Lazeeza

The predominant ethnic groups in Longsight are Desi and Black, which means that Rusholme’s Middle Eastern options of falafel and mezze are not so prevalent and therefore finding vegetarian food in Longsight necessitates a bit of detective work.
However, my preference is often for hot, wet, cooked food and Lazeeza offers several vegetarian curries cooked to order for £4.50, although rice or bread is not included — which is fair enough at that price!
I had bhindi curry (okra), see photo. Presentation was lovely, in a white oval serving dish. I was given the option of ‘normal’ or ‘spicy’ — I went for normal, which is by no means bland or free from chilli! The okra was nicely cooked and not slimy as it can be, especially on a buffet. I personally don’t like onions, so I would ask them to reduce or omit those next time — customisation being another plus point of cooking to order. But if you like onions, these were really nicely caramelised, adding a distinctive flavour and sweetness to the dish. Naan bread was good and properly served on a woven basket. Serving staff are in branded polo shirts, while the cooking team in their chef’s whites look very focused.
Lazeeza now has a smart new fascia (see photo) spanning two adjacent units. Viewed from the street, on the right is the (smart) takeaway with ‘family only dining’ restaurant upstairs; on the left is a traditional Indian sweet store. I really liked the ambience, with a mix of Desi families and young friends sharing lunch and the occasional white customer also. Staff were really helpful and friendly, and happy to chat when things got a bit quieter after the lunchtime rush.
As a vegetarian, I felt more comfortable sitting by the door for a bit more fresh air, as the chargriller is in full swing here. Also, I’m not sure how they would resolve it, but the toilet is at the back of the sweet shop next door, reached via a storage area. Plus, there was no toilet paper or hand towels — although lota and hand soap were provided! I wouldn’t normally mention toilets, but Lazeeza is otherwise chic enough for a date venue.
But if they can cooked to order food just a bit more to my preferences on my return visits, I may have found a new place to add to my all-​time favourites list. The combination of hole-​in-​the-​wall prices, smart décor, relaxed atmosphere and food freshly cooked to order is a winner for me.