Although it's not the prettiest restaurant presentation (think dusty PCs and office water coolers that keep company with four chewed-up leather booths) the authentic Somali cuisine fills up regulars and a handful of cab drivers on their lunch break.

An adorable husband-and-wife duo dish out fall-off-the-bone tender takes on goat, chicken and fish, in buffet form, yes, but portioned tall with cardamom and sage-fluffed basmati rice, a light mix of undressed greens and sweet azuki beans mixed with butter and sugar to balance out a hot green pepper sauce that puts taquerias to shame.

And that's just a lunch crapshoot. For an always-available treat, seek their take on injera, a usually sourdough-type African pancake bread, given a rare sweet and oily Southern treatment.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Gavin Paul