By Philippa Kirby and Philip Conklin

On a recent sunny Sunday evening, we ambled through Lyon Park to Zazzy on N. Fillmore St for our third meal at this family-owned Lebanese fast fresh food restaurant.  At the end of our meal, we had the same two takeaways as on our prior visits: “Wow! This food is delicious.” And, “Why aren’t there more people in here?” To us, the lack of a full house it is truly a mystery. The food is consistently delicious featuring bright, fresh flavored dishes that breakaway from the standard Middle Eastern menu. Offerings like: 

Ousheh: fresh baked flatbreads including zaatar spice, cheese, chicken & cheese, spinach pomegranate, and lahme biajine (ground beef with tomato, peppers and onions), and baked falafel. (We are particularly fond of the zataar ousheh!).

Dips: mharmara walnut, eggplant tahini, hummus, labne and fava bean served with housemade pita chips. (We always get the sampler. So. Very. Delicious.)

Salata: a compelling variety including: freekeh date salad, chicken quinoa, chicken berries, halloumi fattoush, and “not your typical” tabouli. 

Fatayer: a selection of vegetarian or meat spring rolls with a Lebanese twist.

Sandwisheh (yes, that’s spelled right!): among the tender and flavorful sandwich options are rosemary steak, chicken pita, “perfect” batata featuring baked potatoes, roasted eggplant with raisins, and beef shawarma.

Pans and Hot Bowls: comfort main dishes that include beef shawarma with vermicelli rice, spiced eggs and beef, chicken batas (potatoes), lentil mjdara, fava and chickpea with lemon and olive oil, and chicken fatteh garnished with yogurt, butter pine nuts and aleppo pepper.

Helou: desserts! including a Nutella or sweet cheese pocket, chocolate chip tahini cookies, spiced turmeric delight and a chocolate pistachio “lazy day” cake.

Over the course of three visits to Zazzy, members of our dining party managed to order from each menu category at least once and found the food delicious and highly satisfying each time.  The guiding principle of “if it sounds good, it will be good” worked for us. The one dish ordered every time we visited was the lentil mjdara where humble ingredients are brought together to create a deeply satisfying combination of flavors and textures. Serving sizes are perfect for a filling solo meal or sharing as many of the portions for salads, dips, pans and hot bowls are quite generous. It would be a great place to eat “family style”. The food arrives promptly and the service is kind and attentive. Ordering is available online for pick-up/delivery and Zazzy offers catering service as well.

Zazzy is positioned as an urban cafe featuring an all-day food menu, coffees and teas, house-made lemonade, soft drinks and a wine bar. The vibe is calm and bright with huge west facing windows and a design that is industrial yet homey and welcoming with a variety of comfortable seating options for individuals, couples, and small and large groups. The dining room is spacious, easily accommodating strollers (there are three high chairs available) as well as wheelchairs and the tables are well spaced. Overall, Zazzy has the feel of an oasis. And should you want to dine al fresco, there are a few outside tables on Fillmore. 

Zazzy founder and CEO, Zeina Chouman El Eid, established this Arlington cafe after 12 years in Beirut where she founded and ran an all-day urban cafe that inspires the menu and vibe of the restaurant. As she states on the Zazzy website, they offer “the best of Lebanese street food with the warmth of homestyle cooking…Zazzy is a destination, a retreat for those seeking authenticity and flavor.” The spirit of her excellent establishment is captured on a large mirror on the dining room’s south wall: “Laughter is Brightest Where the Food Is.”

Zazzy (1025 N. Fillmore St., Ste. J): Hours of operation are Monday—Friday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Phone number is 703–512–0002. Visit the website: https://letszazzy.com for more information and to order online.