Just an UPDATE: They just got a Yellow Card on DineSafe on June 24.
Ghazale is a cornerstone of the late night food scene in the Church-Wellesley Village. You can expect your standard Middle Eastern fare here in a quick-service style. There is space to eat in or take out. This is part of a mini-chain of 5 restaurants in Toronto. The original is in the Annex.
The FOOD here is generally fairly average with some notable standouts on either end:
~The lentil soup is totally awesome. Completely vegetarian, nicely peppery. This is my go-to option when I don't feel like cooking. It's healthy, filling, and always warm. Super cheap too.
~The stuffed grape leafs are totally awful. I've tried them twice, and both times they were too oily to finish. I know they're supposed to have some oil, but this looked like they were sponsored by BP. (Too soon?)
~The falafel is a bit sub-par. I'm sure the falafel are delicious when freshly made. Unfortunately, at least in this location, they've been sitting around for some number of hours chilling before being microwaved. This treatment is pretty evident in the taste. I would pay an extra dollar if they would just fry them fresh for me.
~The shawarma options are in the middle. Generally tasty, but definitely not the homemade shawarma that the best middle eastern places do. This has been made in a factory and shipped.
The SERVICE is always friendly and fast. Overall, it's very good VALUE. I never spend a lot of money here, and when I get the lentil soup, I'm totally satisfied. In short, stick to the lentil soup.
TIP: They are open until 3 AM, so take advantage of them for your post-bar needs...it's definitely tastier than the Pizza Pizza next door.