Wonderful food and bakery items, and fantastic service. All the baklavas are great and the chocklava is so amazing!!
Hope Parasco
The owner was a nice man, however the food left much to be desired. The hummus was watery and so garlicky that was all you could taste. The wrap had a smell that seemed off. The building was ramshackle and broken down. It had an unclean feeling about it. I was very disappointed. I could not eat anything I bought.
Evan Brown
If you want lots of frills, this is not for you. If you would prefer not to interact with unique personalities behind the counter, drive on. If, however, you want absolutely delicious, fully authentic Mediterranean staples like gyros, tabbouleh salad, baklava, and exclusive Middle Eastern imports (the stuffed grape leaves were phenomenal), you've found a gem! I debated four or five stars, but the terrific prices and beautiful outdoor seating are what made the difference.
Pavlo Gulya
not many places in connecticut you can find falafel, even less places you find it this fresh. awesome choice of halvah and cookies. i will be back
Paul O.
Over the last couple of years, the bakery has literally given up on making dishes. The place looks run down and has little inventory.
Hannah C.
Hands down the BEST chicken shawarma I ever had in my life. I guarantee that there is absolutely no better Mediterranean food anywhere in northeastern CT. The second you walk into this place you know it's the real deal. It smells amazing. The flavors are unreal. The owner wants to get to know you and makes you feel like you're catching up with your long-lost uncle.
Brendon FitzGerald
Great food with entertaining conversations. A true hidden gem in Norwich not to be missed!
S B.
There is literally no reason people have ranked this place so highly other than total ignorance of middle eastern food and culture, or perhaps pity. Lazizah is in a derelict corner of Norwich and is a total mess. It isn't even really a restaurant, more of a forgotten storefront that sells MSG/preservative laden dry pack seasonings and bottles of spices. No fresh Arabic foods in sight. The dust, clutter and filth is completely off-putting and unprofessional, and brings back bad memories of being in an old single wide trailer. There is literally no indoor seating so it is 100% to-go or you can eat outside. It's amazing this place hasn't been outright shut down by the health department. It took a lot for me to not turn around and walk out. Now, to the food. It was slapdash and an insult to Arabic cuisine, slowly heated in an old counter top toaster oven. The "gyro" had weird, unorthodox meat which completely missed the mark, and was packed full of onions; the kind that have been sliced and refrigerated so they're extra harsh, as well as sour. It was like reheated leftovers, not restaurant food. The meat was never anywhere near a spit nor sliced from a block as many restaurants do it; it was more like hand cut bits of steak cooked to death. The baba ghanoush sold in to-go containers was unusually flavored with pomegranate molasses, which makes it oddly sweet and sour, unlike any I've ever tasted. I got sick after eating it. For those who are wondering, I must inform you, I have eaten at many Syrian, Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese, Persian and Yemeni restaurants and food trucks across the country. I have a rich basis of comparison. Now, to the service. The elderly man working there made numerous rude and unacceptable remarks that are not funny or appropriate for clientele, including insulting remarks on religion. To summarize, literally no other middle eastern restaurant I've ever eaten at was this bad or run so unprofessionally. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. I look forward to the day Norwich gets a real middle eastern restaurant, but until that wondrous day, I will never come back to Lazizah! If I want middle eastern food I will sadly have to drive an hour to the Providence, Boston or Hartford metros, where there are high quality options. If for some reason you liked this place, you should make the pilgrimage yourself to gain some perspective and taste!
Leon P.
The place doesn't look like much from the outside, although the location is lovely. It has several tables set off to the side, just above the river. The inside isn't much better looking than the outside, but focus your eyes on the glass display filled with some of the most delicious treats you will ever taste. The restaurant offers a wonderful selection of authentic dishes and desserts to entice and please any pallet. Just be ready to make some very tough decisions when deciding what to order.
Amanda Fisher
Decided to get a piece of each baklava.....best decision EVER! The peanut butter cup cookie is the absolute best peanut butter cookie I've ever had. Go early so you have more choices. We went late on a Sunday, but everything was still amazing.
Good food and made fresh daily. The owner is always nice. Thank
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kaftah Beef Kebab, Soup of the Day
Wendell T.
Omg omg the best baba ganoush ever! Pita chips! Three kinds of baklava! Cherry molasses! Very kind owner.
Nickala C.
Great food. Great service. Call ahead, for takeout. The garlic chicken is really yummy. Must get baklava, it's super.
Glenn L.
My wife and dined here after hearing they were a Top 10 restaurant in CT for a budget priced meal. We tried and were "amazed" at the food and the service. The building exterior is very modest, but wait until you get inside. The food aromas are enticing and mouth watering. I had the shawarma and it was amazing. My wife ordered a savory beet soup was also amazing. We shared a pita pizza with spinach, feta, olive oil and garlic. Wow! We dined outside on a stone patio seated at modest metal furniture, and could hear the Yantic River nearby. We finally decided to try dessert with a variety of baclava made by the Lebanese owner and his wife. The rose water infused baclava was the best we've "ever" eaten. The owner is a Lebanese immigrant and a joy to talk to. Suffice to say we will be dining again at this Eastern CT Gem!
Chad Morgan
So glad that I discovered this place , great hidden gem with so many delicious choices for lunch, Highly, highly recommend for a delicious, healthy lunch/ meal, and an absolute pleasure to meet the gentleman who owns and runs it. For falafel pitas done RIGHT, and much, much more , salads , vegan choices, and baklava and sweet , mouth watering baked delicacies, this place is worth the trip
Wonderful food and bakery items, and fantastic service. All the baklavas are great and the chocklava is so amazing!!
The owner was a nice man, however the food left much to be desired. The hummus was watery and so garlicky that was all you could taste. The wrap had a smell that seemed off. The building was ramshackle and broken down. It had an unclean feeling about it. I was very disappointed. I could not eat anything I bought.
If you want lots of frills, this is not for you. If you would prefer not to interact with unique personalities behind the counter, drive on. If, however, you want absolutely delicious, fully authentic Mediterranean staples like gyros, tabbouleh salad, baklava, and exclusive Middle Eastern imports (the stuffed grape leaves were phenomenal), you've found a gem! I debated four or five stars, but the terrific prices and beautiful outdoor seating are what made the difference.
not many places in connecticut you can find falafel, even less places you find it this fresh. awesome choice of halvah and cookies. i will be back
Over the last couple of years, the bakery has literally given up on making dishes. The place looks run down and has little inventory.
Hands down the BEST chicken shawarma I ever had in my life. I guarantee that there is absolutely no better Mediterranean food anywhere in northeastern CT. The second you walk into this place you know it's the real deal. It smells amazing. The flavors are unreal. The owner wants to get to know you and makes you feel like you're catching up with your long-lost uncle.
Great food with entertaining conversations. A true hidden gem in Norwich not to be missed!
There is literally no reason people have ranked this place so highly other than total ignorance of middle eastern food and culture, or perhaps pity. Lazizah is in a derelict corner of Norwich and is a total mess. It isn't even really a restaurant, more of a forgotten storefront that sells MSG/preservative laden dry pack seasonings and bottles of spices. No fresh Arabic foods in sight. The dust, clutter and filth is completely off-putting and unprofessional, and brings back bad memories of being in an old single wide trailer. There is literally no indoor seating so it is 100% to-go or you can eat outside. It's amazing this place hasn't been outright shut down by the health department. It took a lot for me to not turn around and walk out. Now, to the food. It was slapdash and an insult to Arabic cuisine, slowly heated in an old counter top toaster oven. The "gyro" had weird, unorthodox meat which completely missed the mark, and was packed full of onions; the kind that have been sliced and refrigerated so they're extra harsh, as well as sour. It was like reheated leftovers, not restaurant food. The meat was never anywhere near a spit nor sliced from a block as many restaurants do it; it was more like hand cut bits of steak cooked to death. The baba ghanoush sold in to-go containers was unusually flavored with pomegranate molasses, which makes it oddly sweet and sour, unlike any I've ever tasted. I got sick after eating it. For those who are wondering, I must inform you, I have eaten at many Syrian, Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese, Persian and Yemeni restaurants and food trucks across the country. I have a rich basis of comparison. Now, to the service. The elderly man working there made numerous rude and unacceptable remarks that are not funny or appropriate for clientele, including insulting remarks on religion. To summarize, literally no other middle eastern restaurant I've ever eaten at was this bad or run so unprofessionally. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. I look forward to the day Norwich gets a real middle eastern restaurant, but until that wondrous day, I will never come back to Lazizah! If I want middle eastern food I will sadly have to drive an hour to the Providence, Boston or Hartford metros, where there are high quality options. If for some reason you liked this place, you should make the pilgrimage yourself to gain some perspective and taste!
The place doesn't look like much from the outside, although the location is lovely. It has several tables set off to the side, just above the river. The inside isn't much better looking than the outside, but focus your eyes on the glass display filled with some of the most delicious treats you will ever taste. The restaurant offers a wonderful selection of authentic dishes and desserts to entice and please any pallet. Just be ready to make some very tough decisions when deciding what to order.
Decided to get a piece of each baklava.....best decision EVER! The peanut butter cup cookie is the absolute best peanut butter cookie I've ever had. Go early so you have more choices. We went late on a Sunday, but everything was still amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Good food and made fresh daily. The owner is always nice. Thank
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kaftah Beef Kebab, Soup of the Day
Omg omg the best baba ganoush ever! Pita chips! Three kinds of baklava! Cherry molasses! Very kind owner.
Great food. Great service. Call ahead, for takeout. The garlic chicken is really yummy. Must get baklava, it's super.
My wife and dined here after hearing they were a Top 10 restaurant in CT for a budget priced meal. We tried and were "amazed" at the food and the service. The building exterior is very modest, but wait until you get inside. The food aromas are enticing and mouth watering. I had the shawarma and it was amazing. My wife ordered a savory beet soup was also amazing. We shared a pita pizza with spinach, feta, olive oil and garlic. Wow! We dined outside on a stone patio seated at modest metal furniture, and could hear the Yantic River nearby. We finally decided to try dessert with a variety of baclava made by the Lebanese owner and his wife. The rose water infused baclava was the best we've "ever" eaten. The owner is a Lebanese immigrant and a joy to talk to. Suffice to say we will be dining again at this Eastern CT Gem!
So glad that I discovered this place , great hidden gem with so many delicious choices for lunch, Highly, highly recommend for a delicious, healthy lunch/ meal, and an absolute pleasure to meet the gentleman who owns and runs it. For falafel pitas done RIGHT, and much, much more , salads , vegan choices, and baklava and sweet , mouth watering baked delicacies, this place is worth the trip
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Falafel Sandwich