There is a particular kind of happiness that arrives when a Lebanese mezze spread lands on the table. Plates appear from every direction: some cool and vivid, some arriving in little clay dishes still sizzling at the edges. If you have ever looked at a Lebanese mezze menu and wondered where to begin, you are in very good company.
Understanding the Mezze Menu
In Lebanese cuisine, mezze is not a starter in the conventional Western sense. It is a way of eating that is generous, communal, and deliberately unhurried. The word itself simply means “taste” in Arabic, and that spirit of sharing small plates across a table is the beating heart of Lebanese hospitality.
A typical mezze menu divides into two families:
- Cold mezze dishes: dips, salads, and marinated preparations that are made fresh and served at room temperature.
- Hot mezze dishes: fried, grilled, or baked Lebanese starters that arrive warm, often ordered alongside or just after the cold plates.
Cold Mezze
Think of cold mezze as the welcome, the first wave of colour and freshness that sets the tone for everything that follows.
Hommos is non-negotiable. Ours is made daily from soaked chickpeas, blended with tahini, lemon juice, and a whisper of garlic, finished with a pool of good olive oil. It is the dish our guests tell us they dream about between visits.
Moutabal (sometimes called baba ghanoush) brings a wonderful smokiness from roasted aubergine folded with tahini and lemon until silky. Beside it on the table, a vibrant tabbouleh of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, ripe tomato, cracked bulgur wheat, and lemon provides one of the most refreshing bites in the entire Lebanese repertoire.
Warak enab and fattoush: the crunchy toasted bread salad round out a well-composed cold mezze selection. These cold mezze dishes reward the freshest possible ingredients, which is why we prepare them in our kitchens every single day.
Hot Mezze
If cold mezze is the welcome, hot mezze is the celebration.
Falafel: crisp, herb-green patties of ground chickpeas and spices are among the most beloved hot mezze dishes in Lebanese cooking. At Maroush, they arrive golden and just-fried, with a warm, yielding centre that no reheated version could ever match.
Halloumi meshwi (grilled halloumi) comes to the table with faint char lines and that irresistible squeak. Kibbeh torpedo-shaped croquettes of bulgur wheat and spiced minced lamb are another hot mezze classic that disappears from the plate rather fast.
Vegetarian-Friendly Mezze
One of the quiet glories of Lebanese food is how naturally it welcomes vegetarian guests, not as an afterthought, but as a central tradition.
An entirely plant-based mezze spread is not only possible, but it is also genuinely wonderful:
- Hommos and moutabal: both naturally vegan
- Tabbouleh and fattoush: herb-forward and vibrant
- Falafel: crisp, filling, and wholly plant-based
- Warak enab: (vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs; be sure to check with us on the day, as preparations can vary)
- Fried cauliflower: with a tahini dip, a much-loved option on our menu
Many of our guests find that a mezze-only meal, built entirely from these dishes, is one of the most satisfying ways to eat at Maroush. There is a generosity in these flavours that never feels like compromise.
Try It at Maroush
As the family behind London’s original Lebanese dining experience, we believe that reading about mezze only gets you so far. The real understanding happens at the table when the first plate of hommos arrives glistening with olive oil, when the halloumi sizzles in from the kitchen, when conversation slows because the food is simply too good to talk over.
We have six restaurants across London, from our iconic Edgware Road flagship, where live music and the warmth of Little Beirut greet you at the door, to our locations in Earls Court, Beauchamp Place, King’s Road, High Street Kensington, and St John’s Wood.
Take a look at our full menus and see which Lebanese mezze dishes catch your eye, then come and let us bring them to your table. Whether you are a first-timer curious about the cold and hot divide, or a long-time friend of the house who just wants another plate of kibbeh, there is always a seat here for you.