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Real People. Real Reviews.®
Category: American (New) [Edit]
CN Tower
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The revolving platform restaurant at the CN Tower is pricey, but eating here pays for the ticket up to the observation deck. The premise of a revolving restaurant is pretty cool in itself, and it was pretty cool to get a 360 degree view of Toronto.
The service was good. Food was on-pace with the speed I ate, and while some may complain it be slow, it also depends on when you go. The waiter was amicable, better than most other restaurants.
I had the Prix Fixe. For the appetizer, I had the Caesar salad; the main course was the Stuffed Chicken with Parmesan; and dessert a Chocolate Tower. The salad was prepared well, visibly appealing, and pretty good. Five pieces of Romaine topped with italian dressing, croutons, ricotta cheese.
The main course featured two pieces of lightly fried chicken thigh, stuffed with cheese and spinach. Side was mash potatoes and two baby tomatoes. The chicken was lightly dry but still tender, although the taste was one dimensional. Presenation and portion was great though.
For the Chocolate Tower I was expecting some sort of Ice Cream or cake topped together dripping or covered in chocolate. Instead it was a 5 inch tall cylinder shaped mousse, wrapped with stripes of chocolate, topped with a piece of dark chocolate. It was declious.
Overall, while it is pricey, it was worth the view, the good portioned food, quality presentation, and the classy atmosphere. Definitely a must go for tourists of Toronto.
The restaurant itself is HORRIBLE. Bad service, expensive prices, mediocre food. I'm not sure if it was because we had a party of 8, and gratuity is automatically added to the bill, but the server did not seem to really care about us. My dad, previously being a waiter of fine dining, automatically noticed the unprofessionalism of our waiter. I guess the view of Toronto is suppose to distract customers from noticing how horrible they are.
We ordered two seafood samplers for the 2 tables (split with 4 people each to see the view) at $40/each, which consisted of 3 jumbo shrimp, 2 crab claws, 4 oysters (not fresh), 6 mussels, and some miscellaneous odds and ends in the middle with chopped pepper, small shrimp, onions. The jumbo shrimp was good, but how could you go wrong with shrimp cocktail.
I asked the server to provide some of his recommendations, and he basically listed the entire list of entrees. Very unhelpful. After we placed our order, I expected bread to come, esecially at a fancy restaurant such as this. I spoke with one of the helpers of the servers, who told me that bread is only presented upon request. Now, REALLY?! So after about 15 mins of forgetting about me, I gave him an eye as he walked by the table, to let him know that we wanted bread. He only gave one of the two tables a basket of bread, and I had to ask again for another basket. I was getting annoyed at this point.
I ordered the salmon, which didn't have much taste. The other people at my side of the table had the chicken, sirloin steak, and lamb. They all had to add some salt and pepper to give it some taste. They weren't too impressed with their meals either. We skipped on dessert.
The ONLY plus about dining at the 360 is that if you make reservations, you get to skip the line to the top of the CN Tower. You also get FREE access to the Observation Tower and Glass Floor in which is one and two floors below the restaurant. You do however, have to wait in line to go back down the CN Tower. So if you were interested in seeing the CN Tower, dining at the 360 may be your best bet to cut lines, and the view is included in the meal, which may be why dining there is so costly. The entire bill for 8 people for 2 appetizers and 8 entrees came to $491. Tax in Canada is 14% (cost of free healthcare). Together with Grauity added almost $120 to the bill for CRAP service.
One word that describes this place perfectly... EXPENSIVE. But one thing I can approve of is that their food has upgraded itself from a 'wtf is this?!?!' up to a 'meeh, its alright' My past dinner experience here scarred me for life with their HORRIBLE food and I was planning to never return here again but having family come over from Asia, they wanted to visit the famous Canadian landmark - so really, I had no choice.
I'm assuming the reason why it's so expensive here is because you're really paying for the scenic view and the experience of dining "at the top of the world".
But to my surprise, when I arrived at the restaurant, my tourist personality came out and I was 'oohhhing and ahhinng' at the view. I even went out to the extent of taking pictures with our window (so sad, but true). I won't deny it, the view is spectacular!
Anyways moving on to the food I found out that it wasn't as bad as I remembered it to be. I had ordered the Ontario Lamb with Rosemary Juice along with a side of asparagus w/ mozzarella cheese and a dish of sweet potato frites .The food overall tasted pretty good and was nicely presented. The only con was that their portions were quite small for the prices you're paying. ALSO, the waiter that was serving us gave me quite a disappointment. He seemed to be very.... cold towards us. At one point I wanted to say to him 'why so serious, dude?' He never smiled at us and he seemed to have selective service towards potential big tippers. I give you 3 stars for the surprisingly good food, the amazing atmosphere, the overly expensive meal and the suckish wait staff.
good food and a great view.
Nice decor, but a bit on the chilly side.
Service was a bit soft, but overall good value and experience.
Julie
3 Stars for the View
1 STAR FOR THE CRAPPY FOOD
averages out to 2 Stars. Forget that... Changing it to 1 STAR....
I guess it's a spot to go if you're a tourist or if you want to impress your non-foodie date.....
Went for a $68 prix fixe.... Knew it was going to go bad with the "Bread Test"... Hmmmm, what's the bread test???? Well, if you know that you're going to spend $100 bucks on dinner at a restaurant, they should have pretty good bread, right ??? Well, it Sucked... Stale, Chewy and old tasting. Couldn't they at least warm it up????? How hard is that. Waiters are not too attentive as we sat there waiting for a while before orders were taken. Other than that, the waiters are bad when providing service as they reach across tables instead of walking around the table.
But on to the food.... This one is a chore...
Started with Amuse bouche which was watermelon with feta cheese. Ok starter... How do you screw up a bite size piece of watermelon and some cheese.
App was Galantine of King Duck and Foie Gras..... Horrrrible.... Worse I've ever had. Tasted like it came out of a can??? What up... truly terrible.
Entree was Pacific Halibut and Panko Fried Oysters - Oven dried Roma tomatoes, early summer potatoes, lemon aïoli, caper vinaigrette. Terriblllleeeeee. Halibut was a rock and the fried oysters tasted worse than a microwave meal. Tomatoes and potatoes were the only things edible. Didn't see any capers???
Dessert was Berry Shortcake and sour cream ice cream. The cake was stale and definitely OLD and HARD. WTFFF???? could not believe it. The best part of my whole meal was the sour cream ice cream.
How can this be a restaurant???? Please avoid.
Go see the view at the observation deck and get a burger at the restaurant on the observation level. But don't dine at 360....
Yes. The view is amazing. We go annually and enjoy the view. It's one of the few times it's ok to sit quietly at dinner and suspend conversation once in a while just to stare out the window. It's nice to watch the sun set and see the city lights.
As for the food, we usually enjoy it. We haven't had a meal where we were disappointed. It's a bit on the pricey side, but the menu is interesting. I almost always end up picking the vegetarian entrée - it\s usually the most interesting dish.
Yes it's pricey, but it does include the trip up the CN Tower and a visit to the observation decks, which makes for a nice stroll after dinner.
If cost is a factor, you can always redeem for a gift certificate for a prix fixe dinner through the AIR MILES Reward Program. Hey, it's a free dinner!!
So fun! Paid for the view more than the meal.
To go straight up to the restaurant means partaking in the $50 prix fix for lunch. That was worth it. Me and my good friends from AAN just hung out at the top of Toronto eating a well made meal,
Pickerel. It is like a perch. That was done nicely.
Went here for dinner and I have to say, the view is top notch.
I felt like a real schmuck because I was dressed like a douche and there was a guy next to me playing Mr. Romance with his Girlfriend/Wife/Someone Special. But didn't expect to be in TO long enough to get dressed up.
The food, at least my plate was so so. The price was pretty high, but factor in the free ride...it all evens out.
Our waiter was attentive and nice, something that I am not used to at designated tourist traps.
Make sure to go down a level afterwards. If you have a weak stomach, your dinner at 360 may cover the sky floor as my fear of heights really did my head in. Hint, hint... DONT LOOK THROUGH THE SKY FLOOR if you are deathly afraid of heights.
The prixe fix menus are usually your best bet. Appetizer, entree, dessert for about 50 dollars.
The trek up to this restaurant is not worth the food they serve. Parking is expensive and far away. Once you park you need to walk all the way over to the lobby, then you need to walk up the ramp, around the hall, and up a long elevator.
This restaurant "revolves." And by "revolve" I mean that it doesn't actually revolve. The building is stationary with a revolving platform on the edges. You sit on this platform and watch the world go round.
The food is good, but better good can be had elsewhere. The service is slow, but you have a 360 view of the city so you're not supposed to notice.
It's great for tourists, but repeat customers are a rarity.
Yes, it's pricey, I think anyone would know that. So it's not a shock. Went on my birthday. Thought it was EXCELLENT. The Caesar salad is sooo yummy. And they have great steak. The dessert however was alright. I got the chocolate tower.
you can't go wrong with the view. Great place. I would recommend this to people. If your willing to pay more for a perfect meal.
Note: This review is specifically for Horizons Restaurant, the satellite to 360, on a lower floor of CN Tower Pod. My rating (4 stars) is for overall 360 restaurant, including Horizons. Confusing, I know.
Honestly had no intention of eating at Horizons however, poor planning on our part :-( meant we needed to eat, and Gramma, who was with us, couldn't handle any more walking. So, up we went, eating in Horizons Restaurant, the satellite to 360.
When you factor in the cost of the elevator, and the price of the food - it is not cheap - but from a convenience factor, the Horizons restaurant is handy. The food is reliably decent. Had we planned to eat at the CN Tower, we would have reserved at 360 and done lunch or dinner up there, as reservation includes elevator. (Still expensive... but you sort of feel like you won on that deal, don't you?)
I had the Short Ribs - thought they were great, though towards the end, I was noticing they were just a tad too salty. However - ribs were piled on top of nice selection of root veggies (perfectly cooked), with herbed polenta, and a yummy sauce/gravy. I thought it was great.
Hubby had hamburger - said it was good, but too expensive - there are better burgers to be found for less cost.
Son had trout/shrimp - he loved it. Daughter stuck to french fries - can't go too too wrong there. Gramma had a selection of spreads on a toasted bread, and said she enjoyed that too.
A few thoughts, as a former Torontonian (and still one at heart): If you think you want to eat there, make a reservation at 360. The price of dinner at 360 includes the elevator ride, and the food is reliably good (though admittedly over-priced). The view is phenominal, and you get a great rotating view of the city - Horizons does not rotate. Check the weather before you go - only go if the weather is good. If timing works for you - plan your reservation for maybe an hour before dark - get there early, do the observation deck while it still light out, then head up for dinner and watch Toronto light up. It's beautiful.
Would I recommend: Everyone should eat at the top of Toronto once - however, go the reservation route with 360 instead of the satellite Horizons.
Would I return: I will return to 360, but not to Horizons. They may share menu items, but it's a different dining experience.
I've found restaurants up high rarely rate correspondingly, doubly so those towers built 30+ years ago. However, this is an exception.
For a coworkers big 3-0, we headed up for the first time to hit two birds with one stone scoring the free "elevation" with reservation.
The drink menu was the first surprise, a choke inducing overpriced wine list. However, the cocktails were reasonably priced in complete contrast to most sky high lounges. $6 or 7 for a whiskey in the sky; of, course I'll try.
On a Tuesday night, it wasn't busy, window tables were taken save a few, but no others. There were several mid 20s on dates, several business groups and several obvious tourists.
The prix fixe's are around 55 to 68 but I went with the mustard encrusted lamb, side of gigantic mushrooms and some dark chocolate truffles for desert. Ran about $75 a person total.
My colleague had a 16 oz steak that looked more at home on Fred Flinstone's plate or Dr. Seuss's roast beast.
Of course the rotation novelty is fun for a first time, more than a few people were trying to put pepper shakers on the window sill to time the 72 minutes around.
It was a clear Saturday night. The view of Toronto was beautiful. The only point is that sometimes you feel a bit light-headed because of the spinning, esp if you're focusing on a close building.
On the way to the restaurant tho, it took a while to get there. We entered the entrance and they made us go through some security checkpoint where they blew air at us. Staff also stopped us multiple times to take group pictures that they wanted us to purchase afterward ($20 for a picture....way too expensive).
I got the prix-fixe menu. For my small bite, i ordered the spiced shrimp. It was okay, but it was hard to eat in a single bite. For my appetizer, i ordered the smoked atlantic salmon. It was good. The caper berries really complimented the fresh salmon. For my entree, i ordered the peppered striploin steak. It was okay. There are better strips i've tried (like Strip House in New York), but i also understand that this place isn't a steakhouse. I asked for medium rare and it was cooked unevenly. One side was cooked medium rare, while the other 1/2 was cooked medium. The potatoes and spinach tasted well. The best part of my meal was the dessert. I ordered the Cinnamon Bread Pudding, and it was great. I devoured it.
Food and service were both very good. Cheesecake was to die for
Wow.... what a disappointment.
I knew that I was getting sucked into a tourist trap but I thought I would at least have a good time doing so. Instead I was left with my wallet emptied and taste buds unfulfilled.
The decor is not much to talk about. Everything is cappuccino colored wood, from the chairs to the walls, the only things that weren't that color was the white ceiling and cutlery on the table. There's really no need to have a nice decor when you have the best view of the city and surrounding suburbs.
Service was great as the place wasn't busy and the waitstaff was happy and always around when you needed them to check on you. Problem is that this service dropped extremely quickly once the Jonas brothers and their Disney friends showed up. As nice as the Jonas brothers and friends were and as big of a star you have in your restaurant, normal clientele shouldn't suffer at the expense of having someone famous around.
I really liked the food I got, problem is that I shared the $80 seafood tower and it would be pretty hard to mess it up as everything is basic boiled, steamed, served raw, and finished off with lemon. The tower was huge and there definitely were a lot of leftovers, definitely worth the price even if I wasn't in a tourist spot I would pay that much for it.
The others that were with me didn't have such a great food experience. Not that it was bad, it was just pretty standard and lifeless is all. Nothing exciting, flavors were mediocre, and presentation wasn't what you would expect for a tourist trap. The cooks must have been hoping that the excitement would all come from the view and not the food. Definitely not worth the $69 prix-fixe 3-course meal. I know it does sound like a bargain, but with quality that low, it isn't. Steak was chewy, duck was tough, dessert was uninteresting and there was a foul odor coming from some sort of sausage.
If you wanna do the whole tourist thing I recommend doing it through the restaurant as you won't have to wait in the tourist line for an hour and access to the CN tower is free with your meal.
Overall, I'm glad I got to do this as I haven't been to the CN tower since I was 8. Probably one of the better places for standard seafood in the city. That being said I wouldn't go back without a reason since everything else was such a flop.
This a departure from the norm from me. Never have I been soo impressed with the staff at any dining establishment, let alone one that is a tourist attraction.
Our waiter was so personable, and extremely thoughtful! At first i thought it was because I looked so good that night, but as it turns out, my friend had plied him with a glass of our wine ( it was $200 and I certainly wasn't drinking it, so why let it go to waste?!) We ended up getting an Amorone '04, and it opened up quite nicely.
As for for the food...you know your walking into a tourist attration and your basically paying for the breathtaking view. We actually saw a falling star/meteor/something shiny and colorful that had the entire section oooh'ing in awe. He took delight in giving me a tour of the Toronto skyline while i have to admit I was envisioning my beloved NY in its place, but he doesnt have to know that. But I digress. I went with the duck and rabbit combo, he got the rack of lamb, and the lamb was DELICIOUS! I''ve had better game in my day, but it was still tasty. The sommelier(?) even paid a visit to give us a wine tasting and find how we liked his selection.
But the waiter totally earned his tip. He knew I was fond of chocolate and smuggled the double chocolate gelato and ice cream onto my apple and sour cherry crisp ( reallly great end to a meal).
The only gripe I have, aside from it being severely overpriced, is the noise level. And the annoying flashes that occasionally blinded me ( seriously people?!?). Not to mention the skimpt menu.
This was my first time in Toronto so I felt obligated to do the CN Tower thing. With admission to the top of the tower included and no lines to wait going up the elevator, the restaurant is not a bad deal consdering the amazing view you get at each seat in the restaurant.
We had the ~$65 prix fixe menu with uninspiring choices. Salmon, eggplant parmesan, roast chicken--basically wedding food. Trio of bruchetta was over-salted except for the one with artichoke puree. The first bite of my main course salmon was good. A nice crisp skin with the right amount of fat. But the rest of it was dry and blahh. Portions are huge. I'm guessing they cater to the American tourist crowd.
I will never again return for the food, but it's a place to experience once, and only once. Also, I suggest getting something a la carte and enjoy the 360 view, then head down for some quality late-night snacks in downtown Toronto.
People who get motion sickness easily, beware! I was feeling a bit ill by the end of our meal, but that can be easily cured by going outside to the observation deck and getting blasted by wind 500m above ground.
This place is not known for its food, but there are plenty of other reasons to come here.
For one, if you eat here, your ticket to the CN Tower is free - that in itself is a $40 dollar value. For another, where else can you get a view from one of the highest buildings in the world, in a restaurant that REVOLVES?
I've come here many times, the last two during new year's eve, and I feel certain that no other place is more appropriate for celebration - unless you go to restaurants ONLY for food. I must say I'm guilty of that myself sometimes, but in this case, I'm simply taken aback by the amazing non-food elements that the 360 has to offer.
My last meal there was 12/31/08. We waited there until the stroke of midnight, and there was a party - at 2000 feet in the air! The food we ordered left much to be desired. My tasting menu consisted of an amuse bouche - a single, tiny shrimp on a cracker. Although it was delectable, the flavors were a bit bland to serve its purpose of "amusing the mouth."
The main dish was much better. My prime rib was cooked well-to-order, and the horseradish was especially delicious. But this was all to be expected from a $100+ tasting menu. The food, while good, wasn't phenomenal.
That being said, if you need to impress someone or educate them in how wonderful Canada is, take them here. If you want to tour the CN Tower, come here and order an appetizer - you'll get value out of it.
If you're just looking for a good meal, skip it and visit one of the other many fine restaurants in downtown Toronto.
Four stars for the truly unique and unforgettable setting - on clear days, you can see all the way to Buffalo.
Listed in: The Toronto List
I was pleasantly surprised by the food here, nothing outstanding but good quality.
Service was slow but not horrendously so, about two hours in total for dinner.
A bonus for all the cheapskates is the free admission to the tower outlooks, save yourself $23
I should've known. I am paying for the view and not the food, but I really did not expect the bad service and food we received.
There was not a single thing we ordered (between 2 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 deserts) that tasted remotely nice. After a hefty $300 tag with tips, I would atleast expect immaculate service. The wait staff was in our face, cleared dishes without asking and literally took them from the other side of the table without so much as an excuse me.
Take heed and eat at the small shops a few blocks away. Your wallet and palette with thank me
Great view. That's a given. The food was expensive. That's a given. But the food was also very good, better than I expected actually. Total bill with tax and tip was $100 for 2 people for lunch.
This was my favorite meal of my entire trip through Toronto. Not only are the views amazing here, but the food is top quality, and the price you would pay to take the elevator up to the tower anyway is dropped (however, the meal isn't cheap, so it all sort of evens out).
We decided to do brunch here on Sunday, instead of coming for a dinner, because we were told the reservations had to be made at least a week in advance and it was too difficult to plan our schedule that way. I'm actually glad we made that decision, because I got to try one of my favorite dishes which probably wouldn't have been offered on the dinner menu.
The setting here is fantastic. The dark wood tables, and very open layout are so friendly to the eye, and then you've got the great views of the harbor to accent it all. The waitstaff is also one of the best I've encountered, and they weren't shy about taking pictures with each of our 10 cameras (I'm sure this is quite a regular request here).
I chose to go with the 3 course menu instead of the 4, as I didn't think the amuse bouche they were offering was worth the $12 difference in price, and after seeing someone else who ordered it I'm pretty sure I was right.
My first course was the tarragon infused, wild mushroom and leek broth, which featured summer chanterelles, truffle oil, and scallion threads. This smelled amazing, especially if you love the earthiness of mushrooms, and the flavor of the broth was very nice, but the textures were way off. To start, the overall lack of mushrooms was a big disappointment. I think there were only 4 or 5 in my bowl. It was however LOADED with scallion bits, entirely way too many in my opinion, and the textures were too firm. The guy sitting next to me went with the poached shrimp "cocktail" with Mary rose and cocktail sauces, and included 5 huge, perfectly cooked shrimp. I was quite jealous.
For my main course I could not resist the spinach and berkshire double smoked bacon quiche "lorraine" with sweet potato fries, frisse salad and cherry tomato vinaigrette. This is one of my favorite ways to prepare quiche, and it's so hard to find one that is really well done, because most restaurants do it as an afterthought. It was absolutely flawless (check out the pictures, it's oozing deliciousness). The mix of ingredients was perfect, and you could taste every ingredient quite distinctly. This was by far the best quiche I have ever had, anywhere. The sweet potato fries were also done perfectly, and people at the table had a hard time keeping their hands off my bowl.
Desert was a bit unusual, as I don't typically go for it at lunch, but I must say what I ordered I was pleased with, especially considering the heavy options that others at the table chose. I decided to go with the warm apple and bitter cherry tart, with puff pastry and vanilla ice cream. The flavors were great and light enough not to make me want to crawl into bed feeling bloated after. The cherries were especially nice, and went brilliantly with the vanilla.
You can definitely drop some cash here. The wine list is probably the best I saw in Toronto, and they have some seafood "towers" in the hundreds of dollars, the likes of which I've never seen anywhere else. Of course, it's a perfect date restaurant if you're trying to impress, just try to make sure you stay looking at each other and not the awesome view the whole time.
Listed in: Simply The Best, Brain Free Food, More Than Just A Spud, Traversing Through Toronto
Yes, it is undeniably the best view of Toronto you'll ever encounter, but for the money, not nearly the best restaurant.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at 360, but was never blown away. In fact, my $85.00 steak with Foie Gras was not up to par. Also- the portions are way too huge for the Canadian appetite.
All that being said, its the perfect place to wow your date or impress your out -of-town relatives. The view is worth some of the restaurant's shortcomings. Bring your wallet and your patience and you'll have a nice time.
The top of the tower restaurant was packed so I wasn't able to get in, but 360 was taking walk-ins and I think I know why. For the price, the food was somewhat disappointing, service was good and the view/ambiance is very nice. If you're taking a trip and want to eat up there in the CN Tower I'd probably skip out on 360.
I see a lot of low star reviews here concerning the food so I can only imagine that the place has fallen off in recent years. I went a couple years ago and found the food to be very expensive, which is expected for the venue, but I remember that I had a really good meal there.
The view is amazing and unparalleled in the city, so despite the bad food it might be worth a trip for the night time view
Right when we got off the plane we came here after the touring around the CN Tower.
You cannot deny the view from up here!
I just wished the food was as good as the view.
There was an image of the TRIO OF ATLANTIC SEAFOOD COCKTAIL within the menu.
Immediately C and I were like wooo hooo!
It was Jumbo lump crab, maritime lobster, sweet rock shrimp
Champagne vinaigrette, tarragon aioli, horseradish cocktail sauce
The jumbo lump crab cocktail tasted like the canned crab meat that you purchased at Whole Foods.
Maritime Lobster was okay but the meat could have been a bit more firm.
The sweet rock shrimp tasted raw - I had an issue with the texture of this cocktail.
C and I both got the ATLANTIC LOBSTER AND GULF SHRIMP OMELET as our entree.
Steamed asparagus, Brie cheese, Yukon frites, truffle aioli
I asked the waiter to substitute my Yukon frites for a Sour Cream & Chive Baked Potato.
I haven't had a Baked Potato for so long that I was ecstatic to eat it!
But my baked potato came with nothing...not even BUTTER!
I had to ask the waiter for the Sour Cream and the Chives but they didn't help with the flavouring since my Baked Potato was undercooked!
I was so disappointed but I didn't bother sending it back since I was with guests and so I ended up just eating only the lobster meat from my omelet.
I am not a fan!
*sigh*
Besides Crawfish...Lobster is my favourite kind of meat!
Disclaimer: I gotta admit I didn't pay for my dinner so that may have skewed my perception a bit.
Now that we got that over with, I gotta say I probably would have paid to eat here anyway. As a fine dining restaurant alone, I thought it was decent but not wow. However, the view (and overall experience) is definitely worth the $$$.
Our group got here pretty early so we got a chance to hang out at the CN Tower observation deck and glass floor area for a while. That costs over $20 alone so I think that does help justify the costs a little bit...plus it's nice that we get to skip the long line you would usually have to take if you were doing the tower only. Since some people in our party have dined here a bunch of times before, our reservation was timed perfectly so we got at least two full revolutions to go around and see the view when it was still light out, then saw the sunset and nighttime lights (even a couple lightning bolts).
As far as the food, I was pretty happy with what I got. I started with the bruschetta, which was decent, then had the filet rossini which was very tasty (they were also pretty generous w/ the foie gras). Chocolate tower dessert was kinda meh, but I was ok w/ it since I was pretty full by the time we got to it anyway. As a fine dining restaurant, it's nothing special, and I've had as good or better before, but at least their portions are huge, so at least you get your money's worth. The staff was very friendly and had some good recommendations when I asked about local wines.
I would probably come back here again, especially if I'm on an expense account!
A restaurant with an awesome view! I have to admit that the food is nothing amazing, it's almost like something you'll get from a diner. I had a steak with mash potatoes and veggies. They were perfectly cooked, but nothing amazing, and it tasted even plain. I came here as a tourist for the view of the top of the CN Tower and I happened to be hungry.
Some born-and-raised Torontonians have never been up the CN Tower. Of the others, barely anyone I know has been to the 360.
And for good reason. This is a tourist trap, pure and simple.
This kind of thing was exciting to me as a kid, but as an adult with a history in revolving restaurants, I've learned the food is of secondary concern. You pay for the view, not the culinary expertise.
I fully agree with Mike S. on all accounts here -- though the prices may indicate otherwise, this ain't a typical frou-frou restaurant. You'll be surrounded by tourists on honeymoon dates on one side and big groups of whining children in their YMCA camp t-shirts on the other.
His comment on the food is very similar to mine, though I've only visited years ago -- the dishes were fine, focussing more on design rather than taste. The plate was a bit on a skimpy side, with three blandly flavoured baby potatoes making up the starch component of my meal. I think I've had bigger boogers come out of my nose. Really, "glorified wedding banquet food" is a good definition for the offerings here. For the prices, it just is not worth the visit.
Tourists and romantic couples will come here anyway because the CN Tower is the place to go for views of the city; in that case, you may as well cap off the trip with an overpriced meal (it was in the travel/romance budget anyway).
For those of you on a budget or looking for a more genuine slice of Hogtown, I suggest taking that elevator back down and heading outside of the main downtown core for more hearty, cheaper eats in one of our character neighbourhoods. Really. No local would willingly step foot in this place, no matter the rating.
You will get a good view of Toronto from 360 but not the best food. The risotto was the worst...
There are so many great restaurants around the area, so I recommend that all one should do at the CN tower is to look and leave!
I can't remember the view. That's how memorable my experience at 360 was, and don't even get me started on the food...
My point is: If you're going for the view, go! Take the ride up the CN Tower, up and down past the restaurant. Then, take the money you saved on a "tourist meal" and have a taste of Toronto that's worthy of your foreign coin without the hook-factor of the tower to draw in diners.
Explanation of two star rating: the service was decent, and i'm not neglecting that there IS a great view.
A landmark attraction of Toronto, this place did not disappoint even with it's prices.
I feel when you pay for a meal at a restaurant, you are paying for so much more than just the food they put on your plate. You are paying for the service you get, you are paying for the atmosphere, you are paying for the experience. This idea is very well illustrated by the 360 restaurant.
What I mean to say is, you might feel just a slight bit cheated by the prices if all you had to show for it was the food. While the food itself was quite delicious and not at all disappointing, the prices were high for what was being served. But again, I stress that you really can not divorce the meal from the experience, and the experience of eating at the 360 restaurant is truly amazing.
I made sure to book my reservation around sunset, and I was glad to have thought to do so. We also reserved a table that was nearest to the windows without any difficulty. The view is just phenomenal. I'm not afraid to say I've been up in a great many towers in my day (the Space Needle, the Washington Monument, London Tower, Ostankina Tower in Moscow, etc., etc.) and this one definitely holds it's own. You are way, way, way, higher up than the Space Needle, for example. There is a great view of the lake to one side of the tower, and all the city to the other side. Straight below is a view right into the Rogers Centre, but don't expect to be able to catch a game... the people down there are miniscule.
A few things to keep in mind if you decide to dine here:
1- make a reservation. They sell out, especially on weekends.
2- while your table may be rotating on the outside ring of the restaurant, the bathrooms on the inside of the ring do not rotate. This means the bathroom will be in a different place every time you have to go, which can be quite tricky once you've had a drink or two.
3- try to go on a clear day during the sunset. It's just the best way to experience the place.
Don't let the price thing deter you. It's $20 just to get up in the tower to tour it without a meal, and that's comped if you have a 360 reservation. So keep that in mind. After you have eaten, they let you putz around the observation deck at your leisure.
edit: I just realized I wrote the entire review without even mentioning the service or the food. I guess that goes to show you what was memorable about this place. The service was not bad, but didn't stand out for any reason. I'm pretty sure I got a steak entree and it was good, no real complaints, but again you can see it was pretty forgettable. Oh well. I still stick with my 4 stars.
It was 2000 when I visited 360. Not only was it Mother's Day, it was also my graduation day. We took off from my graduation and drove on up to Toronto for a nice celebratory dinner.
It was beautiful and the view was gorgeous.
Since it's been nearly a decade, I can't remember what we had, but I do remember stone crab claws. They were delicious!
it may be helpful to book a meal up there to skip the hour-long peak-hour lines to ride the elevator up, but first off, the ticket to the observation deck--as of aug 09--is only $21+tx each, $26+tx if you go for the sky pot as well. so you're actually paying at least $30 extra if you do the meal plan. which is ok if you'd like to chill and enjoy the panaromic view and all, but if you're hoping to get superb quality food, you may be disappointed. so yeah, only did it once years ago, and climbed the tower few times more after that without visiting the restaurant.
btw, their "Horizons Restaurant" at the observation deck level isn't any better. food is ok actually, but service is really not on par. either they're severely understaffed, or they just don't care enough coz we're not paying $65 per pax for a prix-fixe menu. still, if i am to spend close to $10 for a cocktail and some $25-35 an entree, i expect my glass be filled with water and menu be delivered within 5 minutes of sitting down.
I was not even a glimmer in my father's eye when the tip was placed on the CN tower (although the glimmer may have actually been the tower as he was one of the photographers in the helicopters circling the tower for the momentous occasion) and so perhaps the idea of a rotating restaurant is beyond my generation. The 360 restaurant is a place that is desperately searching for an identity. I firmly believe that you can either be a restaurant with a twist or a fine dining establishment, but you can't be both. It starts right at the beginning as you step on to the elevator in your dressy clothes only to be followed by the 12 eight year old boys all wearing YMCA camp t-shirts. I don't fault the CN tower for being a tourist attraction, that's what it is, but I can fault 360 for attempting to put a fine dining restaurant in a tourist attraction.
The food is ok. The view is incredible, but the food is ok. It is food you expect to be served to unassuming tourists, it lacks flair and any sort of ingenuity, it almost give the impression of food you would get at a wedding like reheated cannelloni and generically dressed green salad. Flavors painted with a broad brush as not to disappoint anyone. If you are reading this and are a resident of Toronto, don't bother. If you want the view ride up the tower it's worth it. If you are a tourist and are looking for place to go with those 2nd cousins you said you'd visit when you were in Toronto, and need a conversation piece go here otherwise spend the money elsewhere.
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I had a great experience at the restaurant. The ambience, the view, service, and the food (salmon) were all close to perfect. My friend and I had a good time, and we sat next to the window (highly recommended since you can see the entire downtown and even parts of the Niagara falls) and saw the roof of my hotel (Fairmont). It was fun and would visit again.
2 stars for the food and 5 stars for the view and 5 stars for the experience. It was a breathtaking, roller coaster kinda dinner. The view is so grand! The observatory was scary and fun and the whole dinning experience was unforgettable. It was very touristy but I was ready for that. So just enjoy it.
Neighborhood: Entertainment District
Neighborhood: Financial District
Neighborhood: Entertainment District
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
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