Zyara

Like most Montrealers, I am sceptical of 'La Rive-Sud'. It's the suburbs. It's developments. It means crossing a bridge, and for us who get around town solely with our precious monthly OPUS bus/metro cards, it means a million transfers and requires exact change. Until recently I honestly didn't believe I could fall in love with a restaurant in the suburbs. They all seemed to be Boston Pizza's and St-Hubert's and the occasional Steak Frites. Then came Dix30. Insane shopping and a surprisingly good selection of restaurants, especially for what is essentially an outdoor mall.

This friday I went to dinner with family at Zyara, a Lebanese-Mediterranean restaurant on the second floor of a some building in Quartier Dix30. We got there early for our reservation but were seated right away. The dining room is huge, airy and light, not to mention beautiful. The menu was a little overwhelming at first glance, but we all chose appetizers to share and try more of everything. One word - damn. The best falafels I've ever had, hands down. Shrimp perfectly cooked. Beautiful hummus. Every plate was wiped clean.

I loved the laid back ambiance, we went relatively early for a friday night so the dining room was half-empty for most of our meal and the waiters had time enough to give a good service. Towards the end of dinner, the place was filling up, and the vibe changed. The music went up, a belly dancer came out, everyone was laughing, shaking along with her and having a good time. It was a good end to a fun meal, and I walked out with a smile on my face - straight to the tea store across the way to buy the fruity tea I had just enjoyed in the restaurant. Yum.

Zyara
450-812-0235
9140 Boulevard Leduc #205, Brossard

P.S. - In Dix30 on a weekend night - ALWAYS have a reservation. The ENTIRE South Shore flocks here for dinner and drinks, don't be caught with an hour and a half wait to be seated!