STATE STREET. Should you tire of customary cuisine offerings, Kabul can wake up your taste buds with a menu of Afghan and Mediterranean fare. Affordable, flavorful offerings include kebabs of beef, chicken, and fish, along with entrees crafted from lamb, vegetables, and seafood. Fragrant herbs, yogurt, couscous, and legumes figure into many of the dishes, as do exotics like preserved lemons. When the weather's mild, outdoor seating is also a desirable alternative.

WEST. A pastoral setting and a renovated, 19th-century farmhouse provide the backdrop for dining at Otto's. Known for certified Angus steaks and Mediterranean fare, the restaurant appeals to professionals and is especially nice during the summer, when the deck is open and jazz musicians play. Pastas, roasted quail, and grilled lamb chops sing of rustic origins, and specialties include grilled salmon in grape leaves and roasted sea bass with citrus beurre blanc. Pleasant bar scene as well.

DOWNTOWN. Adding a touch of novelty to Madison, The Casbah offers a visual and culinary jaunt to the Mediterranean world. Spread across three floors, the establishment specializes in traditional fare like grilled lamb chops, couscous dishes, Tunisian chicken, and beef shish kebab. You'll also relish dolmades, falafel, hummus, and baba ghanouj, along with a selection of combination plates. Live piano music is played weekly, and there's a full bar and a hookah lounge with a dozen flavored, imported tobaccos. Rickshaw rides can be arranged as well.