The Mediterranean Sea shaped some of the world's most ancient civilizations, which gathered by its shores to dive for the delicious falafel, hummus, and kebabs growing beneath its crystal waves. Transport to this legendary culinary coast with today's deal: for $10, you get $20 worth of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine and drinks at Zad Restaurant in Lakeview. This deal is valid for dine-in only and cannot be used for lunch specials.

On Zad's menu you'll find Mediterranean and Middle Eastern classics, such as hummus ($3.50/sm), falafel ($3.50), and beef shawarma ($11.99), alongside a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Preheat your taste buds with freshly chopped tabbouleh salads ($5.50) and warm bowls of Moroccan harira, a hearty soup of chickpeas, lentils, vermicelli pasta, and Moroccan spices guaranteed to stop chattering teeth in their tracks ($4.25/bowl). Surf-and-turf selections include a beef-and-chicken combination kebab platter ($12.99) and salmon fillets smothered in tahini sauce ($14.95). Sweet teeth bite into sticky pieces of baklava ($2.25) to offset savory meals, intermittently sipping on a fleet of Turkish coffees ($2.75) to fuel jigsaw puzzle all-nighters.

Zad's cozy dining room provides views of the bustling kitchen, letting diners watch chefs assemble dishes and argue about whether a barob is a fruit or vegetable. The atmosphere is pleasant, with Middle Eastern music playing and murals on the walls. The Chicago Reader says service is "solicitous and fast." Zad is open seven days a week.

Reviews

The Chicago Reader and Centerstage Chicago reviewed Zad Restaurant. Metromixers and more than 130 Yelpers give it an average of four stars.

• A couple of entrees stood out from the regulation shish kebabs and shawarmas: chicken mosakhan, a char-grilled chicken breast with caramelized onions and sumac, and fall-off-the-bone braised lamb shank in a tart tomato broth; both dishes come with a satisfyingly nutty pilaf. Floyd Elliot, Chicago Reader
• …the falafel is just perfect, by the way—crunchy outside, soft and garlicky inside. – Emilie Zanger, Centerstage Chicago