Rayah is Toronto's first French-Moroccan cafe and restaurant. By day, it's where buttery, flaky pastries meet steaming cups of coffee and mint tea.

By night, tables fill with fluffy couscous, warm spices, and fragrant tagines. 

Located in the heart of Cabbagetown, Rayah grew out of a lifelong love of food and travel. Every dish tells a story, with recipes drawn from Chef and Owner Wafa El Rhazi's family cookbook. 

Born and raised in Paris to a Moroccan father and Algerian mother, North African cuisine is in Rhazi's DNA, as is classic French fare. And while her affinity for cooking started at a young age, always the designated cook at family celebrations, it wasn't until after 10 years of working in the tech industry that Rhazi decided it was time to trade her keyboard for the kitchen. 

"My true calling was food," Rhazi told blogTO. "I spent all my money on food and travelling to try new food, and I always knew I wanted to open my own place." 

The menu is a mix of Parisian bistro-style favourites and Moroccan comforts meant to feed the soul. Ingredients are locally sourced (except for specialty spices imported from Morocco), portions are generous, and everything is entirely Halal.

Designed for sharing, the Briwat ($12.90) is a trio of mini pies: one beef, one chicken, and one veggie. Warm, savoury, and wrapped in a flaky filo pastry, they're served with a green herb aioli. 

The Maakouda ($9.90) are what happens when potato beignets meet mozzarella sticks. Stuffed with cheese, these two-bite fritters are fluffy and creamy on the inside, with a crispy exterior.

The Kemia ($9.90) are an assortment of colourful dips accompanied by baghir, a spongy Moroccan delicacy also known as "thousand hole pancakes." Made with semolina, these pancakes are delicate and airy, with a lace-like texture reminiscent of a crêpe. They make the perfect vehicle for any topping, including Rhazi's warm cumin carrots, medley of roasted peppers, and savoury eggplant with pomegranates.  

Sure to make any meal feel like a worthy occasion is the lamb Tagine ($29.90). Sweet and savoury, it's served with slow-cooked onions, apricots, and prunes.

"Lamb tagine is the most iconic tagine in Morocco," describes Rhazi. "If you have any sort of celebration - an engagement, wedding, birth, you will be served this tagine."

Here, the lamb leg is cooked low and slow for several hours until fall-apart tender, then sliced and seared before serving. On the side is a gratin dauphinois - layers of thinly sliced potato baked in cream. 

The Veggie Pastilla ($19.90) swaps out the usual shredded chicken for tender veg, but rest assured, you won't miss a thing. Crispy filo is filled with roasted eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, rice vermicelli, and almonds. On top: cumin, paprika, honey, goat cheese, and pomegranate. It comes with a leafy house salad on the side.

The Merguez and Purée ($25.90) is a riff on a bistro classic. Here, Rhazi swaps the traditional pork sausage for house-made merguez. A powerhouse of spices, it's served with velvety mashed potatoes and a savoury meat jus. 

For couscous, the Royal ($29.90) offers a little of everything: merguez, chicken, and a tender lamb meatball, with carrots, zucchini, and turnips in a spiced red broth over fluffy semolina.

The pastries and desserts are a highlight in their own right. There's the creamy, custardy Raspberry Vanilla Flan ($10.90), which also comes in a luxurious hazelnut version ($10.90), as well as incredibly light and airy Choux à la Crème ($7.90).

They're best enjoyed with a refreshing, herbaceous cup of Moroccan Mint Tea ($6.50 small, $9.90 large). 

The space mirrors Rhazi's story, blending the Parisian charm of globe lights and bistro chairs with memories of summer pilgrimages to Morocco by way of woven baskets, geometric-patterned walls, and even an antique Motobecane moped. 

A subway-tiled hallway connects the main dining room to the back, styled to resemble a Paris metro station. 

In the sunroom, a wall of handcrafted leather babouche is paired with colourful lanterns and artisanal rugs saturated in deep reds and royal blues. Flooded with natural light, it's the perfect backdrop for conversations with friends. 

Beyond that, the patio awaits, a hidden oasis complete with string lights and plenty of greenery. 

Rayah is located at 507 Parliament Street.