On all fronts, Bite-a-Pita is a hit

Ex-pats living in Beijing don't ask for much when it comes to foreign grub: Clean atmosphere. Good service. Tasty food. Reasonable prices.

Bite-a-Pita delivers on all of the above to produce a highly satisfying eat-out experience that keeps delivering every time I come back.

Upon walking into Bite-a-Pita, you can immediately begin to see why there is such a devoted and loyal following among the ex-pat community. Though typically always serving customers no matter what time of day, there typically remains ample seating, with large elevated tables in the back for bigger groups and a long, narrow bar-style table along the window to the left in addition to several regular tables in the middle of the restaurant. The floors are clean, the lighting is bright and inviting and the staff is friendly without being annoying, all of which combines to give out an atmosphere conducive towards eating casually with friends.

Which is good, because Bite-a-Pita is all about eating delicious Israeli food that makes you forget you're in China. The hummus stacks up with any I've ever tasted and could sit confidently beside any spot in the world where it's considered a staple. Along with the pita, which is clearly made fresh at the restaurant, ordering at least a plate with any meal should be an automatic decision. The other dishes one might expect to find at an Israeli joint are all superb as well, including the falafel, shawarma and kebabs, the latter being particularly excellent. The salads all taste fresh. The teas and their homemade limonada, along with other assorted drinks wash everything down nicely. All dishes and beverages are presented with care and it all comes out in a timely fashion.

There are a couple of minor quirks: The spinach patties could use a facelift and the draft beer is either mouth-numbingly cold or just straight-up warm. But these are tiny scuffs on what is an outstanding final product. Add the reasonably priced menu to the delicious and authentic food, great service and warm atmosphere, and you end up with a trusted, go-to neighborhood spot that should be immediately entered into any Beijing ex-pat's rotation of foreign restaurants.