Reviews describe Hayat as a standout for authentic Middle Eastern flavors with generous sharing portions, praising dishes such as baba ghanouj, fattoush, lamb shank, short ribs, soujouk, and muhammara, plus baklava pancakes and Syrian ice cream as highlights. The atmosphere is repeatedly praised as warm and stylish, with a lively vibe and a pleasant terrace, making it a good pick for dates, celebrations, or casual meals. Service is commonly noted as attentive and friendly, though some reviews report variability and longer waits during busy times and changes in management that affected consistency. Reservations can be necessary, as seating options vary between bar and table, and some guests would prefer to book a table in advance. Prices are sometimes described as high for the portion size, though many feel the quality justifies the cost. Overall the place is seen as a top halal fine dining option in the area, with standout drinks, hospitality, and a strong sense of care from the staff.
Our waiter Nathaniel was the best! My wife & I never had Lebanese food so we let him pick out dishes & he didn't disappoint. Food was excellent, must try! The vibe is awesome too!
Oct 2, 2025
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Hayat has a nice ambience, but the overall dining experience was underwhelming. We ordered Fattet Chicken, Barak, Shish Taouk, Lamb Shank, & Hummus with Shawarma.
The chicken dishes were dry, while the lamb shank was tender & delicious.
Everything without chicken tasted good. Portion sizes were disappointingly small-especially for the price.
Service was adequate, but water was served warm & refills were slow due to the decorative container servers used.
Most guests seemed to come for drinks & leave quickly… should've been a hint. After spending $180, I was still hungry.
It was my first time at Hayat Resturant, I enjoyed the food & the taste combinations between the western & midwestern cuisine. I recommend & I'd like to try more dishes in the future.
Waitress was nice. Food preparation was below averag. Either cook is new or doesn't got a clue how to make dimple dishes. My entire plate felt like it was made a day earlier 😩 cold & tasteless. Hype online is def misleading.
We dined at this restaurant after our Airbnb host recommended it. This restaurant by far exceeded my expectations. The food was amazing. All our dishes that we ordered were perfect. The bartender (Otis) was very quick & had a wonderful personality.
We could see the chef working in the kitchen & he looked so passionate about all the dishes they were serving. We chatted with him afterwards & you could see & hear how much passion & love goes into his dishes. This restaurant will not disappoint! Make a reservation because it was quite busy & we got lucky for a couple seats at the bar.
Hayat in Montreal, overlooking the old port waterfront, offers a beautiful dining experience with both outdoor & indoor seating. The fusion of food was so delicious that I could only take two photos before it was all gobbled up. The staff were attentive, & Nathaniel's exceptional service truly stood out. He carefully listened to our preferences & recommended dishes that perfectly suited our tastes. The food quality was outstanding, with generous portions, & the dessert is an absolute must-try! Highly recommended!
I visited today for dinner, & overall it was a good experience. The waiter was very friendly, & the seating & atmosphere were excellent. The food was great overall, especially the hummus shawarma, which I really enjoyed! However, we ordered both appetizers & main dishes, but were surprised when everything, including the shish tawook, arrived all at once. This made the shish tawook so dry by the time we got to it. It would have been better if the dishes were served in order. On a positive note, the rice pudding was absolutely delicious!
How first experience tonight. We sampled a variety of dishes, which were very good but the most amazing thing? The service! From the moment you step a foot in there, you're taken care of! Nathaniel was amazing at guiding us through the menu & the different people bringing us the dishes were simply excellent, describing everything & paying extra attention on the timing for everything, truly we were impressed! Thank you for this wonderful evening, we will pay you another visit soon!
Sep 8, 2024
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We sat outside & had a party of 7. Our waiter was friendly & was a joy to interact with. We had cocktails & the Beirut beer which were all fantastic. We shared a variety of dishes but the ribs were an absolute delight. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for Lebanese food.
We came as a group of eight & ordered several dishes, including desserts. We were all very impressed at how delicious they were! The ambiance was lovely, & the service was great. Even the bathroom had a nice hand gel from Aesop, which was such a nice touch!
5* Delicious food, quick & friendly service, lovely terrace & good ambiance. We came for lunch & were very pleased by the quantity & quality of the food. We ordered the «Baba Ganouj», «Fattoush Salad», «Soudjouk & Eggs», «Shish Taouk Wrap» & the «Shawarma & Hummus» - all dishes were super tasty & flavour. We would definitely come back!
Jul 24, 2024
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food wasn't top notch, especially the dishes: the braised ribs were full of fat, the minced beef with aubergines was not well cooked, but the starters & dips were good, especially the peppers. The value for money wasn't great either.
Absolutely delighted with my dining experience at this Syrian-Lebanese restaurant! The ambiance was charming, & the flavors of the dishes transported me to the heart of the Middle East. A special shoutout to our server Rou, whose dynamic & fun service added an extra layer of joy to our meal. Highly recommend this gem for a delightful culinary journey!
In a sea of fine French restaurants, this lovely Middle Eastern spot was a rare gem. The flavors were something we've never experienced before & everything was something to savor & take your time eating. Really amazing dishes with vegetarian friendly options that are so good you wouldn't miss the meat. The service was incredibly friendly & attentive & so kind. We decided to eat at the bar & received great service & recommendations from Chao (hope i spelled that right!) Hands down the best meal we've had in Montreal, & quite frankly, the best we've had anywhere in a very long time. (Definitely try the muhamarra, it's out of this world!)
