"Cafe Lili has been serving Lebanese food since the ‘90s, and from your first visit to when the cashier knows your order by heart, this family-run restaurant is the kind of place that makes you feel comfortable. After ordering at the counter, expect your food to be ready by the time you find a table, regardless of how much you order. But make sure their smooth “special hummus” makes it to your plate so you can try the tender chuck beef topping the dish. Come with a crew and split a kabob platter, or come solo and talk yourself into buying a bottle of their rich olive oil." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas