Best unexpected food find

In the Irish diaspora of West Roxbury, you don't expect to find falafel. Or stuffed grape leaves, baba ghanoosh, hummus, tabouleh, kebbeh, chicken kebab, or kafta. You expect white fish and mashed potatoes. But on Centre Street, across the street from the shamrocked West Roxbury Pub and a few blocks down from the shamrocked Corrib Pub, there's Samia's, which specializes in homemade Middle Eastern cuisine. Owned and operated by Maurice Saifan and his wife, Samia, the restaurant has thrived in the land of Harp for eight years. Roll-ups are nearly a foot long. Dinner plates of lamb or chicken kebab, beans, and rice are popular. You can also buy hummus, baba ghanoosh, stuffed grape leaves, and mujadara by the pound for take-out. Dessert isn't on the menu, but baklava is nearly always on hand. More often than not there's another selection as well, depending on what Samia has felt like baking that day. It could be mamoul, a confection based on pistachios, dates, or walnuts. Or date rolls. Or barazeh (sesame-seed cookies). Whatever it is, it's bound to be tasty.

Samia's, 1894 Centre Street, West Roxbury, (617) 323-5181.