Paramount Middle Eastern Kitchen - The Queensway — Restaurant in Toronto

August 21, 2025 My friend was craving Middle Eastern food, and while I initially hesitated due to a past negative experience, my friend convinced me to give Paramount another chance. He insisted it must have been an off day for them, and I reluctantly took his word for it.

The service started out on a neutral note. The lady at the register seemed a bit preoccupied, but she was efficient, repeating our order to ensure it was correct before we paid. A pleasant surprise came shortly after we were seated when a server brought over a basket of fresh, hot bread without us even having to ask—a nice touch that immediately helped set a more positive tone.

We ordered a few classics, including the shawarma plate, tabbouleh, and shish tawouk. To my relief, the food was a significant improvement even better than times I had it years ago. It was well-prepared and genuinely enjoyable. The meal was satisfying, and it helped ease my previous tension towards the brand.

While the food was good, there is still some room for improvement, particularly with the dining room maintenance and overall customer service consistency. However, this recent visit was a positive step forward.

June 2 2025 A culinary time machine is a rare and wonderful thing, and my journey to Paramount Fine Foods was supposed to be just that. I remember the days of its humbler beginnings as a bustling warehouse bakery—a pilgrimage to the homeland of good Lebanese food where the aroma of fresh bread hung heavy and the dedication to quality was palpable. Alas, this recent visit was less of a warm trip down memory lane and more of a jarring crash landing into a masterclass on hostile hospitality.

From the moment I stepped inside, my simple request for a falafel plate was met with an interrogation. When I confessed my lack of Arabic, the server and his colleagues launched into a rapid-fire conversation in their language, all while maintaining intense, unwavering eye contact with me. It felt less like ordering a meal and more like being a silent participant in a public roasting by the "Falafel Illuminati." I half-expected them to ask for the secret handshake.

Despite this delightful welcome, I paid and, in a fit of misplaced optimism, even tipped 22%. Perhaps I hoped my tip would act as a peace offering for whatever unspoken crime I'd committed. It did not. The food's arrival was unceremoniously abrupt, delivered with all the grace of a discus thrower. My plate landed with a jarring thump, a clear statement that my falafel was a burden, not a service.

The food itself was a mixed bag, to say the least. The falafel, once a crispy beacon of chickpea goodness, had transformed into a sad, mushy approximation of its former self. They were less "crispy golden brown" and more "depressed little green orbs." The hummus was similarly uninspired, so devoid of oil it looked like it was on a strict diet. It lacked the crucial drizzle of olive oil that elevates a simple dip into a delicacy. Even my drink, which I hoped would be a refreshing escape, failed me. I was informed there were no cold beverages because they had "just restocked the fridge." This is a bit like a library telling you it's fresh out of books or a spa explaining they've run out of relaxation. A fridge is supposed to make things cold—that's its one job!

In the end, this dining experience was a heavy reminder that a brand's growth doesn't always translate to an improvement in quality or service. It's a shame to see a place that once had so much heart lose its way. I walked out feeling humiliated and belittled, which, I must admit, is a unique addition to the usual post-meal feeling of being full. If this is the new standard, I think I'll be taking my falafel cravings, and my ability to be silently...

QUEENSWAY LOCATION: *Update-It is always interesting to me when restaurants reply to reviews with a trite comment that pretends they have taken the concern and intend to act on it. Unfortunately, these replies are most often disingenuous and such is the case with this reply. No one is going to review portion size. There will be no changes in customer service or the number of staff hired to address this. Management/Owners will continue to be unconcerned and rude towards customers concerns. I have read the negative reviews on here for this location and most are 1, 2, 3 years + old. If changes were going to made, they would have done this. It saddens me for Mohamad Fakih who started this business. He is such a proud man and is so respected. Anyway, this restaurant is what it is. The food is sometimes very good, but often inconsistent and if they cannot address: the astounding and careless lack of customer service and the absolute absence of APPRECIATION & LOYALTY then I will not return. I am not trying to be harsh but rather brutally honest, however I do not expect that any of the things I mention will be corrected. ""One who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Original Review before the reply is below: Service is atrocious. Wait times are ridiculous. I ordered something and the portion size was about half the regular size. I took it home and called to let them know but the owner was argumentative and rude. She refused to take any feedback or apologize in any way. I have been a good customer but time and time again I get slow service, small portions and I watch the owner sit around at messy tables near the kitchen where her stuff strewn all over the place. It looks terrible and is a real turn off to customer. Meanwhile the hardworking staff work like dogs. There were TWO cooks on a busy FRIDAY during dinner! They needed four or more. The servers are run off their feet, but the owner rarely does a thing that I have ever saw. Most owners are in there working side by side and just as hard as their staff. The franchise/company should do something to correct the owners. They are an embarrassment to Paramount. If this is what Paramount believes is a good business model, then I wish them well but I'm done. I will avoid this location. I have also seen a customer wait over a hour for an order -I heard him say that to them. He was so exasperated. I felt so bad for him! It was a huge order for a business and once again this owner was rude to him and reprimanded him for being rude. Was this a joke? He was spending hundred of dollars and rather than express any gratitude or say she was sorry, she was just rude. What restaurant owner does this? After I saw this I should have stopped going but I have a serious labneh addiction... "I can't even" with this location. I complained to their head office. Maybe they will call me back. I will update this review if the head...

We bought half of the MIXED COMBO PLATTER which included : Our famous Mixed Combo Platter includes: fattoush salad (240), hummus (710), chicken and beef shawarma, two kafta skewers, two shish tawouk skewers, two BBQ beef skewers and four falafel pieces. A side of rice (160) and a side of fries (460). Served with tahini and garlic dipping sauce.

We walked into the queensway location at 9:30pm Wednesday. The woman working (I believe she was the manager) cashed us out and said the wait would be 15 - 20 minutes.

The time is now 9:58pm, we are seated in the front waiting for our food, no one has came to grab us so I go up to the counter and ask where my order is. The young girl working said oh I’m sorry and grabs the food that’s been sitting there for the last 15 minutes. I complained to the woman I thought was the manager and she says I’m sorry but the food stayed hot don’t worry.

Then when I get home to eat I see there is no cutlery, and I am missing a garlic I was charged for. When I spoke to the woman I asked what the platter came with she said 1 garlic 1 tahini. I said okay can you add 2 extra garlic. I was charged for this but received 2 tahini 2 garlic. I didn’t ask for an extra tahini.

Then I only received 1 pita bread in the bag for a whole platter. There was another pita under the platter that was so soggy because the food was sitting for such a long time. We need to go buy bread now to eat the hummus. Also the meat was very low for what I paid for. As we were sitting down the tables near us weren’t cleared of customers who dined in and left. Again waited for 30 minutes and they were dirty prior to us arriving.

This is a terrible first experience at this restaurant, I will not be returning. I will contact my credit card regarding the missing items.

Edit: the owner responded and deleted their comment but I screenshot it. Not sure why...