Pasha Mezze Lunch Wraps

My husband and I were driving around Ghent on a Sunday afternoon deciding on a spot for lunch. I was in the mood for something light and healthy, so we chose Pasha Mezze, a local, organic Mediterranean restaurant that offers a wide selection of vegan and gluten-free items.

The atmosphere in Pasha is warm and welcoming. They have an open kitchen that’s visible from most tables, and yet, that doesn’t affect the restaurant from having a clean, orderly appearance nor does it affect the noise level. When we arrived, soft jazz music was playing in the background, and the room was especially tranquil since brunch had just ended.

Our waitress was cheery and friendly, expressing that she’d be “taking good care” of us—a phrase that caught my attention because I don’t hear it often. We normally hear the, “Hi my name is so-and-so, and I’ll be taking care of you this afternoon.” This waitress was not only to take care of us—but good care. And she did.

We were pleased to hear that their brunch drink specials were still available, so we each ordered a mimosa as we skimmed the menu. It was a brisk day, so I already had decided on the lentil soup, and to accompany, I chose a create-your-own wrap with garden greens, tomatoes, shrimp, organic quinoa and zucchini cheese puffs moistened with yogurt mint sauce. My husband ordered a grilled eggplant vegetable wrap served with a side of their house made hummus and toasted pita points.

When our food arrived, I first tasted the lentil soup. It was served at the perfect temperature and offered a comforting aroma and flavor. Hints of cumin are noticeable in this dish, and there’s a slight spice to the soup—definitely not overwhelming; just enough to give a burst of flavor in each spoonful. The soup is topped with crunchy wheat bread cubes, which I saved until the very end to allow them to soak up moisture and flavor.

The perfectly rolled wrap was served cold, but the zucchini puffs and shrimp warmed the inside. The shrimp were larger than I’d imagined, and the zucchini puffs added a crispy texture. All the ingredients hinted of the minty yogurt dip, a tangy and wonderfully flavorful sauce. Everything about the wrap was fresh and wholesome, and I’d certainly order it again.

The hummus on my husband’s platter was fluffy and slightly creamy, and the lightly seasoned, crispy pita points were a perfect size for scooping. His eggplant vegetable wrap was served warm and packed with grilled eggplant, sautéed julienne carrots and other veggies, warm mozzarella, mayonnaise, fresh kale and crispy lettuce with jalapeno tomato sauce. Of the two wraps, I enjoyed mine slightly better because of the freshness that the minty yogurt sauce offered, but his was still a delicious, savory meal that’s great for veggie lovers.

After we’d finished every single bite of our lunches, we decided to reward ourselves for eating so healthy, so we chose a crème brulee cheesecake for dessert. The sweet treat was dotted with specks of fresh Madagascar vanilla bean, served on a moist graham cracker crust and drizzled with burnt caramel, which added the distinct flavor of a scorched crème brulee topping. The cheesecake was rich in flavor but surprisingly smooth and light in texture, so we didn’t feel guilty at all for indulging in this luscious dessert.

We left feeling completely satisfied—not overly full and miserable like some places—thanks to the fresh ingredients, sensible portions and healthy qualities that Pasha presents in every dish. We’re going to take good care in making sure we dine here again soon.

Pasha Mezze is located at 340 W. 22^nd St., Norfolk. For more information, call 757-627-1317 or visit www.pashamezze.com