I Tried Montreal's New Middle Eastern Restaurant & My Mouth Is Still Watering (PHOTOS)

Montreal is filled with cool spots to eat and drink, but a new Middle Eastern restaurant in Montreal is taking cool to another level: Babacool.

Located in the heart of Old Montreal, Babacool brings all the traditions of Middle Eastern cuisine but combines them with a futuristic twist. The restaurant — specializing in sharing plates and natural wines — looks like it could be an impeccably decorated spaceship. It's also affordable, with plates ranging from $3 to $22.

Naturally, we started off with drinks. I got the Hi Gin cocktail, made with Tanqueray, yuzu and simple syrup to refresh me on a scorching hot day and, let me tell you, it did the trick.

My friend got the Spicy Marg with Sauza Tequila, dry curuçao, chilli salt and dehydrated chilli. Honestly, the drinks were so good that we would have tried them all if we could.

Gabi Sandler | MTL Blog

Next, we moved onto appetizers. Anyone familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine knows that appetizers mean lots and lots of dipping! We tried the hummus, labneh and mouhamara — all with freshly made za'atar pita.

Now, I don't want to brag, but I've made my way through a hummus or two and I take hummus VERY seriously. So, as a self-proclaimed expert, I can easily say this was some of the best I've had in the city to date. We also got some vine leaves (my fave!).

Gabi Sandler | MTL Blog

Moving onto mains, we shared shakshouka, a halloumi salad and shrimp served with star anise, ouzo, feta, and radish. All three dishes were fresh and beyond compare. As I always say, you know a dish is incredible when you delay your last bite just so the meal lasts a little longer.

Gabi Sandler | MTL Blog

While the food was exceptional and the drinks were beautiful, my favourite part of the whole night was the staff. Hubert, our server, is the type of server who loves people and loves what he does. He made a great night even better.

We also met Sophie Chenier, who owns Babacool along with her husband Charles Manceau and restauranteur Marco Benatar. Benatar is co-owner of other popular Montreal eateries, like Jatoba and Flyjin.

Gabi Sandler | MTL Blog

Despite being open just a few weeks, Babacool is already one of the hottest spots in town. By the time we left, there was a lineup to get inside for the late-night rush — and that was on a weeknight.

Gabi Sandler | MTL Blog

But between the amazing food and incredible vibes, it's totally worth the wait! Oh, and don't skip the monochromatic greeny-blue bathroom, regardless of whether or not you need to use it.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.