A taste of Lebanon has come to Mount Lebanon, so there is a second restaurant serving Middle Eastern cuisine.
Laziz Lebanese Cuisine is located in the Executive Building at 615 Washington Road, about two miles north of Lebanon Shops, where Time Out Time Eat has a store just off Mt. Lebanon Boulevard.
The two have some things in common. Each is a family-owned establishment owned by a husband and wife team, and her three of the four are first-generation Americans. Both restaurants opened during the pandemic and are struggling with supply chain challenges, rising food costs, staff retention and awareness.
“This has been a long-standing hope,” said Adele Fayad, who owns and operates Laziz with her husband Licha. The couple moved from Lebanon to Mount Lebanon in the early 1990s and made several attempts to open a restaurant in the South Hills. They were successful this time, launching on April 4 in the space previously occupied by the Arancini House at 615 Washington Street.
Fayads renamed it Laziz. It originally means “a pleasant person” in Arabic. They turned out to be comfortable, brightly lit places with plenty of space that needed new furniture and equipment. A sign near the entrance directs patrons to the restaurant down the street.
Lebanese dining spots aren’t common in western Pennsylvania, so Laziz will fill your hunger as well as your needs.
At a young age, Adele learned how to cook and bake from her mother and has prepared numerous menus. She has her five sisters and her two brothers as well as she has taken cooking lessons well and she runs a restaurant business in the Pittsburgh area.
But Adele isn’t the only kitchen celebrity in her immediate family: Licha has been sous chef for 30 years at the five-star Diamond Award-winning LeMont Restaurant atop Mount Washington. He also prepares food for Laziz and owns a car dealership/gas station in Whitehall. they have two sons.
A five-minute drive from uptown Mount Lebanon, John and Oat Becker are trying to gain a foothold at Time Out Time Eats at Lebanon Shops. They were launched on December 21, 2020, shortly after the coronavirus vaccine began rolling out.
“We agreed to buy the business when the pandemic hit[early 2020]. John Becker, who bought Mendoza, said.
“We got all their equipment and refurbished it,” he said. “Actually, I just redecorated it and added some photos. The layout is the same.”
Becker, who has an extensive background in banking, worked in restaurants in high school, college, and for a while after that, admits he’s not a chef like his wife.
Auck Becker, from Thailand, demonstrates his ingenuity in mixing and matching elements that maintain an extensive menu, from soups to ‘curry platters’ to desserts including banana rolls and mango rolls.
“Oak makes 90 percent of what we serve and cooks it to order,” said John, a New Hampshire native who met his spouse during a trip to Thailand. It’s not just cooking or Indian food, it’s the oak version of everything.”
Both couples say they’re getting positive reviews from diners, but they hope business will pick up speed. “I don’t want to be crazy all the time, but I want to be more busy.
“We’ve had some great days and some quieter days,” said Jon Becker. I feel like every day is going to get better if I do.”
The Beckers live in Mount Lebanon with their two daughters.
Razi’s is open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 7pm. Closed on Sundays.
Time Out Time Eat is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm. Friday from 11am to 10am. noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Both restaurants offer eat-in, takeout, and delivery options.
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