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African Palace
Categories: Restaurants Ethiopian Restaurants African Ethiopian, African [Edit]
977 Bloor Street WestToronto, ON M6H 1L7
Neighbourhoods: Dovercourt, Dufferin Grove
(416) 588-7819
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
13 reviews for African Palace
12 reviews in English
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Review from Dana D.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2012
After signing the lease for our soon-to-be diggs, my future roomie and I set out to check out what was good in the the hood. I knew from a quick peruse of googlemaps that there were 3 ethiopian places near by, so we thought we'd try one. Our first stop was a quick run-in and run-the-heck-out again of Queen of Sheba (See my review: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) and Nazareth had a huge line, so we popped into African Palice.
It didn't take long for our beautiful veggie platter to arrive, along with two small plates of a folded, flat bread like substance. It was drool at first sight, and we were pumped to dive in--until we realized that we had no idea how to eat it. Laughing, we sheepishly pleaded ignorance to our server, who responded with a wide smile and a very INTIMATE demonstration. She tore a piece off of the flat bread, called injera, and used it to scoop up several of the stewed veggetable mixtures on our platter. Without skipping a beat, she had my head back, mouth open and was placing that morsel of goodness right into my pie hole. I kid you not. And WHAT a morsel! After seeing what a kick we got out of this, she repeated the process with my friend, with good humour and with the efficent, no-nonsense manner of your own Auntie. We couldn't have hoped for a more entertaining first bite of Ethiopian.
Everything on the platter was delicious: there were two portions of a spicy spread, a warm spinach mixture, stewed lentils, something similar to warm curried hummus, and a tasty garlicy salad in the middle. It was PLENTY of food for two, and we both left stuffed and happy (especially after we paid; two beers and the platter came to around $25!)
Warm atmosphere, friendly service, delicious food and a price that lights me up inside. I see African Palace becoming a regular spot for this new member of Dufferin Grove. -
Review from Angela L.
3/8/2012
Although neither of us had ever tried meat dishes in Ethiopian cuisine before, my dinner date and I ordered a meat platter to better suit his dietary preferences when we went to African Palace for the first time. While we both agreed that the vegetarian stews were absolutely delicious, our shared dislike of lamb (in general) became apparent when we left most of it untouched. This is too bad because I'm sure a lamb connoisseur would have enjoyed it! While my dinner date enjoyed the beef quite a bit, my favourites were hands down the cabbage and lentil stews.
The service from the lady who seemed to be the owner was lovely. The colourful room with the beautiful decor and quiet, uncrowded atmosphere made dining at African Palace perfectly date appropriate. -
Review from Rj P.
2/19/2012
Had a wonderful dinner at African Palace upon the recommendation from Yelp!
I forgot how filling and large of portion Ethiopian food is. We ordered the platter for 2 that had a bit of everything and left stuffed and surprised we could even come close to finishing the dish.
The service really stands out at this place - servers are unrushed, friendly and happy to explain anything on the menu. I felt like I was dining in a friend's restaurant.
Will definitely going back. This is a great option on the Bloor/Ossington/Dovercourt strip.
I always ponder why Ethiopian restos cluster together. There are 3 on this strip - seems odd, given that there are probably 10 total in the city. None the less, African Palace is a good stop.
Tip: Get the coffee and let the frankincense rip! I nearly smoked out the entire place with my eager stoking of the frankincense ember. Good times! -
Review from Charlotte W.
North York, ON
1/7/2012
I think I am a fan of the charm of this restaurant, the food, and Ethiopian cuisine in general. My bf was going to be around Ossignton area and we decided to Yelp for some restaurants. Out popped Nazareth as a nearby location and we had read some reviews of the insane line up's but we decided to take a chance. Unfortunately, we couldn't even see in the restaurant because of all the people waiting in line. So, by fluke, we walked up a few more steps and saw African Palace.
Intro. The restaurant is quite narrow and small, but we could see the kitchen staff and it felt immediately homey. After being seated, my bf and I quickly perused the menu and decided to eat the shared plate for 2 consisting of meat (lamb and beef) and assorted vegetables platter with a side of salad and Inerja (which tasted like crepes to me!) The food was delicious, and quite spicy, so beware for those with extreme low tolerance to spice. I loved it and really brought out the flavours.
I also ordered a half litre of red and quickly saw that the booze options were insanely CHEAP! A bottle of wine will set you back only $22.50. A bottle of Stella, normally priced around $7-$8 at most establishments offering "high end" exports, was only $4.50. Needless to say, both the food and alcohol will make your meal very complete. In the end, I was still feeling hungry, and decided to order the Fatoush (hope I am spelling it right) salad. I remember going to one of my friend's homes for summer bbq's and his mother would make the most delicious Middle Eastern salad ever...and I suddenly had a craving for it. Regardless, the Fatoush salad was tasty, fresh and light - sprinkled with chips of some kind which brought out the whole salad.
Now, I have't tried Nazareth, but what I can say is that if it is ever busy, come to African Palace and you will not be disappointed. It is a very cozy little restaurant where you eat with your hands, chat the night away, and leave feeling very satisfied.Listed in: If you're ever in the area...
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not only was the food tasty-tasty-tasty, but if you're missing your momma, I suggest you set foot in African Palace. I don't know if it was because I went on a slow day, but the owner is lovely, genuine and as warm as your own momma (the momma who wasn't scolding you for wearing your shoes inside the house, that is).
It appears I'm not the only one who thinks this! After a cursory looksie of the other Yelp reviews, it appears as though her name's Mary, and she's like this a lot. But that's okay. I'm totally willing to share. -
Review from Tara E.
11/26/2011
Delicious food, with friendly service. We ordered the veggie platter for three, a plate of the samosas, plus a liter of wine. More than enough food, and it was delicious!
It came to $75 with a generous tip. $25 for a full meal plus 2-3 glasses of wine! It just can't be beat!
Also we were able to be seated almost immediately at 7pm on a Friday, which is a nice touch. -
Review from Meena A.
6/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Please go here. Please. Please.
You will love it. You will love the food. You will love the owner, Mary.
If you are going to dine-and-dash, then - AVOID. I will personally kick your ass. The food is so genuine - genuinely delicious and genuinely cared for. And beyond reasonably priced. My friend and I ordered the Meat and Vegetarian tasting platter for two. Everything was delicious. It was probably enough for three or four. But we licked it clean. After our meal, we enjoyed an authentic coffee ceremony. The coffee was aromatic and unique. Mary also introduced us to Ethiopian incense - so strong and earthy.
Two imports + tasting platter (meat and veg) + coffee ceremony = $40!!!!
What.Listed in: For the Kind at Heart, High Times, Dates worthy of Shakespeare
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Review from Val G.
It's nice to have an alternative to Nazareth right on the same block, especially with the insane popularity of the place attracting people from all over the city now making it nearly impossible to go there without a lot of planning.
Ousted locals can find their way to African Palace which recently moved from the Christie Pits area to Cleopatra's old digs. You can't miss this place. It honour of Oprah's departure of daytime tv they painted a portrait of her wearing a sash that says 'Queen of Hearts' in the window. It'd pretty awesome.
A vegetarian combo platter for two rings in at $17.50. We were impressed with the selection of wats. We had corn, lentils, collared greens, a cabbage and carrot stew and salad.
The best part is that you can order this dish for one if you don't have someone to share it and you'll get the perfect amount of food.
They also have a middle eastern menu for falafel lovers. -
Review from Zoe R.
3/18/2011
Food was good. Service was lovely. I had no idea what Eritrean food was like, but by the time that I left, I had also been able to watch some... Eritrean television! My dashing companion thought his lamb was okay, a bit tough to finish eating. I'm a veg-head, and found the meal to be satisfying... that is, until I bit into chunks of lamb or beef. :P The server was so sorry. Would I go there again? At some point yes. There are many Ethiopian restaurants on this Bloor strip to try out, not to mention the ones on College st. and on Irwin near Yonge, and of course Addis Ababa on Queen X Gladstone.
PS - Please try Ethiopian coffee, if you haven't already. Always a memorable thing to do w/ friends. Order it first -- as it normally takes 30 min to arrive, and can sometimes come with ceremonious offerings beforehand... No, not like with lambs - but rather incense and/or popcorn!
(depending on where you order the coffee from).Listed in: Colour me Multi-Ethnic…
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Review from Soobey S.
Toronto, ON
8/24/2011
As a big fan of AP at their old location, I was super happy to see they had re-opened closer to Davenport.
Unfortunately, I have one major concern about the new spot. Because it is only a few doors away from Nazerath, it is only a matter of time until it becomes equally or more busy and therefore inaccessible. Food at AP is better than Nazerath (which I also enjoy) and it currently costs less (in reality it is fresher and should cost slighly more in my opinion). Portions size? Massive.
Went with 2 friends and had the meat and veggie platter for 2 with a side order of Kitfo. All delicious and unbelievably fresh. I've lived in the area for years and tried most of the Ethiopian restaurants here and across the city. Since discovering AP I rarely go elseware anymore. There is something different about the food at AP, not sure what it is, but it tastes fresher and more "homeade". The owner is very friendly and clearly passionate about the food, and about ensuring you enjoy it, so it does not surprise me that she is putting more into it than others. Oh yes, forget to mention that this meal, along with 3 cold beers, came to a total of $40!
My advice: get there while you can, before the Nazereth crowd clues in to it, and enjoy the best Ethiopian food currently available in TO! -
Review from Adam P.
Toronto, ON
7/31/2009 4 photos
So this was my first time trying African food, and it was quite the experience. When we walked in the restaurant we were seated by a nice lady. Right off the bat I noticed that there were no utensils at the tables, only a napkin and a wet nap. I found this a little interesting.
The lady serving us knew that we were noobs because she asked if we've had Ethiopian food to which we said never. So she recommended we get some dinner platter for 2 for $23 and some samosas for an appetizer. I have heard from other places that Kitfo is an interesting dish of raw ground beef so I figured I'd enquire about it. The lady offered to put that in with our dish for $5 more (cheaper than the menu). I got Gored Gored instead because it was beef cubes rather than ground beef.
The samosas came out pretty fast and they were very flavourful. They were bordering on too much spice (for me at least), but they were good. The sauce they came with was a jalapeño sauce that gave it some kick.
In between the samosas and dinner was quite a long wait. I had read in other reviews that you don't get African food if you are in a rush. It may be the culture but this was true. During our down time there was a group of 'tards' (I mean some guys who just yapped the whole night away that the restaurant could hear) that bought this coffee ceremony thing for $10. The lady brought out this coffee tray with frankincense, popcorn, and coffee. The frankincense was lit and she poured coffee for everyone. The coffee smell of the beans and the frankincense filled the restaurant with a nice odour. I had never seen this before and was quite intrigued.
The meal for two came out on one plate and it was served with some kind of bread (it reminded me of a chamois). This was like a sampler platter where you rip off some bread and grab the items on the dish. There were a bunch of things like beets, cabbage, spinach, some bean pastes, beef, lamb, and my raw beef cubes. I didn't care much for the bean paste things but I did enjoy these beets, cabbage and spinach. We were kind of glad the lady recommended this because it gave us a taste of a bunch of things.
After dinner I asked the lady if I could get some of that coffee (without the ritual). I had wanted to see what this tasted like. She gave me a coffee (which is like an espresso shot) and brought some frankincense. The best part was that she said it was ON THE HOUSE. I was impressed with that.
I was really impressed with this place because the lady went the extra mile to make sure we got a taste of African food and I appreciated that. She was very nice and charged us less than the menu price for the samosas..
The restaurant is fairly small, can only seat about 30 I think, and the one knock I have on it is that there is no A/C in there and it got a little hot.
Overall the lady gave us a great first experience and I'm glad I went there. I would recommend people check it out, but only if those other tards aren't there. -
Review from Sarah O.
Toronto, ON
8/27/2010
Ethiopian food may not be to everyone's liking because of the injera, that spongey, sour-tasting bread that you use to scoop up the variety of veggies (or meat). I fall on the side of being a fan.
It's been a couple of months since my last ethiopian meal so I forgot that you can't shovel the food in like racehorse because that injera is going to expand in your belly and you'll end up exploding like a pigeon eating uncooked rice (is that just a myth or true?).
African Palace is a bit dark inside and when I used the women's bathroom, I'm pretty sure that rubber balloon on the ground was a ribbed condom but I wasn't going to inspect it further. The service though is good.
We ordered a vegetarian platter and a meat & veggies platter. We devoured the veggie platter like vultures. There were lentils, split peas, some dark reddish coloured kind of curry which was spicy & delicious, cabbage, spinach and beets - all unique in flavour and tasty! My friends who were eating the meat platter paced themselves. The lady who served us came around and noticed food still on their platter. She asked if this was our first time eating ethiopian food (it wasn't). She proceeded to show us, regardless of our experience, on how to eat the food. She tore off a tiny piece of injera and then scooped up 3 different "dishes" and fed my friend like a baby haha! i think that was the highlight of the meal.
If you want the coffee, you have to order at the beginning of the meal as it takes time to prepare.
She brought out the coffee beans that were smoking and waved it around us to inhale. It was rich & intoxicating (and made the smoke alarm beep). She then brought out the coffee along with some incense and popcorn. Normally, I'm not a fan of incense because it reminds me of hippy stores and i hate hippies but this shit was good!
So I would recommend this place but just eat slowly and enjoy the meal with some good buds! Another bonus, ethiopian food is gentle on the wallet too!
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