Garage Beirut Montreal

Garage Beirut is a small Lebanese eatery in the heart of downtown Montreal. Offering a cozy set up, the place is decorated with framed photographs of Beirut, personal mementos and picturesque scenic views. We sat down in the half-full restaurant, happy to trade the cold outside for a hot meal. The friend with whom I went with is Lebanese herself so coming here put us squarely in her territory. I was happy to let her do the majority of the decision making and I wasn’t disappointed.

Fattouch

We started out with a fattouch – standard stuff. I enjoyed it but I think the pita chips could have been a little more crispy (or less soggy), and the salad a touch more citrusy/vinegary. The small is more than enough for two people if you’re getting mains as well. I do like the fact that the portion for this order was pretty generous.

Fried Cheese Rolls, Fried Kibbe Meatballs, Lemony Spinach Pastries, Onion and Pomegranate Pastries

The pastry plate came with fried cheese rolls and kebbe meatballs as well as lemony spinach and onion pomegranate pastries. These were all pretty delicious – I’m trying to pick a favorite but I”m having trouble! These serve as a nice appetizer to your meal and give you a good sampling of traditional Lebanese dishes which I totally appreciate.

Mixed Grill: Grilled Brochettes, Kefta Served With Hummus, Garlic

The mixed grill came with grilled chicken brochettes and two long pieces of kefta served with a seriously garlicky sauce. The chicken was tender and the kefta was nice and juicy. Paired with the intense garlic sauce, the meat here just hit the sweet spot. One note – this mixed plate was made for two – I was a little surprised at the quantity of meat on the plate. Is it just me or could there have been a few more pieces?

Mouhallabie – Milk pudding perfumed with orange blossom and topped with pistachios

The mouhallabie looked great but could have tasted better. The milk pudding was dry and chalky, bordering on flavorless once the syrupy sauce at the bottom disappeared. The pistachios and orange blossom flavors came through only at the top of the dish where the ingredients were the most obvious. Otherwise, the taste sort of diminished once you got further into the dish. This one I could have done without.

If you’re looking for a sit-down Lebanese restaurant in the downtown area, this is your spot. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. While I’m in no rush to go back, this is still a restaurant that’s on my downtown list.