In 2011, Nader and Lisa Khatib opened Laziza Mediterranean Grill, bringing the unique flavors of Middle Eastern cuisine to Evans. “Since I was a little boy, I've wanted to open restaurants,” shared Nader. “I love to cook for people and I’m a people pleaser. So, I get great satisfaction from having happy customers.”
When planning Laziza, the Khatibs created a simple, fast casual dining concept with a fresh menu. Community response has been so enthusiastic Laziza has expanded to include a second location in downtown Augusta, a catering division, and a food truck. Let’s take a deeper look at four popular menu items.
Chicken Shawarma
A traditional Middle Eastern street food consisting of marinated chicken thighs that are slow roasted and shaved very thin. For the wrap, it comes encased in thin pita bread with house-made garlic sauce, pickles, and tomatoes. Wraps are pressed to give each one a crispy exterior. Chicken Shawarma can also be added to a salad; served in a bowl with basmati rice, lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber, and a creamy dressing; or served on a platter with white or brown rice, hummus, pita and choice of side.
Feta Fries
This festival favorite that started as a customer request has transformed into a Laziza staple and become one of the most popular menu items! This hot basket of french fries is topped with a drizzle of Laziza’s signature garlic chili sauce and sprinkled with feta cheese. The sauce not only adds depth of flavor but keeps the feta stuck to the fries for a full culinary experience. Turn the basket into a loaded feast by adding chicken shawarma or the gyro combo of seasoned blend of beef and lamb.
Hummus
Laziza’s house-made hummus comes in original, roasted red pepper, and jalapeño varieties. These special blends are made fresh daily and begin with dried chickpeas that are soaked overnight and boiled to perfection each morning. The classic hummus flavor comes from tahini paste, lemon, garlic, and salt. Although roasted red pepper and jalapeño may stray a bit from traditional hummus, it provides a variety of flavor combinations that customers truly enjoy. Opt for the loaded hummus which can be topped with fresh vegetables and feta.
Pull quote: "I love to cook for people and I’m a people pleaser. So, I get great satisfaction from having happy customers."
Steak Kebab
One of the menu’s premium items, the steak kebab is hand-trimmed beef tenderloin seasoned with a signature blend of spices, and garlic. The beef is skewered and grilled to medium doneness. The steak kebab can be served as a toasted wrap in pita bread with garlic sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, tzatziki sauce; as a bowl with basmati rice, lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber, and creamy dressing; or as a platter with white or brown rice, hummus, pita and choice of side.
Laziza Mediterranean Grill has two storefront locations: 4272 Washington Road, Suite 8A in Evans and 901 Broad Street in Augusta. Visit www.lazizagrill.com to explore menu, catering, and online ordering options and to find out more about the new Rewards program. Also follow Laziza on Instagram and Facebook for updates on specials and events.