3 levantine restaurants worth the trip across Canada, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Canada.
Damas ★ 4.7 · Montreal
outremont · 1201 Avenue Van Horne, Montreal, QC H2V 1K4
Damas brought high-end Syrian cooking to Outremont, Montreal, plating charcoal kebabs, muhammara and cherry-sauced meatballs in a jewel-box room.
Tip: Order family style and share widely; the mezze are the reason to come.
Le Petit Alep ★ 4.5 · Montreal
villeray · 191 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, QC H2R 1S8
Le Petit Alep is the beloved Syrian-Armenian bistro by the Jean-Talon Market in Montreal, a Bib Gourmand pouring Lebanese wine over warm mezze.
Tip: The casual Petit Alep next to formal Alep is the one you want; it takes no reservations.
Nuba Gastown ★ 4.4 · Vancouver
gastown · 207 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7
Nuba Gastown on West Hastings is the second branch of Vancouver's reference Lebanese kitchen since 2004, halal-certified, family-run by the Sabbagh family.
Tip: Multiple locations across Vancouver; this Gastown branch takes walk-ins at the bar plus reservations on OpenTable.