Family-Owned Fill-A-Pita Opens Bolingbrook Spot Following Success

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Family-owned and -operated Fill-A-Pita Mediterranean Grill soft-opened its second location, in Bolingbrook, July 1, catering to growing demand for healthy fare. The restaurant's first location is in Downers Grove.

"Downers Grove was very popular, always jam-packed, [and] a lot of people from this area would go there to get food," said Omar Morria, manager at the Bolingbrook location, which had its grand opening in early August.

Since the first location catered to residents from a variety of neighboring towns, Morria said the restaurant's partners opened the Bolingbrook spot "to ease the pressure off [Downers Grove] and bring it closer to this neighborhood."

It's the second restaurant in a plan to expand the healthy eatery.

"People love the food, so we're looking to open regionally first and then hopefully take it to the next level," he told Patch. "We like serving the community with healthy things. That's what we feel our advantage is with growing it."

Located at 282 S. Weber Road, near the intersection with Lily Cache Lane, Fill-A-Pita neighbors Chipotle, whose menu also offers make-your-own bowls and plates.

To Morria, who sold a restaurant in Chicago so that he could focus on expanding Fill-A-Pita, competition is good.

"We feel like competition is better because it keeps you on your toes and not laid back," he said. "Competition is not a bad thing."

The Mediterranean restaurant offers an extensive menu, with options ranging from appetizers and homemade soup to sandwiches, fresh salads and bowls. The restaurant's chef, Mohammad Nawtater, "did magic" with his Palestinian and Jordanian recipes, Morria said. The two are neighbors who joined forces to make Fill-A-Pita what it is.

"We said to him, you know the food, we know the restaurants ... and he did magic with the recipes," Morria said.

The restaurant has earned praise across social media for its falafel and shawarma. Others have complimented its "friendly and kind" staff. Morria complimented them right back, saying the restaurant's patrons have been especially kind.

"The customers are awesome," Morria said. "They're sweet [and] kind. They even congratulate us and tell us good luck. I like criticism, but I haven't really gotten it."

Fill-A-Pita is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

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