How one woman inspired popular SA restaurant Ocean Basket

Celebrating 90 years of love: How Mama Liza inspired Ocean Basket

In the Jacaranda City where purple blooms mark the month of November, there’s a special woman celebrating a birthday milestone: As Mama Liza turns 90, we observe her remarkable journey as a Greek immigrant woman whose warmth and joy in cooking sparked a global legacy, shaping the Ocean Basket we all know today.

When Mama Liza first arrived in South Africa, she brought with her an abiding love of cooking and family, deeply rooted in her Greek heritage. From her earliest days in Pretoria, she was committed to recreating the dishes that filled her home in Greece, with recipes steeped in tradition and crafted with love. For her, food was a way to bring people together, to share stories and to forge connections.

Mama Liza’s passion didn’t go unnoticed. Her sons, Fats and George Lazarides, watched her transform simple ingredients into family feasts, witnessing the magic that happened when people gathered around their table. Her meals were communal, often stretching to include friends and neighbours, with laughter and conversation the essential accompaniments.

From shared meals to a restaurant idea

This atmosphere of openness and sharing inspired Fats and George, who dreamed of one day bringing the experience to others. It was from these shared meals around Mama Liza’s table that the first seeds of Ocean Basket were sown.

In April 1995, with little more than a vision and a handful of recipes, Fats and George opened the first Ocean Basket in Menlyn.

Their goal was simple: to offer affordable, quality seafood that would welcome guests into an atmosphere of warmth and familiarity. Though South Africa was far from the Aegean, Mama Liza’s influence filled the space, from the flavours on the menu to the hospitality that greeted each guest.

She worked side by side with her sons, making her signature baklava, whipping up tzatziki and taramasalata, and even ironing the tablecloths. Ocean Basket was a labour of love, rooted in Mama Liza’s ethos that every meal should be shared, savoured and made with care.

With generous portions and a Mediterranean-inspired menu, Ocean Basket quickly became a beloved spot, known not only for its food but for the experience it offered. It was a place where people felt at home, drawn to the warmth and authenticity that mirrored the Lazarides’ family table. Each dish, from the creamy lemon sauce that became an Ocean Basket classic to the golden, flaky baklava, told the story of Mama Liza’s influence.

Over 200 locations

As word spread, Ocean Basket began expanding. Today, it has grown to over 200 locations across 16 countries, from Mauritius to Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan to Cyprus. Each restaurant, no matter how far-flung, carries the essence of Mama Liza’s philosophy – that food is a language of love and community, transcending cultures and borders. Her baklava remains a staple; a sweet reminder of the brand’s origins as well as a connection to the roots that continue to sustain it.

Even as Ocean Basket grew into an international brand, Mama Liza’s role has remained central. She continues to pass down her recipes and traditions, still baking her ever-popular baklava for many of the Ocean Basket restaurants today, reminding all that passion, not perfection, is the true ingredient in every meal.

As she also explains: “The love you put into food is what people remember.” Her influence extends beyond recipes; she has instilled a set of values in her family and the Ocean Basket brand – values of generosity, togetherness and humility.

As guests dine at Ocean Basket restaurants today, they are part of a journey that started with a mother’s love and a family’s dream. Her legacy is thriving, reminding us that the most lasting traditions come from the simplest places: a family kitchen, a shared table, as well as the love of a mother. As long as people gather at Ocean Basket restaurants worldwide, Mama Liza’s dream lives on; a delicious reminder that food is always made to be shared.