Shawarma style — Restaurant in Gatineau

In 2019, I wrote "Best in town".

On February 5, 2021, here is my update....

My shawarma guy... I've enjoyed eating shawarma once a week for as long as I can remember. For me, a good shawarma is more than food, it's happiness. A well made shawarma is quick, flavorful, healthy and nourishing. A few years ago, I started going regularly to Shawarma Style at 207 Boulevard du Mont-Bleu in Gatineau. Gradually, I started a conversation with the owner. You know, when you meet someone, over and over, you talk about stuff. Even if it's 5 minutes, when you add these over the years, it's starts to look like a conversation, it starts to look like a relationship. I love the owner of Shawarma style. I am not even sure how to write your name and I won't insult you by misspelling it, but I want you to know that I love you. Tonight, I indulged and I went for a second time this week to see you. I had a busy week. I had ridden my bike for 2 hours in the cold this afternoon. I just wanted a simple meal that would fill my stomach and satisfy my hunger. As usual, we talked about life in general. Through our shared stories and the few words that can be said in the time it takes to make a shawarma, I can always feel in you a certain wisdom that comes from living an authentic life. Tonight, you were, as usual, happy and smiling. Even through the difficult times we are all going through, you never give up, you find reasons to smile despite the hardship. I both respect and admire this. So much so that, last Christmas, me and Edith Vaillancourt we took the time to stop by your restaurant and leave you a small token of our gratitude, a bottle of home made kombucha. It was my way of saying "Thank you", my way of giving back a little bit. Tonight, you offered to feed me for free. You are like that, a generous soul. And I refused and I paid you. On my way back home, I thought about my decision. I called you back. I wanted you to understand why. I knew that refusing a gift could be insulting and I said I am sorry... I did not want to insult you by refusing your generosity and being the giver. I asked you if I could explain why I insisted to pay for my meal... The pandemic as been tougher on you and your business than it has been on me and mine... and I want to support you through these hard times. I told you that, once the pandemic is over, when your business is up, running and thriving, I will accept your generosity but until then, let me be your support... because you fed me all these years... You know why? Because I want to be like you. I want to care about people. I want to spread joy and happiness. I want to be generous. You are not just a shawarma guy, you feed and inspire people. Go back to your Google reviews and look at the comments: best in town, happy and smiling, great service. Our connection, our relation is not about business, it's about being human, it's about caring about one another. Although I have known you through bits and pieces of conversations, I feel that I know you more than you think... You feed me every week. To me, you make the best shawarma in the whole world... Why? Because you care. Because you care... Please keep doing what you...

Very disappointed. We left fairly simple instructions for our orders and when they were incorrect we called to reorder. The person on the phone argued with us and hung up on my husband. I called back and was very calm and explained we ordered a sandwich with only lettuce or cabbage with my chicken shawarma and we received turnips. I was very clear that this is not what we ordered and he insisted it was what we ordered. I asked politely that he let us order again and have the issue rectified but he instead shouted at me and told me I was wasting his time. I indicated I would not be able to eat the food as I can to eat turnips due to an allergy and he told me to drive the restaurant to prove it. I do not own a car so I refused and he told me he was busy and asked if I was done complaining. We used to love ordering from here but a simple mistake turned in to someone shouting T us and being rude. Never again. Do NOT order here if you value being treated...

Okay so my spouse and I went around and tried a TON of shawarma places between aylmer & hull. Truthfully, they do it best here. The chicken drips with marinade when you watch them put it on fresh - you can see the quality & care that’s taken in the food. Chickens super juicy. They add olive oil & paprika to your hummus - the right way. The potatoes are seasoned really well (to the point where we skip the rice to get extra potatoes 🙊) They always provide large portions (my spouse and I share just one large platter) and they’re our favorite staple for birthdays. In house, the staff are extremely friendly and love to make their clients laugh and they never flinch when I ask for...