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.
Brunch menu. Let's start with the desserts. The baklava pancakes are unique & definitely worth trying-something different & enjoyable. The Nutella french toast isn't anything new, but if you love chocolate, it's a good choice. The labneh parfait is just yogurt with fruit & a small piece of baklava. In my opinion, it's not worth trying since it's quite common. Now for the savory dishes. The shawarma eggs benedict & chicken waffles are must-tries. The sweet & salty mix is perfect, & the flavors work really well together. The shakshuka had too much tomato & not enough eggplant, so the balance felt off. The avocado toast was a bit salty because of the halloumi but still okay. The soujouk omelet & sabich were tasty & satisfying. The service was great.
It's a cute little place with good middle eastern dishes. What really made the experience better was Rachel! Honestly, such a great employee & is the reason I will come back!
Dec 18, 2024
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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.
We enjoyed a number of dishes. The portions were great. The fries were so good. The service was great. They were able to speak both French & English which helped & made both my partner & I feel welcomed. Overall a great place to go to. Everyone should try.
Love the food here. Well presented dishes, tasted so good ! The staff are very lovely & friendly! The ambience is so chic! So much action to sit at the bar ! Highly recommended place for a Fun date, or group of friends Also I personally found at the table are family friendly for brunch too. Cons : Coffee ☕ is not that good ! Again it's not a place to go there to have coffee. Well at least, I hope they would get someone to really learn how to make coffee would be a plus.
Delicious brunch & ideal for sharing! A great blend of traditional flavors & popular dishes, like the baklava pancake. Also recommend the mushroom benedict !
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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Had my surprise bridal party at Shay for brunch this morning, what a wonderful afternoon. I have celiac disease & the manager Damien made sure I had special catered dishes that were safe & delicious! All my guests were astonished by the food, service & ambiance. Would 100% recommend & will definitely be going again!
Great experience. We shared the baklava pancakes & falafel latke, both were delicious. Portion of the falafel latke was a bit smaller but the pancakes were huge! Did a side of breakfast potatoes as well which were very tasty. Loved the middle eastern fusion in the dishes!
Having visited Shay restaurant three times now, I can genuinely vouch for its charm & flavor. Each time I've dined there, it's been a delightful experience. The tartare, muhamara, & shrimp dishes have consistently wowed me with their bold flavors & fresh ingredients. The waffles & chicken for brunch are an indulgence that I won't be able to resist. The atmosphere is warm, the service is friendly, & the food speaks volumes. It's become my go-to spot for a satisfying meal that never disappoints. If you're in the area, I highly recommend giving Shay a try!
May 27, 2024
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Mouthwatering dishes, top-notch service, & a cozy atmosphere make it a must-visit for a delightful Mediterranean culinary experience. I will definitely be coming back.
Came here based on the many positive reviews & a very positive dinner experience a couple of years back. Asides from the nice ambiance I have to be frank, the food sucks. The hummus & fat ouch were average at best & the rest of the dishes just had so much going on that you forget what you ordered. There is nothing Lebanese or Arab about this food. Who serves naan bread with hummus? You could taste the flour in the bread. There are many fine Lebanese & Syrian breakfast & brunch places in Montreal. I think the owners should pay them a visit & understand exactly what type of cuisine they are trying to serve.
This restaurant offers an exceptional culinary experience with delicious dishes that truly stand out. However, there's significant room for improvement in the service department. Upon arrival, we were seated promptly but experienced a noticeable delay before a server approached us. When assistance did arrive, it was without an apology for the wait, & we were immediately asked for our order. The variety & quality of the dishes we ordered were outstanding, yet the service faltered in managing the timing & quantity of food brought to our table. All dishes were served almost simultaneously, overwhelming our table's capacity. A more staggered service would have allowed for a more enjoyable dining experience. Additionally, a mistake was made with one of our orders. While we opted to keep the dish & found it to be enjoyable, an acknowledgment of the error or a gesture of goodwill would have been appreciated. Despite these service issues, the quality of the food compels us to return. Future visits will be approached with the hope of improved service, & we might reconsider mentioning that we're dining with teenagers to avoid being seated in a less desirable section of the restaurant.
I highly recommend getting the chicken waffles! One of the best that I've had in my life & the portion was bigger than some of the other dishes. I would give it a 5 if it wasn't for the club music playing loudly that made it hard to relax & talk.
Mar 26, 2024
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Overall it is a great place but definitely overrated. I ordered a Shay chai & at first it tasted like a glass of milk. Definitely not worth $10. There was no shot of espresso, chai or caramel mouse as claimed on the menu but when I asked the server to add a bit more chai to it, they remade the drink for me without any issues or without me having to ask for a new drink. The food was delicious & not overly expensive for brunch. We had the Shawarma Benedict, soujouk omelette & the baklava pancakes. The shawarma benedict was amazing, highly recommend & the rest of the dishes were great too. We went on a Saturday at noon & the place is packed, a bit loud as it is anywhere for brunch. I enjoyed it but I've also been to other brunch places that have better coffee/drinks & delicious food!
Beautiful & elegant decor, delicious food & enjoyable ambiance! They probably have ONE OF THE BEST Fattouch salads I've ever had & some of the TASTIEST brussel sprouts (10/10 for both)! I highly recommend getting both these dishes! The "Octopus & Soudjouk Sausage" dish was okay (6/10), the octopus was a little overcooked & the charcoaled/grilled tentacles tasted bitter. The "Shish Taouk" plate was also quite good (8/10), the tomatoes were juicy & tasty, the toum was delicious, the potatoes were well baked but the chicken had also this little bitterness due to the grill but the overall seasoning was delicious! Will definitely come back :)
Great food, portions are okayish - don't expect Toronto level portions. & bread is served only with select few dishes, unlike Toronto restaurants where they continuously keep serving breads.
The portions are on the smaller side & I would not recommend the avocado toast (there wasn't much avocado on the bread) but otherwise their breakfast/brunch dishes are unique & flavorful! The best thing on their menu is the Baklava Pancakes, don't leave without trying them!
Mentioned to the waiter that I wanted to order vegan dishes, which he was very happy to point out on the menu. However, the kitchen did not deliver, as they left in the cheese & butter on the avocado toast, & on the replacement dish, still left in butter.
