Dardanel (CLOSED)

Low-key neighborhood folk scoop hummus by candlelight at this cozy spot on midtown’s eastern fringe. The menu skews Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, with an emphasis on Turkish cuisine (expect copious seafood—appropriate given all the nautical knickknacks). A succulent shrimp casserole is baked in the brick-oven and topped with sharp kasseri cheese, and the signature manti (tiny beef dumplings) are drowned in a delicious garlicky yogurt sauce. The wine list is international, but go for the rotating selection of Turkish reds, whites and beers: the light, hoppy Efes pilsner is a solid pairing for Dardanel’s bright, flavorful fare.