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!
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.
Mar 15, 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.
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!
Everything was exceptional, we had several dishes & hard to pick a favourite because each one tasted fabulous & was beautifully plated. However, the fingerling potatoes do not belong on the menu. We were craving fries & since those were no longer on the menu, we reluctantly went with potatoes. Clearly these are recycled from another dish because for a restaurant of this caliber to just slap 5 or 6 potatoes on a plate & charge 20 bucks doesn't make any sense unless you're trying to get rid of leftovers at an outrageous price. Other than that, absolutely fabulous!
This place seems to be all the rave recently in Montreal food circles, & for good reason.
I'm always a little skeptical when it comes to restaurants primarily serving mezes (small shareable plates), but we left absolutely stuffed & enable to eat more. The portions were really generous.
The food itself was very very good, it still tasted Lebanese (which is what we wanted) but with a slight modern touch. I genuinely cannot say how I would improve any of the dishes we had, they were all delicious.
The restaurant is very nicely decorated, with upscale look & a very nice bar. Staff were generally knowledgeable & courteous.
It is pricier, but totally worth the money & perfect for any special occasion or nice business lunch (which there seemed to be lots of on a Wednesday night).
We will definitely be recommending this place to everyone we know.
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.
Nov 12, 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.
Overpriced & little portions, we were at a social event so I didn't pick the restaurant.
Mediterranean menu with no special theme.
I've have taste same type of dishes at a restaurant on Jean talon & way more affordable & more generous portions.
We were a table of six & the bill was 100$/ person even when splitting the order.
Also their interact machine was not compatible with my card or bank. I had terrible time trying to pay, it took forever I had to try several times with my credit card & the waiter insist I should pay with debit which was rude since the problem was their machine.
Service was decent, staff was currently filling water, removing plates & delivering the food. The atmosphere was casual. However, I Don't Recommend it & I Won't be Going Back.
One of my favourite restaurants. Very nicely decorated, the food is exceptional, & the servers are great. The entire menu is filled with 5 star dishes - no matter what you order you will not be disappointed.
Parking in the area is very limited & they are very popular so this is something to take into consideration. We had to park ~20 minutes walk away.
The servers & bartenders are lovely & welcoming however the hosts have been a bit cold when we've gone in. I can understand this due to the volume of people they are trying to get situated however it is something to be aware of.
If you haven't been to Shay, you are missing out. Please do yourself a favour & go - you won't regret it.
We had a delicious dinner on the covered patio last Saturday & Alexis provided excellent service throughout the meal. Loved all our dishes - the flavours were wonderful. Favourites were the brussel sprouts, heirloom Beets on a bed of labneh, & artichokes!
The atmosphere, the food, the service; all were amazing! Ana left us with such a memorable night of fun & great service, especially that we were celebrating a special occasion.
I love that pomegranate was incorporated in many dishes which is often forgotten in Lebanese cuisine here. The halloumi & dates, kibbeh naye, lamb kebab are a must to try! Can't miss on the refreshing fattoush as well.
I'm excited to return to try their brunch & others dishes as well.
Aug 17, 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.
The concierge at our hotel, the Fairmont, Queen Elizabeth, recommended this restaurant. We were not disappointed! We had a wonderful meal with numerous menu options to choose from.
The most enjoyable part of our evening was our server, Anthony, who was a delight! He kept us entertained & spent quite a bit of time with us explaining all the varied dishes on the menu. We so enjoyed our evening & he was one of the reasons why.
Thank you so much to the staff at Shay & especially Anthony. It was a wonderful experience.
Nancy & Bill Harland
Nevada, USA
Fantastic experience front to back
Our server Gabby absolutely went above & beyond for us.
Recommending all the best dishes
The labneh, Fatoosh, steak
Everything was 10/10
Brought my girlfriend here for her birthday. Huge mistakes. Our service was terrible, constantly forgetting to bring drinks & water. Brought out half of our starters then main dishes, then the other half of our starters. & the chicken, good god, literally sucked the moisture out of my mouth. I had to wash every bite down with water or I would have choked on it. The lamb was alright though.
I came to this place recently to try their dishes & it was so amazing! I had tried their dip Mouhamara & the Lamb Kebab with a friend of mine & it was so delicious. I've been craving them ever since. We also got served by this young beautiful lady called Thea, as I recall. She was so lovely & i hope she will be there the next time I visit!
Apr 27, 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.
Fantastic restaurant! The food was impeccable 👌. Extremely kind girl, Thea, helped us pick out the most delicious dishes from the menu, 10/10 experience !
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.
We went for a birthday party with a large group for brunch to this restaurant. I have to say it was wonderful! The quality is exceptional & the servings were more than generous. I was pleasantly surprised because although it was middle eastern dishes that I am used to having at home, all the dishes were refined & perfectly made & presented with the utmost care. They used fresh produce & it showed in the taste, the way it looked. It was a touch of Lebanese, Syrian, armenian & North American.
I would recommend this place 100% !
& the service…. Just perfect !
Excellent food (very well-balanced flavours & textures across the dishes), great service (present, warm, & helpful, & also unobtrusive), & lovely atmosphere. Definitely recommend going with a group so you can try more things!
The fattoush, mouhamara, hummus shawarma, & shish taouk were all wonderful.
Food was cold. We ordered egg benedict with shawarma. The waitress took it back to kitchen & brought new ones but they were still not warm enough. My impression is that they pre-prepare a lot of things so when they put the dishes together , they are cold. Good service though. Lively atmosphere but music a bit too loud 😬
