East is East

Great food. Generous portions. Very tasty. Fantastic music on Saturday nights. Vibrant atmosphere.
I didn’t like the service. Had to wait a while to get a table. It took a while to place our order. Our server wasn’t attentive. Had to ask for water a number of times. We asked for our desserts to go and we received someone else’s half eaten desserts by mistake! Really not impressed by that.

Love this place! Went on Friday night for the first time and I already recommended it to my friends. It was a busy night, but luckily we had made reservations and did not have to wait. Make sure you call in advance, specially on the weekend! As it was Friday night they had a Flamenco show. Amazing! Great performance, they danced for about 2 hours, live music with a charming Spanish guitar. The ambiance is quite nice, decorated with Persian rugs and ethnic items everywhere. The food was delicious, they had the Dine Out menu, but we went for the regular menu and it was a combination of Persian, Indian, Middle eastern flavors. I had the mango prawns and my friend the roti. Yum! It’s a good place for a fun and good food night.

Short version: Such a comfortable and cozy restaurant to have a variety of delicious Middle Eastern and Indian dishes! Their Chai tea is deliciously spicy and is a must try!
I have the hot Soy Chai every time, and every time I do, I think ‘This stuff is like a drug’. It’s not too sweet and generously spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and other secret spices, and it makes you want MORE.
For starters, I really like the Boulani, which is a roti stuffed with seasoned potato, green onions and herbs (in the shape of a quesadilla).
My favourite soup is the Sambar Squash soup. It has a nice thickened texture, and relies on the flavour of the squash and spices rather than on oils and salt.
For mains, I’d recommend the Mango Butternut Squash (if you like a kick of sweetness) and the Afghan Eggplant.
All the while you are basking in these delectable flavours while leaning back against your cushioned seats, there is live traditional music serenading you in the background. A relaxing evening awaits you here!

This was my first visit to this restaurant. We didn’t have the warmest welcome, but we were able to get seated quickly. One of the first things they said to us was that we had to be out of the table by a certain time; understandable, it was a Saturday night. The tables are so puny and the chairs are actually stools. This place looks neat but isn’t comfortable.
When we were ready to order, we had to call the waitress over. When we wanted more water, we had to call the waitress over. After waiting for our food for 20 minutes, the waitress comes by and says «how was the meal? Can I bring over a dessert menu?». I told her we hadn’t even eaten yet! I’ve never had that happen to me. The waitress was really embarrassed, and I was sort of ticked.
The food was a saving grace. It was really good. I had a double vegetarian roti, and my boyfriend had a double non-​vegetarian roti. Both of us really liked the food. It was a good portion and tasty; we both took our 2^nd roti home. I was imagining a different type of roti, but this one was also tasty.
When the bill came, I just paid and thought nothing of it, but as we were walking down the street, we were wondering why the bill was so much more. Then, we noticed the musician fee, something that as not mentioned in the beginning. There was a $ 3 musician fee per person. I would have liked to have known that ahead of time.
Needless to say, I like the food but the atmosphere and service didn’t really inspire me to come back. The place is way too pseudo-​ethnic and pretentious for me.
I rather go to some mom and pop Indian or West Indian restaurant instead.

Friends really enjoyed sampling evening from the Chai Feast, well worth it. They especially liked the eggplant and alu Gobi (cauliflower fish). You really can’t go wrong with anything. Those of us with smaller appetites and wallets just ordered an entrée. Friend found the salmon wrap tasty and not too spicy. I love the fish curry, I always tend to order this when I come here.
Atmosphere and décor are beautiful. Live music was subdued this evening and just sounded like nice background music. The live music fee was a bit of a shock; should have read some of the other reviews.
Service was adequate. The only negative was that my three friends had their entrees already and mine never came! Waitress never checked on us and we had to point out that while everybody finished their meal, mine hadn’t come. She was apologetic and offered to take it off the bill.
Friend got a parking ticket; yes, she didn’t pay the meter?! Watch out for parking patrol, they come frequently; twice the night we came. Good thing my pay by phone alerted me to extend my time.
The food is delicious so that’s why I would come back.

Highly recommended this restaurant !
I ordered lamb kabab and chai feast (Quinoa Tabouli Salad + Mystic Soup + chicken Masala + lamb curry)
The food was delicious!

I have to say, I just love the food here! It was a late night so I thought I’d get some food to go. A quick look on Unilocal and a few times of calling before we finally got ahold of someone to place and order and within 15 minutes, the food was ready to be picked up. Service was so warm and genuinely friendly — I really appreciated that. And the ambiance inside looked pretty cool — live music and plenty of people around. I could see dining in here to be a fun experience. Anyways. onto the food :).
I ordered the Mango Prawns Appetizer — it was addicting and just perfect The prawns (about 6 – 7 in a dish) were large, cooked perfect and the sauce was soo good with the rice… Not too spicy and overpowering. I think I could easily eat a couple servings of these for a meal and call it good. I’m even still thinking of eating them right now! MM.
The lamb kebab and chicken masala are available to order individually, though it is listed under the chai feast section — I decided on the lamb kebab and it was a hearty portion size that came with some delicious meat, plenty of veggies, a tasty light curry sauce and a side of rice that had a great warm flavor, with some spices and raisins added to it.
I also ordered a double portion of roti, mainly because I was indecisive on what to get — you have the option to get a single serving, but for a few dollars more, I think its worth getting a second. The sizes are maybe 6−8″ long and you can get two of the same, or mix and match the roti you want — I got the Afgan Nomad (lamb) and the Mughal (chicken). Both were delicious, though I think I prefer the chicken if I had to choose. Since the order was to go, by the time we got to it, the roti was slightly soggy, but had it been eaten right away, I’m sure it would have been perfect.
Yes, this was a good amount of food for two people, but we must have been more hungry than we thought cuz we finished almost everything in there… it may have also been because it tasted too good, it was hard to stop eating. The take out bag was filled with a lot of containers of different sauces. I’m not quite sure which sauce was supposed to go with which, but it was all very tasty and good. Nice to be able to control how much spice was in the food, and everything was fresh and not too heavy. Am definitely looking forward to dining here again!

Finally tried this spot out and loved it! Everything about it was on point: the ambiance, décor, food, and service. I had the Bombay Masala Roti lunch; the roti was probably the best roti roll I’ve ever had (I ordered it with Afghan rice, delicious, I was already craving this again before I had finished it), the dahl was amazing, and the salad was light and not too overdressed. This spot is super earthy, zen, and cozy. Waitresses were great, will definitely be returning for dinner to try the Chai Feast.
I want to add that upon sitting down we were given samples of their soy chai. Loved it but wished it weren’t so spicy. The waitress was nice enough to offer to let me try another one of their chais that was less spicy — again great service! Apparently in the evenings they have live music. Will be back to check that out one night!

My recent dinner at East is East was one of my favourite dining experiences in a long time. The last time I was there, it was still its former (much smaller) location, which I recall being a long narrow room that was hard to get around. The current location is gorgeous – they’ve done a fabulous job of creating an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’ve been whisked away. And I love that they have live music on evenings – music you wouldn’t normally hear. My favourite was an Asian and Persian fusion group. But I digress!
I am a big fan of their Eastern Roti Rolls. My normal choice is their Mughal (yummy chicken) but this time I decided to try Lion of the Desert, a vegetarian roll with peas, paneer, and potatoes. The Afghan rice they have in the roll has raisins and other spices that make me so happy, and the roll comes with a green salad and dahl, so it makes for a nice balanced meal.
I ended my dinner with their chocolate chai, a really nice cup of comforting spices and chocolate.
If you are there when there’s live music, note that they (rightly) charge a small cover fee in your bill that goes toward the musicians.
PS. During the summer, I love to order their Nutty Gypsy shake or Calcutta Monsoon smoothie. They’re a bit pricey but worth it every once in awhile when it’s hot out.

Stepping in here is like travelling to the Middle East with the rustic wooden tables and chairs and the kilims lining the wooden floors and hung on the walls.
They were giving out samples of soy chai tea which was sweet with a hint of the ginger and spice used to brew it. We ordered the salad feast and the soup salad boulani (afghani bread stuffed with potato and other fillings) and a rain Rangoon lassi.
Mystic soup is this coconut creamy soup with slices of variety mushrooms including enoki and a hint of spicy pepper. Boulani was a delicious flat bread stuffed with a delicious filling. Hit the spot on a rainy Monday afternoon.
Service is friendly and quick and all the food was absolutely delicious.

Disappointed. The servers couldn’t seem to remember some of the orders. The quality of the food was good. When we got the bill the tip was already calculated and added to the bill which was unprofessional in my opinion. Tips are usually decided on how the customer enjoyed their experience.
And the entertainment fee? Usually tipping the musicians is optional not mandatory. A business should incur the cost of musicians and if they don’t want to then play cd’s or get galaxy radio. Also the band didn’t play afghan or middle eastern music.

This place was a spectacle for the senses. Boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we both ordered the Chai feast. I would absolutely recommend everyone who comes here for their first time get this. Having a chance to try as many things as possible on the menu is a must.
The décor and atmosphere is gorgeous; I love the woodwork and all of the tables are beautifully crafted. The ceilings are ornate and if you go for dinner (not sure about lunch) there’s beautiful live music playing.
We had so many of the different dishes, and I would say that the Afghan Eggplant and Spinach Paneer were some of my favourite dishes. This is another place I would rate as being wonderful to go to if you have a dancing plethora of food sensitivities and still want to enjoy a hearty, delicious meal with your friends.
I will absolutely be back to try more things, probably very soon.

My first time here and I loved it. Cool environment and awesome food! For a little while, I felt I was transported back in time…
This place is definitely an experience for dates or birthday parties. They have cozy tables for two (they are a tad too close, but if you like the person your with, it’s not bad). They also have tables big enough for a large get together. They also have a band playing which gives the whole place a mellow feel.
We had the Chai Feast and it’s their signature tasting menu. You start with a selection of soup, salad and two main dishes. It comes with naan, basmati rice. After you finish, you can try another dish on the menu —– Le’ts just say, I tried to have a tasting of everything on the list that I could.
Some favourites? persian salad, dhaal soup, mystic soup, afghan egglplant, spinach paneer, mango butternut squash, wild salmon, chicken masala, lamb kebab.

My favourite part about dining at East is East is how easy it is to convince myself that I have made a smart healthy choice. I can just see myself now: placidly smiling with my eyes closed as I whisper to myself, «Annie… you are so smart and healthy. Look at you… not a cheeseburger in sight. After this you should reward yourself with ice cream. You deserve it, you healthy bitch!»
In all honesty, East is East is a smart choice regardless of your intentions. I am not one to shy away from a challenge and so I always find myself ordering the silk road feast. The menu may tempt you with cheaper options, but trust me… the feast is the only way to go. It is an endless supply of all their great creations (it’s a pick and choose platter that comes with all the fixin’s), and depending on your appetite you can really order yourself into exhaustion.
Aside from the food, the atmosphere is really spectacular. Live music, dancers, dark lighting, weird stumps to sit on… they’ve got it all. Sure sure, maybe some of you immediately felt an eye-​roll come on when I mentioned these things, but East is East makes it work. There is little to no snobbery, jerkiness, or assholery in the entire establishment. The servers are sincere, kind, and generally seem really happy to work here which, for me, is the ultimate testament to a restaurant’s integrity.

This is a very unique stop along Main Street. It has a great laid back vibe with live music and a one of a kind interior. I love that there are so many chai tea options. I would recommend the Chai Feast as it is the best value and provides an opportunity to try several dishes. We have been a few times and found the other food items are little pricey for what you get. In the past the chai tea included free refills, but this has been discontinued and you now pay per cup which can add up.
The staff are very pleasant and attentive and we will be returning.

Went here for dinner with my mom on a weekday. We ordered the Mediterranean platter, shrimp masala, and Tibetan Mantu (dumplings with onions, chives, herbs). Everything we ordered was excellent. The platter was definitely my favourite. I think our eyes were bigger than our stomach that night because we got halfway through everything and started to fill up.
The service was lovely, the ambiance is wonderful. We didn’t watch any live music as we weren’t there during that time but it seems like it would make your meal that much more magical. The table was a little cumbersome; they aren’t in a conventional rectangular shape, but rather curvy/​misshapen so accommodating all of our plates required a bit of Feng Shui.
Other than that, it was a most enjoyable experience. I definitely plan on going back.

Had the «Feast» for $ 28/​pp. I’d recommend this for those who have not eaten here yet. You get unlimited servings of whatever you want on the Feast Menu.
Below are some items on the Feast Menu:
Mango butternut squash (⁷⁄₁₀)
Lamb curry (⁷⁄₁₀)
Quinoa salad (⁶⁄₁₀)
Samaritan shall soup (⁸⁄₁₀)
Beef keema (⁸⁄₁₀)
Chicken masala (⁷⁄₁₀)
I think most of the items above needed a little more spice. I added the green spicy sauce, and it made the dishes way better/​
Wine — about 35 bucks for a decent bottle.
Staff was super friendly.
Restrooms were slightly dirty, but ok.
Plenty of on-​street parking. If you can’t find on-​street parking, there is an underground lot beneath the adjacent McDonalds. HOWEVER, do not park in the underground parkade (under McDonalds) if you’re dining past 10pm. You’re going to have to call one of the tenants living above, to let you in the parkade to get you to exit.
On weekend nights, they have Flamenco dancing, but you have to pay a mandatory $ 3 extra per person.
Enjoy!

I’ve been here now a few times, for both lunch and dinner, so it’s probably time to post a review, which, I will say from the very beginning, is mixed.
The new, larger East is East location is huge they have so many seats here that it shouldn’t be a problem to just walk in. WARNING: where you sit can cost you (this was not cool). When we were there for dinner, my friend and I were asked if we wanted to sit in the dining area, or the «music room» (they are the same room). We said we didn’t care, as long as the seats were comfy (more on that later). We were sat in the music room, and when our bill came, we were each charged a $ 2 «musician fee» for the sitar player that, frankly, we could have done without. Especially given that it really is the same room as the main dining area, and everyone gets the“benefit” of the music (or the privilege of shouting at each other over the music), this seemed super cheap and uncool.
Now to the seats: many of the tables in the «music room» are made of reclaimed wood — huge beautiful tables made of tree stumps, and the like. The problem: many of them feature «chairs» (if one can call them that) that are also made of tree stumps. Some of them are so small and low to the ground that they are (not kidding) children’s sized. I’d been here for lunch a previous time, sat at one of these hobbit tables, on a chair that was so low and with such a small seat that the only comfortable way to sit at it as to sort of straddle the chair in a very unbecoming way — that quickly became not-​so-​comfortable. Hence the question when we came in for dinner about sitting somewhere comfy. I didn’t expect to be charged $ for the privilege.
The food: the best experience here is to do the sampling menu. While the menu doesn’t come right out and say it, it is unlimited and so you can request as many dishes as you feel comfortable eating, and as much bread, rice and salad to accompany it as you wish. There are a number of items on the tasting menus (and there are such menus for lunch and dinner) that you can’t purchase a la carte. And really, the dishes are very good, offering cuisine influenced by various parts of the Silk Road. I also like that you can order chai with regular, soy or almond milk.
If the food wasn’t good, I would probably give this place two stars for the secret charges, the uncomfortable seats, and the spotty service (I’ve had good service and very very non-​attentive service — trying to flag one server down became kind of a hilarious game), but it really is good value for money and one of the only places I know of where you can hope to sample cuisine from a variety of regions all at once.

Since I last visited in March, their prices have increased by 20−30%. The unlimited feast, which used to be $ 21, is now $ 28. Coupled with the bad service, I’m far less likely to come. I get that price increases happen, but this is starting to feel a bit ridiculous. I also feel like the pricing of some of their menu items are meant to rip customers off (than if they ordered side items individually)
I ordered a side dish of boulani (potato onion and cheese flatbread) for $ 2.50 (4 pieces). Instead, the entrée size arrived: 10 pieces of boulani, and a side chickpea salad. It was supposed to be a snack, but what the hey, I decided that having the entrée is fine by me — until I got the bill, $ 16,50 for my entrée. If you do the math, and ordered everything separately as sides from the menu, a side salad (rings in at $ 5 or under) plus 3 orders of boulani ($ 2.50, MAYBE its $ 3 now) which gives you an even more generous 12 pieces = you pay $ 14. They’re pretty much charging you more money than if you ordered them all separately. Same thing goes for the soup, salad and boulani for $ 16.50. Why do you do this?! I know its only an extra 2 bucks, but seriously. And trust me, its not because they give you proportionately more food.
The prices definitely seem disproportionate. Its like the sneaky salesman who pushes, «buy 1 for a buck, its a deal at 3 for $ 5.!» SEE YA.

Winners: alu gobi and lamb kebab
Stuffed myself silly with the Chai Feast.
I tried the alu gobi, lamb kebab, fish curry, chicken masala, and mango butternut squash
I will come back to try everything else. Great service and nice ambiance with live entertainment.