Zouzou is a picturesque Turkish-Lebanese restaurant in La Mer. It’s located next door to one of my favourite Turkish restaurants, Kaftan. And like Kaftan, Zouzou has expansive terrace from which, at this time of the year in particular, one can enjoy a beautiful beach view. I, however, had to sit indoors on the blustery morning I visited. Its interior is a pleasant, homely place to spent time, tastefully decorated with subtle elements from both cultures. I immediately liked this place.
I was here to have breakfast with a Japanese friend who was transiting from Tokyo. We decided to share a Zouzou Arabic Special Sini Breakfast which includes…oof, just about everything one could want in a breakfast, from fresh bread to honey and cream and eggs and falafels and olives and jam…the list is long. Each sini or tray is good for two and includes unlimited (authentic) Turkish tea served in istikan tea glasses; I am convinced that tea tastes better in an istikan. Everything we ate and drank was excellent.
Eggs 
Laban, Honey, etc. 
Foul 
Falafel 
Olives 
Turkish Tea 
The Sini or Tray
The staff at Zouzou are friendly, hospitable and infinitely accommodating. Hospitality is such as integral part of the cuisines of both Turkey and the Lebanon yet so many restaurants pay little attention to anything more than order taking and kitchen to table delivery. The Zouzou staff made a fuss, constantly offering us hot bread, more tea, more honey – they offered, we did not ask – that’s what’s important, what makes all the difference. This is a restaurant well worth a visit.
Hey! Now read this –
Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from,
each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his
companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts
no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism.
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