Khoury’s blows us away with its incredible selection of mezze: small, usually vegetarian plates that precede the main course in Arabic, Persian and other Mediterranean or Middle Eastern meals. (FYI: the word mezze comes from the Turkish word meze, which means "taste, flavor, snack or relish," which, in turn, is borrowed from the Persian word mazze for a "snack, taste.") These facts (and this etymology) drive most Greeks (my tribe) crazy, especially when they see the word "mezze" pop up on a Greek menu ... which means, in Vegas at least, that the place is most likely run by Persians or Turks or someone even worse. Khoury's does these mazze or mezze or meze or whatever you want to call them better than any Mediterranean restaurant in town, and no local Greek joint (some of which are now run by Russians and Bulgarians) can top what it does with fantastic falafel, heavenly hummus, smoky baba ganoush, delightful dolmades, luscious loubieh (green beans with garlic and tomatoes), and all sorts of mashed and seasoned cheeses, yogurt and vegetables. All together, they make the perfect foil for the fantastic, nutty, fresh-from-the-oven baked pita bread you will use reflexively to dip into every one of the dishes. It’s enough to make Zeus jealous.

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