Taking a cue from the culinary traditions of Morocco, where "the very best cuisine is eaten at home, lovingly prepared by the lady of the house" (or so says its website), the folks at Andalous set up a homey storefront space where all the chefs are female. Ornate mirrors, simple paintings and Moroccan swords spruce up paprika-color walls. A thin, nearly translucent curtain is the only buffer between the dining room and the kitchen, moving the cooking-chatter of ladies simmering tagines forward from the back.

The traditional Moroccan tagine tops couscous with spices, veggies and meats; chicken, lamb and vegetarian options go for about $12 each. Just beware that the dish is slow-cooked, so if you've decided to BYOB (and with no corkage fee, why not?) plan to pop the cork during the hefty wait time.

Other menu options include pastilla, a chicken dish served with Moroccan spices and rolled in phyllo dough, and the merguez ($11), a Moroccan-style sausage served with couscous. For dessert, order a pot of honey-doused mint tea to complement the Moroccan pastry trio.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Jennifer Berg