With a passion for restaurants and more than 30 years of experience in the food industry, Papa Elie and his son Ziad were able to create a unique family business: ZEEZ.
Ziad began his career at hospitality school and pursued a specialization in culinary arts at the Paul Bocuse Institute in France to later work in the most prestigious hotels and restaurants. Ziad is the creator of the ZEEZ menu and is responsible for quality assurance. Filled with energy and passion, you will always see him dedicated to providing the best customer service.
Papa Elie is a master of management and organization with an entrepreneurial career spanning more than 40 years. A pillar of the company, he always ensures that everything is in order and that the shift runs smoothly. In fact, you'll probably see him working on his computer at a ZEEZ table.
ZEEZ's mission is to create moments of pleasure through delicious burgers. Elie and Ziad's goal is not only to offer quality burgers using fresh, homemade ingredients, but also to make them accessible to Montrealers by offering affordable prices. 🧡
ZEEZ is widely praised for its smash burgers with juicy patties, crispy exteriors, and flavorful house sauces that make each bite memorable, with standout options like chili crisp and mushroom melt. The value is a recurring theme, thanks to affordable prices, generous portions, and a loyalty program plus student discounts that many reviewers appreciate. Free popcorn when waiting and a friendly, welcoming staff add to the experience, which many describe as cozy and casual despite the small space. While service is often praised, occasional delays during peak hours are noted, along with the compact seating that encourages takeout or outdoor options when weather allows. Vegetarian and vegan patties are appreciated by diners seeking plant-based choices, and the smashed potatoes and fries regularly receive praise for crunch and flavor. Overall, the spot is celebrated as a standout in Montreal for burgers, with repeat visits common as different menu items are explored and the vibe stays upbeat and family friendly.
Recently visited this burger place twice & I can say that this place was outstanding in terms of food quality , services & consistency. 1) Service : The man at the counter is respectful & thoughtful ( offered water to my parents since they don't drink soda ) 2) Food: The smash burger was outstanding-perfectly crispy on the outside, thanks to the technique of smashing the patty onto the griddle, which created a beautiful, caramelized crust. Yet, the inside remained incredibly juicy & tender, with the fat & juices locking in all the flavor. The contrast between the crisp edges & the succulent center made every bite deeply satisfying. Overall 10/10 . Smash burger criteria achieved
This is one of the greatest secrets of Mont-Royal street. The smash burger is just pure awesomeness, the fries are crispy, also kind of flaky, & such tender & smooth inside. The truffle sauce will knock you down. It's a no braine
Aug 11, 2024
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Friendly smashburger joint featuring delicious, decadent burger creations & sides. Modest interior space is geared more for takeout. The burgers are the star here - the chili crisp is absolutely incredible.
Genuinely the tastiest burger in Montreal. Furthermore, it's extremely affordable. I've tried all varieties & they're all excellent. However, the chili crisp stands above all. Also, the fries & onion rings are marvelous. However, in the most honest way, sometimes the customer service could be a bit friendlier & welcoming. Initially they would greet us with a big smile & have a big bag of popcorn ready for us. With time, it became less & less welcoming. Regardless, it's still my favorite burger in Montreal. Customer service is easy to improve so Zees gets my 5/5. Will keep going.
We had a BBQ Crunch & a Chilli Crisp burger. Both smash burgers cooked really well, nice ratio of sauce. Brioche bun was fine. Also had some popcorn. Server was really friendly despite them being rammed & having a large order & lots of people walking in
As a burger enthusiast with high standards, I can confidently say this place excels in the burger game (in my top 3 all over the world). The patties are perfect-crispy on the edges & incredibly juicy. The flavor is outstanding. The sauce & toppings are well-balanced, & the bread is fantastic. It checks every box. The smash potatoes are a brilliant & delicious innovation that sets them apart, though I do wish they would fry them a bit longer. Bravo to the team! ---
Jun 10, 2024
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Great smash burgers. I've been there twice already. Had the classic & chili crisp. Both great. I prefer the classic. The chili crisp loses some of the beefy flavor. I will be going many times more. I already tried going a third time but they were closed. That's how good the burgers are, at the writing of this review, I've only known about the place for 2 weeks.
Amazing burger place, extremely friendly staff. My friends & I were extremely hungry after playing tennis & this stop slappedddd. Tremendous burger & ultra crispy fries, staff was extra kind & even gave us free home made puddings. A great hidden gem with amazing food, highly highly recommend!
I got the chilli crisp & it was honestly really good. Hands down one of the nicest burgers i've tried. The lady serving me was superrrr sweet & friendly. I got smashed potatoes too & they were alright. If you dine in, the place doesn't anywhere to wash your hands afterwards , but they have paper towels so you can wet them with a water bottle & use them as wet wipes after your done eating. Overall tho I deff recommend.
May 6, 2024
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My boyfriend & I tried Zeez last night & today, we can't stop talking about it. Their chilli crisp burger was the star of the show - tangy, spicy, sweet, crispy. Every layer of the burger was absolute perfection. Their onion rings (super crispy) were served with hot honey, which, as a hot honey lover, was a really nice touch. Lastly, the service was incredible. The guy who made our food really went above & beyond to make our experience memorable. You can really tell that they care about what they do. We're visiting from Ottawa but would consider making another trip out here just for Zeez, honestly. So if you're in the area (or not!), definitely pay these guys a visit.
The burgers are just to die for!!! I had the chilli crisp burger & the mix of flavors was just divine! My friends had the classic burger & they loved it! The smashed potatoes are also super recommended! Basically everything is super good!
Apr 18, 2024
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Ooh boy! What a treat this was, went for the chili burger, wasn't as spicy as I would have hoped. But regardless had really enjoyed the burger, I personally would go for 3 patties or more, I take big bites so the 2 patties make it seem like it's small. Had a trio with the smash potatoes & it's different side order, but I like that they at least keep the skin of the potato that gives it its crisp. Defo coming back & it's open late!!
Nice place. The service is fast, there's complementary popcorn, a student discount & a buy 4 get 1 free stamp card. I got the chili crisp burger & my boyfriend got the mushroom burger. I personally liked the mushroom burger more, I was expecting something bigger from the chili crisp, & I found that it was quite greasy. We also got the smashed potatoes, they were good. Other than that a great experience, fast service even though we were there during a rush! Also they have hand wipes for when you're done eating :)
La vague des smash burgers déferle désormais sur Montréal & de nombreuses adresses ont fait leur apparition ou ont vu leur popularité décupler. Je parle, bien sûr, de Chez Simon Cantine Urbaine, Mange dans mon hood, l'Hamburger & j'en passe. Porté par l'ultime houle, le Zeez est le petit (littéralement) dernier à accoster au quai de la métropole & il ne lésine pas sur les moyens pour se faire remarquer : sac de maïs soufflé gratuit pour tous, prix compétitifs (de 9 à 11 $ pour le sandwich, ajoutez de 6 à 8 $ de plus pour un trio), décors accrocheurs & festifs avec enseignes au néon, &, surtout, un hambourgeois à la sauce percutante & à la galette parfaitement croustillante. Autant de caractère désirable qui ne manque pas de se faire remarquer par les jeunes à l'affût des dernières tendances, comme en témoigne cette jeune paire de critiques culinaires, lumière & appareil photo à la main, venue décortiquer l'ensemble du menu. J'y ai donc amené mon amie qui ne sait jamais refuser un hambourgeois &, nos esprits animés par l'honorable prestation de notre repas, notre connivence a affleuré, soulevée par nos rires & nos regards complices. Bien que nous eussions goulument englouti l'ensemble - sandwich, poutine, frites (offertes par la maison !), boisson gazeuse, nous nous sommes attardés sur place, profitant de l'ambiance agréable & de la relative quiétude de l'endroit pour un brin de jasette & une séance photo pour immortaliser notre camaraderie. Alors, tout est beau, hein ! Presque. D'abord, après observation des habitudes des clients, il faudrait voir si la portion de maïs soufflé en entrée est trop... généreuse. Pour éviter les gaspillages ! Ensuite, le type de frites utilisé, croquant & assaisonné, convient moins à une poutine que les frites molles traditionnelles. Puis, l'offre de boisson est très limitée : Canada Dry, Crush, Sprite, Coca-Cola ou une bouteille d'eau. Introduire un produit plus local ne serait pas une vilaine idée. Je regrette enfin l'usage de l'anglais utilisé pour paraître plus désinvolte & jeune. « Let's Get Smashed » énonce le néon. Autrement dit : « Défonçons-nous ». Sur le menu, les produits sont annoncés par les titres soi-disant accrocheurs « Mushroom Melt », « Chilly Crisp » & « BBQ Crunch ». À force de renforcer l'idée que l'anglais est plus séduisant, on finit par y croire. C'est ennuyeux & ça manque d'audace. Osons le français ! (À titre personnel, je n'ai rien contre l'anglais que j'utilise quotidiennement.) Pourquoi ne pas appeler les « smash burgers » des... croque-bourgeois ? « Zeez, les meilleurs croque-bourgeois du Plateau ! » Voilà qui ne manquerait pas d'attirer l'attention.
