What is meze?
Meze or tapas – what is the difference?
Both are about small dishes for sharing, but they come from different traditions and taste worlds.
Meze: an experience of sharing and variety
The word "meze" comes from the Arabic word "mazmiz", meaning "to taste a little of everything". Meze is a central part of the food traditions of Turkey, Lebanon, Greece and several countries around the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
These are small dishes served to be enjoyed together – meant to be shared between friends and family, so that everyone can try a little of everything. The dishes can range from cold salads, hummus and baba ganoush to warm dishes such as köfte, grilled halloumi and lamb skewers.
Tapas vs. meze
While meze and tapas are both sharing food, tapas comes from Spain and often includes Spanish ingredients and flavours. Tapas can be anything from olives and ham to small dishes such as patatas bravas and tortilla.
Meze, by contrast, brings flavours from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, with typical ingredients such as tahini, pomegranate, yoghurt sauce and spices such as sumac and za'atar. In tapas we often find a Spanish turn, while meze has a more spiced, fresh and aromatic profile.
The advantages of meze
A shared experience
Meze is made to be shared. It encourages community and togetherness, and turns the meal into a social experience.
Variety of flavour
From sharp and fresh to spiced and intense. That makes the meal exciting and varied.
Fresh ingredients
Many meze dishes are based on vegetables, pulses, olive oil and yoghurt.
Something for everyone
Meze offers something for every taste, whether you are vegetarian, vegan or a meat lover.
Visit Meze Restaurant in Stavanger
Explore our wide selection of meze dishes at Pedersgata 24.
Questions about meze and tapas
Are meze and tapas the same thing?
Not quite. Both are built on small dishes for sharing, but they come from different food cultures: meze from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, tapas from Spain. The flavours and the dishes differ.
What characterises meze?
Olive oil, yogurt, lemon, herbs and vegetables, combined with the grill. Several dishes are placed on the table at once rather than one plate per person.
How many dishes should we order?
It depends on how many you are and how hungry. If you would rather not work it out, the sharing menus are put together by the kitchen.
Does meze suit a group?
Yes, particularly. The group menu is made for parties of eight or more, and is placed on the table at the same time.