Comments on: First Look: Meze Grill Really is the Middle Eastern Chipotle

By: lapapp

lapapp — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:18:02 +0000

The thing I like about Chipotle is that you can pick what you want into your sandwich – I personally make a healthy burrito (no cheese or sour cream), you can do the same here plus its a lot of good food for the price.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:17:57 +0000

Admittedly a new shop, up-start, with aspirations to become a chain can still work (look how many of us were pleasantly surprised with Crisp)… but i think some originality is the key factor. yes, in the first week they are probably looking to fine tune the basics, but i think they need to get creative with the food offerings if they want to stand out and thrive.

By: NOLA Steve

NOLA Steve — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:50:14 +0000

They do have shawarma – just chicken, though, as far as I know. I’ve never tried the shawarma there, so please give a heads up to the ML community if it warrants a taste.

By: adamprato

adamprato — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:46:38 +0000

Thanks Nola. I’ll give them a shot. Their ad says they have shawarma. Is it just chicken or do they have lamb shawarma as well?

By: NOLA Steve

NOLA Steve — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:13:16 +0000

@adam –

I love Taam Tov. I don’t go often, but it is truly authentic Bukharian food. I’d suggest starting w/ some bread and this avocado/guacamole-ish side that they have. Then just order 2 kebabs over rice. They’ll let you split the meats, even though the kebabs on the menu are listed as “2 chicken, 2 beef, 2 lamb, etc…” For me it’s usually 1 lamb and 1 chicken. It’s a really cool and really tasty dining experience and you can do it right for around $20.

As for this Meze Grill – I’ll try it simply because they are covering my favorite food category, but I don’t like what I see from this post at all. I like middle eastern places precisely because they don’t look like mexican chain restaurants. Plus, why would I buy from a place that uses steam tables when I can eat something fresh? The original conception of a middle-eastern joint is far superior to this in every way.

They are literally reinventing the wheel by deflating the air from the tires.

By: Rootbeer

Rootbeer — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:56:22 +0000

“Fa-la-fel?”

“Crunch patties!”

“And ta-hi-ni?”

“Flavor sauce!”

By: adamprato

adamprato — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:37:28 +0000

I didn’t even try meze. I walked out. It seemed underwhelming. Perhaps if they add some other meats it would look interesting. It seemed a bit pricey for what you would get. I work closer to Dervish, Akdeniz, and Kosher Deluxe (and I keep passing this guy wearing a Taam Tov sign that intrigues me). Maybe next week I’ll do each in succession then give Meze a try.

By: b-eats

b-eats — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:11:51 +0000

Well said Zach. The whole experience left me with a cheap, tawdry, empty feeling – like I’d been cheating on someone.
Hey now with Szech. Goumet around the corner and numerous great street carts in the area,I’ll stick to those and walk the 10 or so blocks if I feel the urge for some authentic down n dirty shawarma.

By: klaus ok

klaus ok — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:06:40 +0000

so you’ve experienced its ‘core essence’ have you?

oh he gots to be hittin that y’all. word.