Mama Ayesha's

You'd never guess it from the unassuming facade, but inside Mama Ayesha's is a restaurant that looks plucked straight from the Middle East. Dangling punched-tin lanterns, jewel-toned booths and glowing candles set the scene for authentic dishes like warak inib (grape leaves stuffed with rice, chickpeas, tomatoes and mint) and bamya (okra with lamb, tomato Stew and garlic). The restaurant—founded in 1960 by Ayesha Abraham, a former chef for the Syrian Embassy—is a neighborhood institution and a goldmine for vegetarians thanks to an extensive list of produce-heavy dishes.