Mazza Luna, San Francisco

Fresh, light, healthy, authentic—all words you can use to describe the Lebanese cuisine at Mazza Luna. From its perch along Van Ness Avenue, the restaurant plates up dishes that are not only satisfying for seasoned Lebanese diners, but for the uninitiated, as well. Here are some dishes you might consider when you stop by for lunch or dinner:

• Cold mazza: grape leaves stuffed with rice, tomatoes, parsley, mint, and onions cooked in lemon juice and olive oil
• Hot mazza: oven-roasted artichoke hearts served in a creamy sauce and topped with cheese
• Entree: fasolia with rice, which is loaded with white kidney beans, hunks of beef, and onions and is cooked in a tomato-based sauce (add lamb shank for an extra does of protein)
• Vegetarian entree: veggie moussaka, a traditional casserole layered with spiced eggplant, potatoes, and mushrooms