Middle Eastern food for Non-Middle easterners or for those who do not know any better...
I decided to celebrate the first day of Ramadan by visiting this place and had made a reservation a day earlier for 8pm. We arrived on time and waited 20 minutes to be seated in the midst of unending chaos. It took forever for the waiter to come and take our orders. He was completely unaware that it was Ramadan. No one at this establishment seemed to care; none of them appeared Middle-Eastern. The menu lacked variety and was so uninspired where main courses were concerned, the selection wouldn't have been different at any grill. The appetizers were a bit better although the kibbe was cased in what seemed more like falafel mix than cracked wheat. Vegetarians had only one main dish they could have (a vegetarian skewer, not very Middle Eastern). The food was bland and did not remind me of the Middle-East at all. I wish I had read saffy's review before going, as I had made the same mistake of ordering the chewy, fatty lamb. All in all, this experience was terribly over-priced. No self-respecting Syrian would eat at this restaurant.

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I went with a GF last fall and it was great. We did mostly appetizers and all of them were wonderful. There was one appetizer, called something like kibeh Kibeh (or Kibbeh) is a mixture of ground lamb with bulgur wheat and fried or raw onion, rolled into a small ball. According to some reviews, it could be compared to our steak tartar, that was just an amazing explotion of flavours when you first cut in to it. MMMmmmmm.

Definitely due for a return visit soon. Enjoy!!!

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I've been there twice, and unfortunately neither experience delighted me.

The first time i had the lamb, and requested it be cooked to medium- it was well done, lacked flavour and was chewy. The veggies were good but scarce. The rice was good, but there was way too much of it. Trying to fill the plate with the cheap rice, so that they don't have to give you as much meat or veg is a trick i expect from take out fast food chinese places, not decent restaurants.

The second time i had the soup, which was good, and the tomato/cucumber/pita bread salad. The tomatoes we so underripe they were a pale pink, mealy and tasteless. I understand it's tough to get ripe tomatoes in the winter, but again decent restaurants either pay up for the more expensive vine-ripened kind, or don't offer a dish in winter whose prime ingredient is off-season and sub-par. I also paid to add grilled chicken to my salad and it was overcooked, dry and barely warm. Gee, do you think they pre-cooked it? Yuck.

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Went with 2 friends on Saturday and had a shared meal consisting of a variety of appetizers. Everything was delicious. Particularly enjoyed the roast cauliflower with tahini and fallafel salad. The place was packed. I'll be back.

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wonderful dinner - there's always a bit of a wait but once you get your table, you'll find delicious food, friendly service and great value.

The restaurant was opened by one of the former waitresses from Jerusalem (on Eglinton) in the old Stork on the Roof location. I've been there 5 or 6 times since it opened and never had anything less than a great dinner. It is a perfect neighbourhood restaurant and it's always packed.

I've tried most of their appetizers (hummus and baba ghanouj are really good, so are the garlic tomatoes and this salad that I think has pomegranate - maybe in the dressing?). For mains, I've had the shish tawoo, the grilled shrimp and probably some other stuff that I've forgotten. Their rice has fried crispy onions. They also have this great non-alcoholic cocktail on their drink menu - I think it's a lemonade or something - so refreshing.

Highly recommended.

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The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. Delicious Middle Eastern. and the fact there was halal food and a prayer area. I really liked it.

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