This all-vegan Middle Eastern oasis with a tasteful ambience is cosy, classy and unpretentious in the best way possible. Aleph Eatery is the perfect spot to linger for a date night or intimate gathering. Be sure to book reservations online conveniently if you plan to dine in, as capacity is limited.
The use of indoor plants, natural light and minimalist but tasteful furniture made it seem like the restaurant was straight out of a Kinfolk magazine. The inviting ambience definitely makes this eatery an oasis, a palette for the beautiful and varied flavours of the cuisine.
I thoroughly enjoyed the popular mezze The Silk Road with hummus, labneh, zaatar, date syrup served with fresh chimichurri saj bread. I hear that the delicious saj bread is baked in-house using a saj oven. The Silk Road is perfect for a light dinner portion. Gingerly spoon the delicious hummus onto the saj bread with tangy chimichurri and your palate will be very pleased.
The cashew coconut curry with coconut, turmeric, spinach, chickpea, cilantro was very warming and not overly rich. It was definitely a nourishing option for a cool Fall evening.
A standout dish would be the pesto tahini pasta with orecchiette, walnut basil pesto, red pepper, tahini, apricot, pine nuts and aleppo. It all blended together in a creamy nutty but still light way in a deliciously married pasta dish.
The staff were very kind to provide a complimentary dessert upon hearing that it was my birthday. I’m not the hugest fan of chocolate desserts as they can be overpowering and overly sweet. I also tend to like lighter desserts. However, the coconut chocolate tart with date crust, coconut whip and pomegranate was not too rich, and I liked the cacophony of flavors as the fruitiness of the pomegranate and creaminess of the coconut whip counterbalanced the fluffy chocolate cream well. It was a delicious end to an exotic Middle Eastern meal.
The flavours here are very light, unique and vibrant, and you don’t end up overstuffed from the meal. Portions look small, but are actually filling and hearty. I found it overall to be at a more affordable price point than similar places with such a high level of ambience and quality. I will definitely be back to try more dishes. Paired with the very warm and hospitable service, it was a unique and memorable dining experience. You could come here for a quick takeout meal or really enjoy the ambience and savour the flavours of the exquisitely prepared cuisine. I am looking forward to more people learning about and experiencing this Middle Eastern neighbourhood gem.