Biladi Grill, Madison

The savory smell of tender beef shawarma. The eye-catching patterns of traditional Mediterranean art. The soothing rhythm of people patting their satisfied bellies. At Biladi Grill, diners enjoy more than a feast—they get a feast for the senses. Still, the food definitely gets top billing with servers bearing pipping hot plates of lamb chops, kefta kabobs, rosemary chicken, and falafel. And while most of the entrees trace back to Middle Eastern and African cuisine—biladi means "my country" in Arabic—others, such as the macarona béchamel and the baklava, also draw on Italian and Greek traditions.