Very kind note from the new owner/manager regarding the pilaf standoff. It was the only thing holding me back from eating at BLZ, so I will have to return. Everything I've had there has been very good from hummus and falafel to the soltani. And yes, the pilaf of course. Looking forward to returning.
(4)
Shakira S.
I truly and honestly wanted to LOVE this place, especially given the fact that it's in my neighborhood and I'm all about supporting independent businesses and family-owned restaurants. Unfortunately, after having such a terrible encounter and distasteful experience with the owner of this restaurant, Ramzi Osseiran, I will never EVER in a million years go back. The restaurant itself is very chic and well-decorated and the outdoor seating is definitely a plus. The food is actually quite tasty and Tourie, the waiter is extremely gracious, polite, and a stellar example of customer service. Ramzi, on the other hand is just the opposite. It is glaringly obvious that there is so much he ought to learn about customer relations, but for starters: 1. Do not serve corked wine. 2. Do not close your kitchen at 9:30pm on a Saturday night. 3. Do not tell a customer that he/she is welcome to order and stay at your establishment if you do not wish to stay late on account of said customer. 4. Do not ask a customer to leave in the middle of customer chewing his/her food when you in fact had informed said customer that he/she would not be rushed.
(1)
Asile P.
This place is a bit small but cute with great decor. It's a fantastic spot to go to for a dinner date or close friends. My husband and I loved this place. The food was savory and flavorful. Not to mention, the staff was prompt and friendly. My husband ordered the Empress, which he could not stop talking about. I had the salmon that was just divine! Oh and cannot forget with ordered the smaller appetizer with the hummus, babaganoush, labne, and tab.
(5)
Sarah G.
Very fresh Lebanese food. Excellent friendly and quick service, and a lovely ambience. All around terrific experience. Look forward to going back soon!
(5)
Riddhika J.
Nice place, Snail paced service paired with mediocre food! I won't consider going here again but chicken shawarma lovers can try! We checked out this restaurant because a friend wanted to try it. The place was small but well lit with modern decor. First impression was good but as we waited for our server for 15 minutes just for taking the orders, the enthusiasm faded. We got hummus for appetizer and the pita accompanied with it was too dry . I ordered falafel wrap and while the falafel were crispy, the wrap was tasteless and lacked sauce. My friend ordered chicken shawarma and they loved it while lamb kabobs were another disappointment. It took another 15 min to get the check. They definitely have a lot of room for improvement both on service side and menu side. They should definitely consider serving non rubbery pita if not the freshly baked pita.
(2)
Andrea P.
A quiet, simple restaurant with delicious dishes. Stopped in for lunch with my boss. Tried the appetizer that I was able to choose four different dishes. More than enough food!
(4)
Julia A.
The service was amazing. Like truly truly wonderful. The food was just ok. It wasn't too bad. I'm glad I got my falafel sandwich because that was pretty tasty. The hummus was also quite nice. My husband ordered the shwarama sandwich/wrap and it just didn't taste that good. It was the yogurt sauce they put on it .. something tasted kind of off about it. I also ordered the tabbouleh for an appetizer (but mostly wanted it as a side to have with my falafel sandwich) which was pretty mild and not bad but they just served it as is and without any pita or anything to eat it with. Luckily our waitress (again .. PHENOMENAL service) came to the rescue and gave us some pita on the house. Not bad and the prices were ok.
(3)
Harsh Deep Singh N.
This is one of those tiny places with good Mediterranean fare. Went here with a bunch of friends on a whim, and had a mixed experience. The ambiance is nice, the decor contemporary and the dining area well lit. As for the food, we loved the shawarmas, but the lamb kebabs left a lot to be desired. The lamb was tough and looked like it had been cooked in a hurry. The salad was the only saving grace of my dinner. Maybe its just my taste buds but the food did not really leave me craving for more. Service is one area where they have a lot of scope for improvement. Apparently there was only one server that night, and it took more than 30 minutes for our main course to appear, and more than 15 minutes for the check to be processed. Overall, not a place I'd strongly recommend unless you have a few hours to kill.
(3)
R H.
Great value for excellent authentic Lebanese food! Great service small menu but absolutely everything is tasty and authentic especially the shawarmas (meat and chicken). In the usa i have been having problems finding a good falafel bit at lazeez it is as good as it gets! It is really lazeez (delicious from arabic)! Definitely recommend it!
(5)
Moraima C.
The food here is excellent. The staff are friendly and the price is reasonable. My husband and I are regulars. Our favorite dishes are the hummus and the empress to share.
(4)
Alex B.
Really good food just off the main fare in Bethesda. Hummus is so fresh and delicious. We had the beef kafta. It was perfect! Just how you want it and the side of tzatziki was knockout. The owner was super nice. Highly recommend half price bottles of wine on Monday too.
(5)
Kris L.
This place really earned 3 stars for the food plus a half a star for the great service, but i'm really all about the food. The babaganoush was great but a little on the oily side. The falafel was perfection. The entrees were okay. The chic ken kabob was perfectly cooked and juicy, but the ground beef kabob was overseasoned. The rice was dry though tasty. Prefer one other place for kabobs over this place. The prices were reasonable and the service was fantastic, but I am mostly about the FOOD!
(3)
Mike B.
Recently, I was down in Southwestern Virginia chatting with some friends in a wooden cabin. Naturally, the topic of hummus came up. And these are some of the quotes that came out of that conversation. "Oh, hummus is so freakin' good. Just don't leave me with a tub of hummus, I'll finish it all" "I love the sabra hummus, man I could eat that on anything." "I could just use a spoon and eat the hummus as is." Obviously, these quotes are not attributed to me. Though, I enjoy hummus... with the peppy occasional crudite or hot soft pita, I'm not lapping it up like a starved dog (like apparently my friends have been for some time). Reading back on the quotes, it sounds almost like my friends were punking me. What, were they auditioning for a hummus commercial? The dialogue almost vaguely sounds provocative. Where did they get such an insane love of store bought hummus? Well, I'll tell you one thing. Upon trying to think of a hummus that is so good that I might 'eat it with a spoon' or 'coat a leather boot', only one place comes to mind. Bistro Lazeez. Their hummus here is so good, that there is a sort of an innate anger that the portion is what it is. You think to yourself, "oh, that's right kitchen! You give us measly hummus-less plebians out here a spot of hummus to appease us... think we won't strike?" "A chick pea here and a chick pea there makes Jack a dull boy." And then you realize, it's not the French Revolution, it was only 5 dollars, and you can always order more. That and there tabbouleh here. I'm set. So, I'll amend my shock & awe... just a bit. I still think you can't get a store bought hummus that is worth shaking an olive branch at. But there are such hummus' or "hummus-i" that might make me bring out the guillotine or at least a typewriter to practice your crazy-free-hand.
(5)
Dana M.
BLZ SAUCE!! Get it. Anything that has it. You'll thank me later. I had the BLZ chicken medley. Freaking delicious. It's marinated in the BLZ sauce AND it comes on the side. I would drink that stuff. It was great on the chicken, the side salad, and the roasted potatoes. Damn I need that recipe! My friends both had the chicken kebabs which were great! Only complaint is the service was pretty slow, even though the restaurant wasn't crowded at all on a Tuesday night. That won't stop me from coming back for more though! Still really want to try the baba ghanoush, hummus, falafel, labneh, and beef kofta. Anything and everything with that sauce on it.
(4)
Alex W.
The Grilled Cornish Hen tasted of the same marinade as the above chicken which was a bit too tart for my dining companion, and he mistakenly poured the marinade over the pieces before trying them, adding to his woes. The pieces of poultry suffered the same fate as the above dish for they were overcooked - a casualty of being double-cooked (precooked first) and not grilled from scratch. Usually one to take home leftovers, his was not packed-up this time. The couples next to us confirmed that their chicken was equally dry. To read rest of review and view photos, check out my blog at Wongeats.
(3)
Jarrod F.
Rarely does it ever happen but every once in a while yelp steers me in the wrong direction. Such is the case with bistro lazeez. I decided to try this place because of it's high rating. But I just don't see what the hype is all about. We came here on Saturday for lunch with some friends. First off, The pita bread is straight from a grocery store... plus they charge $0.75 for an extra basket. LAME. We ordered the appetizer sampler. The hummus was ok, the eggplant had too much garlic, the falafel was good but they only gave you two and the tebouleh salad was gross. Just tasted like cilantro on a plate. We all ordered combo platters and no one seemed to thrilled. The kafta kabob was not good at all. Tasted like rubber. The chicken was the best thing we had - tender and flavorful. A few skimpy vegetables and lots of rice rounded out the combo meal as we all opted out of the potato option. All in all this was a bad meal and definitely not worth the price. But what really did me in was the deserts. I think we ordered one of each because we were still hungry, but disliked all of them. For $4 each they give you the skimpiest deserts ever, which really offended me. As if I don't know how cheap it is to make Baklava!! Some nerve to charge that much for a single bite! Anyways I'm don't complaining about this one.
(1)
Nick K.
Food was great. Nice indoor and outdoor seating area. It's not a huge place so calling ahead is a good idea.
(5)
Umesh T.
The sampler platter was so worth it! I loved the babaghanouj. The chicken entree was succulent. All in all it was a solid good meal, but not something to write home about. I'd go back if I was in the neighbourhood.
(3)
Marianne J.
A Mediterranean treasure in Bethesda at 8009 Norfolk Ave., not to be kept secret to ensure freshness will continue. Each dish was as fresh and delicious as could be. Best meal we've had so far in Bethesda. Superb. Our compliments to the chef, the owner and our waitress. Ordered the BLZ Sampler, chicken shawarma, and the chicken kabob. Thank you!
(5)
Jacob M.
Excellent Middle Eastern salads, sandwiches (the felafel sandwich platter is outstanding) and entrees. The food is fresh, carefully prepared and beautifully presented. The ambiance is understated modern and very cool. It is a great choice for a casual dinner out.
(5)
Deb H.
Family owned good food. The sampler appetizer was delicious..my favorite was the baba ganoush, hummus and Labne. Falafel is delicious too! Nothing here was a disappointment- even the tomato soup (an unexpected soup at a mediterrean restaurant) was perfect. Salads are my favorite here as an appetizer but the kabobs and rice are always fresh tasting and cooked perfectly. Love this place- give it a try to see for yourself! You won't be dissapointed.
(5)
Karen W.
It's a beautiful fall day and a holiday to boot- so we wandered around Bethesda and came upon this charming restaurant where we decided to eat lunch... Ramzi- the new owner- brought out a table and two chairs to accommodate us - since we were accompanied by our beloved canine - Ziggy. So we enjoyed a lovely Lebanese repast along with a half price bottle of wine- their regular special on Mondays through Thursdays. The grilled eggplant and beet salad was to die for! The tomato soup was extra special with the grilled red pepper flavors... We enjoyed lots of exotic flavors in the mezze sampler we shared. To top off our meal, we also shared some homemade rice pudding with orange and rose blossom water and pistachios... I think it's time for a nap! Joe and I strongly encourage you to stop by and patronize this charming bistro! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Heather J.
3.5 stars. We went here for dinner tonight and enjoyed it. The food is fresh and very good, the atmosphere is pleasant and the service is good. We ordered the falafel salad and the chicken medley platter. The falafel salad came with four large falafel balls and pickled radishes over fresh lettuce. The salad dressing was made with sumac, which gave it a nice lemony flavor. The chicken medley platter came with a leg, thigh, and wing, all marinated in Bistro Lazeez's sauce. The chicken was served with basmati rice, grilled vegetables, and a side salad with the same dressing that was on the falafel salad. The chicken was delicious - I loved the marinade. The sides were all great, as well. There were slivered almonds on top of the rice, which I thought was a nice touch. All in all it was a nice meal, but I don't think it'll be my go-to.
Wow has Bistro Lazeez turned the beat around. I went there to meet a friend for lunch and EVERYTHING we sampled was better than what I had the first time I ate here in 2011. The fattoush was divine, and you can order it with a side of some of the best falafels I've had outside of, well yes, Amsterdam falafel house. The prices are reasonable, the service is friendly, the outdoor seating space is charming, and the food is good. Bethesda, yes to GOOD LUNCH OPTIONS!
(4)
Beth L.
Delicious fresh Mediterranean food! I love to sit outside and enjoy my meal. The appetizer sampler with the dips is delicious. I love the skewered chicken entree - cooked and flavored to perfection. Warning: you will leave with garlic breath :)
(5)
Jennifer G.
What a gem of a restaurant. I had an entree salad with lamb and the citrus based dressing was the perfect complement. My girlfriend and I shared a wonderful bottle of wine. And a big shout out to our waiter, Daniel! He was wonderful. This family owned restaurant deserves everyone's support. Come here, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Anthony C.
Solid, good food, though not great. I enjoyed my meal very much. The service was just OK. I don't like when table service places serve soda in a can. For heaven sake, get a fountain dispenser. I had the Pharaoh: grilled beef kafta, beef and chicken kabob. As a side I picked the potatoes, even though the waiter said their rice was "the best". The kafta and chicken were great. The beef (kabob) was very tough, and also not that tasty. The consensus (on Yelp) seems to be that their chicken kabob and rice is the way to go and I can't argue with that. Sitting outside on a cool summer evening was great, but the service out there was not good--no one ever asked if I wanted another soda and we ran out of water and had to solve that on our own. There were two other tables outside, and maybe one inside but the waiter was never around. There are several options in the Mediterranean category--I am not sure why Bethesda keeps getting the same kind of restaurants: why is there no place for Pho or a really great sandwich place? Even so, Lazeez is a pretty good choice.
(3)
Nicky R.
Awesome food! Everything tasted delicious and fresh. With summer around the corner, I decided it was time to start eating a little more healthy and figured Mediterranean food was the way to go. Found this small hip restaurant and shared several of the appetizers with a friend. The baba ganoush (sp?) was amazing as well as the falafel, hummus, tabbouli and lentils. The waitress was really nice and the manager/owner? came to our table to check on us and then sent us a plate of this incredible salad for us to sample. Really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back for more!
(5)
E K.
We celebrated NYE with a lovely dinner at Bistro Lazeez. We commend the new owner/chef...Ramzi...who served up a fabulous menu for our group. The hummus and grilled eggplant/beet salad are the best!
(5)
Joseph C.
The food is great here! At the top of Mediterranean in Bethesda. We shared the Kafta and chicken kabob with rice and mixed vegetables, and an appetizer sampler with babaganoush, hummus, falafel, and tabbouleh. All of it was fresh, tasty, and done very well. We couldn't find one thing not to like. The portions are a bit small, but I'd eat here then go across the street and browse the watch shop any day.
(4)
Mary Ann L.
We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at the bistro. We experienced excellent food, excellent service and excellent atmosphere.
(5)
Jeff P.
I went here recently and had the Mediterranean potatoes, labne, and lamb kabob. The labne tasted a lot like cream cheese more than yogurt, and the potatoes were somewhat undercooked and bland. The lamb kabob with rice was very good, though a little tough. What I least liked though was that I ordered tea and was told that they had mint, green, and black. I opted for the black tea and was brought a cup of hot water with a cheap, generically-labelled, paper bag of "black tea" (that's all the label said). Not quite what I was expecting for tea that costs $2.50 a cup. I had to even ask for sugar to be brought with the tea. Overall I think this is a nice place with good decor and mediocre food that has such potential to be great, but they need to work on the quality of the dishes to get there.
(2)
Dawn R.
I was in Bethesda for work, it was lunchtime, and so I trusted my fellow Yelpers to steer me in the right direction. Usually they're pretty trustworthy, so when I saw a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews for Bistro Lazeez, I felt pretty confident in my choice. But after having lunch there, all I can figure is that the owner must have a LOT of friends who use Yelp. While the food was OK, it wasn't great. I started with the Baba Ghanouj, which was EXTREMELY sour, so much so that I couldn't eat more than few bites. I then decided on the beef shawarma sandwich, which was actually not bad, although the tahini sauce was a little on the bland side. But the beef was very tender, not at all fatty, and it had just the right balance of beef to vegetables. I didn't have dessert, although they had several options on the menu that sounded pretty tasty. Overall, I wasn't really impressed with my lunch.....at least not enough to make the effort to go back. The restaurant itself was very nice....they have a nice neutral color muted decor, very clean and relaxing. They do have a decent wine list as well as several beers, and a good size outdoor dining area in the front of the restaurant. Unlike some of the other reviews on here, I didn't have any trouble at all with the service....my server was quite attentive, and didn't hesitate with recommendations when I asked. I didn't wait very long at all for my food, but to be true to the point when I arrived, there was only one other table with any patrons. By the time I left, the place was almost 3/4 full, so it's quite possible that some of those other folks may have had to wait longer for their food. With so many options in downtown Bethesda, I seriously doubt I'll be back to this mediocre location. But who knows...maybe once I've tried EVERYPLACE else, I may go back. Only time will tell.
(3)
Vivian H.
We did takeout of a good variety of dishes from the menu. The apps we got -- falafel, hummus, babaghanouj, and tabouli -- were all pretty standard, but I feel a little odd paying $6 for a little container of mush. Fettoush salad was great, very flavorful. Cornucopia salad was good too but you could get that anywhere/make it yourself. Lamb kabab consisted of a few pieces of lamb, on the dry/overcooked side, a few pieces of grilled veggies, and some potatoes -- looked like leftovers... hardly the entree we thought we ordered. Now the BAKLAVA was one of the best I've had, just the right amount of sweetness/stickiness/flakiness, boosting them up from 2 to 3 stars.
(3)
Steph F.
I've eaten food from Bistro Lazeez 3 times now -- once as take-out, once for lunch, and once for dinner -- and each time the food was great. I've had lamb kabobs, shwarma, and most recently chicken breast kabobs and the BLZ sampler. It was the most busy during lunch, but service was still attentive. For dinner tonight, we were the only table in there, and as we were leaving another 2 top came in. People are missing out. For the sampler, we tried the falafel, baba ganoush, yogurt dip (lebna?), and the lentil pilaf. It was all good. I just don't think I'm a fan of falafel in general, but my vegetarian friend raves about it all the time. 4 stars because I think they could give a little more grilled veg on the kabobs, but the plate was overflowing with potatoes. The meal was flavorful, nicely timed, and my water glass was refilled at least 4 times. It's a great place. Hope it manages to stay open and not meet the same fate as my other fave, Levantes.
(4)
Wilson A.
We came here on a Saturday lunch and it was not too busy. We came in to inform the wait staff that we are sitting outside and they happily obliged. We had the BLZ Chicken sandwich and the Beef Kafta sandwich, along with their ice tea. Their ice tea is delicious! They brew their tea daily, making it very tasty every sip I had. As for the sandwiches, it was hot, crispy, and delicious at the same time. Flavors were bursting into my mouth with every bite. It was like eating a masterpiece! Definitely one of the best sandwiches I could get around. Service was also great! Not 5-star great, but they were definitely attentive and respectful. Our server, Hans, refilled our water constantly and cleaned our plate on a timely manner. I highly recommend this place. Great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Will definitely be back for more food.
(5)
Hayes W.
My hopes were definitely high judging by all of the other reviews, and most aspects of the meal were great. The place is small, about 600-700 square feet, and seats around 30-35. It's definitely mellow and has a great environment. We ordered the baba ghanoush to start, at it was pretty good. Went a little overboard with the amount of oil, but it tasted pretty good, I'd order again. I ordered a Guava juice and it was absolutely delicious. The only problem was, I had to remind our waiter twenty minutes after I ordered it that he didn't bring it. No big deal, slight oversight, but it's not like the restaurant was packed. Whatever, mistakes happen. Our entree was "The Empress". It's a mix of chicken, beef, kala, and lamb. Comes with a side of rice or potatoes, we went with potatoes. It was pretty good, definitely cooked the way we asked (medium) and tasted like it should. Every entree comes with a salad, which we scarfed down before the meal came out. Dessert was simple, a baklava that was small but super sweet, definitely worth it to get. I'll swing back in if I'm in the neighborhood, this is another fun place we've discovered in Bethesda, overall pretty pleased.
(3)
Charles O.
Dropped in for a casual dinner with a friend, and was very pleasantly surprised at the setting, service and food. The room is uncluttered, but not bare. Just enough easy-flowing decor to feel stylish without being busy. Service was quick and attentive. Granted, we were the first people there, but I noticed that other tables were getting good quality attention, too, even as the place filled up. But the real highlight was the food. Elegant presentation (for example, the sumac dusted on the hummus was arranged in a cool cross-pattern). Everything was tasty, from the baba ghanoush to the hummus to the falafel. And they were quick to accommodate my gluten-free diet, bringing rice crackers and veggies to replace the (excellent looking) fresh pita. I'd be glad to go back any time, especially when I am looking for a casual night with friends at a place with friendly service, in a pleasant setting, and, most importantly, great food.
(4)
Nicole G.
I was taken here for lunch and had the falafel sandwich with hummus as my side. Everything was delicious, I just wish the lunch prices were a little lower. I definitely think I'll be back to try more though!
(4)
Stephen M.
OK food at upscale prices. Sides were better than the entrees. Adequate portion sizes. Babaganoush gets 4 stars, but falafel was below average. Too many choices on the block to make this a good-to place.
A small and quaint little restaurant, Bistro Lazeez is a good option for a calm afternoon lunch. Not quite empty enough to be a ghost restaurant, but also not too noisy to be annoying. We ordered an appetizer of hummus, which was delicious and creamy, and I ordered the falafel sandwich. I was a bit disappointed to find only two vegetarian options for lunchtime (the falafel sandwich and a lentil soup). I'm not quite sure if this is different for the dinner menu. Anyway, the falafel sandwich was very flavorful and even included beets, which was a pleasant surprise! I could only finish half of it, so I took the other half home to eat later. Two meals for one, score! Each sandwich comes with a side, so I decided to get the grilled veggies. They were good, but I was not blown away. I did however, LOVE the grilled asparagus side, which my mom ordered (and I stole from her :) ). One thing that I was disappointed about was that the service was a bit slow. It took them 15 minutes to bring out our initial drink order. Tea. Not terribly complicated, especially considering, at the time, there were only two other groups at the restaurant. All that aside, I did enjoy the experience. The food was good, but not amazing, and the environment was a good place to enjoy company without having to strain to hear or yell to make conversation. I might go back again, but I certainly won't be bending over backwards to do so.
(3)
Sara B.
I have been here a few times and always enjoy the food. I come mainly for lunch and have the chicken shawarma sandwich with tahini sauce. I really like how the sandwiches are rolled up in a flat bread pita type thing. Also tasty is the falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, and fatoush (after some salt). I also love their fava bean appetizer - very garlicky! I did try the chicken kabab and rice once, was not too impressed. I think there are better places to get kabab platters in the area. EDIT: Recently came again and shared the Fiesta for Two - which is a whole chicken with pita bread, grilled veggies, rice and house salad. It was all good and a good value for a dinner for two. We did not have to order any appetizers. I continue to like this place :)
(4)
Lauren B.
Pretty good. A little expensive for lunch but the chicken shawarma was delicious.
(4)
Stephanie O.
Love this place! After moving to Northern VA from NYC I noticed a serious lack of good Mediterranean food. Until I found this place. The atmosphere is great - casual and small but still nice, and the food is the best Mediterranean I've had since leaving NY. Bonus points for hormone and antibiotic-free meat and using natural ingredients. I'd drive up to Bethesda again for this place.
(5)
Shez A.
I was definitely surprised as I walked in for the first time last night by how nice the inside looked! I had assumed this place was super casual and was not expecting the nice decor inside. Service was fast and the food looked beautiful. Was it the best Beef Kafta Kabob I've ever had? No, but it was still very good. The rice, veggies and yogurt that came with it were delicious and the crispy piece of bread that they serve on top was really, really yummy. I've never seen that before and I've had a lot of kababs from a lot of different kabab joints! I tried the grilled salmon from my friend's plate and that was also very well-cooked and well-seasoned. I was definitely pleased by the level of quality and service (especially considering the reasonable prices) and will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Jenna A.
This place is incredible!!! True neighborhood gem!!! The food is out of this world! Not to miss items are their babaganoush (smoked eggplant makes all the difference!), flafel, chicken and pistashio ice cream! I can not say enough wonderful things about this place and the fantastic owner, Reda, and staff!
(5)
E. F.
Went here with a LivingSocial coupon. We came in at the end of lunch hours, so it was pretty much dead and the food came out quickly. Hummus was hummus. It wasn't the best that I've had, but it had nice texture and flavor. The side salad that came with the meal was delicious. Okay, the DRESSING was delicious. The reviewer who claimed everything was too sour may have been reacting poorly to the amount of sumac that's in the dressing. If you are sensitive to sour things, ask for your dressing on the side to test it out. I loved it and it reminded me that I want to make some fattoush dressing for salads at home. I got the lamb kabobs and while the lamb was a bit on the overcooked side, it was still very good. I loved the potatoes (but beware if you are a cilantro hater, there's a good deal of it on them!), and the grilled veggies, while a small portion, were fresh and tasty. My boyfriend got the falafel sandwich and said it was very good. He knows falafel since that's the go-to Mediterranean dish for vegetarians. ;-) I would definitely eat here again. I'd like to try the falafel myself next time!
(4)
Jill M.
The restaurant is small, but wasn't too busy and we were seated immediately. I was starving and we ordered an awesome spread of middle eastern food. We got baba ganoush, falafel w/ pickled radish, salad, grilled veggies, rice, and an assortment of kebabs... all for $30 each! It was a great price, and everything was spot on. I'm particularly picky about falafel, and theirs was crispy but not greasy or mushy. Surprisingly, I forgot to try the hummus, which is usually a good measure for comparing middle eastern restaurants, but the baba ganoush was creamy and wonderful. The beef, chicken, lamb, and kafta kebabs were well flavored and not over-cooked, with the kafta being my favorite. They had a nice assortment of dessert to offer, but sadly I was too stuffed for even a piece of baklava after that feast.
(4)
Elizabeth B.
A wonderful find, tiny little restaurant in downtown Bethesda offering the most delicately spiced kababs and middle eastern fare. Everything here was more flavorful than variants I had eaten elsewhere on a beautifully arranged plate at a very reasonable price. I had the "Zenoubia" combo plate of ground beef kafta and chicken kabab with basmati rice & grilled veggies and also sampled my friend's lamb kabab. All were exquisitely flavored and the staff were very friendly and attentive, we'll definitely be heading back there soon!!!! (and often!)
(5)
Matthew F.
This place is where many customers fell into victims of nice interior decor with poor quality of food and culinary skills coming straight from any high school home economics class. Please try to visualize the dining experience we had tonight. We ordered two different dishes of beef kabob and chicken kabob as entree.We sat outside and waited for our dinner for more than 40 minutes with the restaurant was about half full. The dinner finally arrived our table and we were ready to enjoy the dinner. As I was about digging my fork into the dish, first thing I saw was a huge square bowl shaped of mounting rice (think of rice roni) in the middle of dish along with three little chunks of meat, one slice of green peppers, two slices of onion, and a quarter of pita which resembled an Amy's pita chip on top of the dish. (This is it, no sauce or anything). No spices and food was very bland! I felt incredibly insulted and possibly economically violated after eating the dinner because I didn't think about returning the food on a Friday at 9 PM. I was very hungry and ate some of my dinner then I finally stopped eating after thinking "Why am I eating this for $16.00." I told the owner about the dinner I had. he said sorry.. "the vegetables are expensive." I am like.. oh gee.. thanks for making me paying $16.00 for a sliced of green pepper. I just hope you'll be better prepared than I was for a dining experience and paying $16.00 for a dish for little chunks of meat with rice roni! Please think twice before you try this place. :-)
(1)
E K.
Fresh, delicious homestyle cuisine. My 12 year old and 6 year old loved it "one of the best meals I've ever had", said my 12 year old! I always order the BLZ sampler as my main. The Mixed Grill portions are generous. The kids menu is respectful of kids - smaller portionsof the adult menu (rather than deep fried, cheese-laden junkfood that is so often what's on offer). The premises are simple, clean, modern...don't expect a fancy date meal here...go to Bacchus a bit further up the road for that. This is more of a neighborhood eatery, which is why I love it. Great for lunch and dinner.
(5)
Elissar K.
Pretty disappointing considering all the glowing reviews. The food is decent but nothing remarkable. The portions are quite puny compared to my favorite Middle Eastern restaurants. I got the lamb/chicken kabob platter and there were three small chunks of each meat -- probably about half of what I was expecting. The rice portion was more than enough but I ordered a kabob platter, not a rice platter sprinkled with a few pieces of meat. The garlic sauce is way too watery. The salad veggies were fresh but the dressing was underwhelming. I admit I am a bit hard to please when it comes to Middle Eastern food, being able to cook most of it myself, but regardless, there are way better options.
(3)
Udunnome B.
Tell you the truth, all the great reviews on Yelp got me interested in trying this place out for a quiet dinner with my gf on a thursday night. Of course, with any reviews you read on yelp or any other sites, you must always read it with a healthy dose of skepticism. So, I did. I was cautious and yet open minded about what was to come. It was very chilly night. Probably around mid 20 something degrees in fahrenheit. Bethesda is infamous for having or lack of parking spots but on this night, there were many convinient spots available. I'm guessing it was the cold weather because Bethesda gets pretty packed even on thursday nights. The place is located on the edge of the block and it's tiny. So, be on the look out because I missed it the first time around. The interior decor is new and furnitures are fairly new. Considering how small the restaurant is , the spaces between tables are generous. We ordered hummus for appetizer which was mediocre at best but they provided plenty of bread to supplant the abundant hummus. I felt hummus was lacking in flavor but my gf thought otherwise. Overall, it was meh at best. For entrees, my gf ordered Sultan plate which consisted of marinated beef and chicken kabobs with yellow rice and garnished with tomatoes, lettuce, onions and crispy bread piece on top. I ordered chicken kabobs with exactly the same sides as my gf's plate. The beef was a bit pungent for my taste. Spices were overwhelming the first bite but as you continually bite into it, you get used to it. Rice was also mediocre. Not bad or good. Just decent to fill your carbohydrate needs. Now, the chicken was the BOMB. It was juicy, perfectly marinated and grilled just right to give great consistency when chewed. I loved it. As many people noted below, you must try the chicken. Overall, initially the portion of each plate seem small but they are not. They are perfectly portioned. Unless you are 240 pounds and eat like there' no tommarow. While, we were eating, the service was good. Our water cup was constantly filled when needed and bread basket was refilled. Waiter was not intrusive at all. The music was playing in the background at a noticeable level but not too loud. It was just right. Maybe it was the courteous crowd who spoke in low to moderate decibels or because it was a slow night, the ambiance was magical. Finally, I was about to ask for a check but the waiter suggested a homemade pistachio ice cream. So, we gave in. It is the most delicious ice cream I ever had!!! Two hands down. No joke. You need to try this fantastic ice cream. Shame on you if you don't when you visit here. No, I am not done yet. When we got the check, all the food we ordered totalled less than 30 bucks!!! Of course, we each had a glass of wine which took us over 50 dollars. But, the low prices are just awsome. Only downside of this place is that because the place is so small, when the main entrance door opens, cold air fills the room quickly. So, maybe a heater by the doorway could alleviate this problem and I could bump this review to 5 stars? All in all, it was a delightful and enjoyable dinner we had in a while.
(4)
Hungry H.
Delicious food, great service, and interesting decor - all around a great dining experience.
(5)
Izzat A.
Great food and the service is wonderful. The owner is a great guy.
(4)
Yasamin S.
I was visiting from out of town and my friend took me to Bistro Lazeez since I missed Mediterranean food, I'm from Houston and Persian. It was restaurant week so I got to try alot of the appetizers as well. The appetizer sampler in it self can be a whole meal, I got falafel, lentil, hummus, and tabooli. They were really generous portions that I had enough for lunch the next day. The falafels were delicious, especially the mixed pickled that come with it. The hummus was good, as well as the tabooli. The lentil is rice and lentils and it was delicious, just like my mom's. For the entree I got the chicken kabob and I had one piece, only to try because I was so stuffed after I ate the appetizers. It was very moist and well marinated. The rice was excellent and that extra crispy pita, yum. For desert I had bakalava with tea, it hit the spot. If I lived in the area, I would go to this restaurant all the time. I loved the atmosphere, the decor is modern, people were so friendly, it is such a cute place.
(5)
john c.
This is a joke right! I went to this place about 2 weeks ago for carry out, Being Lebanese and home sick i thought i would deviate from my favorite spot and try this place that buzzing with 5 star reviews. 1. This place is to Lebanese food as a Mcrib is to BBQ 2. Just because your friends think the food you make at home is good doesn't mean you can open a restaurant and charge for your inedible food. 3.the only edible thing i ordered was the chicken skewer in a rather expensive combo with rice and kafta. it was more that 15 bucks (jip) the falafel was about 20% oil dripping all over my table when i took a bite. the taratour (tahini) was watered down with absolutely no other flavor than the sesame paste. Do DC a favor and stop asking your buddies to leave a 5 or 4 star review for this place because i don't think it is edible and anyone with taste would agree. 1 star food for 4 star prices,food is a Joke On a positive note the bathroom was clean and the decor is nice.
(1)
Monkee C.
BL satisfied my falafel/baba ghanouj/beef shawarma jonesing, and did it on the cheap. As the other Yelpers have noted, it's a small joint (literally 10 tables, 3 two tops and the rest fours) but it's more cozy inside than cramped, and the decor is somewhat unexpected but chic (it looks like a West Elm catalog). Food was excellent, especially the falafel and baba ghanouj. My only con food wise were the pita - I think we got a less fresh batch. Otherwise the price was almost bargain basement for the quality. I'll definitely be back when I need me some more Med noms.
(4)
Henri-Nicolas G.
I am very pleased with this restaurant. The owner Reda Asaad is my Arabic teacher(this encouraged me to come). His waiters are guest friendly and are easy to converse with. The food is simple, foolproof and just plainly delicious! My favorite dish is the Beef Kafta, this dish brings in delicious Syrian and Lebanese cooking styles and ingredients. The dish starts with the delicious and juicy flavor if the beef, then the moist and colorful taste of the rice, after that; a jolt of light spiciness gushes into your mouth. After all this, I top off my meal with Reda's signature homemade ice cream: Vanilla and pistachio! My favorite! Overall, this restaurant's food, service and atmosphere really tell me: "Why go to Lebanese Taverna when I can get this with a smile and good food as oppose to cheap food and a poor service?!"
(5)
mike b.
We were at an art show at washington school of photography and had a party of 8. The food was delicious, the prices very reasonable and the service excellent (the service noticed on his own that the candle on our table had gone out and came over and re-lit it). I had the falafel salad and it was quite good.
(4)
Maggie W.
I had lunch here earlier this afternoon and came right home to review it so I can remember how delicious it is! I got the appetizer sampler: hummus, falafel, lentil pilaf, and baba ghanouj (The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that I asked for the fava bean saute, and got baba ghanouj.) Everything was awesome! I definitely recommend the lentil pilaf and their special crispy thin pita, they were really unique. The hummus and falafel were really good but nothing that blows the competition away. The atmosphere is really cute and casual too, the design of the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous--even their pita bowls are really well designed. I would give them ten stars for interior design skills!
(4)
C P.
Well priced take out menu for lunch. Food was just ok. nice small restaurant with friendly staff.
(3)
Bill P.
COLD Monday night yet brisk dinner crowd handled all by server Hans :) Maybe a hott female counterpart will be added soon!!!!???? Mmmm? Started with the HUGE square bowl of lentl soup $4.99......hott and thick and delicious on a cold winter's night. It's all the rave so went with the Chicken Kabob meal next......8 delectable chunks of perfectly cooked chicken in a mysterious tangy sauce that in a HUGE bed of soft and fluffy basmati rice and grilled peppers and onions on side with crunchy corn meal tortilla also. $12.99. Wonderful Ridda there and he is IN ON every aspect of his restaurant from the cooking to decor to knowing all of the reviews/reviewers and the Bethesda scene in general. What's that? OH NO....I couldn't :) Bill, you will eat my Lebanese homemade vanilla bean ice cream and you will like it!!!!!! :) UH, OK!!!!! Big bowl and it is seriously creamy and delicious. This place is a gem!!!!! Happy hour will get rolling for the warmer months ahead!!!!!!
(5)
Edward L.
the GF and I started the meal off with BLZ Sampler: Hummus, Falafel, Fava Bean Saute, and Tabbouli. The fave beans was the best thing on the plate, but everything tasted good except the Hummus cause it needed more lemon. For an entree we shared the sultan: grilled lamb and chicken kabab on a bed of basmati rice and grilled vegies. The lamb was really tender and flavorful, but the chicken was dry. Overall everything tasted good except for the Hummus and Chicken.
(4)
Sabeen A.
Repeat offender - and each visit was just as good as the last. Gold, fairy dust, and love. Just sayin'.
(5)
Bandar E.
Just updating my review, I've eaten here a few more times since they opened....It continues to knock it out of the park. The chicken kabob dish is just unreal, I dunno what dark magic is happening in the kitchen, but I can't think of a tastier grilled chicken dish anywhere....and this often means driving in from Rosslyn for a taste. Also, a tip I havent seen on Yelp, for an authentic treat, try their arabic style ice cream....It is beyond delightful....there has to be some other word for it althought I am not quite sure what.
(5)
Sandy C.
Lazeez. is fresh and very mediterranean. Honestly, if tastes like home cooked food. The food is light and seasoned just right. The service is a little slow and for how busy they get at lunch and the space is a bit tight. Regardless, I always come back for the food when I have an hour to kill for lunch.
(4)
Peg L.
Cozy clean and modern restaurant. Friendly staff. Fresh and delicious food. Nice presentation.
(5)
Kevin K.
I visited on Friday night for a dinner. The place was very clean and well decorated (seems like new place) for neighborhood restaurant. It is Mediterranean restaurant (it was not clear on yelp). Waiting staffs were friendly and helpful. I decided to seat out since the weather was so nice. I ordered their chicken dinner for two with two side orders. Of course my choice was humus and rice. Humus and pita bread were very good on the side. The rice came with chicken in same bowl which I didn't prefer. I also smelled a little bit of lamb smells from rice. The chicken dinner was very tasty even though it was a bit of salty for my liking. Seem like they serving beer and wine there but I didn't try. I wish they had fountain soda machine.... Anyways, was this place the best place for Mediterranean food? No, I have been to better places, but it is good enough for casual dinning with family and friends without breaking the bank..... Cheers...
(3)
Cassidy M.
I really like the food at Bistro Lazeez. And yesterday evening was no exception. However, one of the sticking points has always been the staff there, who really need to take a 20 minute lesson in "How Not to be a Bad Waiter." Yesterday's evening demonstrated this clearly to me, and I feel it should be pointed out. My girlfriend does not eat gluten and she wanted a falafel sandwich. However, she requested to the waitress that the pita be put on the side and all the components be put on a plate. However, the waitress immediately and emphatically said that NO, this would not be possible. Surprised, we both inquired as to why, and her reasoning was that "the owner and the kitchen doesn't like deviating from the menu." This is a pretty lame excuse, as you are JUST REMOVING THE PITA FROM THE MEAL. It isn't a laborious exercise for anyone to accomplish. But I suppose strict adherence to the menu is more important than having a satisfied customer. I will probably return to Bistro Lazeez -- again, the food is still very good -- but I recommend that people stay away if they or someone in their party has a dietary restriction. The staff demonstrated that they really could care less.
(2)
Aimee C.
have you ever eaten a meal and before you're even done eating the last bite, you're already a) kind of wishing you could invent a time machine to go back in time to before you ate so that you can do it all over again? and b) barring the whole time machine thing, you're already thinking about how soon you can come back for more? ....yeah...that's what eating at bistro lazeez is like. times infinity. love love LOOOOOOOOOVE this place! bethesda is an adorable little city full of delightful places to eat and drink. but bistro lazeez stands out head and shoulders above the rest for ease, friendliness, value, quality and extreme deliciousness.
(5)
Carmen D.
Come here periodically, great food and service!
(4)
Martin M.
We loved it. Great, healthy food for a family of four, in a cozy friendly place that looks sparkly clean. Very nice service from the beginning to end, and a real treat for eyes and palates.
(5)
Alex A.
This really an excellent place. Price is great, good food and nice casual atmosphere. I like the way they offer the meals in their unique packages. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ido A.
They have delicious, wonderful, fresh food! Friendly staff and warm and beautiful atmosphere! Thank you for the great service! This is our "go-to" place now for tasty, tender kabobs, amazing pita bread on the grill, and my wife's favorite fava bean dish. I really feel like I am eating home cooked food when we are there!
(5)
Chandan D.
Lotsa people give this place a lot of stars. I had the chicken kabob sandwich and I'd say that it was mediocre. A little too much tartness, the meat was underseasoned. Also, the pitas with the baba ganoush were cold. I think there might be a lot of other middle eastern restaurants in the D.C. area that are better. Not sure if I just ordered the wrong thing, but there you have it.
(3)
Athea B.
I went here last weekend and the place empty except for a sort of drunk lecturer telling the owner, who is Lebanese by the way, Lebanese history. Anyway, I visited as my foodie countdown tour before I leave for Monterey and the food was so fresh. The Baba Ghanouj was excellent. I was not expecting the cracker crispness from the pita but not bad. I must say I enjoyed it and my friend who isn't apt to try new foods liked it too.
(3)
Debbie S.
This place was ok. The food was tasty but the portions were tiny and the pita was dry and very thin, not to mention scarce.
(3)
Al A.
Okay service. Great food (try the baba ghannouj!).
(4)
martha f.
These guys are pros! Consistently friendly servers, and the food is always delicious. I keep meaning to try different dishes but then every time end up ordering the falafel again, it is so good. Next time...
(5)
Jason L.
Living in small towns in the South for most of one's life doesn't afford many opportunities for Mediterranean food. The first time I really had authentic Mediterranean fare was last November in San Diego and I was itching to eat it again after visiting DC. I quickly scanned Yelp for Mediterranean places near my hotel and was happy to see La Zeez which had very favorable reviews and deservedly so. For starters this place is very small on the inside. There is probably room for about 30-35 patrons tops but the seating arrangement doesn't make it seem too crowded. The decor leans toward modern and is mostly black in nature. Extremely clean inside and kitchen was also clean and seemed very efficiently organized. Just don't head here with a large party (the absolute most this place could cram into one table would be 8 souls). We ordered the falafel as an appetizer and it was divine. I even looked at the sig-o and asked, "Is falafel always this good?". I ordered the lamb kabob which was delicious. The lamb was tender and flavorful. The Mediterranean potatoes and seasoned veggies were seasoned perfectly I will let the sig-o tell you more about his dish. Service was good but not exceptional. Don't miss this place if you are visiting Bethesda or live near by. Would definitely return here again.
(4)
L W.
I like this place - it is clean, unpretentious, and well-priced, and all the food I have tasted is very good. I especially enjoy the BLZ chicken sandwich and the labne (strained yogurt dip of sorts). I find myself going going back there fairly frequently. The only con is service is a bit slow, but as long as your not in a hurry, it's a nice atmosphere, so who cares!? I would recommend to anyone interested in something simple yet flavorful and delicious.
(4)
Jessica F.
Mostly all I have to say is the falafel almost made me weep it was so good. Also it was really cute inside and so not expensive...hooray!
(5)
Todd B.
2 words: a MAZING! This place should be a magnet for anyone looking for food so fresh and flavorful it makes your tongue buzz. Since we found out that it was open, we tried it on a Thursday, and have gone back 6 times in 10 days. Is there something wrong with that? No way. The food is fresh, not overwhelming, and the owner and chef Reda doesn't try to do too much - just enough to make you addicted to LaZeez. Go try this little hidden gem in the Bethesda triangle - if you like med. food, you will flip for LaZeez.
(5)
W E.
Been searching for a decent Sharwama...found the best one at Lazeez. Both beef and chicken are worth it. Haven't ventured to the rest of the menu which is the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars
(4)
dal s.
I went to this cozy restaurant last weekend with my family and truly enjoyed not only the simple modern decor with soothing Arabic music in the background, but also the excellent food. Being of Arab descent, I'm pretty critical when it comes to middle eastern restaurants but the food at this place was outstanding. The tabouleh salad was amazing, the falafel was excellent, and the chicken kabob was marinated so well and cooked to perfection. I will definitely be back to this establishment for more!
(5)
Aya D.
Wonderful place! Inexpensive, great food and great service!
(5)
Stephen R.
Always great food. Delicately flavored. Ample quantities. Prompt and courteous wait staff. A pleasure to eat there.
(4)
Beth K.
The food is just delicious; We had a sampler of appetizers, homos, baba ganosh, falafel and tabbouleh; Excellent salad and then kabobs. The lamb and beef were just excellent. Lovely atmosphere and service. Great value. Can't wait to go back
(4)
Jessica B.
My friend and I went here recently for dinner on a Thursday night. It was very small and kind of cozy. There was only one or two other groups when we arrived and the waitress told us to sit anywhere. I wanted to try both the chicken kabob and beef kabob and the waitress graciously let me substitute to make my own combo. Both meats were amazingly seasoned. The rice was amazing as well. And the pita. Holy God the pita. So freakin good. Next time I'm there I will definitely order more and try the hummus. I also loved the salad. The dressing was delicious. The only thing that didn't blow my mind was the veggies that came with the entree. There weren't many and they were a bit cold, probably because I am a super slow eater and I ate everything else on my plate first. Overall I highly recommend this place!
(4)
Aya K.
When I review a restaurant I combine the food quality with the service for the star rating. In this case, the food was 3.5-4 stars- we had the appetizer sampler with falafel, hummus, lentil pilaf and Baba Gaboush. For main course we shared the Emperor - the chicken was on the dry size. Both dish were nicely presented. That is where the good part ends. Service was horrible. The restaurant was pretty empty but we waited 30 minutes for the appetizer only to realize it was accidentally given to the wrong table. Then it took 10 more minutes to get it- 40 min for an appetizer?? when most of it is already pre-made. The main course also took 20 min after we finished the appetizer. Luckily we were not in a hurry but this made the whole experience unpleasant. * This was not our first time here and I don't remember the service being so bad previously, but it was bad enough this time that we will probably not come back.
(2)
Laura A.
I have to admit, I initially visited becase of the convenience (I work nearby) and decor (don't miss that wallpaper), but I've been back several times for the food. Thus far I've sampled the hummus, tabbouli, baba ghanouj, several sandwiches and a side salad. The hummus is my favorite ever (and I like me some hummus). The only thing not perfect was the salad. The texture was great, but the dressing could have been more flavorful. That said, I didn't think it merited knocking off a star. Certainly worth a visit, and a great spot for a casual but still classy date.
(5)
Kim N.
I go out of my way to support local small businesses, which is how I ended up at LaZeez. On the positive side, the decor was pleasant, the restaurant and bathrooms clean, and the food quite good. On the room-for-improvement side, the service was unacceptably slow as there was only one waiter for the entire restaurant tonight... very frustrating to hungry customers. The drink menu is also rather sparse... a few more options would be welcome.
(3)
Katie M.
GET THE CHICKEN KABOB! The tabouleh was also the best I've ever had. Went with a large group and tried every appetizer on the menu, two of the sandwiches and all the kabobs. It is a solid middle eastern lunch/dinner spot. What sets this place apart is the chicken kabob. I've never had any as good, and I've eaten a lot of Kabob in my life. If you order something else, you will have food envy of the other folks eating the chicken. Get the chicken kabob!
(5)
Jane B.
This little gem is definitely worth a visit. I purchased a Groupon and ate there for the first time on 2/20. The food was delicious and very nicely presented. As others have said there is only room for 35 people in this little neighborhood bistro with only one waiter. The slow service and forgotten item ordered lost a star for me. But I would recommend it and also go again - the food is that good.
(4)
michelle d.
I was very excited to try this restaraunt based on the menu and the feel of the place. However my server immediately ruined the experience for me. It took greater than 5 minutes to get a glass of water, and our glasses sat empty for at least ten though she was walking through the tables. I ordered a sandwich, and I received (I later discovered) the BLZ chicken medley with a side salad. The salad was very plain, with tasteless dressing and un-ripe tomatoes. The main course came with a piece of pita along with the chicken, rice, and veggies, so I assumed I was to assemble the "sandwich" myself. The food was acceptable: the rice was tasteless, the chicken decent, while the grilled veggies and pita were delicious. It took far too long to receive our order considering it's a dine-in/take-out place. The rice pudding dessert tasted great (has rosewater in it!), however the texture was more akin to tapioca pudding you can buy in the store. When the bill arrived I was charged for the wrong order, and the waitress insisted that it was my fault since I should have known I didn't receive the sandwich. She was being absolutely arrogant and refusing to charge me the cost of the sandwich. The owners (who are lovely people) overheard and thankfully changed the bill. The server gave me the cold-shoulder and glared at me until we left. Overall I would say this could be a great little restaraunt with a few tweaks to the menu and better service.
(2)
Rene A.
Slow, rude service! This was a slow night, with only a handful of other diners, but it took the waiter 15 minutes to stomp over and hastily take our drink order. When I told him that we were ready to order, he stood there with his hand on one hip and listened to our order. We started out ordering 3 appetizers (falafel, hummus and tabouli) and mint tea. 45 minutes later and no sugar for the tea, we finally got the food. The tabouli was dry, the pita was rubbery (came out in a heated plastic pouch. Can't explain that) and the hummus was unremarkable. I've had better tabouli and hummus from the deli section of the grocery store. Not once during those 45 minutes that we were waiting did the waiter ever come to our table to check up on us, or bother to see what else we'd like to order. I even had to get up at one point to go outside and feed the meter because I didn't think I'd be there for 1 hour 15 minutes for food that should've been prepared already. Unfortunately, we were not the only diners who got bad service -- other diners were mumbling under their breath about the service and had the same annoyed look on their face while looking around for the waiter. There are too many good Mediterranean restaurants in Bethesda. Don't waste your time here. The service was indifferent and diners deserve better.
(1)
Matars Z.
Oh my heavens. I hated every minute of my experience at this restaurant. From the mediocre, flavorless, uninspired dishes (anyone who thinks this is great Middle Eastern cuisine must not have had anything remotely good) - to the insulting puny half a thimble portions - the clueless wait staff and their endless errors and delays. I will never go back. We ordered four or five small plates, and two large kabob plates, and wine. My hummus literally fit into two tablespoons (flat, not piled). It had NO flavor, but that of chalk. Every tiny white dish that arrived had depth of only quarter of an inch of food material placed in the center. That is right. They SMEAR the one spoon of food in the center of the white plate, and I have never, ever felt so much taken advantage of in terms of value, in ten years of eating out in Bethesda - than at this place. For kabobs, if you combine the meat mass, you have the equivalent of ONE chunk of kabob from any of the other establishments in the area - literally 2 oz or so...and there is absolutely nothing special about the preparation... Perhaps If the food was sublime, this would still be OK. Its only MONEY, after all....right? But the food is mediocre, at best and just bland and awful for some dishes (eggplant?!). And with these prices, and with these portions, I actually felt doubly cheated. Two doors down, at Bacchus, for the same or lower prices, you can get flavorful substantial portions (the hummus is about 8x that provided here, and 10x the flavor). We had two glasses of wine with particles floating in them and somehow the wine was so sour, despite our familiarity with that label - that I still wonder WHAT they did to it - how long they had left it out, or if it was a pool with other wines - it was, in one word, vile. Our clueless waitress, who took 40 minutes to get the first little teaspoon of eggplant to our table kept making mistakes. At the end, they had the audacity to charge us for the undrinkable wine, which we returned. At close to $100 for two people, this was probably the absolute worst meal I have had in Bethesda in 2011. People will wake up sooner than later and realize there are so many great choices for kabobs and middle eastern food in the area - why go here? I predict a year of business, and then this place will be gone.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Eric B.
Very kind note from the new owner/manager regarding the pilaf standoff. It was the only thing holding me back from eating at BLZ, so I will have to return. Everything I've had there has been very good from hummus and falafel to the soltani. And yes, the pilaf of course. Looking forward to returning.
(4)Shakira S.
I truly and honestly wanted to LOVE this place, especially given the fact that it's in my neighborhood and I'm all about supporting independent businesses and family-owned restaurants. Unfortunately, after having such a terrible encounter and distasteful experience with the owner of this restaurant, Ramzi Osseiran, I will never EVER in a million years go back. The restaurant itself is very chic and well-decorated and the outdoor seating is definitely a plus. The food is actually quite tasty and Tourie, the waiter is extremely gracious, polite, and a stellar example of customer service. Ramzi, on the other hand is just the opposite. It is glaringly obvious that there is so much he ought to learn about customer relations, but for starters: 1. Do not serve corked wine. 2. Do not close your kitchen at 9:30pm on a Saturday night. 3. Do not tell a customer that he/she is welcome to order and stay at your establishment if you do not wish to stay late on account of said customer. 4. Do not ask a customer to leave in the middle of customer chewing his/her food when you in fact had informed said customer that he/she would not be rushed.
(1)Asile P.
This place is a bit small but cute with great decor. It's a fantastic spot to go to for a dinner date or close friends. My husband and I loved this place. The food was savory and flavorful. Not to mention, the staff was prompt and friendly. My husband ordered the Empress, which he could not stop talking about. I had the salmon that was just divine! Oh and cannot forget with ordered the smaller appetizer with the hummus, babaganoush, labne, and tab.
(5)Sarah G.
Very fresh Lebanese food. Excellent friendly and quick service, and a lovely ambience. All around terrific experience. Look forward to going back soon!
(5)Riddhika J.
Nice place, Snail paced service paired with mediocre food! I won't consider going here again but chicken shawarma lovers can try! We checked out this restaurant because a friend wanted to try it. The place was small but well lit with modern decor. First impression was good but as we waited for our server for 15 minutes just for taking the orders, the enthusiasm faded. We got hummus for appetizer and the pita accompanied with it was too dry . I ordered falafel wrap and while the falafel were crispy, the wrap was tasteless and lacked sauce. My friend ordered chicken shawarma and they loved it while lamb kabobs were another disappointment. It took another 15 min to get the check. They definitely have a lot of room for improvement both on service side and menu side. They should definitely consider serving non rubbery pita if not the freshly baked pita.
(2)Andrea P.
A quiet, simple restaurant with delicious dishes. Stopped in for lunch with my boss. Tried the appetizer that I was able to choose four different dishes. More than enough food!
(4)Julia A.
The service was amazing. Like truly truly wonderful. The food was just ok. It wasn't too bad. I'm glad I got my falafel sandwich because that was pretty tasty. The hummus was also quite nice. My husband ordered the shwarama sandwich/wrap and it just didn't taste that good. It was the yogurt sauce they put on it .. something tasted kind of off about it. I also ordered the tabbouleh for an appetizer (but mostly wanted it as a side to have with my falafel sandwich) which was pretty mild and not bad but they just served it as is and without any pita or anything to eat it with. Luckily our waitress (again .. PHENOMENAL service) came to the rescue and gave us some pita on the house. Not bad and the prices were ok.
(3)Harsh Deep Singh N.
This is one of those tiny places with good Mediterranean fare. Went here with a bunch of friends on a whim, and had a mixed experience. The ambiance is nice, the decor contemporary and the dining area well lit. As for the food, we loved the shawarmas, but the lamb kebabs left a lot to be desired. The lamb was tough and looked like it had been cooked in a hurry. The salad was the only saving grace of my dinner. Maybe its just my taste buds but the food did not really leave me craving for more. Service is one area where they have a lot of scope for improvement. Apparently there was only one server that night, and it took more than 30 minutes for our main course to appear, and more than 15 minutes for the check to be processed. Overall, not a place I'd strongly recommend unless you have a few hours to kill.
(3)R H.
Great value for excellent authentic Lebanese food! Great service small menu but absolutely everything is tasty and authentic especially the shawarmas (meat and chicken). In the usa i have been having problems finding a good falafel bit at lazeez it is as good as it gets! It is really lazeez (delicious from arabic)! Definitely recommend it!
(5)Moraima C.
The food here is excellent. The staff are friendly and the price is reasonable. My husband and I are regulars. Our favorite dishes are the hummus and the empress to share.
(4)Alex B.
Really good food just off the main fare in Bethesda. Hummus is so fresh and delicious. We had the beef kafta. It was perfect! Just how you want it and the side of tzatziki was knockout. The owner was super nice. Highly recommend half price bottles of wine on Monday too.
(5)Kris L.
This place really earned 3 stars for the food plus a half a star for the great service, but i'm really all about the food. The babaganoush was great but a little on the oily side. The falafel was perfection. The entrees were okay. The chic ken kabob was perfectly cooked and juicy, but the ground beef kabob was overseasoned. The rice was dry though tasty. Prefer one other place for kabobs over this place. The prices were reasonable and the service was fantastic, but I am mostly about the FOOD!
(3)Mike B.
Recently, I was down in Southwestern Virginia chatting with some friends in a wooden cabin. Naturally, the topic of hummus came up. And these are some of the quotes that came out of that conversation. "Oh, hummus is so freakin' good. Just don't leave me with a tub of hummus, I'll finish it all" "I love the sabra hummus, man I could eat that on anything." "I could just use a spoon and eat the hummus as is." Obviously, these quotes are not attributed to me. Though, I enjoy hummus... with the peppy occasional crudite or hot soft pita, I'm not lapping it up like a starved dog (like apparently my friends have been for some time). Reading back on the quotes, it sounds almost like my friends were punking me. What, were they auditioning for a hummus commercial? The dialogue almost vaguely sounds provocative. Where did they get such an insane love of store bought hummus? Well, I'll tell you one thing. Upon trying to think of a hummus that is so good that I might 'eat it with a spoon' or 'coat a leather boot', only one place comes to mind. Bistro Lazeez. Their hummus here is so good, that there is a sort of an innate anger that the portion is what it is. You think to yourself, "oh, that's right kitchen! You give us measly hummus-less plebians out here a spot of hummus to appease us... think we won't strike?" "A chick pea here and a chick pea there makes Jack a dull boy." And then you realize, it's not the French Revolution, it was only 5 dollars, and you can always order more. That and there tabbouleh here. I'm set. So, I'll amend my shock & awe... just a bit. I still think you can't get a store bought hummus that is worth shaking an olive branch at. But there are such hummus' or "hummus-i" that might make me bring out the guillotine or at least a typewriter to practice your crazy-free-hand.
(5)Dana M.
BLZ SAUCE!! Get it. Anything that has it. You'll thank me later. I had the BLZ chicken medley. Freaking delicious. It's marinated in the BLZ sauce AND it comes on the side. I would drink that stuff. It was great on the chicken, the side salad, and the roasted potatoes. Damn I need that recipe! My friends both had the chicken kebabs which were great! Only complaint is the service was pretty slow, even though the restaurant wasn't crowded at all on a Tuesday night. That won't stop me from coming back for more though! Still really want to try the baba ghanoush, hummus, falafel, labneh, and beef kofta. Anything and everything with that sauce on it.
(4)Alex W.
The Grilled Cornish Hen tasted of the same marinade as the above chicken which was a bit too tart for my dining companion, and he mistakenly poured the marinade over the pieces before trying them, adding to his woes. The pieces of poultry suffered the same fate as the above dish for they were overcooked - a casualty of being double-cooked (precooked first) and not grilled from scratch. Usually one to take home leftovers, his was not packed-up this time. The couples next to us confirmed that their chicken was equally dry. To read rest of review and view photos, check out my blog at Wongeats.
(3)Jarrod F.
Rarely does it ever happen but every once in a while yelp steers me in the wrong direction. Such is the case with bistro lazeez. I decided to try this place because of it's high rating. But I just don't see what the hype is all about. We came here on Saturday for lunch with some friends. First off, The pita bread is straight from a grocery store... plus they charge $0.75 for an extra basket. LAME. We ordered the appetizer sampler. The hummus was ok, the eggplant had too much garlic, the falafel was good but they only gave you two and the tebouleh salad was gross. Just tasted like cilantro on a plate. We all ordered combo platters and no one seemed to thrilled. The kafta kabob was not good at all. Tasted like rubber. The chicken was the best thing we had - tender and flavorful. A few skimpy vegetables and lots of rice rounded out the combo meal as we all opted out of the potato option. All in all this was a bad meal and definitely not worth the price. But what really did me in was the deserts. I think we ordered one of each because we were still hungry, but disliked all of them. For $4 each they give you the skimpiest deserts ever, which really offended me. As if I don't know how cheap it is to make Baklava!! Some nerve to charge that much for a single bite! Anyways I'm don't complaining about this one.
(1)Nick K.
Food was great. Nice indoor and outdoor seating area. It's not a huge place so calling ahead is a good idea.
(5)Umesh T.
The sampler platter was so worth it! I loved the babaghanouj. The chicken entree was succulent. All in all it was a solid good meal, but not something to write home about. I'd go back if I was in the neighbourhood.
(3)Marianne J.
A Mediterranean treasure in Bethesda at 8009 Norfolk Ave., not to be kept secret to ensure freshness will continue. Each dish was as fresh and delicious as could be. Best meal we've had so far in Bethesda. Superb. Our compliments to the chef, the owner and our waitress. Ordered the BLZ Sampler, chicken shawarma, and the chicken kabob. Thank you!
(5)Jacob M.
Excellent Middle Eastern salads, sandwiches (the felafel sandwich platter is outstanding) and entrees. The food is fresh, carefully prepared and beautifully presented. The ambiance is understated modern and very cool. It is a great choice for a casual dinner out.
(5)Deb H.
Family owned good food. The sampler appetizer was delicious..my favorite was the baba ganoush, hummus and Labne. Falafel is delicious too! Nothing here was a disappointment- even the tomato soup (an unexpected soup at a mediterrean restaurant) was perfect. Salads are my favorite here as an appetizer but the kabobs and rice are always fresh tasting and cooked perfectly. Love this place- give it a try to see for yourself! You won't be dissapointed.
(5)Karen W.
It's a beautiful fall day and a holiday to boot- so we wandered around Bethesda and came upon this charming restaurant where we decided to eat lunch... Ramzi- the new owner- brought out a table and two chairs to accommodate us - since we were accompanied by our beloved canine - Ziggy. So we enjoyed a lovely Lebanese repast along with a half price bottle of wine- their regular special on Mondays through Thursdays. The grilled eggplant and beet salad was to die for! The tomato soup was extra special with the grilled red pepper flavors... We enjoyed lots of exotic flavors in the mezze sampler we shared. To top off our meal, we also shared some homemade rice pudding with orange and rose blossom water and pistachios... I think it's time for a nap! Joe and I strongly encourage you to stop by and patronize this charming bistro! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Heather J.
3.5 stars. We went here for dinner tonight and enjoyed it. The food is fresh and very good, the atmosphere is pleasant and the service is good. We ordered the falafel salad and the chicken medley platter. The falafel salad came with four large falafel balls and pickled radishes over fresh lettuce. The salad dressing was made with sumac, which gave it a nice lemony flavor. The chicken medley platter came with a leg, thigh, and wing, all marinated in Bistro Lazeez's sauce. The chicken was served with basmati rice, grilled vegetables, and a side salad with the same dressing that was on the falafel salad. The chicken was delicious - I loved the marinade. The sides were all great, as well. There were slivered almonds on top of the rice, which I thought was a nice touch. All in all it was a nice meal, but I don't think it'll be my go-to.
(3)Emanuel A.
Sharp interior. Food is remarkable (only the Baclava needs more syrup). Our waiter, Dourée, was very smart, perceptive and friendly. Wonderul experience.
(5)Jennifer N.
Wow has Bistro Lazeez turned the beat around. I went there to meet a friend for lunch and EVERYTHING we sampled was better than what I had the first time I ate here in 2011. The fattoush was divine, and you can order it with a side of some of the best falafels I've had outside of, well yes, Amsterdam falafel house. The prices are reasonable, the service is friendly, the outdoor seating space is charming, and the food is good. Bethesda, yes to GOOD LUNCH OPTIONS!
(4)Beth L.
Delicious fresh Mediterranean food! I love to sit outside and enjoy my meal. The appetizer sampler with the dips is delicious. I love the skewered chicken entree - cooked and flavored to perfection. Warning: you will leave with garlic breath :)
(5)Jennifer G.
What a gem of a restaurant. I had an entree salad with lamb and the citrus based dressing was the perfect complement. My girlfriend and I shared a wonderful bottle of wine. And a big shout out to our waiter, Daniel! He was wonderful. This family owned restaurant deserves everyone's support. Come here, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Anthony C.
Solid, good food, though not great. I enjoyed my meal very much. The service was just OK. I don't like when table service places serve soda in a can. For heaven sake, get a fountain dispenser. I had the Pharaoh: grilled beef kafta, beef and chicken kabob. As a side I picked the potatoes, even though the waiter said their rice was "the best". The kafta and chicken were great. The beef (kabob) was very tough, and also not that tasty. The consensus (on Yelp) seems to be that their chicken kabob and rice is the way to go and I can't argue with that. Sitting outside on a cool summer evening was great, but the service out there was not good--no one ever asked if I wanted another soda and we ran out of water and had to solve that on our own. There were two other tables outside, and maybe one inside but the waiter was never around. There are several options in the Mediterranean category--I am not sure why Bethesda keeps getting the same kind of restaurants: why is there no place for Pho or a really great sandwich place? Even so, Lazeez is a pretty good choice.
(3)Nicky R.
Awesome food! Everything tasted delicious and fresh. With summer around the corner, I decided it was time to start eating a little more healthy and figured Mediterranean food was the way to go. Found this small hip restaurant and shared several of the appetizers with a friend. The baba ganoush (sp?) was amazing as well as the falafel, hummus, tabbouli and lentils. The waitress was really nice and the manager/owner? came to our table to check on us and then sent us a plate of this incredible salad for us to sample. Really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back for more!
(5)E K.
We celebrated NYE with a lovely dinner at Bistro Lazeez. We commend the new owner/chef...Ramzi...who served up a fabulous menu for our group. The hummus and grilled eggplant/beet salad are the best!
(5)Joseph C.
The food is great here! At the top of Mediterranean in Bethesda. We shared the Kafta and chicken kabob with rice and mixed vegetables, and an appetizer sampler with babaganoush, hummus, falafel, and tabbouleh. All of it was fresh, tasty, and done very well. We couldn't find one thing not to like. The portions are a bit small, but I'd eat here then go across the street and browse the watch shop any day.
(4)Mary Ann L.
We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at the bistro. We experienced excellent food, excellent service and excellent atmosphere.
(5)Jeff P.
I went here recently and had the Mediterranean potatoes, labne, and lamb kabob. The labne tasted a lot like cream cheese more than yogurt, and the potatoes were somewhat undercooked and bland. The lamb kabob with rice was very good, though a little tough. What I least liked though was that I ordered tea and was told that they had mint, green, and black. I opted for the black tea and was brought a cup of hot water with a cheap, generically-labelled, paper bag of "black tea" (that's all the label said). Not quite what I was expecting for tea that costs $2.50 a cup. I had to even ask for sugar to be brought with the tea. Overall I think this is a nice place with good decor and mediocre food that has such potential to be great, but they need to work on the quality of the dishes to get there.
(2)Dawn R.
I was in Bethesda for work, it was lunchtime, and so I trusted my fellow Yelpers to steer me in the right direction. Usually they're pretty trustworthy, so when I saw a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews for Bistro Lazeez, I felt pretty confident in my choice. But after having lunch there, all I can figure is that the owner must have a LOT of friends who use Yelp. While the food was OK, it wasn't great. I started with the Baba Ghanouj, which was EXTREMELY sour, so much so that I couldn't eat more than few bites. I then decided on the beef shawarma sandwich, which was actually not bad, although the tahini sauce was a little on the bland side. But the beef was very tender, not at all fatty, and it had just the right balance of beef to vegetables. I didn't have dessert, although they had several options on the menu that sounded pretty tasty. Overall, I wasn't really impressed with my lunch.....at least not enough to make the effort to go back. The restaurant itself was very nice....they have a nice neutral color muted decor, very clean and relaxing. They do have a decent wine list as well as several beers, and a good size outdoor dining area in the front of the restaurant. Unlike some of the other reviews on here, I didn't have any trouble at all with the service....my server was quite attentive, and didn't hesitate with recommendations when I asked. I didn't wait very long at all for my food, but to be true to the point when I arrived, there was only one other table with any patrons. By the time I left, the place was almost 3/4 full, so it's quite possible that some of those other folks may have had to wait longer for their food. With so many options in downtown Bethesda, I seriously doubt I'll be back to this mediocre location. But who knows...maybe once I've tried EVERYPLACE else, I may go back. Only time will tell.
(3)Vivian H.
We did takeout of a good variety of dishes from the menu. The apps we got -- falafel, hummus, babaghanouj, and tabouli -- were all pretty standard, but I feel a little odd paying $6 for a little container of mush. Fettoush salad was great, very flavorful. Cornucopia salad was good too but you could get that anywhere/make it yourself. Lamb kabab consisted of a few pieces of lamb, on the dry/overcooked side, a few pieces of grilled veggies, and some potatoes -- looked like leftovers... hardly the entree we thought we ordered. Now the BAKLAVA was one of the best I've had, just the right amount of sweetness/stickiness/flakiness, boosting them up from 2 to 3 stars.
(3)Steph F.
I've eaten food from Bistro Lazeez 3 times now -- once as take-out, once for lunch, and once for dinner -- and each time the food was great. I've had lamb kabobs, shwarma, and most recently chicken breast kabobs and the BLZ sampler. It was the most busy during lunch, but service was still attentive. For dinner tonight, we were the only table in there, and as we were leaving another 2 top came in. People are missing out. For the sampler, we tried the falafel, baba ganoush, yogurt dip (lebna?), and the lentil pilaf. It was all good. I just don't think I'm a fan of falafel in general, but my vegetarian friend raves about it all the time. 4 stars because I think they could give a little more grilled veg on the kabobs, but the plate was overflowing with potatoes. The meal was flavorful, nicely timed, and my water glass was refilled at least 4 times. It's a great place. Hope it manages to stay open and not meet the same fate as my other fave, Levantes.
(4)Wilson A.
We came here on a Saturday lunch and it was not too busy. We came in to inform the wait staff that we are sitting outside and they happily obliged. We had the BLZ Chicken sandwich and the Beef Kafta sandwich, along with their ice tea. Their ice tea is delicious! They brew their tea daily, making it very tasty every sip I had. As for the sandwiches, it was hot, crispy, and delicious at the same time. Flavors were bursting into my mouth with every bite. It was like eating a masterpiece! Definitely one of the best sandwiches I could get around. Service was also great! Not 5-star great, but they were definitely attentive and respectful. Our server, Hans, refilled our water constantly and cleaned our plate on a timely manner. I highly recommend this place. Great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Will definitely be back for more food.
(5)Hayes W.
My hopes were definitely high judging by all of the other reviews, and most aspects of the meal were great. The place is small, about 600-700 square feet, and seats around 30-35. It's definitely mellow and has a great environment. We ordered the baba ghanoush to start, at it was pretty good. Went a little overboard with the amount of oil, but it tasted pretty good, I'd order again. I ordered a Guava juice and it was absolutely delicious. The only problem was, I had to remind our waiter twenty minutes after I ordered it that he didn't bring it. No big deal, slight oversight, but it's not like the restaurant was packed. Whatever, mistakes happen. Our entree was "The Empress". It's a mix of chicken, beef, kala, and lamb. Comes with a side of rice or potatoes, we went with potatoes. It was pretty good, definitely cooked the way we asked (medium) and tasted like it should. Every entree comes with a salad, which we scarfed down before the meal came out. Dessert was simple, a baklava that was small but super sweet, definitely worth it to get. I'll swing back in if I'm in the neighborhood, this is another fun place we've discovered in Bethesda, overall pretty pleased.
(3)Charles O.
Dropped in for a casual dinner with a friend, and was very pleasantly surprised at the setting, service and food. The room is uncluttered, but not bare. Just enough easy-flowing decor to feel stylish without being busy. Service was quick and attentive. Granted, we were the first people there, but I noticed that other tables were getting good quality attention, too, even as the place filled up. But the real highlight was the food. Elegant presentation (for example, the sumac dusted on the hummus was arranged in a cool cross-pattern). Everything was tasty, from the baba ghanoush to the hummus to the falafel. And they were quick to accommodate my gluten-free diet, bringing rice crackers and veggies to replace the (excellent looking) fresh pita. I'd be glad to go back any time, especially when I am looking for a casual night with friends at a place with friendly service, in a pleasant setting, and, most importantly, great food.
(4)Nicole G.
I was taken here for lunch and had the falafel sandwich with hummus as my side. Everything was delicious, I just wish the lunch prices were a little lower. I definitely think I'll be back to try more though!
(4)Stephen M.
OK food at upscale prices. Sides were better than the entrees. Adequate portion sizes. Babaganoush gets 4 stars, but falafel was below average. Too many choices on the block to make this a good-to place.
(3)Leila S.
What a tasty treat! I was brought to Bistro LaZeez as a surprise and I couldn't have been more pleased. The atmosphere, the decor and most importantly, the food were all a delight. For the table, we ordered hummos, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, lentils and my personal favorite: fava beans with cilantro. We devoured all the plates, and for a brief moment we were worried we hadn't saved room for the main course. Well that was not a problem! My entrée, the grilled chicken was so well marinated and completely delicious. And as if we weren't full enough, we decided to order dessert! How could we resist the homemade vanilla ice cream with rose water and pistachio? It was even better than we could have hoped for. One friend said it was the best ice cream she had ever tasted. Ever! Even on our very full stomachs, we were scraping the bowl. As someone who has had all types of Mediterranean food, I can honestly say I couldn't have had a better experience. I will be going back to Bistro LaZeez for more!
(5)Carla B.
A small and quaint little restaurant, Bistro Lazeez is a good option for a calm afternoon lunch. Not quite empty enough to be a ghost restaurant, but also not too noisy to be annoying. We ordered an appetizer of hummus, which was delicious and creamy, and I ordered the falafel sandwich. I was a bit disappointed to find only two vegetarian options for lunchtime (the falafel sandwich and a lentil soup). I'm not quite sure if this is different for the dinner menu. Anyway, the falafel sandwich was very flavorful and even included beets, which was a pleasant surprise! I could only finish half of it, so I took the other half home to eat later. Two meals for one, score! Each sandwich comes with a side, so I decided to get the grilled veggies. They were good, but I was not blown away. I did however, LOVE the grilled asparagus side, which my mom ordered (and I stole from her :) ). One thing that I was disappointed about was that the service was a bit slow. It took them 15 minutes to bring out our initial drink order. Tea. Not terribly complicated, especially considering, at the time, there were only two other groups at the restaurant. All that aside, I did enjoy the experience. The food was good, but not amazing, and the environment was a good place to enjoy company without having to strain to hear or yell to make conversation. I might go back again, but I certainly won't be bending over backwards to do so.
(3)Sara B.
I have been here a few times and always enjoy the food. I come mainly for lunch and have the chicken shawarma sandwich with tahini sauce. I really like how the sandwiches are rolled up in a flat bread pita type thing. Also tasty is the falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, and fatoush (after some salt). I also love their fava bean appetizer - very garlicky! I did try the chicken kabab and rice once, was not too impressed. I think there are better places to get kabab platters in the area. EDIT: Recently came again and shared the Fiesta for Two - which is a whole chicken with pita bread, grilled veggies, rice and house salad. It was all good and a good value for a dinner for two. We did not have to order any appetizers. I continue to like this place :)
(4)Lauren B.
Pretty good. A little expensive for lunch but the chicken shawarma was delicious.
(4)Stephanie O.
Love this place! After moving to Northern VA from NYC I noticed a serious lack of good Mediterranean food. Until I found this place. The atmosphere is great - casual and small but still nice, and the food is the best Mediterranean I've had since leaving NY. Bonus points for hormone and antibiotic-free meat and using natural ingredients. I'd drive up to Bethesda again for this place.
(5)Shez A.
I was definitely surprised as I walked in for the first time last night by how nice the inside looked! I had assumed this place was super casual and was not expecting the nice decor inside. Service was fast and the food looked beautiful. Was it the best Beef Kafta Kabob I've ever had? No, but it was still very good. The rice, veggies and yogurt that came with it were delicious and the crispy piece of bread that they serve on top was really, really yummy. I've never seen that before and I've had a lot of kababs from a lot of different kabab joints! I tried the grilled salmon from my friend's plate and that was also very well-cooked and well-seasoned. I was definitely pleased by the level of quality and service (especially considering the reasonable prices) and will definitely be coming back!
(4)Jenna A.
This place is incredible!!! True neighborhood gem!!! The food is out of this world! Not to miss items are their babaganoush (smoked eggplant makes all the difference!), flafel, chicken and pistashio ice cream! I can not say enough wonderful things about this place and the fantastic owner, Reda, and staff!
(5)E. F.
Went here with a LivingSocial coupon. We came in at the end of lunch hours, so it was pretty much dead and the food came out quickly. Hummus was hummus. It wasn't the best that I've had, but it had nice texture and flavor. The side salad that came with the meal was delicious. Okay, the DRESSING was delicious. The reviewer who claimed everything was too sour may have been reacting poorly to the amount of sumac that's in the dressing. If you are sensitive to sour things, ask for your dressing on the side to test it out. I loved it and it reminded me that I want to make some fattoush dressing for salads at home. I got the lamb kabobs and while the lamb was a bit on the overcooked side, it was still very good. I loved the potatoes (but beware if you are a cilantro hater, there's a good deal of it on them!), and the grilled veggies, while a small portion, were fresh and tasty. My boyfriend got the falafel sandwich and said it was very good. He knows falafel since that's the go-to Mediterranean dish for vegetarians. ;-) I would definitely eat here again. I'd like to try the falafel myself next time!
(4)Jill M.
The restaurant is small, but wasn't too busy and we were seated immediately. I was starving and we ordered an awesome spread of middle eastern food. We got baba ganoush, falafel w/ pickled radish, salad, grilled veggies, rice, and an assortment of kebabs... all for $30 each! It was a great price, and everything was spot on. I'm particularly picky about falafel, and theirs was crispy but not greasy or mushy. Surprisingly, I forgot to try the hummus, which is usually a good measure for comparing middle eastern restaurants, but the baba ganoush was creamy and wonderful. The beef, chicken, lamb, and kafta kebabs were well flavored and not over-cooked, with the kafta being my favorite. They had a nice assortment of dessert to offer, but sadly I was too stuffed for even a piece of baklava after that feast.
(4)Elizabeth B.
A wonderful find, tiny little restaurant in downtown Bethesda offering the most delicately spiced kababs and middle eastern fare. Everything here was more flavorful than variants I had eaten elsewhere on a beautifully arranged plate at a very reasonable price. I had the "Zenoubia" combo plate of ground beef kafta and chicken kabab with basmati rice & grilled veggies and also sampled my friend's lamb kabab. All were exquisitely flavored and the staff were very friendly and attentive, we'll definitely be heading back there soon!!!! (and often!)
(5)Matthew F.
This place is where many customers fell into victims of nice interior decor with poor quality of food and culinary skills coming straight from any high school home economics class. Please try to visualize the dining experience we had tonight. We ordered two different dishes of beef kabob and chicken kabob as entree.We sat outside and waited for our dinner for more than 40 minutes with the restaurant was about half full. The dinner finally arrived our table and we were ready to enjoy the dinner. As I was about digging my fork into the dish, first thing I saw was a huge square bowl shaped of mounting rice (think of rice roni) in the middle of dish along with three little chunks of meat, one slice of green peppers, two slices of onion, and a quarter of pita which resembled an Amy's pita chip on top of the dish. (This is it, no sauce or anything). No spices and food was very bland! I felt incredibly insulted and possibly economically violated after eating the dinner because I didn't think about returning the food on a Friday at 9 PM. I was very hungry and ate some of my dinner then I finally stopped eating after thinking "Why am I eating this for $16.00." I told the owner about the dinner I had. he said sorry.. "the vegetables are expensive." I am like.. oh gee.. thanks for making me paying $16.00 for a sliced of green pepper. I just hope you'll be better prepared than I was for a dining experience and paying $16.00 for a dish for little chunks of meat with rice roni! Please think twice before you try this place. :-)
(1)E K.
Fresh, delicious homestyle cuisine. My 12 year old and 6 year old loved it "one of the best meals I've ever had", said my 12 year old! I always order the BLZ sampler as my main. The Mixed Grill portions are generous. The kids menu is respectful of kids - smaller portionsof the adult menu (rather than deep fried, cheese-laden junkfood that is so often what's on offer). The premises are simple, clean, modern...don't expect a fancy date meal here...go to Bacchus a bit further up the road for that. This is more of a neighborhood eatery, which is why I love it. Great for lunch and dinner.
(5)Elissar K.
Pretty disappointing considering all the glowing reviews. The food is decent but nothing remarkable. The portions are quite puny compared to my favorite Middle Eastern restaurants. I got the lamb/chicken kabob platter and there were three small chunks of each meat -- probably about half of what I was expecting. The rice portion was more than enough but I ordered a kabob platter, not a rice platter sprinkled with a few pieces of meat. The garlic sauce is way too watery. The salad veggies were fresh but the dressing was underwhelming. I admit I am a bit hard to please when it comes to Middle Eastern food, being able to cook most of it myself, but regardless, there are way better options.
(3)Udunnome B.
Tell you the truth, all the great reviews on Yelp got me interested in trying this place out for a quiet dinner with my gf on a thursday night. Of course, with any reviews you read on yelp or any other sites, you must always read it with a healthy dose of skepticism. So, I did. I was cautious and yet open minded about what was to come. It was very chilly night. Probably around mid 20 something degrees in fahrenheit. Bethesda is infamous for having or lack of parking spots but on this night, there were many convinient spots available. I'm guessing it was the cold weather because Bethesda gets pretty packed even on thursday nights. The place is located on the edge of the block and it's tiny. So, be on the look out because I missed it the first time around. The interior decor is new and furnitures are fairly new. Considering how small the restaurant is , the spaces between tables are generous. We ordered hummus for appetizer which was mediocre at best but they provided plenty of bread to supplant the abundant hummus. I felt hummus was lacking in flavor but my gf thought otherwise. Overall, it was meh at best. For entrees, my gf ordered Sultan plate which consisted of marinated beef and chicken kabobs with yellow rice and garnished with tomatoes, lettuce, onions and crispy bread piece on top. I ordered chicken kabobs with exactly the same sides as my gf's plate. The beef was a bit pungent for my taste. Spices were overwhelming the first bite but as you continually bite into it, you get used to it. Rice was also mediocre. Not bad or good. Just decent to fill your carbohydrate needs. Now, the chicken was the BOMB. It was juicy, perfectly marinated and grilled just right to give great consistency when chewed. I loved it. As many people noted below, you must try the chicken. Overall, initially the portion of each plate seem small but they are not. They are perfectly portioned. Unless you are 240 pounds and eat like there' no tommarow. While, we were eating, the service was good. Our water cup was constantly filled when needed and bread basket was refilled. Waiter was not intrusive at all. The music was playing in the background at a noticeable level but not too loud. It was just right. Maybe it was the courteous crowd who spoke in low to moderate decibels or because it was a slow night, the ambiance was magical. Finally, I was about to ask for a check but the waiter suggested a homemade pistachio ice cream. So, we gave in. It is the most delicious ice cream I ever had!!! Two hands down. No joke. You need to try this fantastic ice cream. Shame on you if you don't when you visit here. No, I am not done yet. When we got the check, all the food we ordered totalled less than 30 bucks!!! Of course, we each had a glass of wine which took us over 50 dollars. But, the low prices are just awsome. Only downside of this place is that because the place is so small, when the main entrance door opens, cold air fills the room quickly. So, maybe a heater by the doorway could alleviate this problem and I could bump this review to 5 stars? All in all, it was a delightful and enjoyable dinner we had in a while.
(4)Hungry H.
Delicious food, great service, and interesting decor - all around a great dining experience.
(5)Izzat A.
Great food and the service is wonderful. The owner is a great guy.
(4)Yasamin S.
I was visiting from out of town and my friend took me to Bistro Lazeez since I missed Mediterranean food, I'm from Houston and Persian. It was restaurant week so I got to try alot of the appetizers as well. The appetizer sampler in it self can be a whole meal, I got falafel, lentil, hummus, and tabooli. They were really generous portions that I had enough for lunch the next day. The falafels were delicious, especially the mixed pickled that come with it. The hummus was good, as well as the tabooli. The lentil is rice and lentils and it was delicious, just like my mom's. For the entree I got the chicken kabob and I had one piece, only to try because I was so stuffed after I ate the appetizers. It was very moist and well marinated. The rice was excellent and that extra crispy pita, yum. For desert I had bakalava with tea, it hit the spot. If I lived in the area, I would go to this restaurant all the time. I loved the atmosphere, the decor is modern, people were so friendly, it is such a cute place.
(5)john c.
This is a joke right! I went to this place about 2 weeks ago for carry out, Being Lebanese and home sick i thought i would deviate from my favorite spot and try this place that buzzing with 5 star reviews. 1. This place is to Lebanese food as a Mcrib is to BBQ 2. Just because your friends think the food you make at home is good doesn't mean you can open a restaurant and charge for your inedible food. 3.the only edible thing i ordered was the chicken skewer in a rather expensive combo with rice and kafta. it was more that 15 bucks (jip) the falafel was about 20% oil dripping all over my table when i took a bite. the taratour (tahini) was watered down with absolutely no other flavor than the sesame paste. Do DC a favor and stop asking your buddies to leave a 5 or 4 star review for this place because i don't think it is edible and anyone with taste would agree. 1 star food for 4 star prices,food is a Joke On a positive note the bathroom was clean and the decor is nice.
(1)Monkee C.
BL satisfied my falafel/baba ghanouj/beef shawarma jonesing, and did it on the cheap. As the other Yelpers have noted, it's a small joint (literally 10 tables, 3 two tops and the rest fours) but it's more cozy inside than cramped, and the decor is somewhat unexpected but chic (it looks like a West Elm catalog). Food was excellent, especially the falafel and baba ghanouj. My only con food wise were the pita - I think we got a less fresh batch. Otherwise the price was almost bargain basement for the quality. I'll definitely be back when I need me some more Med noms.
(4)Henri-Nicolas G.
I am very pleased with this restaurant. The owner Reda Asaad is my Arabic teacher(this encouraged me to come). His waiters are guest friendly and are easy to converse with. The food is simple, foolproof and just plainly delicious! My favorite dish is the Beef Kafta, this dish brings in delicious Syrian and Lebanese cooking styles and ingredients. The dish starts with the delicious and juicy flavor if the beef, then the moist and colorful taste of the rice, after that; a jolt of light spiciness gushes into your mouth. After all this, I top off my meal with Reda's signature homemade ice cream: Vanilla and pistachio! My favorite! Overall, this restaurant's food, service and atmosphere really tell me: "Why go to Lebanese Taverna when I can get this with a smile and good food as oppose to cheap food and a poor service?!"
(5)mike b.
We were at an art show at washington school of photography and had a party of 8. The food was delicious, the prices very reasonable and the service excellent (the service noticed on his own that the candle on our table had gone out and came over and re-lit it). I had the falafel salad and it was quite good.
(4)Maggie W.
I had lunch here earlier this afternoon and came right home to review it so I can remember how delicious it is! I got the appetizer sampler: hummus, falafel, lentil pilaf, and baba ghanouj (The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that I asked for the fava bean saute, and got baba ghanouj.) Everything was awesome! I definitely recommend the lentil pilaf and their special crispy thin pita, they were really unique. The hummus and falafel were really good but nothing that blows the competition away. The atmosphere is really cute and casual too, the design of the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous--even their pita bowls are really well designed. I would give them ten stars for interior design skills!
(4)C P.
Well priced take out menu for lunch. Food was just ok. nice small restaurant with friendly staff.
(3)Bill P.
COLD Monday night yet brisk dinner crowd handled all by server Hans :) Maybe a hott female counterpart will be added soon!!!!???? Mmmm? Started with the HUGE square bowl of lentl soup $4.99......hott and thick and delicious on a cold winter's night. It's all the rave so went with the Chicken Kabob meal next......8 delectable chunks of perfectly cooked chicken in a mysterious tangy sauce that in a HUGE bed of soft and fluffy basmati rice and grilled peppers and onions on side with crunchy corn meal tortilla also. $12.99. Wonderful Ridda there and he is IN ON every aspect of his restaurant from the cooking to decor to knowing all of the reviews/reviewers and the Bethesda scene in general. What's that? OH NO....I couldn't :) Bill, you will eat my Lebanese homemade vanilla bean ice cream and you will like it!!!!!! :) UH, OK!!!!! Big bowl and it is seriously creamy and delicious. This place is a gem!!!!! Happy hour will get rolling for the warmer months ahead!!!!!!
(5)Edward L.
the GF and I started the meal off with BLZ Sampler: Hummus, Falafel, Fava Bean Saute, and Tabbouli. The fave beans was the best thing on the plate, but everything tasted good except the Hummus cause it needed more lemon. For an entree we shared the sultan: grilled lamb and chicken kabab on a bed of basmati rice and grilled vegies. The lamb was really tender and flavorful, but the chicken was dry. Overall everything tasted good except for the Hummus and Chicken.
(4)Sabeen A.
Repeat offender - and each visit was just as good as the last. Gold, fairy dust, and love. Just sayin'.
(5)Bandar E.
Just updating my review, I've eaten here a few more times since they opened....It continues to knock it out of the park. The chicken kabob dish is just unreal, I dunno what dark magic is happening in the kitchen, but I can't think of a tastier grilled chicken dish anywhere....and this often means driving in from Rosslyn for a taste. Also, a tip I havent seen on Yelp, for an authentic treat, try their arabic style ice cream....It is beyond delightful....there has to be some other word for it althought I am not quite sure what.
(5)Sandy C.
Lazeez. is fresh and very mediterranean. Honestly, if tastes like home cooked food. The food is light and seasoned just right. The service is a little slow and for how busy they get at lunch and the space is a bit tight. Regardless, I always come back for the food when I have an hour to kill for lunch.
(4)Peg L.
Cozy clean and modern restaurant. Friendly staff. Fresh and delicious food. Nice presentation.
(5)Kevin K.
I visited on Friday night for a dinner. The place was very clean and well decorated (seems like new place) for neighborhood restaurant. It is Mediterranean restaurant (it was not clear on yelp). Waiting staffs were friendly and helpful. I decided to seat out since the weather was so nice. I ordered their chicken dinner for two with two side orders. Of course my choice was humus and rice. Humus and pita bread were very good on the side. The rice came with chicken in same bowl which I didn't prefer. I also smelled a little bit of lamb smells from rice. The chicken dinner was very tasty even though it was a bit of salty for my liking. Seem like they serving beer and wine there but I didn't try. I wish they had fountain soda machine.... Anyways, was this place the best place for Mediterranean food? No, I have been to better places, but it is good enough for casual dinning with family and friends without breaking the bank..... Cheers...
(3)Cassidy M.
I really like the food at Bistro Lazeez. And yesterday evening was no exception. However, one of the sticking points has always been the staff there, who really need to take a 20 minute lesson in "How Not to be a Bad Waiter." Yesterday's evening demonstrated this clearly to me, and I feel it should be pointed out. My girlfriend does not eat gluten and she wanted a falafel sandwich. However, she requested to the waitress that the pita be put on the side and all the components be put on a plate. However, the waitress immediately and emphatically said that NO, this would not be possible. Surprised, we both inquired as to why, and her reasoning was that "the owner and the kitchen doesn't like deviating from the menu." This is a pretty lame excuse, as you are JUST REMOVING THE PITA FROM THE MEAL. It isn't a laborious exercise for anyone to accomplish. But I suppose strict adherence to the menu is more important than having a satisfied customer. I will probably return to Bistro Lazeez -- again, the food is still very good -- but I recommend that people stay away if they or someone in their party has a dietary restriction. The staff demonstrated that they really could care less.
(2)Aimee C.
have you ever eaten a meal and before you're even done eating the last bite, you're already a) kind of wishing you could invent a time machine to go back in time to before you ate so that you can do it all over again? and b) barring the whole time machine thing, you're already thinking about how soon you can come back for more? ....yeah...that's what eating at bistro lazeez is like. times infinity. love love LOOOOOOOOOVE this place! bethesda is an adorable little city full of delightful places to eat and drink. but bistro lazeez stands out head and shoulders above the rest for ease, friendliness, value, quality and extreme deliciousness.
(5)Carmen D.
Come here periodically, great food and service!
(4)Martin M.
We loved it. Great, healthy food for a family of four, in a cozy friendly place that looks sparkly clean. Very nice service from the beginning to end, and a real treat for eyes and palates.
(5)Alex A.
This really an excellent place. Price is great, good food and nice casual atmosphere. I like the way they offer the meals in their unique packages. Highly recommended.
(5)Ido A.
They have delicious, wonderful, fresh food! Friendly staff and warm and beautiful atmosphere! Thank you for the great service! This is our "go-to" place now for tasty, tender kabobs, amazing pita bread on the grill, and my wife's favorite fava bean dish. I really feel like I am eating home cooked food when we are there!
(5)Chandan D.
Lotsa people give this place a lot of stars. I had the chicken kabob sandwich and I'd say that it was mediocre. A little too much tartness, the meat was underseasoned. Also, the pitas with the baba ganoush were cold. I think there might be a lot of other middle eastern restaurants in the D.C. area that are better. Not sure if I just ordered the wrong thing, but there you have it.
(3)Athea B.
I went here last weekend and the place empty except for a sort of drunk lecturer telling the owner, who is Lebanese by the way, Lebanese history. Anyway, I visited as my foodie countdown tour before I leave for Monterey and the food was so fresh. The Baba Ghanouj was excellent. I was not expecting the cracker crispness from the pita but not bad. I must say I enjoyed it and my friend who isn't apt to try new foods liked it too.
(3)Debbie S.
This place was ok. The food was tasty but the portions were tiny and the pita was dry and very thin, not to mention scarce.
(3)Al A.
Okay service. Great food (try the baba ghannouj!).
(4)martha f.
These guys are pros! Consistently friendly servers, and the food is always delicious. I keep meaning to try different dishes but then every time end up ordering the falafel again, it is so good. Next time...
(5)Jason L.
Living in small towns in the South for most of one's life doesn't afford many opportunities for Mediterranean food. The first time I really had authentic Mediterranean fare was last November in San Diego and I was itching to eat it again after visiting DC. I quickly scanned Yelp for Mediterranean places near my hotel and was happy to see La Zeez which had very favorable reviews and deservedly so. For starters this place is very small on the inside. There is probably room for about 30-35 patrons tops but the seating arrangement doesn't make it seem too crowded. The decor leans toward modern and is mostly black in nature. Extremely clean inside and kitchen was also clean and seemed very efficiently organized. Just don't head here with a large party (the absolute most this place could cram into one table would be 8 souls). We ordered the falafel as an appetizer and it was divine. I even looked at the sig-o and asked, "Is falafel always this good?". I ordered the lamb kabob which was delicious. The lamb was tender and flavorful. The Mediterranean potatoes and seasoned veggies were seasoned perfectly I will let the sig-o tell you more about his dish. Service was good but not exceptional. Don't miss this place if you are visiting Bethesda or live near by. Would definitely return here again.
(4)L W.
I like this place - it is clean, unpretentious, and well-priced, and all the food I have tasted is very good. I especially enjoy the BLZ chicken sandwich and the labne (strained yogurt dip of sorts). I find myself going going back there fairly frequently. The only con is service is a bit slow, but as long as your not in a hurry, it's a nice atmosphere, so who cares!? I would recommend to anyone interested in something simple yet flavorful and delicious.
(4)Jessica F.
Mostly all I have to say is the falafel almost made me weep it was so good. Also it was really cute inside and so not expensive...hooray!
(5)Todd B.
2 words: a MAZING! This place should be a magnet for anyone looking for food so fresh and flavorful it makes your tongue buzz. Since we found out that it was open, we tried it on a Thursday, and have gone back 6 times in 10 days. Is there something wrong with that? No way. The food is fresh, not overwhelming, and the owner and chef Reda doesn't try to do too much - just enough to make you addicted to LaZeez. Go try this little hidden gem in the Bethesda triangle - if you like med. food, you will flip for LaZeez.
(5)W E.
Been searching for a decent Sharwama...found the best one at Lazeez. Both beef and chicken are worth it. Haven't ventured to the rest of the menu which is the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars
(4)dal s.
I went to this cozy restaurant last weekend with my family and truly enjoyed not only the simple modern decor with soothing Arabic music in the background, but also the excellent food. Being of Arab descent, I'm pretty critical when it comes to middle eastern restaurants but the food at this place was outstanding. The tabouleh salad was amazing, the falafel was excellent, and the chicken kabob was marinated so well and cooked to perfection. I will definitely be back to this establishment for more!
(5)Aya D.
Wonderful place! Inexpensive, great food and great service!
(5)Stephen R.
Always great food. Delicately flavored. Ample quantities. Prompt and courteous wait staff. A pleasure to eat there.
(4)Beth K.
The food is just delicious; We had a sampler of appetizers, homos, baba ganosh, falafel and tabbouleh; Excellent salad and then kabobs. The lamb and beef were just excellent. Lovely atmosphere and service. Great value. Can't wait to go back
(4)Jessica B.
My friend and I went here recently for dinner on a Thursday night. It was very small and kind of cozy. There was only one or two other groups when we arrived and the waitress told us to sit anywhere. I wanted to try both the chicken kabob and beef kabob and the waitress graciously let me substitute to make my own combo. Both meats were amazingly seasoned. The rice was amazing as well. And the pita. Holy God the pita. So freakin good. Next time I'm there I will definitely order more and try the hummus. I also loved the salad. The dressing was delicious. The only thing that didn't blow my mind was the veggies that came with the entree. There weren't many and they were a bit cold, probably because I am a super slow eater and I ate everything else on my plate first. Overall I highly recommend this place!
(4)Aya K.
When I review a restaurant I combine the food quality with the service for the star rating. In this case, the food was 3.5-4 stars- we had the appetizer sampler with falafel, hummus, lentil pilaf and Baba Gaboush. For main course we shared the Emperor - the chicken was on the dry size. Both dish were nicely presented. That is where the good part ends. Service was horrible. The restaurant was pretty empty but we waited 30 minutes for the appetizer only to realize it was accidentally given to the wrong table. Then it took 10 more minutes to get it- 40 min for an appetizer?? when most of it is already pre-made. The main course also took 20 min after we finished the appetizer. Luckily we were not in a hurry but this made the whole experience unpleasant. * This was not our first time here and I don't remember the service being so bad previously, but it was bad enough this time that we will probably not come back.
(2)Laura A.
I have to admit, I initially visited becase of the convenience (I work nearby) and decor (don't miss that wallpaper), but I've been back several times for the food. Thus far I've sampled the hummus, tabbouli, baba ghanouj, several sandwiches and a side salad. The hummus is my favorite ever (and I like me some hummus). The only thing not perfect was the salad. The texture was great, but the dressing could have been more flavorful. That said, I didn't think it merited knocking off a star. Certainly worth a visit, and a great spot for a casual but still classy date.
(5)Kim N.
I go out of my way to support local small businesses, which is how I ended up at LaZeez. On the positive side, the decor was pleasant, the restaurant and bathrooms clean, and the food quite good. On the room-for-improvement side, the service was unacceptably slow as there was only one waiter for the entire restaurant tonight... very frustrating to hungry customers. The drink menu is also rather sparse... a few more options would be welcome.
(3)Katie M.
GET THE CHICKEN KABOB! The tabouleh was also the best I've ever had. Went with a large group and tried every appetizer on the menu, two of the sandwiches and all the kabobs. It is a solid middle eastern lunch/dinner spot. What sets this place apart is the chicken kabob. I've never had any as good, and I've eaten a lot of Kabob in my life. If you order something else, you will have food envy of the other folks eating the chicken. Get the chicken kabob!
(5)Jane B.
This little gem is definitely worth a visit. I purchased a Groupon and ate there for the first time on 2/20. The food was delicious and very nicely presented. As others have said there is only room for 35 people in this little neighborhood bistro with only one waiter. The slow service and forgotten item ordered lost a star for me. But I would recommend it and also go again - the food is that good.
(4)michelle d.
I was very excited to try this restaraunt based on the menu and the feel of the place. However my server immediately ruined the experience for me. It took greater than 5 minutes to get a glass of water, and our glasses sat empty for at least ten though she was walking through the tables. I ordered a sandwich, and I received (I later discovered) the BLZ chicken medley with a side salad. The salad was very plain, with tasteless dressing and un-ripe tomatoes. The main course came with a piece of pita along with the chicken, rice, and veggies, so I assumed I was to assemble the "sandwich" myself. The food was acceptable: the rice was tasteless, the chicken decent, while the grilled veggies and pita were delicious. It took far too long to receive our order considering it's a dine-in/take-out place. The rice pudding dessert tasted great (has rosewater in it!), however the texture was more akin to tapioca pudding you can buy in the store. When the bill arrived I was charged for the wrong order, and the waitress insisted that it was my fault since I should have known I didn't receive the sandwich. She was being absolutely arrogant and refusing to charge me the cost of the sandwich. The owners (who are lovely people) overheard and thankfully changed the bill. The server gave me the cold-shoulder and glared at me until we left. Overall I would say this could be a great little restaraunt with a few tweaks to the menu and better service.
(2)Rene A.
Slow, rude service! This was a slow night, with only a handful of other diners, but it took the waiter 15 minutes to stomp over and hastily take our drink order. When I told him that we were ready to order, he stood there with his hand on one hip and listened to our order. We started out ordering 3 appetizers (falafel, hummus and tabouli) and mint tea. 45 minutes later and no sugar for the tea, we finally got the food. The tabouli was dry, the pita was rubbery (came out in a heated plastic pouch. Can't explain that) and the hummus was unremarkable. I've had better tabouli and hummus from the deli section of the grocery store. Not once during those 45 minutes that we were waiting did the waiter ever come to our table to check up on us, or bother to see what else we'd like to order. I even had to get up at one point to go outside and feed the meter because I didn't think I'd be there for 1 hour 15 minutes for food that should've been prepared already. Unfortunately, we were not the only diners who got bad service -- other diners were mumbling under their breath about the service and had the same annoyed look on their face while looking around for the waiter. There are too many good Mediterranean restaurants in Bethesda. Don't waste your time here. The service was indifferent and diners deserve better.
(1)Matars Z.
Oh my heavens. I hated every minute of my experience at this restaurant. From the mediocre, flavorless, uninspired dishes (anyone who thinks this is great Middle Eastern cuisine must not have had anything remotely good) - to the insulting puny half a thimble portions - the clueless wait staff and their endless errors and delays. I will never go back. We ordered four or five small plates, and two large kabob plates, and wine. My hummus literally fit into two tablespoons (flat, not piled). It had NO flavor, but that of chalk. Every tiny white dish that arrived had depth of only quarter of an inch of food material placed in the center. That is right. They SMEAR the one spoon of food in the center of the white plate, and I have never, ever felt so much taken advantage of in terms of value, in ten years of eating out in Bethesda - than at this place. For kabobs, if you combine the meat mass, you have the equivalent of ONE chunk of kabob from any of the other establishments in the area - literally 2 oz or so...and there is absolutely nothing special about the preparation... Perhaps If the food was sublime, this would still be OK. Its only MONEY, after all....right? But the food is mediocre, at best and just bland and awful for some dishes (eggplant?!). And with these prices, and with these portions, I actually felt doubly cheated. Two doors down, at Bacchus, for the same or lower prices, you can get flavorful substantial portions (the hummus is about 8x that provided here, and 10x the flavor). We had two glasses of wine with particles floating in them and somehow the wine was so sour, despite our familiarity with that label - that I still wonder WHAT they did to it - how long they had left it out, or if it was a pool with other wines - it was, in one word, vile. Our clueless waitress, who took 40 minutes to get the first little teaspoon of eggplant to our table kept making mistakes. At the end, they had the audacity to charge us for the undrinkable wine, which we returned. At close to $100 for two people, this was probably the absolute worst meal I have had in Bethesda in 2011. People will wake up sooner than later and realize there are so many great choices for kabobs and middle eastern food in the area - why go here? I predict a year of business, and then this place will be gone.
(1)