I gave Pita Pitaki in Signal Hill several chances because my first visit was genuinely good…read more
The first time I stopped in, I ordered a salad, everything was correct, the food was good, and the restaurant looked clean, organized, and well maintained. That first experience is what made me come back.
On my second visit, I ordered the same salad with chicken and lamb because I wanted that same experience again. When I got back to work, I realized the chicken was missing. I did not complain because I still had the lamb and the rest of the salad, and I understand that mistakes happen. Still, it was disappointing because I specifically came back wanting the same complete meal I had the first time.
On my third visit, I drove from Gardena to Signal Hill specifically for that salad. After driving back to Gardena, I realized there was no dressing in the bag.
I called the restaurant and explained what happened. I was told, "I'm sorry." At first I accepted that, but then I thought, what am I supposed to do with a salad with no dressing?
I called back because I wanted to know what could be done. I was told that if I wanted my money back, I would have to bring the salad back to the restaurant.
That meant after already driving from Gardena to Signal Hill and back, I was expected to make another trip because of something the restaurant forgot.
When I explained that I was disappointed with how the situation was being handled and that I planned to leave a review, the woman on the phone responded, "All this for a dressing?"
That comment bothered me more than the original mistake.
Yes, it was dressing, but that misses the point. This was already the second time something had been left out of my order. The first time, I let it go. This time, the missing item affected the whole meal.
What I would have appreciated was simple customer service. Acknowledge the inconvenience and make an effort to keep the customer.
Something as simple as, "We apologize. Unfortunately, we cannot refund you without the food being returned, but on your next visit we will make sure we take care of you," would have completely changed the experience.
Even offering a drink next time or simply saying they appreciated my business would have shown that they cared.
I also tipped on my takeout order because I believe a tip is a way of showing appreciation for good service and attention to detail. I understand that a tip does not guarantee perfection, but it was disappointing to tip and still receive an incomplete order.
There was also something I observed during this visit that concerned me. Someone spilled a drink, and one of the cooks helped clean it up. He wiped the floor while wearing gloves and, from what I could see, appeared to keep the same gloves on when returning to food preparation. That made me uncomfortable. I would have expected the gloves to be changed before handling food again.
To be fair, the restaurant itself looks clean, organized, and well maintained. The tables, chairs, counters, and furniture appear to be in good condition. That is one of the reasons I kept giving this place another chance.
I wanted to like Pita Pitaki. After my first visit, I thought it might become one of my go to places. Unfortunately, I never really got that same full experience again.
My first visit was good. My second visit was missing the chicken. My third visit was missing the dressing, followed by customer service that made me feel like my concern did not matter.
You can have good food and a clean restaurant, but customer service still matters. Sometimes how a business handles a mistake matters more than the mistake itself.
My advice for anyone ordering takeout here is simple. Double check your order before you leave. Open the bag and make sure you have everything, especially meats, sauces, and dressing.
Unfortunately, after giving this place several chances, it is no longer one of my go to spots.
