You Need To Eat This: The 'Burgh's Best Hummus

Since I have lived in Pittsburgh, I have become obsessed with Greek food.

I think I subconsciously substituted my burrito cravings with a need to constantly eat hummus.

And luckily for me (and all of Pittsburgh), I have discovered what I'm confident is the best hummus in the world, found at It's Greek To Me in Brookline.

It's a little hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurant, which you could easily pass on Brookline Boulevard without noticing, but foodies, I urge you to take notice!

This little place has been around for 13 years and truly everything they make is amazing, but the one thing I can't go without is the hummus.

There's something different about this hummus that I can't put my finger on either. And although I've asked numerous times (often over a bottle of wine) what it is, the owners won't give up their secret.

Maria Petrou, who owns It's Greek To Me with her mother and father – who hails from Nicosia, Cypress – says it's always made by her mother without a recipe, so it can vary a bit each time you get it.

"It just depends on how she makes it," she says.

I personally have stayed up late at night, sweaty and anxious, wondering what's different about their recipe – it's chunkier than most hummus, it seems garlic-y, but like it also might have some lemon juice or extra olive oil – maybe it's all of the above, maybe it's none. I have no clue what it is, but as long as I can keep shoveling it down, I suppose I don't care.

And not only is the hummus itself great, but the pita bread is what truly makes the whole thing magical. It's really soft, moist pita bread, but they fry it up as soon as you order, so it's warm and just slightly toasty – kind of soaked in oil too, but that's the key to its tastiness.

If you find yourself at It's Greek To me, other favorites are their spanakopita, the grape leaves are superb (served warm and dusted with spices) and they make something called Greek tea, which is creamy and spicy all at the same time.

Their hummus is a favorite take-out item of mine, but just know beforehand it only comes with one piece of pita -- I believe each additional piece costs $1. And if you go and dine in, It's Greek To Me is BYOB.

It's Greek To Me is located on Brookline Boulevard and is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

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