Fairouz Cafe

My wife and I came here for our anniversary dinner, and overall, it was a great experience. The food was very flavorful, and the presentation was excellent. The servers were friendly and knowledgeable. We were happy to see that the beef and chicken are halal, though it’s worth noting the duck isn’t. Parking near the restaurant was a bit of a hassle, but there are a few paid garages nearby if you don’t mind walking a bit. One standout dish for us was the knafeh—it was absolutely delicious and a perfect way to end the meal. The only downside was that the portions felt a bit small for the price, but the quality of the food made up for it. Overall a 4.5 experience

Unfortunately, this nice restaurant is going to be closing in April and opening up as a Steakhouse. I understand for one of the owners that they will reopen in 12 months or so. I have followed this restaurant since it's opening on Elgin Street. Many many many years ago. Always good food. Always good atmosphere and they treat you very well. It was our anniversary and my wife's birthday and we really enjoyed it. Thanks.

We waited about an hour and forty-five minutes without a reservation, which was reasonable considering the lack of one. However, I had heard positive things about the cafe and restaurant, so we waited until we were seated. The restaurant was lively, with tables close together, allowing us to watch other diners’ meals and conversations. The service was extremely slow, and it seemed like the staff consisted of just one person, whose name I can’t recall. Despite his best efforts, the overall experience was disappointing. The biggest issue was the pricing. The store bought canned hummus and grape leaves were ridiculously expensive. As a Middle Eastern person, I can confidently say that these items were probably canned and not freshly made. Considering that we paid a total of around $236 Canadian dollars without tipping, I found the quality of the food to be mediocre at best. The meat options were the meat kabab and the chicken sheesh. Both were edible, but the prices were way too high for the portion sizes. When I asked the waitresses about the menu, they confirmed that it was inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine, but it didn’t follow traditional authenticity. While I appreciated their honesty, the food didn’t meet my expectations. In comparison to other restaurants, the prices here were significantly higher. This made it hard to justify the quality of the food. Some dishes on the menu were confusing, like the fried halloumi served with dried oats on the side. It looked like cereal from a box.

I have been to fairouzottawa and enjoyed it back when they were on Somerset St, and was decided to try their lunch menu with friends, as we were at bywardmarket ! My Instagram: mimi.munches 💖 . We decided to share everything tapas-style. The appetizers were: . Hummus with Pulled Lamb🐑, with chickpeas, paprika, and 2pc pita ($18): the pulled lamb was super tender on the hummus, and the hummus itself was delicious. . Baba Ghanoush - eggplant dip with pomegranate, fresh herbs, and 2pc pita ($10): this is a dip I always need to order in Middle Eastern restaurants, as I LOVE eggplant. This was rich but refreshing! . Phoenician Fries , with sumac, za'atar, toum, and harissa ($10): these fries were CRISPY! With the spices, it was flavourful, and there was a good amount of sauce. . For mains, we shared: . Fattoush Salad with Chicken, with sumac dressing, pita crisps, and pomegranate ($20): A light option if you don't want something heavy. The chicken was grilled well, and the salad had a nice balance of salty/sour. . Kofte Burger , with mint labneh, sumac onion, sweety drop peppers, served with fries/salad ($24): A good heartier option. The kofte was tender and nicely spiced. . Manakeesh (middle eastern flatbread) with house pickles - we chose the "Chicken & Artichoke" version, with tomato sauce and toum ($15): The flatbread itself is thin, and had a good amount of toppings. . And for desserts, we decided to try both menu offerings, which were the Baklava (4pc, $8), and the Orange & Cardamom Sponge Cake , with citrus yogurt, apricot purée, and pistachio ($15). We were all pleasantly surprised by their desserts, and personally, I thought it was the highlight of the meal. Both were presented beautifully, not too sweet, had a LOT of pistachios, and were the perfect way to end the meal! . We dined outdoors on their patio, which I recommend to soak up the lovely summer sun ☀️, and for great people watching, as the patio is right on Clarence Street!

Overall, the decor and ambience is really nice especially to enjoy with a group of friends but the food was only pretty good. The Muhammara was very underwhelming, the cashews just lack the flavour you’re looking for that walnuts usually give. And maybe some pomegranate syrup or molasses would just add that extra oomph The house-made pita though is FANTASTIC! They serve it in a warm clay bowl and covered in cloth to keep warm. Got extras of that to enjoy! The crusted lamb sirloin was good but not the best lamb, especially for the price. It didn’t come with much else except for the fried taro and a few vegetables so order more or save some of the pita. Summer truffle babaganoush - the eggplant was good but can really do without the truffles. The washrooms are kept clean, the men’s and women’s are on opposite sides of the restaurant. There is quite a big dining area and they also have a patio.

We were very excited to try this restaurant as the menu looks amazing. We had the dip trio, the fried cauliflower, and the Acorn Creek stuffed squash. Wow...the Baba Ghanoush was far too lemony and completely overpowered the eggplant…the color was very light and you’d never know it was made with eggplants. Unfortunately, the fried cauliflowers had a burnt taste...as the sunflower seeds and cauliflower florets were over toasted/cooked. The sauce was nice despite being too lemony. The squash dish was good and the pita freshly baked (but each piece was small). So you end up having to ask for extra pita (1$ each), that can take a bit of time to have as they are made to order. Service was friendly. In my opinion, overpriced for the quantity and taste/consistency.

Great atmosphere but average food. We did go with the sofra menu rather than a la carte menu. The sofra menu had good amount of dishes and well plated but to be honest was expecting more. Overall a good experience but will not go there again for just food but just the experience. We did also order the truffle fries and they were great.

Great food! We ordered the meat platter for the family and it was just the right amount. Lamb, beef, chicken and tons of spreads, salads, and side dishes. 9/10 on the flavour side and genuinely lovely staff.