Situated between the historic, turn of the century Molson Bank and Hudson’s Block buildings on Stephen Avenue Walk, and sharing a tenancy with the Western Store and Calgary Shoe Hospital, is a Syrian restaurant that’s both an emerging casual-dining hotspot and an apt reminder of downtown Calgary’s ever-changing dynamic.
Surrounded by historic sandstone architecture and Cowboy paraphernalia, A La Saj, which opened in January of 2013, offers a fresh take on downtown eats. Tastefully casual, the bright, narrow space is inviting. As Arabic house music pumps through the sound system, you notice the simple yet effective decorative touches: gleaming white walls, black chandeliers and vintage black-and-white photographs in an assortment of frames hung salon-style throughout the seating area.
Manager Mohammad Elsabek explains that the images are of The Oriental Club, an award-winning eatery in Syria on which A La Saj is based. A fast-paced lunch spot by day, the restaurant shifts into a lower gear by night when the lights are dimmed, the volume of the music goes up and the shishas come out. “At lunch, people are in a hurry, they cannot wait, but in the evening we are relaxed,” says Mohammad of the shift from convenience to comfort. Additionally, on weekends, the restaurant brings in a variety of types of live musical entertainers who perform traditional Syrian fare as well as contemporary western songs. Music includes oud performances (a mandolin-like instrument) and a weekly dabake night (a type of Arabic dance) in the former category, as well as DJs and karaoke in the latter.
Fattoush
Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber, Crispy Fried Bread With Our Homemade Fattoush Dressing
Chicken Fattoush
Fattoush Salad With Chicken Shawarma Pieces On Top, Finished With Garlic Sauce
Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
Chicken Shawarma
Beef Donair
Falafel
Thyme (Z'atar)
Thyme dried herbs mixed with sesame seeds & olive oil.
Hummus
Cheese
Mozzarella mixed with Akawi cheese
Cheese And Thyme
Labneh
Middle Easter strained yogurt
Mhamara
Red pepper paste mixed with tomato & chilli flakes
Mhamara With Cheese
Grilled Cheese With Strawberry Jam
Garlic Cheese Saj
Chicken Shawarma - Combo
Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
Beef Donair - Combo
Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
Falafel - Combo
Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
Thyme (Z'atar) - Combo
Thyme dried herbs mixed with sesame seeds & olive oil. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
Hummus - Combo
Cheese - Combo
Mozzarella mixed with Akawi cheese. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
Cheese And Thyme - Combo
Labneh - Combo
Middle Easter strained yogurt. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
Mhamara - Combo
Red pepper paste mixed with tomato & chilli flakes. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
Mhamara With Cheese - Combo
Grilled Cheese With Strawberry Jam - Combo
Garlic Cheese Saj - Combo
The Foul Platter
Fava Beans Cooked With Tomato, Parsley, Onions, Olive Oil, And Two Pieces Of Saj Bread
Hummus Dip
Egg N Saj
Scrambled Eggs With Truffle, Cheese, Tomatoes And Mushrooms
Fatet Saj Bowl
Saj Bread Cut Into Pieces With Chick Peas And Our Homemade Fateh Sauce
Labneh Dip
Nutella
Ricotta Cheese With Honey
Halawet El Gibin - 4 Pieces
Crunchy Nutella
Kinder With Mozzarella
Drinks
The Canadian
Maple Seared Turkey Breast with Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cheese And Our Home Made Maple Dijon Sauce
The French
A third generation family recipe of tuna mixed with green olives, corn, tomatoes, lettuce with sauce Dijonaise
The Italian Uno
Our Take On A Bresaola Sandwich With Fresh Rucola, Grated Parmesan Cheese, Olive Oil And Balsamic Reduction
The Italian Duo
Levantine Version Of A Pizza With Marinara Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Mushrooms And A Drizzle Of Truffle Oil
The Swiss
Melted Raclette Cheese On Top Of Swiss Sundried Beef And Petit Pickles
The Calgarian
You Can Never Go Wrong With Steak, Cheese, And Mushrooms
The German
The Famous Frankfurter Sausage With Melted Cheddar Cheese, Crumbled Chips, Our Homemade Sauce, And Mayo
The Canadian - Combo
Maple Seared Turkey Breast with Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cheese And Our Home Made Maple Dijon Sauce. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
The French - Combo
A third generation family recipe of tuna mixed with green olives, corn, tomatoes, lettuce with sauce Dijonaise. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
The Italian Uno - Combo
Our Take On A Bresaola Sandwich With Fresh Rucola, Grated Parmesan Cheese, Olive Oil And Balsamic Reduction. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
The Italian Duo - Combo
Levantine Version Of A Pizza With Marinara Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Mushrooms And A Drizzle Of Truffle Oil. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
The Swiss - Combo
Melted Raclette Cheese On Top Of Swiss Sundried Beef And Petit Pickles. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
The Calgarian - Combo
You Can Never Go Wrong With Steak, Cheese, And Mushrooms. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
The German - Combo
The Famous Frankfurter Sausage With Melted Cheddar Cheese, Crumbled Chips, Our Homemade Sauce, And Mayo. Combos Include Fries Or Salad + Drink
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