Lalezar

I am on the South Beach Diet and I needed a restuarant that served simple, healthy food with flavor and fresh vegetables. I found it all here and I was very satisfied. The dishes are all well prepared though not artistic in presentation. The ingredients all seemed gathered from the farmer's market that day. Reasonably priced, it is a great destination for a summer evening. Don't forget to have the Turkish coffee afterward!

Having consumed my own weight in kebabs and the like over the years I approached Lalezar with great excitement.

I was let down badly. Overpriced, underflavored and uninspiring I wouldn't call it bad but neither would I recommend any part of the seven sifferent dishes that my party tried.

Next!

We've dined here a couple of times and enjoyed it. The entrees do seem a bit underflavored, but the appetizers have been consistently terrific (I forget the name of my fave but it's got tomatoes & walnuts, among other things).

We've had take-out here twice--a nice change from the ordinary take-out places.
The sample platter entree with a few appetizers is enough for a family of 3. (ask for extra bread)
It's not outstanding, but it is refreshing and tasty.
We'll order again.

All Russian people i defenetely reccomend Lalezar. Varied selection of appetizers and, MANTI is delicious. MUST TRY THEIR turkish chai.

By the way I think they have something going on on New Years Eve.

Went to Cuban Pete's a few times. The food is very inconsistent. I would not return,because the lunch we had was cold, and not fresh at all. We had to send our appetizer back. This place is overrated, overpriced and not worth the long wait on a weekend night.

Diane

We tried Lalezar last night after driving by many times. I am a fan of middle eastern food so we had to try it.

For appetizers, we had the Parsley salad(Tabbouleh), Feta cheese rolls(Peynir) and Hummus, which came with bread & yogurt sauce, and was very tasty.

For the entree, my wife had the sliced, grilled strips of lamb over pita & yogurt sauce(Iskender kebab). It was not spicy enough for her, but I thought it was very flavorful as well.

I had the chicken kebob (Tavuk sis) which is like what you get on a NYC corner. It is basted with yogurt sauce.

We finished off with a Turkish tea, which I would state is the tea equivalent of espresso coffee; very strong, comes in a small glass, and you need to add a lot of sugar.

I had a nice doggie bag for the next day's lunch.

We'll try some other items on the next visit.

We would recommend it.

Lalezar is a wonderful restaurant. Iskender kebab is very close to what you would get in Turkey. Manti is excellent as well. If you like liver try the "Arnavut cigeri". If you don't like liver try it anyway, you may start liking it. The service is always efficient and courteous. Try the Turkish coffee and a desert. I guarantee it you will go back there.

Enjoy...

I just had one of the worst evenings I've ever had in a restaurant and it was at Lalezar where the manager needs to learn a lesson in customer service. Two families came together to eat at Lalezar. All was going well, appetizers delicious, service good - although the restaurant was freezing. That aside, we all ordered entrees. Two of us ordered the Ottoman Casserole - it was absolutely the worst food I have ever tasted in my life. The other person who ordered it, agreed. After the one and only bite we sent it back and decided that we would just share the rest of the food on the table - all very good. But when the check came, we were charged for the food we sent back. The waitress deferred to the manager. The manager said that we had ordered the food and she claimed we'd eaten half of it and then sent it back in order to get a free (half?) meal. I've never been so shocked or humiliated in all my life. What happened to, "I'm sorry you didn't like the dish. Please accept our apology and I hope you'll come back again"? This manager immediately decided that we were trying to "steal" food, even after complimenting her on all of the other food we'd had. What an error in judgement on her part! Until this restaurant can figure out how to handle customer service properly, I suggest no one eat there lest you be accused of trying to "steal" food if you send a dish back. Did I mention that this manager behaved like this in front of our three kids? Just appalling.

We just ate again at Lalezar the food in this place is fantastic! We had a birtdday party there and we tried every one of the delicious desserts that are made on the premises. What I love the most about this place is how fresh the food is, no matter how much I eat I never get the overstuffed feeling which happpens to me when I eat out. My friends and I have been to this place several times now and I have to say I think its the best restaurant in Montclair now.

Dan: If a restaurant makes food that you ordered, you are pretty much supposed to pay for it. Even if you don't like it.

Just got back from a high school graduation dinner at Lalezar. The food was pretty good, but the owner/manager has a real chip on her shoulder. We asked for a small accomodation and the waiter had to check with her. After telling the waiter she could not accomodate us, she didn't even have the decency to come over to our table after the waiter told her we wanted to speak to her. She must not be used to dealing with Americans. The food was good, but not good enough to put up with the owner's attitude. Find a friendlier place.

I agree with the underflavored comments here, I should have checked this board before going there. There is no reason to go back there except maybe on your way to Starbucks