Ok, here’s the thing about Fat Pasha, I’ve wanted to go and eat here since I read an article online about Anthony Rose opening this spot weeks ago, but things have been very busy, so it took until tonight to finally get a reservation and make it. I’ve also recently, as you might be able to tell from my past few reviews, been really into good hummus! Before I give you some of the delicious details about Fat Pasha, take a break from reading and make your reservation right now, quick, because they are probably already booked for tonight (whenever tonight might be as you read this). It’s worth picking another date to confirm a table.
We arrived just before it opened, and had to wait outside for a few minutes, which wasn’t a problem because the sun was actually shining in Toronto! When we were seated at the back booth of the restaurant, directly across from the open kitchen, I sat down, and my father excitedly pointed out a Phish poster directly over my head, which was definitely a good sign of things to come, they are my favourite band, and my walking-to-and-from-school music!
The menu is really fun to read, but the server will explain how to read it, how it organized, and how everything is made to be shared, so it makes for easier navigation than if you had to figure it out on your own.
There were 7 of us around the table, and we were eating vegetarian so I didn’t ask about the sources of meat, sorry. But Anthony Rose, the owner, and mastermind behind many restaurants, cares about his ingredients, so I’m hoping that it would be good.
The service was above and beyond fantastic, our server was very knowledgeable about dealing with my sister’s nut allergy, too. Since they have an Expeditor in the kitchen (I first learned about this position at Marben) that knew exactly how to call the orders, cook AND wash dishes if needed, everything was brought to our table fast, hot, fresh and looking really good. I love when food is plated interestingly and beautifully! Fat Pasha is also creative, which makes everything more fun to eat!
I would have to say that the full head of roasted cauliflower with pomegrantes, tahini and a great spicy sauce was the coolest looking and great tasting. I ate a full 1/4 of it. It was also fun how they brought the Fattoush salad to the table, undressed in a stainless steel bowl and then dressed it right there with olive oil. I highly recommend this salad too. There is kale involved! I have to admit, the hummus was impeccable, in flavour and texture. It reminded me of Israel, especially with the generous amount of olive oil they put on the plate. The Fat Pasha hummus was great, but surprisingly to me, I loved the Swiss Chard hummus even more! It was the great hummus, topped with copious amounts of sauteed swiss chard and chickpeas. It was SO good that I actually ordered a full order to go to take for lunch to school tomorrow! I think I also polished off an entire order of tahini, we had to order a second one. The pita is “charred” but it’s not black, just golden brown, really warm, but still soft and chewy, and topped with zataar, which has the most delicious flavour, now only if they had a spelt version too!
Everything we ordered was great. Everything!!! Period. Of course, I wish everything could be organic and support our local farmers as much as that’s possible here, but if enough of us ask often enough, just maybe we can bring that about. It is SO easy to eat vegetarian or vegan at Fat Pasha, but if you eat any way at all, you will like this menu, probably even multiple things. If you have an aversion to spicy foods, I would suggest mentioning this to your server, I loved it all, but some of it is super hot!
Overall, great service, cool space, awesmazing food, and a really fun way to eat since everything is made to be shared. That’s a recipe for a great meal, in my books!
(I hope you enjoy the pictures and descriptions below. I definitely need to get a camera and some lessons on lighting, but just picture everything below to be brighter and better than it appears!)
