The Phoenician, Richmond

The Phoenician does not just transport eaters’ palates to Lebanon—it transports their whole minds, with a decorative aesthetic characterized by arched thresholds, vines, and elegant chandeliers. Its lunch and dinner menus teem with vegetable kebabs, meaty shawarmas, and spiced-onion flavors that have attracted praise from Richmond magazine, which named it a Best New Restaurant in 2009. The eatery welcomes diners with comfortable, cushioned seating, so they don’t become exhausted by trying to make a cushion out of sweetener packets.