Shawarma King is a delicious place to satisfy a craving for falafel or a shawarma. Located only 15 minutes from campus in Brookline, Mass., Shawarma King offers a large variety of Middle Eastern delights. This is not one of those pretentious restaurants trying to offer "Middle-Eastern inspired" or "Middle Eastern fusion"; all the recipes are inspired by the original restaurant in Lebanon.The staff at Shawarma King treats all of the restaurant's customers like regulars, always providing speedy and friendly service. Upon entering, I was given a peek at the four fresh stews of the day: lamb with peas and carrots, chicken or beef stew, and the vegetarian-friendly okra stew with vegetables.

Despite the succulent lamb, beef and chicken rotating on fat skewers, many opt to go vegetarian at Shawarma King due to its extensive vegetarian menu. You will not miss meat when you're digging into the popular Vegetarian Combo Plate, which consists of hummus, baba ghanoush, rice, falafel, tabbouleh, one order of stuffed grape leaves, tahini sauce and "Shawarma King Salad"-cucumber, chopped parsley, lettuce, tomato, scallion, mint, green pepper, olive oil and special spices and dressing. Or you could try labani, a homemade yogurt cheese spread. Another very authentic cheese to try is the Halloumi cheese, a very popular Lebanese cheese that has a high melting point, making it ideal for panini and going on the hot press (something they do for all their Shawarmas). Shawarma King will roll it up for you in a scrumptious, homemade pita with tomato, cucumber, lettuce and mint and thyme dressing. (I can still taste the aromatic flavor just thinking about it!)

While Sharwarma King is a bustling lunch spot, it is open until 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday and 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, making it a great place to eat something quick yet nourishing and gratifying all day. Shishkebabs, kafta kebabs, half of a rotisserie chicken, and kafta arayes (ground meat, lamb or beef spread inside Lebanese bread and toasted with a side of hummus and pickles) are just a few of the many dinner options to choose from.

There are also homemade soups, numerous side orders, appetizers, and specialty drinks. I cannot wait to go in during the winter and warm up with a bowl of lamb soup with vegetables. Or why not take home some fresh, homemade hummus to store in your fridge and nosh on during the week? It tastes so much better than the prepackaged stuff from the c-store!

If you're thirsty for something sweet, the Jallab, a raisin drink infused with rose water, will do just the trick. Make sure to ask for a taste first; it is really sweet, so unless you're a sugar addict, you may not like it. Also, the lemonade is infused with rose water, so you could love it, or you could think it tastes like you're drinking your eau de toilette! Shawarma King also offers a salty yogurt drink and fresh juices-mango, orange, pineapple and more. If you like it, they probably offer it.

With almost 20 years in the business, you will find quality food in a friendly atmosphere that suits most any college student's budget. For the quality of food you are getting with all meat 100-percent halal, it is incredibly inexpensive. The décor is simple and no-frills but also comfortable and clean.

The photos of Lebanon on the wall represent Shawarma King's authenticy and ties to Lebanon. They also write the specials in Arabic on a white board.

The desserts are also homemade and delectable. From baklava to Bassma, pastry filled with pistachio, to Kunafeh, sweet cheesecake with rosewater syrup, all the desserts will leave you with a pleasant sweetness to end your culinary journey to Lebanon.

If you are looking to get to Shawarma King, the restaurant is located at 1383 Beacon St. in Brookline, Mass.