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Markaz Grill & Shisha Lounge - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Halal Nightlife Bars Hookah Bars Restaurants Middle Eastern Halal, Hookah Bars, Middle Eastern [Edit]
222 Richmond Street WestToronto, ON M5V 1V6
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Downtown Core
(416) 340-7401
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- No
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
8 reviews for Markaz Grill & Shisha Lounge
8 reviews in English
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Review from Joy S.
Woodbridge, ON
7/6/2010
Great location!
Its right beside Yuk Yuks and near Scotiabank Theatre!
I came here last week on wednesday with my friend. The place was empty. . There was another group of 3 ppl..and it was 6pm. We grabbed a seat on their couches and ordered the 2 for 20$ Shisha and some food.
The food was AMAZING for around 10$ you get a big plate full of rice,potatoes,meat,bread,sauses. It was DELICIOUS!!
The sishsa was good too!
We ordered Mango - which is apparently the most popular flavour.
It tasted amazing, nothing like we've ever had!
It started to get a little busier as the night went on. But we didnt realize till after we left that they had a rooftop patio for smoking too!!
So many people were sitting on the roof that is why it wasn't busy! We didnt clue in till we paid our bill!
Next time we are going back to sit on the roof.
We also ordered a Mango smoothie which was SOOOOOOOOOO good!!!
Im deffinitly going back soon!
The music was funky and the atmosphere was VERY Cool and Relaxeed!
The service was excellent too!Listed in: HIDDEN HIDEAWAYS
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Review from Payam Z.
3/31/2010
This is based on the initial impression!
After reading some encouraging reviews on Yelp, we decided to give Markaz a try last Sat. It was around 1:30 and were quickly running out of viable options in the theater/entertainment district (King W. area) so we jumped in a cab to Richmond, dodged cops and sketch crowd of Richmond (when did this St. get so trashy), and walked towards the shining star that is Markaz...
Alas, it is closed. Owner or manager is just chilling in the back and comes to the door to answer our concerns.
"Aren't you open 'till 3?"
"Do you guys really need to smoke that bad?"
"it's not even that, we just rushed here because you're supposed to be open"
"Well, I feel like going home early tonight, sorry guys"
Saturday night. Not even 2 am.....and this is why I'm sad to say Toronto sucks at night.
Thank you
edit after owner's comments:
1-I remember our group pleading with you that we traveled across to get to a place that's open late, and we even had out of town guests. You didn't care. After that point we mentioned if you care if you get a bad review. You also said you don't care. Your integrity depends on how you treat your customers, whether at 2pm or 2am. I wish I could have tried what you had to offer and gave a better review but unfortunately this was not the case and it should be easy to see that this is not the way to treat people who take interest in your establishment. All the best with improving your business; the idea is a good one and perhaps a welcomed change in Toronto.
2-It was barely 2(if even) and not 2:23:54!! Thanks for logging our visit!Comment from Sham A. of Markaz Grill & Shisha Lounge 4/19/2010
Thanks for your feedback Payam. I do recall when you visited… More » -
Review from Taiyab K.
Toronto, ON
6/20/2010
"Great view of the CN Tower"
- Whoever wrote this has no idea what they are talking about, there is a condo right in front of the place which covers practically the entire CN Tower...all you can see is less than half of the "dome" and that's it. I am surprised whoever wrote it...did that, if you look at it through Google Street View; you can see that there has never been a "Great View of the CN Tower". Even before the place opened, the condo building was still there!
Nevertheless, the shisha is OK, lots of flavours and you can mix them too plus tobacco is allowed on the patio...food, nothing spectacular...the hummus had a little too much chickpea and not enough tahini. We were sitting across a table where a guy waited around 45 minutes for his meal, another 8 minutes for his fork...and by the time it was all said and done, it was cold...so add more time for them to put it back in the oven. Tsk tsk. We waited quite a bit as well, but we didn't keep track of time as we were just talking with each other.
The patio is nice, not sure if it can seat 85 people...part of the patio is under construction, as of 6/18/10. A giant dragonfly or something came on the patio and scared the hell out of me...maybe get some mosquito repellant once summer gets into full swing.
The decor downstairs is quite nice actually, had a very nice feel and seemed very authenthic. The patio was pretty snazzy too with the the nice white sofas, keep them clean though so it looks even snazzier.
They had punjabi music on upstairs...not sure why, the owners may be Pakistani, so I can see shisha being a part of Pakistani culture but not really Punjabi culture.
I am very hard on this place, yes. I see it as a diamond in the rough for now, it is in a great location, and shisha is becoming really popular as a way to hang out with your friends so let's say you went clubbing and then after that you can go have some shisha...Markaz is the perfect place to go. They got to take advantage of that, stay open till 5am like Alladin's in Mississauga is, I've seen lots of people going to Alladin's after a night of partying when I am at Alladin's at like 3-4am.
Decent place, just needs to polish up. Improve service and wait times, and we got a nice place.Comment from Sham A. of Markaz Grill & Shisha Lounge 7/6/2010
Thank you for your feedback Taiyab. We have recently… More » -
Review from Farheen K.
Toronto, ON
3/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
I dont think I have ever left a place with such mixed feelings. I liked Markaz. Actually no, I didnt really. No but I kinda did. Meh, not really. See what I mean?
Lets start with the Do's first:
DO: soundproof that ceiling! Exposed brick and hardwood floors make for an echoing mess in this cozy but chilly atmosphere. If I wanted strangers to hear my every thought, I would walk around with a microphone stuck to my neck. Ya dig?
DO: whisper to your friends because all the tables and staff are going to eavesdrop on your convos. Have I proved my point yet?
DO: Order the sheesha. No tobacco, no nicotine but tastes the same as the one thats bad for you. Good deal. Read Sameer D.'s review for the inside scoop on this concoction.
DO: order the masala chai. A bit on the unconventional side, its a pleaser nonetheless.
DO: check this place out once. The decor is traditional and upscale. The staff knowledgeable.
Now to the DONT's:
DONT: go here with just a $20 in your pocket. This place is NOT cheap. $14 for a regular sheesha. $22 for "specialty mixes". Insanity.
DONT: look shocked if the owner brings your tea, points to the miniature french press and chimes "do you know what this is".. Umm..do i know what a french press is? Would that be a place where newspapers are printed?
DONT: get milk with your masala chai. You will be adviced against it and just listen to the guy making all the suggestions and teaching you the mechanisms of the french press.
I like this place but something was wrong during my first visit there. Once the upstairs patio opens and I have another wednesday night to spare, I will re-try the Markaz Cafe and Shisha Lounge.
p.s. they are fully Halal and do not serve alcohol.
p.p.s they are open till 3am on weekends.Listed in: The Real Brown
Comment from Sham A. of Markaz Grill & Shisha Lounge 4/7/2010
Farheen, Thank you for your review. I have worked hard to… More » -
Review from Radhika G.
Toronto, ON
7/16/2011
I've only smoked shisha here, haven't eaten or drank anything. $14 for melon dew shisha. Lasted us a while, and was a great new flavour that I'd never seen offered anywhere else. Music was authentic-sounding but nothing too crazy, and the place was decorated pretty nicely. Woohoo, a decent shisha place in Toronto!
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Review from Junaid U.
Toronto, ON
4/7/2010
While I didn't love the food or the sheesha, I'd still go back for more and here's why:
- the sheesha isn't great, but hella good compared to any other sheesha joints downtown,
- the food is good...but binocular distance far from great. The fact that it comes with sheesha and a rockin morrocan green tea makes it a little more worth while.
- the ambience! To me, this was the selling point and the main reason I'd return to this place. Cozy booths and a nice decour count for something. While I was there, there was a live musician playing the bongo along with the soft background music which completely turned my frown upside down n actually helped me enjoy this place for what it is!
I'm a Pakistani with a sheesha in my family room...So keep in mind I'm a very harsh critic for both the food and the wacky tobaccy. What makes this place a real winner though is the fact that it's got a lil sumfin for everyone: food that's eatable, sheesha that smokes well and a cozy place to take it all in.
If you're looking for a unique night out, check this place out...the owner is real nice and the city of Toronto needs to do what it can to keep an enjoyable place like this from going under.Comment from Sham A. of Markaz Grill & Shisha Lounge 4/7/2010
Thank you for your review. Custom made herbal Shisha… More » -
Review from Christine K.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2010
Okay me and some gal pals had a blast here - we love the ambience and ohhhh sooo many cuties to occupy our eyes.
The ambience was just perfect the night we made our way here - cocktails were mixed and made the way cocktails should be made.
Just thinking about my evening here brings a smile to my face - I felt I was worlds away from Toronto...was it Markaz or other influences..not sure...just know it was a great evening. -
Review from Mark A.
Toronto, ON
9/3/2010
Great location, delicious meals and I really liked the portion sizes. The tea was great and as a big time Shisha (hookah / nargile) smoker I have never tasted a better one anywhere in the GTA. The Shisha's where very clean and stylish. The staff was very friendl. I'll be defiantly one of their regular customers from now on...
Comment from Sham A. of Markaz Grill & Shisha Lounge 1/25/2011
hey mark, I am so happy you liked Markaz. I look forward to… More »
