Hands down this is the best restaurant in Toronto. Came across Byblos on accident and now it is a…read morepermanent stop for me anytime I am in the city. I got the harissa roasted half chicken and it was excellent. I guess the secret lies somewhere between the recipe and their charcoal grill that they are grandfathered into having. Nothing on the rest of the menu misses either. Short rib Kebab, stuffed olives, everything. Great atmosphere, great service, and easily one of my favorite meals in Toronto.

Got to try a whole bunch of things here for a group dinner and that's the way I suggest really…read moregetting a feel for Byblos since it is tapas style dishes. We ordered assortment of dishes like their: -tuna tartare -labneh -Branzino -lamb -manti dumplings -octopus -wagyu lahmeh pide -jewelled rice Everything was so colourful & executed so well! Would return in a heartbeat with a group of friends just to enjoy as many dishes as we can again

Such a great happy hour! A modern looking Middle Eastern restaurant with plenty of seating inside…read moreand some patio seating out front. I ordered a Lemon & Lavender Spritz to start which was super refreshing. We ended up getting a bottle of white wine to share that was also quite good . For food, we shared their Olives & Pickles, Muhammara dip with pita, Warm Halloumi, Crispy Mushrooms, and Lamb Kebab. I loved everything we got. It was all so good, especially the Muhammara. It was creamy and tasted so good. Our server was great too and attentive to our needs. We really enjoyed dining here and definitely hope to come back!

Azhar is an absolute gem in Toronto's Ossington strip for Middle Eastern dining! The atmosphere is…read morecozy, vibrant, and stylishly rustic, making it a fantastic spot for intimate dinners or sharing a meal with friends. The menu shines with inventive, fire-roasted dishes and vibrant small plates meant for sharing. Standouts like the homemade dips served with fresh, pillowy pita, the grilled halloumi, and the beautifully spiced roasted meats are packed with bold, complex flavors. Complemented by creative cocktails and warm, attentive service, it delivers an outstanding dining experience from start to finish.

Stopped by on a whim cause we were hungry. So glad we did! We got complimentary soup, chicken…read moremandi, and cauliflower to share between two. Cauliflower had a chimichurri that I wanted to lick off the plate. The portions are pretty huge here. Would have LOVED to try the lamb but like I said, portions were so big. Might be a good call so that you have leftovers for lunch the next day. Service was impeccable. Like superior. Everyone was so kind and the chef even came out to check on us. This little restaurant deserves all the love. Will be back if I'm in Toronto again.

The staff were extremely rude and unprofessional. Their attitude toward customers was unacceptable,…read moreand they showed very little respect or courtesy. The service was disappointing, and the staff made the overall experience unpleasant. I definitely would not recommend this place because of the poor customer service.

Thank you Leila! With your warm service and very helpful advice of choosing dishes…read more Anyone love spices should try! Love Saffron chicken and rice, so delicious! Want the recipe of the sauce;) Eggplant, tomato and eggs in rich garlic sauce are very well balanced, smooth~ Ice in Paradise is perfect for milky lovers. Dough is like in a botanical garden with rose petals and mint

This is a cozy spot with an elegant decor that makes you feel right at home. The menu offers a wide…read morerange of Persian dishes from appetizers, drinks, kebabs to stews and mixed rice. We ordered "Kashk o Bademjan" and "Pomegranate Salad". We really loved the salad as it was a great balance between the sauce and the ingredients. For main, we ordered "Isfahan Platter" which included one skewer of beef tenderloin and one skewer of ground lamb. The kebabs were tender and perfectly grilled. "Yogurt Drink" here is a must-try. The staff are friendly and attentive.

We visited Lebanese Garden Restaurant and enjoyed a nice selection of classic Lebanese dishes in a…read morerelaxed and welcoming setting. The staff were very friendly and attentive and made us feel right at home. They prepare house-made dips like hummus and baba ghanouj, and their grilled plates follow traditional recipes using fresh ingredients. We tried the "Falafel Balls", "Grape Leaves", "Hummus", and "Baba Ghanouj" to start, and they were fresh and well balanced. For mains, the "Chicken Shish Tawook Salad" and "Kafta Kebab Plate" were very satisfying; the chicken was especially juicy and tender and almost melted in your mouth. The mains are served with their house-made garlic sauce and hot sauce; the garlic sauce in particular was very creamy and added a really nice flavour to the meal. We finished with "Baklava" and "Sfouf", which were a simple and sweet way to end the meal.

Got to try their catering at an event and I loved it. Great rice, falafel, chicken. Will be…read moredefinitely stopping by!

We enjoyed dinner at Layla's on a Saturday night. The vibe was trendy with music going and…read morebeautiful crowd dining. Service was friendly and very helpful with dining options. We had some folks in group that hadn't tried Lebanese cuisine so server was very attentive to their questions. Full bar with good wine selection. For appetizers, we ordered fattoush salad for the table and yogurt with fresh naan bread. Dinner we ordered two platters with mixed Grill kebabs. Sirloin, chicken, other kebabs with rice pilaf with pine nuts and chimichurri. Grilled veggies as well. Everything was very good and fresh. There was street parking available but big city so we walked to restaurant.

Came here on a Saturday before an orchestra. We had…read morereservations so it was pretty easy. Our server Mahsa was really good to us, patient and gave us a lot of great recommendations! She really knew her stuff... from drinks to food. Wish we had room for some dessert... but we were really full.. Inside is very clean and well kept. Really pretty too. In between our appetizers and main, they cleaned our table and gave us new plates. Felt nice. Overall, although on the expensive side, we really enjoyed it and my vegan friends had a lot of options, so it was great for them too!

I'm used to just going to persian restaurants where the focus is the protein, like persian koobideh…read moreand kebabs and such. However, this restaurant's forte is in its stews. This place expanded my horizons and how I view persian cuisine. I already knew persian cuisine was great because of the flavorful kebabs, but this adds a whole new level of appreciation to the cuisine! I'd definitely highly recommend the Jujuni, its pretty sweet but we paired it with the bread and its really satisfying. We found ourselves wiping the dish clean, always wanting one more last taste. The braised lamb is so tender, as soon as we picked up the bone the meat immediately fell off. It was cooked to perfection, and the rice was really rich and had all sorts of fun textures because of the added components. As we were ordering, once the waiter found out this was our first time at the restaurant and we weren't sure what to order, the owner came and explained each dish to us and gave us recommendations based on what we were craving. Really personalized experience and a great intro to persian cuisine for those who have only have kebabs and koobideh before this.

I came here when they first open. The menu has changed…read more We had chicken apricot and lamb shank Service is good. Food is good but it's not as good as I remember 3 stars 4 stars service

This was my 2nd time to Tabule and it was just as amazing as the 1st time My friend and I did the…read moreSummerlicious lunch menu which had such delicious choices. Brendon served us and made some great suggestions including a cocktail much like a Paper plane. He was attentive and very personable. All in all a great experience.

Walked in on a cold winter Wednesday and got seated right away. They have a half off wine bottles…read moredeal on Wednesdays and will even cork any unfinished bottles for you to take home. Our server was so nice and friendly. We got the tabule salad with falafel, fried eggplant, and lamb grill. The salad is kind of a small portion but very tasty. The falafel was the perfect ratio of crispy to stuffing. However, they were mini falafels and I believe the regular order of falafels is bigger. The eggplant was the least enjoyable dish because it was so greasy and had no flavor to it. The lamb was cooked to perfection and so tender and flavorful. The grills are also served with veggies and rice. The portion size was perfect. We'd go back again and try some other hot mezzes.

Paramount is a quick and reliable spot for fresh Middle Eastern food right in the heart of…read moreToronto's financial district. Located inside the Brookfield Place concourse, it's easy to reach and perfect for a fast lunch or a bite between meetings. The setup is casual, but the food is made with care and good ingredients. They serve classics like shawarma, kebabs, and falafel, all prepared with the warm flavours Paramount is known for. Service is friendly and efficient, and portions are generous for a food‑court spot.

Good portion for the chicken shawarma meal: came with roasted potatoes (spiced), spiced rice (too…read moremuch cumin imo), salad, and shaved chicken. Would be nice if there hummus to balance everything out. Totals $13.99. Quick service for lunch pickup. It's inside the Union Food Court so during lunch time it's bustling and a great spot to people watch. The baklava (3 pieces at $3.49) were mini bites and fresh, sweet, full of rice flavour and texture. Recommended.

GEARY IS INDEED THE NEW OSSINGTON... at least matching on the food front…read more. Amazing dishes and gorgeous renovated loft interior which really gives a sexy ambiance. The service was kind and prompt. YOU HAVE GOT TO GET THE KANAFE!!!! This was by far our favorite dish!!!

Parallel is....unparalleled when it comes to falafel. Not talking about the sandwich but the balls…read morethemselves. First, these were the biggest balls I've ever seen - quite intimidating. Second, they are lusciously green inside, green with coriander, just the way I like them. And finally, the texture was perfect - crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. Given that I am giving a 5 for each of these, my overall score is 15! Really a very memorable experience. Another stand out from the mezze platter was the bright purple beet dip. Yowza. After I had gorged myself on appetizers, a main course was served. (I should have mentioned, this was a welcome dinner the night before a wedding). I was already so full, but still managed to enjoy some perfectly prepared schnitzel and a fantastic mushroom dish. The service was superb - drinks for our party came promptly, as did the refills. I was drinking wine, but I heard from others that the cocktails did not skimp on the alcohol. :) in recent years, Israeli cooking has reached impressive heights, and this restaurant certainly lives up to those expectations.