Mezze — Restaurant in Lisbon

The Middle East includes the region formerly known as the Fertile Crescent (the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers - Sumeria, Akkad, Assyria and Babylonia), where wheat was first cultivated, followed by barley, pistachios, figs, pomegranates, dates and other regional staples. Fermentation was also discovered here to leaven bread and make beer in Mesopotamia, and the earliest written recipes come from that region also. As a crossroads between Europe, Asia, the Caucasus and North Africa, this area has long been a hub of food and recipe exchange. During the first Persian Empire (ca. 550–330 BCE), the foundation was laid for modern Middle Eastern food when rice, poultry and various fruits were incorporated into the local diets. Figs, dates and nuts were brought by merchants to conquered lands, and spices were brought back from the Orient. The area was also influenced by dumplings from Mongol invaders; turmeric, cumin, garlic and other spices from India; cloves, peppercorns and allspice from the Spice Islands; okra from Africa; and tomatoes from the New World, via the Moors of Spain. Religion has also influenced the cuisine; neither Jews nor Muslims eat pork, making lamb the primary meat. Since the Qur'an forbids alcohol consumption, the region isn't noted much for its wine—except in religiously mixed Lebanon, where vineyards like Chateau Ksara, Chateau Kefraya and Chateau Masaya have gained international fame for their wines. Chateau Ksara is also very popular for its arak, an alcoholic drink produced in the Levant and Iraq. Al-Maza is Lebanon's primary brewery, which was also, at one time, the Middle East's only beer-producing factory. Lebanon has always been well known in the region for its wines and arak, making it an exception when it comes to lack of alcohol in the region. Under the Ottoman Empire, sweet pastries of paper thin phyllo dough and dense coffee were brought...

One of my, if not THE most favourite Restaurant in Lisbon, I have tried many good ones, lots of different styles and nationalities.

I ate here approx. 10 times (including ordered), and got not a single time with one dish dissapointed, such small details as in a bit too bitter for my taste, bit too much liquid on the bottom of the salad are for me part of the adventure, and such things can be always worked on.

What I love so much about Mezze, is the freshness and quality of the ingredients. I absolutely adore their baba ganoush, and in general the whole composition of their plates is for me the ideal of still healthy but delicious food. The meat is not the main player, where other restaurants serve a big piece of meat with questionable quality, and a few pieces overcooked vegetables, the conecpt here is different: the perfect amount of very good tasting meat, I had recently some slow cooked lamb that was out of this world.

About the price as I was reading some comments: go to other restaurants in the centre and compare the prices with the amount of food you get; of course if you wanna have more bread etc. you pay extra for it? I find it extremly reasonable, as well to order with uber eats; one of the few places I am actually satisfied, for me its worthh to pay maybe 5 Eur more then for a mediocre burger, and you get a whole menu from Mezze. 5 Stars for this concept as well.

I had recently my birthday, and got sick so I had to cancel all my plans, we ordered at night a big amount of food and we loved it. I couldn´t go out, and yet someone cared about making fresh and yummy things for for me on my birthday. I woke up the next day and felt way better.

Sincerely: thanks a lot, this made my day, I hope this place will never change, which is even way more recommended of going there enjoying the ambient, and the super nice service. Restaurant is always better...

Really disappointed with our experience at this restaurant. The concept for the food is in the right direction but missing the ability to add more significant main courses on an ala carte basis. The menu is still manageable to share but a bit more consideration to the ala carte menu would have been a nice addition. The food, though well cooked, is lacking in seasoning and flavour unfortunately.

I would recommend avoiding this restaurant because of the service and the ambiance - both of which were completely lacking. Service was extremely disappointing - it is apparent that there is a lack of training to servers. Ambiance was terrible - the restaurant itself is a nice space but the small things are completely overlooked. Paper towels instead of proper napkins is a tangible example. During our visit, the music, which was at one point a radio station, turned off resulting in a very odd and uncomfortable atmosphere as you could clearly hear the conversations of the tables next to you.

Overall I would love to return to this restaurant if it was able to up its game but until then I would recommend looking for alternative middle...