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"Mazal flies under the radar in Lincoln Heights, which is exactly why we love it as a casual dinner hang. This vegetarian Israeli restaurant has an alleyway patio decorated with string lights, awnings, and patterned concrete walls. There’s even an old, tattered basketball hoop hanging in the back—which is, unfortunately, decorative only. But Mazal has more to offer than just a fun space. We love their smoky babaganoush and flaky bourekas, which come filled with potato, feta, or a pesto and olive mix. Everything is sharable and under $20, meaning even with a few glasses of wine, you probably won’t be stress-checking your bank account after dinner." - brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder