"Named as a tribute by owner Jamshad “Jaamy” Zarnegar to a close friend he met at the Backstreet club in the early 1980s, this Mediterranean-rooted restaurant keeps her memory alive with a photo and a signature dish called Miss Natalie’s Shrimp Pasta. The menu blends Mediterranean foundations with Latin touches like adobo salmon, soul-food items such as cornmeal-battered fried green tomatoes, Southwestern influences and a vegetarian black bean soup; prices are kept approachable and a compact wine list of eight whites and eight reds tops out at $12 by the glass. Located in Cascade Heights, the dining room seats about 65 and there is a large patio; the owner sees the neighborhood as an important, supportive and up-and-coming community. Brunch is planned soon, but currently it serves dinner nightly (bar service from 4 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m.) with reservations available online." - Courtney E. Smith