(From November 2008) Browsing this cafe’s international market will stimulate your appetite for the enticing Mediterranean fare served here. We munched on stuffed grape leaves, hummus, and baba ganouj before moving on to gyros of tender beef nestled in warm flatbread and drizzled with tzatziki. Creative pizzas and nicely seasoned falafel, plus baklava and other nutty desserts, round out the menu. BYOB.

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(From October 2008) Run this business plan past an MBA: a “kitchenized” 1974 delivery van serving Mediterranean fare, parked next to the railroad tracks in West Texas. Cockamamy? No way. The top seller is Marfalafel, the Shark’s take on the Middle East’s traditional fried balls of spiced chickpeas sided by salad and tahini. On our visits we toggle between the hummus and veggie wrap and the crunchy, cool fattoush salad. Specials may include interesting sandwiches and creative fusions of Mediterranean and Mexican.

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(From February 2009) Housed in a newly renovated downtown building, this chic place offers empanadas and tapas in the evening and delicious salads and sandwiches during the day. We loved the crepe with roasted chicken, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and Gruyère and the smoked-salmon sandwich served on herb flatbread with cream cheese, spinach, tomato, and balsamic. Reserve the chocolate soufflé cake when you place your order. Beer & wine.

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(From December 2009) Quite a meal can be made foraging among the small plates listed at the top of the menu: roasted beets with pistachio and feta; risotto with cremini mushrooms, grana cheese, and a touch of truffle oil; crisp calamari with lime-chile aioli. Or go the traditional route, with something like a wedge salad with Green Goddess followed by meaty lamb chops with creole mustard sauce and cheesy grits. The wine list is extensive, the interior sleek and good-looking, and the service polished. Bar.

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(From November 2008) We applaud the new menu additions at this cosmopolitan place, with its lovely covered patio and saffron-hued dining room. Paella lovers will rejoice to find the classic Valencian rice dish offered for the first time; it can be ordered vegetarian or with chicken or shrimp (or both). A must-do appetizer is the signature shot glass of gazpacho puréed to a fare-thee-well. The crema catalana reminded us of a light crème brûlée kissed with citrus. Bar.

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(From November 2009) This gem, behind the Havana Riverwalk Inn, serves mostly Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. A splendid “fish kebab” featured broiled cubes of salmon adroitly flavored with saffron and lemon, while a beef pot roast with tomato sauce, more nearly a stew, had vigorous, deep flavors. Among the apps, we liked the tangy tabouleh salad and mirza ghasemi, a cold Persian eggplant and tomato combo. Informal yet digni-fied, Cool Café has vast river-view windows. Bar.

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(From March 2009) The vibrant colors of Mexico complement the menu of this charmingly eclectic winery and tapas bar. We sank into an overstuffed couch and watched our table fill up with a tantalizing array of small plates. Crostini spread with onion marmalade, lime-drizzled shrimp, and garlicky albóndigas were just the beginning. We followed those with a flavorful chicken curry salad and an amazing pizza fresca with mango, red onion, and crushed walnuts snuggled into a layer of warm Brie. Wine.

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(From October 2008) We like the intimacy of this Victory Park newcomer, where dramatic wrought iron, tile floors, tantalizing aromas, and vivid colors evoke visions of Morocco. A generous platter of pita bread with hummus, baba ganouj, and harissa preceded the Marrakesh chicken tagine: braised breast meat served atop sliced potatoes in a savory lemon-infused sauce that just begged to be sopped up with puffy pita bread. Bar.

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(From October 2008) We like this congenial corner bistro in the heart of the Strand, where the kitchen stays busy serving up reliable classics like baba ganouj, tabouleh, spanakopita, and moussaka. Our companion pronounced the gyros nicely seasoned, while we applauded a recent addition: shish tawook, a juicy, lemon-bathed chicken breast on a bed of spinach. Beer & wine.

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(From December 2009) Terrific tempura asparagus with a roasted-Meyer-lemon-and-dill aioli helped assuage our hunger after a long, long wait for a table. The next course, romaine hearts with a garlicky dressing and one lone white anchovy, was a refreshing segue to the crowning moment of the evening: the arrival of short ribs with toasted French gnocchi, napped with a Shiraz-rosemary jus. What a dish! Good thing the food is so good, because the noise reduces conversation to a bare minimum. Bar.

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