As you walk through the door of MVPita (Most Valuable Pita) Mediterranean Grill, you are greeted by the smiles of an enthusiastic staff dressed in black T-shirts each with a big red heart that says, “Hummus where your heart is!”
Opened Nov. 1, Most Valuable Pita has introduced themselves to our Mesa community. Now newly remodeled by the family, at the southwest corner of Power and Brown roads, this traditional Mediterranean-style restaurant is the creation of siblings Christian and Michelle Warde.
“Our mother and grandmother inspired us with healthy and authentic Mediterranean food, and we wanted to share it with the community,” Michelle relayed. So, with the support of their parents and experience from their previous kitchen work, they decided to go for it.
“Almost all of our recipes are made from scratch, and mostly by our grandma,” said Michelle. A taste of a few of their menu items convinced me of the superiority of homemade. Their falafel were good, tasty and bite-sized. Full of flavor, they are mashed chickpeas seasoned with garlic and herbs and deep-fried to perfection. A lemon-flavored sesame dip for the falafel, called tahini, was light and creamy, and they also offer a homemade jalapeño/cilantro hot sauce, which brought a new zesty but different experience.
The Falafel Plate is served with pita bread, your choice of hummus or salad, and rice or fries. But if you’re tired of regular fries, try MVP fries. They’re tossed with lemon juice and olive oil, as well as spices and topped with crumbled feta cheese.
Christian has created his own style of a Gyro Burger. He piles gyro meat on a kefta (ground beef) patty that is mixed with onions, spices, parsley and other items for a unique taste. He then tops the burger with grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes and mustard. They also offer traditional gyros, marinated chicken shawarma, and beef, steak, chicken and lamb kabobs.
Vegetarians will find a number of menu options, such as Lentil Soup, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush (eggplant dip served with pita), a variety of unique salads, and last but not least, crispy, golden Spinach Pie.
If you like stuffed grape leaves, those at MVPita are special. They are healthy and hand-rolled daily. “We roll the Dolma fresh each morning,” Christian explained. “We use whole rice, with chickpeas and finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, spices and a squeeze of fresh lemon.”
Their Tabouleh Salad also is a bit different, but 100 percent Lebanese, and it is served with romaine lettuce for scooping.
Menu items start at $2.99 for Lentil Soup, with nothing over $13. So, it makes for a reasonable meal or snack. They are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. And they deliver. Come by this newly found restaurant for a unique lunch or dinner experience.
MVPita Mediterranean Grill is located at 1066 N. Power Road. For more information, or to place an order, call (480) 247-9399. Visit their website at mvpita.com. You also can go to Facebook or Yelp.