Kabab Grill on the corner of Bay and Gerrard serves an impressive array of affordable Lebanese dishes including roasted and grilled meats, freshly baked bread and some surprisingly good pizza.

This six-week old fast-food style restaurant used to be a Java Joe's Coffee Shop and was briefly a Tower Burger joint before it went deadpool. Kabab Grill just might have the goods to make this space succeed.

Catering to the nearby hospitals, offices and condominiums, Kabab Grill features healthy alternatives which are 100% Halal.

Best bets are their specialty mini pizzas like the delectable Zaatar ($2.49) that is loaded with thyme, sesame seeds, oregano and doused with lemon. It's baked perfectly and has a nutty and almost intoxicating aroma. Other pizzas here include a mild vegetarian (tomato and onion or spinach) to the more traditional salami ($3.99).

The baba ghannoush ($4.99) with grilled eggplant, sesame paste and tahini is potent yet sublime although it would be nice if it was served with some bread.

There's also an enormous kabab plate ($10.99) that comes overflowing with two grilled beef kebabs, pita bread, parboiled rice, salad, garlic sauce and hummus. The kabab is grilled just right and not too dry and includes crispy burnt ends (always the best part).

For a quick lunch, the chicken shawarma sandwich ($4.99) is sized ok although it tastes rather bland and is unspectacular. Beef, kabab, falafel and BBQ meat sandwiches are also available from $3.99 to $5.99.

Garlic lovers have to try the spicy potatoes ($3.99). This side dish of fried diced potatoes sauteed with garlic and coriander is more garlicky than it is spicy but really adds another dimension to the usual flavour of fried potatoes.

Vegetarians need to look past the carnivorous name Kabab Grill and go for the salads ($4.99 to $5.99) including Greek, fatoush and tabouleh as well as the lentil and veggie soups ($3.99).

Overall, service here is friendly and enthusiastic although I'm deducting points because they serve everything in styrofoam even if you're dining in. Boo!

But I'll certainly be back for the pizza, potatoes and the kebab dishes.

Hours:

8am - 11pm Monday to Thursday

8am - 12am Friday and Saturday

11am - 11pm Sunday