If you’re looking to get a bit of bang for your buck and tasty food for breakfast or lunch, head to the new outpost of I Dream of Falafel on Monroe (the >sister location is also in the Loop). There you can get a sandwich, baklava and falafel for $11. Sandwiches come with your choice of bread (white or wheat pita), filling (beef shawerma, chicken shawerma, grilled lam kabob or falafels) and sauce (grounded sesame sauce, cucumber sauce, garlic sauce, spicy tomato sauce or jalapeno sauce).

The chicken shawerma features marinated layers of chicken breast and goes great with the grounded sesame sauce, which adds some flavor without being overly spicy. The chicken is also tender and easy to chew, the pita bread tastes fresh, and overall the sandwich provides a satisfying meal.

Sides round out the menu with items such as falafel, hummus, dolmas, tabbouleh, lentil soup and baklava. The baklava is butter-drenched goodness coming from Jaafer Sweets at Lawrence and Kedzie. Breakfast items include falafelette, chicken or beef shawerma omelette, Mediterranean omelette with cheese, scrambled eggs and toasted hummus.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Mary Susan Littlepage