Mashwa Al-Balad in Qatif is a grill and shawarma restaurant that will have you dialing the delivery number any time your cravings make you want to recreate nights spent grilling under the desert skies.

My family and I love this place because it usually solves the “What are we having for dinner tonight?” feud when one of us wants a shawarma and others want kebab plates; rarely do restaurants offer such a wide selection of dishes and do them all well.

Let’s start with the classic shawarma plates: Arabic beef and, my personal favorite, the Arabic chicken, both of which come with fries. Well-seasoned, tender, and with a portion size that is great as a full meal. They sometimes put a little too much garlic sauce for my liking, but others might prefer it that way.

If you’re not a fan of the plates, they offer shawarma sandwiches in different styles as well, from classic to spicy to ones with a slight Mediterranean twist, served with pomegranate seeds and rocket leaves.

The stars of the show, however, are the kebab and grill wraps, including beef awsal (cubes), shish tawooq, beef kebab, chicken kebab, and chicken musahhab.

These wraps are so flavorful, you can taste the smokiness in every bite, and the meat is complemented by the sauces and salad toppings.

And of course, you can’t forget about the classic grill plates, which include separate or mixed combinations.

What I like about Mashwa Al-Balad is that you can mix and match your favorite plates, sandwiches, and all the traditional appetizers (hummus, tabbouleh, grape leaves, and more) and ensure there’s something for everyone at the table.

In the heart of historic northern Alkhobar, newly established Kold Kombucha is putting the spotlight on kombucha, a naturally fizzy fermented tea with roots in East Asia dating back over 2,000 years.

The compact, design-forward shop — opened this month by popular Saudi Snapchat personality Hammam Al-Mulhem — is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia spotlighting kombucha, which is brewed on-site in large fermentation vessels over 11 days using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast known as SCOBY.

Marked by a bold painted mural at the entrance, the hole-in-the-wall space receives a steady stream of curious visitors, notably young men who are fans of the Snapchat star.

Three core flavors rotate on tap. The beetroot is deep and earthy — slightly sour, complex — almost like a liquid snack. The apple cinnamon is my personal favorite: smooth and warming — pure autumn in a glass, while strawberry mint, bright and refreshing, hits just right on a blazing Eastern Province afternoon.

Each bottle goes for between SR23 ($6) to SR25. They also offer a chocolate chip dessert, and for those not quite ready to dive into the world of kombucha, there are coffees available too.

I stopped by straight from the airport — jet-lagged, dehydrated and craving something light but nourishing. Kold delivered.

Seating — like nearby parking spaces — is limited.

Kold Kombucha is open daily from 4 p.m. to midnight. Find them on Instagram at @kold.ksa.