Here is a menu that will make you curious. With dishes that draw influences from Egypt, China, and Europe, Maza will have you wondering where to travel to first.
Thankfully, you can have a taste of all three, and then a few bites more. Sharing is the entire concept behind this new restaurant in Lausanne, offering considered and creative small plates that are made to be passed around the table.
This unusual marriage of flavours tells the story of the couple behind the restaurant, who fuse their Chinese and Swiss Egyptian backgrounds. Both Swiss hospitality school trained, Maza is their passion project which brings a refinement to food that clearly comes from the heart.
And you’re quick to realise that the possibilities are endless. On our table we had crispy spring rolls with a chunky lamb shoulder filling and harissa sauce. Sea bream tartare on a herb rice crisp with hot siracha mayonnaise, and slippery pork belly wontons that we tried at the same time as squash with za’atar yogurt.
We also ate some classics re-done really well. A highlight was the spherical Caesar salad with parmesan mousse that could go down in one perfect mouthful. Another was their ‘gateau invisible’, a lighter take on apple cake with vanilla cream that was an instant crowd-pleaser.
The best part? You get to try everything. In fact, trying everything is what Maza encourages with a 7-piece menu that the chefs choose for 75 CHF. If that feels indulgent for a weeknight, there’s also a lunchtime offer of 2-3 plates and cheaper prices if you’re a student.
In front of the restaurant on Rue Marterey, Maza has kept a piece of its history as a butcher’s shop and left the old façade. But instead of a metal counter, you’ll find a bar inside with décor that is cosy and intimate, seating up to 30 people. The only other trace you might spot is on your way to the bathrooms, formerly used as meat lockers.
With such excellent service and a seasonal menu that changes every six weeks, Maza has got our imaginations fired. We’re sure to come back for more.
Maza
Rue Marterey 29, 1005 Lausanne
Tuesday to Friday: 11:30 - 14:00 | 18:30 - 21:30
Saturday: 12:00 - 14:00 | 18:30 - 21:30
