Balade

This Lebanese spot in the East Village serves up classic Mediterranean fare. Come in a group and order a bunch of mezzes to share: fresh tabbouleh ($10), fattoush salad ($10), grilled slices of halloumi cheese ($10), four flavors of falafel ($10), sambousik pastry pockets filled with beef and pine nuts ($9), hummus ($7) and kebbe kras, fried balls of beef and cracked wheat ($10). A big mixed grill of kofte, lamb kebabs and chicken ($27) will also satisfy a crowd, as would a whole grilled branzino ($25). The restaurant also makes pita pizzas topped with marinated beef and tahini ($14) or hummus and ground beef ($13). For dessert, of course there’s baklava ($6), but the restaurant also offers homemade ice cream ($6) mouhallabie, milk pudding topped with ground pistachios ($7). Don’t forget to order a glass of balade, a sweet date drink topped with pine nuts, or slightly sour, slightly savory ayran to wash down the meal ($4 each).