We’ve spoken to locals who at other times in their life have lived in the Middle East, and they claim the shwarma (or shawarma, if you please) at Venus Pizza is as good as any they’d tried there. Our readers who’ve never set foot in a desert climate are catching on, choosing the Barrington and Blowers place with the dynamite pizza as the joint that has the best version of this traditional dish. Get it on a plate with rice and salad, or just have it on its own, chicken or beef sliced off the spit, swaddled in a pita and coated that powerful garlic sauce that will stay with you for hours afterwards. In a good way. 1558 Barrington, 425-8882
First runner up: Tarek's Cafe
Second runner up: Tarboosh Lebanese Cuisine