It’s not often that you have a perfect evening from start to finish- but this was our experience on this visit to Mezza Grill. The company you keep and the quality of S.A.M. (Service, Atmosphere, Menu) will make or break your night out. So, with good friends who appreciate S.A.M. as much as we do, we headed to Mezza Grill for appetizers and hookah. 

Our attentive and knowledgeable waiter brought a carafe of sangria chock full strawberries, oranges, peaches & other fruits, along with 2 (Lebanese) Almasa beers. We told him we weren’t in the mood for a large meal, but rather, mezze- small portions of their best menu items to share amongst the four of us. He assured us he knew what we wanted and said to trust him- he would “care for our meal.”  

After a toast we took in our surroundings, which truly transport you from a strip mall in the ‘burbs to a warm Mediterranean café, where you would expect a belly dancer to come sashaying down the isle at any moment! Earthy tones of deep reds, yellows & browns mesh with decorative hookah pipes and Turkish, Lebanese, and Egyptian accents; soft music floats over the small pond & throughout the room, and the lights are low. They use their small space beautifully, & the night was off to a comfortable start. 

The first course of mezze arrived quickly & our waiter did not disappoint with his choices! He started us with a generous Mezza sampler: falafel with tahini dip, hummus, baba ghannouj, & dolma. I would be writing forever if I described each item, each impressive nuance, so suffice it to say that if you enjoy this type of cuisine- Mezza Grill rivals the top trendy mezze restaurants in D.C., without question. We also ordered spanakopita- spinach, feta cheese & dill prepared in layers of Phyllo dough, which was well-balanced and simply scrumptious. Saganaki is a personal favorite dish of mine, and Mezza Grill served it up in a way I hadn’t seen before. Normally it’s a bit greasy- fried and melted in a crust, but at Mezze Grill, the chucks of slightly warm cheese arrive in a bowl covered with a very fine olive oil, a number of spices and lemon wedges- oh my… it melted in my mouth and was truly my most enjoyable meatless dish of the evening. 

Once we razed through these dishes, another fruit-laden carafe of Sangria & a pair of Almasas appeared with a massive platter of meats & generous side of warm, fluffy basmati rice, delivered by our waiter & the always gracious owner. He pointed out the marinated hunks of tender lamb, delicately seasoned filet, and my personal favorite- kofte (finely ground lamb & sirloin mixed with more spices than I can identify) all surrounding a pile of freshly grilled & quartered tomatoes, peppers and sweet onions.

Over more easy conversation we slowly devoured every delectable bite with relish. Each meat had true character- there was no mistaking the distinctiveness of each dish.  Mezza Grill doesn’t dump one “exotic” seasoning on everything; every bite has its own personality, which is precisely as it should be. 

At 9:00pm, the hookah lounge officially opened, & our hookah expert arrived with a new menu of standard and exotic flavors to choose from.  {If you don’t already know, a hookah is a stylish, large pipe with one or several hoses attached. The water-filled base of the pipe collects the smoke, created by coals which heat the shisha- tobacco leaves flavored with exotic tastes like Passion Fruit, Rose, Black Cherry, White Grape and even Chocolate Mint. Even if you are a non-smoker like me, you simply draw the smoke into your mouth, enjoy the essence of the shisha you’ve chosen, exhale, then pass the hookah. Hookah is a social ritual with origins in India that spread to the Middle East, and now has become popular in the U.S.- you can Google it and learn more about its history.}  

We chose Double Apple and Exotic Mango with 2 hookah pipes. Among the finer points of the hookah ritual- there is no tar or tobacco smell to permeate your clothing or hair. It is social, as opposed to anti-social, as cigarette smoking has become. There is etiquette, respect, and an intimacy about hookah that topped off our perfect meal with a celebratory ceremony. 

Whether you go to Mezza Grill for a superior smoke-free dining experience with Turkish, Lebanese and Greek specialties, or simply go late to enjoy the hookah (which pairs well with their evening menu!) this jewel of a restaurant is a must visit for family and date night dining alike. Without a doubt- 

Mezza Grill Passes with Flying Colors!  

“In life, you need to learn to enjoy your presence, not your presents.” ~Russell Simons on a recent episode of Run’s House