Soufi’s – 676 Queen Street West Toronto On M6J 1E5
Country: Syria
Seating: Small indoor space
Must-try dish: Zaatar Manaeesh

Mandrea Bike returned to Syria, as much as one can go within the confines of Toronto, for a brief lunch in-between Andrea’s busy work-day. 

Soufis is a small family-run restaurant that specializes in Manaeesh, which is a popular Levantine food consisting of fresh oven-baked flatbread topped with a selection of different ingredients. It truly is the ideal lunch as it isn’t heavy nor greasy, but instead, it’s light, colouful, and full of taste. 

As with most of Eat the World TO’s meals, there is an effort to find the most authentic variety of dishes in order to sample the native flavours of the respective country. Therefore, after consultation with the staff member, two of the more traditional Manaeesh were on the lunch schedule, accompanied by labneh – which is a yogurt-based dip with a side of pita.

Here’s the order: 

• Zaatar: Thyme & olive oil filling
• Sfeeha: Beef & vegetable filling
• Labneh dip with pita bread

Mat picked up the meal from Soufis’ storefront on Queen Street and was pleasantly surprised by Andreas’ stunning backyard setup – a chic table arrangement in the backyard garden that gave the impression of dining in the courtyard of a Tuscany villa.

The must-try dish of the afternoon was the Sfeeha Manaeesh because the flavour combination was more delightful on the palate. The Zaatar – a dynamic duo of olive oil and thyme reminiscent of Thanksgiving seasoning was enjoyed but just didn’t have the same impact on the taste scale. 

Soufis is a great little spot to grab a light lunch on the go or dine in once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. With the food and beverage industry being gravely affected by the recent events. Mandrea Bike urges their readers to support their favourite restaurants to ensure that the culinary diversity in Toronto retains its vibrant international flair. 

Eat with you soon,

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)