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.
Damas earns widespread praise for its refined Syrian and Middle Eastern cuisine, with a wide mezze spread, standout lamb dishes, octopus, and a balanced mix of bold and subtle flavors that many describe as deeply satisfying. The presentations are often praised as beautiful, ingredients high quality, and the open kitchen and warm ambiance add to a special night out. Service is repeatedly lauded as professional, attentive, and knowledgeable, with staff guiding guests through the menu and wine or cocktails, though a few experiences mention slow pacing during busy times or inconsistent timing. The tasting menu and wine pairing are a highlight for many, offering generous portions and a cohesive culinary journey, while others feel the price point is high for the portions or that some dishes do not justify the cost. Brunch is also highlighted as a good value and a way to sample the kitchen, while some reviews note that the atmosphere can be loud or the room crowded. Overall, Damas is regarded as a top Montreal dining destination for rich flavors, elegant service, and a memorable, if premium, dining experience.
This place has a reputation & after all the hype we didn't feel like it lived up to it. Many if not most of the reviews talk about how excellent this place is if you're visiting Montreal - so, for a tourist experience or if you're not in the city often, it may hold up. But for these prices, & with so many wonderful options in this city, it was just way too much for too little. Good, solid tasty food, good service, a little slow, good cocktails, but with an atmosphere better suited for the'burbs. Overall should be half the price. Okay experience but won't be returning.
Best restaurant food & experience of the last year. Too much to go into it all. The service was standout. The cocktails were delicious & surprising. The food was so complex yet harmonious....& spectacularly delicious. This restaurant is worth plane tickets to eat here. Wow. Enjoy & appreciate this gem.
Aug 3, 2024
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Excellent choix de resto pour célébrer une occasion spéciale ou pour apprécier la délicieuse cuisine syrienne. Le menu dégustation est un must pour une 1ere visite, à considérer si ont a un bon appétit. Prix à la hauteur de la qualité des plats & de l excellente réputation de ce resto. Excellent cocktails.
So me & my partner really wanted to go somewhere special but different for our one year anniversary. We're from Vermont so we thought that the cuisine would be a wonderful detour from what we usually have available. Our experience however, was not very good, & I don't think we'd come back again. To start, we got seated & we knew we wanted the tasting menu, which is 7 courses, so we ordered that & we each had a cocktail. They whisked the menus away & we were excited. Then the first course came, then the second, by the third we were both finished with our cocktails & were politely waiting for our server to come back to ask for a refill. I was facing the restaurant & I watched him stop by other tables except ours. I tried to make eye contact with him, to no avail, it seems he was uninterested in helping us anymore, as he refused to even look our direction. At the point of the fourth course my partner had been waiting on a water refill for 15 minutes. 15! I finally just started staring & trying to flag waiters down until one (very nice) man came over & asked if we needed something. We asked for a wine menu, ordered. & then were promptly left alone again. Then when dessert came around, (we made this reservation 3 months in advance & put in the notes it was our anniversary) the person who came said "its somebodys birthday" Which while it would be fine if that was the only blunder, but when you've been dismissed the entire night & had to fight for a water refill it Definitely feels on purpose & rude. & then we had to fight again to get the check. I just felt like if you're spending $500 on a dinner youd think they could keep the water refilled. Let alone notice that your cocktail is empty & ask if youd like another. Or at least CHECK IN & make sure everything is going fine. I don't know if it was because we looked younger than their usual clientele, or if that is policy to leave you to your devices after ordering a 7 course meal. But we will not go there again. & it's so disappointing because the food was phenomenal!! But I would never recommend anyone go there. It felt like we weren't their target clientele, & I got the impression that we weren't welcome.
I've eaten here three times so far, & hope to return again! It is also currently my favourite restaurant of all time. The food is delicious, unique, & iconic. I have not had the pleasure of trying the tasting menus, but there are some regular menu items on it that I have loved. A shoutout for the cocktails is needed, & I recommend either the Aleppo Gin Sour or Damascus Blinker. As far as food goes the hummus is remarkable, & the option with the shawarma is a meal on its own. I also recommend the Sour Cherry Kebab & the Samke Harra. The food service is organized around sharing plates, & they run a tight ship replacing platters & utensils. Staff have always been helpful & kind. Not to mention the restaurant itself is gorgeous & has an intimate atmosphere despite its density. Overall, it's worth the price to try at least once. You will probably find yourself wanting to come back!
