Wild Pita brings Middle East to village

Iraqi-born chef Dave Gorel brings more than two decades of culinary experience in Chicago restarants to Wild Pita in Glenview. The Mediterranean grill specializes in Iraqi-Syrian regional cuisine.

Updated: October 28, 2012 6:02AM

GLENVIEW — David Gorel says he thinks he was born with a spoon next to him, and feels he was always meant to cook.

The Iraqi born chef’s dad owned a restaurant in Iraq, and Gorel himself has been cooking in Chicago restaurants for more than 20 years. His latest venue: Glenview’s newest restaurant, Wild Pita.

“I’ve never had this kind of food before,” says Atticus Hebson, of Glenview, who was having lunch at the restaurant for the first time. “This is very tasty.”

The Mediterranean grill, which opened about a month ago, serves dishes from the Iraqi-Syrian region of the Middle East. On the menu: beef and chicken shawrma, kabobs, taboule, fetoush salad, Hummus, and baba ghannouj, to name a few items. And let’s not forget the falafel.

Alex Canary of Glenview says she’s a big fan of the lightly fried chickpea patties, and that she’s always looking for places that serve it.

“Every falafel is different, but this one is really, really good,” she said.

The family-owned restaurant is run by Sargun Odishu, his wife, his brother-in-law and his sister.

“We always wanted to open up a restaurant,” said Odishu, who also has a full time job as a business manager, “And it’s great to start it with people you trust, who are all excited about it. We found an amazing chef, so we teamed up with him and started looking for a good location.”

Odishu says he chose Glenview because he thought it was well suited for people in the area, and that the convenience of being on Waukegan Road would help business.

“I went to my hair salon that’s right by here and they told me I should try this place,” said Charmaine Wilkee, of Glenview, who ordered the beef shawrma, “So, here we are and it’s really good.”

Her daughter, 4 year-old Valentia, said the rice was “hot and great.”

Wild Pita, with its clean, modern décor is a casual, kid friendly restaurant. Customers order their meals at the counter, and servers deliver the food to their tables and clean up.

Odishu says Wild Pita prides itself on the flavor of the food, the fresh ingredients used, and the affordable prices. Entrees range from $5-$9, and side dishes and appetizers, $2-$5.

“It’s such a nice, casual place,” says customer Lizzie Baetz of Glenview. “And the falafel is really great.”

“We already have repeat customers who are coming in over and over again and you become friends,” Odishu said. “So, it feels like you’re around family and friends all the time.”

Odishu’s favorites: beef shawarma and the chicken kabob.

“We have a health conscious menu, but it has great flavor at the same time. I just love being around food,” he said with a smile.

Wild Pita is open for lunch and dinner, and offers caryout, delivery and catering, as well.

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