Step inside Crave Mediterranean Cafe and the visual presentation breaks away from the depressing baseline of most modern strip mall dining rooms that usually look like an abandoned dentist office. The building features an impressive arched doorway alongside solid furniture and a giant painting of a camel staring directly into your soul. I respect a restaurant that decorates with massive desert mammals instead of standard uninspired wallpaper. Do you really want to eat a premium meal while staring at completely blank drywall?

The interior vibe easily earns a clean 4 out of 5.

The bathroom situation introduces a clever twist. They labeled the doors Habibi and Habibti, which translates to my love in the male and female Arabic forms. Walking into a public restroom to handle your business while the door professes its affection for you is a fantastic touch. It is an unexpected, nostalgic detail that immediately makes me reminisce about my time spent overseas. What is the funniest thing you have ever seen at a public restroom?

The facilities are basic, but that clever touch brings the restroom score to a solid 3 out of 5.

Our server managed the floor efficiently and kept the meal moving without any unnecessary delays. She was attentive throughout the entire lunch run and made sure we had our drinks refilled and the table cleared before we could even ask. It is rare to find someone who handles a busy floor with that kind of quiet competence.

She earns a well deserved 4 out of 5 for keeping the service smooth and professional.

The total financial damage for the entire feast was highly reasonable. I walked out of the building spending less than 40 dollars for the lamb bowl, the garlic feta fries, the mystery coffee, the lemonade, and my half of the split arayes. That final bill represents the grand total after extortion but before tip. For the sheer volume of high quality food stuffed into my face, the value is undeniable.

Crave completely cleanses the palate after the historical catastrophe of our last Mediterranean attempt involving indoor lakes and missing cups.

When you compile the excellent meat, the steady service, and the clever signage, the final verdict lands at a precise 3.72 out of 5.

How many local spots have completely redeemed an entire genre of food for you after a past dining trauma?

We will definitely pull back into this parking lot the next time a run brings us back to Springfield.

This Chop’s Guide to the Galaxy Food Review was sponsored by Jordan.

Most dogs who show up at a shelter are a total gamble because you have no idea if they are going to treat your living room rug like a personal toilet or ignore every single word you say. Jordan is the rare exception to the rule. This guy already knows his house manners, drops into a sit on command, and runs over to you with pure enthusiasm whenever you call him. He walks beautifully on a leash without trying to tear your arm out of its socket, which makes a daily stroll a genuinely relaxing experience instead of a high-intensity wrestling match. He has a fantastic attitude with other dogs and just wants to hang out and be affectionate with his people.

The shelter staff does not know how he behaves around cats or small children yet, so if you already have kids or a cat at home, you just need to bring them down for a real introduction to make sure everyone gets along safely. If you want to skip the nightmare of potty training a regular puppy and get a great dog who already has his life together, go close the deal. Reach out to Lee County Domestic Animal Services at 5600 Banner Drive in Fort Myers, Florida, or hit up Chop’s Guide and we will see if we can help.

Make sure you follow the Chops Guide to the Galaxy page right now so you never miss another unfiltered breakdown of local food runs. You should also head over to the Unstable Apiary page to grab some premium apparel before the next big event.