At the Hayat restaurant you will be welcomed like family. The new address in Old Montreal explores Syrian and Lebanese cuisine with a menu from chef Joseph Awad.
Published at 11:00 am.
The co-owners wanted to highlight their family history and culinary traditions in their new project. There are a few references here and there, like the team's childhood photos that adorn the menu or the phrase “Sahten, mon amour” (Bon appetit, my love) written at the bottom of the plates. But traditional dishes from the Levant are being reinvented.
“We push the bon vivant lifestyle like we do in the Middle East,” explains chef Joseph Awad (Damascus, SHAY, Momofuku), who is supported in the kitchen by chef Gabi Deeb. It's about gathering around a crowded table with friends and family. »
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We come to Hayat well surrounded to enjoy mezze style dishes. This goes well with specialties such as hummus, fattoush salad or shish taouk, all deliciously colorful and elegantly served.
Do we want to go off the beaten path a little? We choose Manti, a type of ravioli filled with artificial meat and served with yoghurt foam and smoked clarified butter, or Boreg with fried cheese. And if you have a sweet tooth, let yourself be tempted by the baklava pancakes, a chef's classic.
When it comes to drinks, oriental flavors are omnipresent, with hints of rose, sumac or arak in the cocktails created by Caitlan Do Couto. We try the Chamomile Whiskey Sour (with chamomile and turmeric syrup) or the Jadda Martini, a reinvention of the (very popular) espresso martini, with tahini syrup and arak.
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The wine list, curated by maître d'hôtel Pierre Lombardo, gives pride of place to French wines and also includes a few bottles of privately imported Lebanese wines. A great way to discover them and find a local pairing.
The friendly atmosphere, which remains sophisticated, is further enhanced by the room beautifully designed by Ivy Studio. The numerous benches and curves create an inviting setting for guests, a cave that is both elegant and timeless.
The team is already waiting impatiently for summer to open the terrace, which will accommodate more than a hundred people. “We want to offer the people of Old Montreal something interesting,” explains co-owner Nazim Tedjini. And why not make it a must-try in Montreal for Syrian-Lebanese cuisine? » Only time will tell us the answer, but we can already say that there's a new eatery in the neighborhood that's a wonderful celebration of Middle Eastern cuisine.
131, rue de la Commune West, Montreal
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.