(Not the Copa) Cabana

I love white bean paste. And I love Brazilian food. It is without surprise then that I love the Cabana Room, the lower level restaurant and bar located in the Samba complex that is the remodeled Avol's Bookstore on Gilman. The space is gorgeous: brightly colored, lots of polished woods - and the food is fantastic. I ordered a grilled mushroom and pepper wrap with goat cheese and white bean paste. It was sweet and savory, full of nutty garlic flavor and delightfully chewy. Add a side salad with crisp greens and a mango vinaigrette, and I was happy as a clam. Even happier when one of my dining companions wished to swap sandwich halves, and I was able to sample the grilled cheese with pesto and tomato Cubano, which is a sandwich brick pressed on a grill, not unlike a panini. It was cheesy and fresh and a perfect complement to the wrap. The only problem is that I would like to have half of each every time I visit and I may not find someone willing to swap! Can't wait to try more.

Maharani à l'ouest

I did not know that Swagat, at High Point and Old Sauk Road offered the same lunch buffet as Maharani! I knew they were owned by the same folks, so it makes sense. Man, that is a great buffet. The lentil donuts, the chicken tikka masala, the mango sorbet. It's all there. And delicious.