Dine at Diwan Restaurant at Aga Khan Museum

As of late, I’ve been really dedicated to discovering new places in the Toronto area. Whether it be restaurants, attractions, shopping, parks, you name it, I just can’t get enough of new experiences.

Just last weekend I was invited to experience the Aga Khan Museum as well as their restaurant Diwan. After doing some research and perusing through Instagram images, I was so excited to see for myself what the Museum and restaurant had to offer. It’s safe to say I was pleasantly surprised!

Not only is the museum itself stunning and perfect for Instagram-worthy photos, but the restaurant is just as complimentary, so after a quick tour of the museum, the boyfriend and I sat down to enjoy a few courses at Diwan. It was the perfect Sunday afternoon with the dining room filled with bright sunshine and a light buzzing of guests indulging in both food and conversation.

At Diwan, Master Chef Mark McEwan and Chef de Cuisine John Kovac offer an abundance of choice on a menu that balances Silk Route spices with local and international ingredients. The wide-ranging lunch menu showcases McEwan’s innovative approaches to Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian cuisine, a completely new territory for the Chef in what he describes as his most exciting challenge to date.

 Before starters and mains were ordered, we sipped on some Rose and their amazing feature of the day Cran-Grapefruit Mango lemonade. Guys, I don’t even want explain how tasty this drink is because I want it all for myself, but I highly suggest you try it out when you go.

For starters we went with the Goat Kafta and Roasted Beet Salad which were both mouth watering. The boyfriend and I actually swapped every meal so we could try everything! What I especially love about this menu (coming from a “wannabe foodie”) is that the food looks unique enough to feel like you are experiencing more than a dish, but the ingredients are mixed so well and compliment each taste that you feel like you’ve been eating (and enjoying) this all your life.

The mains were just as good as the starters with both the Grilled Beef Sish Kebab and the Chicken Jalfrezi. Again, swapping both meals so we could try it all, both dishes happen to be a popular dish on the menu (as told by our server) and after cleaning the plates entirely, we understood why. The carb queen in me couldn’t have enough Naan also!

At this point, I feel like getting into the details of the dessert will only make me salivate and drool over my computer, so I’ll leave the pictures below to do the talking. No matter what you order on the dessert menu, you will be happily surprised!

I’ve already made plans to go back to try more of the menu, but I sincerely urge you ALL to make plans to tour the Aga Khan Museum and especially try out the menu at Diwan. For more information, visit www.agakhanmuseum.org now!

Aga Khan Museum awaiting guests. Anniversary Benefit Gala, September 17. Photo by Janet Kimber.

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