Mezè Mediterranean Cuisine, San Diego

Splashes of purple and blue create a vivid backdrop to inventive meals of falafel sliders in the lounge-like dining room of Meze. Greek fusion food shares space on the menu with traditional dishes, such as kebabs of marinated and grilled chicken on basmati rice. To wash down meals, bartenders keep Mediterranean spirits on hand to craft specialty cocktails such as the vodka- and serrano-pepper-filled Drop It Like It's Hot, which patrons must hold with a pair of tongs while wearing a hazmat suit. During weekend brunches, cooks fill gourmet omelets with artichoke hearts, white wine, and Italian-style tri-tip.