Fal-Awfully Good Memories: Biteapitta's 16-Year Legacy in Beijing

Last May, as Beijing was deep in the throes of the coronavirus, Avi Shabtai found himself stuck outside the country, unable to return to the helm of his trailblazing Middle Eastern restaurant and bakery, Biteapitta. Citing the increasing difficulty of operating the business from thousands of miles away – and with no real end in sight – Shabtai explained at the time that he and his wife had made the tough decision to move back to their native Israel and that they were “in the process of assessing alternative options for Biteapitta,” namely, finding someone to take over the much-beloved company. Hoping to salvage their “baby,” Shabtai did what he could from afar for another four months, managing day-to-day operations, entertaining offers from prospective buyers, and attempting to renegotiate the convoluted and ever-changing contracts put forth by Tongli Studios’ management. Unfortunately, however, it was not to be, and last September, after 16 years of serving up some of the finest falafel, baklava, and of course pitta in town, Shabtai was finally forced to shutter the business due to “landlord issues and COVID-19 aftershocks.”

In a statement to the Beijinger, Shabtai explains, “The Pandemic has resulted in huge challenges for many people globally and resulted in the shuttering of many businesses within the hospitality industry. While Biteapitta's staying power has proven itself through countless obstacles, we, unfortunately, weren't able to overcome this. We had to close our doors with great sadness and without the opportunity to properly say goodbye to many of our loyal customers and friends.”

Given the somewhat drawn out and anti-climactic nature of Biteapitta’s end, the news largely went unnoticed, a nearly two-decades-long presence quietly fizzling out over four months against the backdrop of COVID-19’s continual ebb and flow. And yet, for a restaurant that got its start long before the capital became a hotbed of international cuisine, effectively forging a path for so many expat entrepreneurs and restaurateurs in its wake, Biteapitta’s legacy cannot be overstated. Speaking to the Beijinger in 2016, Shabtai said of those early days, "From the get-go, we were confident in our product, and that it would adequately supply a mostly unfulfilled market for Middle Eastern food in Beijing. The constant positive response and feedback from our clients, as well as annual recognition from the local media, has been our main source of encouragement as we strive to maintain our brand.”

Having initially moved to Beijing in 2000 to work for a satellite communications company, Shabtai opened his humble little pita bakery on Nuren Jie in 2004. Between locals eager to try something new and expats who had grown up with Middle Eastern fare, the bakery quickly amassed a loyal following, and in 2005 Shabtai purchased the adjoining building and Biteapitta was born. Then, in 2010, after the initial digs were demolished – alongside everything else on Nuren Jie – he packed up and moved to Sanlitun Houjie, where the drinks menu was expanded and operating hours increased, a clear nod to the area’s late-night crowd. Over the next decade, Biteapitta remained a staple of Beijing’s Middle Eastern scene, racking up numerous accolades from readers of this publication along the way, such as “Outstanding Value” in our 2016 Reader Restaurant Awards and induction to our Dining Hall of Fame in 2017.

Read Shabtai’s statement in full below:

We started the Biteapitta project in 2004 with the aim of bringing a Middle Eastern culinary experience to our fellow Beijingers, both locals and expats. Little did we know at the time that it was the start of a grueling but hugely rewarding 16-year journey.

Reflecting on our journey, we are the most proud of our ability to produce a consistently exceptional product for our clientele over almost two decades, while keeping our prices at a level that allowed many to regularly enjoy our food. Our greatest pleasure was getting to know and to serve many satisfied customers, and having our life's work recognized with numerous media awards over the years.

The Pandemic has resulted in huge challenges for many people globally and resulted in the shuttering of many businesses within the hospitality industry. While Biteapitta's staying power has proven itself through countless obstacles, we, unfortunately, weren't able to overcome this. We had to close our doors with great sadness and without the opportunity to properly say goodbye to many of our loyal customers and friends.

We are going to deeply miss Beijing, our home for the last 20 years, and the joy of sharing a falafel sandwich and a fresh pitta with our many customers-turned-friends, at Biteapitta.

READ: Feel Good Foods: Beijing Restaurants Serve Dishes That Keep On Giving

Images: Uni You, Kipp Whittaker, Happy Cow