Bosphorus Cafe Grill, Port Washington

At Bosphorus Cafe, surf-and-turf platters showcase lamb chops and shrimp instead of steak and lobster, in keeping with the restaurant's Turkish and Mediterranean specialties. Here, familiar dishes such as falafel, chicken kebabs and doner kebabs are easy to find, but it's the more obscure plates that make for a memorable dinner, such as pan-fried zucchini patties, freshly baked hollow bread, and homemade beef dumplings deemed "Turkish ravioli." The seafood in particular earns points for authenticity, as the dorado and sea bass are imported from overseas with perfectly legal passports.

On Sundays, Bosphorus places an international twist on classic brunch. Pan-fried eggs pair with gyros meat or roasted lamb, and spinach pies come from the kitchen piping hot. Breakfast platters encourage sharing with an array of meats and cheeses, plus honey and homemade jam, all paired with rich cups of Turkish coffee.