HENI specializes in the vibrant culinary traditions of the Middle East, emphasizing charcoal-grilled meats and authentic Lebanese flavors. Skilled preparation centers on seasoned skewers, freshly prepared hummus, and an array of traditional mezze that highlight robust spice blends and high-quality ingredients. The kitchen maintains a focus on consistent execution, delivering plates that prioritize the smoky profiles inherent in open-flame cooking. Patrons experience a direct reflection of regional staples through meticulously assembled platters and hand-stretched breads. This establishment balances structural simplicity with an unwavering commitment to traditional Levantine preparation techniques. Each menu selection serves as a testament to classic flavor profiles, ensuring that the essence of the grill remains the focal point for every visitor seeking an authentic experience within this specialized culinary landscape.
Heni is widely regarded as a standout culinary destination in Montreal, celebrated for its innovative and flavorful Middle Eastern fusion cuisine, particularly the highly recommended tasting menus. Diners frequently praise the artistic presentation, fresh ingredients, and the extensive selection of unique, high-quality wines. While the atmosphere is generally described as cozy, hip, and welcoming, with many guests highlighting the exceptional and knowledgeable service provided by the staff, some visitors noted challenges regarding noise levels, portion sizes relative to price, and occasional wait times. Despite a few mixed experiences regarding specific dishes or beverage options, the majority of patrons report a memorable dining experience and express a strong desire to return.
Biggest problem was the portion size for price point. We spent close to $150 EACH for small side order of potatoes steak etc. Water was bottled & hot cheap. Incredibly staff team really cool decor lovely concept. Killer flavours! If you are veggie technically you could go here order fresh homemade delish pita & awesome side dips & spreads & save a fortune. A work in progress.
A Unique Culinary Journey!!
From the moment we sat down, the service was impeccable, our server's passion & precision in explaining each dish added so much depth to the experience. The food itself was outstanding, blending Middle Eastern & South African influences with fresh, local Quebec ingredients. Every bite felt thoughtful & well-executed, creating a perfect balance of bold flavors & high-quality produce. A truly unique & inspiring culinary experience! I will definitely be coming back.
Heni is a foodie paradise. This is Mediterranean food with a twist, where fresh ingredients from local Québec farms are used in place of imported products to create new taste experiences. The result is an amazing fusion of the fresh & the exotic. Topping it all off, the wine pairing was one of the best we've had in a long while. We hope to be back soon.
Sep 28, 2024
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I walked into HENI, wanting to break my fast during Ramadan & craving something comforting that my mother would've made (reading "fatteh du moment" on the menu was what made me confirm my reservation). We were immediately greeted by one of the owners Rami, who made the experience at the restaurant feel as though we were dining at a friends home. The service was warm, & as he explained the concept behind the menu it was very obvious that this was a curated labour of love for him & the team behind HENI. The menu takes you on an explorative journey to the SWANA region: bringing culinary traditions from my own home growing up, like mouneh (a historical practice in our mothers & grandmothers kitchens: a seasons bounty in a jar, preserved or dried foods)-to life in Montreal. On the menu you will catch glimpses all the way from Iran (the khoresh-e-fesenjan) to Morocco & Tunisia (the tajine al samak). As a Syrian I chose to err on the side of familiarity for my first time there, & we ordered the seyadeye, the shish taouk & the shish barak, dishes I've eaten my whole life. What we got was honestly so impressive: these dishes were recreated perfectly using local québécois produce in a way that can only be described as symbiotic. If you're arab & reading this; I know we are an extremely skeptical community when it comes to anyone trying to reshape our dishes (& we have a right to be-what the hell is the chocolate hummus stuff in grocery stores anyway?)-BUT: this dining experience is a must. I felt it perfectly described my history & melded it with my experience as a person living in Quebec. The shish taouk made with celeriac was such a surprise, spiced exactly right, with fresh take on our typical side salads using black garlic & pear for an extra oomf. The shish barak tasted like my mums & that's saying something-with the addition of black trumpet mushrooms that added a next level creaminess & textural contrast to what we're normally used to. The seyadiye rice was cooked the traditional way, but with scallops instead of the usual fish, my only complaint here was that I could've eaten 5x the serving cause it was delicious. So: order 5-6 dishes (we also did the mouneh & the canard) but you can easily do more if you're a large group. Chat with your servers about the customs that gave birth to the menu. But overall come here to dine & experience something that pays an homage to both your old roots, & the new ones you're trying to set here. :)
A delightful Middle Eastern culinary experience using fresh, local ingredients & lots of love. Great wine list. Great staff. Great service. The kibbeh nayyeh is epic. Will definitely go back.
Loved it. Ingredients are fresh & in season. Everything tasted good. Wine selection is amazing. Friendly service. Definitely recommend & will comeback to try their different menu variations. The kibbeh nayyeh was my favorite.
I'm so impressed by this restaurant. Ingredients are fresh, wine selection is amazing, & the service is one of the best I've had. They are so accommodating & nice, they also explain everything in the menu & there's a story behind every dish - you can tell that they put a lot of work & passion into every dish. Thank you for a great evening !
One of Montreal's most unique additions to the culinary scene of a city with a competitive restaurant market. The food consists of a friendly, extravagant play on indigenous cuisines globally, conceptualized on a beautifully decorated plate, while respecting the roots of each dish. The menu changes based on the ingredients available each season, demonstrating Heni's incredible capability to adapt dishes with local ingredients that are not typically used in the countries from which certain menu items originate. This innovative approach provides a fresh, delicious, & meaningful connection between Quebec & the rest of the world, & creates a path to reconcile cultural differences through food. The service is truly a warm hug; Rami goes the extra mile to ensure that guests understand the concept of each dish. Thank you for this amazing experience!
Gorgeous interior, impeccable food that was clearly thoughtfully curated Each dish came with a story that Rami share passionately. This is clearly a work of the heart. I loved that the dishes are seasonally curated & conscious of indigenous varieties, the pita for example was a mix of local indigenous grains & ancient grains..& delicious! The kibbeh nayyeh was fresh & almost creamy. The kebab was intoxicating. We had the kibbeh iranien which sent us over the edge with joy. THE RICE PUDDING DESSERT WAS INSANE. All familiar flavors to my Egyptian & Lebanese friends. We felt like we were welcomed into a home & never wanted to leave. They also sport a gorgeous wine list & is likely the only restaurant in MTL highlighting indigenous grape varieties & Palestinian wine. This is my new coup de coeur, a rare gem in the crown of the city. A culinary force to be reckoned with & I cant wait to watch it grow!
