Ilona

From the team behind the popular Greek restaurant Kava Neo-Taverna comes another South End spot, this time focusing on the Eastern Mediterranean. (Think influences from Lebanon, Israel, Georgia and Turkey along with Greece.) As with Kava’s menu, there are standards like halloumi, octopus, and several eggplant options. But Ilona also features heavier dishes such as imeruli khachapuri (Georgian cheese-stuffed bread), shish barak (phyllo stuffed with lamb and onions) and a cigeri hummus with chicken livers. Ilona is brightly-decorated, drawing lively crowds.