Dining Pick of the Week: Baladie Cafe

PICK OF THE WEEK:

BALADIE CAFÉ

4872 W. Lone Mountain Road at North Decatur Boulevard, 702-658-0024

Mediterranean cuisine is a composite of many cultures and countries, including Algeria, which is in North Africa. The Baladie Café has that Algerian influence and presents several classic dishes, including shorba, a soup with chicken, zucchini, potatoes, chickpeas, pasta and other assorted vegetables and spices. Soup is traditionally the first course in an Algerian meal. Another special dish is mujadara, cooked lentils (brown or green) with rice that is seasoned with cumin, coriander or mint. It is a popular vegetarian entree that can be topped with fried onions and served with yogurt along with other vegetables and side dishes, including meat and pine nuts. Among the salads, served with pita bread, are Greek, Caesar, spinach with honey-roasted walnuts, red bell peppers, tomatoes and feta cheese, and the classic tabouli, a combination of bulgar wheat with finely chopped parsley, tomatoes and cucumber. There is spanakopita (spinach pie), mousaka, hummus, dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) and refreshing drinks such as mint tea (hot or cold) and Turkish or Greek coffee. For dessert, there is walnut or pistachio baklava and rice pudding. A cup of soup begins at $3.49, and salads start at $5.75. Baladie Café is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. — Jack Bulavsky