Good Middle Eastern restaurants are like landmarks in Chicago. Once you find one, you never lose your way back.

No matter what your craving: shawirma ($10.95), falafel sandwich ($5.25) or just shish kabob ($6.25), this Lebanese restaurant carries all the dishes you expect from a standard Middle Eastern fare restaurant. They have anything from quality appetizers (feta cheese plate and baba ganouj) to sandwiches and vegetarian entrees, as well as baked goods like the honey-soaked baklava.

There is a lot of space to stretch your legs and enjoy the patio when the weather permits. Minimal, clean and elegant decor caters more to casual dining than a big night on the town, but the folks there would rather you visited more often. For those regulars, it’s a pleasant to find that, unlike most of the restaurants in Old Town, Old Jerusalem is very reasonably priced.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Beatrice Smigasiewicz