Cafe Beirut, Boston

Cafe Beirut owner Sami Saba was born and raised in Boston. His parents were Lebanese immigrants who ran a falafel food truck named Sami's Falafel, which Sami helped operate in his spare time while growing up.

In 2012, he followed in his parents' footsteps and opened Cafe Beirut in Jamaica Plain, where he and chef Ali Hachem plate up authentic Lebanese and Middle Eastern food. Utilizing halal meats, fresh produce, and spices like nutmeg, clove, and cardamom, they churn out a menu of savory favorites including meaty shawarma sandwiches, mazza plates, and homemade hummus. There are also some more adventurous delicacies on the menu—lamb brains, for instance, are boiled, fried, pureed, and blended into a pate with a variety of spices.