Parallel Brothers — Restaurant in Toronto

It really upsets me to have to write this review because Parallel has been a special place for my fiancé and I for a very long time. When we were thinking of moving to the neighbourhood, we had lunch at Parallel for the first time after looking at what would soon to be our house. When we first moved, Parallel was the first restaurant we had lunch at. We catered from Parallel for our housewarming party. Every time guests visit Toronto, whether from Mexico, Vancouver, Asia, etc., we always, always take them to experience the magic that is Parallel.

Naturally, since my parents and aunt are visiting from Hong Kong, we took them to Parallel for lunch today as a first stop after an 19 hour travel day. My aunt hasn’t been back to Canada for almost 30 years. We entered the fairly empty patio with our dog, and we took a moment to decide who should go in and speak to the host about a table. Because I was holding the dog’s leash and I just did a long hike, I sat down at a table while we decided. My fiancé was on his way into the restaurant when a server with dark rimmed glasses and a mustache makes a beeline for us and questions whether or not we’ve talked to the host. I said no, we haven’t, but we are just about to do so. He informed me that I was not allowed to sit down until we had a table and talked to the host (again the patio had maybe 3 occupied tables out of 12 and no line/ wait). He repeated this a few times. I informed him that that is exactly what we were currently doing, going to talk to the host (my fiancé was already inside and this point I was standing). He then said to me “Do you know the definition of a host? A host is someone who stands in front of a restaurant and seats you at your table. You have to talk to the host before you are allowed to sit down.” I have honestly never experienced such a patronizing experience at a hospitality establishment before and was absolutely shocked that this white man felt like it was OK to mansplain the definition of “a host” to me completely unprompted. The Asian server was great and came over to apologize for him afterwards, saying that he probably had a rough day. The man never apologized, and then when he was bussing the table he dropped a utensil with sauce onto my fiancé’s back, which stained his shirt, and also did not apologize. We’ve never not tipped at a restaurant before, but we felt like we had no choice because this isn’t behaviour that should be encouraged.

While I am sympathetic that it must be tough to be in the hospitality business, but if you have a rough day don’t go and take it out on your paying, loyal patrons. Go to the back room and take a deep breath and reset, or find a new line of work that isn’t customer-facing. I should not have been the one to bear the brunt of your resentment at whatever is going on in your life. It’s such a shame because I really love the food here, but it really isn’t worth being...

A rainy Sunday evening was spent at a quaint little spot known for their falafel.

We didn't have reservations, so we sat at the bar. Ty was our bartender and server. He provided great recommendations and was very pleasant to talk to. He was attentive without being intrusive to the dining experience. Shoutout to Ty!

The food? Delicious. Perfectly seasoned and full of fresh flavours. For starters, they have a selection of dips. Order them individually or in a platter of 4. The platter is the best deal since you get to try 4 different dips for a decent price. We chose labneh, beet & tahini, babaganoush, and walnut pesto. They all had very distinct flavours. I enjoyed the walnut pesto the most. The dips are served with warm pitas.

We ordered the sabich hummus plate as well. This one was a meal in itself. A hummus plate with chunks of roast eggplant, a hard-boiled egg, chickpeas, tahini, and preserved lemon(?). This was all presented beautifully arranged so you can try each ingredient on its own or mixed up together.

Their famous falafel was so good and piping hot that I didn't take pics. They come as a plate of 4, but they can also do 2pcs since they are so filling. Cutting into the falafel, you see its vibrant green and tastes like fresh green herbs. Not overly garlic or dry. The falafel was delightful on its own or dipped in the tahini it was served on.  Be careful. They are small but filling!

For the entree, we ordered the Picahna beef skewer. It came on a bed of arugula and roast zucchini tossed in very simple vinaigrette. Along with a side of tahini and tomatoes. The meat was grilled to perfection, cooked through but so juicy and tender. Again, this looked and smelled so good, I dove right in and only took a picture after the first few bites.

We paired this all with two very refreshing cocktails. "The Elder", gin based with fruity, slight citrus notes. "In the garden," tequila and aperol base with strawberry and herbal flavours.

After all this food, we were given complimentary pieces of halva. Chocolate and black seasalt. The halva was the right amount of sweetness that let the chocolate and sea salt come through nicely.

The ambience was cozy and familiar, even though it was our first time dining here. It was a rainy day, so the vibe was even cozier.

The only downside is parking was a bit hard to find. The street signs in the neighbourhood are very confusing. But that is not the restaurant's fault.

At the end of it all, this was a great casual place for a meal. Definitely check it out for small bites or for a proper dinner. You will not be...

Its very seldom you find something unique and good when it comes to a place to eat. Parallel has both. Wonderful Middle Eastern fare with a modern Israeli influence.

I went to meet a prospective client there, have coffee, maybe a bite to eat. What I thought would be a 90 minute meeting turned into 5 hours of sampling, sharing, comparing, and drinking.

It was one of the most enjoyable afternoons I had spent at an eatery in a very long time.

The staff is friendly, courteous, and engaging. They create an atmosphere of service that truly makes you feel you are at their home at the kitchen table.

The Herb falafel - 3 for $5- is the best I have had. Period. This includes those I have consumed in Saudi, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt (albeit only at the Cairo airport). The falafel are bright green on the inside, and dark on the outside. the inside colour is likely due to the parsley. A beautiful mix a spices and herbs with a little tahini completes the dish. Excellent!

The other amazing dish, was the Parallel Salad. Simply The Best! as Tina Turner would say. Again, unique, wonderful taste and frankly different than what you find in most of Toronto. Combining kale, lentils, walnuts, sweet potato and goat cheese with a lemon dressing and sweet beet tahini. Refreshing, nutritious, complex tastes and a wonderful texture.

My prospective client thoroughly enjoyed (as did I) her Arais is an Iraqi dish of pita grilled with lamb and beef kebab. The sweet potato and tomato salad beautifully complemented the dish. A 5 out of 5 as well.

The Uni Japanese Green Tea and the tasty halva deserts capped our wonderful afternoon.

The combination of food, hospitality and architecture enhanced our meeting.I have not spent too much tie about the space. But it is eclectic, but added immeasurably to the experience. Open, modern, but with a nod to the past, the sesame mill for their famous sesame seed butter, the inside herb garden and the trains which run by and can be seen from most seats, all create an amazing atmosphere.

We talked about everything under the sun, including business. The staff are so accommodating that we talked past their closing time and were allowed to stay while they had their own meeting. It was almost 8pm before we finally had to take our leave.

Parallel is a gem, and although hidden on Geary, where parking can be a pain, it is more than worth the effort for a...