Sumac earns praise for bold Middle Eastern flavors, fresh ingredients and generous portions, with falafel, muhammara, shawarma and the house pita often described as standout items and many reviewers calling the pitas some of the best in town. The menu includes strong vegetarian and vegan options and both dine in and takeout experiences are described as reliable and quick, with friendly service. The ordering flow at the counter and occasional extra charges for add ons can feel cumbersome and some dishes are described as oily or dry or pricey for smaller portions, but portions are usually large and the overall quality is strong. The ambience is warm and convivial, staff are noted as friendly and attentive, and the restaurant is seen as an authentic option that delivers consistent quality and memorable sides, making it a solid choice for a satisfying meal with friends or family, even if some visits lean toward the higher end of cost.
The food at sumac is superb- everything is very fresh & flavourful. They have many vegetarian options. I like the platter because of the salads that come with or the eggplant & egg pita
Consistently great. Food is fresh & of good quality. Their mouhammara is outstanding as is their zaatar type bread. Staff is very accommodating. Great spot when looking for a healthy meal that's not boring nor bland.
The restaurant has a more modern vibe compared to other Lebanese places, which is refreshing. However, I found it disappointing that they don't bring the menu or bill to the table, which feels less welcoming. We ordered the chicken shawarma & kafta kebab. The chicken was delicious & juicy, but the kebab, unfortunately, was tough. The salad seemed far from fresh, as if it had been prepared days in advance. The fries, though, were the standout! They were a masterpiece, especially with the sumac sprinkled on top, which made them unique & absolutely delicious. Overall, a mixed experience, with some definite highlights & a few areas for improvement.
I've had Sumac many times before & never felt compelled to leave a review but today was just an A1 experience. Every element in the falafel pita was individually well-seasoned & flavorful & fresh. Service was super friendly & place was clean. I highly recommend
Fantastic Lebanese restaurant. The plates are nicely put together with a generous portion of meat, lovely salads, fresh bread seasoned with zataar & some amazingly-textured hummus. I found one piece of bread not enough for the amount of meat but that's only because the portion was so good. Flavours were all very complimentary. I think at their price point, table-service would be appropriate but the service is still great nontheless. Atmosphere leans towards the casual side, doesn't quite fit the cuisine but it's still nice. Plan to return on my lunch breaks in the future.
So I'm sure many people will disagree with my ratings but here is why. Food Fries: frozen, pasty, covered in their seasoning which lacks salt & anything to wow you. I don't like ketchup & had to use ketchup to add flavour & moisture & then realized this & stopped - waste of money period! Don't sell inferior product & sell at home made pricing. Picketed beet: very good, crisp & fresh Pita: nicely warmed with zatar seasoning was good Green cabbage salad: with lean on, dill, cabbage & some sort of creamy substance - maybe mayonnaise (mit certain) & tahini not sure, was good Hummus spread topped with seasoning & olive oil, average & too smooth. Shawarma: a big let down. It's as if they cooked the shawarma before, heated it up on a skillet with some oil to moisten it, then sprinkle shawarma seasoning all over it making it dry & over cooked. Not so good. Salad cuit (cooked tomatoes salad) was excellent. Kefta (middle eastern hamburger): not fully cooked, seasoning was so so & lacked moisture. As a non sauce person I found myself needed to dip in to ketchup to add flavour & moisture - & I don't like ketchup. & they are really small burgers so it should be easy to cook it right. Overall I round that the value to not be so good. I just recently went to a middle eastern restaurant offering the same food, & it was plentiful so much so that two people could eat it & the quality was high & fresh as can be. Shawarma moist & juicy & not recooked & overdone with powder seasoning all over it. This is not (to me) the way it is in the Middle East, it's their version. If you're looking for true middle eastern in afraid this is (for the most part) not it. It's not bad, & it's not great, it's just ok - but for the portion I feel pricing a little high. The staff are nice & knowledgeable & the interior is nothing fancy but clean & nice & people aren't packed in so you have good personal space. Parking in the area is a real challenge & for me it's not a place I would go a 3rd time. I did come here when they opened & thought the food was a little better or perhaps my memory escapes me. Nonetheless, À chacun ses goûts taste.
This is my go to place for pita sandwich. I always get the shishtaouk or the sabich. Sometimes I feel like not eating so much meat. For bigger portions, when you have the time, I like to get the big plate with two side dishes or salads. Any of them are good honestly. Ingredients are fresh, & the quality is consistant. It never disappointed me.
Delish Lebanese classics. Fresh & tasty. Really cute decor, simple layout & simple menu. A wonderful dining experience. A great place to go & catch up with friends, share some dishes family style.
Jan 5, 2024
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Fast casual done impeccably well. Truly blurs the lines between a sit down restaurant & quick service. Could be the best, creamiest, well seasoned hummus, fluffy fresh pita, vibrant salads, & friendly service. A++
Love middle eastern food, & kept seeing this one recommended.
Had late lunch (2pm) on a Friday afternoon. Serious problem with acoustics. Although the restaurant was nearly empty, the noise level was deafening. Every conversation + music echoing & reverbing off the high bare walls.
Service was less than stellar. Although the restaurant was empty, the server refused to turn down the music & seemed completely unconcerned that the noise level was too high. Having to order at the counter was a bit weird, given that there were lots of servers. A different server offered us hot sauce, which we both accepted, but forgot to come back with it until we were finished eating.
I quite liked the food, especially the walnut puree thing. The kefta was good, the hummous very creamy, & the cooked salad was rich. Though pricey if you're used to Boustan, Amir, or Basha, everything was tasty.
It seems to have potential, good food, good location, fresh airy decor, but the execution is off. Must do something with the acoustics. & the sourpuss servers.
