By Omar Al-Fayed on July 24, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

If you want to experience Middle Eastern cuisine elevated to absolute perfection without losing an ounce of its soul, Parallel on Geary Ave is mandatory. This place isn't just a restaurant - it's a live celebration of sesame, authentic spices & unmatched hospitality. Right in the center of the dining room, they have massive brass millstones slowly grinding sesame seeds into the smoothest, richest house-made tahini you will ever taste in North America.

The atmosphere is bright, industrial-chic & filled with the mouth-watering aromas of freshly baked pita, toasted cumin & roasted garlic. It feels vibrant, deeply welcoming & utterly authentic from the second you walk in.

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By Sarah B on June 24, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

the food was really great! The falafel and salmon were the highlights for me! The baba ghanoush and Muhammara were also really good. I would recommend skipping the mushroom dish. It wasn’t great.

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By Kate Anderson on June 6, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

We had just a wonderful night out at this gem of a restaurant! We ordered the 4 mese dips and had a hard time deciding which was the best. The muhummarra, baba ganouj and lemon walnut pesto were all to die for, and the pita so fresh. All our mains were good, and I enjoyed the Ontario Chardonnay (unoaked). Too full for dessert but got some tahini and halva to go from their well-stocked pantry. Also a really fun vibe. Will definitely be back!

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By Jay P on May 9, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

Great little spot with amazing food. Try the hummus…you won’t regret it. I’ve already come back for it more times than people go back to their exes.

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By Juicy on April 21, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

It’s been a bit since I’ve last reviewed, it’s for Parallel I’m coming out of my hibernation. Came here with my girlfriend and good friend, and it was a great experience. We started the meal with the truffle hummus, some pitas and some falafels. The hummus was smooth, flavourful and paired well with the added toppings. The falafels are a must if you visit- they’re bright, fried to perfection and the pitas with hummus and tahini would feel incomplete without them. We moved on to the mains, we got the schnitzel and arayes. Both dishes were staggeringly big but uncompromising on the quality. The schnitzel was well seasoned and juicy, the sauces it came with gave it a beautiful finish, and the mash made it a complete dish. The arayes was good too, I’m not so much an arayes guy myself but my girlfriend liked it more than the schnitzel, personally I thought the meat was cooked well like everything else, but arayes as a dish is just a bit too heavy for me. Lastly came the date toffee desert, the undisappointing climax of the meal, if you come to parallel and can only get one thing, make it this! The desert is decadent, rich and perfectly sweet, contrasting incredibly with the light vanilla ice cream. It was an incredible end to an already great experiencd. Overall, I have no doubt I will return to parallel, and I highly recommend everyone tries it as well!

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By Selvi S on April 21, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

We went for my birthday dinner. Food was great!!!! As someone visiting for the first time, staff was really spot on with our suggestions (we're vegetarian). Highly recommend the falafel!

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By Aria Azadi on April 16, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

Had a great experience at Parallel Brothers yesterday.
Their tahini is made in house and it was absolutely excellent. The green falafel was incredibly flavorful, and definitely a highlight.
I also ordered the Sabich, and what really stood out to me was the amba sauce it added such a unique and delicious depth to the sandwich.
Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared.

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By Nicholas Jones on April 13, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

Finally had dinner here after hearing rave reviews, and it definitely lives up to the hype. The prices may look higher than what you're expecting, but the food quality exceeded our expectations, with generous portions. We loved everything we ordered, and we want to got back to try all the things we didn't order. Also happy they have a little bakery/store at the front to pick up things like mind blowing chocolate chip cookies or their pillow-soft pita. But definitely make a reservation as we had to sit at the bar.

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By Dave on March 1, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

After hearing many positive reviews on their falafel, I decided to give them a try. While most of the food was great (4.5/5), the atmosphere and beverages certainly need work. This review will go from most positive to negative.

For starters, the falafel was excellent. They may seem expensive at a first glance, that is until you see how large they are. They’re easily 2x the size (if not larger) than how most other places make them. Texturally they are crispy on the outside and soft, but still firm on the inside. They were very well seasoned and had great flavour without being too overpowering.

The truffle mushroom hummus was also fantastic! Texture was very smooth and creamy. Seasonings were on point and tasted very fresh. The added chickpeas and mushrooms on top are a very nice touch. One thing I didn’t like though was there were certain parts of the hummus that were quite spicy. This was very unexpected and took us by surprise. Not sure if this was a mistake or intentional, but either way was unnecessary and took away from the experience. I also found the pita bread far too dense than what it should have been. It’s worth nothing that they only include a single piece of pita bread in which you need to request more if desired. They give you a very generous portion of the hummus, so I would expect an adequate amount of pita to be included in a basket.

The flavour of the tofu was good, however was lacking in texture as it was fairly soft. This dish would certainly benefit from the tofu being cooked until crispy, or at the least, more firm in general.

The parallel lemonade was very underwhelming and disappointing in all honesty. There was virtually no lemon flavour and the beverage simply tasted like sugar water and mint. This is the quality I would expect from first attempt at making a drink.

The worst part about dining here are the tables which are far too small. When our food came out, the table was completely crowded which made the experience uncomfortable. My fork and knife were close to the edge of the table and fell on the floor. This proved to be a common occurrence here as I heard the sound of cutlery hitting the floor from other tables.

While I’d probably give a 3/5 in this case, because most of the food here is excellent, especially the hummus and falafel, I am giving a 4/5. I certainly plan on coming back for the falafel and hummus, however I hope they improve the tofu, beverages, and table situation.

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By Vedika Bagla on February 26, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

We ordered potato and kale soup. It tasted warm and nice. Good for winters. -3/5
And pita with 4 dips + 2 falafel balls. The pita was okay. Bit dense. Didnt like it much. But the dips were nice and fresh. Hummus, beetrootahini, babaganoush, lemon pesto. Out of which lemon pesto was best and second was hummus

The falafal balls were big and warm. 4/5.

Very overpriced.
Service was good, friendly.

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By Harseerat Khaira on February 14, 2026 Verified by Facebook Parallel Brothers

I went here for a Valentine's dinner and had a great time.

For starters we got the 4 dips. I wish they included an extra pita with that but that's not a huge deal.

For the main I got the crab rissoto which was the special for the night and it was delicious. And I also had a chocolate lava cake slice which as also incredible.

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By Stayser Eats on February 6, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

Thinking of a trip to Geary Ave? 🥯✨ @parallel_brothers

There’s something truly special about Parallel Brothers. It’s not just a restaurant; it’s a full sensory experience where industrial-chic meets the warmth of a family kitchen.

Did you know that at the heart of their space sits a massive, 150-year-old stone mill? 🪨 It was specially imported from Syria to grind their premium sesame seeds (sourced from Ethiopia) into the silkiest tahini you’ve ever tasted. Watching the liquid gold flow from the mill while you tuck into a bowl of Hammshuka is the ultimate Toronto foodie core memory.

Whether you’re here for the vibrant beet tahini, the pillowy pita, or a tahini smoothie, you can really feel the passion the three Ozery brothers have for their craft. It’s fresh, it’s authentic, and it’s definitely worth the visit. 🥣🌿

Tag your brunch bestie who needs to try this! 👇
#TorontoEats #TorontoFood #BlogTO #CuriocityToronto #TorontoFoodie

📷 @StayserEats

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By Harinder Singh Virdi on January 20, 2026 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

The food was fantastic overall. Service felt a bit rushed, likely due to additional reservations that evening. One issue that caught our attention was with a tequila order. We requested a specific tequila neat, but when it arrived, it didnt taste like what we ordered. We asked the bartender to confirm and were initially told it was what we ordered. After requesting to see the bottle, it was confirmed that we were right. Our drinks were taken away and replaced with the correct tequila. A minor hiccup, but could have been handled better. We would still go back.

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By Pietra Migliari on November 4, 2025 Verified by Google Parallel Brothers

Parallel is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Toronto, and that says a lot because I’m a big foodie. Everything they serve is incredibly fresh, full of flavor, and always consistent. The portions are generous, and the prices are very fair for what you get. It’s the kind of place where every dish feels made with care and quality ingredients.

Over the years, I’ve tried many different items on their menu, and I’ve never been disappointed. Their hummus is homemade, super creamy, and easily some of the best in the city. And their falafel? The best in Toronto, hands down. If you think you like falafel, you need to try the one from Parallel — it’s perfectly crispy outside, soft inside, and bursting with flavor.

The service has always been friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere is simple but warm and comfortable. It’s the kind of place you can go to again and again and always leave happy. I don’t know why it took me so long to finally write this review because Parallel has been one of my favorite spots for years. It’s a true gem in the city, and I completely recommend it to anyone who loves good, fresh food.

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