We went to Azhar Friday night for dinner. We did not have reservations, however we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. We were seated at the bar while we waited, and ordered a bottle of rose. There are many menu options available, and everything is shareable. We ordered the beet salad, Turkish pasta, and artichokes. The artichokes were my favorite, as they came with a smoked eggplant purée that was absolutely delicious. Azhar is tastefully decorated, with a comfortable feel. Will definitely be back. read more

Azhar - A table setting with three dishes: pasta with a poached egg, roasted vegetables, and a dark dessert, along with two glasses of water. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I'd been here for the cocktails before and came back for a meal. We had a lovely evening. We got the muhamara dip (4.5/5 - the pita was great too), the halloumi (4/5), the mushrooms (4.5/5 - very interesting texture), the zatar fries (3.5/5 - just like regular fries, nothing special), and the lamb shoulder (4/5 - you get all the pieces to make your own authentic lamb shawarma or eat it deconstructed). I would definitely come back (even if it's just for the cocktails). I'd recommend their happy hour if you can swing it. From an accessibility perspective, no stairs needed to get to the washrooms. read more

Brunch here was great - a good selection of dishes in a bright airy space with an open kitchen. Really loved the vibe here and service was friendly! The brunch dishes were good, especially the dips and the pistachio labneh. Had a weird hiccup at the end with the dessert - it tasted so bad, as if the pastry / mascarpone had been left out and the dish was moldy / expired. We all gagged and they offered to refund half of it at first. We were quite surprised but they eventually refunded the whole thing. Bit of a shame as the dessert looked great but we probably got a bad batch. read more

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We were wandering down Ossington and hoping to find a decent happy hour when we happened upon Azhar. We walked in and were immediately able to snag a couple of comfy seats at the bar. We weren't looking to get much in the way of food, but we couldn't resist checking out the Za'atar Fries ("crispy fries, za'atar, garlic aioli"). They're seriously good. The fries are cooked perfectly and that za'atar seasoning complements them so well. And that aioli is just so delicious. I practically wanted to lick the little bowl it came in after we gobbled up all the fries. We also tried a couple of their cocktails and they were also top-notch (and at $10 a pop, a heck of a bargain). I'm really impressed with Azhar and I look forward to going back to check out their full menu. read more

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Attended the Ossington Festival when the street started to get flooded with attendees so I was looking for a place eat and they had outdoor seating. Ariadne did a wonderful job explaining the menu and helped with selecting light bites for the table. The inside is trendy and has ample space to view the kitchen from any seat. Good find!! read more

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Yet another Super delicious spot on Ossington! From the moment I walked in they were so warm and welcoming. It started filling up soon and I could see why. The started was the dip trio: labneh, muhammara, babaganoush, two pitas a trio that including a divine hummus - and for me one of the most stellar in house pita breads. I had the SHAKSHOUKA made with poached egg, feta, pickled Turkish pepper, toum, pita SOLID. Would I go here again? Absolutely. Customer service here is spot on no matter who you interact with and that is pretty impressive. And the space - modern yet cozy if that's possibl read more

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Our first time here and we decided to try the Winterlicious menu! At $65/person, it seemed a little steep, but the bartender told us that our main dishes didn't usually come with the sides we had: saffron rice and zaatar frites. We had the wood-fired chicken and the spinach arayes, which were both super delicious. Never tried arayes before but definitely going to order this again. The pistachio chouffe was the best dessert-- a beautiful texture on the outside, and creamy pistachio velvety goodness on the inside to contrast with some fruit preserves. Surprisingly, the chocolate torte was a bit too bitter, even with the ice-cream. The bartenders, Mario and his colleague, were both fantastic and welcoming. I really liked the Bramble drink, with the fruitiness and alcohol balancing themselves out nicely. read more

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Azhar is one of the brilliant creations by Janet Zuccarini on the Ossington strip. I love her Gusto restaurants, so was very excited to give Azhar a try. This restaurant has a modern Mediterranean vibe with a Middle Eastern flare. We went as a group of 5, so we had the pleasure of trying many different dishes. We started our meal with the arugula salad, chopped salad, halloumi, grilled runner beans, falafel plate and fries. All dishes were perfectly executed and delicious. The grilled runner beans, however, were a stand out dish. We all agreed we had never had this vegetable before, and the taste, texture and preparation was memorable. Additionally the falafel was light and fluffy; likely the best I've had in the city. For our main course we shared the roast chicken, saffron rice and steak kabob. All dishes were cooked perfectly. The chicken was adorned with a pine nut concoction that was surprising and turned the somewhat simple protein into a flavour bomb. Overall our experience at Azhar was fantastic. From the delicious food to the attentive service, we agreed that this resto is definitely worth a stop if you're near the Ossington neighbourhood. read more

Azhar - Grilled runner beans - A dish featuring grilled runner beans on a bed of creamy sauce, topped with black salt and drizzled with red and orange sauces. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Azhar Kitchen and Bar is located along the Ossington Strip, near Humbert. Serving up Middle-Eastern inspired food and drinks. The restaurant is owned by restauranteur, Janet Zuccarini, of the Gusto 54 Restaurant Group. There is a special wood-fired grill inside the open kitchen where customers can look into. In terms of space, the restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating (patio in the summertime). The interior is intimate with unique touches throughout. Azhar is open for dinner and brunch (brunch is only on the weekends on Sat and Sun). I recently dined at Azhar for lunch with 2 other friends. My friend had made reservations beforehand, however, there was ample seating if you'd like to walk in. The brunch menu is unique and most familiar dishes have a Middle-Eastern twist on it. Service was friendly throughout the service where the waitress gave us time to make our decisions regarding what we wanted to eat and drink. Drink wise, I ordered a non-alcoholic beverage called the Amarico Spritz (amarico, lime cordial, grapefruit, tonic, orange Sapsucker, NA bitters). The beverage tasted light and refreshing, not too sweet, perfect for a hot summer day. A great non-alcoholic option on the brunch menu! Food wise, we decided to order our own dishes. I do know that some tables beside us shared their dishes. We ordered the following: - Turkish eggs (soft-boiled egg, toum-labneh, ajika, sourdough) - Hummus masabacha (soft-boiled egg, schug, harissa, with lamb + beef kofte (or choice of falafel)) - Baharat-crusted chicken (toum, chive oil, pickled peppers, sourdough). My friends ordered the hummus masabacha and the baharat-crusted chicken. I got the Turkish eggs which came with 2 soft-boiled eggs. The dish is simple but with the rich labneh and other Middle-Eastern spices together, the eggs stood out. The sourdough that came with dish was toasted perfectly and delicious. I enjoyed the unique take on eggs and toast. Overall, great service, food, and vibes. Definitely do check out Azhar if you're ever around the Ossington area! read more

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We stopped by for some small plates and the food was very yummy. The portions are small and pricey but the quality of food is great. The ambiance inside and outside is pleasant, located on the bustling streets of ossington. Service was also quick and good. I'd like to come back to try some of their mains and other appetizers! read more

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This area of the city is super trendy with many unique people and restaurants. We visited this place because we wanted middle eastern. Decor is unique and hip and so was the crowd. Service was friendly and efficient. Wife got the falafel and hummus plate and I got the lamb and egg burger. The falafel and hummus plate was good but they could have included a pita. The lamb burger was super tasty but the portion was small. Overall the service and flavours were very good but portions were small. read more

Azhar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Delicious Mediterranean dishes in a beautiful ambiance restaurant. First of all the interior of the restaurant is an entire mood itself. It's nicely lit and the perfect dimness for a date or night out - so romantic! Servers were amazing thoroughout the night as well. Washrooms are a little dark and hard to see, but easily accessible on the first floor. All the dishes we got were great and was able to share with the table. Really took my taste buds for a spin! Here's what we got: Halloumi 5/5 - You can't go wrong with grilled halloumi that is salty and creamy but pairs perfectly with the grilled grapes as well Baba Ganoush and pita 5/5 - The dip itself is creamy and delicious. Nicely seasoned and comes with some olive oil. The pita is fluffy and puffed up when it's brought to the table. Sesame chicken 5/5 - Favourite dish of the night. It's has a sesame seed crust and is slightly sweet but pairs perfectly with their yogurt dipping sauce. This is a must get Prawns 5/5 - Perfectly grilled to perfection and topped with dill and leek which made it super refreshing. Overall, loved the food and ambiance here. Can't wait to come back for more dip, pita and chicken! read more

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Had the absolute best time here! The food is phenomenal and service is wonderful. Came here with a group of 8 around 6:30 and they were able to accommodate us easily by combining 3 tables -- but the restaurant started filling up quite quickly around 7-7:30, so if you're looking to avoid the rush and wait, definitely go a bit earlier! The ambiance inside is absolutely beautiful. It's classy, has gorgeous earth toned decor, and all the dishes and glasses are so unique and very pretty. Went so well with the modern Mediterranean vibe of the food. The candles and dimmer lighting really complete the ambiance. The presentation of every dish was stunning as well! So photoworthy; almost too pretty to eat. The service here was incredible. We had such a friendly and knowledgeable waitress and felt very taken care of the whole night. All of the staff here are very polite! We basically ordered the whole menu, so here's the rundown: Falafel: 6/10. Too salty for me, but the yogurt sauce helped a bit. Pincanha steak: 7.5/10. A little fatty and not the most tender but really great flavor! Mushroom and pumpkin skewer: 7/10. The pumpkin and mushroom were both on the firmer side. Great flavor. Hummus with pita: 8/10. LOVED the fluffy soft pita -- it comes piping hot and super puffy! Hummus was really unique as well with cauliflower and a sweet jam (I think mango?) as well as pomegranate. This was one of the most unique hummus dishes I've ever had. Shrimp skewer: 8/10. Great flavor and texture. Chicken skewer: 9/10. Loved the flavor and crunchy texture of the sesame seeds. Chicken was super tender and not dry at all. Garlic potatoes: 8.5/10. Amazing creamy aioli sauce and the most crispy exterior with a soft interior. Delicious. Halloumi: 10/10 BEST DISH OF THE NIGHT. I looove halloumi and this was such a perfect combo of sweet and salty. It comes with pistachio sprinkled on top and a sweet almond paste with roasted grapes and it's absolutely chefs kiss. Highly recommend!!! Brussels sprouts: 7/10. Nothing super outstanding here but still good. Wish they were a bit more crispy and had more sauce. Octopus skewer: 5.5/10. A little hard to chew and not much flavor. Olives: 6/10. Not a huge fan of olives but these had an interesting citrusy texture. Babaganoush: 7/10. Classic flavor, nothing crazy. Super creamy and goes well with the pita. Chocolate mousse brownie dessert: 7.5/10. The mousse was more like a thick fudge, but brownie pieces added a nice crunch. Cherry cake with pistachio and yogurt: 10/10. This cake was PHENOMENAL. I could've eaten that whole thing. It's so delicious with the sweet cherry jam and the salty pistachios on top. Actually such a genius combo!! Don't skip this one :) TLDR: halloumi and cherry cake are a must get. Skip the octopus & falafel if you're on limited stomach space. But honestly everything was really good!! Would highly recommend if you're looking for a nicer dinner spot with creative, delicious, and beautiful dishes! Everything had such a nice balance of salty and sweet. read more

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Happy hour available during the week. Service was great and food was spectacular. They have patio seating in the summer along ossington and it's great for people watching. read more

Really can Ossingtion ave get any better ? I visited Azhar restaurant last night for the first time and wow - it definitely won't be my last. The marinated feta was so good we ordered a second portion. Crispy mushrooms divine - I would even challenge non mushroom eaters not to love them! The scallops were delightful, striploin steak cooked to perfection and the lamb - wow - lambgasim !!! The only dish I wouldn't order again was the tuna - it was fine but not standout like pretty much everything else we ate! There is a great cocktail list too - the Paloma spritz is perfect for summer. I am already looking forward to my next visit ! read more

Azhar - Scallops - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This was a long awaited visit as I quite enjoyed the grab and go items during the dreaded COVID start days. I enjoyed their Shakshuka sauce and barbari bread and some of the dips. I was looking forward to this visit so booked ahead. Unfortunately Ossington has been stripped bare so parking took forever nearby. The space seem nice and open till you sit down on the seats by the wall. It is too close for comfort with nearby tables patrons almost feel like are sitting at the table with you. Makes it hard to talk and no to mention keep things by the side. I wish they just remove a table and space out a little bit. I ordered the Shakshuka and it came with some mezes. Mezes were decent though shakshuka was a small portion and surprisingly didn't come with any bread. Also no spoon what gives? Bowls and knives are never a good combo. OK stuff but I wouldn't go out of my way to try them again. read more

Azhar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I love Mediterranean food and this spot HITS. If you're looking for fantastic dips and comfort food- this is where you go! We ordered: labneh, Harrisa shrimp, crispy mushrooms, and the fire-roasted chicken and each dish was super good. My favorite was the labneh/pita bread & the chicken. Quality ingredients and good serving sizes.The service was good & ambiance is beautiful. Definitely check out if you're on ossington and want a feel good meal! read more

A lovely atmosphere with welcoming staff. The menu had so many things we wanted to try. We had two dips...the babganoush is outstanding, the best I have ever had. The pita warm and fluffy. The fattoush salad,crispy mushrooms and halloumi were beyond. Everything we tried was delicious. read more

Everything at this restaurant hit the spot. It was tasty and the portions were pretty good. We got the halloumi, garlic potatoes, hummus sujuk (which came with 2 extra fluffy pitas), freekeh Tablouleh, and chicken skewer. We each also got the lavender lime leaf gimlet. I'd go back for more of their food in a heartbeat. The service was also very nice. We were one of only 2 tables at the restaurant so it seemed like a slow day. It's also a very cute spot on ossington and perfect for a date night. read more

Azhar - Halloumi and hummus sujuk - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The brunch at Ahzar is a fun and tasty experience! They focus on flavours and deliver on it. Highlights for me is their dessert, M'hancha with sour cherry, nuts and whipped yogurt which is similar to baklava. I've tried their brunch twice and look forward to having dinner there. read more

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Ate here for Winterlicious. Food, ambiance, service were all great. I loved the dim lighting and interior. It has an open kitchen. The Wood-Fired Chicken and Braised Beef Cheek were tender and flavourful. Enjoyed every bite. Espresso martini was a little too strong of alcohol without much orange flavour. Would I come back? Yes! read more

My new favourite place for experimental Middle Eastern! Brought to you by the same folks who own Gusto, Azhar is a beautiful restaurant with delicious eats. Just about everything we ordered - fresh pita, babaganouj, lamb, mushroom, and mujadara - was delicious! My only gripes were that the seating was pretty uncomfortable - for some reason it was very low to the ground and not suitable for taller folks. And while the pita was delicious, it's a whopping $6 each for each mini pita, and the dips come with just one of them. read more

I was excited to find zucchini flowers ($15) on the menu. The delicate flora is stuffed with a smooth cheese filling, which the menu describes as feta based but I tasted a faint blue cheese element as well, and deep fried giving the flower petals a light crunchiness, the centre a heat that blends with the creamy cheese, and the stem that zucchini texture and taste. Now these are the kind of flowers I like getting. The babaganoush ($12) could easily satisfy four people, a huge mound of the roasted eggplant with a tart hit of date and molasses syrup and added crunchiness from a sprinkle of seeds. I appreciate Azhar's use of vibrant high-quality olive oil that can blend with the eggplant or shine on its own. Either goes so wonderfully with the hot-from-the-oven pita that so soft and chewy. We thought one pita would do but after the first glorious bite, we immediately wanted another. The second arrived in no time and was equally piping hot... like singe your fingertips type of hot. Being a weekday vegetarian, I appreciate the host of meatless options on Azhar's menu. Although, I found they are generally a series of dishes (a side, a plant-based protein, etc.) that need to be ordered together, rather than having one dish that works as a complete meal. Accordingly, unless others at the table also want to go meatless it would be too much for one person. In the end, I thought the Mujadara rice ($21) would be the best bet for a main, albeit a tad heavy for one (there were leftovers to bring home). The fragrant stewed lentils and caramelized combined nicely with the basmati rice studded with raisins and spices to create a flavour-packed dish. Generally, I'm not a fan of fruit with rice, but when combined with the creamy labneh, the raisin's sweetness helped tone down the yoghurt's acid. I wish there was the option to add another vegetarian protein to really round out the dish, a handful of roasted mushrooms might be great with the rice. read more

New Mediterranean spot in Ossington. Had dinner here and the standouts were the pita (piping hot and freshly made), labneh (the yogurt used was divine), brussel sprouts (they put grapes and nuts in it, which made it interesting) and the whole fish (think it was mackerel that night; really fresh and smothered in tasty spices). The dumplings were meh (outer shell was a bit hard, though the sauce they were in had a nice bite). Big letdown was the octopus (a bit rubbery). Service was impeccable. Interior was chic. Prices were $$$. Would recommend, but prepare to spend. read more

Went for brunch, they have a small menu but they deliver! I had the hummus avocado toast with falafel and pomegranate juice. I loved the toast, the bread was lovely the the hummus avocado blend creamy and the olive oil fresh! Definitely recommend that! The falafel was good because of the dip, the labneh with mango was yummy! My friends had great things to say about the pita bread, which was fresh out of the oven! One caveat is the drinks while the food is reasonably priced some of the non alcoholic drinks are bit expensive. The decor and feel is very pretty, definitely recommend this place! We were 8of us and great service! read more

Azhar - Hummus and lamb - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Food was all excellent, stand outs were the braised lamb, fermented pita, and chicken shish. Service was great, and ambiance within the restaurant would make for a great date night. Price was slightly too much for the food quality, but overall a very enjoyable experience. read more

Azhar - Braised lamb, Fermented potato pita, mujadara rice, chicken shish, chocolate mousse - The image displays multiple dishes including braised lamb with hummus, a poppy seed-covered bread, a rice dish with a poached egg, grilled vegetables, and a chocolate dessert. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Long awaited Azhar has finally opened its doors. From the chef of Byblos, Ossington's destination for middle eastern fare is rolling out slow. For now, customers will need to content themselves with whatever's in the fridge. But don't let that hold you back - if you're looking for any kind of mezze dip, Azhar's got you covered. Alternatively, if you need a kick, their espresso is just right. Rich, a pleasant bitterness, with strong earthy notes. The interior was obviously designed for better times, and will undoubtedly be best enjoyed when sitting at a table with friends is something to be done. The yellow light gives the space a golden feeling, and the architecture is reminiscent of a luxurious, middle eastern, den. Since, for now at least, it's not to be enjoyed as a sit in restaurant, the lack of a hot menu isn't as missed as it might otherwise be. I'm curious to see how they design their food given that takeout will be their only option in serving it. We got the muhamara. I'm glad this lesser known dip is now within walking distance from me, and even more glad this rendition of it is so solid. I've never had a bad muhamara, but with this one particular, each ingredient speaks up instead of getting lost in the generally powerful, in your face taste of the dip. Lots of red pepper, which work wonderfully with the umami taste of the walnuts and what I'm guessing is pomegranate. Not enough heat to do damage, but definitely enough to make the chilis here known. Overall, what sets this muhamara apart from others is how fresh it tastes. Can't wait to try more! read more

Azhar - the interior of a restaurant with a long counter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Amazing meal! My favorite part was the labne appetizer with the pistachios. The service was also great. A good date night spot.

Azhar is backed by two celebrated Toronto restauranteurs - Chef Stuart Cameron and Janet Zuccarini (Gusto 54 Restaurant Group). This newcomer, located on the Ossington Strip, is the perfect spot if you're craving soulful Middle Eastern-inspired food and beverages. Azhar offers weekly takeout tasting menus (vegetarian option available), with many of the dishes kissed by the wood-fired grill. Dunk some fermented potato pita in the house-made labneh and hummus, and savour the satisfying flavours from 14-hour roasted lamb with potato galette. Don't forget to stock up on extra dips and low intervention wine from the online marketplace. Tasting menus are $50 per person, and you most certainly will have extras! read more

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Hummus masabacha was excellent. Very tasty and flavourful. The mezze offering were amazing. Sweet, savoury, all perfectly blended together.

The food is good but overpriced. Portions are small. Came here for the AMEX experience and feel like it was not worth it. read more

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Great spot for Mediterranean food and Toronto. The fresh potato pita bread direct from their woodfired oven was amazing. So was the hummus. The chicken shish was fantastic. It was covered in sesame seeds, and still nice and juicy on your bed into it. The fish of the day was covered in Mediterranean herbs and was to die for. I highly recommend this place. read more

Food and service here are top notch - just be prepared to spend $$$. Came here for my partner's birthday. The staff were incredibly attentive to make the day special. Food was absolutely delicious (the brussel sprouts and crudo were great). Wish portion sizes were a bit larger but that's Toronto dining for you. Middle eastern inspired flavours but somehow they've created dishes that are both balanced in flavors yet exciting at the same time. You really can taste the skill that went into the creation and execution of each dish. Place felt a bit tightly packed though (even if you ignore we went at the height of the Omicron variant). One would expect a tiny bit more room for a place at this price point. read more

This restaurant was outstanding. First we got the fermented potato bread with the labneh. The bread was fresh and warm with steam coming out. Next, the lamb ribs were melt in your mouth with an amazing spice rub. The roasted cauliflower was the highlight for sure. It was a mind blowing flavour combination. I would definitely come back here again just for the cauliflower. read more

Azhar - Brussels sprouts - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Server thought we needed to order much more than we did, it ended up being more than enough in the end. Cheapest bottle of red starting at $80 is on the high side imo. The potato pita was very good, so was the baba g. read more

The January menu was phenomenal! Waitress was very helpful in choosing what dishes compliment each other and how much to order. Our table of 4 had 6 dishes. The burrata with broccoli was delicious and don't skip out on the potato bread. read more

Not at all impressed, this was a very feeble attempt to bring Western inspired "middle eastern food" to Toronto. The bread was brittle, burnt and all around inauthentic. I will definitely not be returning. read more