Byblos Uptown

One of the best dining experiences I’ve had! The main dishes and starter were absolutely delicious, full of flavor and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Every bite was a treat. The atmosphere had a really good vibe, cozy, inviting, and tastefully decorated, with great lighting that made the whole experience even better. The service was excellent, the staff were friendly, attentive, and professional. I’ll definitely be coming back and highly recommend this place to others!

Dining at Byblos Uptown was an unforgettable experience that exceeded all expectations. True to its description, the restaurant offers a masterful fusion of Eastern Mediterranean flavors, blending traditional recipes with modern techniques and local ingredients. The result is a vibrant, flavorful, and beautifully curated menu that feels both rooted in heritage and refreshingly contemporary. We ordered several dishes to share, and every single one was absolutely incredible. The hummus was silky and perfectly seasoned, the labneh was rich and tangy, and the grilled halloumi had the perfect balance of crispness and saltiness. The lamb pide was aromatic and hearty, showcasing a delicious mix of spices and textures. The short rib was fall-off-the-bone tender and deeply flavorful, and we ended on a high note with the chocolate cake—decadent, moist, and not overly sweet, just the way it should be. The experience was made even better by our server, Wes, who was friendly, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. His recommendations were spot-on, and he provided exceptional customer service throughout the evening. It’s rare to find staff who are both professional and genuinely enthusiastic, and Wes absolutely elevated our dining experience. The atmosphere at Byblos Uptown is warm and elegant, with a lively yet relaxed vibe that makes it perfect for both intimate dinners and group gatherings. I can’t recommend this place highly enough—it’s a true gem for anyone who loves Mediterranean cuisine or simply appreciates outstanding food, cocktails and service!

Let me start by saying that the food was impeccable at Byblos! Every single dish I tried was delicious and just a symphony of different flavours all paired well with one another. I went to Byblos with my friends and we got a bunch of different plates including the hummus royale, burrata, the middle eastern fried chicken, the short rib kebab and the harissa roasted half chicken. All the dishes containing meat were cooked very well with the meat being savoury, comforting and tender. I especially loved the fried chicken! We also got the saffron baba and rose tres leches for dessert and both dishes while subtle in flavour, were very good! The service was exceptional with very kind and attentive servers ready to answer any questions we had. While the food did take a little bit longer, it was well worth the wait given the high quality dishes. I went on a Thursday evening and didn’t have to wait at all to get a table. The atmosphere was calm with the restaurant fairly packed. I will definitely be coming back as I had such a wonderful experience!

The food was delicious. I do think it took a little long to prepare the food. (We asked for one more rice and they told us the wait would be 20 mins). The portions were quite small. The lighting was dim and it was pretty loud. We went on a Saturday night so it was busy. I’m not a fan of loud restaurants but what that’s what I get for going out on a Saturday night. I do wish the menu had the mains come with a side instead of having to pay extra for a side. And I wish the portions were larger. Overall it was nice and the food was delicious. I had a lovely time with my family.

We visited Byblos Uptown to celebrate my 40th birthday, and while the food was absolutely amazing — truly top-notch — there were a few disappointing aspects that held us back from giving the five-star review we were hoping to leave. Despite having a reservation, we ended up waiting about 50 minutes to be seated. We had informed the staff in advance that we were celebrating a milestone birthday, but unfortunately, that detail was completely missed. No birthday acknowledgment, no candle — until we reminded them ourselves near the end of the meal, at which point a small candle was finally brought out. The restaurant was extremely busy, and the staff looked visibly stressed and overwhelmed. As a business owner myself, I understand how tough it can be on a packed night, and I could tell they were trying their best under pressure. To their credit, they did comp our drinks and a couple of appetizers, which we appreciated. I really wanted to give Byblos five stars, and I still believe it has the potential to deliver that level of service — but based on last night’s experience, we left feeling let down. For now, it’s a four-star review, but we’re open to giving it another try in the future — hopefully with a smoother, more special experience worthy of a celebration.

Came for dinner, great atmosphere, lots of variation in seating arrangements. Loved the couch style seating. Food was great! Dumplings were delicious. As for the mains this is probably some of the best lamb I have eaten. Market price was $75 for the lamb shoulder. Also came with a variety of sauces, pita, onions and pickles. The fish was also a great paring with the lamb a lot lighter and fresher in flavours. Would recommend and would come back again.

Atmosphere: warm , cozy , chic - loved it Service : accommodating, polite - could’ve come to tables and check more frequently Food : Loved the half roasted harissa chicken , stuff eggplant was very small for the price , it was half eggplant only , could’ve used one full eggplant at least and less soupy, steaks are amazing with sabzi, the additional pita bread was nice, could have offered earlier when meals started. The short rib kebab was very tasty.

Had a chance to try the tasting menu for a friends birthday and it was quite a great experience! We were a table of 10 and I have to say that the service was top notch. Lots of staff to help clear the table and answer any questions, always keeping an on the table service and super professional. The food was great as well! The first two servings was decent, with the serving size as expected for a tasting menu. Some had great flavour, while other items could be a pass. The final course was massive! Definitely save your appetite for the final plates. Lamb was incredibly tender and flavourful. Overall, I would recommend the tasting menu if you were looking to try different items at this spot.

Was here for a work event but have also been here personally too. For my work event it was a set menu to be shared family style. There were lots of great food items on that menu including the pide, the fish, salad, hummus, cauliflower etc. We were worried there wouldnt be enough food for the group but there was plenty to go around with leftovers too. Really flavourful. Great service and cozy vibes upstairs.

By far one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto. I've been to both the midtown and the downtown locations, and I actually prefer the food at the midtown location. The restaurant aesthetics are also quite different between the two locations as well. I remember the short ribs so tender and one of my favourite dishes as well as the lamb ribs. The most surprising thing was the pear salad. For not being a salad person, this salad was delicious!

I'm a big fan of the Byblos downtown location (one of my favourite Turkish restaurants in the city), and the (newer) uptown location did not disappoint. All the dishes were delectable, especially the cauliflower, and everything was made with great craftmanship. Some of the menu items changed from time to time, which kept it interesting. The ambiance was similar to the one in downtown (somewhat upscale yet still casual), but the interor was brighter and more modern.

Excellent horderves Mains, sides So very tasty We were 4 people We did share everything. Recommend it highly! Excellent service!

Good was great, my favourite was the whole grilled branzino, right amount of char. The short rib kebab was also delicious . Service was decent and the vibe was pretty cozy, a bit too dark for my liking but the decors are nice.

When I first arrived I was skeptical on how good it would be because of the 3.5 star rating. I was shocked with how good the food was. The service on the other hand was not good I did not get my water refilled once. Overall the food made up for the service.

Byblos Uptown is a well executed, upmarket take on eastern Mediterranean fare. The decor is beautiful with cathedral height ceilings and archways evoking Islamic influenced architecture. Service was professional, attentive, and friendly, including a convenient coat check service. The menu is simple, not over complicating your choice as a diner but broad enough to cater to different preferences. We started with the fried eggplant, which was the flavour equivalent of the opening ceremonies at the Olympics. The first sense is the cinnamon sprinkling on the delicate tempura crust, then a hint of sugar sweetens the palate, then as you crunch through into the delicate eggplant flesh, you feel the hotness of the fritter and finally finish with a hit of spice. The serving was generous too, easily shareable with 4 people. Next was the tomato and cucumber salad, which turned out to be the highlight of the night. The smoked ricotta worked beautifully with the firm tomatoes and pesto-like dressing. We wished the salad was twice the size. Then came the tantalizingly named "thrice cooked French fries," which were very good but not much different from other fine dining restaurants. The roasted cauliflower was nicely flavoured but a little undercooked. We were expecting it to be more roasted and caramelized but it was more the texture of steamed cauliflower. We liked the lentil pide, a Turkish flatbread with lentils as a topping. The crust was perfectly done in a wood fired oven and the filling was flavourful. A nice complement to the fried food we had in the table. Finally, we enjoyed the short rib kebab, uniquely sliced and skewered to form a thinly shaved, folded form that absorbed the beautiful molasses reduction in which it sat. I would have liked it to be closer to medium rare but it's a minor point because it was still tender and the jus was divine. Prices were a little higher than mid range dining but we felt we got value based on the quality, quantity and service. A nice spot for a special occasion, a much needed night out, or just to satisfy a craving for Mediterranean cuisine with style.

I hadn't been here in a few years, and the food is just as I remembered it! Everything is melt in your mouth delicious! The restaurant itself is gorgeous and the food is out of this world.

Wow! This place is seriously gorgeous - was amazed when I walked in at the size and thought that went into this place. Went with a group of 3 and got told that the items were good for sharing. This however was not the case. The portions are extremely small but on the other hand everything was delish. Drinks were also close to $20 which was ridiculous so I did not order one - but my friends did and they were super small (but delish which is on theme). Service was polite but nothing to take note of. I would go here if I had money to spend and wanted. This place is amazing but wayyy to pricey for the portion sizes and absolutely not good for sharing. Food 9/10, service 7/10, price 4/10, portion sizes 3/10, ambiance 10/10.

My partner had been meaning to introduce me to Byblos for a while now, and we had the opportunity to do so when restaurants finally opened in July. The ambience is romantic and cozy, with banquet seating that you can easily sink into. They spaced out patrons generously indoors, so there was at least one table between each party. We felt quite comfortable even though we haven't dined indoors for months now. The menu is made of sharing dishes, so we order four to try out. The Duck Kibbeh looked like falafel balls on the outside, but are fully stuffed inside with duck meat and dried figs, then placed on a pool of tahini. A great appetizer as I've never had Kibbeh before. The Wagyu Lahmeh Pide was the highlight of the meal for me. Thin pieces of wagyu is sandwiched inside the pide, along with biber salcasi and mozzarella, then topped with toum. I loved the flavors of the wagyu with the texture of the pide. The Grilled Whole Branzino takes a while to arrive, as it is meticulously de-boned and grilled to absolute perfection. The meat is still moist and falls apart but holds a bit of char from the grill. The only let down of the meal was the Thrice Cooked Fries. I'm not sure if the thrice cooked aspect is suppose to make them more crispy, but our bowl of fries were limp and sad. Not what I had expected after having three amazing dishes. Still despite the fries, it was a lovely romantic meal.

I did not keep my photos after posting it on my story. The drinks were not bad, the ambiance is good, server was slightly rude but I can deal with that. The food was maybe a 3/10. Everything was weird flavour combos - the manti was mushy, and the flavours don't work. You can't mix yogurt and molasses and sour flavours together. After that meal, I honestly felt sick. I ordered the olives, labneh, fried chicken, kabob, salad, kofta, I made sure to have a taste of everything including the beets but again I didn't enjoy a single thing. Keep Eating, Angela

Like the atmosphere. Also a good place to meet up with friends and enjoy food and chat. They serve in tapas style, so it's better to have 4 to 6 friends and order different dishes to share everything. In particular, I liked the fried eggplant, wagyu lahmeh pide, black truffle fried rice. Hamachi was too thin but the sauce was good; still don't think I will order again. Short ribs kebab was good but nothing too special. Overall, it's still a great place to eat and hangout

What is there not to love about this location. The ambience, the incredible food, the great service and care by the management. I've frequented the uptown location for special occasions and it's been a wonderful experience every time. Make sure to try the Birds of Paradise when you go!

My friend and I really liked the ambiance of the restaurant and the dumplings were really good. What we didn't like were the small portion sizes and that our waiter was a bit pushy about ordering the more expensive dishes on the menu. We felt a shift in the way he was treating us when he realized we weren't going to spend as much money as he hoped. The other dishes we tried were okay, but the price didn't seem justified relative to the taste. We were also told that we would receive 12 dumplings for the appetizer and received 11...

I went to the Uptown location for a special occasion and ate family style. We started with the hummus + pita, followed by the manti dumplings and fries, which were decent. We ordered the fried chicken, short rib kebab, and lamb shoulder for our main courses along with baklava being the dessert. The main's were delicious, with the short rib kebab and lamb shoulder being the star of the shows. The appetizers were basic but they were still pretty good. The quantity was sufficient for a group, and the quality was outstanding. The restaurant was warm and inviting, with a cozy environment. The staff were friendly and helpful in deciding what to order and overall it was a pleasant experience. With it being on the pricier side, I will definitely come back for an occasion!

Very cute aesthetics. Was weird the washroom was downstairs and doors in the washroom was kind of hard? Also toilet had to be actually flushed after you put covers down. Weird but overall cute place. Nice to take pics at. Food was kind of pricey and shared style but overall very good and light. Drinks were interesting as well. The different hummus were appreciated. Service was good though not memorable. It wasn't slow but not fast and overall decent experience

A while ago I had a few issues with Byblos Uptown but worked everything out with the manager who went out of his way to make things right. My group and I returned there for dinner last night and I am so glad we did. Not only were we treated like royalty, but the food was excellent. We each had a different dish but when it came to the table we decided to share everything. For us, this was definitely the best way to enjoy the meal. From the appetizers (pear and arugula salad, hummus, halloumi and roasted beets) to the main dishes (short rib kabobs, Middle Eastern fried chicken, harissa roasted half-chicken and whole grilled branzino) to the one cheesecake dessert we all shared, everything was top notch. The food, the service, the atmosphere, all were excellent. We would definitely go back and bring a few friends. Thank you Peter for arranging such a wonderful meal.

DO NOT book a reservation at Byblos for a work event. Their reservation system is a joke. I got a reply to my email (attached) that basically said "you should have sent an email" because they never answer the phone. The person on the phone was rude. I agree with all the newer reviews please do not eat here if it is a special occasion. This place just keeps going downhill... Also. If you do book a reservation. Make sure to say you do not want a booth. It is such an uncomfortable seating arrangement. They even had the audacity to charge me for 7 people when they could only ever seat 6! Ridiculous and unprofessional.

Really enjoyed my experience at Byblos Uptown; perfect spot for a date night! The food was great and I absolutely loved the decor and atmosphere. Our server was great as well, he was attentive and was nice enough to take a bunch of pictures of my boyfriend and I when we asked. Important to note their menu has only small plates, so it's best to order a bunch of different dishes and share. To start, we ordered the Turkish manti dumplings and creamed spinach pide. The dumplings came in a yogurt sauce with sweet date molasses which was delicious. I enjoyed the pide as well, which was essentially a flatbread with spinach and feta. However, the one thing I wasn't crazy about in the pide was that there were many whole coriander seeds; something I am not personally a fan of. Next, we ordered the fig salad which was absolutely delicious, great flavour and texture. For mains, we got the short rib kebab, middle eastern fried chicken, and the black truffle rice. The short rib kebab was incredible, so tender and yummy; definitely a must order!! Another favourite of mine was the black truffle rice, great flavour and I loved the crispy onions on top of it. I enjoyed the fried chicken as well, however nothing about that dish really wowed me. Overall, I would definitely go back to Byblos, great spot for a date night or even a group dinner!

This was my first time having Mediterranean/Moroccan style food and I have to say Byblos did not disappoint. I was running 15 mins late & we called to notify them, they moved my reservation right away. We ordered the following to share: - M'taabal (just not my favorite flavors) 2.5/5 - Lamb ribs (my least favorite, if you don't like herbs encrusted on your food don't get this - I do have to say the lamb was very tender/flavorful on the inside) 2/5 - Wagyu lahmeh (loved) 5/5 - Short rib kebab (loved) 5/5 - Sweet jeweled (I could go without the pomegranates seeds) 4/5 - Cauliflower (This one was nothing too special, we just wanted some veggies- could go without this one) 5/5 - Thrice cooked fries (Also nothing too special, someone in our group wanted fries- could go without this one) - Milk malabi Dessert (Did not wow me, wished the cake crumble & berry compote was all over the custard cream, good for individuals who don't like super sweet desserts) 3.5/5 - Rose's shadow drink ( loved this non-alcoholic drink) 5/5 The service was amazing, they kept changing our plates which was not needed but appreciated. The vibes of the restaurant were immaculate. The restaurant needed a little more air con but that's just me! We were a group of 3 and we were stuffed after. Overall I really enjoyed myself, the atmosphere was great and would come here again.

Huge huge huge fan of Byblos! Right at Yonge/Eg is this beautiful restaurant. Came on a Sunday for brunch and was seated right away. They had plenty of walk in tables - so even if online says the reservations are full, try calling or walking in. I'm so glad the menu has a lot of vegetarian options. Came in a group of 3 and we decided on 3 dishes to share - it was pretty hard because everything looked so good. We decided on the eggplant dumplings, shakshouka, and strawberry pancakes. I honestly can't decide what my favourite was. The eggplant dumplings were unique and tasty and had a great yogurt sauce. The shakshouka was atypical - the harissa peppers added gave it a nice kick. The pancakes were also quite delicious. Service was prompt and friendly. It came to be about $20 per person. The ambience of the place was also great. I'll be back soon!

I loved the ambience at the restaurant and the food, which was a bit pricy. However, I would try the restaurant again with my friends next time for sure for the second round :)

Definitely an outstanding spot for brunch. The space and design were modern yet comfortable. ​ Despite coming for brunch which was definitely enjoyable - sharing several of the appetizers were the standouts. The duck kibbeh and dumplings were absolutely delicious. Customer service from the hostess to the server at our table was outstanding. The only hiccup ​was an older gentleman that must have been the manager. He had brought out some dishes then later gruffly told us we can't split the bill for our group. For as modern a place as this is - I was completely taken by surprise. We felt like he was having a bad day. He hadn't cracked a smile at any point in approaching our table. Oh, I will say in terms of decor whether it be the furniture or as simple as the coffee cups they have definitely taken great pains to make sure the details were taken care of. Also a plus for me - the restrooms​. Clean and not at all an afterthought. Everything was reasonably priced and we had fun! ​

This was quite the disappointing experience... The service here was extremely terrible. Maybe they were having a tough night or short staffed, but our waiter barely came around to even take our order. The food took incredibly long to come out to be still disappointed by the quality. I was so excited to try the pide which lacked in flavour and texture. The ribeye was a waste of $85 and the black truffle rice just tasted off. I was so exited to try this place out and will not be a future patron.

It pains me to write this review since my first experience at Byblos Uptown was nothing short of superlative. I'd been raving about the joint for ages, so when an opportunity to meet people for brunch arose, I was quick to suggest Byblos. I was excited to try their brunch menu and also to introduce others to what I thought was a flawless dining experience. Not so much. Though we were seated in a prime spot by the window, our experience was, for the most part, far from exceptional. Our friendly waiter would disappear for long stretches of time, and, oddly, he even warned us at the beginning of our meal that the chef was new on the job. Our appetizers were good, admittedly, but the mains were a complete disaster, to be completely frank. I ordered the Middle Eastern Breakfast (" lamb bacon + za'atar fried eggs + tomato + sabzi herbs + harissa potatoes") and despite the list of exotic spices and herbs, every component tasted bland and flavorless. The chef even screwed up the eggs, as the yolk was almost completely firm. My food fared better than two of my dining companions, as they received food that was unconscionably dry and even burnt around the edges. (It was so bad that one of the dishes was comped, although it was pretty clear they both should have been.) I might consider returning for dinner service, but I can't conceive of a scenario in which I'd ever go near Byblos' brunch again.

It is a beautiful and comfortable restaurant. I got a booth with the sofa seats and enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was also great. The server made recommendations as it was our first time at the restaurant. We ended up ordering the fish, the short ribs and the waygu pita. All three dishes were delicious. We were worried that we wouldn't be full and added a hummus too but it was actually too much for two of us. We were very full but from the ravings reviews of the olive oil cake so we ordered that and the pavlova.

Part of a longer review... "From the moment we walked in, we were treated like royalty. Coats were promptly checked, and we were escorted to our table with a prime view of the kitchen. Service was seamless under the general manager, who floated by to check in. Several staff had been plucked from both the downtown and the Miami locations to open Byblos Uptown -- and it showed. They were knowledgeable and doting, but never intrusive. Our exotic food adventure began with two dishes that our server suggested: eggplant kibbeh ($16) and roasted red beets ($14). A vegetarian delicacy, four asymmetrically-shaped kibbeh showed up in a dish that matched the overall décor. These savoury, deep-fried treats were served with zucchini flower, bahrat, and a house-made yogurt. Sinking my teeth through the golden chickpea batter and into the warm eggplant interior provided evidence that it had touched fire from the kitchen's wood burning oven, like most other dishes. It was simply divine, and I only wished there had been encore plus."

4.5 for quality of food 1.5 for portion of food (take out) Averaging this out to 3 stars I've had these exact dishes in the restaurant and know how it's served and the takeout portion is significantly less. To be specific order the dog salad, eggplant dumplings and 1 lamb rib. All 3 dishes were excellent quality. As I say, I'm docking points for portion variation which seems unfair when I'm paying the same amount. It's also a pandemic, so is suspect many will want to do takeout as I did. Outside of this I would say this is a good spot. Downtown we thought would be way better so kept going there. Gave the uptown location a shot and it's great dining in. Perhaps they're not well set up for takeout yet. So I would encourage others to reconsider that approach.

My boyfriend and I are from out of town so we wanted to go somewhere fancier for our last night in Toronto. We were so excited to eat here but were extremely disappointed with the service and the food was just okay. From the beginning, our server was quite rude. It was our first time at Byblos, so we weren't exactly sure how the menu worked and we're not offered an explanation of how to order. Throughout the night, we noticed that he would check on all his other tables except for ours. During the few times our server checked on us, we would say thank you and he would just walk way without responding. When it came time for the bill, he placed it on our table without saying a word and walked away abruptly. After paying and offering us our receipt, my boyfriend said "thank you. have a good night" to him and he just walked away. This was the worst service we had ever gotten. We still tipped but our tip reflected how the service was. Safe to say we will not be back.

First thing you notice is the decor. Upscale but comfortable and homey. Very pretty! Second thing that will catch your attention will be the servers. Very attentive and quick with water refills or clearing dishes. Third and most important is the food. From presentation to taste - 5 stars across the board. The flavor profiles are delicious and unique. I believe these were made by someone who really thought out the dishes. Byblos chef, if you are reading this, may I please have that fig salad recipe?

Visited: Spring 2019 Ordered: -Cauliflower ($14.00) -Turkish Manti Dumplings ($16.00) -Creamed Spinach Wood Fired Pide ($13.00) -Persian Kale Rice ($19.00) -Sweet Jeweled Rice ($19.00) Thoughts: As soon as you walk in, you notice the beautiful decor. We had made reservations ahead of time, so we got seated right away. Even though we made reservations about a week in advance, the earliest seating we were able to get was close to 9:00 PM on a Saturday. Overall, the food and service was good, but nothing extraordinary. The portions are a bit small and pricey for what you get. However, I would be open to giving this place another chance and ordering different dishes. -Cauliflower: nothing special and only came with about 4-5 pieces -Turkish Manti Dumplings: good and I enjoyed it -Creamed Spinach Wood Fired Pide: good and I enjoyed it -Sweet Jeweled Rice: looked very pretty but too sweet for my liking -Persian Kale Rice: best dish of the night

Our group 6 had an amazing evening at Byblos Uptown. The atmosphere captures your attention the moment you walk in. Tastefully decorated with a beautiful middle eastern flare, the surroundings are the perfect backdrop to the culinary adventure you are about to experience. We were treated very well by everyone. In fact, the host offered us a better table after we were all seated even though we made no complaint about where we were but once we took his offer, it was a much more comfortable booth for our party. We really appreciated that. The waiter was attentive and gave is some great recommendations including a nice wine from the extensive wine menu. We had a wide variety of dishes to share. They were all good and I feel like you could order any combination and never go wrong. Our personal favourites were the fig salad, middle eastern fried chicken, black truffle rice and crispy baked Brussels sprouts. But the shining star on the menu for all of us was the braised short rib kebab. So tender and such intense flavour. It is a must try if you come here. A close second was the fried chicken which we had two orders of because the portion is a little small. That was definitely a crowd pleaser. Desserts are excellent. We had pavlova which is particularly pleasant in presentation. The crunchy meringue dome conceals the delicious fruit filling. You are given a large spoon to crack it open like a piñata which makes it really fun.

Very Pretty. Very expensive. Very small portions. Very Tasty. Salmon - Pricey, tasty and tiny Black truffle rice - Tasty and small portion Dumplings - Lived upto expectations. Very tasty It was quite rich food. So fills you up.

So glad Byblos opened an uptown location! Been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and this location is convenient to get to, with available street parking spots right outside for a cold winter night. Food was delicious, we totally over ordered but there are still many dishes to come back for and try. For 2 people, I would suggest 2 to 3 or either apps/flatbread/sides and 1 to 2 mains. Short Rib Kabob: yes, get this main! Shaved thin and piled on a kabob with flavourful sauces. Portion size is not bad. Spanish Octopus: a bit pricey for the portion size, pretty small dish. The sauce is a tad spicy. Turkish Dumplings: unique flavour, I say try it! I like the yogurt based sauce, and it's served hot in a cast iron pan. Mushroom Flatbread: tastes good, long and narrow, maybe order this if you have around 4 people, a bit too filling for 2 people. Fried Cous Cous: interesting side dish, definitely worth trying. It's got a saucy spinach filling inside, good portion size. Black Truffle Rice: so delicious with great textures. Their rices have good portion size for sharing, definitely need to try the other rices on our next visit. Nice restaurant and very comfortable inside with view of an open kitchen.

tl;dr: for the most part the food and service is great (some items amiss though) and the atmosphere is softly ambient. Read on for more details! My friend and I came here on a Saturday evening for dinner (with no reservation!) and were seated comfortably right away. The wait staff are prompt to take your order and knowledgeable about the ingredients in the dishes (many of which I was unfamiliar with). I absolutely love the visual setup they have going and the lighting really sets the mood - perfect spot for that special date night or a quiet birthday dinner with close friends. Definitely try the creamed spinach wood fired pide when you come here, the flavours of the feta and toum perfectly balanced each other and there's a hint of lemon in there too! Personally I also thoroughly enjoyed the black truffle rice, but my friend found the inclusion of fried onion to be overkill and didn't touch much of the dish. The slight disappointments came with our meat selection as the middle eastern fried chicken was nothing special and had a fast diner feel to it that threw us off. I was especially dismayed that the lamb ribs (which came highly recommended by our waiter) was 80% fat. Considering the flavour wasn't that phenomenal, I know I won't be spending $21 again on that item. I feel obligated to mention that they do not bring out all the food at once, so while my dish was served first my friend was waiting quite a bit of time for hers to come out. The waiter explained that they don't bring them out unless we've finish them in sequence. All in all, I'm glad that Byblos dropped a midtown location for the 'Yonge and Eligible' to experience a different kind of middle eastern dining, but my wallet and tummy would be better off at the Paramount down the street.

Made reservations for 9pm on a Monday night. The restaurant was beautiful and cozy. FOOD: Spanish Octopus ($22.00) Portion was small but absolutely delicious! The octopus was perfectly cooked and very flavourful Short Rib Kebab ($25.00) A must order!!! This was SUPER tender and there were two amazing sauces that accompanied the flavour. This was definitely the highlight of the meal. Black Truffle Rice ($25.00) Absolutely fantastic! The truffle paste really made this dish stand out. Overall, a superb meal.

THE GOOD - thank god finally midtown/uptown is getting some decent places to eat. - service (waitstaff, bartenders, somm etc.), ambience and decor - food is very good THE NOT SO GREAT - wine list priced at 3-3.5x and no corkage. Some of the reds by the glass were mediocre or like piss water. No excuse to not have corkage, new and well established restos like Kojin, Cava, Zucca, scaramouche, Jacobs etc. offer them. You're not losing out because those bringing bottle are going to be wine geeks who'd otherwise go elsewhere or stop with a glass or two & not frequent the place. - 8$ for sparkling water by the bottle? Come on. I think this is a by the bottle fee rather than a flat rate. I order still, and didn't look closer at the bill to see if it's by the bottle. OTHER NOTES - There are some unique dishes at this location. I was told as far as mains are concerned the ones unique to this location were some of the fish dishes. - make a reservation in advance or at least call ahead - for what you pay the best thing this has going for it is the location and lack of serious competition(mostly Zucca & Cava come to mind) in the neighbourhood and I guess in TO in general. Unlike say forcity like London, TO doesn't have too many top notch upmarket middle eastern restos. UPDATE Went here after Alo chef's table two weeks ago. And boy is this place waaaay better for what you pay in terms of taste alone (apart from portion size, bu that's not a fair comparison). They now have corkage at 45$, 30-40$ is the standard but better than no corkage. It can get pricey, approx 300$ for two with corkage and tips for our 2 apps, bread, 1 Sujuk (pizza like dish), 14oz rib eye, rice and desert. Still will likely repeat as it brings a top dining destination in the city within walking distance. All the dishes are 4 -4.5 stars.

Overpriced dishes in very small portions. Nothing to be amazed about. Just a few kids following some recipes. Nice decort and friendly staff that justify the bill I guess. Will definitely not go back.

I've come here twice and both times, I've had positive experiences. Byblos Uptown has a cozy, warm ambiance that is perfect for dates and groups. My favourite menu item by far would have to be the black truffle rice. It is a must have. You will not regret ordering it. Another favourite is the short rib kebab - the meat is perfectly smoked and melt in your mouth delicious! The drinks were good too - some of them do sneak up on you after you've finished with them so be careful if you're not a drinker!

Gave this a 4.75. Really nice restaurant. Made a reservation and table was ready when we got there. The girl who showed us to our seats took our coats to coat check - nice touch! Ambiance spot on. Not a huge menu but food was delicious. Sone of the dishes were a little small but flavour made up for it.

Came here for dinner for a party of 3. Food and service was excellent!!! My personal favorite was the octopus. Although i enjoyed the entire meal, it receipt came to $250+. Paying this much, i expected to be fuller but all of us were still hungry. We had to go to a nearby place and get something to cheap to fill up.

My family came to celebrate my mom's birthday at Byblos. The interior looks beautiful and had a nice ambiance. We ordered some sides and rice to share. Our side dishes came first & only later did our rice arrive so we ate it separately. I would have preferred if they came together because it felt odd eating rice without the sides. The flavors of the sides were amazing but it's ridiculously tiny, like we got 4 pieces of cauliflower in an order. The sweet jeweled rice had flowers, which looked pretty but tasted sweet. I'm not a fan of sweet rice, give me some spicy rice!! It's okay to try but definitely not worth it. Tip: Make reservations ahead of time Service: 4/5 Presentation: 4/5 Taste: 4/5 Price: 2/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: 3/5

Uptown location did not disappoint! They must have worked out all the kinks associated with the negative reviews. The decor is ambiance is more relaxed than downtown. Very warm and comfortable yet still classy. Good for dates, groups, families. Wait staff were attentive and good was delicious as it is downtown. Food wise I always recommend the manti although one star off for it being a tad over cooked. Fig salad was our favorite with complex yet delicate flavors. My Israeli friend said it reminded him of home. The lamb shoulder and kebobs are divine. Can't wait to go back with my family when they come visit.

Absolutely fantastic meal. We came as a group of seven, and spent three and half hours at Byblos, never rushed through amazing food and drink. The menu is interesting but not overwhelming, and it's essentially mezze style, sharable plates incorporating Lebanese flavours into all manner of interesting creations. The atmosphere is really nice, the only thing close to a complaint is that the menu format didn't work too well with the low light level - lots of people were pulling out phones for flashlights to read menus! The service is absolutely top notch - not doting, but very attentive. At no time did it feel like we needed to rush, or that they wanted to get the table turned over. As we're looking to relocate uptown, exploring places up there is very helpful indeed.

Great ambiance, fantastic food, and memorable service. Close your eyes and order anything, they are all great! Thanks Shaka for everything!

So ... I decided to come here because I liked the Byblos location downtown. Made a reso for Friday evening in the uptown location. First of all, decor was beautiful. There are two floors and plenty of tables, but the place was pretty full even at 9pm. We were promptly seated and greeted which was great. Menu was explained well by the server. We ordered an app and two mains. Sadly the short ribs kebabs were sold out, but we ordered the lamb rack and fried chicken. Apps came out quickly for our table and the ones beside us. We ordered the Sabzi qatayef (braised oxtail + jalapeno schug + sheep yogurt). Not spicy at all. Thought it would be like chunks of meat but it Looked more like three pieces of small fried dumplings w meat. Not worth it for $18. Only Sabzi was the green sauce. Although the mains took Forever(!), the lamb racks were yummy. For $48, It came with 4 ribs and seasoned well. The jus definitely adds to the flavours. Middle eastern Fried chicken was okay. I liked the crispness but it was slightly dry. $21 for four small pieces.. The hot sauce was too much but I liked how the side pickles cut through the fatness of the chicken. Our neighbours ordered the roasted lamb shoulder which was a small plate of shredded meat with some pita bread and sides. They barely finished it so I guess it's pretty filling! Their menu really lacks descriptions and I wish our server was better at describing the dishes. I was truly lost looking at the menu. Dessert was fun. We had the pavlova which came out in a fun breakable shell with hidden treasures inside. Definitely looked great! Their baklava was alright. Not too sweet but nicely paired w mint ice cream and a bit of chocolate. I liked the baklava way more! However their service was wonderful and I appreciate how attentive the servers were.

Don't rely on this restaurant for anything other that a runaround disappointment. They don't pick up their phone. We have ordered delivery only to find out when we were looking forward to and expecting the food that they've all of a sudden closed! We don't recommend this restaurant even though we try to support all of our local favs. Dissatisfied and extremely disappointed in how poorly this business is run.

Went there for dinner. Overall very disappointing and I'm not even a picky person and LOVE Byblos Down Town. Portions seem to be very small. The food wasn't great :( Everything tasted kinda funny.. food had sort of an aftertaste .. The signature bread was sweet as it covered with some sort of honey sauce. The restaurant seem to be not organized and short on staff , service was quite poor and there was a huge lack of attention from the server. Nice decor . Won't go back .

I've been to both locations and the food is overpriced for what you get including the service that is lacking. Our server didn't seem interested in talking at all unless we were ordering more food - completely like a sales person. This location should invest in more heat or something to keep the cold out in the winter so patrons given the tables near the front door can enjoy their meal without the food getting cold quickly.