The Short Version:
Popular Middle Eastern restaurant in Hintonburg. Recently opened summer of 2026. Tried the meat and cheese pie. Was way too salty for my tastes, but freshly baked and piping hot.
The Long Version:
Phynicia Restaurant's original location is in Barrhaven. I had had it on my list of places to try for many years now, but I'm rarely out that way. Then in summer of 2026 they opened this second location in Hintonburg, which is within walking distance from me, so I finally got to check it out.
My husband and I love Middle Eastern meat pies and Phynicia has them. We got 2 meat and cheese pies to go ($5 each). It's a small restaurant but they have a few tables to dine in and in warmer weather they have a patio out front.
I'm not sure if they have no air conditioning in the restaurant or if they just had it on really low because it was hot in the restaurant when we were there in June. The wait for our meat pies was surprisingly long. So I'm guessing they are made to order. They did come out piping hot.
Unfortunately I found the filling too salty for my tastes. It had ground meat, warm spices and cheese. The dough was a bit thicker than I like, but not excessively thick. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It lacked the smokey taste that like and the cheese pull I get from my favourite meat pie shop (Aladdin). However, that might just be personal preference.
The interior is beautiful. It was full of people so I didn't take any pictures, but the light fixtures are cool and they have clay pots on the walls.
They sell packaged nougat which looked tasty. They also sell cookies.
On their menu they have items like hummus, foul and fatteh. They also have shashouka. They have wraps, salad and pide as well.
Service was pleasant.
The restaurant is on a residential street but not far from the Parkdale Market. Street parking only.
Review #111 (2026) read more