King Tut Restaurant, Lebanon

King Tut Restaurant's modest strip-mall exterior belies its lavish interior. Upon entering, guests are transported to the Middle East of ancient times, complete with a bust of King Tut. Kal Nasr, a native of Cairo, is King Tut's owner and chef, and the cuisine reflects his background, as well as that of his Algerian wife. Egyptian dishes include falafel made with fava beans, rather than chickpeas. The menu also features Algerian-style tagine, a dish composed of braised lamb shank, dried prunes, almonds, and herbs. Similarly, the restaurant's regional desserts such as basbousa, a semolina-based sweet cake soaked in a light syrup, and mahalabia, a vanilla-bean custard dusted with pistachios.