We had a great meal at Fairouz, all the food was delicious! I did think the service was a bit lacking for a place that says right there on their menu that they value high service and hospitality. Compared to other places in the city at similar price points there is room for improvement here. My only real complaint was the water. At the beginning of the meal they came to the table offering still or sparkling water from identical carafes. We chose sparkling thinking nothing of it but then when our bill came we were charged $3 each for the sparkling water. I found this to be a really cheap move. If they had told us at the beginning that they were charging for the sparkling water we would have just chosen still. Many other great restaurants and even cafes in the city offer both types of water but they don't charge you extra. Otherwise we had a great meal here but the water thing just soured the experience a little. It's a little thing but the little things make the difference between a good restaurant and a great one that you rave about to friends. read more

Fairouz - Seasonal cheese dish - Middle Eastern Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Went to Fairouz for dinner for the first time yesterday. Was completely blown away! The food was incredible. My boyfriend and I shared the lamb köfte, stuffed artichoke, deep friend cauliflower and a pidé. We also had the muhammara dip. All the flavours were so different and inventive. It felt like every dish was so different from all the others. The service was good and the atmosphere is stunning. We will definitely be back! read more

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Service: Very slow for my liking. The waiters have good knowledge of the dishes, which is important given the non-traditional nature of the dishes served. Setting: The interior of the restaurant is very nice. I liked the decor, colours used, accessories, all of it really. Food: Nothing special. The presentation is impeccable but the taste is not there. The dishes are certainly not traditional middle eastern (not saying that's a deficiency), they're a fusion that coupled with the nice presentation make for an interesting dish that doesn't really taste that good. Summary: Try it and prepare to be impressed by everything other than the taste. read more

Take it from me. As a long time resident who remembers Ottawa culinary hot spots from day's of yore. Ottawa blossomed with the influx of middle eastern cuisine. Fairouz bumps this up a notch to present a menu of centuries old staples (lamb, hummus, olives) with a modern twist. Middle eastern cuisine was always pushing the boundaries of western palates. Sumac, preserved lemon, chickpeas, beets, spices). Big hits for me were the Duck, Chicken Livers, all good. The Salmon Pastourma is definitely an appetizer you may "secretly" not want to share. #JustSayin read more

You have more than a meal at Fairouz: you have an experience. The flavours are thoughtful and offer dishes of incredible taste. The dishes are plated with care and beauty. The service is professional, friendly, and overall some of the best in Ottawa. The ambiance suits the meal perfectly, and allows for a nice place to go one-on-one or to share plates in medium sized groups. I look forward to reserving their dining room one day for catering a special event. read more

I went today....they encourage you to share your meals. I tried the Muhammara and it was good and tasty but the following meals were disappointment after disappointment. I tried the Kofte, a wheat paste with dried tomato and other spices...waiter said it has a "complex taste". It came with cabagge on a baby lettuce leave...the taste was strong and bitter. The last meal was Ghormeh Sabzi Lamb...the lamb was almost raw not even medium, the veggie side was interesting. If you share the quantities aren't enough. You paid for nice ambient fancy decoration and service. At the end they put music too loud and talking to my friend was complicated. read more

Fairouz - Middle Eastern Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Easily the best meal and fine dining experience I've had in Ottawa. Delicious and wonderful from start to finish. We will be back. Recommendations: -dips (with still-warm homemade pita) -Haloumi (amaaaaazing) -lamb (cooked under sous-vide for 3 hours) What an amazing restaurant. Can't praise it enough. Even the wait staff were fantastic. read more

Fairouz is one of my favorite singers. When the name of the restaurant i knew i had to go in. The ancient middle eastern decoration gives the place an amazing atmosphere where you and your friends can hang out and enjoy delicious food. If you can't decide what dish you want, ask the waiters and they will recommend the best dishes bast on what you are looking for. Although a bit expensive, it is worth to try the delicious and unforgettable dishes. read more

Fairouz - Middle Eastern Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Went to Fairouz for my birthday dinner last night (first time) and was very impressed with this restaurant. We shared a couple apps and a main, there was plenty of food for the two of us. Really enjoyed the trout dish with a dill tahini. Drinks were expertly prepared. Our server Kenzie was a real pro! She knew the menu very well, and answered all our questions on the food and wine options. It was on the higher side of pricing but so worth it. read more

Good, but I wasn't thrilled. Wife thought better of it. Nebulsi cheese app was tasty, but served with only 2 small pitas; needed 4. Really had to stretch them to last the cheese. I had the herbed rabbit, and don't remember it looking exactly like the pic. Did not have as much sauce, nor the beans. Boneless and wrapped tight, Was okay, but lacked something. Maybe a more substantial sauce. Just wasn't memorable, or satisfying. Small amount of couscous on the plate wasn't great either. I've made pearl couscous before, myself, and thought it rancid. Theirs taste like mine. Maybe just my taste. Service level very good. read more

The trio of dips was out of this world. Never knew how much I loved pomegranate until this meal. The mains were very good as well but didn't excite me quite as much - 3 of us shared sumac chicken and the stuffed eggplant. Dessert of baklava and Turkish coffee with cardamom was lovely and different. Only negative was that I found the staff to be a bit overbearing - though they were knowledgeable of menu. read more

Fabulous restaurant. Every detail was thought out to a T. The venue is a beautifully decorated heritage home with two stories of indoor space -each with its own bar, and a charming patio for the summer months. The staff is welcoming, accommodating, professional, and most importantly, well informed on the menu. The menu, oh the menu! While not extensive, it has enough variety of flavours and textures to surprise and entertain your palette. It also provides plenty of options for vegetarians. Be sure to try the muhammara dip and to save some room for dessert. read more

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Dinner at Fairouz was worth our time and money, many times over. The staff is great, knowledgeable and yes, kind. The atmosphere is very chic and romantique. The food was unreal starting with the Muhammara a cashew and pomegranate dip. It was fantastic served with a very nice homemade pita. Then we had to have the Salmon Pastrouma, harder to describe, a cured thinly sliced salmon with white anchovies and aioli. My partner loved every bite. We then shared the absolutely delicious Gormeh Sabzi Lamb, This dish is perhaps the best Persian Khoresh (stew) Sabzi I have had in a restaurant. It is one of the most delicious and popular dishes in the Middle East. The lamb was perfectly cooked and served on top of the sabzi. It it food for the soul ;-) We will most certainly go back again soon! read more

Amazing food, best service & cool atmosphere! Our server was very personable and friendly. She gave us some recommendations based on what we were interested in. The bar manager came over to chat about our drinks, he was super knowledgeable and the drinks were spectacular. We got 2 dips, some fresh pita and 2 burgers with fries. We finished every last bite on our plate. Could have stayed there all night! read more

Ambiance, service and setting were all phenomenal. Loved the appetizers (we had the lentil kofte, baba ganoush and fried haloomi cheese - which was absolutely divine). Especially the haloomi - would definitely recommend, had this amazing beet dressing, sesame ash and roasted pistachios. I loved the mix of middle eastern influences from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine. My husband and I also had the mocktails and Fairouz ice tea which were great, very refreshing. The only issue we had (slight) was the main - came out a bit lukewarm which was a bit of a downer, hence the 4/5. Would definitely recommend though and am hoping to do my birthday dinner at Fairouz. Very happy to have such a great middle eastern inspired restaurant in Ottawa ! read more

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Had high expectations for this place but was utterly disappointed. Tried the muhammara dip with pita which was not bad, but the kofte (paste on romaine hearts) and lamb sirloin did not have refreshing flavours. The lamb in particular oozed blood in the thicker part even though the server explained its medium rare. 2 stars are for the decor and service. read more

What an incredible first meal to have on my first visit to Ottawa. I thought I knew and understood Middle Eastern cuisine (having grown up with it), but I can't remember the last meal I had where I was this delighted and surprised, a modern delicious twist of flavours I already loved. From the decor, to the music, to the service, to each and every bite, it truly was an incredible modern journey through the Middle East. #FilipinoFoodie must haves: - Muhammara (pomegranate + cashew dip) - Kushbashi Kebab (deconstructed kebab) - Jasmine Rice Cream Bar read more

Have you ever watched a baby try some new food when suddenly his eyes pop with surprise, he gestures with delight and makes noises or signals indicating more, more, more? Well that was how I felt with my first visit to Fairouz last night. This is great food, like you would find in the finest establishments of the city but with the added feature of a Middle Eastern spice box and flavour palette. They say its a bit of Persian fusion, borne out in the use of such things as pomegranate juice and toasted pistachios. The flavours are truly outstanding, the quality of the ingredients, the preparation and presentation all excellent. They suggest that you pick a couple of dipping dishes, a starter and a main with rice as an ample meal for two. It is suggested that the main dishes be shared. We did a slight change on that, picking one starter and two mains with rice. For our starter we chose the Fattet Hummus, creamy smooth, topped with shredded braised lamb, crunchy chickpeas and pine nuts and served with two nice little (10 cm.) warm pitas. We followed with the Bharat Scallops, served on a smooth bed of pureed cauliflower and saffron and accompanied with braised celery and pistachios. Truly delicious. Then came the Duck Fesenjen, a perfectly cooked sliced duck breast with roasted beets, potatoes and grilled mushrooms. It also had a first for me, roasted crosnes, aka Chinese artichoke. Its the rhizome of the plant that you eat and it has a bit of a roast corn flavour. All of this sits on an outstanding pomegranate walnut sauce. We also had the Roz Asfar, a basmati rice with tumeric, chickpeas and garlic confit, topped with yogurt. Amazing. We finished all of that off with a dessert that we didn't need, but I decided to try anyway. They called it a Turkish Coffee Tart, said that it contained cardamom chocolate sauce, orange blossom meringues and Turkish coffee muhullabia. Well I had no idea what a muhullabia was, but they had me at cardamom chocolate. What we got was a platter that could have served 3 or 4 with 3 generous pieces of muhullabia - akin to panna cotta - two scoops of chocolate mousse, a few scattered merigues and drizzled chocolate. We ate it all in spite of our rational brains telling us it was too much. The service is outstanding, prompt, friendly and knowledgeable, from the waiter to the bus boy. The decor is modern with some middle eastern highlights. A good wine list - I even tried a red from the Bakaa Valley in order to keep with the theme. It was a robust Bordeau type wine that paired very well with what we had. All in all, a wonderful evening. We'll go back again. read more

Gem of Ottawa. Two business trips and visited here twice. Excellent service, friendly staff (Cass is awesome) upscale but casual vibe, delicious cocktails (Identity Crisis = yummy) and one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. A girl can only hope they open one up in DC. read more

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Walking into Fairouz, a subtle vibe instantly pulls you in, tantalizing your senses: you know you will be spending an ethereal moment in the Middle East. As if your only chance to experience the Silk Road's cuisine is by lieu of this culinary interlude, the kind that reminds any traveler of those short airport layover between two cities that are too short to take on a full visit yet long enough to quickly step foot outside the terminal for a meal. Fairouz is a cultural tease evoking beautiful imagery, a feast for the eyes and the palate of a "yet to be discovered" destination. Those who have been to the Middle East or have roots there may disagree with my interpretation yet since I have never had the opportunity to travel much past Istanbul, I can only offer my opinion of Fairouz as I experienced it. I feel no shame in telling you that I am not, by far, an expert on this type of cuisine yet my ignorance could prove to be a blessing as I do not have a benchmark by wich to compare the flavours proposed by Chef Walid El-Tawel and his team. Fairouz delivers from beginning to end and the experience lives up to the anticipation! While some notes may agree more with certain palates than others, all that was savored was absolutely delicious, from beginning to end. Each dish presented was a testimony to the culinary knowledge, savoir-faire and passion of Chef El-Tawel. We have visited Fairouz on two separate occasions this winter: a family birthday dinner organized for a group of 17 and an intimate dinner for 4. The large event was served sofra style: a beautiful pre-set menu of dips, appetizers, mains and desserts served on sharing platters. The entire feast was enjoyed by all and even the least adventurous of our group found several dishes to satisfy his hunger. Although Fairouz catered with gusto and excellence to this larger group, our second (and more intimate) visit was more conducive to the discovery Chef El-Tawel's fare. Having freedom to chose as we please always delivers a superior experience. I would like to encourage everyone to go and taste blindly, to discover without any pre-conceived expectations, to expose themselves to a new range of flavours as we did. And to do so, any extensive description of what we ate would not serve you right. I will however share with you the highlights of our meals which may guide you to your own starting point. Baba ghannoush of roasted aubergines that impart a subtle yet addictive smokyness Silky halloumi, sourced from an artisanal and local cheese maker Falafels that are crispy, and punchy, and so not like the average street food one is accustomed to Chicken livers that will definitely wow! And have the ability to convert most liver haters into lovers! Salmon Pastourma: don't ask, I really have no idea exactly what it Pastourma other than maybe the Middle East's equivalent to cured salmon? One guest who supposedly dislikes fish actually enjoyed (yes, enjoyed not tolerated) this dish. Soft, warm, pillowy, handcrafted mini pitas Let me simply reiterate that the list above is limited to the highlights of our dining experiences. This review is meant to nudge you to make that call and reserve your very own table at Fairouz... read more

Delicious food, excellent service, great greeting by Eric. Perfect table. What else to say. Good selection of high quality Raki.

Impeccable service. Excellent flavours. Generous portions. The GM , Chadi, is hospitable and knowledgeable. He welcomed us from the moment from the moment we spoke on the phone. We will definitely return the next time we are in Ottawa. read more

Had the absolute best dinner here last night....do not take my word for it, rather my better half's words: "that was really good. I was very happy with it especially the lamb". Sure he isn't a NY Times food critic nor is he any kind of certified food critic. My partner holds every food product to the highest standard of anyone I've ever met....and I've worked in the restaurant industry and am friends with a couple of sommeliers. And while they are professional in their criticisms, Tom is very particular. When we first started dating I accidentally fed him turkey bacon. He likes to qualify this unpleasantness by saying, "Abigail [our daughter] almost didn't happen". I dared to follow down the path of reducing gluten from our diet and so, made a "cauliflower crusted pizza" one night. After a single bite, he put the knife and fork down, sighed wearily and asked what he had done to deserve the mucilaginous pile of junk on his plate. Today, I am a reformed amateur chef. We cook together, side by side, preparing most of our meals from scratch. There's motivation when kids are inundated with sugared stuff from a box or wrapper; it's a daily struggle: ma-ma and da-da's homemade dinners versus goldfish crackers. But I digress. We don't go out to eat much anymore (Status: parents of a toddler). When stars align and the universe smiles at us via a babysitter, we go out in the relentless search for fantastic food, delicious combinations of flavours and cocktails that don't disappoint. We found that in Fairouz. You are a welcome addition to the Ottawa food scene. We received EXCELLENT service from Cameron and Adam. We shared the hummus, muhammara dip,halloumi, fil-fil kebabs, tuna for small plates; we graduated to the duck and lamb for mains. We were a group of 4 and all were in delirious pain afterward. We shared the ekmek dessert (little nests topped with a chocolate mousse like substance with hibiscus flavour) and I enjoyed a semi-sweet Turkish coffee. Loved it! Everyone should drag friends, comrades, family - even enemies if need be, to this restaurant. It. Is. Worth. It. read more

Amazing and consistent! Takes care of all dietary types and restrictions as long as you let them know. Highly recommend if you only have one restaurant to go to in Ottawa, this is the one you should choose. read more

This place is way overpriced! Very small portions, left the place definitely hungry! The appetizers was so small i thought they made a mistake and forgot my order. The quality of the food ok but definitely not worth the price! Not going back read more

The Disorganized service ruined the experience, a group of 15 should have more than one novice waitress. Disappointing.....

The chef really knows how to take you on an Mediterranean journey with his food. Love everything from the apps to the main course. The dessert is always a surprise. Will be going back for sure. read more

Loved the place! The atmosphere is great, the food is delicious and the service is very friendly! They know the menu very well. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Great service, great food, it just seemed more expensive than I expected. This could just be an Ottawa thing, as other restaurants I went to seemed on the expensive side as well. Definitely worth checking out for a date night though! read more

If you are looking for a sophisticated Middle Eastern Restaurant you HAVE to try Fairouz. Everything I've eaten during three dinners at Fairouz have been fantastic and enjoyable. They really know how to bring traditional Middle Eastern style dishes with unique aromatic flavors. Some of my favorites to order and a must try are: Muhammara, Fil Fil Kebab, Sumac Glazed Chicken and the Mujadarra. Excellent Job Chef Walid read more

A gem. The food - wow. Layers of flavours and textures, and delicious Turkish coffee. Could use a little more lighting and the music volume could go down a notch so people can talk without having to raise their voice, but it's hard to say anything bad about the food and the attentive, knowledgable service. I called ahead for a reservation for two vegans and they prepared a roasted beet salad for one option for us. There are other vegan options on the menu and interesting cocktail choices. Their own coconut sorbet for desert, with candied ginger. In a lovely old house. read more

I've been to Fairouz twice and really enjoyed my meal both times. The appetizers are quite good - the home made freshly baked bread with herbs is a delight, the hummus light and fluffy and nicely topped with zaatar (a oregano/thyme/other herbs & sesame seeds blend), the muhammara (a delicious red peppers and nuts paste) is different than the usual middle eastern recipe - just as delicious or even better, it includes pomegranates, I'll have to go back and have it again to try to figure out how it's made! They offer very tasty vegan main meal options, and the people who were having the chicken or fish at the table said those were great too. The portions are on the smaller side however. The presentation is very nice, waiting staff are very professional, helpful and accommodating. It was super nice to also have a vegan dessert option, the raspberry sorbet was delicious! read more

Fairouz is more form than substance. The food is fine, with some dishes really flavourful, but at the prices they command I expected much more. My partner and I shared all the dishes the night we went. The carrot-tahini spread and the sesame ice cream bar were truly delicious (also, some of the cheapest items on the menu). The artichoke starter (filled with chickpea salad that day) was fine but not very interesting in its flavour profile - the artichoke itself was somewhat overpowered by the acidity and the dish was only saved (for us) by the accompanying rose harrissa. The eggplant main (the only vegetarian main on the menu) was a disappointment. I do not mind paying for delicious food, but at $34, half an eggplant is somewhat of a stretch. Not least due to the fact that the flavour profile was, again, not very interesting or balanced. The dish was too salty, and overly acidic. We've had some really outstanding middle eastern and Anatolian food at prices that are far more reasonable. Fairouz -the restaurant and the food - looks pretty but the food (at least the dishes that we had) is really not all that interesting or worth the money. Service is good and they do have a nice selection of wine and cocktails. We might be back, but with our expectations in check and certainly with no plans to order the eggplant... read more

This restaurant is amazing. From the knowledgeable staff to the stunning cuisine, Fairouz creates an excellent dining experience. The drinks were spectacular, a night in Tunisia was perfectly refreshing -even the mocktails were fancy. We had 3 small plates and the meat platter with 1/2 hen and everything was incredible. The haloumi with strawberries, rhubarb and candied pistachios was particularly scrumptious. read more

I went there with two friends. I wasn't familiar with a lot of items on the menu but I love food and I am willing to try anything. It turned out to be a fabulous meal. We started with the halloumi appetizer and the pita and baba ganoush. The pitas were hot out of the oven and the baba ganoush was like velvet in your mouth. We shared the Bebere Spiced Duck, Sumac Glazed Chicken (my personal favorate) and Eggplant Mahshi; all of which were delicious. There was a lot of food and we didn't quite get through it all. Then we split the Tahini/caramel/popcorn ice cream bar which was really good. The ambiance was nice albeit a little noisy. I will definitely be back. read more

Love , love, love, I wish this restaurant was in Toronto where I live, but I'm not sure it would be as good even if it was, it may be an Ottawa thing. I love the vibe, stylish but not pretentious. The food was amazing and the prices were very reasonable and the staff were wonderfully attentive and welcoming . A number of dishes I will be trying to imitate at home. I love Middle Eastern food and I eat it often, I have liked Byblos in Toronto but this was better food wise by a quite a margin and they excelled in every single one of their dishes. We had the halloumi , the kebab , cauliflower, 1/2 hen , and the muhammara with freshly made steaming little pita pockets!!!! Go eat here!!! I would if I could. read more

Very creative menu. Something different and delicious. Small proportions for the price though.