I hummus confess, I am obsessed with Mazra

These Wraps Can’t be Remixed

Tucked on Main Street in Redwood City sits Mazra, a Mediterranean restaurant. As a family-owned business, Mazra is very community-oriented. It was built on the values of family and hospitality, which truly do show in their service. The Makableh brothers came to the Bay Area in 2012 to share vibrant Levantine flavors. Levant is located in the eastern Mediterranean region, which includes modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and southern Turkey. 

As an architecture student, I am obsessed with the interior. At first, the space felt a bit cramped because the tables were so close together. The first time I visited, it took me a while to feel comfortable gossiping with my sister because the people next to me could totally hear our conversation. After a while, you get over the feeling of being so close together, and if you are a social butterfly who loves striking up conversations with strangers, then you would love the seating arrangement. Even when seated inside, it feels like you're outside. The mix of warm light from the green glass chandeliers adorning the ceiling and natural light streaming through the windows and ceiling is charming, and it only gets better as the sun sets. The warmth of it all creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere, which makes the dining experience much more pleasurable. The flora and fauna choices bring everything together, and work well with the color palette and aesthetic of the space. The materials complement each other; for example, the dark wood works well with the light-colored stucco or stone walls. The advice to “Take it easy, Habibi” is written on some of the walls, which I thought was a nice touch and a good reminder. Props to whoever designed and furnished everything, because I couldn't stop looking around, trying to take it all in.

Mazra works like any other restaurant. You go up to the host, check in, and wait to be seated. They don't have an official waiting area; you kind of just stand outside and wait for your name to be called. Once they call your name, you are brought inside or outside, depending on your seating preference. After the host shows you to your table, they give you a physical menu, but to order, you scan the QR code displayed at your table. There is also an option to order at the register if you want to pay in cash or don't want to order online. Don’t feel like eating in the restaurant? That's okay, you can also order food to-go at the register as well. 

The serving staff was very kind during my visit and always willing to help with anything needed. My sister and I had a couple of questions about where certain things were located. Service was definitely a 10/10.

In Arabic, Mazra means “farm,” which speaks to the freshness of their food; they serve 100% halal meat. The owners of Mazra emphasize their cooking style: all the food is cooked over mesquite wood. Their menu includes a wide variety of options, ranging from meats to vegan options. Usually, my sister and I both order the chicken shawarma plate, but we decided to try one of their non-meat options. 

My sister ordered the falafel wrap. Inside the wrap is hummus, Tahini sauce, pickles, cucumbers, tomato, mint, and, of course, falafel. The combination of flavors worked well together. The veggies were fresh, and the mint was a nice contrast to the dish's palate.

Instead of my usual shawarma plate, I ordered the double kebab plate. This includes your choice of kebab, your two sides, a piece of pita bread, and all served over basmati rice, with sauces on the side. 

I chose the shrimp kebab. The shrimp had an amazing smoky flavor to it and was cooked to perfection. For my two sides, I got the hummus and the garlic potatoes. The hummus was the best I have ever had; it had a homemade flavor you couldn't get from any store-bought hummus. It's served with olive oil, paprika, and chickpeas, and it goes well with the pita bread, which comes out warm and soft. I don't even know where to begin with the potatoes. These are the best potatoes I think I have ever eaten, and I love potatoes. I think they are a very versatile vegetable. The garlic flavor of Mazra’s potatoes is very present; as a garlic lover, I was very pleased. They were cooked to the right kind of crispy, not burnt, but not too crunchy, and perfectly soft in the middle. If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, I would choose their garlic potatoes. 

Mazra also has a variety of fun drinks. They have house-made lemonades with three flavors to choose from. I got the raspberry lemonade, which comes served with raspberry and a couple of mint sprigs. It tasted very fresh, was absolutely delicious, and the right amount of sweet. I also saw on the menu that they offered a banana-date shake, which looks yummy. I am not a fan of dates, but this shake made me consider getting over my distaste of it. 

The portions of the plates are generous. You definitely get your money's worth. Each plate costs between $20 and $30. Our total came out to around $70, which may seem costly when you consider it was just the two of us, but I always leave with leftovers, and it's my lunch for the next day. 

I have tried other, more local Mediterranean spots. The places I have visited have always lacked something, whether it's atmosphere or taste. If a Mediterranean spot has barely decent shawarma, I won't even trust that the rest of the food will taste good; the same thing goes for the hummus. If they don't serve good hummus, I might as well start going back home. Mazra definitely checks every box for a good place and that is worth the money.