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At Lyla Mediterranean in Morristown, the story starts long before the restaurant opened at 10 Lafayette Avenue. It starts in the 1980s in a busy family home, with parents, siblings and grandparents all under one roof. Life was loud, a little chaotic and full of laughter, and there was always something cooking.
“Teta (grandma) would be in the kitchen, humming along to Fairuz as she cooked,” the family recalls. “We watched our mothers carry those recipes and traditions into their own kitchens, never measuring, only cooking from the heart.”
What ties those generations together is something the family calls nafs, the spirit a cook brings to a dish. It is the patience, instinct and love that no written recipe can capture, and it is the difference between following instructions and making something taste like home. That idea is what Lyla brings from the family kitchen to its dining room on Lafayette Avenue, where the Lebanese style menu draws on traditional dishes from the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We want the generosity of our grandmother’s table to be felt every time someone walks through our doors,” the family says. “Above all, it’s about warmth and hospitality.”
What to Order at Lyla This Fall
Ask the family to name the one dish everyone should try and they have a hard time stopping at one. The lamb chops make a strong case, served with a tarragon thyme garlic butter sauce and garlic potatoes. The fattoush is the bright, crunchy counterpart, tossed with fresh herbs, pomegranate molasses and crisp pita croutons. Our advice is to order both and pass the plates around the table.
This fall, one more dish deserves a spot on your order: Lyla’s vegan pumpkin kibbeh. Crispy pumpkin and bulgur shells are filled with spinach, walnuts and tangy spices. It is a seasonal plate that brings all the comfort of fall without making meat the centerpiece, and it is a smart pick for anyone at the table who eats plant based.
Lyla Catering for Thanksgiving and the Holidays
That same generous approach goes well beyond the dining room. Lyla’s full menu is available for catering, so you can bring the restaurant’s flavors to Thanksgiving dinner, holiday parties and celebrations at home. If you are already planning a Friendsgiving in Morris County, a Lyla spread is an easy way to feed a crowd.
A favorite way to build the table is with a mix of hot and cold mezze, a fresh salad like fattoush or tabbouli, and a main course made for sharing. The classic mixed grill is a popular choice. So is makloubeh, a dish whose name literally means “upside down.” It is layered with chicken, potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant and rice, cooked with an aromatic spice blend, then flipped onto the platter for its big reveal. It is a hearty centerpiece with a little welcome drama.
Private Events and Full Buyouts
If you would rather leave the hosting to someone else, Lyla also welcomes private events and full buyouts. The team works one on one with each client to tailor the menu to the occasion, whether that is a holiday office party, a milestone birthday or a family gathering. It is worth booking early, since December dates go fast. Planning further out? Our guide to restaurants open on Christmas Day in Morris County can help with the rest of the season.
More Than a Meal
What sets Lyla apart is not one dish or one family recipe. It is the connection between the food and the welcome, and the goal of recreating a home where cooking was a way to show care and gathering around the table was part of everyday life. Whether you come in for dinner, celebrate a milestone or bring a catered feast home, the intention stays the same: good food, real warmth and the feeling that someone is happy to have you there.
As the family puts it: “Come in, sit down. There’s always room for one more.”
Lyla Mediterranean is at 10 Lafayette Avenue in Morristown, with free parking in the lot entered from Lafayette Avenue. The restaurant is BYO. Call (201) 246-6084 or visit lylakitchen.com to see the menu, make a reservation or ask about catering.
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