Apparently, it's falafel day here at Chicagoist! We love the sandwiches (and everything else) at Taza Cafe. more ›

The downtown lunch scene seems to present almost endless possibilities. There as so many different styles of cuisines from which to choose and at a rather wide range of prices. Sit down, take out, pre-made, made to order - you can find it all in the Loop. What really sets a lunch spot apart from the rest these days, however, is a combination of good food, great prices, and how full you are going to get for your money. There is, after all, one hell of a recession on. Few places get us as close to a vegetarian food coma for our hard-earned bucks as Benjyehuda. more ›

Walking into the Crescent Room at Tizi Melloul is like walking into a Mediterranean fantasy. We honestly have no idea as to its authenticity for any particular culture, and it doesn't really matter - it's exactly what you want it to look like. In a restaurant filled with modern design touches this more traditional space, with low couches, vibrant colors, pottery and a giant cluster of lanterns hanging above, perfectly sets the scene for the meal to follow. The main dining room is lovely, and has a wider variety of food selections, but we were quite happy with our choice. more ›

Taxim, the new Greek restaurant from rookie restaurateur David Schneider, takes the concept of Greek cuisine as Chicagoans know it and turns it on its head. Gone are yard stick-sized kabobs, syrupy souvlaki and middle-aged waitresses with penciled eyebrows and hoarse throats from shouting "Opa!" while setting fire to some saganaki amidst stock posters of Greek landscapes. Instead, Schneider embraces the melting pot of other Mediterranean influences, particularly Turkish, that informed pre-20th Century Greek cuisine, and does it with the deft hand of a seasoned restaurant owner. more ›

There's no shortage of good Persian or Lebanese food in Albany park. Kedzie Avenue has Noon O' Kabob and the amazing Semiramis. Near the intersection of Kedzie and Lawrence sits Al-Khaymeih. This spacious restaurant offers the best of both dining worlds. Customers are treated to familiar Lebanese dishes served promptly by very attentive waiters who cleared out empty plates as soon as they saw them, kept the pita and hummous coming and uncorked our bottles of wine as we pulled them out (Al-Khaymeih is BYOB). more ›

There's a new kid in the class of great restaurants available on Randolph Street. Nia recently opened its doors and its menu full of fresh ingredients is a fantastic way to try foods from a variety of Mediterranean countries. Nia offers a variety of small plates, salads, dinner entrées and a wide range of wines. We tried both the red and white sangria. The Fruit in both is left to sit in the mix for two full weeks and were excellent. The red sangria had blueberries, raspberries and peaches, while the white had the aforementioned plus pineapple. more ›