Explained
What is mezze?
The art of sharing, at a table full of small dishes.
In short
Mezze are small, shared starters from the Levant, the region of Syria, Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean. Think of hummous, moutabal, muhammara, tabbouleh, and warm bites such as kibbeh and fatayer. You order several at once, place them together on the table, and share everything with bread. Mezze is not a dish but a way of eating: together, slowly, in good company.
How do you eat mezze?
Choose several
Count on 3-4 mezze per person to start, cold and warm mixed.
Put it all in the middle
Mezze sit on the table to be shared, not on a single plate.
Use bread
Warm flatbread is your spoon, your fork and your napkin in one.
Take your time
Mezze is the start of a long evening, not a quick bite.
Drink alongside
Arak, wine or a fresh house lemonade, the classic companions.
Cold and warm mezze
Cold mezze are often creamy or fresh: hummous (chickpea and tahini), moutabal (smoked aubergine), muhammara (pepper and walnut), tabbouleh and fattoush (salads). Warm mezze come from the kitchen: kibbeh (crisp bulgur shells), fatayer (spinach pastries), batata harra (spiced potatoes) and more. Together they form the complete start of the table.
Mezze at Mosaic
Begin with sharing
At Mosaic, mezze is at the heart. Begin with the Mosaic Mezze Selection (€34, for two): hummous, moutabal, muhammara, yalangi, salad and warm bread. Or let the Damascus Table (€49 p.p.) carry you, bringing cold and warm mezze, the charcoal grill and a sweet finish together. The curious try the Kibbeh Nayyeh, hand-finished raw beef kibbeh.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is mezze?
Mezze are small Levantine sharing dishes, cold and warm, that you place on the table together and share with bread. Well-known examples are hummous, moutabal, muhammara, tabbouleh and kibbeh.
How many mezze should I order per person?
Count on about 3 to 4 mezze per person to start, cold and warm mixed. At Mosaic you can also choose the Mosaic Mezze Selection (for two) or the Damascus Table.
Is mezze vegetarian?
Many mezze are vegetarian, such as hummous, moutabal, muhammara, tabbouleh, fattoush and batata harra. There are also mezze with meat, chicken or fish.
Where can I eat mezze in Amsterdam?
At Mosaic, Overtoom 109H in Oud-West, a short walk from Vondelpark, we serve Syrian mezze to share: cold, warm and as a sharing menu.
More on the drinks culture? Discover arak & Syrian wine →