Semsem - Ottawa

I had Grandma's breakfast along with a traditional beans dish and shakshouka eggs, and everything was delicious! read more I had Grandma's breakfast along with a traditional beans dish and shakshouka eggs, and everything was delicious!

I had the best Lebanese/Palestinian breakfast I've had in a long time! Everything was fresh, authentic, and delicious. The owner personally serves you, which ad... read more I had the best Lebanese/Palestinian breakfast I've had in a long time! Everything was fresh, authentic, and delicious. The owner personally serves you, which adds to the charm of this family-run business. That might be why it's so fantastic! I highly recommend it.

Genuine flavors. Fantastic bread and Middle Eastern ka’ak (similar to a bagel). read more Genuine flavors. Fantastic bread and Middle Eastern ka’ak (similar to a bagel).

This is a fantastic little restaurant serving delicious traditional dishes. The meat pie and falafel here are undoubtedly the best in Ottawa. The service during... read more This is a fantastic little restaurant serving delicious traditional dishes. The meat pie and falafel here are undoubtedly the best in Ottawa. The service during our visit was excellent; we didn’t have to wait long for our food. And you absolutely have to try the cheese-stuffed bread—it's a must!

Last week, two of us visited this lively restaurant for the first time after reading a detailed review in the Ottawa Citizen. The menu is extensive and can be a... read more Last week, two of us visited this lively restaurant for the first time after reading a detailed review in the Ottawa Citizen. The menu is extensive and can be a bit overwhelming for newcomers to this type of cuisine. We ended up ordering more food than we needed, and while everything was delicious, a few dishes were quite heavy. Next time, we plan to take our time and choose a better balance of flavors. The standout was definitely the homemade pita. Although the service was somewhat inconsistent, the owners were friendly and welcoming. We also appreciated how quickly and thoroughly the tables were cleared and cleaned. We will definitely return.