Press/awards

The food there is just great, authentic, great portions, great values,...just a great place to go and eat.

Most Middle Eastern restaurants deny their true origins, for the sake of appealing to the masses. Some have touches of Jordan; others, a taste of Syria, Israel or even Lebanon. But few menus in the region have a strong Palestinian influence, and it's those little details that make all the difference.

Ramadan, a month devoted to patience, mercy and worship, is a celebration for many Muslims, and what better way to celebrate breaking the fast than by going out to eat?

It's hard to imagine how you could turn an old Arby's into a pasha's pleasure den, but that's what Al Bawadi has done. The over-the-top decor is matched by a superb hand with wood-grilled meats, producing kebabs, chicken and seafood with perfect juiciness.

You would never guess Al Bawadi Grill in Bridgeview, in its previous restaurant life, was a Taco Bell. Its owner, Palestinian-born Kal Ismail, has expanded his Mediterranean restaurant every year since opening in 2008, knocking down walls, replacing the exterior with brick and stone, and turning the interior into an airy 230-seat palace of granite and mahogany.

Al Bawadi in Bridgeview is a restaurant that is constantly on my mind when the discussion of lunch comes up. It is one of my favorite places to eat in Chicagoland.

Very authentic middle eastern restaurant!Try their mix mashawi plate,it comes with rice and a side! Also, don't miss out their meza and hummus!

You've had baba ghanoush countless times. You're over hummus, in all its flavored forms. You've even exhausted the pureed favas called foul. Move on to motawma, the ethereal whipped collision of garlic and potatoes that makes the trek to Bridgeview well worth it.

Where to find crowd-pleasing falafel, shawarma, and everything in between

Kleber Mendonca Filho's first feature takes us somewhere real.

Since the origins of the Christmas story are traced to the Middle East, why not celebrate a Christmas meal with Middle Eastern food?

I rarely get to go back to restaurants for a second or third time, due mostly to my schedule and constant - some would say frenetic - task of filing four stories per week for ABC 7.