Pita & Naan Opens up Shop near 14th and O

Downtown Lincoln welcomes a new Mediterranean restaurant located near 14th and O street. Pita & Naan brings a new twist to the neighborhood. 

BY TESSA WISER

Pita & Naan’s owner, Omar Attaie, is very familiar with the restaurant industry; it’s something his family knows well. Formerly Rutabagas, Attaie saw the building was up for grabs and he knew he needed to jump at the opportunity.

“Mom and Dad were driving by downtown and saw that there was a sign available for this building, they called me and we started talking about it,” Omar Attaie said. “Okay let’s make a few phone calls, let’s start talking food dishes, and then it all came together.” 

Pita & Naan creates a unique experience by offering cuisine from a few different places. Attaie’s parents grew up cooking in Afghanistan. His dad worked the late night shift t Ali Baba Gyros for 32 years, and his mom worked at a country club for 25 years. Together, their shared food knowledge crafted their establishment. 

“It was a really neat scenario, bringing the whole family together, under one roof,” Attaie said. “Mom always cooked Afghani food for our friends, our family, our neighbors, and everyone’s always like ‘you have open up a restaurant.’”

Attaie’s dad’s 32 years of experience at Ali Baba Gyros has allowed him to practice and perfect his Mediterranean recipes. Meanwhile, his mom focuses on Afghani and Indian food. 

“We have a lot of different cultures,” Attaie said. “We’ve got Afghan food, we’ve got Indian food, and then some other eastern food that we mixed together.”

Pita & Naan serves food ranging from curry bowls to meatball korma. 

“There’s a lot of Mediterranean food out there, but we have a lot of different options that other places in Lincoln don’t offer,” Attaie said. “My two favorite dishes are the chicken tikka korma and the meatball korma.” 

Pita & Naan is open seven days a week, Monday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.; and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

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