Sepal, Cambridge

At one of Sepal's three Boston locations, an autographed picture of Aerosmith hangs behind the cash register. This piece of memorabilia hearkens back to Sepal owner Walid Masoud's college days, when he helped book a few shows for his neighbor Steven Tyler's fledgling band. Though Masoud himself is no rockstar, he's had great success of his own at Sepal. In fact, his falafel sandwich was named best sandwich by PBS's Sandwiches You Will Like in 2002.

Using his mother's falafel recipe and the culinary knowledge he acquired while growing up in Palestine, Masoud offers up a menu rich with healthful vegetarian and vegan options. His signature falafel patties blend eight herbs and spices, and can be fried, baked, or stacked to resemble the Louvre pyramid. For those who crave something more than vegetables, cooks prepare moussaka baked with layers of ground beef, eggplant, and potatoes, as well as grape leaves stuffed with ground beef and Middle Eastern spices.