Lazeez Tapas Restaurant, London Review
Lazeez Tapas Restaurant
Duke Street, London
Reviewed by Emma Rogers
“All you need is passion, in whatever you do whether it be food, family, health…”
The management of Lazeez, a Lebanese Tapas Restaurant in the heart of Mayfair, don’t have it wrong about how to run a restaurant in this part of fashionable London. The restaurant might not sound like the proverbial cup of tea for most people, but you are pleasantly surprised when you enter.
Walking from Oxford Street, the restaurant is right next to Selfridges, and easily identifiable from the al fresco seating. You’ll find many people smoking shisha outside, even late into the night. The restaurant extends inside as well, with a new eating area opening downstairs soon. We ordered a starter platter of falafel, dips and bread. The food is all homemade, including the dips which were presented in a pretty arrangement with a basket of pitta breads. We liked the falafels which were a lighter texture to what you’re used to, and combined with the dips, this would have been almost a meal on its own, not only a good snack or starter.
For the main meals, we had schwarma chicken and cubed lamb. We loved the way the lamb was cooked to just a little bit of crispness, served with more pitta bread and chips or rice. The meals are large to start with, but are impossible to even break into because they’re so filling! If you’re not interested in trying a completely new meal, you’ll be happy to know that there are the usual chips, salad, dips and wraps available if you’re not feeling that adventurous! The chicken was similar to pulled chicken, lightly seasoned and served with a chickpea dip and salad. The meals aren’t that heavy, just plentiful with lots of chicken or lamb and cooked fresh.
We couldn’t really fit in the baklava at the end of the meal, but the kitchen have several cakes on offer so we opted for the Red Velvet cake with lashings of ice cream. The cake was also baked and iced freshly and again, a generous portion.
Although the outside is busy with people smoking shish (no, we didn’t try it!) don’t be put off for bringing children. There were a few small people in the restaurant when we were there and it’s not unthinkable to be able to take the whole family there. The atmosphere is very relaxed with a lot of staff to look after you. As it is so relaxed and you’re not distracted (not inside anyway) it’s a good place to meet and talk with friends, and wile away the night. I would meet with friends or colleagues after work here, rather than for big special occasions, but if you’re shopping over the Christmas period, this makes a good pit stop. They server everything from breakfast to dinner and do a special take away menu as well. All needs are catered for here. My only grumble was that it needed bigger tables! Too much tapas to choose from and not enough room.
Rating: 4/5
For more information or to view menus visit www.lazeeztapas.co.uk.
Lazeez Tapas Restaurant, 29 Duke St, London, W1U 1LH | 020 7935 2675
