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'Middle Eastern' (ah, what a gloriously ambiguous term) recently replaced sushi in my heart as a healthy and exciting go-to cuisine. Either because the novelty hasn't worn off yet or more likely because it covers more literal and figurative ground - hey geography! - I love me some baba ghanouj, pickled veggies, meat skewers, tabouleh and in-house pitas. Paramount was on the 'must' list as a staple of Toronto's Middle Eastern cuisine offerings. I went in blind, not knowing regional dishes or price range, and I left a happy customer.
Atmosphere:
Unexpectedly low-key. The lower floor is more cafeteria style, with small tables along one wall for two to four people, possibly more if you pull some together. It was busy when we went in but we got a table for five right away. Upstairs it looked fancier but also busier - we were possibly in the family-friendly section and the hip younger crowd was above us, but who knows? Clean, but not fancy, the lower floor is definitely casual and friend-material, though I would not take a blind date there if I wanted to impress with vague lighting and minimal yet upscale décor (ahem Spring Rolls etc). Brightly lit and bustling, it was just what the doctor ordered prior to a free Flaming Lips concert.
Food:
The pita bread was probably the freshest I've ever had, puffed like beach balls and steamy hot on the inside. Delightfully naked pita! Tasting fresh and warm right from the oven, yum!
Appetizer: Moutabbal. So good! I admit to loving eggplant, so it is not hard to please me with this dish.
Main: Mixed Grill Plate with one skewer of striploin, one skewer of Shish Tawouk and two skewers of kafta. Big enough to split, and we did, this was well worth the $16.99 pricetag. The striploin meat was tastefully charred and tender, the chicken tasty but nothing too special (easily remedied by loads of garlic paste and hummus that came on the side -although strangely no one wanted to be my special friend after the meal) and the kafta was deliciously spiced. Not the very very best I've had, but very good nonetheless.
Pickles were not number one either, but still very good, and the itty bit of salad was fine. Obviously, one does not order a mixed grill dish for the lettuce. In the spirit of modernity and fusion, our order could have come with a ginormous side of slightly limp fries, but we decided to pass. Enough bad carbs with the pita, bring on the rice and hold the heart attack for later.
Service:
We were greeted at the entrance with a smile and our servers were very friendly. Our orders unfortunately did not come at the same time, and we ended up getting both fries and rice due to a kitchen error, but our servers did their best to pick up the slack and came to refresh our water several times.
Location:
You can't get more central than this! An easy, stiletto walk from one of the Dundas exits, or a leisurely stroll through the Eaton Centre, Paramount is easy to find and easy to get to.
Overall:
I would go back for tried, tested, tasty and true 'Middle Eastern' cuisine, either for a quick dine-in or quality takeout. Hit up Paramount for a casual lunch or din with friends. You can have your kafta with a side of hummus and fries - aka have your cake and eat it too!
Update: Paramount is Lebanese and also a bakery, which is why the pitas were so fresh. And yes, upstairs is where the sweet lounge is, so next time, we're going to get all fancy fresh on the second floor with our falafels!
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