Reviews Lazize

I had the Falafel and Hummus Platter. It was my first falafel and hummus experience, and I thought it was very good. Lazize is located in the food court area at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines. Google Local Guides pointed me there when I looked up "falafel." Lazize is clean, and the fellow that took my order was super-nice, and provided me a sample of a roasted chicken dish called "Shawarma." The marinated chicken is stacke on a vertical grilling spit, then shaved-off like one would serve gyro meat. IT was really good! I stopped in at around 3:00PM, and the owner made up a fresh batch of falafel for me. Falafel is very much like a hushpuppy. In place of cornmeal, chickpeas are ground up into a flour, combined with spices and wet ingredients, and droped into a fryer until crisp. I also got hummus. If I am not mistaken, hummus is again a chickpea-based product. Think Middle Eastern refried beans, and that's kinda what hummus comes out to. My hummus was served with a huge, warm, and very nice piece of flat bread. Videos show everyone eating with one's fingers, so I did. No wife, kids or grandchildren to watch and rat on me. I didn't exactly see plasticware anywhere, so I did not feel obligated to ask. It worked. Tear off the pita bread, grab or scoop up food, stuff it in my mouth, repeat. Off-hand, I would say the process might improve and be a bit less messy with adequate practice. Yes. I felt like I was two again. Glad the food court was deserted. So, next time I am going to order the shawarma for sure. The samosas look good. Samosas are Asia's answer to pizza rolls. The doner kebab - another roasted meat, beef, on a spit (yum!) - looks awesome too! I think about everything can be ordered as a sandwich or a meal. "Plate" translates into a bit more food, with a salad,. The menu is a bit of a mystery. Lots of selections, but what goes with which, and what will it cost, is a bit vague. Acutally, it was kinda fun! With a drink, my plate of six falafels, a small salad, a nice portion of hummus, and unlimited flatbread (I only could eat one - the owner offered more), with a can of Fanta Strawberry (Coke products + fruit beverages), came to just under $10.00. I was stuffed. I am totally okay with Lazize. Nice folks serving, clean food and prep area, tasty food, and quite adequate portions. It would be an interesting place to take one's kids, or maybe a high school class, to try cuisine common to the Mediterranean and Asia. I will go back several times. I was impressed. Thanks Lazize