If you’re fortunate enough to have experienced a meal in the Middle East, you know all about their warmth, ambiance and extravagance. Whether it’s on a terrace accompanied by an afternoon tea, or sipping Arak in the evening, the “joie de vivre” can’t be missed.
Having successfully recreated the magic, our chef Joe Awad and his team have put together a menu featuring traditional flavours reimagined with a modern flare.
Our friendly and attentive staff will make you feel as though you’ve walked through the fabric of time to the other side of the world. Prepare your tastebuds, they’re in for an amazing experience!
SHAY earns high praise for its vibrant atmosphere, flavorful modern Lebanese cuisine, and consistently attentive service, with guests noting generous portions and standout items like mezze dips and lamb dishes, shakshuka and baklava pancakes; brunch shines with creative twists such as shawarma eggs Benedict and labneh, while cocktails and a lively DJ vibe add to the welcoming, upbeat experience and make many say they will definitely return.
A bit disappointed with the food. Our brunch came out almost immediately, but everything was cold, even the coffee. Nothing worse than cold eggs, & it didn't taste very fresh. It honestly felt like the food was pre-made & just sent out quickly.
The service was excellent though, 10/10 for the staff.
May 23, 2026
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We are foodies who frequently visit Montreal to dine. Shay was a wonderful find in Griffintown. The restaurant specializes in Lebanese dishes with influences from other Middle Eastern & Mediterranean cuisines. Every course we ordered from the mezza dips to dessert was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the Armenian kebab which was tender & tasty, so satisfying. We sat at the bar of this classy restaurant & were glad we did. Gaspard, our waiter/bartender, was a charm. He explained all the dishes & made spot on suggestions. He was attentive but not overly so. Shay offers a winning combination of delicious food & a welcoming vibe.
What an incredible experience! The atmosphere is so beautiful, with such class, but yet not pretentious. The service was impeccable, the food was insane delicious!! Lots of gluten free options. I would highly recommend going to this place! We were a group for the dinner menu, but I cannot wait to try the brunch menu next time. An absolute true gem✨?
Such amazingly good food, great portions & it was very fun to share with friends. The cocktails were excellent & delicious. The service was spectacular our waitress did an excellent job checking up on us.
I was recommended the lamb eggs benedict, some bites tasted great but otherwise I wish I went with my gut & tried the shakshuka. Overall, great food quality!
May 17, 2026
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The service here is excellent. Everyone is smiley ans friendly. We came for brunch, had the lamb & eggplant.... absolutely delicious. Cant even describe how tasty it was. Then we ordered the pancakes & french toast... huge portion... & excellent. Something about the pistascho baklava & syrup... will def come back
Food was honestly disappointing & didn't feel authentic at all, especially for the prices. Portions were small for what you pay & overall it just didn't live up to expectations. That being said, our server Anna was amazing, super attentive, kind, & definitely the highlight of the experience. She really did her best & made the night much better despite the food.
May 14, 2026
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Great experience, I had gone with my family on Saturday for Mother's day & we had the pleasure of being served by Anna, she had warm presents which was complimented by her enthusiasm & detailed knowledge of the menu; she was very accommodating to my mothers intolerance to garlic & made sure to inform herself with the kitchen in order to give us the best recommendations for our meal.
The restaurant seems like it had a good staff, but do to her great service & naturally joyful energy we had no doubt that we had the best in the whole restaurant tending to us; thanks again Anna
J'ai adoré ce restaurant, le service est irréprochable & les plats sont savoureux. Comme nous étions six, nous avons opté pour plusieurs assiettes à partager, ce qui nous a permis de découvrir toute la richesse de la carte. Une belle découverte, je le recommande.
May 9, 2026
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This place was a fantastic atmosphere, so much so that I was momentarily worried about the prices when we walked in. Luckily the food was very well priced, but delicious far beyond what I was expecting. The dishes were creative & every flavour went together perfectly. This is my new favourite brunch spot in Montreal. Our server Shawn was attentive & welcoming. My girlfriend & I were able to be seated at the bat with no wait, but you probably need reservations for a table. Great spot, I will be back to try the rest of the menu.
First edit: I went back to Shay with a friend for brunch & unfortunately it did not live up to the quality of the first experience. We ordered the shawarma eggs benedict & the Dubai chocolate pancakes. Somehow, the Dubai chocolate pancakes did not come with any chocolate, only cocoa powder... I am trying to understand if we ordered the wrong thing but there is nothing else on the menu to confuse it with. See photos for what we got versus what was on their website. Furthermore, while the first time the food was delicious enough & the portions large enough that we did not really miss having a side. The second time, that was not the case, & in particular the eggs benedict really lacked something else. I don't know of any other brunch spot which doesn't give any sides with their meals, & unfortunately this time, we really noticed the missing pieces.
I was new at the area & I've just finish my run so I wanted some brunch as post run, all I can say is that they were super kind !!! Service was awesome! The food was great & all the options were so tasty ! I will go back there to try their dessert cuz it looked amazing ! Thanks to the girl at the reception & the guy who served me ! They were super professional & kind ! 👌🩷
