Jerusalem Pita and Grill and I'm a fan. I got the falafel pita and it was the best I've had in a while. I have food allergies and the waitress was very accommodating. My friend had one of the soups and fish and she really liked it too. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Jason F.
Great food and decently large portions. The five-bean hummus was EXCELLENT!
(4)
Keren D.
i love the food here! if i could afford it i'd be there every week. Service is variable, but once you get to know the wait staff, it helps a lot. the kitchen is a little overwhelmed when the restaurant gets busy, so be prepared to wait for your food if the place is full.
(4)
A L.
I have been in this place. The Service is friendly and the food is excellent.. I would recommend this place to friends.
(5)
Ricky R.
So i can't believe I am about to say this about JP&G but after several visits I think I would rather go here than Rami's which is close by. Don't get me wrong Rami's is great, great falafel, the best I have had outside of Israel, but JP&G has something that Rami's doesn't. The pickled "salad" bar. In Israel most falafel places have this, it allows you to dress up you falafel or simply enjoy other flavors that compliment the sandwich. JP&G has pickled beets, red cabbage, hot peppers, and more. This is a great thing. The falafel itself is very good, the pita they use is, I think the same as Rami's, light and fluffy and a perfect thing to hold all your falafel stuffings. The falafel balls are good and so is their hummous. Overall a very good sandwich, but the "salad" bar and the staff make this a great experience. I will still go to Rami's and I still think their falafel is better, but I really like JP&G.
(5)
luna r.
i don't normally write reviews, but i was pretty horrified by my experience here and want to warn others...but then i saw that pretty much everyone else here has already confirmed what i saw. i dropped in for a shwaarma take out. the place was busy, but it looked more like the kitchen staff didn't quite know what was going on, more than a case of being overwhelmed. they spent more time looking at the order tickets, scratching their heads, than actually working. it took me - and i timed it - 30 minutes to get my shwaarma. seriously? i was laden with groceries and bags, there was nowhere to stand in the cramped dining area, i think they could've made an effort to speed it up a bit. it wasn't until after the fact that it registered that i had paid $10.45 for shwaarma. that's a lot, even by brookline standards. you can get a nice filling burrito in five minutes and half the price and double the portion size anywhere else. i mean, it was okay, but it wasn't anything to write home about - and certainly not worth an hours' worth of pay. all this was bad enough, but on top of it all, there was nary a smile, or an apologetic look. no one was outright nasty, but everyone just seemed rather...indifferent. please - do not give them more business - poor service, poor value, poor food.
(1)
Richard R.
Just discovered this little restaurant and it brought back great memories of eating in little places in Israel. The eggplant salad and babaganoush were first rate. The Pita is straight from Israel and was the best. I look forward to trying each item on the menu, I could not be more thrilled.
(4)
M D.
This is one of the newest restaurants around Coolidge Corner and appears they are likely still trying to work out the kinks. It definitely has a cozy, home atmosphere with a great mural on the wall. Service for carry out was definitely a bit slow likely because they just opened. I tried a limited selection including the falafel on a lafa, tabouleh salad, and vegetable soup. The falafel patties were cold (-unless that is how it is served) as was the lafa--it was also doughy & chewy (unlike previous I have tasted). The tabouleh salad seemed like it may have come out of a box--did not taste fresh. The soup was savory but vegetables were totally over-cooked and became mush in the soup. The falafal otherwise had decent flavor, but I was disappointed overall. I would recommend trying this place a month from now to see if things have improved and likely order something different before making a final judgement.
(1)
Max H.
Best Shwarma I've had outside of Israel.
(5)
Evan B.
Site, google, yelp all said open at 6 after Shabbat starting in november. Door says open at 7 during winter season. And yet I'm standing right here with a pitch-black restaurant at 730 I drove in a hour for.
(1)
Avi K.
I've been here twice and will go again. The food itself was good. I had the turkey shawarma, which was as good as I've had anywhere. Be warned, even the "mild" has some spiciness to it. The chicken wraps were good and juicy (and not spicy). Before the meal they brought out little plates of appetizers/salads. These are tasty, but it would be nice if they'd automatically bring out extra forks and plates with these, especially when it's a group. Otherwise it can get rather messy. Also note, it's some kind of unwritten rule that the service at kosher restaurants will be very slow, and it was no exception here. Expect to wait before ordering, to get your food, for the bill, for everything. The servers were nice, just slow.
(4)
George L.
This is one of the worst restaurants I have been to. The falafel was not cooked enough, The schnitzel was not made of a signle piece but rather a few pieces (looked like chiken fingers) and some of it was over cooked. The salad was stale. Aircondition was not working properly so the place was hot!! Not Recommended.
(1)
Harvard P.
I thought I had tried everything in the Coolidge Corner area until I was introduced to Jerusalem Pita & Grill by a co-worker. It's a bit off the beaten path on Pleasant St, one block away from the main thoroughfare of Harvard Ave. I'm so glad he introduced me to it! First off, the restaurant serves kosher foods, so if you can only eat kosher foods, it's a great option. Usually kosher means more expensive, but I didn't find the prices overwhelming. We got the Beef Asli to start - apparently it's one of the more popular appetizers. Note, however, that it's found in the Hummas section. The meat was cooked perfectly and the hummus added just the right amount of texture and flavor without overwhelming the dish. The best part of all? The bread. Apparently it's homemade and fresh every single day. I have rarely gushed about how good the bread is, but this is one of the best breads I have ever eaten. Spreading the hummus and beef over the bread and chomping down on it is quite an experience. For my entree, I got the Beef Burger and my co-worker got the Shawarma. Both were excellent and both portions were HUGE. Neither of us were able to finish the meal especially after having consumed the appetizer. Kosher beef certainly has its advantages and it showed up in the taste of the burger. While I do often prefer greasier and fattier burgers, this is one that you won't need to run 5 miles to get rid of the grease afterwards. Overall, an excellent option in Coolidge Corner. They have so many other options on the menu that I'm looking forward to trying again.
(4)
Elizabeth J.
Filling, delicious, healthy and fresh - the quadfecta of culinary excellence encapsulated in this lovely little Mediterranean spot.
(5)
Mushhoor A.
This place sucks! Meat was over-spiced and fare was over-priced. Sandwich was soggy, and the service was dreadful. My friend went in with a Dunkin's coffee ignorant to Kosher law and the lady behind the counter lost her mind and kicked him out. I respect the fact that she wants to insure that her business stays Kosher but that's no way to treat your customers. Won't be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Nicole B.
Do you know that feeling when you're hungry and looking for something to eat that's comforting, filling, kinda healthy (but not reaaally that healthy) and out of your normal pizza/burrito/tikka curry routine? No? Maybe that's just me... the point is Jerusalem Pita & Grill is what fills that craving. The restaurant is bright, sunny and conveniently located right in Coolidge Corner. Good for take out or table service, you're served a trio of exotic Mediterranean salads as a teaser to your meal. In my aforementioned "healthy but not too healthy" craving, I chose a chicken pita, which was absolutely brimming with juicy, hot white meat chicken, fresh and crunchy green veggies, tomatoes and homemade hummus and a dash of special hot sauce. It was delicious, huge and hit the spot. The waitstaff was so attentive and friendly, and I honestly felt more like a guest than a patron. Constantly refilling my water and helpfully answering any and all questions, they won me over. I'll definitely be back. Oh, did I mention, they bake their own bread in house?
(5)Keith C.
I was introduced to here by my now-wife while we were dating. We needed someplace kosher to eat out, and this is where she took her non-Jewish friends. The best compliment I can give to kosher food is that it tastes like non-kosher food. It's always been a pet peeve of mine that I feel kosher restaurants/suppliers don't bother with food quality and making a dish taste fantastic because they know there's no other competition in town. That's reasoning that makes kosher-keeping Jews stay home. That being said, I normally get the turkey shawarma. It's expensive, but you get a decent portion.
(4)Jake M.
I had the falafel. They didn't ask me what I wanted to put in my pita, they just filled it with hummus, salad, and pickles. Very typical of Israeli food places - they assume they know how you want it. But i digress. The food tastes okay The wait for the food is long (I was alone in the restaurant at 11AM) There's a credit card minimum of $15 (wut?)
(3)Sharon C.
This business is amazing!!! I'm part of a university club and we organized an international food festival with several other clubs. We ordered the food about 24 hours before (really bad idea, i know) and Jerusalem Pita & Grill was so accomodating! We ordered food for 200 people and the food was so great and the customer service was amazing. We had so many people ask about our caterer! Definitely recommend Jerusalem Pita & Grill for a sitdown dinner or any catered event! Thank you Rada for the incredible experience!!!
(5)Brian N.
We called ahead and asked what time they were open till. We were told 10:00. We arrived at 9:15 and ordered our food and sat at a table. When the food arrived at 9:25, we were told to "hurry up and eat" as they wanted to close. When I spoke to the owner, she said " we are slow tonight and want to close early, I'll speak to the woman who told you to rush". Did not get any feeling the owner cared. We will not be returning
(1)Glen K.
First place I stopped in after a 4 hour drive from Long Island because a friend recommended it to me. Ordered a shwarma laffa with a side of fries and it was delicious. The pita was soft, vegetables were fresh, and chicken very flavorful. Friendly staff that were accommodating.
(4)Jonathan K.
Our party was just three people. The restaurant was nearly empty (only three parties). There were two people working the floor and two people working the grill. Our order was simple (plain hummus + pita, boureka appetizer + chicken fingers with fries, and the grilled tilapia special). It should have been _easy_ for them to give us a good experience, and yet they failed. The server brought us the trio of three salads that other reviewers mention, but did not bring any plates for us to eat it on. These are not finger salads; is everybody just supposed to dig their own forks into the shared plate. Um, yuck? The "chicken fingers" turned out to be chicken shnitzel cut into strips; this isn't what chicken fingers are supposed to be (look it up, they're supposed to be dipped in batter and deep fried). Also, they were not particularly tender, and the fries served with them were stale and luke-warm. The server brought the chicken fingers first, rather than the appetizer boureka. He then proceeded to forget about the boureka completely. He brought the hummus at the same time as the chicken fingers, but forgot the pita, forcing my son to sit, staring at his hummus, with nothing to dip in it. I finally gave in and complained after about 15 minutes, at which point he apologized for forgetting the boureka and pita and finally brought them. Note that at this point the fried tilapia entree still hadn't arrived. While we were waiting for our food, our server alternated between sweeping and cleaning other tables and serving food to the three tables that still had parties at them. As far as I could tell, he did not wash his hands when he switched (many times) between cleaning and serving. Um, yuck? When it did arrive, it was quite disappointing. I have fond memories of the heavenly tilapia I've had in Israel, and I gotta tell you, this wasn't it. for $20, you'd better be serving me pretty darn good fish, preferably fresh, not rubbery fillets which clearly came out of a freezer. The only saving grace of the whole meal was at least the french fries on the tilapia platter were fresh and tasty. We've been to this restaurant numerous times (with so few Kosher restaurants in Boston, you really don't have much of a choice about continuing to patronize even the mediocre ones, if you don't want to go to the same restaurant over and over). Sometimes they've managed to serve us good food, but it's luck of the draw, and the service is pretty much always bad, sometimes outrageously so.
(2)Eli s.
Solid Israeli food. Dishes are spot on for the most part though not all. Service has been friendly over the years and amateurish. Nice alternative to Rami's considering the seating and quieter venue.
(4)Carrie B.
The short: good food in a cramped space with spotty service. The menu is large, and includes a list of appetizers, several salads, about a dozen sandwiches, and a list of meat and fish entrees that are much pricier than everything else on the menu (about $15-21, compared to $10-13 for other items). The food is always flavorful and tastes fresh, and the babaganoush is delish! I recommend sticking to the sandwiches, salads, and appetizers. The restaurant is very small and typically cramped, with small tables (barely large enough to hold 2 peoples' food - and that's assuming appetizers are cleared before the meal is served) wedged in close together in a space that isn't particularly comfortable. Given the falafel joint atmosphere, I can't see dropping $20 on one of the grill entrees.
(3)Mike M.
Not only is the Falafel good, but the freshly baked bread that it comes in just makes it that much better! Their wraps are perfectly made so that each bite has a little bit of everything. Will definitely be back to try more of their food!
(4)Erica P.
I lived across the street from here for 3 years and went there often. Great for take out or eating there. Love the pickled veggies they give if you eat there. Their hummus is by far the best in the neighborhood and make sure to get extra pita!! Just moved out of Brookline and will definitely miss going here. Definitely recommend if you're in the mood for falafel or shawarma!
(4)Mimi B.
I will start off by saying I did really like this spot. In a cold night it was warm and friendly when we for inside. A wonderful plate a pickled salad veggies were offered right away- and I liked them a lot. I was a bit shocked by the prices. I know it's kosher but 20 bucks for lamb kebab? Come on. I got a 15 dollar chicken kebab salad that was not really either salad or chicken kebab. A bunch of tomatoes and barely enough chicken to be considered kebab. Salad was shredded and tasteless. Humus came with the lamb and it was good. Rice was made with tomato paste and it tasted good. Lamb? Tasted good but was not a 20 value at all. Too tough. I think the lunch specials are a much better value. I will be back- for lunch!
(3)Eli P.
I come here all the time for take-out. For kosher food in Boston this is a top choice.
(4)Seth W.
Delicious home made Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine. The hummus is made in house. The falafel and schwarma were very tasty. The wait staff was very friendly. And the place was small but cozy. Would go back.
(4)Tulan K.
this place is awesome. We had ordered the sampler for app and it was awesome and huge quantty and the dinner was good too. THE BEST THING IS THE BREAD. out of this world. Prices are too high for ingredients that are common and not to complex. Friday they close at 1 pm and that is a drawback too I would def go there once in 3 -4 mths span due to the HIGH PRICES
(4)Robert S.
Whatever you do, NEVER be caught eating there at closing. Chairs were going up and tables being turned over exactly at closing time. Ten minutes later the place stank of ammonia, which was wet-mopped around our feet. I'm still coughing from the fumes. The food? Mediocre sandwiches at top-end prices. My lamb kebab pita sandwich was sodden with sauce/juice/whatever, with low-grade badly-gristled meat. But expensive! Better & cheaper, if not kosher, at Esperia Grill in Brighton! Service was slow and absent minded (we kept asking for forks, and water refills simply couldn't be produced) but pleasant, up until closing time. I'd be patient, but waiting ten minutes for the check is a problem when you're choking on fumes and being nuzzled by mop carts. Never again.
(1)Charlotte H.
Decided to give this place a try as I'd been to the burrito place down the street one too many times for lunch. It's pretty small inside, but I liked the feeling of comraderie, and it's good for the soul to hear other languages being spoken. Once I figured out that I could get actual table service instead of ordering at the counter, things went smoothly. The waitress was very efficient, despite a big table of voluble international tourists. I got the lamb shish-kabob laffa and man, was it soooo fresh. We're talking fresh like the ingredients had just come in from the garden and out of the oven. Yeah, the price was maybe twice the price of a burrito, but there's simply no comparison taste-wise. Felt like I was eating real food for a change instead of food that'd been prepped and sitting in open vats for 16 hours. The cooks and the servers work really hard in here, and I appreciated all the care they were taking, as it definitely pays off for the customer. Can't wait to go back and try their hummus, etc. So glad I veered off my usual path.
(4)Joseph L.
Best Shwarama in Boston. There's nothing I've ordered off the menu that has not been excellent. Service is friendly. Tables are a bit close together and it's often crowded; it would be great to have a larger space.
(5)Carlos J.
A coworker and I visited this place today by chance. We were looking for dinner on the GPS and this one popped up. I'm glad it did. When we got there, a parking spot opened up exactly as we pulled up. Had it not, we'd have likely not found a place to park. The food was delicious, and the service was stellar. Our waitress was attentive, genuine, efficient, and just a wonderful, friendly human being. I had the Meorav Yerushalmi. We finished with Turkish coffee and a delicious baklava. I hope to visit this place again before I leave town.
(5)Lindsey H.
There are a few highlights on the menu, but overall the dishes lack flavor and the service is deplorable. I only go here when coworkers who keep kosher are dining with us. I would not go there on my own choosing! The falafel and shwarma sandwiches are pretty bland. There are a couple pickled veggie apps that are decent. The red lentil soup tasted like watered down chicken broth with carrots - there was no taste or texture of lentils. Regarding the service, even if there are only two or three parties in there the waitress is running around like a chicken with her head cut off. In the half dozen times I've been there someone has had to ask multiple times for the soda, entree, coffee, etc.
(2)Bansi V.
Food was good, VERY large portions. Service was poor and slow. My meal was actually put on the table next to me then picked up and put in front of me. One has to scratch their head and wonder how that happened as it is a very small restaurant. I'd probably do take-out next time...
(3)Tammy R.
I'm going to write about my experience with the caveat that, on a day when NOT slammed with Groupon holders, Jerusalem Pita would likely be a good dinner. Granted, we arrived the day before our Groupon expired. As did many, many others. The line was out the door, and once we opted for takeout, we realized that THAT line was moving slowly as well. The staff were clearly overwhelmed, which is understandable. However, I found it ominous that a few of the regular customers admitted that "it's often like this." This, as in "OMG the food is so awesome that it's always crazy" or "they need more staff because this is ridiculous"? So! The visit. We arrived around 7 PM. After waiting for a bit in the dining room line, we discovered the takeout line, and decided to go with that option. I ordered at 7:28 PM, according to my receipt: Eggplant rolls Moroccan cigars Meorav Yerushalmi - rice and sweet potato fries as sides Turkey shawarma - salad and sweet potato fries as sides Two Cokes and one water They processed our Groupon ($30) and we paid an additional $26.23 plus tip. They said the order would be ready in about 20 minutes. At 8:15, we started asking about our food; one server said, "I don't do takeout" and another staff member said, "sorry, I don't know where your order is," with no attempt to point out who we should speak to. At 8:30, I finally found Anna, one of the servers working the dining room who went completely above and beyond to help as many disgruntled customers as she possibly could. She asked me what I ordered, and tried to find the slip. Which she did - with my name up top. She spoke quickly to the manager and told me that it would be 5 to 10 minutes. At 9 PM, we still hadn't received our order, but Anna kept checking for us (and others), and finally gave us our order shortly after 9 PM. We decided to just eat on the sidewalk at that point, discovering that they provided us with no forks (they were out, so we hunted down spoons) or beverages (which Anna graciously provided for us). The order was missing an appetizer (the Moroccan cigars), and the Meorav Yerushalmi was replaced by regular shawarma. We were also missing rice. The pita was fluffy and good, and the meat was good. The sweet potato fries were old, soggy, and somewhat cold. We didn't dare go back into the fray to ask for anything, since tempers were flaring among both staff and customers. I don't like writing bad reviews when it's obvious that the situation was NOT a typical situation; this was obviously a case of a small restaurant overwhelmed with customers. However, I place a lot of value in the way the situation is handled, and save for Anna (who picked one hell of a week to start working at Jerusalem Pita), I found the staff to be unable to meet the challenge. Shame, really. The food seems to have the capacity to be wonderful.
(2)John Richard D.
Very tasty kosher/middle eastern food. Don't come looking for any dairy products here! Portions are a bit large and heavy on the fats, but delicious! I recommend the fish cakes. Also, it seems to be a favorite eating place for the high-school age boys from the local Orthodox Jewish school, with their payes and yarmulkes, which adds to the authentic atmosphere. One main course is good enough for two people. This is one of our favorite local dives.
(4)Chrizzle D.
The food here is so-so. I wouldn't say it's the best schwarma I've had. I said I wanted the chicken schwarma and ended up getting the lamb and beef. No big deal, but when you're biting into it expecting chicken and get something as strong as beef and lamb, it definitely takes you aback. Likewise, I asked for the lentil soup, and somehow got chicken soup instead. The chicken soup wasn't bad, but not what I ordered. Seeing as I already took a spoonful of it (which is when I discovered it was the wrong soup) I decided I may as well just eat it. So I did. The reason this rating gets a 4 and not a 3 is the owner. He was very attentive and extremely personable. I enjoyed him and the rest of his staff. They were hospitable and I almost felt like I was dining at a friends house. I may come back, but with so many other great places to eat, its hard to think I'd spend that much money there when I could get comparable (if not better food) at other joints for a fraction of the cost.
(4)Roxana F.
The food here was great and the server was attentive. I got a falafel sandwich and asked for it to be made a certain way, and the server was really nice about it and my food was excellent. For a falafel sandwich it was DEFINITELY better than Rami's around the corner, which everyone raves about but through my own experience was definitely not as good, and Jerusalem Pita is much cheaper as well. My only problem with the place was that it didn't seem very clean, but other than that this is a great place for takeout and falafel!
(4)Alyssa F.
You're a little busy, okay, I understand, but inviting me to choose a table for dine-in sets the expectation that the table will be cleared of the previous occupants' mess at some point within a 1 - 10 minute window. The nutty crumbs and hummus smears that remained from our predecessors, though plentiful, were just not enough to call dinner.
(1)Steven E.
Amazing wraps - the pita they use it outstanding! Yum!
(5)Andrea B.
Simple truth: food is good, service is bad. Plenty of vegetarian items on the menu is a plus. With better service, I'd be a fan.
(3)Cassie H.
My husband and I grabbed some lamb pitas from Jerusalem PIta & Grill on a lazy Friday night for dinner. The bread was soggy with hummus and juices from the vegetables and meat. My biggest complaint was that the meat was in very large pieces (not bite size), which wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't the toughest piece of meat to bite into. In a desperate attempt, I had to basically eat my sandwich with a knife/fork (which I think defeats the purpose of a sandwich). The best part about our meal was the french fries...
(2)Dona F.
Best I could say about this restaurant is that it's laid out nicely. It has a real clean look. The tables are sleek, the countertops are made from real stone, and the mural on the back wall (of Israel )sets a cultural and homey atmosphere. I really don't enjoy giving a kosher establishment a negative review. But, unfortunately they deserve one. I came in with my buddy for a basic Mediterranean meal. First things first, the waitress was inattentive. From the time we sat down, it took ten minutes to receive our silverware and water, despite the fact that most of the other tables were empty. Once I finally got her attention, I ordered a hummus and falafel plate. Then Iproceeded to wait twenty minutes. Shocked, I thought back to all the other Kosher middle eastern restaurants I've been to over the years and never remembered a similar dish taking over five minutes to serve. Soon it became worse. My falafel came out...but it was cold. Aggravated, I gave it back to the waitress and asked for fresh hot falafel. 15 minutes later, my plate was ready, which means that in total I waited 35 min for my food. While we waited, other people who had arrived after we did were served first. Dissatisfied as well with the one piece of pita served with my hummus, I attempted to ask the waitress for more. Trying to act nice, she stood there ostensibly listening, but in reality not hearing a word. It wasn't as if I was making any outrageous request. For goodness sake, they only gave me one small pita for my entire hummus dinner! It wasn't nearly enough. Sweetly, she replied that I could have another piece, however it would cost extra...then she smiled as if that would make everything OK. As to my friend, he ordered their shawarma sandwich that took just as long as my hummus. Worse than that, it was stale. Shawarma is supposed to given straight off the spit, but instead it was room temperature, salty and dry--basically inedible. He took one or two bites and said "I'm done." He called the waitress over, sent the shawarma back to the kitchen, and asked her for his money back. Baffled, she began arguing that he had already eaten a small part of it and should pay for the rest. He didn't budge, he refused to spend money on bad food. On que, she smiled once again and it was obvious to us, that she was disconnected. We couldn't wait to leave and will not be coming back any time soon.
(1)Adam A.
I'd give it 3 stars...but when you offer the best option of a cuisine in a metropolitan area, you must be doing a bunch of stuff right. And Jerusalem Pita does a lot right. The portions are huge. You will most likely over-order. The Laffe's are massive and so filling. The service was really attentive. For such a casual place, I was surprised to have my water glass re-filled multiple times without needing to ask. The waitress was sweet and made some solid recommendations. My main gripe is that everything we ordered seemed to lack enough flavor. Everything was decent to good. But nothing wowed me. However, the value and lack of better Israeli food makes this an above average spot.
(4)Anya S.
Absolutely adorable and delish. Went here with a few friends on a Saturday night. The fact they open right after Shabbos should at least give them two extra starts. Obviously, they are 100% Kosher and my Rabbi would approve!! The waitress was a sweetheart. Yep, I said that , and if you read my other 200+ reviews, you can see that this particular compliment means that the waitress not only good, but really really good. The kitchen staff is great, we never had to wait for our food. Food comes up fast and the portions are generous. I also love the cute little decor and murals on the wall. Now, the food. SOOO delish and yummy, Ive been back twice already and I love it. Ive tried the hummus, which was the best hummus Ive had outside Israel. The falafel was delicious, and the rice that came with my chicken shawrma definitely had kick to it. The shwarma was delicious, yummy and tender. Basically I heart this place. Come here and eat up!!
(5)Philippe B.
Love the place, would go there any day of the week (except Shabbos). I think it 's a really nice and timely addition to the Boston kosher food scene. After Zaatar's Oven disappeared and then Ruth's Kitchen I really didn't feel that drawn to any of the kosher establishments. Jerusalem Pita has changed all that! Nice, homey atmosphere, I've eaten there a dozen times and never been disappointed in the service, they are always extra compliant when I am "in a rush", and as an aspiring vegan I have a number of options although the meat-eaters of the party always seem satisfied too. The add-on salads are nice and the laffa really takes the cake, if you'll pardon my mixed metaphor. Falafel is as it should be and the soups are always hearty and warming. Now that I live around the corner this is my new watering hole. Sorry Veggie Planet!
(5)Cwot W.
I'd say this place is absolutely underwhelming. Food is OK. Not great and not bad. I put this place in the category of "places I go to when there is a long line everywhere else"
(3)Vlad B.
Don't listen to the naysayers, the food is just as good as, or even better than Ramis. The hummus is definitely more authentic Israeli-tasting, which is a rarity in the States. The entrees are larger and more creative, with surprisingly tasty grilled veggies on the side as opposed to the standard salad mix. Ramis is still great for shawarma fans, but there's more to the Brookline Kosher scene :) Visited with 5 co-workers on a busy night, and the service was completely fine, nothing to complain about..
(4)Dan S.
Easy title for this place: Food good, kitchen service bad. 50 minutes to wait for a main dish? Perhaps if youhad to find the chickens, but really? And yes, we had a big group -- 10 people -- but even so, the food came out over a 10 minute span AFTER the wait. Oh, and the tables were shaky and the decor is non-existent. BUT, if you're not a rush (or want take out), and need kosher food, the food was good, above-average even. The cold appetizer plate was the typical middle-eastern fare (but with fresh pita, yummy). The mushroom soup had a nice spice to it and its meat platter (chicken, lamb, beef served with two sides) had enough for a second meal. They also have different fare for those keeping kosher and a kids menu (hot dogs, chicken fingers etc) too. The falafel got raves too. So if you're in town, or local and need a good kosher place (and you're not in a rush), it's a good choice.
(3)Alyssa J P.
My boyfriend and I came here for a snack before going to the Coolidge for a show. We figured we'd have plenty of time as we were at least 45 minutes early for our show. I ordered hummus, and the waitress seemed astonished that we didn't want to order an entire meal. She didn't take our menus, and came back several minutes later to ask us for our order. I told her we were just getting hummus, she looked surprised, and then finally took our menus. We had to wait several more minutes to actually get the hummus, which was quite delicious and creamy. There was only one small piece of pita with it, which was just not enough. We had to eat the rest with a spoon. After trying to take a full order again, the waitress gave us some sort of appetizer dish, I think pickled veggies (they were okay), and disappeared for a while again. I really wanted my check, and the next time she came around I was able to ask for it. At this point we had been in the restaurant for half an hour, which seems like a long wait for a tiny dish of hummus. You can't pay credit card if your order is less than 10$ or 15$, so I had to run to CVS in order to pay. By the time we got to the Coolidge we had only a few minutes before the film started. Not a huge deal, but who wants to spend 40 minutes getting a snack? Next time I will just go to Trader Joe's and buy a package of pita and hummus for a lot less money and expense of time. I looked at the menu and as a vegan I wouldn't want to eat a full meal here, because most of their menu items seem pretty meat-centric. The other dishes, like falafel, are just too expensive. There are plenty of fine falafel shops that are more reasonably priced.
(2)Dorise G.
Man, I'm surprised to see so many negative reviews of this place! My sister, a VERY religious jew who keeps pretty intense levels of kosher, came in from out of town to visit. We met up with our second cousins for what was a totally delicious, lovely meal. The falafel are extremely fresh, soft, and herby - totally unlike the poor excuses for falafel you tend to see in the States. The pickled cabbage, beets, olives, etc they bring for you to nosh on upon arrival are satisfying (though it would help if we had small plates from the get-go so we weren't all poking used forks into the same dish - this IS flu season, after all). The pita is outstandingly fluffy and light, and the Meorav Yerushalmi - beef/lamb/chicken/onions/spices in a pita is perfect - tender, juicy, flavorful, and a perfect serving size. I've begrudgingly accompanied my sister to kosher restaurants before and have always been tremendously disappointed by the quality of food, but this is a kosher restaurant I'd eat in even if my sister weren't around to accommodate. Pricing may be a little high, but that's typical of kosher restaurants because the ingredients are so much more expensive. I think the quality of the food definitely makes it worth the price, and I will absolutely be back for more authentic middle-eastern delight! Celiac-friendly note: many of the cold apps and entrees are gluten free, just ask your server!
(5)Ella F.
I'm partially writing in response to clarify the owner's comments to Mike K's review from 3/14/11 (which got filtered). The delay is so long because I hadn't noticed the owner's response and the subsequent filtering until now. We went to Jerusalem Pita on 3/13, and the fine print on the coupon said the deal started on 3/14. We did not notice this and the owner is flat out lying when she wrote that the waitress informed us about it. We gave the waitress the coupon BEFORE ORDERING, and she did not mention anything about the date on the coupon until after she gave us the check without any discount on it. We gave her the voucher before we ordered and she took it to the back room right away. She came back after 5 or so minutes, and then took our order with no mention of the date. That is why we were so angry. If she had told us she noticed the coupon was not yet valid, we would have had no issues and would have stayed for the meal regardless. About an hour later when she brought the check and we asked why there was no discount, she came back with the coupon. The voucher was highlighted and underlined. Obviously, she saw the date issue (at some point), and didn't tell us. Not only that, but when she was explaining why there was no discount she initially started with telling us that the coupon was for take out only (which it wasn't). On top of the coupon fiasco, the service was pretty bad. Just read all the reviews! There's a nearly unanimous opinion about the horrible service. It was extremely awkward with the waitress disappearing for long periods of time (and a nearly empty restaurant, there were only 3-4 tables taken). The issues included me not having silverware (we ended up taking it from another table because when I asked for some she disappeared and never brought any out), and her taking 15 minutes to appear after the meal so we could ask for the check (even though she took our empty plates earlier). I understand that we screwed up the dates and that Jerusalem Pita "couldn't" honor a coupon that wasn't in effect yet. However, they could have saved themselves bad publicity and extremely disappointed customers by offering us a nominal discount (or at least a real apology) as the waitress clearly screwed up. She knew about the dates and never told us. The owner wasn't there at all (there was no manager), and any communication with the owner was only phone calls between her and the waitresses. We never spoke to anyone other than the two waitresses working, so please take what the owner wrote with a grain of salt.
(1)Steph L.
The food's great. Service, not so great. The food - falafel laffes are awesome, the bread is fresh and really great and the free salad bar (all pickled veggies) is pretty kick ass. But the service is pretty bad. We were there yesterday around 7 for dinner and the place was packed, which is always a good sign for a small restaurant on a Tuesday night. We scooped up one of the last available tables and ordered a plate of hummus, and two laffes - one chicken shawarma and one lamb kabob. The hummus arrived about 25 minutes after ordering and the sandwiches arrived close to 45 minutes later. That's a really long time for hummus and sandwiches. The two waitresses, while friendly were busy and forgot some things, which is understandable. But ultimately, I think they really need to figure out how to get from kitchen to dining table in less time. Most people around us ordered pitas and laffes. The kitchen didn't seem very short staffed, so I don't know why things were so delayed. Skip dining in and grab some take out.
(2)Chris C.
Food is a 4 Service is a 0 So I ended up here for dinner because one the need to get kosher food for a friend. So the restaurant is tiny and looks like it caters more to the take out crowd. The tables are very small and a bit on the crowded side. Those weren't that big of a deal though. The issue was every time someone opened the door the whole place dropped about 5 degrees so we ended up leaving our coats on through the whole meal. That said the food was really excellent. We had the cold appetizer platter and the kubeh. Both were very tasty although they only brought us out one small pita to share for 3 people. We had to ask for more which they brought out after an extended period of time. So once we finished our food we asked the server for the check and she said no problem. After about 10 or 15 minutes of waiting we asked her for it again. After another 10 or 15 minutes we asked again. Then after another 5 minutes we tried to get her attention again and she ignored us again. So we left about what we figured dinner came to on the table in cash and went left. The server saw us get up and start to walk towards the door and still made no effort to either check with us or stop us on the way out the door. It was very weird to say the least. So the moral of the story is get take out and enjoy the great food while skipping the terrible service.
(3)Ido W.
The bottom line: I will come back, but only when I get a craving. The pros: Authentic very Israeli street food. The atmosphere is simple, homely and 'familiar'. The cons: I am all for many types of salads and 'Tapas' style dining. Here, the portions are huge, so I would recommend resisting the temptation to order one of each. That takes away from the potential to enjoy a varied meal.
(4)Arinne B.
This place is fabulous--and kosher to boot! My absolute favorites are the decadent eggplant rolls, the amazingly moist and flavorful chicken shish kebab, and the tasty hummus & warm pita (that I think I heard was imported from Israel), and for dessert--the baklava and mint tea. I have a ton of food allergies, and there's always something I can eat there. As a result, I visit weekly, and Jeru. Pita never disappoints. I also love how they're always experimenting with new menu items. I forgot the name of it, but there was an AMAZING fish dish being offered the other week that I'll definitely be on the look out for again, and an impressive soup collection. As for the service, I'm really confused by some of the other posts here. I've been waited on by several different staff members, and they've always been courteous, sweet, and timely. Maybe the issue is that people should know it's a restaurant, not a "fast food" place. I get take out from here quite regularly, and my food's always waiting for me, nice and hot. Check it out for yourself...you won't be disappointed!
(5)Aaron M.
This is a gem of place. Customer service is excellent as opposed to other Brookline middle easter eating places. The food is delicious! If you order the falafel platter, I guarantee that you won't have to eat for the rest of the day since there is so much food. Prices are kind of high, though. I will go back.
(4)Rani P.
After eating middle eastern food in Israel- my expectations were high, but my mouth was salivating for the flavors and spices of the east. Walking past Jerusalem Pita & Grill in the past, I assumed that it was solely a take-out place. I was surprised to discover the hustle and bustle of the two, nice waitresses in the small but busy restaurant. It was packed for a weeknight- but soon we found out why. I could have just ordered appetizers and went on my way, but how can you not order about 10 things off the menu? Falafel, Potato Burekas, Shawarma, Schnitzel and 2 bottles of Goldstar Dark Lager. I haven't had falafel as good as this anywhere else in Boston.. it wasn't too fried, or overly seasoned- they were perfection. I wanted to bundle them up in a napkin and take them home with me, but they were just too tasty and delicious I had to devour every last crumb. The falafel came with a plate of hummus and tahini and absolutely phenomenal pita bread- warm, fluffy, rich- they basically could have floated away from our table. But don't you worry- I caught them and ate them almost as fast as the falafel. They had no chance of survival. The potato burekas were also authentic- although the portion size (1 on a small plate) was the worst tease imaginable. Once the Shawarma and Schnitzel came- all I wanted was more falafel and burekas. The shawarma was aight- the laffa was HUGE, and the schnitzel was ok- but both got so soggy near the end and collapsed from the weight of the tahini and cucumber salad. Favorite place for falafel? Jerusalem Pita and Grill. Best pita in Boston? Jerusalem PITA and Grill- go figure. Do I want another Goldstar Dark Lager? Sure.
(4)Tim P.
Great laffa, friendly owners, kosher galore, whats not too like? Food is of a regular mideastern variety, they do have an optional salad bar as an add-on for entrees. Very tasty pita, it is served hot and puffy, more of a Syrian kind than lets say Greek Small detail is that one expects kebabs to be served with onions and parsley, in this case they come naked, but still taste great though. I don't care for falafel in any shape or form, so no comments on that, but it seems to be very well put together. tl;dr - great inexpensive place, come on down when in Brookline
(4)Adham A.
Pros: accessible location, somewhat cozy atmosphere. Cons: over priced (I paid $18 for a kebab laffe that was not tasty nor did it have much kebab in it), staff not so friendly. Probably won't be eating there again. If you find yourself in the mood for a good wrap go to Shawarma King.
(2)Bianca J.
I just ate here with my family and I had a wonderful experience! We were rushed for time, and it was a perfect place to get a quick dinner that was also enjoyable! Our server was attentive, friendly, and appreciative. The food was tasty and very reasonably-priced. I thought that the menu offered a great variety of healthy and yummy food. This is my new go-to place in Coolidge Corner!
(5)Alex B.
Came here for lunch yesterday, gotta say the food is fantastic. I had the turkey shawarma and it tasted better than any other that I've had in a long time, very clean and great service. One downside is lack of healthy beverage choice and a little expensive. Otherwise it's great
(4)Mike I.
I understand the allure of this place, as someone who spent a few years only being able to eat meat out at kosher restaurants. If I still kept kosher, this place would get a default 5 stars because the food is pretty good and when you get kosher meat cooked by someone else, it doesn't much matter how much it costs or how long it takes. However, I assume that most of the yelping world does not keep kosher, and for this part of the eating world I am writing this review. I went here once a few months ago, the food was good but a little pricey. The service was really slow, and there were a bunch of families with little kids so the dining room, which is about the size of my living room, was really noisy and crowded. If I wanted middle eastern food, there are a couple other places in Coolidge that are better and cheaper and even more choices when you venture a mile or two away. The real problem with this restaurant was the other night when my girlfriend and I went in to grab some takeout on our way home. There were five employees that I could see when we were standing at the counter waiting to order: two waitresses, a woman who was assisting another customer at the register when we came in, a cook behind the counter, and the owner of the restaurant. For nearly 10 minutes, no one made eye contact with us or said a word, they just brushed by us as if we weren't there. Another couple had come in around the same time as us and they had a similar lack of interaction while sitting at a table. We left after 10 minutes and went next door to get sushi, and still had no interaction with anyone in the restaurant. I can't say I'm surprised by this experience, but I'm never setting foot in here again without ordering beforehand. I've got a gift certificate, so I will call ahead and maybe even get in the employees way until I get my order.
(2)matt s.
I have never in my life encountered such an enormous shawarma sandwich! You have the option of ordering your sandwich on a pita, which makes for a reasonable, very delicious portion, or you can order the laffa and gorge. I opted for the latter. When my sandwich arrived at my table, I was shocked. It must have been a foot long (a value at $11 and change). The laffa was soft and warm. The shawarma was tender, perfectly spiced and just a little fatty. Topped with an interesting variety of pickles (turnip, pepper and cucumber). Jarusalem pita is damn good shawarma.
(5)Dave K.
If u need a glatt kosher place to eat in the Boston/Cambridge area,this place in Brookline is a great find. Went for lunch and had the schnitzel which was lightly breaded,delicious . You will not leave there hungry. The side orders were equally good. Went back for dinner and had a mixed meat platter of lamb,chicken,beef. Left there very happy and filled.I also ordered a sandwich to go for the next day. The wait staff were very friendly,professional,and added to the experience . Will definitely go back.
(5)Graceypoo M.
Delicious falafel! I'm quite unsure if I was being a bad Catholic or an expert Filipino (or college student on a budget). There were concurrent "meet+greet" events today held for new students: one was a Catholic mass-then-lunch and one was a free feeding by the Jewish kids. The J-organization advertised "Free FALAFEL" so I made sure I woke up and got fresh & clean just for that. I know I'm not Jewish, but people should not advertise "Free Food" in common areas if they don't expect me to crash their party. That... and I was unsure if the post-mass lunch with the Catholic kids was free. The choice came down to acknowledging the intersectionalities of my identity: I'm a Filipino Catholic, triflin' student. All of those suggested that I go to the free feeding. They bought the falafel, pita, hummus, tahini, cucumber salad, +different veggies/fixin's from Jerusalem Pita & Grill. I love the fried goodness of falafel and was impressed at how delicious J P&G's falafel were. I mentioned to a classmate how hopeful I was becoming about Boston eats (having recently moved from the culinary locale of San Francisco, CA). My belly full of falafel is helping me ease a bit of the Catholic guilt for missing mass. ( | )
(4)Ramon M.
As mentioned in other comments the food is delicious, but might be considered overpriced for what's offered. The service, however, was not particularly good. Our group waited twenty minutes before being able to order food and it wasn't a particularly crowded night. From what I could gather that might have been atypical.
(3)Joshua M.
You know, the service WAS kind of weird. The lady said "YEAH?!" when I came to the register. Anyway, I liked that I could get a side salad with the meal, which KIND of made up for how expensive it was. But I'm really giving this place four stars cause the Pita bread was friggin amazing. Unusually thick (is that a good thing??) and fresh. The falafel seemed serviceable. Not too dry. As a Jew, I felt bad that wasn't donning a Yarmulke, since every other male Hebrew in there seemed to be adhering to the head covering rule.
(4)Aia Y.
The food is not isreali at all more indian and I'll know I grow up in tel aviv The place to small over price and the waiters so stupid! Russian who have no idea who and how
(2)irfan m.
I love this place. Again did you hear me haters ...I love this place. Kitchen is clean as hell. Are you seriously kidding me about their Falafel, its freaking awesome. How about when you are their they have some patience too on menu. They make their Laffe(Israeli Wrap). Way better experience than RAMIS for sure. This is place is Kosher if you care.Try their Falafel Laffes.... Seriously they are changing lifes by one laffe at a time.
(5)Al E.
Wow!! Who knew a felafel could even get more expensive than at Rami's?? I ordered the Shakshuka...literally two eggs in a plate of tomato sauce with stale pita on the side for $11! They made us move tables (right next to the door) after the food arrived and then a woman asked us how much longer we thought we were going to be eating because she wanted to know if she should wait. Not the restaurant's fault, but who does that?? The ambience is fine, kind of feels like Jerusalem actually, but unless you keep kosher, it's not worth your time, money, patience, stomachache...
(2)Mike K.
In short, the WORST service I have ever experienced. The food was good but not nearly worth the aggravation or the money for that matter. Do not come here. The long story: I came here with my girlfriend because we got one of those coupon deals (from a major site). The waitress took our coupon, then came back after a while and took our order. The service during the meal was awkward and poor. The waitress barely said two words to us, never checked on our food, never refilled our water, and took forever with our check. Both my girlfriend and I felt really uncomfortable through the entire process. Finally, the waitress came back with the bill and I saw that the amount of the coupon was never taken out. When I asked the waitress if she made a mistake or forgot to apply the coupon to the bill, she immediately came back with the coupon and told me that she spoke with the manager earlier and that cannot accept it. She tried to give me a couple of nonsense reasons saying that it was only for takeout (it was not) or that they did not have some kind of information and that I should come tomorrow. Clearly, she did not have her story straight! When I asked her why she did not tell me this BEFORE taking my order she had nothing to say except that she was sorry. Let me stop for a second and tell you how I felt. Saying that I was just robbed and that I was very upset would be a mild description. When I asked to speak with the manager she left and after a while another waitress came by and told me that there was no manager at the restaurant but that she spoke with the owner over the phone and that they cannot accept the coupon. After some more time of arguing back and forth I had no choice except to pay the bill in full while leaving zero for tip. I also wrote to the Coupon website to ask for my money back. As bad as this sounds, I am not making this up. Don't believe me? Check the other reviews on here - apparently nobody likes their service. The bottom line: these people are thieves and don't have the first clue about customer service. I WILL NOT COME HERE AGAIN and you should not either. There are plenty of other Israeli places in the area.
(1)Jeff E.
If you're turned off by bland pita and hummus you get from supermarkets -- my only exposure to it before a Jewish friend took me to this place -- you've been missing out. It was all excellent. The pita. The hummus. The kebabs. The pita pockets, which are way overstuffed and delicious. I really like this place a great deal, and the waitstaff is friendly, if a bit scattered.
(4)lily l.
Me and my husband came here before hebrew class. Didn't really know what to expect. The appetizer sampler was very good and so was the salmon. Kitchen was running a little slow, actually almost made us late for class, but at the end it was fine. Would definitely come back for the authentic menu. They also have some yummy juice from Isreal, just not sure what the name of it was.
(4)Morgan H.
Ordered a falafel on a pita to go - I don't know if they understood that concept. Service was ridiculously slow. Also, it was a freakin' furnace in there - I just wanted my falafel, not the authentic Israeli experience. In the end the falafel was yummy but I'd never go if time was at all a concern....
(2)Scott F.
These guys got a write up in the Globe, so I figured I'd give 'em a shot. I've been going to Rami's forever, and I actually felt guilty getting stuff somewhere else. That being said, I ordered the chicken shwarma and a side order of babaganoush. Total cost: $16.70 ... The shwarma was a bit on the dry side, and while the portion was generous, I'd rather have quality over quantity. Flavorwise, it was really nothing special. The babaganoush was "just being made" when I ordered it, and it was way over-seasoned with cumin. I waited a good 10 minutes for them to finish making it. The place looks nice enough, and the staff seemed friendly, but all things considered, just go to Rami's. Tastier, less expensive, and Chaim's a helluva nice guy...
(2)Holly P.
My friend and I went in for dinner yesterday. When we first got there, we were the only two in the restaurant. You would think that would mean our server was attentive--absolutely not. First off, my friend had to go get a highchair for her 2-year herself, the server didn't even offer one, or offer to help get one.We were seated at a two person table, so it's not as if she could have thought the 2 year old was going to sit in her own seat. She brought the free appetizer promptly, but then disappeared for more than 5 mins before coming back with water. She came back after a few minutes to take our order. We waited a while for the food, which did not even come out at the same time. My friend's dinner plate came out a good 7or 8 minutes before my Laffa,which made barely any sense since only 1 other couple had come in after us, they were not that busy. Then our server never checked on us after we got our food to see how we liked it. After 20 minutes, we finally got her attention so we could get the rest to go and pay. The falafel itself was pretty dry, and there was not much hummus or tahini in the laffa. I didn't even want to finish my food. It was my first trip there, and I will be sure never to return.
(1)Rosie F.
If you want to wait 30 minutes for horrible and overpriced food while the waitstaff is talking on their cell phones, while holding strange cleanliness standards (i.e. food to counter, then food to plate) and their family takes up most of the table space - this is the place for you. Taking in to consideration that this place is new, and has time to improve - I am completely underwhelmed.
(1)S M.
Disappointing hummus and baba ganoush. Frankly the worst I've ever had. Ordered the fish cakes - mediocre. A bit salty actually. Was hoping for something special because everyone who works here and is in here seems to be from Israel. Did not meet my expectations. The laffa was good - that's about it.
(2)Nora B.
I'm surprised to see such lousy reviews of this place. I've only been here once, but I was pleased with what I got -- a chicken shawerma lafa; takeout. It was full of crunchy veggies, hummus, and a *ton* of chicken. Maybe too much chicken actually. Overall, the thing was enormous, and I ended up eating half for dinner and half for lunch the next day. It also comes with a make-your-own-side from the pickle and olive bar, which is a nice touch.
(4)Julia F.
I understand that this place is new. I do. But there were more than a few things in my experience that fall into the category of "fundamentally wrong" for a restaurant. I don't think even if I had to keep kosher it would be "kosher" for the staff to be eating and drinking behind the counter. It is a dirty, sloppy, unhealthy business practice. It makes my skin crawl. I almost wanted to tell them to forget our orders entirely- but considering the 30 minute wait, I think they already had. My sister and I ordered two falafel plates. Which seemed a little pricy but judging by the amount of people who were in there it seemed like a safe choice. Two sides come with the entrée, making it a supposed meal the cost of which is a whopping 11.95. Totally bullshit. We sat down to wait, and were moved around so people could be seated comfortably, an idea which is laughable if you see how many chairs and tables are crammed in this joint. We were served some strange salad while we waited by an unapologetic lady. The plate that housed the salad was about the size of a small saucer, slippy olives (which tasted amusingly like banana bread) went flying in every direction. She also was seen dropping salad fixings on a counter open to the public and picking it up and putting it back on the plate and serving it. Disgusting. In the end, the falafel was cold, the rice was dry, the veggies ok, the fries - unavailable. The woman who rang me up (you must wait until the food is ready to pay,a practice I dislike) was on her cellphone and totally ignored me during the interaction- if you could even call it that. In an economy like this I can't really see them making it charging 25.28 for two dinners when they don't believe in tahini sauce and make crap hummus. If you are into some sort of self-harm, not unlike described in DSM-IV-TR, then this is the place for you.
(1)Cate N.
I also had a terrible experience here. My boyfriend and I waited over 30 minutes for our food even though only one couple had placed an order before us. I was beyond annoyed and had I not already paid, would have left. The food ended up being really disappointing, they gave us the wrong $8 side salad, and no one so much as apologized for the delay. I know this place is new, but some things are common sense -- employees shouldn't be eating while making food, employees shouldn't ignore customers waiting to order while on their cell phones, and asking someone who has been waiting 30 minutes to please move to a more convenient location to wait is just rude.
(1)rachel d.
I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. Out of all the places I have been to in Boston, this one was my favorite. We had their lamb Kebab entree with rice and vegetables. It was enough for two people to share. The service was great! I've noticed that there is a lot of negative feedback about the service here on yelp. People have bad days - we have to remember that. Bad service on one occasion doesn't necessarily mean consistent.bad service. The food was fantastic. Kebab found outside of the Middle East is generally a million times worse. But this meal was comparable to anything you'd find on the streets of Jerusalem. They had a nice salad bar where you could take seconds of cabbage, olives, and marinated other things. And to share they gave several pitot even though I wasn't aware that we ordered any. If I lived in Boston I would be dining here as much as possible. Delish.
(5)Gen M.
Oh lord, how good this is this place! I was texting and writing to people about the lamb schawarma. I was plotzing as I was eating. The food came out to a bit more money than I wanted (for a glass of wine, an appetizer and a meal it was $31), but it was so delicious and I was so pleased with everything that I did not mind. 1. They achieved an oddly pleasing medium between fast food/family and elegant bistro atmosphere. It's because you can see people cook behind the counter (good!) and they give you soda out of the soda fridge in the dining area. I like it -- it's clean, it's crisp, it's amazing but there are a lot of families that dine there and the place is kind of small. 2. The food is fantastic. The lamb schawarma is amazing! I'm ill informed as to how they achieve perfection. The falafel is heavenly. 3. The waitress was VERY sweet and accommodating. The staff seems sweet and nice. I don't know who "shat" in the cereal of the people who left a bad review, but the place is very amazing. I had stuff at Rami's. It's comparable. Rami's is a fast food place hands down, it doesn't have a bistro atmosphere at all. Besides it's similar price. I have never tasted anything that curled my hair and toes at Rami's. 4. I ate the leftovers today and they were still fantastic to eat. The veggies were still springy and delicious, even better than fresh. The salad still rocked and the meat and falafel -- still amazing. I love them all!
(5)Jamie G.
Actually a 2.5, but since the service was really ridiculous, I rounded down. So came here with a friend who eats kosher because it was one of the two kosher places open on Saturdays. The place is tiny, which is awful on a cold day because everytime the door opens a huge gust of cold air greets you at your table. We wore our winter coats during most of the meal because of it. And the service was absolutely ridiculously awful. Took us forever to have our order taken. Then we ordered a huge appetizer sampler with tabouleh and hummus etc etc and there were three of us but we only got 1 piece of pita, and it took awhile to get more. And we didn't get little plates until halfway through our eating (so we were eating of our napkins). But the worst was I must have asked for the check 5 times and never got it. Other customers had gotten theirs and left but not us. We estimated out bill was about $20 so we left a 20, got up and left... and the waitress STILL didn't stop us or give us our check or anything!! Unbelievable!! However, the food was pretty good. The pita was thick and soft, the hummus, tabouleh, tahini, babaganoush, and carrots were delicous. The beets and the salad thing were not very good. We also had the kubeh, which reminded me of Jewish corn dogs :) but were tasty. Gettings apps to share was great because it was cheap and filling. Pretty sure the only time I'd come back is if its a Saturday and I need kosher food.
(2)Tad B.
Great spread of pickled vegetables, excellent falafel, and generally authentic israeli-style food. I disagree about the service, I think it was good - but then again, I'm well acquainted with middle eastern and western european service, so maybe I don't expect much! don't go for the service or atmosphere, go for the delicious food.
(4)Lauren M.
I love this place. I've definitely heard reports of rude service, but I've been there 4 or 5 times and found the wait staff to be super friendly. The food is amazing, in my opinion better than Rami's, which has oddly small falafel. From reports I've heard, Shwarma King and Rami's are more authentic. Granted, my only legit falafel experience is from the south of Spain, so I definitely can't testify as to whether this is truly Israeli cuisine...
(5)Matt B.
The food is quite good, particularly with the $1-extra laffah bread (it's almost like a poofy tortilla. Emphasis on "almost"). I've had the shawarma and the lamb-turkey-beef thing (I'm blanking on the name). Their Israeli salad I think is particularly good, and my eating partner was quite fond of their baba ganoush. Two quick notes: the restaurant is Kosher, so the food is more expensive than at a non-Kosher Middle Eastern place. Also, "traditional" Israeli service is not what I would call the most accommodating. I'm a patient man, however, so I just see it as part of the ambiance! If you don't like waiting, go for an early meal.
(5)Todd C.
I ordered a Falafel Laffa ($1 more than the pita, but worth it considering the larger portion). Liked: Israeli salad and green spice (?) were very good Fries can be added to falafel sandwiches at no extra cost. Wait staff was friendly Disliked: Falafel balls were not seasoned well (needed salt) Fries were mushy and bland (also needed salt) Service was disjointed, not fast for falafel sandwich It is pretty obvious that Jerusalem Pita & Grill is run by first time restauranteurs. Certain things that are often taken for granted (properly layering a falafel sandwich), aren't done particularly well yet. The place is laid out inefficiently for seating, and with its glass counter, appears to be more of a take-out or fast food operation, which it definitely is not. My experience wasn't as slow as some of the other reviewers, but not as fast as most other comparable falafel/shawarma restaurants. While I think the portion was good enough, the fact that the falafel balls themselves were bland is discouraging. The texture was very good, but I had to add salt to my laffa, which made it pretty decent. But I shouldn't have to do that, right? The hummus was also virtually non-existent, which was a shame. Until they work out the kinks, I'll go to Shawarma King for falafel in the area, as its cheaper, and tastes better.
(2)Aisha L.
Love this place!!! Great food, Best Israeli food i have had in Boston.
(5)Catherine K.
The falafel here is so good. With a complimentary condiment bar, you can dress your falafel pita with all the yummy pickled veggies and peppers you heart desires.Yum
(5)Risotto J.
This is my first review on Yelp. I usually read but never felt compelled to write. Until now. This, with no exaggeration, is the worst place I've been in Boston in 12+ years I've lived here. A few disclaimers: I'm Israeli and I only eat kosher meat. This might help explain how I ended up here for the 3rd time even though I swore to never come back after the first two times when my bill came up mysteriously higher than what we ordered. But, this review is about the last visit: First thing you notice when you enter is that absolute majority of people sat down wearing fully zipped coats. A couple had their hats on. No, it's not a weird Jewish ritual to dine fully clothed. It's just this damn cold inside. Guys who work the grill aren't cold cause they are, well, next to the grill. The waitress wore thick leg warmers and boots. I sleep with a partially open window now, in late December, and let me tell you: it's cold. The food: To start, we asked for hummus. We were given one pita with it. I assumed it was a simple mistake until I noticed that another two couples also were given one pita with their small $4.95 plate of hummus. Let me ask the management if they ever read this: how much does a pita cost? Hey, if we serve HALF a pita to everybody, we can save $327 a year! The meat was dry and chewy, with one exception: chunks of fat. I'm not on a diet, but when a significant portion of the meat you see before you bite is really not meat at all, but pure fat, you start wondering. Also, the meat in the wrap is placed like this: xx---------------------xx, where x is the meat and --- is the bread and veggies. Hey, Chaim, this trick saves us another $1439 a year! The lafa (a large pita-like wrap) was soggy. The hummus was not fresh. The thina (tahini) was not properly mixed - there were chunks inside that form when you take the tahini out of a box (as opposed to making it yourself) and don't bother mixing properly. My companion then asked for tea. She was told they have mint tea. She said "great!". She was given a small glass of hot water, surrounded, on a chipped plate with one bag of Lipton (still in the bag), one tiny (1/16th) piece of lemon, and one atrophied mint leaf. I kid you not. This whole charade is presided over by a woman with an expression of mourning on her face. It's not a singular occurrence - she had that exact expression in the other two times I was there 6 and 12 months ago. Majority of the time she stood right behind the back of one of the grillers and watched him cook. Perhaps she was portioning? The positive: our non-Jewish waiter was prompt, pleasant, and friendly. I gave him a large cash tip, only to see, as I was leaving, the head waitress asking him to hand it over. Total bill, for 2, for 2 sandwiches, hummus, one tea, and one desert: $64. This is similar to what you pay at Oleana (!) for a dinner for two not including wine. Please don't tell me how kosher meat is more expensive. There are plenty of better kosher meat places in NYC at third of the price. To sum up the experience, one word that defines this place is: cheap. This place is a disgrace to both parts of its name. In Jerusalem this joint would be out of business in a week, but not before one of the customers throws a soggy pita in the management's face.
(1)Amaldo ..
I've been here twice now. Both times i ordered the turkey shwarma and both times I was fully satiated. Portions were big, salad size generous. Workers were nice and as a connoisseur of shwarma, it's the most authentic I've had compared to the ones I've had in Israel. Chips are meant to be non-crispy as this is how it's done in Israel. Also important to note: Workers always wore gloves when handling food AND since it's a glatt kosher establishment that respects the laws of Kashrut, of course, you can't walk in there with non-Kosher items, like drinks from Dunkin Donuts. On the flipside, you will need to wait a few minutes to get your food (both times I did) and if you're in a hurry, it might not be the best bet, but it was well worth it.
(4)Mcslimj B.
Excellent, casual Israeli joint, and a good example of how Yelpers sometimes get things desperately wrong with too-early reviews. It's important to know your amateur online reviewers. While some are reliable cheap-eats dowsers, a rave from a Chowhound who also adores the Cheesecake Factory loses some credibility. Likewise, Yelpers occasionally gang up unfairly on worthwhile places, as happened to Jerusalem Pita, a kosher Israeli joint in Coolidge Corner. After several terrific meals here, I'm demoting anyone who panned it online to my "dubious" list. Soups ($5/bowl) impress out of the gate with rich spicing, as in white bean with lamb. The meat is invisible except as a background stock flavor. Hummus in the house special asli ($8) is very fine: a big bowl topped with oil, paprika, and tender whole chickpeas, served with excellent puffy Israeli pita. Burekas, baked puff pastry stuffed with mushrooms ($3) or mashed potatoes ($3), feature lovely flaky crusts and tahini for dipping. Moroccan cigars ($6), tubes of deep-fried phyllo stuffed with mashed potatoes or spiced ground beef, are crisp but lamentably greasy. The enormous falafel sandwich ($7 in pita, $8 in the easier-to-handle laffa) features gorgeous, crunchy, bright-green-inside falafel with favas and chickpeas, dressed with hummus, tahini, salad, pickles, and fiery green-chili relish. Entrée plates include pita and two sides: baked potato, fries, lightly pickled grilled vegetables, or rice. Oddly, the rice one day is superb, saffron-tinged and aromatic with fresh thyme; on another, it's inedibly dull. I hope you get the good rice with the turkey shawarma plate ($15), which is stunning, seasoned with a secret spice blend including turmeric, and possessed of that perfect balance of succulence (from judicious interleaving of fat in the pressed roast of whole turkey fillets) and crispness (from rotisserie grilling on a vertical spit prior to slicing). Less transporting is the meorav Yerushalmi ($17), a mix of spiced, grilled, sliced lamb, beef, chicken, and onions minus the traditional chicken heart, spleen, and liver, which would add some needed richness. Jerusalem kebab ($17), cylinders of ground lamb and beef with gyros-like spicing, are finely grilled to smokiness with a moist pink interior -- wonderful. Few will leave here hungry after complimentary mezze, like zataar (grilled herbed flatbread) and house-pickled vegetables. Drinks include yeasty Israeli pilsner Maccabee ($5), Jump strawberry/banana fruit drink ($2.50), and Nesher ($2.50), a dark and sugary malt beverage. Meager staffing means service can be leisurely, so throw an extra quarter in the parking meter. And add some trust to your estimation of any online reviewer who praises this sunny, inviting space, where kosher certification appears to imply freshness and care in the kitchen.
(4)Lauren K.
I wanted to love this place the minute I stepped inside. My work takes me to Israel twice a year, so I felt the vibe of a true Israeli restaurant--from the little kid running around the kitchen to the mural on the wall, it seriously is Jerusalem in Brookline. Management, take notice: your food was ruined by horrible experiences all around. 1. You gave away our reservation when we were less than 5 minutes late. Hold your horses. 2. There needs to be more than one waitstaff on the floor. Our waiter started the meal bright eyed and bushy tailed and ended frazzled by trying to keep up with a packed restaurant. The woman who manages him seemed like she had every intention of filling in the gaps but didn't quite cut it. Pay another $3.75 an hour and hire another waitperson. We ended up serving ourselves half of our meal as well as our plates. We weren't the only ones. 3. If there is a hair in the salad and someone brings it to the cook, do not ask to see the hair. 4. If there is a piece of rubber glove in the Shawarma, you probably won't have to ask to see the piece of rubber glove. 5. Get more waitstaff. And maybe some sort of cushions or cloth to put around, one of the people at our table is older and couldn't hear a thing (cushions on the bench would serve the dual purpose of making patrons comfortable and drowning out some noise). 6. If you're going to live up to the "Jerusalem" title in your name, you can't charge for extra pita. The appetizer "teaser" should come with more than one pita, especially when a table of six orders it to share. I've been to Jerusalem. There is no shortage of pita in that city. Honestly, there were other issues with the meal that screamed "bad management" but this is already getting too long. The only reason this restaurant gets two stars rather than one is that the food seemed like it would have been pretty good if it were served hot and properly.
(2)David C.
The schwarma was very tasty, i had a good meal, and it came with this cold salad stuff that was tasty too. The food was definitely unique, and the guy behind the counter, i think he was the owner, was nice and made good recommendations. I'll be back with friends.
(5)Emily F.
Just tried this place for takeout because they are right across the street. I will say that the staff was very attentive and friendly, and I liked the "cigar" appetizer and house hummus. I did NOT like the falafel (disapointing!!) and the shwarma looked dry (I didn't try it to be fair). And I got a nasty stomach ache. It's not cheaper than Rami's so I probably won't go back. Warning: I asked if either the lentil or white bean soups were vegetarian, and the server said that they were, and home made. At the last second, she added that "there might be a little bit of chicken stock, but thats pretty unavoidable". Um, no, its not, actually.
(1)cj s.
Fantastic! I catered a lunch for 40 people, and it was absolutely perfect. The food was excellent (chicken schwarma, lamb kabobs, jerusalem kabobs, falafel, salads and pickles.) The pita was warm and delicious. Everyone kept talking about how great the food was. The people at the restaurant were friendly and very helpful in getting my order just right. And they delivered right on time! I couldn't be happier!
(5)Steven K.
I also went here after reading the Globe review in the 'Cheap Eats' section. 2 sandwiches, 1 entree, and 1 appetizer later, the three of us were down over $53 dollars - cheap eats? In addition, 2/3 of us now have stomach aches. The 'Jerusalem Eggplant' appetizer was quite tasty, but not worth the $5.95 price tag. I could have accepted the price, however, had the rest of the meal been decent. The falafel sandwich on laffa was bland, and the ingredients were low-quality. The tomatoes and lettuce looked like cafeteria-grade bulk vegetables. Although, the actual falafel itself was spiced decently. Most importantly, half-way through the sandwich, my stomach began to turn. I gave it a break. I decided to help out my father, and help finish some of his chicken pita. It had been drenched in a thin tahini sauce, and his request for no hot sauce was not followed, as he had seen the line cook scraping the sauce from the pita before completing the sandwich. This dish really put my stomach over the edge. The restaurant was quite busy, yet there were only two servers working, which was not enough to handle all of the customers. And while I give the benefit of the doubt to over-worked and under-staffed servers, ours did not once ask us how the meal was, refill our empty water glasses, or thank us for our business. And, she literally tossed the paid-for check onto our table without stopping her stride, making eye contact, or even smiling. There is no website or e-mail address for the restaurant, so I'll have to call them to let them know how I feel about their restaurant. I will never ever go back, and wouldn't accept any free food from them, which is really sad, as this cuisine is generally one of my favorites.
(1)Enday G.
Way too expensive for the low quality food. Service is bad and portions are small. Don't waist your money and time.
(1)Eli V.
I love this place. The food is excellent and they have the best pita around. The chicken shish kebab is the best I've had in the States. They normally have a variety of soups on the menu - all very good. The waitresses are friendly and helpful, and the service has improved tremendously from when they first opened. They deliver to Newton for $5 - can't beat that!
(5)Brittany A.
From other reviews, it sounds like people are rating it as more of a sit-down service restaurant; honestly, I saw it as a takeout or counter-to-table situation. And for that, it is awesome. They bake their own pita and it's so much better than the pita at the other places in the neighborhood (you'll think the other places' pitas are stale after eating this one). Baba ghanoush is delicious and creamy, just how I like it. The only word of advice I feel compelled to offer is that if you want hot sauce, ask for extra in your sandwich--they're pretty conservative with it.
(4)Laila E.
I have now been to this place twice. Once when it originally opened and then this past week to give it a second chance. Both experiences were horrible. Not only is the space laid out ineffectively which causes pure chaos as you try to seat yourself first come first serve at a dirty table, but then the waitress who later discovers you and acknowledges you 20 mins later wipes down the table into your lap and sprays you with table cleaner. It then takes another 20 mins to receive your napkin and silverware at which time you beg her to place an order. After an hour of being seated, you finally get some water (warm water) and eventually your meal which is completely not what you ordered. When you address this issue, the waitress offers you free french fries on the house to make up for it. These french fries will never come. On top of it, the food is BAD - just plain BAD. You finally beg for your bill to get the hell out of the chaos and she brings you a paper hand written bill with an amount on it. You get up to go pay (since you know the waitress wont come for another 20 mins) and give your credit card and the credit card receipt was charged for a higher amount than on the bill. When you confront the waitress, she indicates that she had written your bill wrong and had to fix it. Not only is this place RIDICULOUSLY overpriced but it is HORRIBLE service and AWFUL food. I live walking distance to this place and LOVE Israeli food but will NEVER visit again and encourage everyone I know to stay away.
(1)Kenneth K.
I was refused service for having a Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee in my hand on a beautiful sunny spring afternoon. I had just given blood and needed some sugar for my system and was excited to try the falafel for TAKE OUT. However.....I was advised by the chef who I assume was the store manager that it was NOT "BESEDER" to hold the iced coffee while putting in an order TO GO. So I had to take my business to Zaftig's where the pastrami is always excellent and the service is impeccable. PS. I'm don't even think they were practicing appropriate safe serve techniques as no one was wearing protective hats or using food handling gloves. The Board of Health should investigate further.
(1)Alan B.
I was never much a fan of Rami's, so when this place opened up, I had the highest of hopes for it. It was a bit of a letdown that a falafel can cost over $10. A lot of the reviews on here ring true; my stomach is not sitting well after my turkey shwarma. My fries didn't have any crunch to them. And the turkey was barely seasoned.
(1)Elizabeth R.
Nice casual cafe great food, beer and wine, and open late Saturday nights. There are many selections on the menu. The eggplant rolls were OUTSTANDING. The service was attentive and good.
(5)Dan L.
I had very high hopes for this place but it was a complete disappointment. The service was fine but the food was not good -- the schwarma was cold and just not that tasty, the falafel plate included no fresh vegetables (only highly greasy grilled ones), israeli salad, or hummus. I truly wish I could recommend it but I most certainly cannot.
(1)J A.
I'm not sure I feel comfortable giving Jerusalem Pita 4 stars but it is a solid 3.5* err 3*. The service is much like one would expect in Israel-the service was slow and staff was more interested in getting everyone through their meal than providing superior service. The food is alright, I've had both the chicken pita and falafel but definitely lacking compared to nearby Rami's. As others have mentioned, this restaurant is hechshered glatt and you pay for it.
(3)Maria E C.
Jerusalem Pita and Grill has the very best hummus and the best falafel I've tried. Everything they serve is delicious. The prices are a bit high, but their food is kosher, so that is probably what makes it more expensive. Also, when I went there (during the summer) the AC was not working correctly and it was EXTREMELY hot inside. But the food was amazing. I highly recommend it if you want to try something authentic. Also, they have a good selection of Israeli beers.
(4)L E.
I finally tried out Jerusalem Pita and Grill and I'm a fan. I got the falafel pita and it was the best I've had in a while. I have food allergies and the waitress was very accommodating. My friend had one of the soups and fish and she really liked it too. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Jason F.
Great food and decently large portions. The five-bean hummus was EXCELLENT!
(4)Keren D.
i love the food here! if i could afford it i'd be there every week. Service is variable, but once you get to know the wait staff, it helps a lot. the kitchen is a little overwhelmed when the restaurant gets busy, so be prepared to wait for your food if the place is full.
(4)A L.
I have been in this place. The Service is friendly and the food is excellent.. I would recommend this place to friends.
(5)Ricky R.
So i can't believe I am about to say this about JP&G but after several visits I think I would rather go here than Rami's which is close by. Don't get me wrong Rami's is great, great falafel, the best I have had outside of Israel, but JP&G has something that Rami's doesn't. The pickled "salad" bar. In Israel most falafel places have this, it allows you to dress up you falafel or simply enjoy other flavors that compliment the sandwich. JP&G has pickled beets, red cabbage, hot peppers, and more. This is a great thing. The falafel itself is very good, the pita they use is, I think the same as Rami's, light and fluffy and a perfect thing to hold all your falafel stuffings. The falafel balls are good and so is their hummous. Overall a very good sandwich, but the "salad" bar and the staff make this a great experience. I will still go to Rami's and I still think their falafel is better, but I really like JP&G.
(5)luna r.
i don't normally write reviews, but i was pretty horrified by my experience here and want to warn others...but then i saw that pretty much everyone else here has already confirmed what i saw. i dropped in for a shwaarma take out. the place was busy, but it looked more like the kitchen staff didn't quite know what was going on, more than a case of being overwhelmed. they spent more time looking at the order tickets, scratching their heads, than actually working. it took me - and i timed it - 30 minutes to get my shwaarma. seriously? i was laden with groceries and bags, there was nowhere to stand in the cramped dining area, i think they could've made an effort to speed it up a bit. it wasn't until after the fact that it registered that i had paid $10.45 for shwaarma. that's a lot, even by brookline standards. you can get a nice filling burrito in five minutes and half the price and double the portion size anywhere else. i mean, it was okay, but it wasn't anything to write home about - and certainly not worth an hours' worth of pay. all this was bad enough, but on top of it all, there was nary a smile, or an apologetic look. no one was outright nasty, but everyone just seemed rather...indifferent. please - do not give them more business - poor service, poor value, poor food.
(1)Richard R.
Just discovered this little restaurant and it brought back great memories of eating in little places in Israel. The eggplant salad and babaganoush were first rate. The Pita is straight from Israel and was the best. I look forward to trying each item on the menu, I could not be more thrilled.
(4)M D.
This is one of the newest restaurants around Coolidge Corner and appears they are likely still trying to work out the kinks. It definitely has a cozy, home atmosphere with a great mural on the wall. Service for carry out was definitely a bit slow likely because they just opened. I tried a limited selection including the falafel on a lafa, tabouleh salad, and vegetable soup. The falafel patties were cold (-unless that is how it is served) as was the lafa--it was also doughy & chewy (unlike previous I have tasted). The tabouleh salad seemed like it may have come out of a box--did not taste fresh. The soup was savory but vegetables were totally over-cooked and became mush in the soup. The falafal otherwise had decent flavor, but I was disappointed overall. I would recommend trying this place a month from now to see if things have improved and likely order something different before making a final judgement.
(1)Max H.
Best Shwarma I've had outside of Israel.
(5)Evan B.
Site, google, yelp all said open at 6 after Shabbat starting in november. Door says open at 7 during winter season. And yet I'm standing right here with a pitch-black restaurant at 730 I drove in a hour for.
(1)Avi K.
I've been here twice and will go again. The food itself was good. I had the turkey shawarma, which was as good as I've had anywhere. Be warned, even the "mild" has some spiciness to it. The chicken wraps were good and juicy (and not spicy). Before the meal they brought out little plates of appetizers/salads. These are tasty, but it would be nice if they'd automatically bring out extra forks and plates with these, especially when it's a group. Otherwise it can get rather messy. Also note, it's some kind of unwritten rule that the service at kosher restaurants will be very slow, and it was no exception here. Expect to wait before ordering, to get your food, for the bill, for everything. The servers were nice, just slow.
(4)George L.
This is one of the worst restaurants I have been to. The falafel was not cooked enough, The schnitzel was not made of a signle piece but rather a few pieces (looked like chiken fingers) and some of it was over cooked. The salad was stale. Aircondition was not working properly so the place was hot!! Not Recommended.
(1)Harvard P.
I thought I had tried everything in the Coolidge Corner area until I was introduced to Jerusalem Pita & Grill by a co-worker. It's a bit off the beaten path on Pleasant St, one block away from the main thoroughfare of Harvard Ave. I'm so glad he introduced me to it! First off, the restaurant serves kosher foods, so if you can only eat kosher foods, it's a great option. Usually kosher means more expensive, but I didn't find the prices overwhelming. We got the Beef Asli to start - apparently it's one of the more popular appetizers. Note, however, that it's found in the Hummas section. The meat was cooked perfectly and the hummus added just the right amount of texture and flavor without overwhelming the dish. The best part of all? The bread. Apparently it's homemade and fresh every single day. I have rarely gushed about how good the bread is, but this is one of the best breads I have ever eaten. Spreading the hummus and beef over the bread and chomping down on it is quite an experience. For my entree, I got the Beef Burger and my co-worker got the Shawarma. Both were excellent and both portions were HUGE. Neither of us were able to finish the meal especially after having consumed the appetizer. Kosher beef certainly has its advantages and it showed up in the taste of the burger. While I do often prefer greasier and fattier burgers, this is one that you won't need to run 5 miles to get rid of the grease afterwards. Overall, an excellent option in Coolidge Corner. They have so many other options on the menu that I'm looking forward to trying again.
(4)Elizabeth J.
Filling, delicious, healthy and fresh - the quadfecta of culinary excellence encapsulated in this lovely little Mediterranean spot.
(5)Mushhoor A.
This place sucks! Meat was over-spiced and fare was over-priced. Sandwich was soggy, and the service was dreadful. My friend went in with a Dunkin's coffee ignorant to Kosher law and the lady behind the counter lost her mind and kicked him out. I respect the fact that she wants to insure that her business stays Kosher but that's no way to treat your customers. Won't be back.
(1)