Fans of Middle Eastern food have known about Rumi for years. The Outremont eatery's cozy atmosphere, aromatic meats and delicious flavours earned the place a dedicated following of foodies. The food may be good (it is), but the restaurant is no place for the impatient. And in the era of Cell Phones, Ferraris and Wikipedia, isn't that everyone? Not everyone has time to sit down for an evening to eat, no matter how relaxing it may be. Prudently, the owners of the restaurant have opened up a "fast food" version of the restaurant in the heart of Montreal's hustle and bustle - St. Laurent Boulevard.

The new Rumi Grill and Café offers the same inimitable recipes, but in more accessible and pared-down versions. Ever notice there's nowhere in Montreal to get a really good falafel? You can here. Fried to order and served either in a sandwich or in a platter, this is one falafel you can feel good about grabbing to go. But if you have a moment, it's worth taking a seat and sampling what the menu has to offer.

The fare is simple, but expertly made. Almost everything is made to order on the mangal, a traditional Middle Eastern grill filled with glowing coals and consistently fanned to keep it hot. Your choices for mains consist mostly of grilled, skewered meats (a.k.a brochettes) either wrapped in a pita for increased durability or served on a plate with a variety of pickled vegetables and sauces.

As for starters, all the standards are covered: hummus, baba ghanoush, yogurt and cucumber dip, and labneh, a strained yogurt topped with olive oil and a blend of spices. The meats can be ordered for in individual servings or by the half kilo (good for take out, since you have no patience). You have your choices of salmon, lamb, beef, chicken or kefta (minced beef and lamb together), all perfectly spiced and cooked medium rare. In addition to the pickled vegetables, plates come with three sauces. The Serrano and Alioli are both good, but the money sauce (ahem) is the Alpeppo pepper. You'll find yourself trying to dip everything in it, including your finger after all is done.

If you enjoy your meat with a good wine or beer pairing, you're out of luck my friend. This is a dry establishment. But in order to appease the potentially-pissed (sober people get cranky sometimes), the restaurant offers a variety of signature beverages like Basil Lemonade, Hibiscus Flower Juice, and a wide variety of teas. For fast food, Rumi Grill is surprisingly good, and also relatively cheap, but it's still not as fast as, say, a McDonalds. But after you've dined here, your foodlust will no longer be directed at the Big Mac.