Kabab EL Basha

At El Basha, Eat Your Soup and Don’t Ask Questions | Bon Appétit

"Family-run for about 20 years by Ahmad Nabulsi and his wife Vera, this cozy Lebanese spot feels loved and personal: almost everything is made on site (hummus from dry beans, marinated and stacked beef shawarma) and the menu shifts with the seasons, so when something runs out it's really gone for the day. Signature items include a special yellow lentil soup served with fried bread, fresh herbs and lemon; a mezza plate of hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanuje (often subbed with creamy lebneh) and falafel with warm pita; a kafta wrap of spiced ground beef grilled on skewers then wrapped with tahini and Turkish pickles; and a mixed-grill platter of kafta, garlicky grilled chicken and gyro meat. The warm garlicky potato salad is a standout side, the lebneh is silky with olive oil and mint, and seasonal sour purple pickles are made in-house. The dining room and patio have become homier over the years—new tile floors, brighter tables and colorful Turkish glass lamps—and regulars (hospital staff, local office workers and various immigrant communities) keep returning for the authentic flavors and the genuinely hospitable touches, like Vera stopping at tables or surprising guests with a bowl of soup." - ByRainbow Rowell