Nuba

I don't know what it about Middle Eastern food that is so appealing to us. Maybe it's the extensive use of fresh ingredients. Maybe it's the delicate use of spices and subtle flavourings. Maybe it's the profusion of vegetarian and vegan options.

Even when I am 8,000 kilometres from home, I find myself seeking out Israeli or Moroccan food. Upon learning of its existence, we have been planning a visit to one of Nuba's three (now four) locations, for Lebanese cuisine.

Arriving just near the end of the lunch rush, we were given the choice of sitting at a bar or a short wait for a table. Seeing that the bar looked right into the open kitchen, you can guess where we ended up. There was a couple sitting at the other two stools at the bar, and we attempted to sneak a peek at their food, but they had already finished and were happily lingering over coffees.

The specials board listed potato cilantro soup; pomegranate, honeydew, strawberry, orange juice, and honey smoothie; and a spicy Beirut beef pita. Unfortunately, we didn't time our visit well enough. Nuba at 3rd's liquor licence, while imminent, was still pending. Undaunted, we hoped the smoothies would compensate.

Given our hearty appetites today, we thought that La Feast, a vegetarian two-course mezze sampler for two, would satisfy. Our prediction was entirely accurate. Although we did finish the meal craving more, it was due to the deliciousness of the food, and not from any stinginess on the part of the serving sizes.

The first course was hummus, baba ghanooj and taboulleh, with house-made pickles and pita wedges.

Second was a huge platter with mjadra (organic green lentils & rice with onions and jalapeño, served with avocado & caramelized onions), eggplant stew, najib's special (crispy cauliflower tossed with lemon & sea salt), falafel, and feta salad, served with tzatziki, tahini and hot sauce.

The beautiful presentation of the food matched the gastronomic flair. Likewise, the room's decor, making good use of geometric patterns and simple accents, added to the ambience.

Until I returned home and looked at their website, I hadn't known the Hastings location offers a more romantic dinner setting. Another Nuba experience forthcoming perhaps?