"Middle Eastern street food joint Baba Nahm is where chefs Brian and Laura Smith have focused their significant culinary energies since COVID-19 pressures forced the closure of their Biltmore Village restaurant Rezaz. A pre-pandemic downtown lunch staple, Laura pivoted the concept by switching to takeout only and turning the small seating area into a bakery where she puts her pastry chef background to good use creating the menu’s house-made pita and laffa breads, cookies, granola, and other items. A simple option that serves a pair or groups of four or eight is Baba’s Feast, a par-cooked take-home meal of roasted Cornish game hen stuffed with ground lamb, caramelized onions, and basmati rice accompanied by grilled broccolini with horseradish-herb zhoug, Persian chopped salad, and rich muhammara dip with vegetable crudite. But the regular menu’s choices are generous, tempting and affordable with lamb, beef or chicken shawarma, tabrizi meatballs or fava falafel setting you back only $8-$10 and the addictive, house-cut Israeli fries a mere $2.75 for a giant serving. Order from the website for pickup at the downtown location." - Gina Smith
