Azhar brings wood-fired Middle Eastern cooking to Ossington Avenue, with a menu built around mezze, grilled meats, and the smoky flavours that only proper charcoal cooking produces. The room is warm and communal, designed for sharing plates and long conversations.
Neighbourhood: Ossington · Address: 96 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z4 · Hours: Tue–Thu 5:30–10pm | Fri–Sat 5:30–11pm | Sun 5:30–9:30pm | Mon Closed · Phone: (647) 503-1098
Why Visit
Azhar is Ossington's most distinctive Middle Eastern restaurant — wood-fired cooking, communal sharing plates, and a natural wine list curated with serious expertise in a room designed for long conversations and group dining.
What Makes It Unique
No other Ossington restaurant combines wood-fired Middle Eastern cooking with a natural wine program at this level. The communal atmosphere, the mezze format, and the charcoal-grilled flavours create a dining experience that is genuinely singular in the neighbourhood.
Azhar opened in 2021 on Ossington Avenue in the space that previously housed a succession of restaurants, and it immediately established itself as one of Toronto's most distinctive Middle Eastern dining experiences. The room is warm and communal — long tables designed for groups, smaller tables that can be pushed together, warm lighting, and the wood-fired oven visible from most seats. The atmosphere is designed for sharing: plates arrive as they're ready, the conversation flows, and the meal unfolds over two to three hours.
The cooking is Middle Eastern in the broad, regional-spanning tradition rather than tied to a single country. The wood-fired oven and charcoal grill are the kitchen's engines — flatbread emerges blistered and smoky, meats are grilled over hardwood charcoal until caramelized at the edges and juicy at the centre, and vegetables are roasted until tender and charred. The hummus is made fresh daily, blended until silky, and dressed with olive oil, paprika, and whole chickpeas. The baba ghanoush is built from eggplant that has been roasted over the fire until the skin is blackened and the flesh is smoky and soft, then blended with tahini, lemon, and garlic.
The grilled lamb chops are the kitchen's most technically accomplished dish — Ontario lamb, marinated in a blend of yogurt, garlic, and spices, then grilled over charcoal to the requested temperature. The marinade tenderizes the meat while adding flavour, and the charcoal imparts a smoke that gas grilling cannot replicate. The chops are served with the house flatbread, pickled vegetables, and a herb salad that cuts through the richness.
The mezze format is Azhar's natural structure. Rather than committing to a single large plate, guests order multiple small dishes — hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh, falafel, grilled vegetables, kibbeh — each arriving as it's ready, creating a leisurely, conversational meal. The format means regulars never order the same meal twice: a vegetarian-focused visit one time, a meat-heavy visit the next, a mix of both for a group.
The natural wine list is a genuine differentiator. The sommelier has curated a selection of natural wines from small producers — Jura, Loire, Beaujolais, Ontario, and occasional Lebanese selections — that complement the smoky, spicy flavours of the food. The staff are knowledgeable about natural wine and can guide guests from conventional wine backgrounds through the style.
Service is warm and communal — the staff understand that the room is designed for sharing and conversation, and they pace the meal accordingly. Plates arrive as they're ready, water glasses are refilled proactively, and the check arrives only when requested.
Azhar is moderately priced: mezze $12–20, grills and mains $28–44, desserts $12–16, cocktails $14–20, natural wine by the glass $12–18. A full dinner with natural wine is $70–100 per person before tax and gratuity.
Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend dinner and groups. The communal tables are designed for sharing and can be booked for parties of six or more. Book via OpenTable or the restaurant's website. Walk-ins are accepted at the bar for a la carte dining and wine by the glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azhar's Middle Eastern food authentic?
Azhar serves Middle Eastern cooking in the broad regional tradition — hummus, baba ghanoush, grilled meats, flatbread, and mezze that span Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, and Turkish influences. The wood-fired oven and charcoal grill produce the smoky flavours that define the cuisine, and the techniques are traditional rather than modern or fusion.
How much does dinner at Azhar cost?
Mezze $12–20, grills and mains $28–44, desserts $12–16, cocktails $14–20, natural wine by the glass $12–18. A full dinner with natural wine is $70–100 per person before tax and gratuity.
Is Azhar good for groups?
Yes — Azhar is designed for communal dining. The long tables, the sharing-plate format, and the room's atmosphere all encourage group meals. The communal tables can be booked for parties of six or more, and the mezze format is ideal for sharing among a group.
Do you need a reservation?
Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend dinner and groups. Book via OpenTable or the restaurant's website. Walk-ins are accepted at the bar for a la carte dining and wine by the glass.