Levande Bakery & BBQ — Restaurant in Toronto

Levande is one of the best restaurants in Toronto, sit in or take out, in ANY food category. Everything is made in-house. As a Greek who knows food, I was blown away by the quality of their ingredients and depth of flavour in every single bite.

The three of us each consumed a kebab wrapped in a cheese manakish, which is kind of like a cheese pizza, but with a soft crust similar to a thick Greek pita. They bake their own pita fresh to order, topped with 5 types of exotic Lebanese cheeses. Then they place a mouthwatering, perfectly-seasoned chicken, beef or lamb kebab in the middle, and pile it up with your choice of homemade toppings.

We have never experienced this type of mouth feel and flavour in any wrap we have ever eaten over the last few decades. After a couple of bites, my finicky 10 year old son's eyes glazed over and he entered a zone normally reserved for a decadent dessert. I've never seen him and his mother woof down a meal that quickly.

The owners of Levande are clearly very proud of their Lebanese Christian heritage, and strive to showcase it in the very best way. They told me that they want to duplicate the food-eating experience in Lebanon by making everything themselves fresh from scratch, even though the cost of ingredients and labour are much higher.

I strongly recommend Levande. I guarantee you that after your first meal, you will wake up each and every morning...

This new bakery/BBQ spot just opened in the neighbourhood, and as someone who loves supporting local businesses, I had to give it a try. We were warmly greeted upon arrival—likely by the owner—and got straight to ordering.

We went with two platters: the shish taouk and the mixed BBQ. Each comes with salad and your choice of rice or fries. I was in the mood for something lighter, so I asked for just salad (no rice or fries) and for the sauces/dressing on the side. Instead, I received a generous helping of hummus—which I can’t and won’t complain about! My husband got the mixed BBQ with rice.

While we waited, they offered us samples of two baked items—a cheese pastry and one with mixed meat—both flavourful and very tasty. The bill came to just under $50, which was a bit more than we expected but not unreasonable. That said, there was a $2 charge that wasn’t explained—possibly related to my substitution—so I’d recommend they flag any add-ons or changes upfront for transparency.

The portion of chicken on the shish taouk was generous, though slightly dry (still tasty), and while the lamb portion on the mixed BBQ was a bit small, the flavour—especially the kofta—was solid.

All in all, a satisfying meal and a great way to support a new local business. There are a few areas for improvement, but we’ll definitely be back...

I'm really not a fan of food "influencers", especially certain ones (i.e. the guy whose name starts with an M and claims everything is the best ever), and so hate to admit that that's how I learned of Levande, as I typically pay zero mind to such accounts, let alone their recommendations... but when I happened on this one post where a cheesy-pita beef wrap was a thing, I had to try it. I'd actually driven past Levande numerous times and live not too far. Anyways, the cheesy bread wrap with the ground beef kebab inside is absolutely fantastic- the bread is super light and fluffy, and with that ooey-gooey cheese added, makes for an especially decadent and flavourful bite. The beef is very well seasoned, and their hummus + other sauces are all great. I've had it a couple times now and can definitely see it becoming a go-to in the area. I also tried a couple of their baked goods and while they were solid, those weren't as incredible as the wrap. Also enjoyed their mahalabia, but found the rose flavour a touch overpowering. Overall, very pleased to have been made aware of this spot and will be adding it as a...