With the beautiful weather yesterday, a friend suggested that we meet and have lunch outdoors at the Mizrahi Grill located in the Crossroads Shopping Center. I agreed and mentioned I had never been there or even heard much about the place other than it was a kosher restaurant. What a surprise and a delight!

Mizrahi Grill offers at complete menu of Israeli/Mediterranean Cuisine from appetizers, like Grandma’s Kubeh (cracked wheat dumpling filled with ground beef and pine nuts and served with tehina), to salads, pita or laffa wrapped sandwiches, entrees, desserts and beverages. The entrees seem a bit pricey but are consistent with the high cost associated with kosher meats.

My friend ordered the grilled chicken breast pita and I ordered the House Specialty – their shawarma sandwich.  They asked if I wanted everything on my sandwich. I didn’t realize that “everything” meant humus, Israeli salad (tomatoes and cucumbers), cabbage slaw, pickles, chips (homemade fried potatoes) and tehina. What a sandwich!

My friend asked for everything to be separate on her plate and I had the chance to see what was in my sandwich. The pita is baked in their ovens and the best I’ve ever eaten.

Afterwards I briefly chatted with the owners, Eli and Tomar Mizrahi. They’ve been in business for four years and I wondered why I never had been to their restaurant before. Knowing about Mizarhi Grill will make it a lot easier to get my Mediterranean food fix without going to Skokie, Wheeling or Des Plaines.

Being a kosher restaurant, all of their meats are top grade and other ingredients are extremely fresh. As consumers become more aware of eating healthy foods, their offerings guarantee quality choices. As their website declares, “At Mizrahi Grill not only do you enjoy food that’s good, but also food that’s good for you!” Store hours are Sun. to Thurs: 11 am to 9 pm, Fri. lunch only, closed on Saturday. Check out their menus at www.mizrhaigrill.com .