Review Fairouz Cafe - Ottawa

Second time here dining on the patio! The little snacks were very nice! Fried cauliflowers and potato fries tasted fresh and flavorful with their respective sauced. Better eat them hot!!

I've eaten at Fairouz a few times now and so this review is for all of the beautiful meals I've had. Consistently the service and food are top notch. Excellent selection of seasonal cocktails and fun wines to try. I highly recommend sharing all the dishes so that you can try a bit of everything. You'll probably order too much, but that's ok too since the leftovers make for an excellent lunch!

We were here yesterday for desserts. After a long time, found a place where they make every thing from scratch, with focus on flavor and texture. It was a play of all elements in the dessert creations. One of the dessert we really loved was chocolate tamarind mousse with plum lemongrass compote and compressed plums with beet root meringue.

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!

Service was good. Over priced for what we got. $24 for 3 dips and 6 pita. $18 for halloumi plate. Dips were fantastic. Both halloumi and main chicken dishes super bland. Gorgeous atmosphere would be good to hold private functions. Just wish the food was out of this world because it looks like it would be!

Food quality is good, only issue with it is that it is upscaled so much it lost its authenticity. Some people might be into that, i personally am not. The fattoush dressing is fantastic! The ambience is very warm and welcoming.

Visited Fairouz while in town due to the good reviews however the meal was a big let down. The service was good as the staff was quick and attentive. The first app we got was the vegetarian kibbeh, which had no flavour and were slightly overcooked leading to a bitter taste. The next app we had was the seared halloumi which for $18 was pretty small in portion. It was roughly 3 small chunks of cheese and was served with a relatively sweet and sour cranberry compote. The dish did not flow well together and lacked on depth of flavour. The third app we got was the most popular item on their menu which was the cauliflower. The cauliflower was soggy and had absorbed quite a bit of oil, indicated the temperature of oil it was fried in was too low. The pomegranate was a nice touch as it added some texture contrast and the acidity helped cut through the cauliflower. This was the best dish we had but still at 3/5 at best. For the main we decided to split the shish tawook platter and it was a 1/5. The chicken breast was very overdone leading to a leather like texture. The dish listed shishito peppers but we got some type of zucchini instead which was basically raw. The dish did not come together at all and lacked flavour and depth. Would have been nice if the dish came with a piece of pita at least, it costs the restaurant maybe 20 cents to through one on the plate. Unfortunately we could not bring these concerns up to the staff as the kitchen was closed due to new restrictions. The bill came to $135 for 2 people with drinks. Would not come again. This place is about ambiance and not the food.

I’d come back just for the service. My partner and I went yesterday for our anniversary and I’ve always wanted to go here. The atmosphere is amazing, the food very good. Our server Skylar was also awesome as they got us a celebratory baklava, and recommended everything I wanted to try. Overall it’s a great place for a nice date, the manakeesh in particular was out of this world. I had the kofteh burger with fries, my partner had the fried cauliflower and fries with cheese manakeesh.

By far one of the the best meals I have had in my life. I went in a group of 4 and ordered the following: Appies: Fresh Pita, Muhammara, Falafel, Halloumi, Kebab, Fattet Hummus Mains: Duck, Sumac Chicken, Squash Mahshi, Pilav rice Dessert: Sfouf cake, ice cream bars, mousse cake I have been waiting for a special occasion to try this place for dinner and did not want to miss out on anything. Every bite in every plate took me on a journey across to the Middle East, Paris, and back! Every plate had a story to tell. If you are a foodie, or just love amazing food then this place is a must try. The attention to detail, and the level of passion by the team at Fairouz led by Chef Walid is evident in everything that is served to the table. The ambiance of the restaurant and quality of service was also extraordinary and raised the bar for Ottawa. I'm looking forward for my next visit. If I had to choose favorites from tonight it was the Halloumi, Kebab, Duck, and the ice cream bars.

Service was fantastic, our waitress Sydney was polite, knowledgeable and very attentive. Food is bursting with flavour creativity and presentation is beautiful. I would also like to mention how our waitress, Sydney, after noticing my friend give me a birthday card, ended our meal with a plate of stuffed dates and “happy birthday” written in chocolate which was completely unexpected and so thoughtful. What a lovely added touch!

Wanted to try this place for a while and finally did (thanks to them calling me that morning to say a reservation had opened up!) service was fantastic, attentive and friendly. Decor great, seating comfy. The food was delicious and really easy for our non-meat-eating table to have a great and varied meal. Only wish there was a little bit more on each plate because it was so good!

This is a 7star for Ottawa Visually stunning. Fragrant, whole smells from their plated berries, vegetables, herbs & spices. The meats were perfect - tender & succulent. Flavours were extremely well-balanced. Absolutely filling in every sense. Bring friends and make it a sharing dinner party, it was beautiful. Here’s what we had, and we recommend it all: •The Pear Necessities - Lively & Sweet(Cardamom Infused Rum • Maple Whiskey • Pear • Lemon • Cinnamon) •Sparkling Rosé •Hummus(in no way ordinary - new, and not yet written on the menu, but an absolute must) •Fresh Pita Basket(2 rounds, freshly baked in house and warm) •Muhammara(Cashew · Pomegranate) •Savory Katayef •Kushbashi Kebab •Barberry Rice - this is fresh made, order this ahead of time(during drinks) in order for it to arrive for dinner •Zaatar Crusted Lamb Loin Tony - thank you � to the entire staff

The best experience I had in a long time. My boyfriend and I were just astonished with the perfect mixture of ingredients. Who knew that the artichoke goes so yummy with tuna fish. Our congratulations go to the chef, he really put heart and soul into each one of the dishes. Now we will crave forever the delicious cheese cake ornate with pistachios and hibiscus syrup. It's a must for a visit of the capital and it's always in our minds as one of the best restaurant experiences. I rate it 10 out of 10 :) :)

The space, the food and the service were all absolutely spectacular. I can't recommend this place enough!

our second visit. Food is great, reminds us of Istanbul. Service is lacking though. We waited about 45 minutes between our starters and our main. Meanwhile the table of four guys next to us got their starters after us, and their mains before us. Seemed like the staff was paying more attention to them because they were friends (one of the guys even went back into the kitchen). Air conditioning was also too cold. Music was too loud. They also forgot to bring us the little treat at the end that everybody gets. Good cappucino though. A little disappointing for a birthday celebration (which I told them about in advance, but they failed to recognize in any way whatsoever). Would go back for the food, though it seems a little overpriced now, given the substandard service.

Service was great. The food was delicious and flavourful. If you are 4 or more definitely recommend the 4 course menu. We’ll definitely be back again.

Incredible, different and exciting food, beautiful decor, lovely ambience and great staff- a truly memorable meal and night. We will be back!

Excellent food and service. I loved the sharing menu and the variety of flavours and tapas style dishes and dips. The waiter took the time to explain the entire menu, which really helped.

We had a great evening and fantastic meal last night. Lots of great aromas and flavours in the 4 dishes we had paired with a great Syrah from Morocco. To die for...

What an absolute delight it was to dine at Fairouz last night! Everything was amazing. My dinner companion had long eschewed Middle Eastern food but became an instant addict at her first bite of appetizer. By the end of the meal, we were excitedly trying to decide when we would be returning and whom we might invite to share this treasure with. If there were six stars available, Fairouz would get them from me.

I went to dinner at Fairouz for dinner with my parents for their anniversary this weekend. Them knowing it was their anniversary made it very special. It was Sunday and a tapas night so we had a bunch of apps. Everything was outstanding. They paired perfect wine with things the whole way through. The manager was also very attentive to our table throughout the night. The food paired flavours I would not of expected but they went together perfectly. Wonderful experience and a great restaurant.

The food was great! Wine/beer/spirits list also went well with food menu. The service was excellent! Definitely a restaurant to be revisited.

An amazing mix of spices to creat extraordinary flavours, a delightful experience. Beautiful ambiance & very polite wait staff. Would visit again when in Ottawa.

I am always excited to try new restaurants recommended by my son Imrun Texeira. I was not disappointed! The food was delicious and plated beautifully and the staff were knowledgable and friendly which lent to a delightful culinary experience. Truly the best Middle Eastern Restaurant I've tried.

I took some friends for supper to Fairouz. Having not been there before, I didn't know what to expect, other than the reviews were strong. It was fantastic! The ambience of the dinning room was lovely; elegant, but relaxed. The service was excellent, with the staff really paying attention to and accommodating an allergy and food intolerance. The staff were attentive, but not fussy. The star, though, was the food. The flavours were amazing. We shared the roast sumac chicken and it was absolutely delicious, as was the halloumi, Muhamarra dip of cashew nut and pommegrantes, the warm olives, pita and the labneh dip. I had one of the best cocktails I have every had. It was a special with rum, rose water (I think), and date juice. It was absolutely fantastic. If I lived in Ottawa, I am confident I would be a regular visitor. I also thought the value was excellent, particularly when compared with other, much more dinning average establishments in Ottawa. All in all, it was a wonderful evening.

<br/>Lots of fancy ingredients I can’t pronounce (nor could the staff..) and maybe a bit too much time explaining the dish but all in all very very good food. <br/><br/>Variety of delicious flavours bringing out the best in high end middle-eastern cuisine with stiff cocktails and surprisingly decent Lebanese wine! You can tell a lot of thought and care went in to the flavour combinations - well done. <br/><br/><br/><br/>

I think we just found the best restaurant in the city! Congrats guys, bravo, bravo.  We have NEVER experienced better food at any restaurant.  We had such an amazing time, we just booked Feb 9th for our Anniversary.  The lemon dip for pita,....wow, wow, wow (yes WOW!). Server had incredible knowledge, it was a real pleasure. We went through EVERY cocktail on the menu, the bartender had to go off menu for us and make drinks up.  We told them it was my wife's birthday, and all the staff signed a card....seriously, talk about the extra mile.

This was a wonderful first experience. Beautiful atmosphere, excellent knowledgeable attentive staff and delicious tasty food. We appreciated the small plates which allowed us to sample more of the menu. Every dish was more exciting than the first. I will share this culinary experience with more friends and family. To the next time.

Had a wonderful culinary experience at Fairouz. Waitress recommended that we order 1 dip, 2 grazing plates and 1 main (+ rice if we were really hungry) for 2 people. We had the muhammara which comes with only 2 small pitas (had to order more... for a cost - which I find odd for the type of restaurant). We had the salmon pastourma which by far was the best dish of the evening. Wonderful blast of flavours - had we known we would have ordered 2. We shared the sumac glazed chicken as well as the barberry rice. The chicken was tender and flavourful. The sauce was an excellent accompaniment but the price tag is not justified. Rice was very tasty and the portion was reasonable. The service was top notch. I understand that Fairouz ranked #46 in Canada's top 100 restaurants but I took out some points for the portion sizes (considering the price).

Everything about Fairouz exceeded my expectations. We came with a group of 8 and everyone loved it. The ambiance blew us away from the details of the decor to the building itself. The presentation of the food got better with every course. We had dips with pita, haloumi, chicken, trout and dessert. The flavours and sauces were unique and exciting and everything worked perfectly together. I tried four different cocktails and liked them all except one with gin because I'm not a gin fan and they remade it for me with whisky. The service was exceptional and I don't have one complaint!

Fairouz is #46 on Canada’s 100 best 2017, the most highly ranked of all Ottawa restaurants on that list. It was also quite appropriate to try some Middle Eastern food as I have been following Mark Wiens closely on his Israel adventures lately. I was excited!<br/> <br/><br/>Location/Ambience <br/>Fairouz is located in a heritage house on Somerset alongside many interesting restaurants, which we have yet to try. The setting was very unique with what looked like very thoughtful design and decor. They even have a patio for the summer months!<br/><br/>Drinks<br/>The drinks menu was good with a nice selection of wine and beer at a reasonable price. For those who would like to try something different, try the arak. This Levantine liquor is poured on top of water and ice, which changes it from clear to translucent. It is heavily anise-flavoured, so it’s not for everyone (myself included).

Last night I dined at Fairouz for the first time.  The decor was<br/>beautiful, the service was excellent, and the food was well prepared<br/>and elegantly presented.  However, I will never go back.  If I had to<br/>describe it in one word it would be pretentious.<br/><br/>The old Fairouz was my favorite restaurant in Ottawa and my go to<br/>place for several years and I was hoping that the new Fairouz had<br/>retained some of the features that made the old Fairouz so appealing,<br/>reasonably priced traditional Lebanese dishes tastefully prepared and<br/>brimming with wonderful flavour. <br/><br/>I was sad to discover that the new Fairouz is more about the<br/>presentation than the palette.  The food was tasty, but no better than<br/>the food in the old Fairouz and there are far fewer choices. The menu<br/>is small and so are the dishes and the prices are extravagant.<br/><br/>I think it should appeal to people who believe that dining out is a<br/>cultural experience, like going to the opera or visiting a museum, but<br/>I don't subscribe to the food as artwork school of thought, and I don't<br/>really believe that food tastes better if its artistically presented.<br/><br/>I don't go to a restaurant to marvel at the presentation skills of the<br/>chef. I go looking for dishes that appeal to the palette, not the eye,<br/>and I certainly don't think I should have to pay two or three times<br/>the amount because the chef is artistically inclined.

Food is good and so was the service. The chicken we Gab was well cook and tasty so was the lamb. The appetizer were so good and lots of flavour and well presented.

This place has a beautiful atmosphere and service is incredible. The menu is not as big as other places (for sure) but that's because of the high quality and high end service and food you'll get. We were a group of 4. 2 people shared the chicken and the lamb which they loved. And we shared the grilled halloumi cheese (app) and the lamb. The lamb is the best dish they have according to the waitress and it was very tender and the vegetable garnish it came with was really good as well. The portions are smaller than usual but very tasty.

If you want authentic Mediterranean cuisine with a twist you've come to the right place. My wife and I enjoyed every bit and the chef really takes you on an adventure with such unique flavors that all comes together. We will be back for sure and the service was on point and very friendly.

This place was absolutely incredible!!! The umami is out of this world! Halloumi was done so well! We got the sumac chicken and they gave us the rice to go with it. Just soooo good. I'm even thinking of having my birthday dinner here.

Food was flavourful and presented beautifully. Service attentive and knowledgeable about each plate. We enjoyed the complimentary bread with the hummus (all 2 small pieces of it) and would have ordered more but were off put by the cost for the volume of bread. The bread is hand made daily by the chef and was delightful but in our opinion such a treasured restaurant should revisit how they offer bread.<br/>

What and amazing evening we had! The restaurant is located in a converted house. Has a real nice vibe. Waiter took time to explain the menu and i'm glad he did! The menu could be a bit confusing. The food... OMG!!! The fil fil (lamb) kebob as an app and the sumac chicken are absolutely amazing! We will come back for sure!

Be sure to ask questions about the menu! We almost passed over the lamb kebab, and it ended up being the plate we enjoyed the most! The sumac chicken was also to die for. The spice on the skin was delicious, and it was so tender you could cut it with a fork. We will be back... often!!

Delicious food. Great take on middle eastern cuisine and fantastic service. A little pricey for the portions but all and all : Would eat again!

Fairly new to the Ottawa scene, Fairouz is a must try even just for their Falafel and Halloumi. Their sharing portions are very generous, well priced, and each dish is not only presented beautifully but is also very flavourful. The restaurant's atmosphere is elegant yet casual in a way and...

If you are looking for a sophisticated Middle Eastern Restaurant you HAVE to try Fairouz. Everything I've eaten during three dinners at Fairouz have been fantastic and enjoyable. They really know how to bring traditional Middle Eastern style dishes with unique aromatic flavors. Some of my favorites to order and a must try are:Muhammara, Fil Fil Kebab, Sumac Glazed Chicken and the Mujadarra.Excellent Job Chef Walid

Wow. A small menu with very well prepared food. The dishes are pricey but well worth it. The knowledgable waitstaff helped compose our dinner selections (only familiar with half the dishes) My only complaint stems from the limited non-alcoholic drink selection. I will go back for special occasions.