Restaurant in Montreal, Canada
Michelin-noted Syrian cooking, book ahead.
Damas is Montreal's most formally recognised Syrian restaurant, holding a Michelin Plate (2025) and a Star Wine List White Star. At the $$$$ price point, the Quebec lamb shank fattet mozat and an extensive mezze program justify the spend. Booking is hard — reserve at least two to three weeks ahead. Strong vegetarian depth makes it a reliable choice for mixed groups.
Book Damas if you want the most considered Syrian cooking in Montreal at the $$$$ price point. The 2025 Michelin Plate recognition and a Google rating of 4.7 across nearly 4,000 reviews put it in a different category from most Middle Eastern options in the city. It is not the cheapest way to eat this cuisine in Montreal, but the sourcing discipline, the move to a larger Outremont space in 2015, and over a decade of consistent execution justify the spend. If you are returning after a first visit, the mezze spread and the Quebec lamb shank fattet mozat are the reasons to come back.
Damas has been running Syrian cuisine in Montreal since 2010, which means it predates the wave of mainstream interest in Levantine cooking that arrived in North America in the mid-2010s. The 2015 move to a larger, more elaborately designed space on Van Horne in Outremont was not just a capacity upgrade. It signalled a deliberate step toward a more composed dining experience, one where the room could hold the ambition of the menu. That evolution is worth noting for returning guests: this is not the same compact operation it started as.
The ingredient sourcing angle is where Damas separates itself from most competitors in this price range. The fattet mozat, which features Quebec lamb shank, is a direct example of the kitchen's approach: a classically Syrian preparation built around local Quebec produce. This is not fusion for its own sake. It is Syrian technique applied to the leading available local ingredient, and the result is a dish that justifies the $$$$ pricing tier in a way that imported or generic proteins would not. For guests who have already tried the mezze program, the lamb shank is the clearest demonstration of what the kitchen is actually doing with sourcing.
The mezze selection is worth treating as a destination in itself, not just an opener. Dishes like muhammara and beet mutabbal show the kitchen's commitment to preparation depth: these are not afterthoughts or generic starters assembled from pantry basics. Muhammara, a roasted red pepper and walnut spread, requires real technique to balance heat, acidity, and richness correctly. Beet mutabbal is a variation on the classic eggplant dip, and when it is executed with care, it reads as a distinct dish rather than a novelty. Both items appear in the sourced venue data and represent the kind of vegetable-forward cooking that makes Damas a stronger choice for vegetarian diners than most restaurants at this price point in Montreal.
Vegetarian depth here deserves its own note for returning guests. Numerous vegetarian options across the menu means this is one of the few $$$$ venues in the city where a vegetarian diner is not quietly steered toward a single token option. For mixed groups where dietary range matters, Damas handles that better than Jérôme Ferrer - Europea or Mastard at comparable price points.
Star Wine List White Star recognition, published in November 2024, adds a wine dimension worth factoring into the booking decision. A venue earning that recognition at this price tier is investing in the wine program, which matters if you are planning a longer table experience built around multiple courses and pairings. For Syrian cuisine specifically, a thoughtful wine list is not a given, and the credential here is a meaningful differentiator.
For context on where Damas sits within the broader Canadian fine dining picture, the combination of Michelin Plate (2025) and sustained Google performance over nearly 4,000 reviews places it in the same conversation as venues like Alo in Toronto and Tanière³ in Quebec City in terms of recognition depth, even if the cuisine categories differ. Within Montreal's Middle Eastern options, Le Petit Alep and Alep offer Syrian cooking at lower price points, but neither carries the same sourcing ambition or the formal recognition that Damas has accumulated. If you want a global reference point for what refined Syrian cooking looks like, Bait Maryam in Dubai and Baron in Doha operate in a similar register, though within very different hospitality contexts.
Booking is hard. With over a decade of reputation behind it, a recognisable space in Outremont, and now Michelin attention, Damas does not have availability problems in the sense of being empty. The inverse is true. Plan at least two to three weeks ahead for a weekend table, more during the Montreal dining season peak. If you are organising a larger group, start earlier. See our full Montreal restaurants guide for broader context on the city's dining calendar, and check our Montreal hotels guide if you are planning around a stay.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damas | $$$$ | Hard | — |
| L’Express | $$ | Unknown | — |
| Schwartz’s | $ | Unknown | — |
| Toqué | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
| Jérôme Ferrer - Europea | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
| Mastard | $$$ | Unknown | — |
How Damas stacks up against the competition.
For French bistro classics at a lower price point, L'Express is the go-to. Toqué and Jérôme Ferrer - Europea match Damas on price but deliver French-forward tasting menus rather than mezze-driven sharing plates. If you want something more casual and wallet-friendly, Mastard and Schwartz's serve entirely different formats but offer strong value for lighter spend. Damas is the only option in this group for serious Syrian cooking.
Vegetarians are well served here: the venue data explicitly notes numerous vegetarian options across the menu, including mezze like muhammara and beet mutabbal. For other restrictions, call ahead or check the venue's official channels before booking, as specific allergen policies are not documented in available records.
At $$$$, Damas earns its price with a 2025 Michelin Plate and a track record dating to 2010, which is a long run in any dining market. The format — sharing plates, mezze, and mains like Quebec lamb shank — means the bill can flex depending on how much you order, so two people eating selectively will spend less than a table going full spread. If Syrian cuisine is your target, there is no obvious $$$$-tier competitor in Montreal doing the same thing.
Damas moved to its current location on Ave Van Horne in Outremont in 2015, trading up to a much larger and more colourful space than its original footprint. The menu runs on a mezze-and-mains structure, so ordering is shared and communal rather than individual plates. Come with at least one other person to cover more of the menu, and factor in the $$$$ price range when budgeting.
The venue record calls out muhammara and beet mutabbal among the mezze, and the fattet mozat with Quebec lamb shank as a standout main. Order a range of mezze to start and anchor the table with at least one of the larger lamb dishes. Vegetarians have enough options to build a full meal from the mezze section alone.
Tasting menu availability and pricing at Damas are not documented in current records, so this can change. What is clear is that the menu is structured around mezze and mains suited to shared ordering. If you want a set-format tasting experience in Montreal at the $$$$ tier, Toqué or Jérôme Ferrer - Europea are better-documented options for that specific format. Check the venue's official channels for the latest details.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
