4147 S. Maryland Parkway
Here's how good the Mediterranean Cafe is: We once took some friends over who were avid devotees of Greek-styled dishes, and they said the Mediterranean Cafe's offerings were among the best they'd ever tasted. Another time, we took a friend over who almost visibly recoiled at the thought of eating "foreign" food, and we could barely keep his face out of the homemade hummus. What more could a discriminating diner ask of an ethnic restaurant? Kitchen Cafe was your second choice.
Our Pick: MEDITERRANEAN CAFE & MARKET
We love the Mediterranean Cafe not only for the food and its friendly, casual atmosphere, but also for the fact that it's a real home-grown success story. Owner Paymon Raouf built a modest ethnic market -- the market side of the cafe is still a wonderful place to browse, by the way -- into one of Las Vegans' favorite restaurants. Besides, Raouf is one of the nicest people you're ever going to meet. In fact, don't be too disappointed if you stop by for dinner one evening and discover that the cafe is closed because Paymon and his wife, Fariba, are hosting a fund-raiser for some local charity.
