Lebanese Mezze: What It Is & What to Order
What is Lebanese mezze?
Lebanese mezze (also spelled meze) is a generous spread of small dishes, hot and cold, meant to be shared slowly around the table with friends and family — the heart of Lebanese dining. A typical mezze table starts with cold dips and salads, moves on to hot fried and grilled bites, and finishes with charcoal grills. At Tarboush Tring, our Lebanese and Mediterranean mezze are prepared fresh to order from our family recipes — here is how to make the most of them.
Lebanese cold mezze: start here
Cold mezze are the foundation of the table. Begin with the classics:
- Hummus — a smooth blend of chickpeas, tahini and lemon. Try the Hummus Beiruty if you like a little chilli kick.
- Moutabal (baba ghanouj) — smoky chargrilled aubergine whipped with tahini.
- Tabbouleh — a bright parsley, bulghar and tomato salad dressed with lemon and olive oil.
- Vine leaves and mixed olives to round things out.
Most cold mezze are vegan or vegetarian and naturally suit a plant-based table.
Lebanese hot mezze: bring on the fire
Once the bread is out, bring on the hot dishes — falafel with tahini, grilled halloumi, spiced cauliflower, arayes (grilled lamb-filled flatbread) and sujuk. These arrive as they are cooked, so expect them to land on the table at different times — that is exactly how mezze is meant to be.
Then the charcoal grills
No Lebanese meal is complete without the charcoal grill: lamb shish, chicken tawouk, lamb kofte and our mixed grill, all marinated and cooked over open fire and served with rice and salad — our guide to the Lebanese charcoal grill covers every skewer. For the full Lebanese mezze list with prices, allergens and dietary codes, see the menu.
How much to order
A good rule of thumb is 3–4 mezze per person plus a grill or two to share. Dining as a group of eight or more? Our Tarboush Set Menu takes the guesswork out of it with a sharing feast for £29.99 per person.
To drink? A chilled Lebanese white is the classic mezze partner — see our guide to Lebanese wine.
Hungry? Book a table and bring an appetite — Tarboush Tring is on the High Street in the heart of Tring, Hertfordshire.