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.
Amazing service & incredible food. I had accidentally booked our reservation for the wrong day, but when we showed up a day early with a party of five at 10pm, they accommodated us right away without any issues.
It's clear this restaurant is very well run-everyone was welcoming, attentive, & consistently checked in without being overbearing.
The food was outstanding. We ordered a variety of dishes, & the highlights were the baklava pancakes, the mezze dips, & anything featuring their lamb-absolutely delicious.
A special shoutout to our server, Leyla, who was fantastic & made the experience even better.
Also the playlist at the restaurant was a vibe.
Overall, a great experience at Shay-we'll definitely be back!
Food was expensive & not cooked properly. Ordered bénédictine eggs with mushrooms, 24$. Plate arrived it's 2 eggs cooked all the way through on a single piece of toast with mushrooms. Honestly the meal was very tasty apart from the egg not at all being bénédictine. Showed my plate to the waiter when he came back. He told the kitchen, that's it.
Honestly I almost didn't say anything for my eggs but there were also other things going wrong.
When ordering a mokaccino I asked for extra whipped cream on it, the drink he brought had no whipped cream on it. Had to ask him to bring it back.
2 (out of 3) of the wine glasses that were brought for our drinks were dirty (one had a food bit on it the other white drops on it), had to return them.
My friend ordered baklava crepes, they brought her pancakes (she doesnt like pancakes). We felt bad cause it felt like we were complaining on everything, we didn't say anything for the pancakes.
Ended up paying 42$ for a toast with 2 hardboiled eggs & a mokaccino, issues with both of those items. :/
Don't recommend
Mar 24, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Brunch at Shay delivered the kind of experience that reminds you why the ritual of brunch deserves to be done well. From the moment we sat down, the service set the tone. Layla, our beautiful bubbly server, brought warmth & attentiveness that elevated the entire meal, while the floor manager moved through the room with the kind of thoughtful presence that signals a restaurant that truly cares about hospitality.
The bottomless mimosas were generous & consistently refreshed, the kind of offering that feels celebratory without becoming intrusive to the flow of the meal.
We ordered several dishes to share, which proved to be the right approach given the restaurant's notably generous portions. The shakshuka was deeply flavourful, its rich tomato base layered with light spices that made it both comforting & satisfying. One portion was more than enough for our table of four, & we still had some left behind.
The shawarma eggs benedict offered a creative twist on a classic. The dish balanced savoury shawarma spices with the richness expected from a good benedict, resulting in something both familiar & distinctive.
The lamb & eggplant tartine was perhaps the standout of the table: buttery, decadent, & beautifully composed. The combination of tender lamb with silky eggplant created a dish that felt indulgent yet balanced. It was my first time trying it, & it alone is reason enough to return.
For something sweet, we got the baklava pancakes. Fluffy & well-structured, they captured the nutty, honeyed essence of baklava without tipping into overwhelming sweetness. They are undeniably filling, so sharing is the wise choice.
The atmosphere tied everything together. The DJ played a relaxed selection of R&B that added energy to the room without overpowering conversation, a small but thoughtful detail that made the brunch feel lively yet comfortable.
Overall, Shay delivers a brunch that is generous in both flavour & hospitality. The menu rewards sharing, the service is attentive, & the atmosphere strikes the right balance between vibrant & relaxed. It's the kind of place you leave already planning your return, as we did.
Also, we were honoured with tasting their upcoming drink, we are excited for the summer.
We had one night to eat in Montreal & I'm so glad we chose this place! The food was incredible & the service was beyond amazing from the hostess to the servers. Jasper, the bartender, was a gem during his service. The chicken & beef in our dishes were very tender & flavourful & the baklava tiramisu was heavenly. It is pricier, but portions were fair & it was worth it. I look forward to trying the tasting menu next time!
Nous avons passé un excellent moment dans ce restaurant. Le lieu est bien décoré & le service très agréable.
Notre serveur était de bon conseils & nous a bien aiguillé pour découvrir de bons plats libanais.
Pour commencer, un mocktail hibiscus/gingembre. Ensuite, nous avons pris deux mezze froids qui étaient vraiment très bons (hummus & un autre avec de l'aubergine) & nous avons partagé l'assiette Kebab. En dessert, nous avons pris le baklava à la pistache. Nous nous sommes régalés !
Les prix sont bons pour la qualité de la nourriture !
Great food overall. We tried the shawarma eggs Benedict, lamb Reuben, waffles with fried chicken, & the baklava pancakes-everything was excellent. The service was just as good: kind, fast, & very helpful.
Simply an amazing experience. The staff was full smiles & welcoming when we came in the door. Our waitress, Esmeralda, was all smiles, attentive & sincere in making our experience a great one. Bus boys were also amazing.
Food was very flavourful & the labneh baklava pancakes were so good, I don't have the right word to give them justice. A must try!
& warm goodbye by all when leaving. It doesn't get better than this!
Oct 4, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
We were visiting Montreal from Toronto as part of our Boozy Brunch Club shenanigans & made a reservation at this fine establishment. The brunch over-delivered on every part of our experience starting with our server Esme. Her energy, attentiveness, & food & drink recommendations were spot on for what we were looking for. We started with the baklava expresso martinis with the Aubergine Moutabbal & the Figs & Halloumi. We then moved to Caesars & Mimosas with the Falafel Latkas & Omelette Soujouk. We finished our visit with another round of baklava expresso martinis with the OMG Baklava Pancakes. The restaurant had an amazing atmosphere with very good & positive vibes & set the tone for the rest of our day. If you are looking for an exceptional brunch spot we would definitely recommend Shay as a destination. Until we meet again...
Anne was an amazing waitress. She suggested some of the best food to us & was super kind. I highly recommend their lamb kebab & their roasted red pepper dip. Also, try their baklava tiramisu.
L'intérieur est beau & invitant, & la bonne musique chaleureuse rajoute sa note à l'ambiance.
Ayant pris un bon déjeuner ce matin-là, je ne voulais pas manger des oeufs à nouveau, donc la crêpe à la baklava & pistaches. Délicieux!
Le service, quoique les deux serveuses étaient sympathiques, souriantes, il y avait un peu de confusion au moment de payer avec des erreurs sur les factures, qui s'est réglée au final. C'est probablement singulier comme expérience & non habituel, par contre, ce fut l'expérience de mon groupe. Mais. Point d'un point de vue général, je vais définitivement y retourner! Je recommande!
J'ai essayer leur nouveau croissant à l'avocat & je suis sans mot tellement il est bon bien sûr je ne pouvais pas partir sans manger les incroyables baklava pancake. Ceci n'était pas la première fois que je venais au Shay & c'est loin d'être la dernière. Vraiment le meilleure brunch spot in Montréal.
May 19, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Went for the first time today for the brunch menu. Highlights were chicken waffle & baklava pancakes !! What we did not like was the fact that they started their tips option at 18% it says alot about the mentality. Even though you have the option on the machine to modify but i mean why not start at the usual 15% ? Specially with the prices being on the higher side compared to other place. Overall i do reccomend :)
This is one of those restaurants we keep going back to, for supper & brunch!
It is middle eastern. Cocktails very tasty.
The brunch is really great as its very different than other'classic' breakfast places with boring eggs. They really put a middle eastern twist to it & superrrr good.
The baklava pancakes are a must to finish off the brunch. Its literally so tasty- a huge portion too.
Brunch seems always packed so best to reserve.
Supper has a wide menu too but everything is good - we have tried almost all their dishes & did not disappoint. Very fun dishes & i believe they update the menu often.
Halloumi with oranges is great. The shawarma hummus & filet mignon are bomb as well. My absolute favorite is the tuna tartare.. it tasty a bit like a Fattoush salad & has crispy pita on top. Texture & taste on point - please try it!
The service & staff are also just fantastic.
They have nice round tables that are cozy & overall their seating is very comfortable.
Amazing place & amazing service. Our server, Dawn, was so professional & very polite. She patiently explained the menu & really made us feel welcome. The baklava pancakes are delicious.
Fabulous brunch spot! Food was packed with incredible textures & flavor, the cocktails were divine, & those baklava pancakes were to die for. Will definitely be back to try their dinner menu!
Excellent experience for Brunch & cocktails! 👌🏻 From the unique menu to the explosion of flavors, the exceptional quality of service & staff recommendations. Everything was impeccable. If you're looking for a Middle Eastern inspired fusion cuisine, this is the place to go. Comfortable booths available for small groups, also nice idea for birthday celebrations. Just make sure to reserve in advance! Highlights on the menu: Shakshouka ; Lamb tacos ; Baklava pancakes ✨
