Lazize

We've walked by this place dozens of times, and never saw anyone around. This Saturday, we decided to ring the bell, and sure enough, a helpful gentleman appeared, and my wife and I ordered two entrees (a shawarma and a kebab). There was only one person working, and he explained that it would take 20 minutes to get our food, but we were in no hurry. It actually ended up taking some time longer than 20 minutes, but the gentleman running the shop let us know, and apologized profusely. When we got our food, it was well worth the wait. both dishes were delicious. Everything was fresh, hot, and tasted great. My wife commented that she could eat the chicken kebab every day. My family loves Mediterranean food, and this is some of the best I've had in the area. It's hard to compete with Vietnam Café, just across the food court, which has great, fresh food, ready almost instantly, but if you're looking for a break from Pho and Bahn Mi, check out Lazize. You'll be glad that you did.

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

The food was amazing! Absolutely delicious! We had the sampler as we wanted to try everything. There was not one thing that my wife or I considered "the best" it was all great. It takes a little while to prepare, i thnk it was about 15 minutes, but ot was all made from scratch minus the lamb as it is a rotisserie. Well worth the wait. Definitely will return.