We think it's a sports bar disguised as a Mediterranean restaurant. Would you disagree, considering that there are slick mini-televisions on walls next to most of the marble-topped tables? Remember that this is in a sports-heavy center of Chicago, right near DePaul University. But its neighbor is the study haven, the Bourgeois Pig. Now we're just confused. Perhaps it's not as difficult as we're making it out to be.

Nesh Mediterranean Grill is what it's trying to be: a Middle Eastern-themed spot in the heart of Lincoln Park. The poppy logo, and the unnecessary use of exclamation points after the first word in the restaurant's moniker, may rub you the wrong way, but the food will not. If you haven't guessed from their cutesy branding, owners Joe, Freddy and Rami Kashkeesh do plan to open a franchise. And they might just succeed, considering they're doing this the old-fashioned way: baking their own bread, gettin' all family about it — it's two brothers and a cousin, in case you were wondering — and they treat their customers right.

We'll have to see what happens, however, because they just opened in early November 2008. But they are definitely excited, as anyone can see from the overuse of exclamation points from the restaurant's name to every single motto on the menu.

And back to the menu: Falafel sandwiches run relatively cheap ($4.99–$5.99). Not in the mood for ground chickpeas? Try the hummus, grilled veggie, shawarma or kabob sandwich, or go all out with plates of the same name. Go even lighter with salads; you'll spend about the same. Whatever you do, don't sign your check with an exclamation point. That might be a copyright violation.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler