I need to take a second and say a huge thank you to reader Caleb for pointing me in the direction of Middle East Bakery and Grill.

The restaurant, which opened about two weeks ago on Summer Ave., is part Middle Eastern restaurant, part grocery store and part bakery.

While the regular dinner menu is limited to some Middle Eastern basics - think shawarma, tekka, lamb and rice - there's a different, more exotic, special every day. I had the Wednesday fish and rice special. I'm not sure what I was expecting - maybe a tilapia fillet on a bed of rice - but this is what I got:

That's him in the bottom center. I say him, because, while headless, he was still mostly whole. The fish was seasoned and baked and topped with fresh onion and tomato. It was seriously some of the best fish I've ever had. The meat, especially under the bones - was perfectly moist and tender. The plate of rice it came with was massive. And while I ate most of it, it would have been plenty of food for two not-quite-so-hungry people.

I tried the hummus, too. It was excellent - fresh, dripping with olive oil, and a much larger portion than the $4.99 pricetag would suggest.

After dinner, I spent about 10 minutes in front of the big bakery counter. The friendly woman behind the counter was incredibly patient with all of my questions about the treats. I wound up with two big pieces of baklava (the best I've had in the city), cream filled phyllo rolls, and a sweet cheese square covered in soft, shredded phyllo.

Middle East Bakery is open daily until about 8 p.m. (we got there at 7:30, and they were closing up when we left). They take credit cards and cash and all of their meat is Halal.

Go there:

Middle East Bakery and Grill

4514 Summer Ave., Ste. 9

Memphis, TN 38122

(901) 552-5296