Outside view of Pitabilities, a Mediterranean food truck serving fresh pita sandwiches in front of Kennedy Dining Hall at The Ohio State University. Credit: Natalie Boggs | Arts and Life Photo Editor
For students balancing packed class schedules, extracurricular activities and busy social lives, little time is left to cook dinner or dine out — making finding a quick, quality meal a rarity.
Mixing Mediterranean flavors with the convenience of mobile ordering, Pitabilities offers Ohio State students fresh, accessible dining across campus — a combination that earned them the title of best campus food truck in The Lantern’s 2026 Best of OSU special edition, with 389 votes from Ohio State students and community members.
“We believe in the power of fresh, flavorful food to bring people together,” Chris Fannin, an event coordinator for Pitabilities, said. “Our journey began with just a simple, yet bold idea to serve Mediterranean-inspired dishes that are fresh, customizable and made to be enjoyed anywhere.”
The concept behind Pitabilities dates back 35 years, when founder Jim Pashovich first embraced the on-the-go dining concept with his Skyward Grille pushcart, according to Fannin.
In 2011, Pashovich expanded that vision into Pitabilities, launching a single food truck which has since evolved to three mobile trucks, along with a physical location at Center Street Market, located at 5354 Center St.
Fannin said Pitabilities is an evolution of Pashovich’s vision, as it brings fresh, made-to-order meals directly to consumers by combining Mediterranean heritage with the simplicity of mobile ordering.
“His goal was pretty simple: to provide the freshest food possible and turn every quick bite into an experience that could brighten someone’s day,” Fannin said.
Pashovich’s son, Joe Pashovich, joined the company in 2014. He stepped into the role of owner, following his father’s retirement in 2021.
Pashovich first partnered with Ohio State in 2024, and his mission found a natural fit with the university. Initially operating at just two locations, at Bradley Hall and in the Midtower Lot, between Morrill Tower and Lincoln Tower, Pitabilities has since expanded to include two additional stops at Kottman Hall and the Tom W. Davis Clock Tower.
Since the trucks rotate between multiple locations, it is advised for students to double-check their pickup spot before placing a mobile order.
“It’s definitely been a very successful partnership,” Fannin said. “We’re very grateful to be able to be there. Our employees absolutely love going there. It’s the whole environment [and] the campus itself. It’s absolutely amazing.”
Brian Thornton, general manager of Pitabilities, said the most popular order on campus is the rice bowl, with their gyro meat and chicken shawarma ranking as the top protein inclusions for students. He said students also routinely ask for extra side sauces.
“You guys kill us on rice bowls [and] you guys also like your side sauces, that’s for sure,” Thornton said. “I pack about triple what we would pack on a normal event [of] side sauces.”
Fannin said Ohio State students, many of whom have become regulars, have become a part of the Pitabilties family over the years.
“We get a lot of the same people that will order over and over again,” Fannin said. “Even though we don’t really get to talk to them a whole lot, because of the online ordering, we feel like we’re getting connections with them. It’s been a lot more [of a] personal connection than probably what it should be with online ordering.”
Beyond campus dining, Thornton said Pitabilities additionally offers catering options for gatherings of different sizes.
Pitabilities has fulfilled orders for groups ranging from 10 to 1,000 people, as their catering team provides drop-off or serviced catering, while their food trucks are more commonly used for smaller events.
Thornton said that, overall, he believes the food trucks have been a great addition to the Ohio State campus, as they offer students diverse meal options beyond traditional campus dining halls.
“We’ve got healthy things [and] we’ve got not-so-healthy things, so they can do that,” Thornton said. “Even people on campus that are just there order from us, so I think the community at OSU is great.”
