At this grill, streamlined elegance meets the needs of an informal, hurried professional crew. In contrast to other Loop-area chain lunch spots, where food quality and variety are in short supply, Roti has a menu rooted firmly in Mediterranean fare, with a healthy, low-fat emphasis on basic mainstays of the diet—pita bread (freshly baked onsite and used to enfold fire-roasted chicken, steak or vegetables $7.50-$8.50), fresh vegetables, hummus, couscous and more, all marinated in trans fat-free oils (olive and canola).

Stop in for breakfast and try a combo of either sausage or vegetables with pita, folded into a seasoned egg custard ($4). Come lunchtime, opt for a sandwich or the Capri couscous salad, which features scallions, pine nuts and orange segments ($6). Or go for a kabob, from chicken and beef to lamb and salmon ($6.50-$11). Vegetarians will savor the Gibraltar vegetarian platter, which offers up couscous, hummus and baba ghannoush ($7).

Catering to Chicago's movers and shakers, Roti makes the delivery process effortless with its on-line ordering option. On-site diners can eye preparations in an immaculate display kitchen boasting quartz countertops, then carry food to clean white tables and ease into clear resin chairs. The modern-meets-Mediterranean decor features walls covered with alternating horizontal stripes of aqua and white broken up by kitschy black and white photos. At the peak of lunch hour, Roti is teeming with a crowd, so expect a raucous pitch. A patio featuring stainless steel tables in an outdoor garden makes for a lavish spring and summer option. Roti also offers an extensive catering menu, including soups by the gallon for $25.

Centerstage Reviewer: August Evans