Everyone seems to be craving Middle Eastern food this week!
• Albany Park’s Al-Khayameih not only serves some of the best Lebanese food in the city, they do it with flair [Chicagoist]
• A new chef and a revamping of the menu at Ben Pao doesn’t take away from the fact that the BBQ pork is fabulous, and relatively authentic to boot [Chicagoist]
• While not breaking new culinary ground, Bluebird does a good job with small plates, has a wide selection of beverages and attentive service [Gastronomic Bypass]
• Very new Albany Parker Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen is still finding its desert legs, but the schwarma’s pretty decent [Food Chain]
• Much-hyped Epic Burger in the South Loop has fancy ingredients, but the burger has trouble living up. Decent value, though [Food Chain]
• At the soft opening of Melman spawns’ Hub 51, exactly the type of industrial hip sophisticated comfort food you’d expect. But good! [The Stew]
• Everyone loves the moles at Mixteco Grill, including Bridget & Tammy. Dessert’s also recommned, and it’s BYO (17/20) [Chicago Bites]
• Persian stalwart Noon O Kabab gets very high marks from Bridget & Tammy for their kabobs and other delicacies (18/20) [Chicago Bites]
[Photo: the Chicago River’s very own alligator, via Sun-Times. You can eat them, you know!]