Laziza - Review - Bedford-Stuyvesant - New York - The Infatuation

"Laziza, a Middle Eastern spot in Bed-Stuy, looks like a disco club with the lights turned on. The bar is studded with reflective disco ball tiles, it’s full of fuzzy, two-seater benches, and a bumping mix of funk and Middle Eastern music pours out of hi-fi sound equipment. You might want to start dancing, but you’ll need to stay in your seat to experience Laziza’s creamy hummus and a sweet muhammara. The light, crunchy falafel, had us shoulder shimmying with every bite, and the mushroom and basturma chicken skewers, grilled over charcoal, taste like your last camping trip. While Laziza works for a more casual date, it’s best for a snacky hang with friends. Whether you’re there for cocktails, fries, and a dip, or need to make it a fuller meal, the funk is gossip fuel. Use it. Burn it. photo credit: Justin Walker Food Rundown Dips Laziza excels at dips, especially in the muhamarra department. It’s sweet and earthy from pomegranate molasses and pine nuts. The dips come with warm Turkish pide with a texture like focaccia. photo credit: Justin Walker Falafel Coming to Laziza and not ordering falafel would be like going to a baseball game and not getting a hotdog. These falafel are light, ethereal, and work perfectly as a vehicle for whatever dip you have in front of you. photo credit: Justin Walker Mekli Plate A plate of lightly battered and fried veggies coated lightly with honey, this works great as a shared snack. photo credit: Justin Walker Fries Slightly thicker fries, served with a pungent toum. Sign us up. Kare Kebap This skewer, which shingles slices of lamb and beef, comes out nicely charred and medium rare. Get one if you eat red meat. Maitake Mushroom If you don’t eat red meat, the smoky maitake mushroom should be your focus. It’s served with pistachio pesto and ras el hanout, and plenty of brown butter to sweeten the whole situation up. photo credit: Will Hartman" - Will Hartman