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Tabule Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Vegetarian Middle Eastern, Vegan, Vegetarian [Edit]
2009 Yonge StreetToronto, ON M4S 1Z8
Neighbourhood: Hogg's Hollow
(416) 483-3747
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
42 reviews for Tabule Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The falafel was great-- served hot." In 10 reviews -
"One exception is the Baba Ganoush which is delicious." In 3 reviews -
"...thing they do when they pour the water made me stay super..." In 4 reviews
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Samia M.
Toronto, ON
3/24/2012
Being an Arab and a foodie, I judge restaurants that serve my own people's cuisine a bit more harshly than other types. Plus, my mom is a phenom in the kitchen. Needless to say, I grew up spoiled...and fat. But I digress...
Tabule is awesome. First of all, I recommend making reservations. It's definitely a popular restaurant and it's a bit small on the inside (typical for Yonge St).
The decor is nice- the lighting is dim, Moroccan lanterns cast shapes and designs on the walls, it feels authentic without being cheesy. It's a fine line...
We started with fried cauliflower, baba ghanouj, stewed tomatoes, falafel and olives. The fried cauliflower was amazing. It was well seasoned, fried so quickly that it wasn't mushy and drizzled with a tahini sauce that nicely complements the flavors. The stewed tomatoes were garlicky with a bit of a kick. The falafel and baba ghanouj, while old favorites, tasted like my mom's. The bread was served warm.
We ordered the grilled shrimp entree, pan fried sea bass and the roasted vegetable meal. The shrimp were grilled nicely- not overcooked, and marinated in a dry rub. I asked for fattoush in place of the rice, which was great. My husband loved the sea bass. Often times restaurants season the hell out of fish, but the sea bass was definitely the main show here. The veggie meal was served with mujaddara- a delightful lentil and rice pilaf.
Not sure how people are giving this place 3 stars, because it was a solid meal. If you have a hankering for some crunchy falafel or creamy hummus, definitely visit Tabule. -
Review from SB M.
5/14/2012
Our meal was hit and miss.
Babaghanoush starter was excellent. Smoky, lemony, terrific!
Mains were kefta will rice. Wife got the standard, I got the kefta in tomatoe sauce. Both were enjoyable, but neither was anything special. Slightly dry keftas, and the grilled vegetables were inconsistent (overcooked peppers, undercooked onions).
Serving sizes were very large - neither of us finished our mains.
I would definitely go back, but wouldn't go out of my way.
Oh, one more thing - the yelp map is off by about 4 km. This place is south of Eglinton, not by York Mills. -
Review from Darren L.
Scarborough, ON
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went there during Winterlicious. The food was very good. Very tasty falafels. A little light on the portions for my liking but still very good.
The one problem I had was that they really packed people in there like sardines. Because of this, the waiters were never around or available which really put a downer on the night. -
Review from K H.
Toronto, ON
5/21/2012
Really good food, especially the hummus. Enjoyed our entrees and the tea that followed. Service was very relaxed, which was probably good for most people having Saturday lunch 'n' linger but frustrating for us because we were on a schedule. Have been several times and always left satisfied.
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Review from Matt A.
Toronto, ON
5/13/2012
We've been to Tabule 6 times now for a reason. Love this place. Great service. Nice atmosphere. And they're generous too. Little touches like complimentary pita, a generous middle eastern olive and pickle plate and healthy portions make it clear that quality takes precedence over corner cutting.
If you're looking for Middle Eastern food that's a clear step above the Shwarma joints littered all over the city, try Tabule. You will not regret it it. -
Review from Ellie A.
Updated - 1/15/2012
Last night I went to Tabule with my mom, step-dad, husband and sister. The place was utterly slammed. Because it's a small restaurant, there wasn't much room for those of us waiting for tables to stand and wait, which meant servers had to squeeze by the dense crowd of people quite often to get to their tables. It could easily have descended into unpleasantness.
Instead, the servers were thoughtful, polite and seemed genuinely apologetic that we had to wait. The manager on the floor gave us regular updates on the status of our table, and when we were eventually seated, our server came to check in immediately. We got warm, professional and super-speedy service with no trace of the annoyance or panic that you might normally feel at a restaurant that's been overwhelmed with too many people all at once. And the food? Still perfectly cooked, delicious and generous.
Tabule, you're becoming one of my very favourite restaurants in this city. And for those reading this review: Saturday nights are BUSY. Don't say I didn't warn you.Listed in: Best of the Best: Must try…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2011
I LOVE Tabule. I'm always complaining that restaurants could do more little things to make a… Read more »
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Review from Mariko M.
Updated - 1/29/2012
Came back today for lunch with some friends.
I had their lentil soup and it was quite tasty albeit quite simple**.
They advertise the fact that there's no milk or cream in it so I guess it's healthy (I hope...)?
I'll be back.
** = http://www.thestar.com...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2010
I finally dined at Tabule! Score!
The first time I noticed this place was last year when I was… Read more »
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Review from jocelyn l.
1/9/2012
Wow.
We had a fabulous meal here.
I've walked by this restaurant numerous times (i used to work down the street) but had never ventured in there until my sis visited and wanted good Mediterranean cuisine
Definitely make a reservation; the restaurant was packed on a Thursday night around 8p.
Food:
We ordered a bunch of appetizers and 2 mains between the 4 of us:
- Sampler Platter of hummus, babagnouj, tabule:
i'm not a fan of parsley, but the tabule was awesome! so fresh
- Deep fried Cauliflower: YUM. One of my fave dishes of the night. it was perfectly done and very tasty
- Fried Eggplant: delish!
- Falafels: I loved their falafels. one of the best falafels i've ever had
- Lamb and beef kebabs with fries: lamb was very flavorful
- Grilled Chicken breast with roasted veges: i'm not usually a fan of grilled chicken breast (too dry) but this was juicy and flavorful, and the grilled veges is the way to go- so yummy!
- Dessert: Künafa ashta. Lebanese custard topped with fine shreds of phyllo pastry, pistachios and rose water syrup. This is definitely an acquired taste; it tasted like potpurri to me...
The check came up to $70++ + tip; very reasonable and a very pleasant surprise for a neighborhood joint. -
Review from Steven K.
Whitby, ON
1/22/2012
On one particular night recentlly, I happenned to be driving up Yonge Street on my way to my house in the burbs. As I usually do, i was looking at all of the various stores and restaurants that are littered on either side of Yonge. It was on this ride, that I noticed the very welcoming inner lights of Tabule and it was at that point I made a mental note to visit YELP and see what fellow yelpers had to say about this place before I went.
The reviews as you can tell, do not hold back.This place is all that you read, and then some.
All I can say is reserve, reserve, reserve. Especially if your going on a Saturday night ( the night with belly dancers!). This place is very cozy, and as a result not much space to hang around. We were promptly greeted by the servers and seated. Service at this place is expectional, try to not get hypnotized by the server pouring your water.
The food was simply delightful. This place is not to be missed. -
Review from Michael S.
East York, ON
2/11/2012
Always excellent food and friendly service - reasonably priced- if you crave nice middle - eastern north African this is the best you can do north of Queen st
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Review from Linda M.
11/16/2011
Oh how I love sharing a bunch of mezzes (appetizers) and a bottle of wine with a group of friends! This restaurant has been on my short list for the 'licious events for several seasons, but I'd never made it there until it was chosen this month for my dining group. It's size is deceiving, I thought it was just one little area with seating for about 20, but then you go around the corner and there's double the amount of space. The décor was typical for a Middle Eastern restaurant, and not overdone. I also really liked that they had a dish of pickled nibbles on the table - olives, hot peppers, radish, etc. The service was excellent, our server was friendly and helpful with our selections and very patient with us as well. Whenever we needed something, she was there, but at the same time she wasn't overbearing.
We ordered:
-a sample platter of dips including babaganuj, humus, and labni: Each of the dips was delicious and creamy, and we were provided with extra pitas without hassle. For those who like a little spice, try the labni (a yogurt based dip) on the pita with one of the hot peppers from the pickle dish - it's like a jalapeno popper!
-fried eggplant: Before I tried it, someone mentioned it and I couldn't believe how true it was: it tasted like a toasted marshmallow. Don't ask me how, I can't explain it...it just did.
-cauliflower: really tasty and surprised me as I thought it would likely be kind of a dull dish. It had nice seasonings and was served with a little sauce on top that was a great complement.
-falafel: I've never actually had falafel (I know, I know) so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it - but it was delicious! The sauce again was a perfect accompaniment.
-grape leaves: I've been in love with stuffed grape or vine leaves since I tried them earlier this year, and have tried them many times since - and often been disappointed. This vegetarian version was just perfect though.
-sausage: This also packed a surprise, with a sneaking spice. My first bite I didn't think it was spicy at all, but it hits you after a bit. Still a good level of spice, most people could definitely handle it. The really surprising thing about this sausage though was that it had a definite flavour of cinnamon. It was very good, but never what I would have expected in a sausage.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for some Middle Eastern flair. I will definitely be back.
Oh, and yes, the way they pour the water is pretty cool.Listed in: November's 30 in 30, Dining group!
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Review from Maddy K.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2011
LOVED it!
I've seen it for years on Yonge Street heading downtown and always wondered about it. But because its in the middle of Eglinton and Davisville on Yonge its not exactly somewhere I would find myself going out to dinner. However, when I was planning a Summerlicious dinner out with friends who only ate halal meat I thought this would be the perfect time to try this Middle Eastern restaurant.
The PLUSES
1. Food:
- great big portions (even for the Summerlicious menu)
- for Summerlicious specifically - a great selection on the menu
- excellent meals from appetizers, entrees to dessert
2. Entertainment value
- The water-pouring performance - it's a show! We found ourselves stopping our conversations watching the water being poured and just because of that if nothing else one can be assured that you'll walk out of there hydrated!
- There is a belly dancer but we didn't see her when we were there
3. Patio
- great patio - its not on the most crowded part of yonge street and it has a good amount of space
4. Service
- It's not exceptional by any means but the staff is friendly.
- We did have to wait to be served - they did forget about us initially when we were seated on the patio and there was a confusion of who our server was: there was the greeter at the front door, the hostess who walked you to your seat, the water performer were all warm up acts leading to the server who was around 20 minutes late
5. Halal
- its was so great to find a nice looking place at a great locations that served halal food. But be aware that only their meat is halal and not the chicken. It doesn't make sense to me but that's what they say!
Appetizers: I had the grilled eggplant which was tossed in lemon - delic! And the rest of table had the sampler plate with a great tabule (not over done with parsley), mini falafels and baba ganoush or hummus - I can't remember. The platter was great as well.
Entrees: We ordered the lamb dishes which were phenomenal. I am not a red meat eater but have been told I need to add it to my diet. So I decided to make this meal my first go at lamb and I think may just be a convert now. The aromas in the dish and the flavours in the gravy were divine. Each entrée comes with rice and grilled vegetables which are really great as well.
Dessert: the orange/ raspberry sherbet ice cream was the best I have ever had!! It was incredible - so glad I picked this over the baklava plate. I had never tasted anything like it!
Have been there once again since Summerlicious and would love to back! -
Review from Jenne Y.
Toronto, ON
12/2/2011
I really wish I could rate 3.5 stars because this restaurant is solidly between an A-OK and a Yay, I'm a fan.
So what did I have...
Lentil Soup: It's was ai'ight. The flavour was good, the soup itself was watered down. Not sure how the flavour managed to show up with all the watering down, but it did nonetheless and that's why it was just ai'ight.
Falafel Salad: This is pretty good. It's fresh, lemony (if you don't like lemons, you won't like this so much), and the falafels are nice and crunchy. I always have this dish wishing there were more falafels rolling around on the plate.
The upside to this resto is that they deliver locally which can be convenient. The downside is that your delivery bill comes to some ridiculous number in the high-50's to low-60's for a meal for two people. For delivery, that's pretty pricey.
Like I said, a solid 3.5 sitting between A-OK and Yay.
Happy munching! -
Review from Heather B.
Scarborough, ON
9/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
People should come here just to see how they pour your water :)
The guy has your glass and then pours the water from a spout like a 2 meters high.. very impressive!
Ordered from the business lunch menu which had plenty to choices to choose from.
I went with with Lamb pita which came with salad but then ended up ordering my friend's dinner which was the steak pita ... thanks for stealing my lunch Jerkus :)
Didn't matter I enjoyed my lunch all the same. The salad was really tasty with a nice vinaigrette and a hint of mint.
I will eventually go back and try one of their lunch salads alone.
My pita was packed with flavour and tender steak it just melted in your mouth.
Nice portion as well - but typical me didn't finish my meal.. I was close though!
Service was great and the staff are very welcoming and friendly.
Will definetely make a trip back.
Thanks for introducing me to Lebo Mr SK! -
Review from Mat D.
North York, ON
12/17/2011
BEST TABULE EVER!
This is a great place for traditional, North African Arab food.
It has the feel of a very well run family restaurant with a nice ambiance and a good menu.
You cant go to a place named Tabule and not have a Tabule (treditional Arabic parsely salad). This is one of my favorite dishes and I eat it as often as I can so I think im qualified to say it is one of, if not, the best tabule around. Very clean, tasty and rich in flavor.
The main dish was average kebbob and chicken on rice, good eat but nothing out of this world or special. They dont give you any kind of side sauce which made it a little dry.
I would recommend going there and pigging out on all the appetizers.
I really enjoyed the experience and I am glad I managed to find this place and will be going back. -
Review from Raz A.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went to tabule with my husband for lunch , I knew it would be busy for dinner so we decided on lunch since I hate waiting too long for a table . Our server was nice , we ordered the hummus, tabouleh and kebbe for appetizers and I had the keftah for the entree and my husband had the chicken liver . The food was good , the server didn't come check on us after the entree were served I was hearing her talking on the phone . When we were ready for the check she was nowhere to be found and my husband had to literary go and asked her for the check then she came back and said that she was sorry that she was taking take out orders but i was listening to her and she was having a personal conversation . i wanted to give them 4 stars but only 3 for the service cause we were the only ones in the store there was no excuse!
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Review from Q B.
Toronto, ON
2/12/2012
Atmosphere/Decor = Cozy
Food = Pretty good
Service = Not impressive. Server seemed frazzled.
Price = Medium -
Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
5/11/2011
Ellie A. took me here after a sordid afternoon at Barley's Angels courtesy of Yelp. We were famished (okay, okay - maybe just me) & this place knocked my socks off. Service was so friendly, that thing they do when they pour the water made me stay super hydrated, & the food was prompt and delicious. DELICIOUS.
It's probably not cool that I subtracted a star because they're not located near me. Sigh. They can do magical things with eggplant. -
Review from Tatiana L.
Scarborough, ON
2/4/2012
Good food. Very small portions. Slow service. Took forever to get our drinks and food.
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Review from Gokul M.
Toronto, ON
2/9/2012
Excellent quality of food. Service was pleasant. Have live belly dancing and music, so entertainment is covered and delightful. Enjoyed the appetizer platter a lot. Good variety of options in menu.
Definitely want to go back there some time. -
Review from Imran N.
3/27/2011
Not bad.
Don't go for lunch because it's a different experience. They cut out too many things.
I've been there a lot by virtue of working in the area and having one of my good friends stay in the area.
If you want to have a good time, this is the formula:
Go on a monday or tuesday when you can bring your own wine for free.
If in a group, order a shit load of appetizers and try everything (for every one person, order 1.25 appetizers). Then share a bunch of entrees, at a ratio of about 2/3rd the number of people.
This way, you will each spend about $30 but you will be stuffed and have tried so many different things.
This has been the winning formula in my experience.
Service is good, fun, cool water service, nice at night!
oh and for dessert, you have to order the Knaffa ana. Normally this dish is made with warm cheese, but i ventured out and tried their version with
cream and rose syrup and it blew my mind.
p.s LCBO is jut down the street south on yonge!Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from Bob C.
Toronto, ON
1/19/2012
I live in the neighbourhood and Tabule is one of my faves. Good, healthy food simply prepared. Lots of it and very good value. Good fast service and, if you go on bellydancing night, a lot of fun.
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Review from Robert S.
Toronto, ON
7/13/2011
Checked this place out for Summerlicious - had a spy at the regular menu and was quite satisfied enough to return to sample more at some point.
Small place, nice ambience and very friendly and helpful staff. There was a line-up out the door and it was a Tuesday night, so the place must have a good reputation.
The Kubbeh (cracked wheat shell stuffed with ground lamb and beef, onions and pine nuts) was amazing; wasn't crazy about my main (Kefta Kebab - skewers ofspiced mixed ground lamb & beef) which was a little too spicy for my tastes. For dessert the baklava was stellar!
Great cocktail menu too. I think this would be a good place to come on dates. -
Review from Josefa M.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2011
Would I eat at Tabule again? Yes. However, we were completely ignored by the wait-staff who kept walking past us to serve all the other people who arrived after we did (and left before us)! Although they kept apologizing for forgetting about us, it did have an effect on our experience there and the tip!
I had mint tea, lentil soup and shared labni (it was quite good), hummus, tabule and one of the salads. It was all refreshing and light, though I think I will have to return to try some of the meat.
The belly dancer came out at 9 pm and between her and the wait-staff squeezing past our table and brushing against us (as did her scarf while she was twirling), I will admit it was a bit distracting. Lucky for them I find the humour in things and laughed about everything. Except for when it took them 30 minutes to bring us the very tasty sorbet for dessert.
All in all, I would go back but next time I may not have 2 hours to eat, so hopefully I will have a more positive experience.
February 2011 - Ok, so I went back and had a much better experience! The hummus was extra lemony - delicious! -
Review from Tina H.
2/22/2011
I needed delivery and looked up some places and these guys delivered so I thought I'd give it a shot.
Pretty tasty food at a decent value. The beef was a bit dried out but decent. Everything was a bit too salty.
The arugula salad had wilted pieces of arugula, which was rather disappointing. The fried cheese that came on it was tasty but very salty.
The pickles were gross and tasted like sodium benzoate, a food preservative with a strong flavour found in some foods. I'm sensitive to stuff like that, so the pickles included were a waste, though they came unexpectedly so it's kind of like a bonus item gone wrong.
Overall, it was good enough but I'd think twice before ordering takeout again. On the plus side, they said it'd take an hour and it came in about 30 minutes. -
Review from Kenny T.
Toronto, ON
7/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Will start giving them props for their delivery, especially on Sundays and holidays! Also generous portions, which mean even when you eat in you will have leftovers to bring home. I always gravitate to the predictable parts of the menu falafel, tabbouleh, fatoush and hummus...always good and fresh. I find the physical space too dark and run down and the air-con is not strong enough to cool things in the summer. Good neighbourhood spot, but nothing super special.
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Review from Sonja Elen K.
Toronto, ON
2/28/2011
I went to Tabule on a first date, and we both loved it. The waitor was very friendly. We asked her to recommend her favourite dish, and we had a falafel plate with cauliflower and 3 spreads. The cauliflower was deliciously seasoned!!!
We teased our waitor for her being required by her job to do the neat "pour the water and hold the jug at a distance" piece of showmanship that all the waitors at Tabule do, and we left her a generous tip.
I think it's closer to Rosedale station than to Eglinton station. The price could be argued to be a tiny bit high for what you get, but I didn't feel at all like I was wasting my money. The level of service and the ambiance were worth it. -
Review from L B.
Toronto, ON
6/12/2010
We had a good experience here although I wasn't wowed anything and have definitely had better middle eastern.
We had falafel out appetizer and kefta and tawuk skewers for our mains. I definitely agree that we could have shared just one of these mains and we both would have been stuffed. The food was ok, but I definitely wouldn't write home about it. As someone who cooks at home a lot, I'd definitely say my own tawuk and kefta kabobs are better.
The service was friendly but was a little slow. -
Review from Andrea R.
Toronto, ON
8/7/2011
I went to Tabule with some friends during Summerlicious. We got a 3-course lunch for $15, and overall, it was a fine experience. The service was a little bit slow at times, but the food was good. The burnt honey gelato was absolutely out of this world, and was definitely the highlight for me. My only complaint about the food is that for the kefta kebab, we only got 3 pieces of kefta, which wasn't as much as I would have expected for a main dish. Then again, when you're getting 3 courses, you don't need a lot of food for a main.
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Review from Ktimene G.
8/10/2009
Tabule's patio is always packed, the atmosphere is warm, but service and food disappointed.
The platter of 3 cold apps is a decent deal at $13 for a long plate; we chose hummos, baba ganoush, and lebanese cream cheese yoghurt. The hummus was a bit starchy-tasting for my preference, the baba was nothing to write home about, and the cream cheese stuff was heavy.
The falafel was great-- served hot. Best part of the meal.
We were sitting with our appetizer plate a good 40 minutes before it was cleared (and still hadn't gotten our mineral water). We figured they forgot we existed, and conspired to get the check with only the apps that had been delivered. Finally they arrived to clear the table to deliver the main course.
The kefta was pretty good-- a bit dry-- but the rice was sadly inedible for a gluten-free person-- it had noodles interspersed. That meant the server hadn't listened when I stated dietary restrictions.
Our mineral water came near the end of our meal.
I would go back here only if having a major falafel craving! -
Review from Mitch S.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2009
I really don't understand how this place has gotten so much hating by Torontonians! I honestly think it's the best Middle Eastern in the city and my Israeli girlfriend clams the best Baba ghanoush she's had outside of Israel...I'd say that's a pretty big thumbs up...
I've been here twice now and each time I've left completely satisfied and had a great time. We had Ashley as a server both times and her recommendations and service is fabulous. Table favourites are the Baba ghanoush, falafel and cauliflower.
If you like Middle Eastern food, you've definitely got to give Tabule a try. -
Review from Raghida S.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2011
Ok this is the best middle eastern (more Lebanese cuisine) restaurant in Toronto and Montreal. I've tried many restaurants in Montreal (the highest rated ones) and probably all mid-eastern restaurants in Toronto and none compare. The meat is always very tender, the lamb is highly recommended. They offer mennonite farm meat for those looking for a more organic alternative. The eggplant and stuffed grape leaves are great. It's best to order a bunch of apps and maybe a main to share with others. After years of frequenting this restaurant though, they could use some menu additions. It's also very affordable for what you get.
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Review from TOFoodReviews n.
Toronto, ON
12/10/2011
What makes for a great neighbourhood restaurant? There are certain essential qualities that it must have: a friendly, knowledgeable staff, a charming host, great atmosphere and above all, fantastic food. Tabülé is unquestionably one of these restaurants. Serving amazing Middle Eastern cuisine, Tabülé is a midtown spot not to be missed.
Tabülé offers fresh, intensely flavoured dishes from start to finish. Over several visits, I have had the pleasure of trying about half the menu and have yet to come across a dish that wasn't utterly delectable. Normally not a big fan of eggplant, I make exceptions here for the babaganüj, a gorgeous pureéd eggplant dip mixed with tahini, garlic and lemon juice. Additionally, the fried eggplant has great char on it and is finished with a lemon & garlic dressing that adds a bright note to the soft, creamy, rich starter. Not to be overlooked are the fresh, pungent tabülé and the labni which is a yogurt cheese mixed with a healthy dose of garlic and topped with zaatar. Finally, the hot cauliflower appetizer was recommended by the host who did not steer us in the wrong direction. Finished with Lebanese tahini, there were polite fights over who would get the last morsel.
Once you have gorged yourself on the hot and cold mezze (starters), it is time to move on the main event. There is always a fresh fish of the day, topped with the bright house lemon and garlic dressing. The grilled mains all come with heaping portions of rice with crispy onions for texture as well as grilled peppers, onions and zucchini. The kefta is certainly a popular option and a tasty one at that. Consider them Lebanese meatballs, made with a mix of ground lamb and beef, tomatoes, onions, parsley, garlic and lemon juice. Always perfectly cooked, they are steaming hot upon arrival at the table, a little bit pink inside. Also fabulous is the charcoal-broiled shrimp that have been marinated in Middle Eastern spices. Spicy and succulent, they are even slightly better with the squeeze of lemon that accompanies this particular dish. You will not want to share them with your dining companions.
While you are thoroughly enjoying your food, take some time to look around and drink in the atmosphere. The restaurant itself is cozy without feeling claustrophobic and the dining room is host to just about every demographic in Toronto. You will see couples on dates, families, birthday celebrations, even bachelorette parties. On Saturday night, people wait patiently at the bar for a table and are entertained by the belly dancing show at 9pm. Though a little calmer during lunch, Tabülé certainly does not lack atmosphere. Upon return visits, you will notice that you see the same wait staff over and over again - a good sign in a turbulent industry. Hospitality is the name of the game here, and it is done expertly.
Should you have room for dessert (and if you don't, just loosen your belt a little. It's worth it), check out the künafa ashta. Lebanese custard is topped with super fine shreds of phyllo pastry, pistachios and rose water syrup. Light and not overly sweet, this dish is a superb way to end a meal and is a paradigm of why Tabülé's menu is so successful: it combines many elements in a balanced, seamless dish. It is at once creamy, crunchy, a bit tart, a bit sweet and is highly aromatic.
Like the final course of the evening, all the dishes at Tabülé balance flavor and texture and, because of this, the food is elevated beyond the ingredients. Pop in for a meal, or have one delivered to you: either way, you enjoy a hearty, mouth-watering meal that will have you coming back for more. -
Review from Elyte B.
Toronto, ON
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Tabule is on an unassuming strip of real estate that doesn't get too much foot traffic - on Yonge, south of Eglinton but north of Davisville. I'm a firm believer that this stretch of Yonge houses the better restaurants in the Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood, but none is quite as good as Tabule. I love everything about this place. Firstly, the food. Quite simply, its incredibly tasty, while still being healthy. Everything is so flavourful and fresh. My family is from the middle east, and I dont get food that tastes this good unless I am back visiting people in the middle east (I've gone with people from the middle east and they said that it tastes like home - there cant be a more rave review than that). Secondly, the decor sets an ambiance that transports you off of Yonge street into a corner cafe in a side alley in a souk someplace exotic. Thirdly, the service is great; attentive but not overly so, yet always making sure that your water glass is full (and the way they pour it is so fun!). GO TRY THIS PLACE!!!
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Review from Ella B.
Toronto, ON
1/25/2010
This place feels like you walked into someone's Lebanese dinner table. Wonderful atmosphere and great service meet delicious middle eastern food.
I recommend sharing a combination of a few warm and cold appetizers to get started. Their baba is great as is the labnah, Kube, humus and falafel. The pita was good and they have a choice of whole wheat or white pita. Then if you have any room left (and it's challenge trust me) sharing a main course is no problem you will be happily full. I've had both the chicken and lamb and they were both delicious especially with some pita and humous.
My favourite part is the no corkage fee during the week. -
Review from M. C. F.
Toronto, ON
3/1/2010
First off, I've never been in the restaurant and have only done delivery. Someone in my building had ordered this and I smelled the food as the delivery guy passed by. I'm very familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine, so I asked for a menu and tried them out.
The food has been great every time. It's Middle Eastern done well. The Fried Eggplant is greasy but delectable and the Babaganuj was also quite impressive. The falafels are not the best I've ever had (that distinction goes to the stand that used to be in What A Bagel on Bathurst south of Wilson 3 years ago, but I digress) but they are very tasty. The Warak Enab and Mujaddara are middle of the road dishes but great as sides from time to time. The Kefta however is top notch and can't be missed.
I found the prices to be elevated by about 20% compared to what I'd want to pay. This keeps me from ordering more often. The two most recent times, my tallies have been about $50 and $65 for two people. They also have a very heft delivery charge of $7.50 outside of the inner radius.
Having not visited the property yet, I have not been subject to slow or sub-par service. Therefore, I am compelled to recommend that you try this joint at least once, even by ordering delivery if you must. -
Review from Amy G.
8/24/2009
tabule. a bit of a trek to get to if you're downtown and to be honest: not worth my TTC coins. first off, the service is very slow and i waited at least 20 for my apps, another 35-40 for my fish and when i finally got my drink, it was very weak. the worst part is that i also happened to dine when the belly dancer was in. omg is it kitschy in the Worst - with a capital W - way, and it made me feel embarrassed to eat. no thanks. i love me some lebanese food, but i'll get my falafel and bb ganoush at ghazale.
to be fair, i'll be honest and say that the apps were pretty good; i really liked the lentil soup and the shared combo plate. -
Review from Letrell S.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2010
I've dined at Tabule six times in the past few months. I loved Middle Eastern cuisine but find their food average. Acceptable but nothing to rave about. One exception is the Baba Ganoush which is delicious.
Although they serve lunch on weekends, you must order off the dinner menu (lunch menu is only served M-F).
I find the service at Tabule consistently poor. Today's snotty waitress was no exception. Had to ask for water, utensils and our check. Not acceptable.
There are better places in TO. -
Review from Jay S.
Toronto, ON
6/12/2009
Surprised that nobody reviewed this place yet. I had a friend that came in from out of town which I haven't seen for awhile. So I wanted to find a good place to catch up , something that was warm, intimate but also vibrant. This place was all of the above and was also glad to find it relatively informal.
I went here on a weekend and was told that I just missed the belly dancer, in spite of this devastating event I soldiered on. I found the staff was friendly and great to chat with. The middle eastern decor wasn't overly stated, yet it did enough to create that exotic vibe. I like how their menu was mostly hot apps, so if your open to sharing it would be a great way to sample different items on the menu. We were told in advance to order their Hummus(the staple item) and glad we did. I also did the eggplant and split an entree which was a spicy kebab. Overall it was a great experience and would definitely do it again. -
Review from Terry P.
5/22/2010
Went with a co-worker for a weekday lunch. We both ordered from the lunch menu - me the kefta kebab and she the eggplant pita. My meal was $9 (plus tax and tip), hers was $7.50 - both very reasonable. The kefta kabab was tasty and served with great rice and a fresh salad. We left full but not overly stuffed - great lunch!
