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 $2 when compared to the menu. Not a big deal, but the principle of it is where the problem lies. When I raised it to our waiter, it took 5 minutes of back & forth with the staff before he came back with the corrected bill, a half-baked apology ('we don't usually try to pull this on our customers, but our menu prices really did change this week'), & nothing to make up for the situation.
My friend then notices the same thing, & before she can even show him where the problem was, the waiter proceeds to gaslight her into thinking the price she was charged for her cocktail was actually the price in the menu. I checked after the fact - it was not (see images attached - shai glace/th0 glac0).
For an establishment that prides itself on a refined & memorable experience, this left a really bad taste in my mouth. The last thing I want to be doing when leaving a restaurant is making sure the prices that were listed are in fact the prices that were charged. So disappointing. I would definitely think twice before making a reservation again - there are equally great restaurants in the city that actually engage in fair business practices.
Really enjoyed Damas. Good was good. I found the tasting menu pricey for what we got. With wine & 15% tip it was 300$ per person. Next time I would opt for à la carte options.
May 6, 2026
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Ambiance:
The restaurant is very large, nearly 4 whole rooms. It's beautifully decorated, quite warm & inviting. I wouldn't say it's cozy, nor would I say it's an overtly elegant vibe.
Service:
Friendly but distant. Food was explained as it came, but none of our servers seemed particularly passionate about the food. Plates were changed with each service. Nothing that added or detracted from our visit.
Food:
What can I say about the food? Damas offers elevated middle eastern cuisine that would wow those who have not had very much of it. The mezzes were good, but not better than mezzes served by any good Syrian (or Lebanese or Jordanian) restaurant, including a breakfast spot. The hot mezzes were good, but not ground breaking. Flavours were not elevated, they were just solid representations of the standard (cumin, Aleppo pepper, yogurt, etc.) Most damning was the meat - we ordered the filet mignon medium rare & received it medium, the lamb medium & received it well done. At a restaurant charging these prices, this was quite unacceptable.
Furthermore, for a restaurant charging these prices & presenting itself as being high end, the pace at which our dishes came out was overwhelming. We ordered a total of 10 dishes. We received our cold mezzes as a pair. Very quickly after we began to eat, 3 hot mezzes appeared. & very shortly after that, another 4 hot dishes! There was no pause between plates, which made us feel very rushed & anxious about the food becoming cold. We would've appreciated more thoughtful coursing of the dishes & more time to enjoy each dish, without it becoming cold.
Overall, Damas offers a decent dining experience at what feels like rather exorbitant, fine dining prices. Service & ambiance are nothing to write home about. The food is not the best representation of the true breadth & depth of Syrian cuisine, but it may wow those who are not from the region.
Dinner was excellent. The food, the service, the atmosphere. We had the fattouche salad which was incredible, super tasty, delicious Shrimp, the main course was the mixed grill that featured succulent lamb chops, filet mignon, rib steak, chicken. Dessert was vanilla ice cream with pistachios & cotton candy on top. Our waiter George was phenomenal, he kept checking up on us & listened to our requests. It is pricey but well worth it for a special occasion.
Damas is definitely a Montreal institution. It's an upscale Syrian restaurant in Outremont that gets a lot of buzz, & I can see why people are drawn to it. The ambiance is stunning, the staff are genuinely warm & welcoming, & the service is attentive throughout the whole evening. No complaints there. That said, I left feeling like the hype doesn't quite hold up. The food is good & decent, but for the price point, I expected to be blown away & I simply wasn't. When you're paying fine dining prices,'decent' just doesn't cut it. It feels more like you're paying a premium for the atmosphere & the name than for truly exceptional cuisine. Worth visiting once if only to say you've been, but it's not the kind of place that leaves you counting the days until your next reservation. A memorable first visit, but not somewhere I'd rush back to.
The food itself is exceptional. Flavours are unique & on point, & everything is cooked very well (for the price point, would hope so!). Would recommend the tasting menu. The interior decor is also well appointed. Was slightly disappointed in the service as they forgot orders / items multiple times.
I don't think I have witness a better service in any restaurant that I've been too. The food was great, service A1. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is a bit on the pricey end but it is surely worth every penny!
Feb 28, 2026
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Amazing atmosphere & the staff were very attentive to details. The food… my god the food was phenomenal. We had the rack of ribs & the braised ribs as mains, with lamb dumplings & spicy potatoes as apps.
They also gave us complementary dishes for the delay in the service, (which we didnt mind at all) but just the attention let us know what kind of establishment Damas is.
Would highly reccomend, even if its a bit pricey. It is worth it. I will definitely come back!
The food itself, is a far cry for me, from fine dining. Everything tastes decent but it was neither better nor more innovative than a really high quality Syrian restaurant that is 1/4 of the price. It was $400 for 3 people without alcohol. The only standout dish was the octopus. The lamb kebab from the charcoal grill was the only dish that was actually bad. The sauces & accompaniments were good but it was cooked poorly.
Admittedly, this is my cuisine so I am more critical, but in Toronto there is Byblos which elevates regular Mediterranean & I was hoping for a similar experience. Even the desserts were run of the mill, nothing innovative or interesting. They need to be elevated at a place like this.
Unfortunately I would not come again despite good service.
Way too over priced & overhyped. Similar & better food at other restaurants in Montreal like Kaza Maza. They also emptied a bottle of wine & finished the glass from a second bottle in same glass which is not acceptable especially at an'upscale' restaurant. Would definitely not come back or recommend.
Not even close to what they used to serve when they were on Park Ave. The love that you could once taste in their food has now faded into high volume, high-priced fare built on a past reputation. There are better options available.
Sadly, Damas has been relegated to one of the many restaurants where you go to be seen, but don't go for the cuisine.
Jan 27, 2026
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Unfortunately, we did not have a good experience at Damas. We booked the Christmas Eve tasting menu experience in August for December, & had high expectations based on the restaurant's strong reviews.
We had a 6:00 pm reservation, & our first drink was served 50 minutes after we arrived. The first course was served 1 hour & 20 minutes after arrival. Two other couples arrived around the same time & were served faster; they had food on their tables within the first 20 minutes.
The next two courses were served, & then a we mentioned that service was slow & that one course had been skipped. A new waitress took over, was very accommodating & understanding of the situation, & informed our assigned waitress about the missing course.
After we raised concerns about the delays, a few courses were delivered at the same time.
At around 8:30 pm, we still had two courses left: the duck & dessert. I asked whether they could be served at the same time, as I had another commitment at 9:00 pm. Unfortunately, this was not possible, so I asked for the bill.
Two waitresses came to confirm that we were okay leaving without the two remaining courses. After we confirmed, the manager came to double-check. We explained the issues we experienced, & the manager adjusted the bill to ensure we were paying a fair amount given the poor service & incomplete meal.
When our waitress, Joseph, brought the bill, he confirmed that the restaurant was short-staffed on Christmas Eve.
The food was tasty, but the service delays caused significant distress & impacted our ability to enjoy both the meal & the experience. Given the level of the restaurant & its price point, I am not sure I would return to Damas.
Fantastic restaurant, extremely knowledgeable staff, beautiful decorated, great wine list & som. Love eating here. A little pricey but save up & go, its worth it.
Damas offers a brunch experience that is as curated as it is flavorful, blending influences from both Eastern & Western cultures for a unique culinary adventure. The restaurant operates on a set-price menu, starting at $55, with additional charges depending on your selections. While it would be nice to see an a la carte option, the structured menu ensures each dish is thoughtfully prepared & cohesive.
The coffee is a standout, beautifully brewed & aromatic, setting the stage for the meal ahead. The dishes themselves are vibrant, richly spiced, & layered with flavor, making for a wonderful introduction to Syrian cuisine. Each bite is carefully balanced, showcasing both boldness & nuance without ever feeling overwhelming.
The ambiance enhances the experience: warm wood tones, magical lighting, & cozy decor create a welcoming & almost enchanting atmosphere that complements the food beautifully.
Overall, Damas delivers a brunch that is flavorful, memorable, & culturally immersive. For those seeking a thoughtful introduction to Syrian cuisine with a touch of cross-cultural flair, it's a satisfying & elevated way to spend the morning.
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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Just visiting Montreal & enjoyed my stay at Damas. I wanted to support Syrian fine dining cuisine experience as I have not experienced something like this in Toronto.
Pricey restaurant but honestly flavors & textures were incredible. My favorite was the lamb dumplings. Great fantastic service as well. Everything went very well together it was very intentional when preparing the meal & menus. Will definitely return when back in the city God willing!
This restaurant is a scam to be honest. We shared a hummus & a plate of grilled meats. The food was good, no problem, but really overpriced (come on $35 for 4 very small cups of hummus as appetizers???). Nothing amazing for a $125 meal… the portions were very small compared to the price we paid. It's just normal Syrian food, in a restaurant trying to be fancy… for the price paid, you better go somewhere else.
You'll read a lot of mixed opinions about this restaurant, but honestly-aside from the price-don't pay attention to the noise. This is a high-end restaurant, & the quality & execution of the food are truly unique. I've tried many Lebanese & Syrian restaurants, & to this day, nothing beats Damas. The food is outstanding; it's one of the best restaurants in Montreal. The fact that reservations are so hard to get isn't hype-people genuinely love the food here.
If you're wondering what to wear, opt for something nice & elegant. I've been there on Mondays & even then you'll see corporate guests in suits & ties.
For first-timers, I highly recommend the tasting menu. You get a little bit of everything, & it's very filling. I've tried almost the entire menu, & honestly, every single dish is excellent.
Street parking is available, but there's no valet.
⭐?⭐?⭐?
I first tried Damas during COVID & ordered almost all the appetizers - they were absolutely fabulous! That's really what they do best.
Later, I went back to dine in & ordered a steak, but it was way overcooked, & I didn't enjoy the meal as much. The restaurant itself is nice, but I find it quite overpriced for what it offers - mostly rice, potatoes, & meat.
Overall, the appetizers are excellent, but the rest of the menu feels a bit average for the price. I'd still give it another try, maybe for different dishes, but it's not as impressive as it used to be.
