Amba

When Amba opened in July in East Cambridge, it immediately elevated the lunch and takeout game in the neighborhood beyond your typical grab-and-go grinder. Amba is a downright dreamy all-day cafe from the people behind Puritan and Co., with tufted pink booths and a string of bar seats along the street-level windows. The Mediterranean-ish menu is extremely shareable, so bring a friend or two to cover the most ground. Start with the silken, garlicky hummus topped with a hearty amount of savory lamb and served with warm housemade pita. Follow that up with the arayes, a crunchier, crispy pita with ground spiced lamb smashed into it, doused with housemade Greek yogurt and a healthy drizzle of tomato jam. Add a side of shawarma fries—spiced crinkle cuts topped with pickled veggies and sweet white sauce—and lunch is in the bag.