What's in a name? A lot, according to owner Arif Yalcin. After all, for 13 years Efes was known as "Cousin's." But, the restaurant was getting confused with the two other "Cousin's" in the city, making it hard to market and draw in new customers. A name change was in order. The result? Efes, taken from the name Ephesus, the best preserved Roman city.

Efes is a huge space with a rustic and homey appeal. Brick walls and colorful pillows hint at the food's origin without feeling overdone. The regulars at Efes love the pillow seating, which lends itself to romantic dates or catching up with friends. The main floor seats 150 with more seating upstairs, including private rooms. The outdoor patio is huge, a great place to spend a long summer afternoon.

The menu pulls from all over the Mediterranean for eclectic fare. Classic dishes like lentil soup and hummus are mixed in with pastas and kebabs to create a large selection. A specialty is the chicken Efes with chicken breast cubes, mushrooms, caramelized onions, zucchini and carrots served with wine-tomato-cream sauce over spaghetti noodles. It's garlicky and creamy and light – a perfect dish for beginners to the restaurant.

But the biggest highlight at Efes may be the bread. It's homemade, it's warm and it melts in your mouth.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Christy Bonstell