The time I have spent defending Tiffany’s Wine Shoppe to friends as more than a just a liquor store finally paid off at the opening night of Zooroona Restaurant and Lounge, a new middle-eastern restaurant in the Tiffany’s Village Plaza on W. Main.  With a long standing appreciation for Tiffany’s deli and selection of cheeses, olive oils and middle-eastern delicacies such as Turkish delight, I was looking forward to seeing what the Mandwee brothers (who own both establishments) would do with a restaurant. I was not let down.

Just stepping in the door transports you entirely away from the strip-mall atmosphere. The central floor space has scattering of intricate lamps above dark tables, backed by a mural and flanked by raised booths with cushion seating around low tables that manage to feel both romantic and comfortable- as though you were having a firelit date in your living room. I appreciated the option of curtaining the booth: it is a bit like being in a department store window. A private corner table is hidden behind a panel of old wooden doors, a touch I found charming. The lighting was bright enough to see your food, but didn’t sacrifice the cosy, intimate quality of the booth. Our service for the evening was friendly and prompt, and with impressive menu knowledge for the first night.

To get the most for the least, so to speak, I recommend gathering some friends and sharing. The appetizer platter for 2-3 comfortably served 4, and at $30 for the plate plus an entree or two to share, you have a $10-15 meal that lets you sample at least 7 or 8 different options. Only the chicken wings disappointed—  an appeal, I guessed, to the stereotype of the skeptical Midwest palette, they were a goopy oddball among otherwise expertly crafted Middle Eastern standards such as kibbeh and falafel, panfried patties of lamb and garbanzo. Ask if you can swap them for something else. The highlight of the “Mazza Collection” (appetizer platter) was the dolmeh: melty-soft grapeleaves stuffed with rice and vegetables. Lemon juice tempered with olive oil lifted the dark, woodsy flavor of the seasonings, and paired with the thin, tangy yogurt sauce, it was an experience akin to walking barefoot along a mountain stream.

The house tray dinner option offered less variety than the appetizers and uneven quality. The dry, rotisserie-cooked shawermah-style beef and chicken options were a let down next to the outrageous juiciness of the chicken kafta kabob, seasoned ground-chicken on a skewer that’s as succulent as an advertisement for a burger might promise. The beef and lamb kabob was a handful of seasonings and a bun away from being that burger: tasty, but the chicken was my first choice. I didn’t sample the lunch menu, but it is competitively priced with area Middle-Eastern restaurants at 6-7$ a sandwich. A kabob wrap would be perfect paired with the chicken lemon rice soup, a bright, creamy wake-your-mouth-up soup that’s a nice warm-up to a meal. Alternatively, try Zooroona’s take on the classic house salad—no dressing options, but you don’t need them with this crunchy, easy to eat, breezy mix of Syrian cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers over mixed greens.

In summary: a great date spot if you bring some gum to combat the garlic breath you’re sure to leave with, romantic and affordable. Perfect for medium sized groups. Keeping my fingers crossed for Zooroona’s success. Hours: Mon-Thurs 11-10pm, Fri-Sat 11-11pm.

One note: despite the word “lounge” prominently displayed on the sign, there are no alcoholic beverages on the menu. Looks like you’ll have to head over to the Tiff after dinner and get one of their endlessly knowledgeable employees to pick out a wine for you.