Review: Amal

No one told me Amal was a Michelin-recommended restaurant, so I must say, when I showed up in joggers and a sweater, I felt a tad bit underdressed. A clean, cozy, and sleek interior, along with the authentic Lebanese food, created an experience that I would describe as nothing less than spectacular. I visited this place only a few days ago, and with the flavours still lingering on my tongue, I’m here to tell you all about it.

As a group of 6, we were able to enjoy a diverse range of foods – a perfect reflection of all that Amal offers. For our starters, we got a sampler platter as well as a For Four. We couldn’t decide on only one type of dip, so the sampler platter, which comes with 3 dips of choice, was perfect. The three we picked were hummus, garlic labneh, and muhammara. The hummus was classic, with chickpeas and tahini, and it tasted just like normal hummus. The garlic labneh was made from a base of strained Greek yogurt, and was my favourite. It has a smooth texture and was extremely refreshing. Their muhammara is made from a combination of roasted red peppers and spices, which created a fragrant aroma and was smoky, sweet, and tangy at the same time. Collectively, this dish gets a FREATS rating of 8.5/10.

The For Four is a skewer platter with 2 pistachio kebabs (beef & lamb), 2 tawoks (chicken), 2 beef tenderloins, and 4 tiger shrimps. The chicken was succulent and flavourful, with an amazing smoky taste. The beef tenderloin was cooked to a medium rare, even though we requested medium (I’m not complaining, though) and was extremely tender and juicy. Additionally, the platter came with this refreshing cilantro sauce that had a great earthy taste. It was so good I asked one of the servers for the recipe to add to my arsenal (I’m gatekeeping it). This platter was a perfect representation of the quality of Lebanese meats and a perfect starter to gauge what else we wanted to order. This dish acquires a FREATS rating of 9/10.

For entrees, several of us ordered and split a variety of dishes. Me and Richie ordered the grilled octopus, which came with hummus basil. The octopus had a slight snap to them, which can be accounted for by its grilled skin and extremely tender flesh. Along with the nutty and slightly earthy taste of the hummus basil, it created a harmonious bite. The smooth texture of the octopus’s flesh and that of the hummus only further complimented the rest of the dish, earning it a FREATS rating of 8.7/10.

While we ordered many more dishes, I only had a bite or two, so I couldn’t comment on them, so I recruited some external assistance. David, take it away:

At Amal, I ordered the fried red snapper as one of the main courses. The plate was well presented, the red snapper sitting in a tasty white sauce with a drizzle of basil sauce all around the plate. These two sauces went well with the savoury flavour of this dish, but what I must say paired best is the cilantro sauce from the previous skewer platter. This sauce had a strong taste, one not everybody may like, and when combined with the zesty lemon, it created a taste that made you want another bite. The freshness of the sauce with the crunch of the fish was just what I’d look for in a seafood dish. Overall, I would give Amal’s Fried Red Snapper an 8.7/10. It would be a 9, but due to the best sauce being from a different platter, I can’t give it such a rating.

For dessert, I ordered the kanafeh, which Amal makes using cheese, semolina dough, and rose water. It had both a savoury and sweet flavour, which was absolutely addicting. Crunchy, cheesy, creamy, and sometimes slightly rich, this was a perfect dessert to end it off. This fully deserves its FREATS rating of 9.2/10 (and I usually dislike dessert).

Lastly, it wouldn’t do Amal justice if I didn’t talk about their interior. Its layout gives off a feeling of warmth and comfort as it incorporates couches and small, cute lamps at every table. It’s a very open space, but the tables don’t feel crowded next to each other. Additionally, it receives tons of natural lighting and has one of the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing interiors I’ve seen. The environment gets a FREATS rating of 9.5/10.

Amal receives a cumulative FREATS rating of 8.9/10, which is the highest I’ve given out so far. If you happen to be around Yorkville and want a meal with some of the best vibes from a restaurant I’ve been to, Amal is your place to go. Located at 131 Bloor Street West, Amal is the perfect place to sit back, enjoy a nice meal, and rejoice in the ambience.

Thanks for reading!