Once upon a time I vowed to “not leave one hot pot lid unturned, snail shell unhollowed, or souvlaki foil emptied” and a bunch of other inspiring and ambitious proclamations. And I’ve kept my promise, from the west island, to the east end, Montreal north, to the southwest I’m discovering it all. I don’t often venture outside Montreal – or at least document my findings on here – after all I’ve made the clear distinction to bring froth the best of our city. However, when I get word of places in the “Greater Montreal Area” aka off-island, AKA, Laval, or South shore, I can’t ignore the possibility of a worthwhile blip on the radar. That why this week I’m going to tell you about the one of the hottest brunch destinations that just happens to be in Laval at a place called Manti.
armenian
When a restaurant describes themselves as “simply the best Syrian/Armenian food you could ever find in Montreal”, you investigate. Yes, it’s common for restaurants to make grandiose claims for serving the best whatever or being the most authentic such and such, or like when that barbecue place in Laval declared to be the best Southern Barbecue restaurant in Montreal. A lot of these claims are unfounded. I checked out Restaurant Zenobia in Ville Saint-Laurent and prepared myself for the Syrian/Armenian food that would surely blow my socks off.
I love Middle-eastern food. It encompasses a flavour profile of exotic tastes and aroma that entices me. I grew up experiencing all types of Asiatic cuisine, and have only developed an affinity for Middle-Eastern food later in life – only because I was never exposed to it when I was young. My family exploring different cuisines never strayed from what we were accustomed to – Italian and Greek was as far as we ventured. My life changed the first time I tired hummus, kafta and kebabs. Montreal is the city to eat in if you’re looking for diversity. If you’ve never had to opportunity to try Middle-Eastern cuisine before, consider yourself lucky because Montreal is home to some pretty awesome spots. I was recently a guest of KazaMaza located in the eclectic Mile-end to discovery their menu of Middle-Eastern gems.