212 FOOD & DRINK BEST CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT MS. MARTHA’S CARIBBEAN KITCHEN 1820 W. NORTHERN AVE., #110 602-675-2212 MSMARTHASKITCHEN.COM Tucked away off 19th and Northern avenues is a two-story, white-clad stucco-and-brick building that’s home to some of the finest oxtails and jerk chicken you’ll find this side of the islands. Ms. Martha’s has slung Carib- bean fare to the people of north Phoenix for years, bringing all the curry goat, Johnny cakes and savory Calypso wings you can handle. The rib-sticking offerings include a host of Jamaican and Caribbean specialities that you don’t see on many menus around the Valley, and we can’t get enough of the brown stew chicken in its perfectly seasoned, rich sauce, and the delicately flaky beef patties. Whatever you order, you won’t leave Ms. Martha’s hungry. Just remember to check the website before you go; Ms. Martha’s is closed three days a week and has somewhat limited hours on the other four. i i i BEST ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT CAFE LALIBELA 849 W. UNIVERSITY DRIVE, TEMPE 480-829-1939 CAFELALIBELA.COM Ethiopian food in the Valley is synonymous with Cafe Lalibela, which has been slinging top-notch doro wat and fosolia since 1996. In that time, owner Anibal Abayneh and her family have introduced the African nation’s unique brand of cuisine to the hungry masses, serving meat-heavy entrees like the aforementioned doro wat (spicy chicken stew) alongside vegan options such as shiro wat (spiced chickpea flour cooked with onion, garlic and ginger). After feasting on some of the finest African fare in the city, you’re guaranteed to leave the Tempe main- stay with a full belly and hands in desperate need of a wet-nap. BEST NEIGHBORHOOD MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT GREEN CORNER 1010 W. SOUTHERN AVE., #7, MESA 480-835-2313 10392 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD, #107, SCOTTSDALE 480-698-8090 AND OTHER VALLEY LOCATIONS GREENCORNERAZ.COM Greek fries that will have you jonesing for days, grilled chicken thighs worth the wait and free baklava with every meal — these at least partially explain why Green Corner locations stay packed every day at lunch and dinner. The restaurant does gyro, shawarma, baba ghanoush and falafel as well as any Mediterranean place you’ll find. Green Corner distinguishes itself most with the dashes of Middle Eastern cuisine it has incorporated into its extensive menu: Al-Sham sandwiches, fattoush salad and lentil soup. Dive deep, with a friend. These generous dishes are designed to be shared. BEST UPSCALE MEDITERRANEAN FARE NOOR MEDITERRANEAN 10625 N. TATUM BLVD., #150 602-368-4200 NOORPV.COM Restaurants overuse the term “Mediterra- nean” as a catch-all for a sometimes- disjointed tableau of European, Middle Eastern and North African dishes. Noor, which means light in Arabic, shines with personality and a clear point of view from an oasis-like restaurant tucked into a Phoenix strip mall. The restaurant features Levantine cuisine in an elegant space filled with sleek- lined tables and booths, a gently bubbling fountain covered in geometric tile and woven textiles dripping from the ceiling. Noor attracts couples out on dates and groups catching up over plates of punchy mezze. You can make a meal of the textured, tangy eggplant fattoush salad, creamy hummus topped with spicy short rib and pickles, and sweet red pepper muhamara, which gets a lift from tart pomegranate molasses, earthy walnuts and a hint of heat. Noor also boasts thoughtful riffs on classic cocktails. Their refreshing, spa water-like twist on a South- side made with honeydew will have you motioning for another round before your first disappears.