Rating
In A Word
Honest
Cuisine
Lebanese
Appeals To:
People looking for an alternative (and affordable) pit stop on one of London’s busiest streets.
Those in search of super-superior highly excellent quality ultra kebab takeaway joy or those who like a sit down meal with Lebanese-Moroccan cuisine done rather well, at a reasonable price point in what can be a kinda silly expensive area!
The kind of people who like to drop in on a small place that feels 66% coffee shop and 34% restaurant. And might have a shisha whilst they’re doing so. Do you ‘have’ a shisha? Am I saying it right? How about a Turkish coffee instead? OK.
It’s not really tapas, but that’s OK
Jack: The word ‘tapas’ is becoming synonymous with ‘small plates’ these days. Originally derived from the Spanish word ‘tapa’, ‘small plate’ – I’ve seen it in use in French, European and as of today, Middle Eastern cuisine – at Lazeez Tapas, in Marylebone.
So yeah, basically small Middle Eastern style plates in a small Middle Eastern style restaurant. No pretention, excessive pricing or all that much of a ‘spin’ on top of that. It doesn’t try to be anything that it isn’t. The place will probably live or die on the quality of its culinary offerings, and based on what I tried – I think they’ll do just fine
(though they’ve got a lot of local competition.)
The Atmosphere:
Lizzie: Considering its location (literally a stones-throw away from central London’s iconic Selfridges store) Lazeez Lebanese Tapas feels surprisingly relaxed. Located on Duke Street, a quiet turning off of Bond Street, Lazeez works as a perfect getaway location for stressed shoppers and commuters alike.
It isn’t too try-hard with its decor which I quite like. It almost feels like a coffee shop inside – wooden tables, mix-match seating… Saying that, its simplicity is a breath of fresh air in the normally ‘busy’ area. It’s casual vibe puts you at ease instantly and the staff are very friendly and accommodating. I felt like a local walking in. It’s intimate without being intimidating.
All-in-all, it has a very ‘what you see is what you get’ feel to it which is nice for a change.
Well, you can certainly see that it used to be a cafe/kinda still is a cafe. The place is really quite small. However, it falls on the ‘cosy’ side of ‘crowded’ because the guys have not made the cardinal faux pas of fkn stuffing it with chairs and needless stuff. Bravo
This said, the tables are too small. We were given a tasting menu which thoroughly eclipsed our table. One of the bar staff took an adjacent table that wasn’t being used, and there we were able to contain the spillage.
The atmosphere is set by the faint scent of shisha in the air, and smatterings of Arabic conversation can be shared between the entirely Middle Eastern staff. Occasionally they’ll lapse into English, for reasons I’m not entirely sure of, and you get snippets of FIFA preferences and plans for the weekend.
All staff are unfailingly polite and earnestly so – that Middle Eastern hospitality. Lazeez’s manager is one of the most earnest people I have ever met.
I didn’t get any shots of downstairs, though it kinda looks like a work in progress at the moment with shisha pipes all over the place.
Shisha prices range from £30-40 for one person.
Downstairs there’s one guys toilet, and one girls toilet – which I can predict could be a bit of a problem at busy times…
The Drinks:
It had everything you’d expect – the usual cocktails, spirits, wines etc. I went for an authentic Lebanese white wine which was enjoyable. It was medium sweet with a little dryness to it, served in a very generous glass for an affordable £5.95.
If I’m honest, I found the drink menu a little bit on the average side. I would have liked to be surprised, especially given the rise in popularity of Lebanese restaurants and eateries in the last few years. (Sorry)
Asides from these they have a cocktail selection, which includes a few you might recognise (Cosmopolitan) and a few you might not (‘Sweet Lazeez’)
They also serve Arak – a Lebanese spirit a little like a tamer version of Absinthe, and with a strong aniseed taste. I forgot to ask to try…
The Food:
Similar to the drinks menu, the food is exactly what you’d expect from a Central London Lebanese joint. Although interestingly they also serve breakfast and burgers which is the first I’ve seen so they’re obviously keen to cater for everyone. We demolish an array of hot and cold tapas dishes – from Moussaka to meatballs, which don’t disappoint.
We then move on to the Mixed Grill, served at a fairly affordable price of £16.95. All of the ingredients taste fresh and are full of flavour. Again, my only criticism is that nothing particularly stands out. Saying that, it is very enjoyable and we’ll worth the price.
The Verdict:
Fresh food, friendly staff and fairly priced. All the main components I look for in a restaurant/eatery. It’s honest, upfront and doesn’t try to be something it isn’t which I like. If you’re in the area it’s the perfect drop-off point for a late night snack. It is a little hidden away though, and while the food is good I’m not sure how it will test against the competition. Still worth the visit though!
I like it! It does a few (though not too many) things well and seems to be a logical extension of the coffee shop they had going before the rebrand. It is not the most memorable, or the most innovative of places – but sometimes you just want something more… stripped down, right?
The concept, if I can call it that, might be lost on people in this area expecting fine dining, Grey Goose infused shisha, or places where you enter/leave in a stretched humvee limo thingy. I’d imagine that if they haven’t already they’ll attract a loyale clientele of Middle Eastern expats who’ll find the food and drink to be both recognisable and comforting.
It seems like the perfect spot to drop in for a quick meal with some good friends.
The Details:
29 Duke Street, London W1U 1LH
Open Monday – Sunday from 11:00 – 23:30
0207 935 2755
http://www.lazeeztapas.co.uk/