“I started in the (restaurant) business with my in-laws, they had a two-in-one restaurant and grocery store,” says Maggie Ailabouni, owner of Mazah Eatery.

Ailabouni was born in Lebanon and raised in a traditionally large, hungry Lebanese family. She says that out of her and her 65 first cousins, she was always the one to end up with her hands in the kitchen.

“When I married into a family with a restaurant, it gave more to my love for food and for hosting. Seeing people eat what you make is so satisfying. It’s the biggest reward ever.”

“I started Mazah after staying out of the restaurant business for a couple of years, and for that time, wherever I was, I ended up in someone’s kitchen,” Ailabouni laughs. “The kitchen calls to me, so I decided I needed to open Mazah up because that’s what gives me satisfaction.”

And that’s how Ailabouni ended up in Richard DeRoberts’ kitchen in 2008. At the time, Ailabouni was helping DeRoberts and his wife with home care and, naturally, she found herself gravitating towards their kitchen.

“One day (Mr. DeRoberts) asked me, ‘Maggie, what would you like to do?’ I said that I would love to open a restaurant.”

DeRoberts mentioned he had an opening in his building on Grandview and offered Ailabouni a chance to check it out. Nine months later, they opened up Mazah, where Alchemy Kitchen stands now.

It took weeks to clear the building, as Ailabouni mentioned that they built everything from scratch. Once all departments gave her the go-ahead, she held a soft opening for Mazah with a sampler.

“I didn’t have a complete menu, but I had a few items. I told my family members who started this endeavor with me that we’ll call it a sampler,” says Ailabouni. “In our culture, we love to eat a variety of different flavors. We don’t like just one thing. So, you get a bit of everything: hummus, baba gannoush, falafel, or shawarma.”

This sampler, which you can still order today in lunch or dinner sizes, was the start of something new and amazing. Mazah took off with community support and has since earned the title of a staple within Columbus.

In 2014, Mazah moved just down the street to its current location at 1453 Grandview Avenue. As it stands, Mazah boasts a comfortable, welcoming dining room perfect for any occasion, and a patio open year-round.

^{An assortment of some of Mazah's star dishes. (Credit: Eat Local Ohio)}

Reality of a Restaurant

“You have to love what you do,” Ailabouni answered when asked what the key to success is.

Having been in the business for 37 years, she “thrives” on good quality food.

“Nothing is pre-packaged at Mazah. My whole family comes to eat here: my grandkids, kids, my brothers, nieces, and nephews,” says Ailabouni. “It’s not work for me, it’s my lifestyle.”

It’s her lifestyle, but it isn’t exactly easy. Working a full day in the kitchen only to find a mountain of payroll and paperwork in the back isn’t for the weak. And in unprecedented times like the pandemic, nothing is certain.

“We went through so many hard times, but thankfully, because of family, friends, and a good community, we stayed in business.”

When we say that Mazah is a family-owned business, we mean that. When Maggie opened Mazah in 2009, she had help from her three daughters, her son, and her three brothers.

To this day, nearly everyone is still around and pitching in wherever they can, from the kitchen to renovations. When we stopped in at Mazah, the familial bonds were palpable from the booths. Everyone was smiling and joking around, but, most importantly, serving up delicious, fresh food.

“When you are making food for people, you have to be in a good mood so that the food will be extra good. It has love in it,” Ailabouni smiles. “There are so many times where I step back and look around and say, ‘You know what? We’re doing great. Thank God, we’re good.’”

And we have to give credit to the fact that Mazah is nearly entirely women-operated at the moment.

The Food of Mazah

Mazah embodies fresh, homemade, comforting food. Ailabouni cooks with integrity and love: if she wouldn’t feed it to her family, she isn’t feeding it to you.

Maybe that’s one of the reasons why, oftentimes, you’ll see her kids dining in at Mazah. She tells us that her son has Celiac’s, and that any diners who have dietary restrictions or allergies need not fear.

“We make everything here from scratch, so we know about every single ingredient that goes into the food.”

But, for those without gluten sensitivities, we urge you to eat with as much pita bread as you can.

“I joke with people in a sarcastic way that they should use their God-given utensils,” says Ailabouni. “If I see someone taking the hummus with a fork, I will jump and scream! To get the full flavor of the dip, you have to use pita bread.”

Pair it with the homemade hot sauce, and you have a delicious appetizer (or entree, we won’t judge).

After you indulge in your hummus, order the sampler and get a feel for all of the flavors. Come back once, twice, or at least three more times to get a feel for the menu's freshness and variety. But always end with dessert.

We’d opt for the homemade kanafi: it’s warm, toasty, and you’ll get that viral cheese pull.

And Mazah offers special themed nights throughout the month, featuring flavors and dishes you don’t always find on their regular menus.

Lebanese Night, held on the first Monday of every month, honors Maggie and her family’s origins. Serving up Lebanese staples like kibbeh nayyeh, minced, raw lamb and beef with bulgar and spices, and kibbeh bil sanieh, a baked version.

“The raw kibbeh is the utmost clean lamb and beef, if I find both fresh. We clean the meat and cure it with spices, the way our grandma used to do it,” says Ailabouni. “The baked kibbeh has a little bit more of the fat in it, so it holds nicely in the tray.”

Other dishes featured on Lebanese Night will change depending on what Ailabouni finds at local farmers’ markets. Still, the goal is always comfort food, highlighting Lebanese classics that you’d eat with your grandma on a Sunday afternoon.

Inspired by a trip to Greece, Mazah hosts Greek Night on every third Tuesday of the month. 

“I went to Greece with my daughter, and we stayed in Ithaca for almost three weeks. I tried all of their food and loved the culture. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, we are one and the same.’”

That, and one of her daughters married a Greek man, so they’ve welcomed this neighboring culture with open arms. Stop by on Greek Night, and you’ll find similar flavors and concepts to what Mazah usually offers, but with that Greek twist.

That Family Feel

“My top priority is that the guest will eat, feel good, and leave happy,” says Ailabouni. “It’s so important that they have a good experience, and they don’t feel like they are just a number in here.”

Ailabouni aims for the feel of a grandmother’s house, centered on nourishment, care, and a welcoming atmosphere for all. Trust me, Mazah has got it down.

“Our food is very healthy. We don’t have preservatives or additives in it. Honest to God, it’s the minimum amount of ingredients that gives you an abundance of food.”

It’s what truly makes Mazah feel like home. All fresh, never frozen, and hand-prepared meals that make you feel full and taken care of.

We couldn’t recommend it enough, so if you haven’t stopped by, please do.

Visit Mazah Eatery!

1453 Grandview Ave, Columbus

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