Introducing: Byblos, a new Mediterranean restaurant from Toronto nightlife king Charles Khabouth
Name: Byblos
Contact Info: 11 Duncan St., 647-660-0909, byblostoronto.com , @ByblosToronto
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
Owner: Charles Khabouth and Harif Harji, who together own a good chunk of Toronto’s dining and boozing scene, including nearby Patria and Weslodge
Executive Chef: Patria chef Stuart Cameron
Chef de Cuisine: Patria sous-chef Jennifer Nickle
The Food: Byblos is the latest (and most upscale) in a string of Mediterranean eateries to open in Toronto. Chefs Cameron and Nickle focus on dishes from Greece, Morocco, Israel, Lebanon and Turkey. Shareable plates include house-made labneh, hand-rolled couscous and whole char-grilled fish. Baked basmati rice dishes are flavoured with things like saffron and preserved lemon and served in big earthenware pots.
The Drinks: Mixologist Wes Galloway infuses his cocktails with exotic flavourings like pistachio and fenugreek. Lebanese arak, an anise-flavoured liquor similar to sambuca, is ceremoniously served tableside.
The Place: Housed in the former Grey Goose Soho House space, Byblos is two restaurants in one: a lower-level dining room and an upstairs lounge with a smaller menu and larger cocktail list. The design throughout is bright and informal, with vaulted white-brick ceilings and shelves lined with Turkish coffee pots and decorative ceramics.
The Numbers:
• 5000 BC when Byblos, believed to be the world’s oldest city, was first settled
• 70 seats
• 4 baked rice dishes, including Mejadra rice (pictured above), topped with lentils, fried shallots and yoghurt
• 1 daily punch bowl
266943 <strong>Byblos</strong> is located in the <strong>Storys Building</strong> at 11 Duncan Street (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-11/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266944 The space was designed by local firm <strong>Commute</strong> to look like a modern Mediterranean taverna (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-12/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266945 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-13/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266941 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-09/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266942 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-10/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266933 Roasted red beets with pistachios, caraway and labneh, served with Barbari flatbread ($9) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-01/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266948 House labneh with fennel and honey, served with Barbari flatbread ($6) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-16/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266934 Chili-spiced steak tartare with mint and yoghurt ($15) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-02/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266935 Mejadra basmati rice with lentils, yoghurt and fried shallots ($16) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-03/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266936 Spicy tomato shakshuka with yoghurt, duck eggs and Roumy cheese ($9) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 656 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-04/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266952 Turkish dumplings (<em>manti</em>) with eggplant, yoghurt sauce and molasses ($12) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-20.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-20/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-20 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266951 Hand-rolled saffron couscous with brown butter and herbs ($6) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-19/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-19 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266950 Lamb Ribs with buttermilk sauce, carob molasses and red chilis ($12) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg 1000 672 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-18/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-18 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266937 Pistachio-yoghurt cake with cotton candy (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-05/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266947 Mixologist Wes Galloway (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-15/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
266939 Gulab: rose-infused vodka, house pomegranate syrup and tincture of cardamom ($13) (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Byblos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/byblos-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/byblos-toronto-restaurants/slide/byblos-toronto-restaurant-07/ byblos-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
Mejadara with yogurt on top? I’ve never heard of that. They don’t go together. But the dish looks good, otherwise.