After five years of making some of the city’s best Knafeh and Manaeesh, Syrian bakery and cafe Soufi’s served their last customers this past weekend on April 3, 2022.
Since opening in 2017, Soufi’s has been considered one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants and the first Syrian restaurant in downtown Toronto. With the motto, “From Syria With Love,” their authentic Syrian flavours brought an upbeat and energetic atmosphere to the multicultural hub that Queen West is known and loved for.
Concentrating on comfort bites like freshly baked Manaeesh and sweet-and-cheesy Knafeh, the family-run spot was a favourite amongst serious foodies, weekend brunchers, and casual grab-and-go crowds alike.
During the COVID restrictions in July 2020, Soufi’s even renovated their patio and introduced a hidden bar concept, Fig Tree. Serving spiced cocktails like Pomegranate Sumac Martini and Spicy Margarita, the “alleyway oasis” hosted intimate evening events with live music and cozy decor.
“This experience has been extremely humbling, challenging and rewarding for every member of our family,” writes the Alsoufi family in an Instagram post. “We’ve enjoyed sharing our food, music and laughs with you and feel so honoured to have represented our Syrian culture in Toronto and the Queen West community.”
The family is ending their five-year journey on Queen West to spend more time together and focus on their mother Ms. Shihnaz Beirekdar, co-owner and Executive Chef of Soufi's, who's been coping with illness.
"We want to say a huge thank you to all our friends and customers for supporting us these five years," says Jala Alsoufi, General Manager of Soufi's. "We appreciate them so much."
For now, the family has no plans for other projects, but you can still jog down memory lane by scrolling through their Instagram account, which is full of smiles, passion, and good food.
