"This Middle Eastern spot on Capitol Hill has everything you love about a satisfying sit-down lunch, only it's a counter-service operation that works in a pinch if you're strapped for time. If the restaurant's name (or the decorative chickpea wall decals) didn't give it away, this place is all about hummus. And while the bean mash in question is overshadowed by some of the city's finest falafel, the stuff is good enough to build a tasty, kind-of-healthy spread around. Swing in for a meal that's equal parts quick and comfortable, and make sure to tack on an order of "cheeps," a.k.a. shawarma-spiced fries with a garlicky amba aioli. Food Rundown photo credit: Nate Watters Hummus Classic Creamy, smooth, and lubricated with a heavy hand of olive oil, the only thing this hummus needs is a squirt of lemon. Just ask for a wedge. photo credit: Nate Watters Falafel Each ball is fried to-order, so you can expect Aviv's excellent falafel to be crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and doused in a silky tahina. Prioritize these at all costs. photo credit: Nate Watters Saladt The saladt is essentially a refreshing pile of finely diced tomato and cucumber tossed with parsley and lemon. It's a bright, crunchy add-on to virtually anything here. photo credit: Nate Watters Cheeps Sprinkled with shawarma seasoning and served alongside a sweet garlic amba aioli, a basket of cheeps is mandatory. Split with the table as a snack or stuff them in a pita. photo credit: Nate Watters Pita This blistered pita checks some boxes, but not all of them. The bread is steamy-hot and opens like a pocket for optimal ingredient-packing. And yet, the texture is overly gummy and soft from sitting in warming chamber purgatory. They'll certainly do the trick—we just wish they had a bit more crustiness. Shawarma The chicken shawarma here is dry and cries for salt. Just skip in favor of many falafel balls." - Aimee Rizzo
