Bavel

Hard to believe it’s been four years since the duo behind Downtown’s beloved Bestia opened this stunner of a space that honors their family roots with a menu of modern Middle Eastern dishes. There are flavor-packed powerhouses like slow-roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma and Moroccan carrots with whipped feta, but the real showstoppers are the couldn’t-be-creamier spreads, including a duck-laced hummus and smoky baba ghanoush. Bavel was one of the first to debut a dining room with suspended gardens and even though that trend has become as commonplace as the 2022 espresso martini, this one is still a jawdropper.