La Pita opened in July on Niles Road in St. Joseph. It is offers authentic Mediterranean cuisine and is owned and operated by a family from Lebanon. It is open everyday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Submitted photos

St. Joseph residents now have a place where they can dine on authentic Mediterranean cuisine.

La Pita, which opened in July on Niles Road, offers a wide range of Middle Eastern food from freshly made hummus, to fried kebi to baba ghanouge. It is open for lunch and dinner.

It is operated by a family from Lebanon, a country located on the west side of the Mediterranean Sea.

Sam Alkhozai owns the restaurant with his brother-in-law, Nader Hachem. Both have experience in the food industry with Hachem working in restaurants for several years in Paris as well as his native Lebanon.

“We are the only people nearby that serve the Mediterranean cuisine,” Alkhozai said.

Alkhozai said he and Hachem grew up in the same village and both had an opportunity to come to the United States in the early 2000s.

“We started working here, and I like working here more than anywhere else,” said Alkhozai, who takes pride in giving people their first experience with Mediterranean food.

In fact, Alkhozai said he’ll take the time to explain the particulars of each dish to any newcomers.

“We want them to know what they are eating,” he said.

For instance, La Pita’s hummus dish, which comes in regular or large portions, is made of chickpeas puree with tahini sauce, lemon juice and a hint of garlic.

The dish, sujuk, is a spicy blend of lamb and beef sausage sauteed with tomatoes and herb lemon sauce pieces.

La Pita’s lunch and dinner menus, including prices, can be viewed online at lapitarestaurant.com.

La Pita also offers several vegetarian dishes, fresh raw juices, desserts and smoothies.

It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 2019 Niles, Rd., St. Joseph.

Call (269) 982-0982.