Leena’s Food 121 Oakland Ave. 412-682-1919 $ Panther Funds? No

If it’s Middle… Leena’s Food 121 Oakland Ave. 412-682-1919 $ Panther Funds? No

If it’s Middle Eastern food you want, Leena’s Food has it, and they will serve it to you quickly.

Beginning its life in the food business as a food truck, the restaurant has the rustic feel of a fast food joint. The authenticity and freshness of the ingredients prove otherwise, though.

Leena’s is family-owned, and its walls are covered with pictures of relatives and loved-ones. Many times your food is cooked by the owner himself. This is an outward statement that if the owner won’t eat it, his patrons won’t eat it either.

The restaurant takes pride in its famous falafel and fully homemade gyros that overflow with delicious ingredients.

Ali Baba 404 S. Craig St. 412-682-2829 $$ Panther Funds? No

Ali Baba is all about consistency and efficiency. They are open daily until almost 10 p.m., and they serve one of the widest selections of Middle Eastern food in the area.

They are best known for their juicy shish kebab meals, but they make an obvious effort to offer as many vegetarian dishes as possible.

The menu includes versatile specialties such as their famous hummus, smoky baba ganouj and the scrumptiously traditional mujaddara.

It’s a short walk from campus to try something a little different, and they commonly make party-sized portions for meetings and groups that call ahead.

Baba D’s 3531 Forbes Ave. 412-687-2515 $$ Panther Funds? No

Nestled cozily next to Oakland’s Kiva Han, Baba D’s is a frequent stop for Pitt students hungry for Middle Eastern fare. The restaurant offers the traditional foods of the culture: hummus, shish kabobs, falafel and colorful tabbouleh.

It is obvious that the restaurant strives to satisfy because the portions are huge and the service is fast. It has become a central stop for all different kinds of food preferences because of its extensive variety. A customer can opt for a burger or a cheesesteak when his taste buds are feeling less courageous.

The staff offers catering for any occasion, according to the exterior sign.

Khalil’s II 4757 Baum Blvd. 412-683-4757 $$ Panther Funds? No

Khalil’s welcomes every customer with open arms. Not only does it serve a wide array of Middle Eastern foods, but Khalil’s also puts all of its clientele on an e-mail list to be invited to their many cross-cultural events held at the restaurant.

Through the d’eacute;cor of the place, the food selection and the celebrations, Khalil’s tries to educate people about the Arabic culture. Anywhere that serves multi-course meals and belly-dancing festivities has to be good. The restaurant is stacked with an outdoor patio seating and a full bar.

Dinners not only include your main entr’eacute;e, but also a pile of rice, pita and a large homemade salad complete with the restaurant’s famous homemade dressing. Khalil’s II is a little pricier than other Middle Eastern stops, but it is a full package and a setting that should not be passed up.

Nellie’s Sandwiches and Deli 3524 Fifth Ave. 412-683-7144 $ Panther Funds? No

Nellie’s is all about homemade cuisine. As the name explains, they offer sandwiches and entrees that are piled with fresh deli ingredients.

Try some authentic baba ganouj or dip your pita into some hearty hummus. Either way, you know that you’re getting the real deal and that the food is literally being made right in front of you.

The choices are simple. In other words, you don’t need to be a Middle Eastern food connoisseur to feel at home at Nellie’s. The restaurant offers a large variety of soups, ranging from lentil to chicken, and an even larger variety of salads, piled high with toppings.

Beyond the broad selection of salty goods, you can choose to indulge in baklava. In case you haven’t sampled any, it’s sweet concoction of honey and nuts baked into a flaky pastry shell, and the taste will linger with you for the walk back home.

Salim’s Middle Eastern Food 4705 Centre Ave. 412-621-8110 $ Panther Funds? No

Salim’s may not be right in the middle of campus, but it is worth the short trip for some simply good Middle Eastern fare. The most popular item is their intensely stuffed gyro sandwich, but the falafel is always a delicious choice for a vegetarian selection.

The restaurant aims to keep a traditional clientele because there is a specialty grocery store along with the food service, but they invite all kinds to enjoy what they have to offer.

You can have a seat to have your fill, take it out for a hot meal at home or even buy your own ingredients to create your own Middle Eastern specialty. The meals are certainly affordable and the staff is a welcoming bunch. All in all, substantial nourishment can be found at Salim’s.