Za Zaa - Lebanese Soul Food — Restaurant in Basel

This is probably a different review but hopefully an inspiring one to the unknown man in Za Zaa. Last Monday I flew from Melbourne into Basel to spend 30 hours with my beloved mother who, just days earlier, been admitted to the UNI Spital Basel. Her results where heartbreaking to say at least. On Tuesday I joined her for a small break outside the hospital to enjoy some fresh air and privacy. Having difficulties drinking, she mentioned the desire to taste some sips of Aperol Spritz, to enjoy the unique taste for probably the very last time. So off I went, down the stairs where I noticed this place opposite with all the spirit bottles in the back of the bar. Za Zaa, The poor girl was probably confused when I asked to buy a drink and the glass. Two men joined and soon an Aperol Spritz in a paper cup was in my shacking hand. When handing over the money, the gentleman refused to take it. Asking a second time he pointed towards the hospital and said that he had a good idea where this drink would go and hence he was happy to use a papercup, probably bending the rules a bit. I shook his hand and thanked him…… before running back and seeing my mum enjoying sips which gave me an enormous amount of comfort. All I can say is, you with your lovely gesture, you provided a small miracle when most needed, brighten up a very dark day. An absolute legend. I will never be able to thank you enough and you restored my faith in humanity on that day. I hope you don’t mind I made a donation to a cancer organisation on your behalf. I wish you, your family and friends all the very best from the bottom of my...

I went to this place today for Dinner. Right as we entered we were "greeted" by a impolite, rude guy " Nimm Klein Tisch" (Take small Table) probably this guy was not taught to use Please/Bitte in conversation. This guy seemed German by his german accent. Anyways we settled on a small Table for 2 which was pretty congested and not comfortable for 2 people. We were quickly served the Menu card and within 2 minutes we were asked to placed some order. Cmon let the person read your Menu card, why so tearing Hurry. We ordered one Mousaka Teller, one chicken Shawarma, Beer and Milkshake. Food was equally disappointing as their Hospitality. Chicken was insipid, so was Aubergine so bland as if they just boiled and served. So called Milkshake tasted as if it as bottled milk with little sugar. Chickpeas were not properly cooked. Somehow we finished this unpalatable food. After Paying I asked the Waiter If he could please let me know how many warm vegetarian dishes do they offer. Since i could find only 4 warm vegetarian dishes in their Menu. Again he rudely argued no we have more than 4. I asked him if he could please show me these dishes in Menu. His reply was unacceptable and extremely rude. He replied "wer lesen kann ist klar im Vorteil" (Those who can read have clearly an advantage over those who can't.). I would never visit again, Food is a big dia´sappointment and absolutely no hospitality These people are...

Za Zaa is a great place to be with an easy and cosy atmosphere. Unfortunately, on this occasion, a birthday, it was not so cosy. We were a party of 5 and was shown to a reserved long table to share in the basement, 2/3 floors down. It was markedly colder than the two floors above. Two in the party had to their jackets to keep warm. Though, we did not raise the issue with the staff. So, avoid being placed in the basement on cold winter days.

Foodwise, all good, super tasty, and fresh, with the exception of the pita bread. They were not fresh (already a disappointment) or enough for five people when we ordered Mezze for Friends , but reheated and maybe on a grill. The edges of the pita bread were dry, and not as fluffy when fresh. Also there was a slight odour of stale oil on the bread when reheated from the grill that left an aftertaste. So, could certainly be improved upon.

Another reason to avoid the basement in the evening, maybe it was cold, waiters not wanting to come down two flights of stairs, that we had to walk to the the counter to ask for the bill after waiting a while for a waiter to come around. Servicewise, there is room for improvement.

We hope the standards do not drop any further, but we will...