Antarctica Starts Here.

A couple of weeks ago Lyssa and I got together with the House of Leaves for Bronwyn's birthday, much of which we spent at a restaurant in Takoma Park, Maryland called Middle Eastern Cuisine (no website; 7006 Carroll Avenue; Takoma Park, MD; 20912; phone 301-270-5154; fax 301-270-8521). It's a bit of a drive to get to the outskirts, but it's well worth the time spent. You can either eat up front at the smaller tables or you can go into the back half where a long bench encircles part of the room, and is broken up by a number of larger tables that they'll be more than happy to push around and reconfigure for larger parties. The back half is tastefully decorated with abstract prints and a pair of beautiful steampunk paintings on the far wall. Overall, it's a very comfortable place to eat and hang out.

As for the food, it's some of the best Mediterranean I've had in a long while. Their mazza platter is a big enough appetizer for three or four people easily, but it would also make up a whole meal for two people, probably with some left over. The salads are about what you'd expect, so there isn't a whole lot to write home about there. The eggplant parmesan is pretty good and well worth the wait while it's prepared and the chicken kebabs are quite tasty. Their coffee's not bad, either, but I didn't have much because Hasufin had brought a trunkful of coffee-making implements for use later. Prices are a little high for the area - expect to spend about $20us per person for lunch, but you'll definitely be getting your money's worth. On the whole, I give this restaurant one and a half flareguns: if you like Mediterranean food and you find yourself in the DC metroplex, look this place up and pay them a visit. You won't be sorry.