Take a peek inside Queen West's newest mezza restaurant

Aug 7 2019, 8:09 pm

Your midday meal is about to get an upgrade.

Because a brand-new mezza spot is opening its doors on Queen West, and it’s serving up mouthwatering meals that are sure to add some brightness to your day.

Taking over the space of an old hardware store at 235 Queen Street West, Azkadenya is opening its first North American doors this weekend.

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Kayla Gladysz / Daily Hive

Step off bustling Queen Street and enter the bright and airy eatery, where a sign on the wall lets you know you’re about to experience “the best taste life has to offer.”

Kayla Gladysz / Daily Hive

The space is decorated to show off a vibrant, fun atmosphere. A more casual, almost vintage take on the Middle East that, the owner says, isn’t often represented in dining.

Walls are splattered with movie stars and a vintage-style projector that runs through fun, old-timey advertisements. And the tables are covered with old newspaper clippings, too.

Kayla Gladysz / Daily Hive

Each table is equipped with five sauces that can add a little extra to your dishes, plus brightly decorated napkins and share plates.

And the share plates are important, because this spot is made for family-style dining.

Come in during your lunch break or at the end of a long workday and order plenty of plates to share at a communal table with friends.

The beautiful, bright pink pomegranate hummus is a must-try. Hot, sizzling platters of beef and mushroom tempt your tastebuds. And the table-sized shawarma spit, available in chicken or beef, is perfect for slicing off of to share with company.

Mezza

Kayla Gladysz / Daily Hive

If you’re not keen on sharing, there are a range of platters that you can choose from to enjoy, solo.

Featuring hummus, salad, and a protein, you’re able to get a personal-sized taste of everything you would enjoy in a sharing situation.

Kayla Gladysz / Daily Hive

If you’d prefer to just tuck into something small, the falafel sliders are a must.

And a Vimto, a vintage soft drink from the Middle East that’s reminiscent of cream soda, is the perfect pairing to these bite-sized beauties.

Kayla Gladysz / Daily Hive

If you haven’t the time to dine in, no worry. The new spot is working with UberEats, Foodora, Skip the Dishes, Ritual, and DoorDash to meet all your delivery or skip-the-line needs.

Opening its doors on August 10, Azkadenya will be open from 11 am to 10 pm for the first couple of weeks, and then switch over to an 8 am opening time with a breakfast menu, too.

Kayla Gladysz / Daily Hive

Azkadenya

Address: 235 Queen Street West
Phone: 416-260-5555

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