Zezafoun Syrian Cuisine

A fantastic restaurant to dine in. Everything was perfect, perfect food quality and perfect personnel. The interior design was charming and delivered a nice vibe of traditional restaurants. They had also some paintings on the wall for sale and the decoration with some books was also a nice choice! Music selection was excellent All in all it was a very nice experience.

Awesome food, a wonderful experience, and very kind owner and staff. The food was incredibly delicious, made with fresh ingredients and prepared with care, love, and passion. A true symphony of flavors, I’d say. Highly recommended!

Had a lovely meal on a Friday evening here. Sat outside on the patio with our dog. The staff were very friendly and the food was amazing! Would 100% recommend, such an amazing restaurant.

As a Syrian I am so amazed by this place. Food is delicious and made with care. Friendly and hospitable service, as Syrians know how to do know very well! Anything you eat there is delicious. For a drink, I recommend the jalab!

Service is super friendly and it is nice inside. I found the food to be a bit bland. Not terrible at all just lacking some flavor, perhaps other dishes are different. I got the beef kebah plate and chicken chickpeas soup. Pretty busy inside so I'd recommend booking a reservation.

Their food was very tasty and porgions were generous and filling. The atmosphere was cozy and like home. The staff were super friendly and polite and the restaurant was clean. Might need to reserve beforehand, it was kind of busy.

I have been to Zezafoun many times and I have never been disappointed. The food (and I have tried almost everything on the menu) is always flavorful and well presented. If you are tired of beef and lamb, try the Moloukhieh, my personal favorite, which is chicken with a super tasty leaf (kinda similar to vine leaf). The drinks are definitely interesting, a bit on the sweet side. The atmosphere and service is also amazing.

My sister and I visited this Syrian restaurant and we loved it! It’s run by a mother and daughter, and the whole place made me feel as if I was back at home. We ordered the shakreyeh with lamb, kibbeh labenyeh, and chicken shawarma fatteh. The food was absolutely amazing and tasted home cooked. Everything felt genuine, comforting, clean, and full of flavour. Definitely worth trying and we’ll be coming back!

Zezafoun Syrian Cuisine located along Manor Rd near Yonge St serves up homemade, authentic Syrian dishes in a cozy space. I've heard many good things about Zezafoun and was excited to finally try the place. The restaurant has about ~25 seats for customers indoors. They do have a small outdoor patio for when the weather gets warmer. Reservations are recommended during busy peak dinner or brunch times, however it is possible to get a table if you do walk in as well during non-peak times. I dined at Zezafoun with a party of 3 recently on a Sat evening. We didn't make reservations but walked in around 6:30 and was able to grab a table. It wasn't too busy that early in the evening but as the night went on the restaurant got busier. Service was great and friendly. Staff gave us plenty of time to decide what to order as well as gave us recommendations as well. The interior is warm and cozy. For drinks, I ordered the pomegranate juice which was unique and delicious. One member of my party ordered the rosewater and lemon juice which was refreshing and light. They also have Syrian coffee and tea as well on the menu which I will try next time! Food wise, we ordered and shared the following dishes: - Falafel plate (chickpeas patty fried and served with a side of tahini sauce) - Hummus (homemade chickpeas, tahini, lemon and garlic with a touch of olive oil) - Fattoush salad (Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, radish with Zezafoun dressing topped with crispy pita bread) - Kebbeh labanyeh (beef kibbeh in a cooked garlic yogurt stew served with side rice) - Maldoum (beef kufta wrapped with delicious eggplants in tomato stew and served with a side of rice) - Makloubeh (layers of rice, eggplants, and ground beef with tomato sauce served with side yogurt or salad) Food was delicious and unique! I've never had authentic Syrian food like this before and it was a delight. The appetizers we shared (falafel, hummus, and salad) were great to start the meal. The hummus was creamy and the falafel was nice and crispy. The crispy pita bread in the fattoush salad gave the dish a textural contrast, In terms of our mains, all the dishes were tasty but I especially enjoyed the makloubeh! Overall, delicious spot in Midtown Toronto for Syrian food in a cozy environment. Service was also spot on as well. Definitely want to return to try their brunch menu!

Love this midtown restaurant! Cute decor and lovely service! The food was exceptional! I had no expectations coming here and it was better than I could hope for. The flavour combinations were unique yet tasty! Our favourite dish of the night was the Makdous Fatteh - delicious, filling and multi notes. The beef kebbeh was crunchy and the filling remained moist. The molokia was a bit too sour for my liking but it didn't stop me from devouring it! We came here to celebrate my bday and they gave us a pistachio sponge cake to celebrate - on the house of course! We're already planning to come back to try other dishes

This was my first time having Syrian food! Having no expectations going in, I was intrigued by everything that arrived to the table. Our server was very friendly and suggested we do the Syrian breakfast and add on the Sujak Burak or Cheese Burak (deep fried pastries). Everything was very tasty and extremely filling for two people! Our server also was kind enough to explain how to eat everything including the best combination of flavours with the Zaatar. The Syrian breakfast ended with a delicious Syrian tea (refillable too!) it was sweet and had hints of cardamom.

Amazing little place I visited on a trip to Toronto back in 2019. I had the Fatteh and it was so delicious. I still think about it regularly and suggest it to anyone who says they are heading to Toronto.

Was at this restaurant for the nth time and am honestly getting tired of singing its praises. Delicious food (this time, HIGHLY recommend the mutabal dip), warm service, cozy atmosphere. Truly one of its kind in Toronto! Come if you haven't already!!!

This was my first time trying Syrian food and I had a good experience. The restaurant is very small and I would strongly recommend making reservations! I ordered a coffee which was infused with cardamom. It was served in a cute little set, and I like cardamom but I didn't like how it was a bit gritty with the grind of the pods in the coffee at the bottom. I also ordered the kebab which is in a cherry sauce. It was delicious! Think cranberry sauce for Turkey. I would just suggest wearing black if you're ordering that because a small splash definitely stained my shirt a little! My partner got the Syrian omelette with a side of fries, but aside from a little bit of seasoning, it was pretty much a regular egg (no fillings like an omelette). The fries were nice and crispy but I wouldn't recommend the breakfast style food here, as I think they're a bit too simple and over priced for what it is.

One of the most cozy restaurants with a delicious unique middle eastern foods plus perfect customer service.

Zezafoun is always a pleasure to eat at; we were visiting this time around because we wanted to visit one of our favourite restaurants in the area before we moved. The food here is fantastic, the service is phenomenal, and it is a restaurant that we already miss now that we live in another neighbourhood. Both the indoor and the outdoor seating provide an excellent dining experience because of the well-decorated interior and exterior areas. We will definitely make sure to make a return visit if we are ever in the area again!

I don't have a lot of exposure to Syrian food, but this foray proved to be both delicious and eye opening. I would recommend reservations this is spot seems very popular in the neighborhood. We arrived for a late dinner on a weekday, and snagged the last empty table. We were tempted by so many of the menu choices but I settled on getting a can of Sultan Power and Makdous Fatteh. The Sultan Power was bright, refreshing, and slightly bubbly. It has a herbal flavor not usually found in Western soft drinks, and it paired well with the meal. The Makdous Fatteh was a lovely combination of flavors and textures. I've had each ingredient before but never together. The marinated ground beef is savoury and spiced, the eggplant has a lovely textured, the crispy pita proves a crispy texture while the pomagranets and almonds brings fresh pops of flavor. It was amazing! Will be back to try other items

Brunch at Zezafoun Syrian cuisine In Toronto. For those who wants to try everything try ...Ultimate Syrian breakfast (Makdous plate, Halloumi cheese plate, Labneh plate, Olives, Zaatar (thyme) mixed with olive oil, Fatteh (1), served with Syrian tea and pita.) Syrian omelette Makdous Fateh (eggplant with spice tomato sauce) Service was good. Lots of diners at brunch. We choice the outdoor patio since it was a gorgeous day. Food connects us all.

The staff here is incredibly nice. The setting is cozy and clean. I'm not the biggest fan of the food - it's decent but I personally prefer my middle eastern food to be more flavorful

Loved the food, atmosphere and service here. The place is small (so make a reservation to avoid disappointment!) and home-y. I wasn't too familiar with Syrian food, but our server was very patient in describing the different dishes. They have some interesting tea and drinks too. I had the molokia with chicken which is hearty and comforting without being too heavy. The baklava was sweet, nutty and flaky as it should be. I found the prices extremely reasonable for the quality and amount of food. I will be back for sure!

Loved the unique Syrian dishes we tried here!! We got the: -Kabab Karaz (4/5, beef with a tart cherry sauce, make sure you have it with the pita NOT rice) -Molokia with Chicken (4/5, juicy stewed chicken that complimented the pickled-like spinach) -Kebbeh Labanyeh (5/5, my FAVOURITE. Beef with a yogurt sauce, I literally licked the plate clean)

My friend was feeling adventurous searching up what cuisines were in the area and found this Syrian restaurant that's tucked away from Yonge Street. We went for lunch on a weekday and the weather was nice, so we chose to sit on their patio. Their restaurant is very cute with a bar table with a display case of their desserts and sweets. They had a bookshelf of books on their back wall and a nice table that's been set with a colourful tablecloth with nice beading details. It was our first Syrian food experience so we ordered a couple of their recommended bestsellers: kabab kraz and molokia with chicken. The kabab kraz is beef kabab in a cherry sauce. When I was told it's a sweet entree dish, I was a little iffy since it's not how I prefer my entrees, but why not give it a try?! When I tried it, it wasn't as sweet as I expected. You eat this dish with pita and it was actually pretty good! The other dish we ordered was the molokia with chicken. The vegetable in this dish have a sour taste to it, the texture was a little rough compared to your usual greens, which made it interesting. The chicken was done just right and it came with rice. This dish worked really well and tasted great! The portion was generous and both dishes were really good! If you ask me which dish I liked better, I'm honestly torn! After the mains, we got a coffee and tea to go with dessert. To finish, we got the warbat, it's a puffed pastry with ALOT of pistachios!! There's so many thin layers of pastry and it goes perfect with their Syrian coffee or tea. I'm usually a coffee drinker, but their coffee is different! There's a kick of spice in there because they added cardamom which makes it the perfect fall drink for me!

Lovely exposed brick building and quite a few patio tables for this quaint and cozy Syrian spot. Our party of three ordered a few dishes to share: Mezes to share served with pita bread: Muhammara - Tangy and robust red pepper dip with a nice spicy kick to it - absolutely delicious and savory Mutabal - A more calmer, yet smoky eggplant dip, muted in flavor but still delicious Salad: Fattoush - Greens with dressing and crispy pita bread chunks. Was a bit disappointing as there wasn't enough crispy pita, but when asked they did provide some more on the side to add. Mains: Makloubeh - Rice topped with minced beef in this case and eggplant, served with a yogurt side. The eggplant could've been a little crisper and the rice a little less done. Chicken fatteh - Rice topped with chicken shawarma, hunks of pita bread and generous dollops of tahini. You gotta love the sour tang of tahini to like this dish because there's plenty of it, which wasn't a problem for me. The chicken was tender and well done, overall a delicious dish. The location is great, the ambience is fantastic. Gotta go back to try their breakfast next time.

Good starters, real experience. Typical music and food. Me lembra boas experiências da comida Syria no Brasil. De quebra tem uma padoca Brasileira na frente!

Great food and awesome ambiance. All the food we tested was fabulous. The cotton candy ice cream dessert was our favorite. The drinks are also so refreshing

The cutest spot with the one of the most unique menu selection in the city. We got the fateh and the cheese bread, and they were both delicious and appetizing. The service is always charming as well, and I've heard great things about their beef in cherry sauce so I look forward to trying that out soon as well

A cozy authentic Syrian restaurant in the heart of midtown and steps away from Yonge-Eglinton subway station. They have such friendly staff and their homecooked meals are delicious. We ordered "Mom's Labneh" for appetizer, "Shakereyeh with Lamb Shank" and "Maldoum" for entrée and Jallab for drinks. The food were cooked with adequate amount of spice and we enjoyed our experience here.

My first time having Syrian food! Overall a good experience. You can just tell that the dishes were home cooked - the food was carefully prepared and it felt like you were eating at someone's home rather than at a restaurant. Portions were generous. I especially enjoyed the molokia with chicken and the lamb shank. My favourite by far was Mom's Kunafeh. SO GOOD. The noodle texture and the orange blossom syrup together was amazing! Officially adding kunafeh to my favourite dessert list.

Zezafoun is a cozy family-style restaurant. They serve home-cooked Syrian and Mediterranian dishes. Zezafoun is a family-owned business. They have been opened since 2018. We wanted to support local restaurants and try something that we don't have very often. My friend suggested that maybe @zezafounsyriancuisine would be a good choice for us. And it was! They're currently open for dine-in, patio and take-out orders. They also sell traditional Syrian coffee pots, some jam, Zezafoun dressing and frozen beef kibbeh. It's a very cute and homey restaurant. We tried a few dishes including Syrian coffee and tea. My favourite dish was "Kabab Karaz" in cherry and berries sauce. Love beef kabab! They went well with the sauce. Recommended! The service was excellent! The price was reasonable!

Excellent food and service, real authentic Syrian food, healthy and delicious. Highly recommended!!

5 big stars and I would give more there was the option to do so. This little trendy piece of Syria, more than exceeded our expectations on the taste and quality of food. Our server (Angela) was super polite and very helpful. We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed one gorgeous sunny Friday afternoon in Midtown.

Places like Zezafoun are what Toronto is all about. Authentic food, at your doorstep, made with love and care. As soon as you walk in you're greeted by the smells of tasty food. There is a hot table filled with home made daily lunch dishes. Everything from chicken, to lentils are here. There's something for everyone with some great meat and vegetarian options. The burning fingers lentils was a uniquely delicious experience. As was the chicken. Another star of the show is the meat Kebbeh. These small minced meat balls bring the flavour. Oh, and don't forget the dessert, the Hariseh was a hit with everyone. Moist, sweet and the perfect ending to a meal. If you're going to live in culturally diverse city such as Toronto, you should experience all the unique places that make it special. Zezafound is one of those places.

Finally got around to trying this spot. I recall a cafe used to occupy this spot. The setup is similar to the old spot with some cosmetic changes. We were given a brief intro to the daily specials. After a bit of deliberation we settled for mezze, an order of labneh, scrambled eggs (not so scrambled IMO) and order of Syrian omelette. Hmm other than the mezze most of the items were below average. The service was subpar which didn't help for example one main was even missing a side dish of fries, dropped utensil that happened in front of the server was never replaced and general lack of care IMO. The labneh was devoid of taste. Both egg dishes are below a diner level. Can't recommend this spot.

Amazing! Food was delicious. Both vegetarian and non. We sat outside and enjoyed a lovely evening. Definitely try the interesting cocktails which have a flavor portfolio very different than most.

A really delicious take on a grilled cheese lives here! They call it a Syrian grilled cheese. Pita bread is stuffed with Halloumi cheese on a bed of labneh (similar to Greek yogurt). It's only $6 and I wish I could live closer to eat this every day! No tell them they could stand to charge for for this LOL. You just need simple ingredients with great preparation and imagination to make delicious things. The Syrian grilled cheese definitely knocks it out of the park. Every bite was full of cheesy gooey goodness and the yogurt provides some light acidity for balance. The beef kebab wrap is also a delicious choice for a grab and go option. The spicy beef kabab has a good but not overwhelming kick and the hummus, pickles, tahini sauce, and house-made Zezafoun dressing pull it all together in a neat little pita bread package. The place seems to be supported well by the locals as they did expand to the patio of the closed restaurant that was at the corner of Yonge St. and Manor Rd. The staff is a bit limited there so be patient depending on how busy they are. We were there for a late take-out lunch and ended up waiting about 15-20 minutes. We only saw one or two wait staff when we went there for take-out instead of outdoor dine-in. Overall, a great local restaurant to support!

First time having Syrian food. It was delicious and the service was friendly and attentive. My Syrian tea was refilled frequently. The lamb shank, mezze plate, molokia, and vegan lentil plate were favorites in our group. Wonderful and will be back when in Toronto.

I visited this place about a year ago for the first time. This place is so homey and comforting, it feels like you've been invited to your friend's house for dinner. The owner Marcelle gives off what can only be described as a"super cool vibes" and I love her inclusive hiring choices as we had a server who was hard of hearing. I ordered the lamb shank and I loved it! Ordered it again a few weeks back in an attempt to support them during the pandemic and received a free cookie and sweet thank you scrawled on the bag. Their lattes are also quite good. Glad my friend suggested trying out a new cuisine that first day we visited.

4/5 overall The good: a very homie atmosphere, it was my first time at a Syrian restaurant, so it was a great experience to try. Our group enjoyed Fatteh as a starter. The Makloubeh was awesome as a main dish :) The bad: a group of 6 is perhaps the max I would recommend for this place. I do recommend to book in advance to ensure a spot. The meh: we ordered the Falafel platter, the chicken shawarma platter, kabob platter. Our group liked it, four main dishes were enough to fill our stomach. What to know: it's a pretty small place (as mentioned above) so book in advance. The food is not bad overall, great experience overall.

Very beautiful interior feeling like a family home, we got the Ouzi Lamb, Kebbeh Labanyeh, Chicken liver, Fatteh, and Kanafeh Saturday night. Food was interesting as it seems most main dishes are yogurt based but it may be too bland with the yogurt overpowering the taste. Really enjoyed the Fatteh and Chicken liver. Unfortunately the dessert was not fresh (sitting in front of the counter), but it's worth trying yourself for an experience of Syrian cuisine which I've never had before. Authentic and family run made it a pleasant atmosphere.

Nice decoration, friendly staff. Last night we tried baklava and regular tea there. Was a great experience will be there again soon.

Home cooked Syrian cuisine. Mouth watering healthy and hearty portions. Menu changes daily. Sunday's lamb shank served over Freekeh (roasted green wheat) was delicious. Charming decor. Attentive and welcoming service. Looking forward to returning to try other dishes. Open for breakfast/brunch as well.

This is lovely, homey neighbourhood spot for delicious Syrian dishes - brunch and beyond. We went for breakfast and sat at the larger round rustic table for 4-5 (we were a group of 4). The lady serving us was really patient to walk us through the menu and dishes of the day. We ended up ordering falafel, a little mezze platter, French toast and fatteh (a chickpea stew). Everything was really homey, hearty and delicious, and reasonably priced. We were really full otherwise we would have tried some desserts stacked on the counter. It felt like going to someone's house for a meal, and we never felt more welcome.

Homemade fresh delicious food and refreshing drinks. Staff are very friendly and warm.

I had some high expectations going into Zezafoun with the rave reviews from other Yelpers. Unfortunately, this is just one of those instances where you have to try the food yourself to know. I ordered two dishes: Mutabal - Meh, wasn't that great for me. I've had better eggplant dip in the Middle East or even Paramount down the street lol... Kahab Karaz - Beef meatball in a cranberry sauce garnished with slivered almonds. This was under chef's special on the menu so I naturally assumed it would be a foolproof choice. To me the beef meatball was underseasoned and the sweet cranberry sauce it was drenched in just overpowered it. I like sweet meats but this is not how these dishes should be executed. I didn't really enjoy the food and it left me wanting more. All in all, the cuisine may be authentic but that doesn't mean it tasted good, as is the case here.

We were looking for a patio to enjoy the summer weekend vibes, and delicious food to share. Their mezze platter was AMAZING, as were the delicious kibbe, moist falafel, grilled halloumi and savoury fatteh. We also had the tender lamb shank with rice - very appetizing :) Highly recommended, if your a fan of middle eastern cuisine!

Went here for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the same day haha Delicious home made food, cozy decor, great service... This is the first time I have Syrian food and its life changing. LOVE IT Lots of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options!

On this visit to Toronto my sons decided they wanted to have some scrumptious middle eastern grub. This quaint Syrian restaurant was our choice. The food is made with love and heart! We had delicious shawarma - Syrian style and my vegetarian 11 yr old loved their falafel sandwich! The fetteh was exactly what I'd hoped it'd be, yummilicious! For dessert we tried several of the different baklavas and the kenefeh...sweeeeettttt!! Service was great and the hostess/waitress was kind, patient and gracious. The different drinks were great: we loved the qamr al din and jallab - and while my sons are not down for yogurt drinks, I enjoyed the 'ayran! We will definitely return!

I was out and about on a recent Saturday running a few errands when I noticed Zezafoun out of the corner of my eye. I was surprised to see it there because the last time I was in the area, there was an entirely different restaurant sitting in that location. I walked in and the joint was empty, but the proprietor was very friendly and welcoming. I wasn't interested in getting a meal in house, but I did want to grab a few things to try at home. I got: Vegan Vine Leaves ("Stuffed vine leaves with rice, tomatoes, lemon juice mixed with Syrian spices cooked with pieces of potatoes and fresh tomatoes"): My first thought after taking a bite out of one of the three included Vine Leaves was: "this tastes a lot like the vine leaves my grandmother used to make." It's really, really good. The various flavors really worked well together and it tasted super fresh, too. I initially also ordered the hummus but then I noticed something called Aleppo Muhamara ("A delicious dip of roasted minced red pepper, walnut, hot pepper, bread crumbs and pomegranate molasses served with olives oil on top") on the menu and decided to get that instead. I'm so glad I did because this dip pretty much knocked my socks off. The flavor in this thing was, to quote Guy Fieri, out of bounds and completely on point. I happily ate the entire thing with the accompanying pita bread within minutes. I'm excited that the Yonge/Eglinton area finally appears to have a quality Middle Eastern joint, and there's little doubt that Zezafoun puts the nearby Paramount to shame.

So good! We tried the daily specials (lamb shank over barley + a lentil dish) and the fatteh. Our mouths were watering when the server showed us what all their specials and brunch items looked like... it was hard to choose so of course we ordered too much and had to take some of the lamb shank dish home. They didn't have any pomegranate seeds so the fatteh didn't include that but it was still amazinggg. Service was pretty great even with only one person working there. She knew all the details about how each dish was made and was very friendly! We stuck around for awhile and had a cup of coffee + Syrian cappuccino after our meal. The Syrian cappuccino is made in the style/flavor of Turkish coffee which is not really my cup of tea, but my boyfriend liked it!

This restaurant is a little off the Main Street and has a large patio. This itself gives it an extra point. You can sit in peace with no hustle or cars around you. The service is wonderful and sufficiently quick. We ordered a falafel platter, Syrian cappuccino and mixed berries. You are in for a treat if you have ordered any of these. Unlike most other places, the falafels are not dry. The hummus is not overpowering and the salad brought in some freshness. Overall, it was a very balanced dish. Mixed berries was refreshing and tasted great. The Cappuccino had cardamom flavour in it which made it very unique and definitely worth another trial. I can't wait to eat at this place again

Came here on a Sunday night and had the Lamb shank and Fatteh (chickpea with yogurt and pita). Overall, both of the dinner specials were delicious. At $11.95 for each dinner meal - I was thoroughly stuffed and satisfied. The place is a cute little cafe and the food is almost laid out cafeteria style. Service was fairly quick and both food items were delicious. I think their main food items are only available on the weekends and I would recommend arriving not too late in the case they run out of food. Lamb shank was delicious and the meat was quite tender and moist, accompanied by the gritty lentils and barley. But what stole my heart was the fatteh- truly comforting dish of different textures and would definitely go back for more.

The most important thing about this restaurant is hot food made fresh. This makes flavors really good. Portions are reasonably sized. This also covers for the bit slow service as u will wait for a bit but your wait will be rewarded by a fresh and good tasting food.

A lovely little restaurant/cafe with excellent food ( plus vegan options) Syrian music, cozy atmosphere, friendly people. The vegan mousaka was delicious( with crispy french fries ). My friend had beef with rice and eggplant. We both agreed the food was scrumptious and very moderately priced. Highly recommended.

4.5 Star - writing this as I just finished my meal here. Service: a spot run by a family with 2 sisters, food cooked by their mother. Very friendly and helpful service. Food: I ordered one of the dishes of the day (they had 4 options) called Molukhia (spinach-like greens and chicken stew) that comes with white rice. The dish is light, not greasy, with a hint of sourness from the lemon,m which reminds me a lot Persian dishes because of the sourness, and the chicken was very easy to cut with the spoon, the meat just falls apart easily. Overall: great spot in the neighbourhood for lunch/brunch! Would come back again to try other dishes!

Really the most charming restaurant I've visited in a long time. It's in a fairly posh area of town, a couple short blocks south of Yonge and Eglinton. The vibe is very friendly and welcoming, with an bright and airy look that brings to mind the French countryside. The food is purely, genuinely Syrian. The two Syrian friends who were with me said it was the real deal, which makes sense since it's a family restaurant, with the sisters in the front and their mom as the main chef. How good is the food? They get walk-in customers by leaving the door open and releasing the scent of the main dish of the day - chicken shawarma, when I was there. There was also a steady stream of Uber drivers picking up bags for take-out, people coming to play boardgames, intellectual types from places as far as Egypt... and Oakville. The customers and energy changes over the course of the day, making it three or four restaurants in one. Worth a repeat visit for that reason, and for the food and hospitality of the hosts. The Syrian takeover of Toronto cuisine has begun. Enjoy it.

After playing tennis with a buddy, we were famished. We'd originally planned on going for Italian but on the walk over, I spotted Zezafoun Syrian Cuisine, a Syrian spot. Never had Syrian before so we were both intrigued. It's right next door to Coquine. We dropped in on a Monday evening (around 8:00pm). There was only one other table eating but then a couple more groups showed up for some late eats. Our server was sweet and friendly. One of the sisters was even more so! Great hospitality and genuity. The menu is split into breakfast, salad & soup, mezza, wraps, dishes of the day, Saturday brunch, side plates and desserts. The dishes of the day is where it's at. They had two main meat dishes, two vegetables mains and a smaller vegetable option; all looked amazing. - Vine leaves ($3.99 for 3) - stuffed with rice, tomatoes and lemon. Three tiny pieces but they were tasty little things. - Fatoush ($7.60) - romaine, tomato, cucumber, toasted pita chips, sumac and a lemon garlic dressing. Didn't taste like romaine lettuce to me. Pretty sure it was tasteless, nutrition-less iceberg. Blah. The salad was unfortunately underwhelming. - Burgul bbanadora ($11.95) - one of their dishes of the day, bulgar in a tomato sauce. Fantastic! Sauce was full of depth and flavour. If I was a vegetarian, I'd be in heaven eating this. The only odd thing is the vegetable and meat dishes are the same price. Huh? - Riz biljaaj ($11.95) - rice with chicken and a side of yogurt sauce. The chicken was incredibly tender yet flavourful. Wish they threw in another chicken as we both devoured our own piece. - Khalto's qashta ($2.90) - this looked almost like baklava but the inside was stuffed with the cheese. Really light. Loved the texture of the cheese inside. It reminded me of a Greek dessert. Wish I could come back to try more of those divine daily dishes. 4.5 stars.

We first came here pre pandemic and were charmed. Mama was in the back cooking and the daughter was the server/manager. Everything tasted delicious, fresh and was fully homemade. We've been back repeatedly since. PS: the falafel can't be beat.