Eating vegetarian in Paris used to mean picking the one meat-free dish on a classic menu. Mediterranean cooking changes that: vegetables, pulses, cheeses, herbs and spices are at the heart of it, from Lebanese mezze to Italian antipasti. At Maza, on Rue Mazarine in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the menu travels around the Mediterranean, and a large part of it is meat-free.
Maza is not a vegetarian restaurant: there is lamb, chicken, beef, fish and seafood on the menu too. That is exactly what makes it a good choice for a mixed table, where vegetarians and meat lovers share the same plates without anyone settling for less.
Vegetarian plates on the menu
To start
- Trio of dips: hummus, smoky aubergine caviar and houria, perfect to share with bread.
- Patatas bravas: crispy fried potatoes with a spicy bravas sauce.
Small plates
- Crispy arancini: risotto balls with mozzarella, tomato sauce, pesto and parmesan.
- Caprese, Maza style: heirloom tomatoes, stracciatella, pine nuts and Genovese basil.
- Aphrodite salad: rocket, lamb’s lettuce, roasted figs, grilled halloumi and a hazelnut dressing.
- Slow-roasted white asparagus: sumac yoghurt, toasted seeds, pickled red onions and a harissa and honey dressing.
- Roasted feta: with honey, cherry tomatoes and sesame.
Mains
- Aubergine parmigiana millefeuille: roasted aubergine, tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan, with a side salad.
- Linguine selvatiche: three kinds of mushrooms, walnuts and black truffle oil.
Desserts
All four desserts are meat-free: mouhalabia (an orange blossom cream with pistachios and rose petals), roasted mango crème brûlée, the Mediterranean massoub with banana, Greek yoghurt and pistachio, and the Choco-maza cookie with za’atar and a cardamom ganache.
A taste of Lebanon, and much more
If you are looking for Lebanese flavours in Paris, you will find several of them at Maza: hummus, mouhalabia, mlawi flatbread with chicken shawarma, or hummus topped with pulled lamb, pomegranate seeds and sumac. Maza is a Mediterranean restaurant rather than a traditional Lebanese one: the same dinner also takes you to Italy, Spain, Greece and North Africa.
How to order for a mixed table
These are sharing plates, so plan on two or three per person. For four people, half of them vegetarian, you could order:
- a trio of dips and arancini to start;
- the Aphrodite salad and the roasted feta;
- the aubergine parmigiana and the hummus with pulled lamb;
- two desserts to share.
Practical information
- Address: 43 Rue Mazarine, 75006 Paris, in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a few minutes from Odéon and the Pont Neuf, and across the Pont des Arts from the Louvre.
- Opening hours: every day, from 12 pm to midnight, non-stop.
- Booking: online or on OpenTable, for 1 to 20 guests.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maza a vegetarian restaurant?
No, but it is very vegetarian-friendly: around ten dishes on the menu, plus every dessert, contain no meat or fish.
Are there vegan options?
Some dishes can be close to vegan, like the dips or the bravas, but most plates include cheese, yoghurt or eggs. Ask the team when you order: they will tell you what each dish contains.
Is it good for a group?
Yes. Sharing plates work very well for groups, online booking goes up to 20 guests, and the restaurant can be booked for private events.