Mezza Grill

My first time, thought I’d give it a shot. You know it’s a bad sign when the only guests at the restaurant are the owners eating and the 4 employees are all standing around playing in their phone. I ordered (to go) avocado salad with beef accept I got kofte in stead. Btw I’m from the Middle East and I can tell the difference between beef and kofte. It was very dry and stale they just warmed it up. The pita bread was so stale I could barely bite into it. The OnLy good thing was the salad was fresh. However I will not give them a second chance…

I ordered the chicken shwarma platter. I literally had to spit out the «garlic» sauce that was rancid! I asked for tziki instead which was okay. Everything was very one note. It was ready pretty quickly so I have a sneaking suspicion it had been pre cooked and microwaved. The fries were most definitely frozen. My husband had the gyro platter and said it was «good.»
The manager (?) was nice but was on his smart phone the majority of the time. They were out of whole milk which was not a good thing for our toddler. Both of the only 2 highchairs are broken.

I love this place! The food is savory, delicious and flavorful. The presentation is just fantastic. I’ve been here a few times and will continue to go.

Sigh. For about two years, Mezza was our go-​to for delivery of classic Lebanese food. We are both pretty darn lazy about cooking on weeknights and big fans of Lebanese food. So, you know, we had their phone number memorized.
However, tonight was, sadly, our last night ordering from Mezza. Things had been going downhill for about six months. (Actually, longer. Since they moved to Old Ashburn in 2012.) First the garlic purée would be rancid sometimes. Then half the time we’d call in, they wouldn’t have a delivery driver. When the Mister would go to pick it up, he’d watch them microwaving our food in the styrofoam. The delicious fries were swapped out for unseasoned steak fry-​style fries. The meat would be cold to the touch. A platter advertised to come with three types of meat would only come with two, as they were consistently out of the third kind.
About two months ago, the Mister decided we were done, and forecasted that Mezza would be out of business within six months. Well, tonight we were exhausted by a teething toddler and craving Lebanese. It was decided we would give them one more chance. So we called. Turns out, they no longer offer delivery at all. (They’re also closed on Mondays now.) We persevered. (We were really exhausted.) The Mister hopped in the truck to pick up our dinner.
He tells me the gyro spit was empty, with sad shavings on its base. Everything was being microwaved. We opened the bag with a bad feeling. The garlic purée was rancid. There was no lemon slice with the kibbeh. (Okay, I know this a small thing, but I think it says something on where this place is going.) The food was cold. We popped it in the oven to warm it up. The meat had clearly been through the microwave multiple times. The chicken was dried out. The gyro meat was actually tough to the touch. I think if we weren’t so tired and hungry, we would have tossed it all.
This disappoints me. Mezza used to be something really good, and really reliable. It is now only reliable in its poor quality. I hope they turn it around, but, at this point, I think it’s more likely they will close their doors.

Rude customer service. I ordered carryout and arrived to see that there was a chalk board outside advertising a special price on what I had purchased (two Shawarma dinners for $ 21). I had ordered a Shawarma entrée ($ 12.00) and a Shawarma meat platter ($ 11.95), so I asked if I could have the $ 21.00 price, as advertised. I was told no because the price was for dinners only. Not sure which was the dinner, probably the entrée.
I pointed out that they are both the same price and that we had done this previously when dining in the restaurant approximately two months ago. He said that the manager would not allow him to mix and match. I asked politely if I could speak with the manager and was told that he had «just stepped out.»
I politely said that I did not think that this was fair and that I was a good customer who had frequented the store for years, starting when they were in their previous location.
I said that his lack of customer service made me not want to come back. He told me: «then don’t come back, I don’t care. At which point I said that I would not, paid for my food and left.
The discussion lasted less than two minutes and I was polite, but insistent that I should have get the $ 21.00 price. I will not return. The food is fair, at best, and is not nearly as good as when they were in their previous location. Not sure if management has changed, but they clearly do not value their customers.

Not sure why all the cranky reviews. Great consistant food, my go-​to for Lebanese comfort food. Everyone I’ve encountered there has been pleasant, if not bend-​over-​backwards nice. Been ordering from them for years and will continue to do so. Tried Nick’s in Brambleton tonight, and yuck! I’ll never cheat on you again, Mezza.

I have ordered food for large groups from this place but the quality of the food is just not there. Last time I ordered food for 10 people — It was well over $ 150 (including tip for the driver). The meat was dry, the taste was missing, and quite honestly it was the end of my relationship with this place. I am all about supporting local places and its one of the key reasons why I kept going back but I’ve got to draw the line somewhere. This place needs a new chef, trimmed down menu and a brand that defines who they are.

Service has always been reliable. Enjoyed the chicken fatteh and the healthier kids menu (grilled chicken, etc). Typically not very crowded either.

Decent place, could be nicer. I had the chicken shwarma sandwich platter. The chicken was too dry and no pita bread came with the hummus so I was left wondering what do I do with the hummus? Do I take a knife and slather the hummus across the sandwich? Do I mix the salad with dressing drenched all over it into the hummus? Good service, but so so food.

My family tried out this restaurant, as we love Greek food, especially stuffed grape leaves and hummus. We ordered some appetizers and I believe a chicken platter. My kids cannot eat wheat, so we ordered them some French fries. The staff was very friendly, kind and patient with my questions.
When we got home, the food was so-​so (kind of flavorless), and the French fries were breaded. The grape leaves were especially blah. We were disappointed.

Crappy, crappy service. Found a hair in my food, manager was horribly rude. Food was just ehhh. Wouldnt return or recommend. Oh, and bring cash because their machine doesnt let you use your card for anything under $ 10. These people need to learn customer service, they are truly a**holes. With how they are, I’m sure they won’t be in business too long and I hope they aren’t! A much better restaurant should be in their place!

So here’s my second review. I have a right to voice my opinion about a restaurant on Unilocal.That’s what this site is for. I had a horrible experience with staff and the food. Now I’m getting private messages from the manager/​owner saying I don’t know what I’m talking about. Here’s the words copied:
I think u don’t no about the food man
How about you step up and fixed the problem and hand and change the things that are wrong. I give this place 3 months! Not because of the food but because management is in denial and defensive towards customers.
SAVE YOUR MONEY! Stay away

Steer clear of this place, as things have apparently gone downhill since they moved to their new location.
My wife and I had been to Mezza Grill before back when they were off of Claiborne Parkway, and although their food was never the best, it was not bad for the price and was a nice change from Chinese food or other takeout. Thus when they offered a deal on LivingSocial, which gave $ 30 worth of food for $ 15, we purchased it without hesitation. This turned out to be a very, very big mistake.
Everything was fairly uneventful through the course of the meal. The food was decent, although the new restaurant is nowhere near as nice as the old location. Our drinks were refilled without much wait (although we were the only people in the entire restaurant), even though our waiter had zero customer service skills and would literally stand at the other side of the restaurant and stare at us while we were eating. Creepy, but not a big deal. The problem came when we presented our coupon, which was again for up to $ 30 worth of food for $ 15, which was already paid in advance on LivingSocial. Once the waiter saw the coupon, he became very aggressive and disrespectful out of nowhere, telling us that we could not use the coupon because our bill was for $ 29.43, not $ 30. I explained to him that it is actually to his establishments benefit if we spend less than $ 30, because the coupon is good for UP TO $ 30 and we had already paid the set fee. He either didn’t get it or was intentionally rude, but it got to the point where I told him to get his manager. A tall bald guy came out claiming to be the manager (this is the same guy someone else mentioned in their review, whom they said was rude and offered no customer service). The manager was equally rude, stating that we had to spend at least $ 30 for the coupon to be valid. Instead of continuing to argue with these two, I told them to bring me a coffee, which was $ 1.50 and would easily put me over the $ 30 threshold. They then tried to tell me that the coupon didn’t include drinks, despite the fact that it clearly says «$ 30 towards the purchase of food and non-​alcoholic drinks.» These two continued to be extremely rude to the point that I could not believe I was in a restaurant, rather it felt like two guys were trying to shake me down on a street corner. I never in my life have had such an experience at a dining establishment.
When all was said and done, I ordered some cheap dessert for $ 1.95 and left the server no tip, along with a warning that they cannot treat customers in this manner and must honor any Groupon or LivingSocial deal that they sign up for. I am a firm believer in tipping 20% or more on almost all occasions, and this is the first time I have ever not tipped a waiter in my life. The service and subsequent confrontation was that bad. I will be making a report to LivingSocial about this as well, however I would recommend that everyone avoid this restaurant like the plague.

I patronized this restaurant at their original location and was glad when they moved closer to my home. I’ve ordered carryout at least 20 times since the move and noticed that the new, smaller location has typically been empty whenever I pick up my food.
During their first year or so after the move I was greeted by a pleasant, cheerful girl at the register. Unfortunately that’s changed. My most recent visits within the past year have been disappointing due to the bald guy who, I assume is the owner’s son, and may be an assistant manager (now handling carry-​out orders). Gruff, unsmiling, unwelcoming, rude, impolite with ZERO customer service skills… word gets around and I’m certain that he is contributing to this restaurant’s failure. There have been occasional mistakes on their end but I’ve never received an apology, nor a substitution offer if they’ve run out of something… just a blank stare with attitude. This guy should be behind the scenes — not in a customer-​facing position.
The food is good, the value is average, the service is poor. Unless management makes changes this location — which has been a revolving door since I’ve lived in the area — will have a «for lease» sign on the door again.

I’ve now eaten at Mezza Grill enough times to be «awarded» a frequent diner card. And I intend to keep dining here at least until I’ve tried all of the menu offerings that appeal to me. So far, I’ve had the Döner Platter (twice), the Mixed Grill Kebab, a recommended dish, Hunkar Beyendi, and the Soujouk Platter. I have not been disappointed by any of the dishes, and the portions are surprisingly large, given that when they are first served, don’t appear as such.
The Döner Sandwich is a moist and tender combination of beef and lamb chunks, served in a pita wrap and oozing yogurt sauce. When turned into a platter, a fresh, tasty mesclun (mixed greens) salad and a helping of hummus is included. The Mixed Grill Kabab is a selection of meats (chicken, lamb, sirloin) marinated, skewered and grilled, served over a bed of rice. A side of cooked spinach greens and chickpeas accompanies the dish, and pieces of bread complete the dish.
The Soujouk is a spicy, Turkish lamb sausage. In a wrap, the pieces of sausage are cut into chunks. The ubiquitous yogurt dressing, tomatoes, lettuce and pickles top the overflowing wrap; the result is likely going to require a hand-​wipe upon completion.
Hunkar Beyendi is a Turkish delight consisting of marinated chicken breast broiled and served over eggplant, onion & tomatoes served with rice and toasted pita. The spinach and chickpea side dish fills the remainder of the plate. At $ 13.00, this is a gut-​buster. But it’s tasty enough to eat every drop!
One star off for service. I’ve had delightful, attentive service by the young waitresses, but the male staff seem diffident and stand-​offish. I frequently get the feeling I’m being viewed with suspicion by the staff behind the counter. Is it because I don’t look Mediterranean? The clientele seems Middle-​Eastern, and there are even hookahs to be enjoyed (outdoors!) by those choosing to do so. One evening I had dessert, a slice of chocolate mousse cake, but when I inquired as to having a cup of coffee with it, was told the pot was old and it was too late (it was still about 30 minutes before closing) to brew another. Sigh.
The restaurant itself is small and cozy. Modern design coupled with Middle-​Eastern artifacts and an area set aside for a soda machine and refrigerator highlight the carryout side of the business. They also deliver.
I can recommend this for small groups, dates, and last-​minute dinners. The staff won’t fall over themselves serving you, but the food is above average and a good value for what you get.

Wow! so good.
This was my second time going to this place. The first time I went there was at their old location probably a year or more ago. The gf and I were in the mood for Lebanese food, so we decided on this place and I drove to their old location and was left scratching my head. Fortunately, the nice lady at the pet store next to their old location pointed us in the right direction. Duh, I should have looked at the address on Unilocal; guess I was just on autopilot.
ANYHOW, we proceeded to their new location (just north of Carolina Brothers BBQ on Ashburn RD.) and went on in. The new location is not quite as fancy as I remember the old one, but that doesn’t concern me near as much as the hospitality and food. The place was about half full on a Friday night, with a constant stream of patrons coming and going. The waitress was chatting up the tables and the atmosphere was very friendly. Smiles all around!
As for the food, I came in with the idea in my head that I was going to get a wrap platter. Well, that plan went out the window when I saw the other platters coming out. They looked AMAZING. Big fancy plates with generous portions of meat/​rice/​vegetables and bread. The gf and I immediately swtiched gears and flipped our menus to look at the dinner platters. I went with the Shwarma combo and she went with the Mosakhan. Both were great!
Shwarma combo had a big mound of yummy chicken and beef thinly sliced. The rice was moist and buttery. The fattoush salad was a mix of chopped up vegetables and was very good. And of course, the tahini sauce went with everything well. The pita bread was the only part of the schwarma combo that was a little lacking. I think it may have been from a package… just didnt taste homemade like I’ve come to expect from some kabob places… but that being said, it was warmed up, so it wasn’t that bad. I ate it all so no complaints.
The Mosakhan was very good as well. The pita bread was the star of the show on this plate. I think for this dish, they cooked the bread on the griddle with some seasoning and it had a really good flavor to it. We were both smiling and nodding our heads as we ate it. The chicken was moist and seasoned well with spices and sliced marinated onions. The salad on this plate had us wishing it was the Fattoush salad. not that there was anything wrong with it… just the Fattoush salad was better. I wonder if they would let you substitute Fattoush salad for the mixed green salad… hmmm. next time I will find out.
Finally, we were treated to some Baklava on our way out the door. We ate it later on after a quick reheat in the microwave and it was delicious. It had a nice combination of crispy phyllo on top and honey and pistachio chewy gooey goodness on the bottom. Can’t ask for much better.
We will definitely be back, hopefully often. I don’t want to speak too soon, but this place might just replace Nora’s as my favorite Lebanese place in NoVA. Almost feel blasphemous just saying it… doesn’t hurt that its much closer to my house too! Win! :)

For me this place was just okay. I would give it 3 stars and my husband said maybe 3.5. I had tried to order a sandwich only not a platter and was told since it was dinner I couldn’t…even though I didn’t necessarily want the extra food. Places like that should have both lunch and dinner menus… My falafel platter (sandwich with a side salad and hummus) was just okay. I have had better falafels and hummus at other restaurants. The one thing my husband and I had to agree on was the fries from my kids meals were fantastic… other than that I would much rather drive to Gainesville and hit up Nora’s.

Always on the lookout for tasty Mediterranean food, I decided to try this place b/​c some coworkers were raving about it. First, let me say I may be a little biased since I’m from Michigan where it’s almost impossible to find bad Middle Eastern/​Mediterranean food. I had the falafel sandwich and I had to give it a second look to make sure I was really eating something. Try imagining an oxymoronic combo of caloric air, if you will. Soggy, caloric air, to be exact.
And as if experiencing the tasteless wonder wasn’t enough, the woman at the counter was rude. Needless to say, I won’t be returning.

This place is on
quite often so we’ve visited a few times because of that. Also, I’ve ordered ‘to go’ from this place a few times, something that I never do, and I’ll explain why in this review.
First off, the food here is phenomenal. The sampler appetizer plater is amazing, and we get it every time. I’ve never been disappointed with my meal, and we took my parents here when they were in town once for a birthday dinner. So the food, is good, and on that alone I’d give it 5 starts.
However, the service can be abismal. We’ve had good experiences when we get a real waitress, however oftentimes we go at less busy hours. What this means is that at those times, they don’t seem to staff actual wait staff, so we get the older gentlemen whom I can only assume is an owner to be our waiter.
This older man is nice enough, but clearly wasn’t meant to be a waiter. He never checks back on the table, never refills drinks, and each time we’ve had him we’ve had a mistake with our order. If the food were bad at this place, I wouldn’t ever tolerate this.
So, my suggestion is that if you want to go to Mezza, either go on a weeknight with very low expectations on service, order your food to-​go, or go during a busy dinner time so you can (hopefully) receive proper wait staff attention.

FALSE ADVERTISING!!! We ate a Mezza Grill several times and the food was good I will not lie. We recently bought some
vouchers (which Mezza Grill is STILL advertising with) and they REFUSED to honor them. They simply put a sign in the window and said they were no longer participating.
refunded us our money and stated that Mezza Grill was in fact still under contract and in violation of their agreement. Mezza Grill is just shady and the food is not worth it!