𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝

Business Spotlight: PITA Street Food

Just over five months after opening its doors, PITA Street Food has quickly become a favorite gathering place in Millbrook, serving fresh Mediterranean cuisine while building relationships with customers, one meal at a time.

Located just off Interstate 65, the restaurant opened Jan. 30, 2026, and is operated by siblings Nidhi Patel and Jay Patel, alongside their parents and a team of 6 employees.

For Nidhi Patel, the restaurant is about much more than serving food.

“We chose Millbrook because of its strong sense of community and the welcoming people who make it feel like home,” Patel said. “Family is the foundation of everything we do.”

The Patel family was already familiar with the area through their longtime business in nearby Elmore. Their father, Al Patel, has owned and operated a local gas station since 1998, where he spent years teaching his children the importance of customer service, honesty and treating every customer with respect.

“Our teacher has always been our dad,” Patel said. “One thing he always told us is that customers don’t need us, we need them. You can sell the same products as everyone else, but what makes people come back is how you treat them.”

Those lessons continue to shape the restaurant today.

Patel said every meal is prepared fresh after it is ordered, with an emphasis on healthy Mediterranean cuisine featuring chicken, beef, lamb, rice bowls, wraps and salads.

“We want people to walk in and know they’re getting fresh, healthy food every time,” she said. “Nothing is made ahead and left sitting. Everything is prepared when you order it.”

The restaurant has also benefited from Millbrook’s continued growth, including the opening of nearby 17 Springs, which has introduced new visitors to the business.

Giving back is another value that has remained central to the family’s business philosophy.

Patel said her father’s childhood inspired him to never let a child leave empty-handed. Today, children who visit PITA Street Food receive complimentary treats.

“My dad didn’t grow up with much,” Patel said. “He always says if we’re blessed enough to help someone else, then we should. It’s not always about making money. It’s about taking care of people.”

Besides serving customers inside the restaurant, PITA Street Food also provides catering throughout central Alabama, traveling up to 40 miles to businesses, schools, community events and private gatherings.

As the restaurant continues to grow, Patel credits the people around her for its success.

“This has never been about just me,” she said. “It’s our whole team, my brother Jay, our chefs, my mom, and especially my dad. He’s the reason we know what customer service should look like.”

The family also expressed appreciation to those who have supported them since opening.

“We want to thank the City of Millbrook, the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce, our customers, and especially the man behind all of this, our dad, Al Patel,” Patel said. “Without his guidance and experience, none of this would have been possible.”

Just months after opening, PITA Street Food has established itself as more than a restaurant. Through fresh food, personal service and a commitment to treating every customer like family, the Patel family is creating the kind of community gathering place they hoped Millbrook would embrace.