On Zachary's Main Street, a family's old recipes are on the table every day of the week. That's Cafe Phoenicia, a locally owned, family-run restaurant at 5647 Main St.

Recipes with a long memory

The cafe cooks Greek and Lebanese food from family recipes handed down for generations. The name points back to the ancient Phoenicians, the seafaring traders who carried food and ideas around the Mediterranean. Zachary is one of three Cafe Phoenicia locations, along with Central and Denham Springs.

Start small

The mezza list is built for sharing. Zaatar with olive oil runs $2.95. The Mediterranean hummus comes loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, feta and olives for $9.95. Fried halloumi is $11.95, and a Louisiana touch shows up in fried eggplant topped with crawfish cream sauce.

The big plates

Can't decide? Phoenicia's Sampler piles chicken shawarma, gyros, beef kebab, fried kibbi, grape leaf and cabbage rolls, hummus and rice pilaf onto one plate. It's $23.95 for one and scales up to $65.95 for four. Gyros, lamb shank, chicken feta and lamb chops round out the specials, and seafood fans get shrimp scampi, grilled redfish and lobster ravioli. Entrees come with a feta or fattoush salad and pita.

Lunch and the little ones

Weekday lunch specials run Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., holidays excluded. A gyros or chicken shawarma plate is $15. Kids under 12 can order from an $8 menu that includes a pita pizza.

Wash it down with Lebanese iced tea, or take home a gallon for $12.

Parties and catering

Cafe Phoenicia books parties and caters everything from birthdays to weddings. You can request a date through the catering form on its website.

The Zachary dining room is open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call (225) 658-9158 to plan your visit.

Photo courtesy of Cafe Phoenicia.