Mezze

GF and I met another couple here for cocktails and appetizers. I suggested the place purely because of the good reviews on Unilocal and was kind of embarrassed that I did.
I wanted to eat outside but the outdoor space is terrible. It is completely lacking in any adornment and there is not much to look at on this side street. On a summer night when there were a lot of people eating outside on state street there was no one eating outside here. Unfortunately the ambience inside is also completely non-​descript.
My party all opted for «dealers choice» cocktails and no one was particularly thrilled by what the bartender came up with. Mine was tiny, over-​priced and simply ok.
The food was the best part. 2 of the 3 plates we ordered were very good – the falafel and the fried chicken. I didn’t particularly like the menu as a whole.
I was really disappointed by this place– one of the few times Unilocal has led me astray.

Besides having one of the best bartenders in Madison, this place has good freaking food! Very reasonable prices. Definitely worth checking out!

I think Mezze brings everything it’s got to the table… not just literally. The interior design is simple yet stylish and romantic, and as others have said, it’s such a date spot. The menu uses a select variety of funky ingredients with a mediterranean twist. We shared the beet salad with arugula, pistachios, red onions, chevre and sumac lemony spice… the beets tasted so fresh and rich that it seemed like they were just harvested, and the goat cheese, which I’ve found usually disguises other foods, complimented them astoundingly well. The crispy chicken with fried brussels sprouts and anchovy sumac butter was flavorful and totally satisfying for brussels sprouts lovers! The dish was sort of difficult to share, since we both had to cut our portions of meat off the bone, so I might recommend it as an individual plate. The cheese and charcuterie was pretty tasty– the best part was the pork confit-​type spread. I wish they would have given us more pita bread and a few more slices of ham though. Overall, our experience was almost perfect… this spot is prime if you and a date want a quick, impressive small plate bite and drinks!

I read good reviews on this restaurant, so I checked it out with a friend. I had never tried Amy’s so I cannot compare, but Mezze is cozy and nice inside; it struck me as a nice place for a date. Supposedly they specialize in cocktails but we were more interested in their small but eclectic tap list. We split a kale salad and coppa pizza and devoured both. Everything was absolutely delicious, and plenty of food for two. Will definitely be back to try the entrees and cocktails.

Great drinks, very very well made. A very good execution of the «hipster cocktail bar» with unique cocktails and interesting dishes. A little pricy, but you get what you pay for. Atmosphere and service are A+.

I’d never been to the old Amy’s, but we decided to stop by to Mezze on the strength of a recommendation. Really enjoyed the food – unique Levantine-​style flavors without being fussy-​pretentious. The kale-​mushroom pizza was fantastic, and surprisingly filling split two ways. The fava bean and chicken kabob small plates were also very good. The only weird thing was the way the entrance is set up – we thought we’d accidentally come in the back door. Five thumbs up for the playlist!

We were struggling to pick a place for dinner, and decided to give Mezze a try. I remember the Cap Times giving it a good review, so it seemed like a decent bet.
We ordered a beet salad to share, and it was pretty good. Good flavors and textures and lots of goat cheese.
The pizza we ordered had goat cheese, nuts, rosemary and lots of onions. It had a lemony flavor, too. To me, the pizza was just okay. I feel like both the top and bottom of the pizza was verging on burnt, with the middle a little too chewy. I realize this is probably how the pizza is supposed to be cooked, but I’m not a fan. The flavors of the pizza didn’t really work for me either, lacking any sort of harmony. It was too sweet, and the crust lacked flavor. I love pizza, and struggled to finish 2 pieces. My companion enjoyed the pizza way more than me, but we both enjoyed that beet salad.
The place didn’t really get too drastic of an upgrade. It’s still a dark, little space. It’s nice enough, but they really should have done something with that ugly floor. Being there during the daytime really highlighted that dirty, beat-​up floor.
The staff was nice. The bartender that was working was making me super nervous, though. I appreciate when restaurants and bars get creative with their drinks. But, when using egg whites in mixed drinks, you need to make sure you are washing your hands! Cracking an egg and then touching 10 other surfaces/​objects makes me a little anxious. Wash those dirty, eggy hands! I had a sip of my companion’s drink, and it was quite delicious. Their happy hour seems to be a pretty good one for the frugal.
While I was never a huge fan of Amy’s Café, I was willing to give Mezze a try. It was okay, and I’d go back to try more dishes. We spotted someone getting a chicken kabob, and it looked pretty great.
The dishes here are for sharing. The pizza we ordered was definitely big enough to feed 2 hungry adults, though the beet salad was rather small. The chicken kabob we spotted looked pretty big.
I feel like this would be a pretty decent spot for some late-​night drinks and conversation. While I’m not yet convinced it deserves be praised as a hidden gem, it does have potential. I’ll give it another go.

Probably a 3.5 but I’m not feeling generous today so I am rounding down. Formerly Amy’s, Mezze is focused on small plates and pizzas. Both their food and their cocktails are based around Mediterranean flavors and spices. As my girlfriend and I are big fans of anything mediterranean, we were excited to stop by. The dining room was dimly lit with votive cocktails on each table. While they helped created a soothing ambience, it was almost too dark to effectively read the menus. We opted for a few cocktails and 2 small plates and a pizza. On the surface, the cocktails seemed priced too low ($ 6) but once we saw the glassware they were served in, then it all made sense. They were tiny but well executed. A real headscratcher however was the pricing of some of their bottles of beer. After my cocktail, I opted for the Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca. Assuming a price point of maybe $ 8, I was surprised when it was listed at $ 14. Another bottle was priced at $ 21. It just feels out of touch with the rest of the menu.
As far as the food goes, we opted for the Broccoli Rabe, Lamb Kefta and a pizza with za’atar spice and labneh. Flavor wise, we thought the food was spot on but I feel execution was a miss. The broccoli rabe was served whole and slightly undercooked. The lamb kefta didn’t taste like it was grilled and lacked any smoky flavor. The pizza crust was perfectly chewy and dense but the spices could have been more generously applied (and more salt).
I like the fact the Mezze is catering to a different crowd and delivers a different experience that some other restaurants on State St (can anyone say Whisky Jacks?). With the new apartments popping up all around State St, I think it will play well with young professionals and empty nesters who will want to give it a try. But to keep them coming back, they need to tighten their kitchen game up a bit.

We sat at one of the tables on the sidewalk, which was perfectly situated on a bustling street off State. It was lovely!
Our visit started out a bit sour because we had to wait 20 minutes before we could even place our order. When I went inside to try and order drinks at the bar, I found out the waitress was also serving as the bartender and she told me she would come out soon.
We ordered the chèvre pizza, broccoli rabe, and falafel. The entire menu is tapas and all reasonably priced. The food is really good too! The flavored have a unique blend that works really well together.
While the waitress was clearing our drinks, we were discussing ordering another round and tried to get her attention, but she hurried back into the kitchen. When we finally did catch her, we just asked for the check. Cue another 20+ minute wait.
I would definitely try this place again because the food was so good, but man, service was really bad. I’m taking 2 stars off on service alone.
It’s worth noting that we went within their first week of opening. I hope they work out the kinks and hire some more help because this restaurant has a lot of potential.