Parallel restaurant in Toronto starts with simple bones – two brothers perfecting the art of making sesame paste (tahini) with a 2,000 pound stone grinder in an industrial space on Geary Ave.

What they do with that tahini, however, is magical. Most people know tahini as one of the core ingredients in hummus and, at Parallel, they definitely make hummus and they make it well. Not only do they have your classic hummus, they also offer truffle hummus, hammshuka (shakshuka on hummus), fire-roasted veggies on hummus, etc.

Parallel uses their tahini in just about every dish on the menu… and they serve more than just hummus. Their falafel are definitely worth getting – tender and filled with herbs with a light crust on the outside. Another hit is their Arais – pita stuffed with a beef and lamb kabob served with a spicy tomato salad on the side. If you are into dips, like I am, I highly recommend the labneh – I could just have the labneh and one of the hummus dishes with a basket full of pita and I would be in heaven.

Brunch is very popular at Parallel but luckily they take reservations! Parallel is also open for lunch and dinner and based on the quality of their brunch, I bet it’s just as tasty.