Come and join us for an enchanted Syrian evening located Montreal’s chic and gastronomic heart of Outremont, on Van Horne Avenue. At Restaurant Damas, a uniquely comfortable microcosm will greet you with warm colours, velours, carved wood, and multicoloured lights.
Reviews portray Damas as a standout Montreal dining experience, renowned for its rich Syrian flavors, fresh in-house pita, and bold mezze that include dishes like lamb, octopus, fattoush and kebabs, with the tasting menu and wine pairings often highlighted as a must try. The atmosphere comes across as warm, elegant and intimate, and the service is generally attentive and knowledgeable, with a strong drinks program to match the food. Some guests question the value for money, noting high prices and varying portion sizes, and a few report slower service or occasional misses during busy times. Brunch is also praised for its flavorful, well composed offerings and cross cultural flair, making Damas feel like a Montreal institution that many would return to for special occasions or to explore more of the menu.
Went to Damas tonight with a friend & as usual, had incredible food - there is not a single bad thing I could say about the flavour profile of any dish.
Where it went downhill was with the service. When we got our bills, I noticed my cocktail was upcharged by $2 when compared to the menu. Not a big deal, but the principle of it is where the problem lies. When I raised it to our waiter, it took 5 minutes of back & forth with the staff before he came back with the corrected bill, a half-baked apology ('we don't usually try to pull this on our customers, but our menu prices really did change this week'), & nothing to make up for the situation.
My friend then notices the same thing, & before she can even show him where the problem was, the waiter proceeds to gaslight her into thinking the price she was charged for her cocktail was actually the price in the menu. I checked after the fact - it was not (see images attached - shai glace/th0 glac0).
For an establishment that prides itself on a refined & memorable experience, this left a really bad taste in my mouth. The last thing I want to be doing when leaving a restaurant is making sure the prices that were listed are in fact the prices that were charged. So disappointing. I would definitely think twice before making a reservation again - there are equally great restaurants in the city that actually engage in fair business practices.
We had a lovely dinner at Damas, the experience was amazing - the cocktails are incredible! It was my first time having Syrian food, & I honestly can't wait to come here again.
May 3, 2026
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Absolutely outstanding. Nico was our server & he was great. We got the chef's tasting menu with the cocktail pairing. My wife says it was the best meal she's ever had. I've been wanting to come here for years & this definitely met all our expectations.
C'était notre 3ème fois chez Damas & nous sommes toujours aussi séduits! Le menu est varié & les plats sont tous très savoureux! Mention spéciale pour cocktails que nous adorons également! Le service est toujours très professionnel & attentionné! Nous reviendrons sûrement bientôt 😉
Great service from Theo! We also sat at the bar & the bartender Juliette was so kind & friendly to us! She gave us recommendations for bars & delicious cocktails (would recommend their hibiscus cucumber drink).
We ordered the three most popular dishes - Fattouch salad, shish taouk (chicken) & rack of lamb. With several cocktails.
Let's start with the good. The cocktails are some of the best we've ever had before. We sat at the bar (I recommend) & were delighted by a performance of drinks on display. We had the Aleppo gin sour & the cherry sour & both were an absolute delight. Very well balanced, better than drinks at most exclusive cocktail bars in town, all using fresh juices & herbs. Truly a first class experience, much thanks to the bartender Amjad who saved the night for us for what was otherwise a very lackluster experience.
My fiancée had a reaction in her mouth to the fattouch salad where the roof of her mouth was burning but as far as she knows she has no food allergies.
The chicken was good, juicy & flavorful. I would recommend this dish. The rack of lamb was severely charred (beyond maillard reaction to pyrolysis) causing it to taste bitter & we only were able to eat a fraction of it. This is caused by cooking above 180C & the difference is instead of browning, simply burning the meat. Such a shame on such a beautiful piece of meat!
Other problems are the wait times. This is a very big restaurant with clearly a smaller kitchen that can't keep up. We were often waiting in excess of 20-30 minutes between each dish for the next to show up. Also, as many reviewers noted for the quality of the food the prices do not justify.
I would honestly only return to have their amazing cocktails. Unfortunately otherwise we were disappointed.
Dec 21, 2025
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My wife & I went here on our honeymoon & the tasting menu was one of the highlights of our entire trip. There was a lamb dish so good that it literally made me laugh with delight. The service was fantastic, the atmosphere was so lovely, the food was UNREAL. They've also got a lovely drink menu, & their mocktail options are just as tasty as their cocktails. If you're in Montreal this is a spot you should not miss.
La nourriture était bonne & certains plats très réussis, mais d'autres un peu décevants pour le prix. Certains prix semblent gonflés en raison du nom du restaurant, notamment les cocktails & par exemple le plats de crevettes (44$ pour 4 crevettes de taille moyenne). Par contre, l'enjeu était vraiment le service. Tant nos boissons que certains de nos plats sont arrivés avec beaucoup de retard à notre table sans aucune explication du serveur. Nos cocktails sont arrivés 1h après notre arrivée sans excuse du serveur, qui avait clairement oublié. Toutes les employés féminines étaient beaucoup plus agréables & à la hauteur du prix & du nom du restaurant, tout l'inverse du serveur qui nous était attitré. Bref, un peu déçue de ma 2e visite.
Absolutely fantastic experience, my group had picky people & everybody LOVED every meal. Have the nectar instead of the cocktails, the cocktails are good but the nectars are unique to Damas. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants some fine dining & is interested in Syrian cuisine. There are other cheaper places, but Damas is a different level in terms of quality.
Went for my birthday & it was a superb experience. Highly recommend the tasting menu, it's very generous & it makes you taste a little bit of everything! Service was great, our waiter was super kind & knowledgeable & the bussers always kept our water glasses full & cleaned our table between each plate. Excellent cocktails too!
Oct 26, 2025
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I've had this restaurant on my radar for quite some time, so I came in with high expectations. While the overall experience was pleasant, the food itself fell a little short. The atmosphere is beautiful. Service was equally impressive. As for the food, we tried the salad, hummus shawarma, cheese kunafa, lamb kebab, & a cocktail. The lamb was the biggest disappointment-it came across as meat in an overly dominant tomato sauce, with little depth or seasoning. The meat itself was tender, but the dish was just lacking!! After the first bite, you could tell I was disappointed. Everything else we ordered was good. The flavors were there but nothing stood out for me. We paid about 250$ - At that price point, the food wasn't distinct enough to set this restaurant apart from more affordable options...
Fantastic culinary experience! Our server Nick was very knowledgeable, friendly & helpful with explaining the menu. He also had great advice for the cocktails. Everything we ordered were absolutely delicious & flavourful!
Une expérience mémorable chez Damas ! La cuisine est divine, pleine de saveurs & parfaitement maîtrisée. Le service est à la hauteur des plus grandes tables, mais c'est surtout au bar que la magie a opéré : le barman qui préparait les cocktails a été adorable, attentionné jusqu'au moindre détail, au point de contourner son comptoir pour venir lui-même placer notre bouteille de vin blanc dans un sceau rempli de glace - un geste rare qui en dit long sur son professionnalisme & son sens de l'hospitalité. Les cocktails étaient créatifs, équilibrés & généreux, servis dans une ambiance chaleureuse & feutrée. Une soirée parfaite, merci à toute l'équipe !
From the moment we walked into Damas, we were greeted with warmth & professionalism that set the tone for an unforgettable evening. The atmosphere was inviting, with a perfect balance of class & comfort. But what truly elevated our experience was the outstanding team that took care of us.
Behind the bar, Theo & Kodjo were nothing short of magicians. Their passion for mixology was evident with every drink they crafted. Each cocktail was a masterpiece-perfectly balanced, visually stunning, & bursting with flavor. Theo's creations were bold & innovative, while Kodjo's cocktail suggestions & welcoming personality left us genuinely impressed. It's rare to find bartenders who not only understand the art of cocktails but execute it with such finesse. Their recommendations, paired with Elliot's thoughtful beverage suggestions, created a seamless experience that carried through the evening. Not only were they incredibly skilled, but they were also genuinely friendly & easy to talk with, making the night feel personal & memorable.
Our server, Elliot, was equally exceptional. His attentiveness & kindness made us feel right at home. What really stood out was his knack for wine pairings. Every suggestion he made complemented our dishes flawlessly, enhancing the flavors & making the entire meal feel harmonious. It's clear he has a deep understanding of both wine & food, & his recommendations were spot-on.
Dimitri, who served our dishes, took the experience even further. His knowledge of the menu was impressive, & he took the time to describe each dish with detail & passion. His insights made us appreciate the flavors & ingredients even more.
A special mention goes to Livianne, who ensured our water glasses were always filled with a smile. It's a small gesture that often goes unnoticed, but her attentiveness made us feel genuinely cared for throughout the evening.
The entire team worked seamlessly to make sure our space was always clean & well-maintained, adding to the relaxed & polished atmosphere.
Damas isn't just a place to eat; it's a place to experience exceptional service, masterful cocktails, & perfectly paired wines. Huge thanks to Theo, Kodjo, Elliot, Dimitri, & Livianne for making our evening truly special. You asked if we were happy? For this amazing moment in time, you helped us feel the happiness found with good food & even greater company. We are infinitely grateful to you all & will never forget you.
It makes me sad to write this but it was three years since my last visit & the quality & generosity seems to have decreased substantially. For the price of the tasting menu the portions are really disappointing & our group left feeling ripped off. For $500 including 2 cocktails & tip, we expected a lot more.
Excellent service de l'entrée jusqu'à la sortie,chaises confortable ,le décors est très beau ,bel ambiance.Nous avons pris un petit menu dégustation plus deux assiettes repas,tout était très goûteux .Pour accompagner le tout ont avaient deux cocktails sans alcool très rafraîchissants! Je recommande fortement
Here's a refined & polished version: --- We came here to celebrate our 4-year anniversary after it was highly recommended by some friends who visit regularly. & it did not disappoint! We booked online a couple of weeks in advance without any issues. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted by several staff members & promptly shown to our table. The décor was exquisite, just like in the photos, creating a charming ambiance that was sophisticated yet unpretentious. The seating was comfortable, & we had the choice of still or sparkling water as we browsed the cocktail menu. I tried the Aleppo gin sour-a vibrant green cocktail with strong coriander notes (a word of warning if you're not a coriander fan!). It was fantastic; I ended up having two. My girlfriend enjoyed two different gin-based cocktails & loved each one. Being our first time, we decided to try the tasting menu, & it was outstanding. While I'm not deeply familiar with Syrian or even Lebanese cuisine, I was blown away by each of the 12 dishes, each offering unique textures, an abundance of nuts, pomegranate seeds, & complex spice blends. Our server was exceptional (blond woman, didn't get her name, MERCI BEAUCOUP !) - attentive & personable, asking if we had any food preferences or intolerances. My girlfriend isn't a fan of raw meat, like tartare (which I personally love), & our server graciously provided her with an alternative dish. The rest of the staff was equally attentive, efficiently clearing plates & replacing our utensils throughout the evening. In short, an unforgettable experience. We'll definitely be back! It is on the pricier side, but for a unique, top-tier dining experience in the city, it's worth every penny. Bravo to the entire team! Gros merci encore.
