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.
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!
Ambiance au rendez-vous, beaucoup de house méditerranéen qui joue donc c'est un gros plus pour les fanatiques de house. Service impeccable par les serveurs & serveuses. Toutefois, la qualité des plats reste à améliorer malgré la belle présentation, il manque énormément de goût & la cuisine ne rend pas bien hommage à la gastronomie moyen-orientale.
Sep 18, 2024
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Everything we ordered was delicious. We ordered the fattoush salad, fried kibbeh,fried cheese boreg, the fries & the hummus & shawarma(my favourite). Their pistachio ice cream was amazing! Would definitely go back for it again. The seating area outside was very nice & the service was okay (4/5). They did however offer a complimentary dessert for my friend's birthday! & it was halal
Première fois au Hayat, le service était impeccable : courtois & chaleureux. Le restaurant est super bien situé & l'ambiance était au rendez-vous. Cela dit, la nourriture laissait à désirer. Nous étions 3 donc nous avons commandé 3 entrées & 3 plats. Nous avons reçu le tout après 10 minutes d'attente. Ce qui nous a semblé très rapide. Les plats étaient copieux mais on sentait que la nourriture a juste été réchauffée avant d'être servie. Cela va sans dire que les prix étaient un peu trop élevés pour ce que c'était réellement. C'est une sortie à faire au moins une fois pour découvrir l'endroit mais sans plus.
Sep 15, 2024
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Food was phenomenal & service was out of this world! Every single dish was flavorful & plentiful. All of the staff were friendly & extremely attentive. They deserve a 10! Just wish we had room for dessert!
Absolument merveilleux! Si je pouvais laisser 6 étoiles pour le service, je le ferais sans hésiter. Nous avons été servis par Khaled dont la gentillesse & les petites attentions nous ont énormément touchés. La nourriture est fraîche, sans prétention & tout à fait délicieuse. Merci encore à toute l'équipe pour cette super soirée!
Superbe soirée, les plats étaient excellents, les portions très généreuses. Un gros merci a Khaled pour les cocktails personnalisés & l'ambiance chaleureuse. Je recommande sans hésiter ❤️
Good shawarmas. Nice ambiance. Friendly staff. A wee bit expensive. We spent around 100 ca$ for 3 adults. It takes them some time to serve but food is tasty. My friends & I really enjoyed it! To enhance customer experience further perhaps the restaurant can use some idea of welcome drinks or juices to mitigate the long waiting period for the food. They also serve alcohol. Note if you are non vegetarian but do not consume beef( an Indian dilemma 😅), there are exactly 3 items you can order. Also kind of low on veg options. They have good indoor & outdoor seating arrangements. The washrooms are neat & tidy. The tissue papers are very good. Almost like towels & feel premium.
Sep 9, 2024
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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!
My husband & I dropped in for a late dinner, & we're so glad we did. Everything-from the atmosphere to the service, food, & drinks-was simply perfect. Nathaniel was our server, & he ensured we had an exceptional experience. He strongly recommended we save room for the baklava pancakes for dessert, & we're thrilled we took his advice. It's easily one of the best desserts we've ever had. This was our final dinner during our weekend in Montreal, & it was probably one of the best meals we had here (which says a lot, considering how much incredible food we've had). We'll definitely be returning on our next visit!
Nourriture bonne, mais sans plus. Peu de choix végétarien en plat (1). Portion très petite & prix élevé. Je mange vraiment peu, j'ai prit une entrée & un plat & j'avais encore faim. Service incroyable par contre ✨️.
My wife & I had a wonderful lunch, on the Sunday we were there. Presentation was beautiful, & the food was outstanding. Definitely coming back on my next trip to Montreal. Nathaniel was amazing & we were so happy he had us try the baklava pancakes. Sooooo good!
