Pita Cabana Cafe - State College

I am Lebanese, and I am very disappointed. To be fair, I tried the restaurant three times (Dine in) prior putting a review and I had bad experience in all of them. To start with the ingredient listed snack pass(in store online service), are different fromthe one provided in sandwiches (not updated). The shawarma on tablet is listed with garlic, Lebanese coleslaw and fries whilethe one served is cucumber!!! lettuce and different sauce. I don't understand the audacity of someone putting cucumber withchicken and call it shawarma as well as Lebanese!!. It is very important to me to let people be aware that the food at PitaCabana has nothing to do with Lebanese food and I would never repeat the experience. I even guided the staff with how to make mysandwich so I can enjoy the meal but also failed to deliver, he did not know what garlic is and he works at Lebanese restaurant.Shame!

Is Pita Cabana authentic? No. I must have had hundreds of gyro/doner/shawarma in my life and have never seen shawarma served like this (meat with cheese and toasted like a quesadilla). Ok, but is it tasty? I mean, if your definition of tasty isunderseasoned fries and meat with cheese in pita with nothing fresh or bright in the vicinity, go for it. Lebanese food isserved with fresh vegetables/salad to balance and brighten things, which you’d assume a “platter” would come with.Unfortunately not. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but my plate had no redeeming qualities. On the positive: The two employeeswere very friendly and nice.

Hidden in a downtown alley, this restaurant may not catch your eye at first glance, but it's worth a visit. Despite the lack of air conditioning, the service was quick and friendly. I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious food, especially the Arabic style shawarma. The chicken was high quality, and the thin tortilla bread complemented the sandwich well. I recommend ordering the chicken shawarma with garlic mayo, cabbage, pickles, and onions - nothing else. Don't forget to try the lemon tahini and tzatziki sauces on the side. The generously topped seasoned fries were also a highlight. Overall, a satisfying meal for just $12.

Our experience at this restaurant was not the best. My mom checked the online ordering menu beforehand and tried to order something, but the person at the front said that the online menu and in-person menu were different and they didn't have what she wanted. When she asked what to do if someone orders it online, they didn't answer, and when she asked for a comparable option, they just shrugged. I ordered a falafel wrap and my husband got a lamb wrap. They placed the lamb directly onto my open wrap, causing the meat juices to spill into it, which was unpleasant for me as a vegetarian. Despite the awkward interaction, we found the wraps to be decent with standard falafel, hummus, and veggies in a tortilla. My mom ordered the half chicken and rice, but the chicken was very dry and she could only manage a few bites. The rice was okay, but the tabouleh was overwhelmingly sour, tasting like straight lemon juice. Personally, I do not plan on returning to this restaurant, but it seems that online ordering or takeout may offer a better experience based on other reviews.

Whenever we visit State College, we always make sure to stop by Pita Cabana. The food is absolutely delicious. My partner and I always get falafel sandwiches, which we like to customize with different toppings. My favorite side dish is the baba ganoush, which pairs perfectly with the falafel that is freshly scooped and fried to order. The only issue I have is that they now use tortillas instead of pitas, which is a bit ironic given their name, as I'm not sure if they even have pitas at all. Despite this, we still love this place. It is affordable, filling, delicious, fresh, and the service is fast. Additionally, there is 5-minute parking available right in front, so you can easily stop in and leave your flashers on.