Droubi's Bakery & Delicatessen

The buffet line and the dining room are merely an afterthought at this sprawling bazaar of a Middle Eastern food store. You can find some of the same bottled, canned, dried and preserved foods elsewhere, but not at these prices. The olives that sell for $2.99 a pound here are twice as much at Central Market and three times as much at Whole Foods. The shawarma sandwich is the most popular lunch to go. But consider sitting down in the dining room if the braised lamb shanks are among the daily meat specials. The shanks are braised in a dark sauce with a stunning cinnamon aroma, and they can't be beat -- especially on a sampler plate with hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, a dolma, Lebanese salad and rice for $7.99.