A New Family-Run Spot Brings Syrian, Lebanese, and Armenian Specialties to Villeray | Eater Montreal

"At 420 Faillon East, Lahmajoune Villeray occupies the former Chez Apo space and has quickly established itself as a destination for Syrian, Lebanese, and Armenian specialties; the bright premises, tiled in blue and white with a baby-blue logo, bustles Monday to Saturday as Hannan Senior works in the open kitchen producing round, thin lahmajoun topped with minced beef, onions, tomatoes, and a special secret spice mix. In addition to lahmajoun (priced $2 each, $10 for a half-dozen and $18 for a dozen), the bakery makes sfiha, triangular spinach pies, and slightly thicker flatbreads ($5 each) topped with spinach and feta, a three-cheese mix (halloumi, mozzarella, and feta), and “the Mediterranean” with Armenian sausage and cheese. Customers may see a mountain of purple eggplants waiting to be turned into eggplant salad and baba ghanoush, and the counter also offers homemade salads, dips, and cold dishes including muhammara, tabbouleh, lemony beans, tzatziki, hummus, turnip pickles, and warak enab. The family matriarch, Haramci Lahdo, makes these dishes and her signature kibbeh—hand-shaped “in the shape of a little football”—available traditional with bulgur and halal beef or vegan with chickpea, spinach, and lemon. Sweets include homemade cheesecake, macarons, and ma’amoul filled with nuts, pistachios, or dates, which Charbel says “melt in your mouth”; customers often head to nearby Jarry Park or home with Lahmajoune Villeray takeout bags. Open for takeout 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays." - Ivy Lerner-Frank