I'm someone who will drive to any corner of the city (and beyond) in the name of food and this was…read moreevident when I recently found myself in The Palisades, an area that is just about as far north as you can get in Edmonton (and no where remotely close to where I live). If the Edmonton Journal is going to name Paramount Fine Foods as the Best Lebanese Restaurant 2021, I'm gonna try it! I made the trek across town on a Sunday evening, looking forward to the authentically fresh flavours of the Middle East that Paramount boasts about so enthusiastically. Founded in 2007 by Mohamad Fakih, a Lebanese-Canadian entrepreneur, the first Paramount Fine Foods location opened in Mississauga, Ontario. The company now comprises of over 75 restaurants, becoming the fastest-growing Middle Eastern food chain in Canada. You'll find Edmonton's location in a rather large complex on the edge of town. (Not kidding, you can see the empty fields nearby.) The restaurant's modern exterior and tall stature includes a small patio space in the front before entering into the expansive interior. I was surprised by the spacious, airy dining area designed with taste in mind. Dark wood, tiled columns, and pops of rich colour set the stage for what feels like a higher-end dining experience. I noted some interesting features in the space which included a kids playground (I swear that this place isn't a defunct McDonald's) and a prayer room. Paramount was quite quiet on our visit and our server was gracious and attentive. The menu is a lot larger than I would have expected and I enjoyed flipping through its colourful pages; from starters, to salads, to wraps and mains. Plus platters that are perfect for large groups and even breakfast on the weekends! (I'm super intrigued about the breakfast and would love to try it!) As one does, I started my journey with a drink and zeroed in immediately on something called the "Paramount Special." It sounds like the thing to get! Topped with almonds, crushed pistachios, ashta cream and honey, I really wanted to try this epic beverage! However, our server regrettably informed me that they couldn't make it. It wasn't clear why but I assume that they didn't have all of the ingredients on hand? This was honestly the only low point of the entire meal. Instead, I settled for Strawberry Mango Juice (A blend of fresh mango and strawberries - $8.99). The drink actually took quite some time to arrive, meanwhile almost all of the rest of our food showed up before it did. However, it was worth the wait because this blend of fresh lush mangoes and ripe juicy strawberries was wonderful. You could tell that the beverage contained real fruit and I enjoyed the swirling kaleidoscope of bright colours. The rest of our order was delivered to the table lightening-quick! The feast began with the Mezza Plate (Choice of three: world-famous hummus, moutabbal, labneh, muhammara, or tabbouleh - $13.99) which seemed like a great option to try a variety of Paramount's dips. Served with the most pillowy freshly baked homemade pita bread, straight out of their wood-burning oven! I honestly could've set my head down on one of those pitas and had a nap. In choosing our dips we went for the Moutabbal, Muhammara, and Labneh. (We did not select the hummus because it was included in something else that we ordered and we opted out of the tabbouleh because we were already ordering a different salad.) Circling back to the pita bread, it arrived warm and fluffy. Tearing off pieces and using it to scoop up the various dips was a complete joy. The Moutabbal, made with fire roasted eggplant blended with tahini and garlic and topped off with fresh parsley, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh pomegranate seeds, felt familiar. Very similar to baba ganoush. However, ours was not topped with parsley or pomegranate seeds as described. Regardless, I loved the true fire-roasted flavour of the eggplant which came through in such a bold and beautiful way. Next was the Muhammara, made with fire roasted red peppers, crushed mixed walnuts, zesty onions, authentic spices, and herbs and topped off with extra virgin olive oil and parsley. (There was no parsley.) This was the dip that I knew the least about... And that I loved the most! The flavour was big and exciting and I loved the nuttiness! This one was an unexpected surprise and I would order it every time. Lastly, the Labneh, made with thick creamy labneh (a type of yogurt cheese) mixed with garlic, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, and topped off with their authentic zaatar seasoning, was also familiar. (Shout out to The Happy Camel, who's labneh I often purchase!) The version at Paramount was very enjoyable and I loved the creamy-cool texture. I swear that I could taste some mint in there as well. Some of the best salads come out of the Middle East - think tabbouleh and fattoush - and I had to order the latter to add some greens to the table. Paramount's Fattoush ($12.99) seemed like the way to go. I lov

"Not so elevated Middle Eastern Cuisine"…read more A terrific visit last November was memorable enough to have us crave Paramount Fine Foods while in Edmonton this evening. The big sign has the slogan " Elevated Middle Eastern Cuisine " thus raising the expectations we have had,, stemming from dozens and dozens of previous Paramount visits In Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver over the years... The decor is still very nice, four+ years or so after this Edmonton branch's opening; - modern, fast yet casual with table service. Tonight, the service was at times very slow and curt. We started with the lentil soup ($7.99) which came in a lovely ceramic bowl with deep fried pita chips. The soup was not liquidy; it had a very thick, "pudding-like" consistency and was super salty. It was definitely not fresh and appeared like it could have been reheated after being withdrawn from a cold, refrigerated bucket; not good. Next came the beef pie - which was nothing but a thin layer of ground beef on way too much dough ($6.99). Paramount is famous for its tabuli salad and of course we ordered it! (($10.99). Once it arrived to our table, we were shocked at the look of wilted parsley and the lack of dressing (it needed more tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil to revive it); total dissapointment. "Elevated cuisine" means that you would assemble the salad as it is ordered for maximum freshness; ours tasted like it was sitting in a refrigerated tub for several days; no! No! No! The main course, the bbq beef platter ($22.99) had seven tiny yet very tender sirloin steak cubes; the remainder of the plate had a lot of filler rice and pickled beets, dill, onions and a 2 oz container of humus; very good yes - but the portion of meat was tiny for the price. The star of the meal was definitely the shareable dessert: The knnaffe Nablusieh ($9.99): It is a subtly sweet baked cheese dessert topped with baklava style shredded filo strips and pistachios; and then, it is drenched in syrupy rose water; this lived up to what Paramount is known for in Ontario - simply delicious!!!!!! With the abundance of similar eateries in Edmonton, Paramount Fine Foods didn't live up to its slogan as, during tonight's visit, there was nothing " elevated " about its Middle Eastern cuisine. Hopefully, they will get it together moving forward - so the quality of the food served at this branch can actually live up to their founding Ontario roots. Here at this Edmonton Paramount, The higher menu prices do not match the overall very average experience offered... we know Paramount Fine Foods has the ability to "wow" us; maybe next time!

My favorite dish here is the Vaziri. I have had this dish on several occasions and the quality is…read moreconsistent. Both the chicken and koobideh (a mixture of beef and lamb) kebabs featured in this dish are exceptionally tender and tasty. The portion size is very generous. I eat out regularly all over Edmonton, and I have not found a meat dish that is be more succulent than this one. The owners are warm and welcoming. Always a pleasure to visit. Also worth checking out is the Iranian tea.

Our family has eaten here twice. Both the quality of food and the service have surpassed…read moreexpectations. The wraps were delicious. I had the chicken kebab wrap tonight and it had a delicious charcoal grill flavour. The platters are generous and all of the food felt like a healthy option for take out. The owners seem to also be the staff which resulted in a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere. Highly, highly recommend.

I was looking for a place for lunch and drove past Maghawee Lebanese Grill and turned around…read more Lebanese fast food was something I hadn't tried before. Maghawee Lebanese Grill specializes in Lebanese cuisine. The focus of their menu is kabobs and pitas and everything is cooked while you wait. No warmed up or steam tray food here. When you walk in you're greeted by fabulous Lebanese scents which make your appetite that much stronger. I ordered the chicken kabob meal from their lunch menu and a pop. The price was a bit high for lunch, but I wanted it. As I waited in my banquette I listened to Lebanese music coming from the music videos on the wall mounted TV's. The server brought my lunch to me and then I realized why it was the price it was. Warm steamed pits, garlic dip, grilled chicken kabob, humus, tabbouleh, Lebanese veggies and cinnamon rice was what was for lunch. Yum! I was half way through my meal when the server came to check on me - good service, not too pushy and not not interested. Many people came and went during the course of my lunch for dine in and take out, which in my books is a good sign. After I finished my meal I was intercepted on my way to the washroom by the owner baring baklava for me. My gosh, this was the best baklava I've had - not too sweet or dripping with honey. He told me they have been in business since December and was glad that I enjoyed my lunch. That small gesture and general inquiry about my experience will make me come back. The only thing I suggest is they have breath mints at the till because you'll leave with garlic breath, and that is a good thing.

I'll keep this one short and sweet. We went here as our beloved Co Do Hue was closed (stupid…read moreTuesdays!). Located right beside Pho Du, we went for lunch to try Mashawee with three of my co-workers. Be warned now: a) Service is SLOW (took around 20-25 minutes to cook my lamb kebob pita sandwich) b) Prices are expensive for the amount of food you get (although in hindsight, should have ordered their lunch specials which are $10) c) They were OUT of chicken schwarma and falafel at noon! WHAT?!? How can you be out of your two main staple food items before the lunch rush... d) Pretty salty We each got a pita sandwich (lamb kebob, beef schwarma and two chicken kebob pita's). Lamb one is $9 with the others $7-$9 each. My one buddy and I left still hungry afterwards, never a good sign. Won't be back! Also, I should probably mention - 99% sure we got food poisoning from them. I had the chills last night...same thing with my one friend. Awesome stuff. Wow.

Food was great. Very authentic Lebanese. Will be back to try more dishes. Service was awesome.read more

We went for lunch with some coworkers! I loved the coffee…read morethat was served as soon as we entered the place! The staff seemed to be friendly! Parking options were very limited around noon! Also when we went inside it seemed a bit chaotic! There were five of us, one order was wrong and the another order came at the very end when the other four dishes were already finished! The food was good and delicious! I would like to imagine it was an off day and would like to go back there again! The quality and value of the food was definitely good!

PitaBake is a Lebanese restaurant which serves a variety of Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine, as…read morewell as some unique international fusion dishes. There is something to satisfy any palette. We ordered from skip the dishes, and everything was neatly and carefully packaged for safe transport. My husband got a shawarma plate with fries, rice, salad and pita. I ordered a chicken donair pita bake, which was a perfect portion size and really reasonable price. I find that shawarma plates are huuuuuuge and I just wasn't wanting that much food. This was perfect, and under $15. Everything was fresh tasting and yummy. I'd definitely order from here again.

Such good amazing food. Fresh, hot, ready to eat. High quality kind welcoming service and the vibe…read moreis lively, positive and just all around happy smiley satisfied customers. Highly recommend pita bike! You would love it (:

I used to come here when it had a different name. They sure kept the same quality and included more…read moreitems. Prices are decent for the quantity. They are open Thursday to Sat until 3AM. Provided quick service. Location is great, being on Jasper and across a bar.

La Shish is great comfort food for me. I always come here when I need something filling and yummy…read more The shawarma plate is always my go to and always hits the spot!

It was youngest's birthday and she loves French fries. So on her birthday we try to take her to a…read morenonconventional place for this especially because the rest of the family would like to eat something other than French fries (go figure). This place is tucked away in a strip mall in the north end. Pretty basic on the inside, but clean. It is a little confusing though, because they hand you the menus, and then they don't say that you needed to go up to order. We figured this out, but another couple left and I think it was I think that they thought they were not being served. Thorough menu but no real vegatarian options (just salad and hummus). I was surprised that there wasn't a falafel dish. Anyway, Hubby decided on the Iraqi kabobs, kiddo 1 went with a chicken shamarma wrap, and I chose the grilled fish. Birthday girl got the fries. Food came out a bit on the slow side, but it was really busy in there. Food was flavourful. My husband and I got a complimentary soup which was rich in taste. My fish was perfectly grilled, and it came with a boatload of seasoned rice. Hubby's kababs were spicy and delicious and came with the same rice as I but also a side salad and hummus and pita. I sampled the hummus and it was delicous. Nice and creamy. Both kids were excited about their dishes. Perhaps a little on the high side for price considering the ambiance, but food was good. I would come here again.

Kabsa is easily the best kabab-house in Edmonton! I have been to many of them in YEG, and have…read morefound not only do they serve easily the most flavourful food, but they also include extremely generous proportions. My fiancé and I typically share one order of chicken kabab as there is plenty of food for us. Their rice really stands out, which is so crucial when it is the base of this genre of cuisine. It has so much zest! The meals include delicious humus, and kebab-shop sauce (white garlic sauce). Further they have an unreal delicious salad included, which is particularly appreciated considering most shops put little to no effort into an included salad due to it not being the main dish. The attention to detail from the team at Kabsa is fabulous. Could not be happier having found my new summer-time staple!

Gregg Mediterranean is a restaurant that focuses on the flavours of the east Mediterranean - think…read moreshawarma and kabob. However, their menu offers a whole lot more and their dine-in experience is elevated beyond an express donair wrap. The Edmonton Journal named Gregg Mediterranean as the Best Mediterranean Restaurant 2020 and I was excited to head out to Sherwood Park to taste their cuisine. Located specifically in the Millennium Ridge Retail Centre, it's a nice shopping plaza with a courtyard area. I can imagine that the summertime would be especially lovely with patios spilling out into the common areas and string lights illuminating the evenings. The inside of the restaurant is very spacious with two large dining areas and a bar. The decor is simple but I was impressed at the easy elegance. The rich, jewel-toned green velvet-wrapped chairs with gold accents caught my eye immediately. Tall hookah pipes were being ported around, their sweet scent filling the air. The vibe is easygoing but there are hints of style and good taste. The staff was all very friendly and happy to answer questions and make suggestions. I could tell that Gregg Mediterranean is a family-run business and they treat their customers very warmly. It wasn't long before many of the tables in the restaurant were occupied with patrons in the mood for a mediterranean feast! Upon getting settled and cozy, the first thing that I did was look to the beverage menu for something interesting to drink. Sadly, there was almost nothing of note. The best drink was a Lebanese Coffee, which is exactly the sort of thing that I was looking for, however I wasn't in the mood for a coffee so late in the day. Apart from that there was only pop and not much else. I decided to forgo the beverages altogether and opted for water. The food menu is a nice size with lots of options but simultaneously doesn't overdo it. There are many appetizers to choose from which gave me the feeling of meze, where you would order a lot of plates to share among the table. The Sujuk (housemade spicy beef sausage) sounded quite special, Grilled Halloumi Cheese is never the incorrect choice, and the Chicken Liver certainly caught my eye as a unique offering. On my first visit I wanted to stick to the guaranteed hits and ordered the Dip Trio (Hummus, baba gannouj, and laban bil khiar - $17.00) as a way to try several different flavours at once. Served with warm triangles of pita, this colourful dip trifecta was a feast for the eyes. I excitedly began to sample each one. The hummus was incredibly smooth with a nice level of garlic and tahini. The baba gannouj was my favourite. This smoked eggplant dip mixed with tahini sauce, lemon juice, and garlic really captured an incredible smokiness that was a delight to eat! And finally the laban bil khiar, which had us asking "is this tzatziki?" This yogurt dip mixed with garlic, cucumber, and dry mint is a Lebanese preparation whereas tzatziki is Greek, however they are similar. It boasted an enjoyable cooling flavour (and was excellent for dunking falafels into later on). I spotted the Garlic Potato ($11.00) on the menu and needed no further explanation. If you know a mediterranean-style potato, you know. Exactly as I had hoped, this mountain of rust-coloured potatoes were topped with a generous amount of garlic sauce. What I didn't expect was that the potatoes would be infused with a bright lemon flavour, a very welcome discovery! Some of the cubes of potato were slightly undercooked but the soft ones were perfection. The garlic sauce did its job to ensure that I shouldn't associate with any other people that day... And I didn't mind at all. I was also curious to try their version of Falafel (Chickpeas mixed with parsley and onion - $12.00). I liked the plating on a bed of vegetables and pickles which added colour and freshness. Each falafel ball had a satisfyingly crunchy shell, revealing a soft interior. Unfortunately, I found the falafel somewhat dry. Served with a dip, this helped to add some much-needed moisture. I also really enjoyed using the laban bil khiar as a dip. Overall, this wasn't a dish that I felt overly excited about. Gregg Mediterranean serves several different salads (I love a Fattoush!) and when it comes to entrees there are an array of platters to choose from. The Mashawee platter appears to be the signature dish and includes various types of meat skewers. I considered ordering a platter like this for a long while but instead wanted to try the Chicken Shawarma Wrap (Served with choice of fries or salad - $16.00) because I really enjoy a wrap like this when it's done well. I wish that there had been more of an option to customize the ingredients used inside of the wrap. I like my chicken shawarma wraps served "old school" with tons of garlic sauce, purple cabbage sauce, tomato, pink pickled turnips, pickles, and parsley. There was no opportunity to make this wrap the type of shawarma that I truly enjoy. Maybe this st

This place doesn't really catch your eye when you past by, but when you enter the restaurant you…read moreget a really cool feel like you're on a different place. Very homey and cozy atmosphere. The food is delicious, I tried the beef donair and it was so juicy and full with deliocus sweet sauce and cheese. You get two wraps with it and can either have a side of salad or fries. I had the salad and it tastes very fresh, the sauce was very tangy and has a bit of a spicy kick. My Friend tried the beef Sharma with the same sides as salads and we shared the other half of our wraps. The Sharma was a bit different, it has pickles beets which gave the beef a good contrast with the salad. Overall the Sharma tasted lighter and not as heavy and juicy as the donair. We also had desert, tried the gelato coconut and mango with whip cream. I've never tried this desert anywhere, the mango was in the center but yummy it was an awesome pair! To end the evening we ordered Turkish coffee with cardamom. The coffee was a bit string for my taste. I needed cream and lots of sugar to help with the bitter taste but overall very unique taste; however I didn't taste the cardamom. Overall the place was great, got busier towards the evening. Service was fast and friendly, the atmosphere was welcoming and the washroom was clean, but only one stall for the women.