CAMBRIDGE. Where else in Cambridge can you get lemonade with a touch of rose petal? Head to Baraka Café for North African food with French influences. A specialty vegetarian platter boasts a variety of expertly prepared vegetables, including eggplant and carrots. Entrees range from roasted eggplant to Algerian crepes filled with vegetable stew. The charming interior features warm-toned walls trimmed in blue and lined with photographs of North African peoples.

CAMBRIDGE. The creative kitchen staff at ever-popular Blue Room rarely fails to impress. This is especially so on Sundays, when the restaurant puts on a buffet brunch that promises delights like Moroccan spiced chicken, fried pork chicharrones, octopus salad and Persian rice pudding. As to the setting, this atmospheric restaurant sports weathered brick walls, rough ceiling timbers and an open kitchen. Displays of original artwork, rotated seasonally, give the space further charm. Nice wine list and outdoor dining during summer months.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT. Café Fleuri's Mediterranean-inspired menu burgeons on Sundays, when the restaurant hosts a great jazz brunch. Guests, fill their plates with pates, steamed mussels, sushi, Atlantic seafood bouillabaisse and sinful desserts. Café Fleuri also serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner seven days a week, and their sinful Chocolate Bar has redefined Saturday dining for many patrons. The dramatic setting ­ beneath The Langham, Boston's six-story glass atrium ­ is sure to provoke some thoughtful conservation as well.

CAMBRIDGE. Casablanca lives up to its movie namesake with an air of mystery, romance, and passion. At this pleasant restaurant, chef Ruth-Ann Adams works wonders with fresh vegetables, meats, and spices, creating great Mediterranean fare and emphasizing Moroccan entrees. To start, order a platter of North African breads or Maine crab cakes. Delightful entrees include cod and lamb skewers, and the elegant bar makes a perfect meet-and-greet stop for cocktails and appetizers.

CAMBRIDGE. Neighbors in the vicinity of Central Kitchen love being able to pop in anytime for great, rustic food. CK's consistently excellent appetizers and entrees have a Mediterranean sensibility but also include a handful of New American and Spanish items. Starters include tasty plates of olives, breads, and mushrooms, and entrees feature marinated and grilled seafood, meat, and vegetable creations. The dessert list offers special treats too. Copper-topped tables and a blackboard wall behind the bar make for interesting interior accents.