They opened in late 2011; soon both will be history.
Kebab Fusion already has cleared out of its South Street location. A short stroll away, next to the Mayo Performing Arts Center, Don’s Burgers and Fries is about to say so long, too, according to employees who have been told that they will fry their last burger this week.
We’re not sure what’s coming next for that space, which initially stirred a bit of controversy. The notion of a hamburger joint next to the elegant Mayo Center raised some eyebrows.
But the proprietor of Don’s, Mike Chutko, appealed to nostalgic memories of Livingston’s late, lamented Don’s Drive-In from the 1950s. For awhile, at least. Employees say a recent change of management could not save the Morristown eatery where, we must confess, we enjoyed quite a few cheeseburgers.
Meanwhile, partners Nick Andelora and Bennett Orfaly say they aim to bring a Pita Grill franchise to the former Kebab Fusion location next month.
Somehow, the notion of a “positively healthy” gyro seems hard to swallow. But Bennett, a chef, insists his gyros are made from grass-fed lamb and free-range chickens.
The chickpeas are organic and meals are fried in soybean oil, added Nick.
The eight-restaurant chain began in Manhattan in 1993 and includes a Hoboken venue. The partners are counting on business from Morristown commuters who know Pita Grills from New York.
“We wanted to infuse Mediterranean-style food with stuff from here,” said Nick, who lives in Wayne. “We adapted our menu to suit everyone. We’re a lot more than pitas.”
That means panini and platters along with hummus.
Bennett, a Brooklyn native who resides in Franklin Lakes, said he studied at the New York School of Technology and worked at the former Helmsley Palace in New York . But many of his ideas were gleaned from a year spent in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, he said.
“We had rice bowls before anyone on the east coast,” he said. “We had panini before anyone else. Last year, we had pretzel rolls.”
While some Pita Grill restaurants serve breakfast, this one will start as a lunch and supper place. Expect a meal to cost $12 to $14, Bennett said.
Sample menu for Pita Grill; please click to enlarge.
Hey chris i like pita grill too and now live in morristown, lets grab a bite together 😉
I cannot wait till the new pita grill opens, i’ve been to the one in hoboken and the service was great, the food (Rice Bowl) was fantastic, not only that, but it is a great place to get me eating healthier! Now i can finally have a place to bring the newborn and lose this baby weight!
I love the Pita Grill, the Bennetts chopped salad, and their rice bowls taste amazing. I used to live in the city and was a loyal customer for a while, Cant wait for the store here in morristown.
What did you like about the restaurant?
Very excited for Pita Grill. Frequented it quite often when I lived in Hoboken.
So glad Don’s is dead, did anyone get the memo? Fat fried food is over
I LOVE DONES! Not only is the manager there as cute as a button. but the burgers rock my world!!! THE SERVICE IS GREAT. EVERYTHINGS GREAT.
I actually like the sign!
I never went to the original Don’s so the nostalgia didn’t appeal to me.
That said, a juicy burger is great- however the Don’s burger was greasy- way too greasy. What was the burger to fat ratio? I love a nice 85/15, but it seemed like it was 50/50
I went when they opened up on a Sunday and let’s be honest the music was louder than the bars down the street on a Saturday night. Sunday afternoons are supposed to ease you out of a hangover, not give you a headache where you wished you were hungover.
It’s no surprise Don’s failed. The burgers were terrible and certainly nothing like the original Don’s in Livingston.
The new neon-light sign in front of the Mayo center is the least elegant and most gaudy thing to arrive in morristown since….Don’s Burgers?