Spring Break
New owners put new prices, menu changes in Pizza 'Pocket'
Jeff Sullivan
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
09/17/08 - The Pizza Pocket in the Kingston Emporium is undergoing some changes this year, both in style and content.
With new menu items, ingredients, recipes and renovations on the way, students can expect many changes from one of University of Rhode Island's staple late-night restaurants.
"There is a 100 percent difference in the quality of the food," said Urydory "Tony" Lteif, the new owner of Pizza Pocket. "We changed all of the recipes, and we are only using high quality product for ingredients. There is no cheap product in anything we serve here."
Lteif is partners with Saad "Markos" Awad, who also owns and operates Markos Kabobs on Boon Street in Narragansett. Lteif and Awad bought the restaurant from URI student Kevin Hines earlier in the summer.
Lteif said that they are focusing on customer service, portion increases and quality cuisine.
Aside from a complete menu overhaul, Lteif also said he is planning extensive renovations to the physical appearance of the shop, including taking down the dividing wall between the food preparation area and the ordering/dining area.
"When I make food, I want people to watch," he said, reasoning an open food preparation area would better suit his consumers. "I want people to walk in and not only see the food we make, but also how we make it."
The renovations will include a new paint job, the removal of the bar currently blocking the view of the cashier and taking apart the walls. Lteif said these changes would be done by December.
Lteif said he has been in the food service industry for about 20 years. With a menu including pasta, curries, kabobs, wraps, pocket pies and salads, he said he wants to offer something different to the campus.
"I like the new menu a lot," said junior Aubrey Donato. "Especially the new meals and curries, I mean before it was pretty basic."
Freshmen Jesse Coppa and Ben Gammell, said even though they had never been to The Pizza Pocket before, the excellent service and good food would make for a great place to eat. Gammell agreed that the new renovations would make the restaurant better.
"It eliminates all restaurant paranoia when you're waiting," Gammell said. "It sounds like a great idea."
Lteif also said that he has wanted to buy The Pizza Pocket for a long time, but he didn't have the means to get it until now.
But not all students are happy with the new layout, as the better ingredients and bigger portions precipitate an inevitable price increase.
"I think the old [menu] was better," sophomore Tony Galvao. "It was cheaper, and they don't do that four or more pizza pockets for five bucks anymore."
With new menu items, ingredients, recipes and renovations on the way, students can expect many changes from one of University of Rhode Island's staple late-night restaurants.
"There is a 100 percent difference in the quality of the food," said Urydory "Tony" Lteif, the new owner of Pizza Pocket. "We changed all of the recipes, and we are only using high quality product for ingredients. There is no cheap product in anything we serve here."
Lteif is partners with Saad "Markos" Awad, who also owns and operates Markos Kabobs on Boon Street in Narragansett. Lteif and Awad bought the restaurant from URI student Kevin Hines earlier in the summer.
Lteif said that they are focusing on customer service, portion increases and quality cuisine.
Aside from a complete menu overhaul, Lteif also said he is planning extensive renovations to the physical appearance of the shop, including taking down the dividing wall between the food preparation area and the ordering/dining area.
"When I make food, I want people to watch," he said, reasoning an open food preparation area would better suit his consumers. "I want people to walk in and not only see the food we make, but also how we make it."
The renovations will include a new paint job, the removal of the bar currently blocking the view of the cashier and taking apart the walls. Lteif said these changes would be done by December.
Lteif said he has been in the food service industry for about 20 years. With a menu including pasta, curries, kabobs, wraps, pocket pies and salads, he said he wants to offer something different to the campus.
"I like the new menu a lot," said junior Aubrey Donato. "Especially the new meals and curries, I mean before it was pretty basic."
Freshmen Jesse Coppa and Ben Gammell, said even though they had never been to The Pizza Pocket before, the excellent service and good food would make for a great place to eat. Gammell agreed that the new renovations would make the restaurant better.
"It eliminates all restaurant paranoia when you're waiting," Gammell said. "It sounds like a great idea."
Lteif also said that he has wanted to buy The Pizza Pocket for a long time, but he didn't have the means to get it until now.
But not all students are happy with the new layout, as the better ingredients and bigger portions precipitate an inevitable price increase.
"I think the old [menu] was better," sophomore Tony Galvao. "It was cheaper, and they don't do that four or more pizza pockets for five bucks anymore."
