Now that our kids are grown, my wife and I look for casual restaurants that are not french-fry-centric, but not for old fogies, either. We are also very tired of the manufactured, SoCal precision-marketing restaurants like Appleby's and Chipotle Grill, so we were very happy to find Pita Jungle. Yes, it's a chain, but they have actually accomplished "different," and not just advertised it.

For example, the food is terrific but unlike any other casual dining place. It is entirely healthy choices, mostly vegetarian dishes, with a few chicken and fish choices too, as well as Greek lamb. The grilled salmon is the best I've ever had at a restaurant (everyone else over-cooks it), and they serve my wife's favorite hummus. A perfect menu for a couple of former hippies.

The decor and setting are so very different, too. Local artists display avant garde works on the walls, a jazz or folk band plays in the intimate eating area on weekend nights, and sometimes a fortune teller sets up a table in the foyer. The wait staff dresses in their own clothes, a wonderful advancement over uniforms. The clientele is eclectic (but not bizarre) and fun to watch. The kitchen is partially open to the dinning room, but the overall noise level is still much, much less than most "family restaurants."

Service is generally good, definitely low-key (good), but once in while just uninterested (bad). The wait for food is a little longer than many places--this is not a place to go when in a hurry--but on the other hand, none of it appears to come from a can or freezer. But we enjoy the slower pace of Pita Jungle, and go when we have time to sit and talk.

Our only real complaint is that parking is extremely limited at the Chandler location, with no viable nearby alternates. There have been several times we wound up eating somewhere else only because there were literally no parking places open within walking distance.

Despite the occasional problems, we thoroughly enjoy Pita Jungle and would recommend it to anyone.

I have been to Pita Jungle on two occasions and have to say that despite their scrumptious food, I will never be back. Upon arriving the second time, we waited in a long line noticing that not one employee was acknowledging the many customers waiting to be seated. Finally after almost ten minutes waiting to even speak to a host we were seated. Once at our table, it took about ten more minutes before anyone came to ask for our drink order. While waiting we noticed several employees in action. Let it be known that good hygiene is definitely not a requirement to work here. There is one employee in particular whose pants are more than halfway down his buttocks revealing sagging, dingy looking underwear - YUCK! Not something I care to see when dining. Not to mention his hair that is screaming to be washed and combed. Many of the employees have an apathetic attitude and service is of the least importance to them. When our meal finally came it was delivered by someone other than our server. Oh, did I mention that the food was left, but we had no silverware or napkins nor were we asked if we needed anything! We had to get up ourselves and grab some from another table. Once finished, we had to hunt down our server to get our check - this was after sitting for an eternity long after our finished dishes were collected. The server lost my copy from my credit card receipt saying, "I had it and set it down, but I don't know where it went." She made absolutely no attempt to find it, nor did she seem too apologetic. She printed out another one and I quickly left this dining nightmare. The meal was delicious and the portions are great- this is the only positive thing about the place. If they make more of an effort to provide service to their customers and brush up on the hygiene requirements of their employees, I might consider returning. Until then, if I want to be ignored and see dirty underwear and people who need to bathe, I'll go to the Salvation Army soup kitchen.