Mezes can make for a fun night out, giving everyone at the table a nibble of others’ favorite dishes. With enough meat-free mezes to feed a herd of vegetarians, Layla Lebanese Restaurant is an ideal spot to do just that.
At this new eatery in The Grove, the kitchen is doing hummus the way it should be: thick and creamy with a little extra-virgin olive oil drizzled on top. With a few dashes of smoky paprika, the succulent hummus is ready to be scooped by paper-thin pita, still piping hot from the oven. Those luscious legumes always make for an ideal appetizer to split – if you can practice enough restraint to leave some for your friends, that is.
When it comes to sharing, sometimes small plates can be just too small, but Layla’s grape leaves – tender and stuffed with soft and sticky rice – proved substantive enough, offering bites both acidic and sweet for everyone at the table. But it was the lentil soup stole the show. While the bowl boasted a simple serving of puréed yellow lentils, I loved this variation on its chunkier cousin. Smooth, warm and not overly salted like so many soups, those lovely lentils were the perfect pool in which to dunk my leftover pita.
Sharing food is best with close friends, and the fatoush salad (pictured) proved worthy enough for my nearest and dearest. Romaine leaves, toasty pita, crisp radishes, red peppers and onions are tossed in a house-made oil-and-vinegar dressing. Light and refreshing, this salad was a good way to end the shared meal.
Layla is a great place to frequent for an affordable and casual night out. The best part: It sufficiently fills me up before a quick bike ride down Manchester Avenue to cap off the night with a margarita at Atomic Cowboy.
This article appears in July 2012.