Elie’s Mediterranean Bar & Grill

Elie’s has been quietly doing Mediterranean and Lebanese right in downtown Birmingham since the early 1990s — the kind of dependable, been-here-forever spot that racks up regulars without much fuss. The menu is broad and crowd-pleasing: mazas and traditional dishes, shawarma, fusion entrees, and enough vegetarian, gluten-free, and made-to-order-juice options that everyone at the table finds something. Meats are kosher and halal, and there’s a full bar for good measure.

It’s casual and welcoming rather than showy, which is exactly why people keep coming back. We have it on our list as Birmingham’s easygoing Mediterranean standby — a family-friendly lunch, a low-key dinner, or a spread of mazas to share with a group. Order a mix of small plates and let everyone graze.