Food With A Point

Last time that I had a meal with “C” outside of one prepared at his house was at Café Italia (click here). “C” showed me his take on good Italian fast food. Please note we mean fast food in the real sense of the word: food that doesn’t take long to prepare, that doesn’t require a lengthy sit down meal to be enjoyed and doesn’t need to be analysed before, during, or after. It’s just good and to the point - no need to get all deep about the experience. Well I like good food and I trust "C" so how could I refuse an invitation for an outing?

Our most recent stop was at Chez Benny. This is a Kosher restaurant specializing in Israeli and Sephardic food. It’s for take out as well as stay in but it’s not stay in and loiter. There is a fast energy at Chez Benny. That’s what made it a perfect weeknight outing.

We walked up to the counter and “C” took over. One plate of falafel, one plate of mixed “salads”, one kefta on laffa, and a bureka was ordered for our party of three. I had absolutely no idea what I was about to eat. A few minutes later, a feast lay before us. Let us not forget the just toasted/charred thick pitas in a basket and the marinated onions and beets from the salad bar. Go hungry to Chez Benny.

The falafel plate (pictured) is a pool of hummus (chickpea dip) topped with tahina (roasted sesame seed dip), surrounded with diced cucumbers and dotted with falafels no bigger that gum balls. Falafels are chickpea fritters of sorts that at Chez Benny are the signature item. Not dense, with actual pieces of identifiable legume, these I could easily pop by the dozen.

The plate of mixed salads was really more like a plate of mixed dips and sauces and justifies the basket of pitas. There is baba ganoush made with tahina so it’s white next to grilled eggplants. There is a sun dried tomato type dip next to another less concentrated but spicier tomato-celery version. A red cabbage slaw gets added where there is room with some more diced cucumbers. Hummus and tahina in the middle of the plate round out the offering. This is whoa in terms of amount and whoa in terms of diversity of flavours and sensations. You want a party in one plate, this is as close as it gets.

Kefta on laffa is essentially char-grilled beef patties, hummus, lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers and loads of garlic wrapped in an enormous thin pita. Word to the wise, this feeds an army…with leftovers.

Finally, bureka is a stuffed pastry. At Chez Benny it's with potatoes. Imagine a small calzone-croissant hybrid filled with the same filling as potato perogies. It was a nice mix of soft and crispy.

We ordered, we sat, we ate, we breathed and then we waddled back to the car with leftovers. All of it was tasty and all of it was varied in terms of spices, seasonings and textures. Chez Benny is an experience that is very Montreal in that it’s a intriguing, flavourful and best of all commonly accessible. This was a satisfying meal that took place in an efficient manner and as an added bonus, the whole lot cost less than $30. I guess there is no other way to put it and not much more to say than “C”, you did it again. Toda.

Little side note: Chez Benny also serves Chinese Food. We don’t really know why or how that marriage of cultures took place under the same roof and how they manage to share the same counter, but it seems to work for them. It’s probably the only place in town that guarantees kosher General Tao Chicken…

Chez Benny

5071 Queen Mary (514.735.1836)