Al Amine

Al-Amine specializes in well-known Lebanese cuisine and pastry, and “the basic thing is to deliver food to the client that’s halal,” said boss Ali Zihri.

These twin missions produce flavourful platters of grilled beef kebabs and chicken brochettes, along with customary shish taouk and shawarma, which are shavings of chicken and beef that have been slow-roasted on a spit. Al-Amine is also very vegetarian-friendly, whether it’s serving you a falafel sandwich trio, or a vegetarian dish. Portions are large. Whatever plate you order includes a selection of rice, potatoes, and assorted salads, such as tabbouleh. Alongside traditional preparations of hummus and couscous, the menu has introduced some mainstream items (think French fries, chicken wings, hamburgers), which has resulted in the creation of the shish taouk poutine. Some of the exotic beverages here include ayran (yogurt drink) and rose water.

“We have it all,” said Zihri. He’s right, because there is another counter that sells assorted baked goods, such as popular “mini-pizzas,” as well as thin pitas topped with beef (known as lahmajine), and topped with thyme (known as zaatar). There is also regular pizza, by the slice or by the box. Last but not least, there is a display of desserts ranging from pastries filled with cream cheese or date paste, to baklava, to sesame cookies.

“Everything is fresh and made in the kitchen,” said Zihri, specifying that although Al-Amine is a fast-food counter, the business is not a franchise. The operation runs under one roof, and all ingredients are prepared on-site.