Friday, October 6, 2017

Mezze - A Middle Eastern Marvel!

Mezze is another new restaurant that has cropped up. But wait, it's not your usual run off the mill place. This place serves delightful cuisine from the Middle Eastern region. I have always been intrigued by exquisite delicacies from the regions of Lebanon, Turkey, Greece etc and this one is a great addition as they serve such exotic stuff not usually available.

The place as such is small and shrouded in a quiet street off R A Puram. Parking space is ample though there isn't valet facility available. It's not a full fledged fine dining kind of space hence you wouldn't really expect it. It's like a boutique restaurant with the wall arts presenting a kaleidoscope of creations. These regions are known to infuse different colours and you could find a bit of kitschiness in the surrounding. It ain't too obtrusive and is well played within the space constraints.

Staying just a road away and being hearing all the things about this place, I couldn't hold back for long and hence decided to give this outlet a visit. The menu is simple with not too many items stacked but just about right with options. I went for a hot Mezze in the form of a Harissa Sambusa and a cold Mezze was an obvious choice of hummus with pita bread.

A Sambussa is the Middle Eastern equivalent of the Indian samosa and is semi circular in shape as opposed to triangular with the similarity being both are stuffed and loaded. This Sambussa was filled with potatoes and entangled with a string of cheese. And for touch up was a Harissa dip which is an orangish chilli paste which it went along very well with. It was absolute melt in the mouth stuff and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now, Hummus is a thing which I love very much. There is an enticing taste to it and i don't know what it's about but that subterfuge should be handled really well to get the desired taste. It's subtle yet creamy and this version of it was top notch. I have a thing for Hummus and this is one dish which i love getting down and dirty with. Dump it in the pita bread and eat or else just get whacky by pruning with a fork or even hand and shove it inside the mouth. I totally digged this one which satisfied every bit of my taste buds.

Being a single diner, I didn't go for desserts. There are quite a few items which i have zeroed on in the menu which I am craving to try on my next visits. The service was of high order and very helpful in enabling me to choose what I wanted. Also patient enough to clear all doubts. Mezze's usually are small plates but I found the quantity to be a bit too exiguous. That was my only grinch as it just got over so soon.

Overall a nice little place in this neck of the woods. In and around this locality is known for pretty good North Indian and South Indian food not to forget even a choice of lovely dessert places but nothing as distinctive and arousing as something like this which has transcended from the Ottoman empire to being popular in the kitchens of the Middle east and Mediterranean region. Welcoming this venture with open arms and surely this place can expect my visit more often.

No comments: