Azhar

What is Azhar? Occupying prime real estate at 96 Ossington Avenue, Azhar Kitchen & Bar is Janet Zuccarini’s Gusto 54 venture focused on fire-kissed Middle Eastern and Eastern Mediterranean dining. The space revolves around a glowing wood-fired hearth and an open kitchen, backed by terracotta tones, warm lighting, and a bustling sidewalk patio during summer months. Guests can pull up a stool at the cocktail bar or settle into banquette seating throughout the intimate, high-energy dining room.

Azhar Menu & What to Order Every meal should start with the oven-fresh, fermented potato pita, arriving blistered and steamy alongside a spread of dips like silky hummus with green shatta, smoky muhammara with pomegranate, and house labneh drizzled with lemon-honey. From the grill, order the spiced lamb kebabs or slow-braised lamb, both prepared with halal-certified meat, paired with charred seasonal vegetables and herbaceous fattoush. Complement the feast with an aromatic Mediterranean-leaning cocktail like The Argonaut or select natural wines from Greece and Lebanon.

Know Before You Go Reservations are strongly recommended for prime weekend dinner slots, though spontaneous walk-ins can often snag bar stools or early evening tables. The kitchen offers a popular weekday happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. featuring discounted mezze and drinks. Street parking on Ossington is notoriously scarce, so take the 501 Queen or 505 Dundas streetcar and stroll over.