At Restaurant Alep, the Syrian-Armenian restaurant on Jean Talon St. E., offers specialties such as the shish taouk, the popular marinated chicken dish, and to make muhammara, a condiment prepared from red bell peppers, chilis, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, pine nuts and crumbled wheat crackers. This dip is popular with Alep's sandwich of Armenian sausages.
Overall, Alep delivers bold Middle Eastern flavors that many reviewers praise for freshness and complexity, from the fattouche and hummus to tender grilled meats and a variety of tasting menu options that showcase a wide range of spices. The dining experience is described as delicious and memorable by many, with some noting excellent service and thoughtful wine recommendations, while others report slow or uneven service and long waits, and a few feel portions are small relative to the price. The atmosphere is generally pleasant and lively, though it can be a bit loud, and some diners observe a quieter, pricier section that could be more tranquil. Value fluctuates across reviews, with several guests happily paying for quality and variety, and a minority feeling the value does not fully match expectations. In sum, Alep is seen as a place offering strong flavors and attentive care that many would return for, despite occasional concerns about pacing, portion size, and consistency.
We love discovering new restaurants & new cuisines. Great friends of ours suggested this restaurant Alep & as usual this was spot on. I expected Syrian cuisine yet it is both Syrian & Lebanese with a twist of local. Good selection of Local brewery beers & huge wine list. The food well lots to choose from. We selected a salad & two appetizers Hummus & a Eggplant mashed all three were great. As a group when possible we have a platter so we can all pick from. So we had a chicken & meat platter. Everything was delicious. Definitely a place to go back too. Best part is the price. Really affordable. Quality, selection & quantity all excellent. Service was great no rushing us out, atmosphere was good not over crowded or squeezed in corners etc.
Strongly suggest to try this restaurant Alep .
The food & service were excellent, but I expected a bit more of a Syrian ambiance. We were a group of six, & it's quite normal to spend at least two hours enjoying a meal at a restaurant. However, the staff seemed to be rushing us to leave after about two hours, which made the experience feel a bit pressured. Overall, the food was delicious, but the atmosphere could be improved to make guests feel more relaxed.
Oct 27, 2025
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A French Canadian version of Syrian Lebanese cuisine. The food was good but a few things were a bit off the mark. The grilled meats were a bit on the dry side. The hummus in the appetizers & the grease leaves very a bit too lemon-y.
The ambiance & environment is good. Service is great, & for wine drinkers there is a massive wine list.
The food is good too, I would day with a little local twist. Only minus 1 star for me as I expected stronger flavor authentic Lebanese & Syrian style foods. But a very good experience overall. Recommended.
Armenian & Syrian cuisine offering a true taste of the Middle East. Delicious dishes, a pleasant atmosphere, & whether it's the meal or the dessert, it's flawless. A must for your taste buds!
Cuisine arménienne & syrienne qui offre une véritable immersion au coeur du Moyen-Orient. Les plats sont délicieux, l'atmosphère est agréable, & que ce soit pour le repas ou le dessert, c'est un sans faute. Un must pour les papilles !
Great food, Alep is specialized in Syrian/Armenian food & totally nails it every time. The service is very good & I would highly recommend this place for anyone who wants to live a real middle eastern culinary experience. Prices are a bit high but that can be justified with good quality ingredients & the great service.
Overall we had a great experience. I would revisit. 1. I expected the portions to be slightly larger. 2. Music could be improved. Since it's a Syrian restaurant, I expected to hear Maqams instead of «house of the rising sun»
Nov 4, 2023
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This place has the best Syrian food in the city. Their unique prep with spices makes this place unique. Their lamb & beef are not to be toyed with. Beyond good. Top notch service with a knowledgeable sommelie
It has been over a year since I have wanted to try this restaurant, but as it turns out it was a major disappointment. First of all, a general complaint was that as a Syrian restaurant there was not a single halal-friendly option on the menu. Moreover that Alep is farther north in the city is all the more reason why the restaurant should be more welcoming & catering to a Muslim clientele that lives in Villeray-ParcEx-St. Michel. The food generally was alright, though nothing special & frankly not particularly authentic. My major complaint is that we had an atrocious experience with the service. The server made a mistake with our order to change the side salad to a Fattouche, which had been her recommendation instead of getting an extra fattouche in addition to our side salads. They charge $3.50 to make the change, which is no big deal in our books. But when confronted with the mistake, instead of attempting to remedy the situation in an efficient manner, the server asked to take my whole plate back thereby guaranteeing that my haloum, mint pita would be cold by the time I got it back. Instead I asked that she bring us another salad. At the end, when getting the check I asked if something could be done to rectify the bill - she had charged us for the extra salad. Quite unprofessionally she huffed off & an equally frustrating & ill-hearted manager came to address the situation. What our server didn't realize is that we saw her converse with the manager in a manner that was even less befitting of the situation at hand; we're talking about a difference of $2.25. The manager was equally uncompromising & lectured us on the principles of ordering food at a restaurant & "how things work." I've NEVER been to a restaurant that wasn't able to take the easy step of owning up to a pretty small mistake with very small financial ramifications to the restaurant. Lets face it, I'm not returning a $20 dish because I don't like the taste (though the fattouche was woefully subpar - no radishes or onions, vinegar!? painfully few pita chips) I'm asking that an issue be resolved as a good-faith action on the part of the restaurant. Really not too much to ask & lastly we didn't need our dinner dragged out by thirty minutes by their subsequent avoidance techniques & passive aggressive looks. Don't bother going, better places with nicer people in the city.
