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 delivers a warm, stylish Lebanese dining experience with a lively yet welcoming vibe and consistently attentive service. The menu shines with vibrant, well presented dishes and an array of mezze, lamb, kebabs, and brunch classics like shawarma eggs Benedict and baklava pancakes, all made with fresh ingredients. The brunch and dinner experiences are repeatedly praised for generous portions, bold flavors, and creative twists that honor tradition while feeling modern. The atmosphere, on both the dining floor and the terrace, is frequently described as beautiful and energetic, with knowledgeable staff guiding guests through thoughtful recommendations. Overall, SHAY stands out for reliable quality, standout dishes, and a memorable, friendly guest experience that makes it a go-to for meals with friends or celebrations.
Delicious food at unbeatable prices! I had the chance to try the brunch menu, & it was a total hit-perfectly balanced flavors, generous portions, & beautiful presentation. The warm ambiance & attentive service made the experience even better. I can't wait to come back & try the dinner menu, which looks just as tempting. A must-visit spot!
Shay is an absolute gem in Montreal! The food was simply incredible, with every dish bursting with flavor & creativity. The service was outstanding - attentive, friendly, & knowledgeable about the menu. What really impressed me was the music; it was so good that I found myself Shazamming several songs throughout the evening! Overall, I highly recommend Shay for anyone looking to enjoy a fantastic dining experience in Montreal.
The food is 10/10 & Pamela was my waitress & she was so attentive, she knew the photos I showed her that I seen online on Instagram that I wanted from the menu, & she was very nice. My favorite restaurant
Even though I wasn't particularly hungry, every dish completely won me over! It wasn't just me-my companions, & even the people at the next table, kept exclaiming: "Wow, C'est tellement délicieux! C'est vraiment, vraiment bon!" I glanced over & noticed that their dishes were different from ours. We exchanged smiles, both clearly impressed! First Dish: Beef Tartare The highlight was how beautifully the flavors came together-the cheese, onion, mint, pomegranate, sweet vinegar, & beef blended so harmoniously! Each element had its distinct taste while perfectly complementing the others. It felt very Arabian & incredibly unique! Second Dish: Tomahawk Lamb Chops One bite & I was hooked-this is exactly what lamb chops should taste like! So authentically Middle Eastern & absolutely delicious. The smoky charcoal aroma mingled with spices, & the meat was perfectly balanced between lean & fatty. I couldn't resist picking it up with my hands to savor every bite! Third Dish: Dessert We ordered a random dessert, & it blew me away! I'm not a fan of desserts, but I didn't leave a single bite of this one. From the first spoonful, the cream melted in my mouth-cool but not icy, rich but not heavy. Then came an explosion of orange blossom & jasmine fragrances, so aromatic that I felt like I'd been transported to the garden of an Arabian palace. The base was light & crisp, layered with pistachio paste & nuts, delicate & flavorful. It was truly incredible! Lastly, a big shoutout to our server, Pamela, who was attentive & warm throughout the meal. Her excellent service made our dining experience even more delightful.
Amazing place in little burgundy. Middle Eastern influences every dish, & they are carefully created where flavors really come in harmony. Service was fantastic. Waitress was attentive, kind, & efficient throughout. The management also checked in to see if our needs were met, of course they were. The food. The food is what you come here for. To say Amir but elevated would be an insult. Each plate has its own charm, from shareable appetizers to hearty course portions, you have it all. The pita bread freshly served. The wine list for red can use a bit of work, to match more coarse meat pairings. But overall still a great dining experience. The cocktails were scrumptuous well as the shots on the house. Finally the atmosphere was inviting, chic, & sexy. Will come back again for a fourth time shortly. A+++
This was our favorite restuarant / meal of our vacation. Atmosphere-wise - it was more fancy inside than I thought it would be. Not to say that my jeans were out of place, but it looked very high end. Our service was outstanding & our waiter was very attentive & gave great recommendations. The manager even came over to see how everything was. Food-wise - we got (in order of preference): Armenian Kebab; Mouhamara (red pepper / pomegranate); Lamb Kebab; Brussel Sprouts. The combination of all of it was a lot of food - so next time, I would ditch the Brussel Sprouts - which was our least fave. It wasn't to say that we didn't like them - but compared to the other outstanding dishes, they paled in comparison. The Armenian Kebab was fantastic & a huge dish with potatoes, too. The Mouhamara was different than what we had in the States - but even better. The Lamb Kebab was also delicious with the pickled red onions. We loved the restaurant & would recommend it to all!
Oct 6, 2024
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Nous avons eu un excellent service de la part de Pamela. Elle était attentive, drôle, aimable & très rapide. Elle nous a bien conseillé & expliqué le menu. C'est sans aucun doute l'un des meilleurs services que nous ayons eu. Merci Pamela pour cette expérience incroyable !
Food was a nice modern take on Lebanese cuisine. Inventive & tastes really good. The Shawerma Benedict & Baklava Pancakes were very well done. However, the matcha latte was pretty weak, too milk heavy despite the price tag. Our server, Dom, was really friendly & attentive.
I had an amazing experience at Shay. The vibe was perfect-warm & inviting with just the right energy. Katrina, our server, was fabulous, offering great recommendations & attentive service. Every dish we tried was delicious & beautifully presented. Highly recommend!
A new discovery & definetly will be back. Had Sunday brunch a few weeks ago with my niece. We received a warm welcome from the hostess & the service was top notch. The food was very tasty & the drinks were so flavourful. Want to thank specifically Jason & Charles for their amazing service. They were so attentive . Such great energy. See you soon!
Jul 30, 2024
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I had an amazing dining experience at Shay, largely due to Pamela's exceptional service. She was attentive, friendly, & genuinely cared about our experience, making sure every detail was perfect. The food was absolutely delicious, with every dish surpassing our expectations. Highly recommend Shay for anyone seeking a top-tier meal with outstanding service. Thank you, Pamela!
The hype around this restaurant is real! I definitely think it's worth every penny. Not a cheap eat by all means, but absolutely worth the experience. I love the twist they put on Lebanese Classics, as well as their unique menu items. If I could recommend one thing, it is their baklava pancakes! I could not finish it if my life depended on it, but I am so glad I tried it. The staff was also attentive & present. I would definitely recommend this brunch spot to anyone looking for something new & unique!
Mar 26, 2024
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Absolute gem of a restaurant in Griffin town. Surprisingly very reasonable prices, given how nice the place is & how attentive the servers were. Big thanks to Pamela.
Went for my birthday & truly had the best time. We got the cocktail tree, humus & babaganoush & everything was 10/10! We had the absolute sweetest waitress (Pamela), so attentive & helpful. Staff was amazing, food & drinks were delicious & overall atmosphere was great. Strongly recommend!
Pamela is a phenomenal waitress, extremely attentive & always one step ahead to offer high end service. The food is an experience, we celebrated a special occasion & I am looking forward to coming back for more special moments!
Service was good. The staff was attentive & welcoming. The food was slightly above room temperature, the lamb from the lamb shawarma benedict was dry. The tatter tots from their morning potatoes felt oily because of the ambient temperature of the dishes altogether. For the price & quality of the food, I wouldn't come back unless they fix those.
