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Toros: Turkish; Clifton; 489 Hazel St; 22/21/$36; 973-772-8652; Beautifully decorated inside- old world Turkish décor and furniture; Website is excellent- featuring pictures of all the dishes for newcomers; Authentic, tasty dishes; Usual kebabs, breads and spreads; Great Turkish beer available. $10.95 multi course lunch special. Wine list. You will be surprised how much you enjoyed it. Check out their site…

Samdan: Turkish; Cresskill; 178 Piermont Rd @ Union Av; 23/16/$35; 201-816-7343; The grilled seafood and meats stand out; Kebab heaven; Dining room somewhat plain and formal- certainly a mature setting; Recent renovations should help; Very traditional dishes; One of the few Turkish restaurants in county. Interesting wine list; Limited seafood options; Easy-to-share portions; Fairly priced main courses.

Royal Warsaw: Polish; Elmwood Park; 871 River Dr @ Garden; 23/20/$33; 201-794-9277; Polish comfort food including great potato pancakes; Hopping bar scene featuring Wednesday ladies night; Imported beers; Unusual dishes, creative cuisine; Huge menu to sample all the classics of the region. Website has pictures and descriptions of most dishes; Food cleverly presented; You will go home with leftovers; Inexpensive drinks; Party/ date atmosphere.

Bennies: Lebanese; Englewood; 54 E Palisade Av @ Grand; 21/14/$31;  201-894-5700; Truly authentic Lebanese regional cuisine; Spinach, cheese and meat pie appetizers; Chicken Shawarma sandwich, Falafel and Shish Kebob stands out; Hookah options.

Istanbul: Turkish; Mahwah; 115 Franklin Tpke @ Cedar Hill Av; 20/13/$35; 201-252-8274; Dizzying large menu of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes; Endless appetizers to choose from as well as kebabs, grilled entrees and seafood;  BYO and located in a strip mall; Family run and authentic.

Makeda: Ethiopian; New Brunswick; 338 George St @ Bayard; 25/23/$46; 732-545-5115; Possibly the best Ethiopian in the tri state area; Mouthwatering exotic dishes served on Injera bread; Utensils optional; Cool, moody décor; Live music on weekends; Truly a fun, unique experience; Give African a try! Suggest the Seafood sampler for 2: $64; More stylish and expensive then others in the genre.

Lisa’s Turkish Kitchen: Turkish; Ridgewood; 54 Chestnut St; 21/20/$37; 201-251-8686; Belly dancing on Thursdays bring energy to this friendly, high quality Turkish restaurant; Mixed Grill is excellent;  BYO; Authentic cooking and ingredients. Extremely friendly service; Great effort made here. Massive menu with tons of seafood, kebabs etc. Order 4-5 appetizers instead!

Tabboule: Lebanese; Ridgewood; 90 North Maple Ave @ Marshall; 20/14/$26; 201-444-7044; Excellent shawarma and falafel; Cheerful service, clear & orderly; Best suited for lunch or a super casual dinner; Cheap enough you can try several appetizers; BYO.  Kind of a hole in the wall but suits its purpose. Simple, fresh and tasty. Incredibly inexpensive for a dining out meal.

Turkish Kitchen: Turkish; River Edge; 645 Kinderkamack Rd @ Jefferson; 22/18/$40; 866-462-1592; Very clean, stylish setting where delicious Turkish fare is served; BYO; Higher end Turkish; Check out website which has pictures of every selection on the menu; Perfect for those new to Turkish cuisine. Live entertainment on Saturdays – belly dancers. Delicious lamb dishes.

Beyti Kebab: Turkish; Union City; 4105 Park Av @ 41^st St; 23/11/$27; 201-936-0640; Extremely good Turkish restaurant; Great for dates or family; Baklava is epic; Very authentic cuisine; Kebabs solid- be prepared to eat lamb or chicken; BYO; Hummus and baba ghanoush outstanding. Belly dancers on Saturdays except Summer.