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Auberge Du Pommier
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for Auberge Du Pommier
Review Highlights
"For apps I ordered the Foie Gras ( who wouldn't."
(in 4 reviews)
"The first courses and amuse bouche were amazing."
(in 5 reviews)
"Poulet Rôti, Fricassée de Saison - Roasted chicken nestled..."
(in 2 reviews)
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39 reviews in English
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Review from Mary C.
Richmond Hill, ON
2/3/2012 9 photos
I have been to Auberge du Pommier on several ocassions, and have loved the experience every time! Belonging to the Oliver and Bonacini Restaurants family (along with Canoe, Jump, and LUMA, to name a few), this French restaurant is located just north of York Mills on Yonge Street. From the outside, the restaurant resembles a cozy little courtyard house complete with a garden, white picket fence, and a very charming cobblestone walkway. While it looks like a small on the outside, it is deceivingly spacious on the inside! The decor is simple and quaint with its neutral colour theme, fireplace, and stone walls. a romantic ambiance coupled with excellent food makes this the perfect date night spot!
After we get our coats checked, the hostess brings us to a nicely set up table and hands us menus that show an artistic interpretation of the Auberge du Pommier house on the cover. Inside, all the dishes are in French, with accompanying English descriptions.
Before even ordering, the waitor comes by with a tray of bread, some butter, and olives. I was famished so it was nice to have something to hold me over while we decided on what to order. The service is exceptional and not to mention very knowledgeable. In my opinion, there was not another thing they could've done service-wise to make the experience better than it was.
"Hamachi Marine au Betterave" ($21)- beet-cured hamachi, raisin glace, shiso bavarois, lime gelee
Pardon my ignorance, but I was unaware that Hamachi was an ingredient that belonged to French cuisine! The hamachi was served raw at room temperature and paired with an assortment of garnishings. The frozen grape, lime gelee, and dollops of whipped cream was a refreshingly sweet compliment to the delicate pieces of fish.
"Steak Tartare" ($22) -handcut beef tenderloin, slightly spicy, classic garni, crouton
We mixed the raw quail egg into the tartare, and ate it with the plate of toasted croustinis that came with the appetizer. I don't order steak tartare often, but I usually find it to be too peppery. To my surprise this one at Auberge du Pommier was not at all peppery, and had a pleasant sweetness that is not often associated with beef. The only complaint here is the croustinis that were unpleasantly over-toasted.
"Cassoulet de Canard" - roasted ontario duck breast, fresh bean and bacon cassoulet, pistachio crumble, foie gras mousse, jus de cuisson ($45)
The Cassoulet de Canard was an impressively cooked dish. The duck breast was roasted to a medium rare perfection, while retaining flavour and juice. I particularly liked the pistachio crumble, it gave both the lamb and bean salad that extra texture and oomph!
"Craquant de porcelet "- crackling of suckling pig, confit de pork presse, sweet potato puree, rutabaga farci, jus de biere (42)
When the Craquant de Procelet first arrived, it reminded me of a miniature model of a city. There are two peices of pork, and distributed evenly around it are stumps of rutabaga that resemble city towers. Excuse my vivid imagination, but what I'm trying to get at is that the plate was very busy. I didn't know where to start eating! The best part of this plate was definitely the crackling of sucking pig. The meat was tender, the sking was crispy but not dry, and it had the perfect layer of fat. While conceptually it is the same as the roast pork you can find from Chiense BBQ shops, it was definitely less greasy, better cooked, and a quality cut of meat.
"Parfait Chataigne" ($11) -chestnut semifreddo, puffed wild rice, lemon meringue, marron glace, cassis caramel
We were quite full, but still insisted on trying a dessert. The Parfait Chataigne comes with two bite size bite size portions of semi-frozen chestnut custard, and accompanying garnishings. I thought the custard itself was pretty bland, but the crunchy candied walnut, puffed rice, and tiny bits of diced celery gave it some texture and extra flavour. Still, it wasn't something that really jumped out to my preferences.
Complimentary Macrons - Maple and Chococlate
If you don't feel like ordering dessert after your meal at Auberge, they offer these complimentary macarons with your bill as a sweet parting. Surpringly, I think I enjoyed these treats more than the Semifreddo. The ones shown here are Maple and Chocolate, but they also make Pistachio and Strawberry. When I asked the waiter if I could order some to go, he came back with a box of macrons and told me it was on the house. A nice little surprise to end an amazing meal. -
Review from Ashley P.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2012
I went here for Winterlicious lunch. The place was beautiful and the staff was very welcoming. It was busy, but not loud, so it will still cozy and intimate. I bet this place would look very beautiful in the summer time or at night.
For starters, I had the Fruits de Mer (mixed seafood, winter citrus, cucumber, soy bean, radish, chili-citrus vinaigrette, lavash). I didn't really like the presentation of the dish: miniature pieces of seafood floating around in a red sauce that was broth-like consistency. I didn't enjoy this at all.
For my entree, I had the Crêpe Gratinée (buckwheat crêpe, braised chicken, mushroom ragoût, Tuscan kale, Comté Mornay) and it was delicious. The only thing I would change is to have the mushrooms cut in thinner slices.
For dessert, I had Fruits du Verger (poached pear, Parmesan cream, caramelized pastry, mulled apple cider). I thoroughly enjoyed this! The mulled apple cider went excellent with the pear.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience and I highly recommend this place for a special lunch or dinner out. It was mainly groups and friends during the lunch hour, and I would assume more couples during the evening. -
Review from Karen G.
Wow. That's all I can say. Well, not really...I have a lot more to say but that is the first word that comes to mind. My entire experience at this restaurant was simply superior to any other restaurant I have ever been to and I have been fortunate enough to have been to some pretty nice places, many of them other restaurants in the Oliver & Bonacini group.
Many other reviews have commented on the atmosphere at Auberge so I won't go into any great detail other than to repeat that this is a very cozy, charming and romantic restaurant. My girlfriend and I agreed that we must come back with our significant others.
The service was seamless and superb. We mentioned to our server that we had tickets to a show at 8 so w couldn't linger and she and the other servers (there were at least 3 that took care of us) ensured that our food was delivered in time for us to enjoy it but not be late for the show.
On to the food...
Appetizers: We ordered the Huîtres & Caviar (warm poached oysters, domestic caviar, leek velouté, toasted brioche) and the Foie Gras Poêlé (roasted foie gras, vinegared red cabbage, garni Grand-Veneur, red cabbage consommé).
Both were "party in my mouth" spectacular. I love foie gras and the portion was generous enough for me to be satisfied with half of it since we shared the apps. The oysters were melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
For my main, I ordered the Homard Poché au Beurre Doux (butter-poached Yarmouth lobster, crispy lobster mitts, tasting of garden carrots, coconut rice, sauce vadouvan). At $59 I think this is the most expensive entree but it was so worth it. The lobster was cooked perfectly and there was a lot of lobster meat on the plate and in the rice. The rice was presented on a separate plate with fresh watercress and more lobster meat. Amazing!
My girlfriend ordered the Chevreuil (venison loin, seeds & nuts, honey glazed roots, crispy polenta, jus d'épices & chocolat). She was sceptical about the venison because it can taste gamey (according to her) but ended up ordered it on the advice of the server. It was tender and delicious and not at all gamey. It was my first time trying venison and I loved it but I suspect that I have now been spoiled by this establishment such that other places will not be able to hold a candle to this dish. I am not a fan of polenta but loved both the taste and presentation of this part of her entree (it came in a separate little bowl with a lid and was very creamy and tender.
We did not have time to stay for dessert but our server brought out 2 complimentary french macaroons which were a perfect ending to complement to our meal.
The entire evening was special and elegant. From the minute you walk until you leave, the staff at this restaurant go over and above to make your evening memorable. It was simply the best meal I have probably ever had and I can't wait to go back. Next time, I will ensure that I can linger over the meal for at least 3-4 hours. -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
1/7/2012 8 photos
For my end-of-term farewell lunch, I had the pleasure of going to Auberge du Pommier with my work team. I previously came here for a Summerlicious lunch, so this time I was extremely excited to order à la carte this time!
I ordered a tangerine juice, but they mistakenly brought me pumpkin pear one. I didn't even realize the mistake because the ginger spiced pumpkin pear juice was so delicious! I preferred it over the tangerine juice. Everything, including our drinks, were impeccably presented.
We were served a warm bread basket with a creamy artichoke dip. The dip was very tasty.
For my appetizer, I chose oeuf en cocotte: steamed egg white, soft yolk, creamed spinach, jus de poulet, les petits soldats croquant. This was really good! The soft yolk was lovely with the spinach and the egg white. My only complaint was that there wasn't enough bread sticks to accompany the shirred eggs, which was a little too rich on its own.
For my main, I went with Brandade de Flétan: gratin of halibut brandade, toasted baguette, petite herb salad. I didn't particularly enjoyed the petite herb salad, as it was a little too bitter. The halibut brandade was very creamy and rich, but not overly fishy. After my starter, this entrée was a little too heavy for me. Again, there weren't enough toasted baguettes to go with the brandade, so I had to eat some of it with the bread from the bread basket.
To finish off the meal, I ordered a Parfait Châtaigne: chestnut semifreddo with puffed wild rice, lemon meringue, marron glacé, cassis caramel. I normally love chestnuts, but this dessert was way too sweet for me. It was texturally very interesting with the puffed wild rice and meringue. However, in terms of flavours, it was sweet on sweet on sweet. I almost had difficulty finishing it, despite the small portion.
I was very full after the meal! Although all the courses had small portions, everything I ordered was very rich and filling. In spite of this, I really enjoyed my lunch. -
Review from Sonia C.
Scarborough, ON
2/8/2012 3 photos
I came here for winterlicious and was very impressed considering it wasn't too expensive. Prix Fixe meals are usually a hit or miss because restaurants still need to profit despite the low price for the 3 course meal. However, Auberge didn't disappoint me. Each meal was made to perfection. Although the portions were dainty, the flavours, presentation, cooking skill, everything was there. It is definitely the second best O+B restaurant right after Canoe.
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Review from Tina H.
11/30/2011
Decided to try some wine from Austria... It was my first Austrian wine. So delicious! Perfectly excellent. Enjoyed every sip and wished there was more when I ran out.
Truffle soup is AMAZING. If you must have one thing, it is this. Oh, and wine.
Lobster was delicious and cooked perfectly. It came several ways: lobster tail, lobster "mitts" cakes, in rice.
Steak was good too. Not huge on foie gras because you can never be sure if the ducks are force-fed and lived miserable, tortured lives, but it came with my friend's dish. It was pretty good and better than other foie gras I've tasted in the past. All meats and the lobster were cooked perfectly. Very moist. I was surprised at how they made something like duck heart non-repulsive and actually appetizing. Very impressive.
Service was amazing and very attentive. I felt almost embarrassed for the amount of people weighing on us at a time (3 at one point). They really make you feel like a valued customer... too much even! (but I definitely wasn't complaining) So much going on. Water never emptied and they almost always remembered that I didn't want ice. They are on the ball with service. That part is a definite 10.
Atmosphere was gorgeous. I was commenting on it the whole time. Nice, old fashioned. Rich people kinda place. The place looked, felt and smelled like freshly printed on plasticized notes crisp $100 bills. Expensive but if you like the finer things in life and don't mind paying a generous premium, go here.
If you want to impress a date by showing them you have wads of cash that you can blow on a lavish dinner and want them a part of your lavish lifestyle, this is a strong contender in the restaurant lineup for that! Even if you're not trying to woo your date with your wallet, this is a great, romantic atmosphere. So much attention to detail. Not a cheap night out. Not the best choice if you're looking for good value, but if you forget about the money, you will have a great time. Probably the best work of the O&B group.
If you drive, get your parking validated by the restaurant. -
Review from J J.
Toronto, ON
1/17/2012
I ate here during the Summerlicious thing. I loved their menu. My date and I were extremely pleased with the food, atmosphere, and the service here! It was a quiet and intimate evening with excellent food and a great table on their terrace. Can't wait to return for Winterlicious!
The decor inside of the restaurant is a bit stuffy and formal. That's the only thing that was a bit off-putting. Who knows, maybe I'll have a different impression come February. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Markham, ON
11/17/2011
Let's just preface that I went to Auberge on my first Winterlicious event in a tshirt with a pornstar on it. My friend and I did not research the experience to be expected of when we attended. With that in mind, we were treated no differently than our well dressed counterparts. Apart from the cheeky "first time here?", we got consistently superb service. I've been told most restaurants slack during the 'licious' events, but the management definitely did not fall into this category.
The decor is clean, simple, and plush. Everything was made and tasted beautifully. I brought back my family to dine again and the manager recognised me from my edgy impression last time lol and we received gelato on the house. They definitely aim to give you the most special experience ever! -
Review from David D.
10/20/2011 6 photos
Post-dating back to Summerlicious '10, Auberge Du Pommier presents itself like a house on the French Countryside. Auberge is a lot more spacious than what it appears outside. The inside of the restaurant is gorgeous, with a combination of a rustic, classy, intimate, and refined feeling. Inside are stone walls with sconces, candlelight and a large fireplace in the back. After my first experience here, it has become one of my favourite O & B restaurants to come back to.
Came here for lunch, celebrating three birthdays at once.
Ordered:
Appetizer:
Brandade de Morue - It came with a delicate cod brandard (salted cod), which is traditionally paired with a toasted French baguette. The cod was surprisingly creamy and smooth, a refreshing appetizer.
Entree:
Poulet Rôti, Fricassée de Saison - Roasted chicken nestled on a broth consisted of wild mushroom cream, beans, and corn. The chicken captured the natural creaminess and sweetness from the mushroom and corn, making each bite moist and savoury. The highlight of my Summerlicious experience here.
Dessert:
Cake au Citron - The cake was fluffy and sofy, though the sourness from the lemon was too strong to enjoy.
Service here was impeccable and spot on. The waitress made her presence known and accompanied any requests quickly with my table of 9. I mentioned on the phone while I was booking that I was celebrating 3 birthdays, she took me aside and secretly took note of which guests she would be bringing out the desserts with candles for.
I will definitely be back on a regular night.
Note: Underground parking is free when you have your parking ticket validated after your meal. -
Review from Lucas B.
Toronto, ON
1/6/2012
This Oliver & Bonacini spot has been touted as one of Toronto's best for many years, and after a few visits it's pretty clear that there are far better French restaurants in the city if you're looking for a quality meal that's worth the ducats. Their fatal flaw? Trying to do way too much on the plate. A lot of sizzle, not enough bacon.
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Review from Ian P.
Toronto, ON
10/12/2011
Like Mariko, I went to Auberge Du Pommier with a date for Summerlicious 2011.
In fact, perchance, I ordered the exact same choices. Petite Salade Jardinière, Tranche de Saumon and Financier Noisettes. The food was excellent, exploding with rich tastes and textures beyond what my uncultured palette could justly criticize. They also paired the meal with three glasses of beautiful white wine for $20
... and I normally dislike white wine.
The decor is beautiful. The chairs are extremely comfortable. The service is friendly.
I'd wear some nicer clothing next time.
I don't know if I would splurge for a $45 entreé with any regularity, but It's a nice experience for next Summerlicious or next time you pick up that big sales bonus.
Then go out and get a burger, cause you're gonna be hungry - but you didn't come here to pig out, now did you? -
Review from Mariko M.
7/19/2011
The Parental Unit have come here for a couple of their wedding anniversaries. Obvi the invitation was not forwarded to me so I decided to take advantage of Summerlicious to see what all the hype was about.
I made reservations through OpenTable. It was a simple and quick process. I prefer this route as you can make resos during a boring lecture at school or in the midst of the work day at your desk. You also get a reminder via e-mail about your upcoming reso. I'm not Money Bags and don't go out too often so this is never a problem for me.
The downside (only one imho) would be that there is no free parking during lunch hours. Instead, you have to pay a mortgage payment to park your car in the lot. I think it's $2.50 per half hour.
Both the interior and exterior of ADP look like a cute little cottage. The staff are all well dressed and look like they know what they're doing... basically, ADP doesn't hire 15 year olds who need a summer job to make up their wait staff.
*My Meal - Summerlicious Lunch Menu*
Appetizer - Petite Salade Jardinière (market greens with crudité and champagne vinaigrette)
It was okay. Dressing was light and fresh; the salad wasn't drenched in this dressing, which made it enjoyable to eat. The beets and radish added to the salad.
Main - Tranche de Saumon (slow-cooked salmon with forest mushrooms, sorrel cream and pomme fourchette)
Deeeeelicious. The forest mushrooms were definitely the star in this dish. I'm going to add mushrooms to my salmon dishes from now on. They complement the fish so well.
Dessert - Financier Noisettes (warm hazelnut cake with candied hazelnut, Nutella, caramelized banana and hazelnut ice cream)
I.
Want.
To.
Eat.
It.
Again.
Now.
----------------------------
For obvious reasons I can't frequent this place as much as I do Starbucks, but I'll be back for special occasions.
A very, very, very solid 5 stars ! -
Review from Ksenja T.
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been to auberge du pommier several times and i have loved it everytime! It is so classy and intimate. What i love most are the chairs. If you can get seated on the right side of the restaurant, it is definitely even more romantic.
The service is exceptional. What I really enjoyed was the fois gras, steak tartare, mushroom soup (with parmesan biscotti) and the chicken main as well as the creme brulee.
What I did notice however, over the past 3 years, is that some of the main portions had gotten a bit smaller.
Auberge du Pommier is definitely one of those places that I would host a private party or celebrate any special occasion. -
Review from Charlotte W.
North York, ON
4/10/2011
Auberge is consistently ranked as one of the best restaurants in the city, and I whole heartedly agree. I have been there many times but I will write based on a recent outing for my birthday.
Intro. Auberge has the look of charm and elegance and as you walk the cobblestone path to the entrance, you are greeted by the hostess who offers to take your coat. For tonight, my amour and I sat by the fireplace (tres romantique). So FYI! - if you want romance, ask for tables by the fireplace...its cozy, its toasty, and the glow from the fire will make all at the table look better.
Food. The regular menu is fab, but tonight, we had the Mise en Bouche which is the tasting menu. I had mine with the wine pairing and drool...every dish was excellent. My favourite was the Creamed cauliflower purée with red wine poached egg (to see the soft yolk gently dissolving into cauliflower heavenliness was divine), pan roasted sweetbreads with almonds (which tasted like meat!!), and the braised boneless short ribs (tender, tender, tender). One of my fears of tasting menus is that by the second dish, I am already wishing the next dish was the last, but the mise en bouche at Auberge's is just right. I would have to say if you can have the meal with the suggested wine pairing, go for it.
Service. Excellent. Water glass was always full but service is never intrusive.
Ambiance. Its perfect for romance, for girly get-togethers, for brunch and for families. I come here again and again, and that has to say for a lot because with so many other restaurants out there, I still choose to go to Auberge. This place is not cheap, but I am going to plead guilty and say with cliche, it is totally worth it.
FYI - One of my first times at the restaurant, I parked on the main level where I paid. Auberge has underground parking where it can be validated at the restaurant.Listed in: Uptown Bests
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Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
6/2/2011 6 photos
What a fantastic restaurant for a special occasion. Just be prepared for a big bill! I loved the atmosphere here - it was dimly lit, and had a very romantic ambiance to it.
What we ordered:
- Foie Gras & Confit: seared duck liver with duck confit, chestnuts, winter spice and Cumberland jus ($26). The foie gras was perfectly seared and just melted in my mouth. Definitely one of those "once-in-a-while" starters since it's almost all fat. I didn't really feel the duck confit was necessary to this dish, but it was tasty.
- Steak Tartare - hand cut beef tenderloin, slightly spicy, with classic garni and crouton ($22). The portion of this was huge! It was the same size as an entree size of steak tartare I've had at another restaurant. It was also really delicious. Highly recommended.
- Rôti d'Agnea - sirloin of lamb and gigot braisé on parsnip purée, spaghetti squash, rosemary Yukon dumpling and jus de cuisso ($43). This was served medium rare and the lamb was quite tender. I preferred the lamb leg over the braised lamb shank (although my boyfriend preferred the shank). The gnocchi that came with this dish was actually my favourite part (too bad there were only 5 of them). Although this dish was nice, it didn't blow me away. I've had better lamb dishes.
- Porcelet de St-Canut - roast piglet, caillette crêpe, braised belly, salsify and grain mustard jus ($39). We particularly enjoyed the crepe and the braised belly. Super tasty. The roast piglet was my least favourite, but it was still decent. I preferred this pork dish over the lamb.
- Galette Pomme et Frangipane - warm apple tart, almond and pâte sucrée with rhubarb confit and beurre noisette ice cream ($11). Although the dish tasted good, I didn't think it was anything special. My favourite part of this dish was the rhubarb confit and ice cream. The tart itself was okay, but I would've expected something better from Auberge.
Overall, I enjoyed my experience here, but I preferred the starters more than the mains. Other things to keep in mind:
- the food is served very slowly (we were there for over 2 hours for a 3 course meal)
- fantastic service
- free underground parkingListed in: Splurge
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Review from Yvonne T.
1/28/2011
Of all the O&B restaurants Auberge is definitely my favourite. Nestled in North York, and away from all the hustle and bustle of downtown restaurants, Auberge is definitely unique. The exterior and interior of the restaurant makes you feel like you are at a fancy, rustic, yet elegant, cottage. The decor is very simple, mostly white. I especially love the French windows.
Upon entering you will be greeted by the hostess/host, and they will promptly take your jacket. The restaurant is nicely lit (unlike some of the dark restaurants downtown where you feel like you're walking into a Screamers event), and if you're lucky, you may even get seated near the fireplace.
I have dined at Auberge twice, and even after the second visit I left with that same 4-star feeling as the first. I've had their Coquilles St-Jacques, Foie Gras et Confit, and Veau Trois Facons. The foie gras was melt-in-your-mouth goodness, and the confit just melted off the bone - definitely a must try! The Coquilles St-Jacques was a little too deconstructed for my liking, but nonetheless, still very tasty. The veal was juicy and tender.
I like Auberge because it is a quaint and quiet restaurant where you can enjoy meaningful conversation, and not have to shout over each other (probably the only O&B restaurant where this is the case).Listed in: Milles "Foies" Merci, J'aime manger!
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Review from Lynn T.
Markham, ON
1/26/2011
4.5 Stars*
Auberge du Pommier is probably one of my favourite places to dine next to Splendido. Every time I've come here I've always been quite happy with the service and the food. The reason for a half star off is because I also have come here for summerlicious and it was not the usual great stuff.......although still good.
The whole look of the restaurant is cozy, quaint, and gives an all over romantic feel which is perfect for a date. The moment you walk in, the servers greet you warmly and throughout the whole evening they make sure to check in with you, fill your water constantly, and patiently answer your questions if you have any.
One thing about dining here is be prepared to spend quite a bit of time, usually a dinner here can take up to 3-4 hours between the wine, amuse bouche, and palate cleansers that come during the meal. Generally speaking a wonderful restaurant that is worth returning to. -
Review from Jacob L.
9/23/2011
I've been here 2x. Both times, my mouth had a little party, because the food was so good.
When I took my first taste of their mushroom soup, I thought, "this may be one of the best, if not THE best, soups I've ever tasted in my life." Just as I was thinking this, someone else in my party actually said these very words.
Salmon treated delicately, not overdone. Steak (medium rare) done perfectly. The mains were delicious, but was it the best food I've ever had in my life? Objectively, not really. Let's just say that it was on par with what I expected from a restaurant of this quality.
Service was fantastic.
Price: Prepare to sell a kidney.
Unless you are flush, you should probably not eat here unless you are going to propose to your S.O. soon. -
Review from Joe H.
To get things in perspective, I went on the first day of Winterlicious. I figured I haven't been here before and wanted to give it a go.
Upon entry, it's probably the nicest place I've ever seen. Really, it's such a nice looking restaurant. Kinda reminds me of a inn in paris. It's got wood burning fireplaces, and intimate seating with white painted walls which seem very rustic (at least if rustic was classy).
I wasn't really expecting a crazy menu, it is winterlicious after all. I got the goat cheese puff pastry, the beef (not sure what it was called), and the cheese plate. I also got the wine paring with it... why not?
First thing that came was the wine. Kinda thought it was weird because it came quite a bit before the puff pastry salad, and since it was a white, it was supposed to be kinda chilled "while" i was eating the appetizer. Anyways, I didn't fid it a big deal because I figured they were rammed because of Winterlicious.
The puff pastry goat cheese plate wasn't that special in my opinion. It was a slice of puff pastry, with a bit of goat cheese in the middle with goat cheese on top. After that it was dressed with a lemon vinaigrette and some mixed greens. Taste-wise... meh, not too impressive. It did go with the wine nicely though =).
The beef that came out was a little interesting. it came sitting on a bed of barely with a Bok Choy beside it. I noticed that the beef had kinda been "warming" for a while because of how it tasted. I have a feeling they had these on standby because they were kinda dry on the outside. At least it was done to a medium rare... (they didn't ask me how I wanted it BTW). I think out of everything this was probably my favourite.
I also tried my girlfriend's Coq Au Vin, and I found it kinda bland. I know when I make it, the chicken tastes like it was marinated in red wine. This was quite the opposite, kinda tasted like the chicken wasn't even cooked in the wine very long (had no flavour to it).
The cheese was pretty pathetic. It was 3 slices of white cheddar... but to make it look a little bit better they put 2 slices of crustini in between to make it look pretty. Not too impressed.
All in all, I think the keyword of the night is un-imaginative. Sure I can say that most french cuisine is quite similar and hard to categorize, but I didn't really see anything that special for a place that should have blown my mind.
Consider my mind intact and un-blown. Maybe I'll try it again on a non-licious night. -
Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
2/16/2011
I tried Auberge Du Pommier for the first time for Winterlicious and the overall experience was incredible. I have no complaints because it was so outstanding!
The food is delicious, the service is impeccable and the atmosphere is very romantic. I've never been made to feel like a lesser customer just because I wasn't paying for a full priced meal. Even the spread and bread they bring before the meal was incredible. Would definitely recommend. This is hands down my favourite French restaurant in the city.
Auberge Du Pommier knows how to set the mood :) -
Review from Pavel B.
ON
12/10/2010
This was my third time at Auberge du Pommier, I have visited it on my last few trips to Toronto over the past couple of years and this experience was very different from my previous two visits.
I had a great time on both previous occasions, had great food, great wine, a chat with the chef and a quick tour of the kitchen.
This time, every dish for myself and my date was simply awful. We had sent back both main courses as neither was cooked properly (mine was almost raw, hers was over cooked) and left without eating much of any of the 4 appetizers. I will not be coming here again. -
Review from Edmond L.
Richmond Hill, ON
2/12/2011 4 photos
Good food, staffs check up on us every now and then and they didn't drop by right at the time I was about to have a bite.
Waitress was helpful and knowledgeable on how dishes are prepared. Overall, very good experience.
We got the snails for appetizer, tenderloin and lamb for mains. Not the Winterlicious ones. -
Review from bold c.
Toronto, ON
12/31/2010
Skip Summerlicious and the reduced menu choices. Go off-season.
Salads are $17+ and worth every penny.
I have been eating here for years. The location is outstanding. Very rustic and cottage/country like. Old wood throughout the restaurant. Very french provincial. The cuisine is modern and reminds me of my time in Paris or Toulon.
I enjoy their smoked appetizers trout or crabmeat remoulade. I find the fish outstanding. Assiette de la Mer and Huitres et Homard Glacées are my favorites. Loup de Mer Rissole (Seabass) is to die for.
Attentive service but do make reservations.
Formal attire only. Great for tier one client meetings. Parking is underground and pricey. Parking down the street near Yorkville/TTC to save $10+.
Enjoy -
Review from Ana W.
7/19/2010
A perfect place for a date.
I came here for Summerlicious, just over the weekend and I thought it was one of those places that you'd love to take your date to. It's cute, cozy, it was quiet enough that you can still hear your conversation.
The service was phenomenal. Usually most Summerlicious restaurants the server would rush you to order and avoid coming by to fill your glasses of water so you wouldn't talk as much, but I had a great experience here where the server didn't want to rush us and told us to take our time with the menu and wine list. Water was refilled frequently. The "bread server" was very polite and was more than happy to explain to us what type of bread he had at hand.
I don't think there was anything wildly out of the ordinary with the food. It's French, I expect a lot. I loved the little treats they offered before and after the 3-course meal. As a pre-appetizer, I had this cute one-bite cheese quiche... if I had more I think my arteries would clog, but it's sooo tasty. And for a post-dessert, I had this one-bite dark chocolate 'brownie' that was super light that looked like moose dropping candy. Out of this year's Summerlicious menu I really liked the Green Pea soup with seafood. It's so light and refreshing. Perfect for a hot summer day or night with a hint of mint. I ordered the Beef Medallion on caramelized onions and mashed potatoes... the beef was perfect!
I was initially worried about the portion, but it was perfect with a glass of wine and bread. I wouldn't mind coming back to try out their regular menu. -
Review from Joanne S.
Toronto, ON
2/3/2011 7 photos
Winterlicious 2011, lunch (1:15 pm), 2 guests (including myself).
Excellent food, excellent service and excellent atmosphere. Even for Winterlicious! About 3 years ago I attended a winterlicious event at a "fancy" restaurant, and since then I was scared off.
This year I picked myself out of that funk and chose Auberge. What a great choice! Everyone was really nice and sociable, no judgment (unlike that last place). I absolutely am in love with the wait staff, from the receptionist to the bus boys. Started off with some fresh bread and pea puree spread. We got the spice cake mix to take home, it was a nice touch.
Appetizers:
Potage de Pois Cassés et Jambon - smoked ham and split pea soup with parsley
Tastes like an Indian dish, wasn't really "wow"ed but definitely a good portion. The ham was shredded? Didn't care for that too much. Nice presentation.
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Millefeuille au Fromage de Chèvre - puff pastry with C'est bon goat cheese, fine herbs and grilled courgette antiboise
DELICIOUS! The goat cheese was smooth and perfect. The puff pastry wasn't like the puff pastry I'm used to but it was a good vessel for the goat cheese. A nice herb and micro green salad decorates the plate, with a tasty vinagrette. Beautiful presentation.
Entree:
Saumon Poêlé - pan-seared salmon with toasted barley, butternut squash and preserved lemon pistou
Generous portion of salmon (bonus: crispy skin!) on a bed of perfectly cooked barley. Under that was a green oil (coriander?) and the sweetest butternut squash puree. Very filling and delicious. Beautiful presentation.
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Cassoulet d'Agneau - roasted lamb rump with braised shank and white bean cassoulet
I was disappointed at first sight, it looked so small next to the salmon. But of course, never judge a book by its cover. Thick pieces of lamb (medium rare) atop a white bean stew. The whole dish reminded me of a nice comforting stew, excellent for winter. It was seasoned well and filling. Rustic presentation.
Dessert:
Gâteau aux Épices - warm spice cake with crème anglaise, Armagnac macerated prune
If the previous courses weren't filling, the cake would be too tiny. As it was, the cake was a perfect mini size. Dining partner would not willing share so it must've been good!
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Mousse au Caramel Salé - salted caramel mousse with caramelized white chocolate torte
Good portion of the mousse, beautiful presentation. The mousse was like putting a Werthers in my mouth, but better. Thin slices of banana were placed on the plate next to the white chocolate torte (which was more torte than white chocolate, but that's okay with me). -
Review from melissa s.
Toronto, ON
7/10/2010
Went for their first day of summerlicious 2010.
The first courses and amuse bouche were amazing. Tried the pea soup to start. Perfect ten.
The mains were a disappointing. The tuna smelt of chorizo sausage and the tastes on the plate were off balance: too much sweet and soft. I wish that there could have been something crunchy and refreshing on the plate to balance it out... and the oils were explained by the server as "green oil and tomato oil".
The cheese to finish was perfect - bit at the tongue in just the right way, and a great texture. The wine was their rose, priced well in the low $40s and absolutely yummy.
The maitre d' also blew me away -- he goes out of his way to get to know each guest by name. And his wife of 27 yrs is also polish :) -
Review from Steve H.
Markham, ON
10/15/2009 1 photo
This is the kind of place you go that you wish Yelp had multiple ratings for multiple experiences, such as food, service, abidance and environment.
Food fantastic (5/5), apps prices anywhere from $10 to $30, mains priced anywhere from $20-$45. Martini's $12.
We ordered a few cocktails, I had a Chopin martini which was done to perfection, not watery, poured at the table, olives tasty. In fact, I asked if I they had any stuffed Olives, which the reply was "no, but let me go get the bartender to make you some, it will take a bit longer, but we can see what we can do". I thought that was nice, rather than the normal, "no" you get. In the end they didn't have any pitted olives so they could do it, and I didn't mind at all, it was nice they tried. My wife had a Cosmo, which is her favorite and she said it was pretty good.
The chef sent out a "amuse bouche" which was a delicious parsnip soup with french olive oil. I love the amuse bouche when it is done right, and it was done right here.
For apps I ordered the Foie Gras ( who wouldn't?), it was perfect, not the best i ever had, but tied with all the best Foie Gras dishes I've had! It was really good. There were four components on the plate, all of which went very well with the Foie Gras and also went well with each other, the chef clearly is a master of flavours. My wife ordered the warm goat cheese. It was delicious and had many components on the plate, none competing, all working together.
For my main, I ordered the Tuna two ways, seared and tartar. Thinking I'd be getting two different tastes, (which I did), I was also amazed at how the chili oil, went with both the Tartar and the seared. Interestingly enough, the tartar was wrapped in a thin grilled pineapple, and served on a bed of fresh peas. Now, peas, Pineapple and tuna? Huh? Let me tell you, amazing together, really nice combination. This chef knows flavours and what goes together.
My wife ordered the beef filet that came with potato and mushroom crochettes. Again, amazing all of it. about four components on the plate, all working well together, at the end my wife discovered the truffle oil on the plate..... a nice surprise.
We did not have dessert, but they looked pretty nice.
The portion size is perfect, my wife was feeling pretty full, (the steak was pretty big), but I was feeling perfect. Its important to note, we'd lick the plates if we were at home eating like this, but the plates were cleaned right off the polite way.
Some things to note:
1. The wine list is extensive, although we didn't have any due to driving, I really liked they had many by the glass selections and also many half bottles. This is rare in Toronto, and is a nice touch for those not wanting to drink a whole bottle but still have a nice wine. The wine list is also not obnoxious like some places, like having a $10,000 bottle of wine on the list, there are some $950, but not many. If you like french and Italian wines and want a good selection, they have a nice selection. I spent 15 minutes pouring over it.
2. Parking is free, park underground, keep your ticket to be validated. Not having to search and search and search for a parking spot was nice.
3. Its a bit of an older crowd I think ( i was only there one night, during the week as well so perhaps this night, but they still have Caesar Salad and Steak on the menu.....). If I'm right just go there and ignore the old folks and enjoy the food.
The night was not perfect, service was slightly slow here and there and we felt unattended to a few times, but nothing serious and nothing that really irritated us. Another thing was, the apps were cleared and our mains were in front of us in seconds..... personally I prefer to sit back and remember the loveliness of what I just ate before diving right into the next course. A timing issue, but not a big deal, enough to lose a star as I would give service a 4/5 because of it, but the other categories overcome and rounding up makes my rating a 5/5. -
Review from Min min T.
Scarborough, ON
7/19/2009 2 photos
Auberge du Pommier is probably one of the best fine dining restaurants in uptown Toronto. Located in North York, this French diner is decorated beautifully with stone interior and a petite courtyard covered in trellises.
Due to monetary restrictions, I've only visited for Summerlicious and Winterlicious. During these periods, the chefs may surprise you with additional treats in between your dishes (i.e. watercress tarts, Scottish shortbread with honey). The service is always outstanding and the food is sure to impress.
Despite the limited options as a vegetarian visiting a French restaurant, I've never been disappointed with what I've been served. During Summerlicious 2009, I had - as a special order - a delectable medley of root vegetables and sweet corn accompanied with fresh blue cheese. As well, there were sauteed mushrooms of several varieties - all cooked to perfection - including a generous portions of morales and chanterelles. For dessert, there was a peach tart - with a perfect, flaky crust - paired with a scoop of almond ice cream.
The service is also outstanding and I always make it a point to tip a little extra. Highly recommended for the true foodies.
PARKING: Your ticket can be validated if you park in the garage downstairs. -
Review from En L.
8/1/2010 1 photo
I love it! I went with my boyfriend for a quiet dinner. It's a cute little restaurant with very attentive staff. We were seated in a cozy terrace. We had the tasting menu with wine pairing. All seven courses were excellent! My favorite dishes are the scallop and kobe beef with morels and the duck liver. It was full of flavor. Dessert was raspberry bombe. I was a bit weary about raspberry dessert, I always find it too tarty. But, this was excellent! Nice balance of sweet and tartiness. The wine pairing was a bit too much for me. I had 9 glasses of wine!
I think it's cute that they insert a hint of apple flavor in some of their dishes to go with the name of the restaurant....such as apple bread (best bread i had), apple mustard sauce that come with the charcuterie and the apple sorbet.
It was a lengthy dining experience, we were there for 4 hours. But, you'll need it to enjoy each course and the wine. Overall, great experience. But, next time, I'll skip the wine pairing...since i'm a light weight when it come to alcohol. -
Review from Janet L.
11/12/2008
FABULOUS. :)
a little house tucked in from the hustle of the yonge and york mills interesection. the moment you reach the gorgeous white double french doors, you feel special walking into a countryside home with BEAUTIFUL Ambiance. It's as romantic as it gets!
The newly renovated decor truly lives up to the "auberge" name (french for 'inn').
Glorious service that spoils you to no end beginning with their sweet hosts and knowledgeable servers. My friend was a vegetarian and they catered to her needs with zest.
The food was intricate, beautiful, and delicately balanced, and every bite was a big bang and wow in your mouth. Each dish was full of bold and big flavoured organic ingredients.
at one point our server recommended a spruce birch non alcoholic beer, and we tried it and i am still dreaming about it -- it was amazing.
YUM YUM YUM
from the articoke spread for your freshly baked ethereal bread that comes out fluffy and crunchy at the perfect temperature with olives
to the passion fruit granita,
amuse bouche soup
octopus terrine
organic greens,
and the amazingly sauted kimpachi --
every bite was memorable. and that is definitely a mouthful to say. ;)
esp in toronto.
highly recommended for a nice night out.
~$70-100/ person -
Review from Joan L.
Mississauga, ON
7/24/2010 5 photos
This is the last of my summerlicious reservations and by this point, I was hard to impress. Auberge had a tough job to do - and it hit the spot on most counts. It only paled in comparision to Canoe ... but that is mainly b/c I preferred Canoe's spectacular view and earthly food.
All in all, Auberge succeeded in terms of ambiance - it was cozy and inviting. Quite romantic for a date .. if you were on one. The service was good when it came to being friendly and attentive. However, the delay inb/t courses was a failure. I had not been made to wait that long for a bread basket before. And I think the lag time between each dish was probably around 15 minutes. Also, when I left, the clients waiting by the door were complaining about the wait time (one said that this was the 'most terrible wait time for a reservation').
The food was good - the cod was a bit interesting (since it was creamed up and pureed) but very pulled together. The chicken tasted quite mild but pleasing. I would have liked a bit more kick to it tho. As for dessert, the mousse was a great end with its combo of sweet-and-tart.
I would probably return for another *licious event but I recommend the first seating as the second seating appeared to be waiting for AGES. -
Review from Leeor J.
5/14/2010
This place has really good food, though its not cheap. I went for winterlicous and thoroughly enjoyed everything I had. Great service too.
The appetizer might have been the standout. It was a cod cream with a dense foam sort of consistency served with paper-thin candied eureka lemon slices, capers, onions and crispy french bread slices. Out of this world. The flavours married each other and had babies. that good.
The main course I had was a duck quiche. And let me tell you, they were not stingy on the duck. It was packed in there quite densely. Also fantastic.
I had a creme brule for dessert. It was good, but not on par with the rest of the meal.
Check it out. -
Review from Kim N.
6/14/2009 3 photos
This is fine dining at its finest. The ambiance is lovely, decor classy, service fantastic, and the food... DIVINE. Guys, if you'd like to impress a lady, take her here! I myself went with the girls, native Canadians who swear by this restaurant.
Appetizer--Coquilles St. Jacques, caramelized sea scallops with kobe beef cheek: Very good, though I did enjoy the scallops part more than the kobe beef portion
Entree--Veau Poche, veal tenderloin and fried sweetbreads: Ever since I learned about sweetbreads from the food network (yes, I am that lame) I take every chance to try them. Auberge did not disappoint! The sweetbreads had a great flavor and a lovely crunch. And the veal tenderloin was soooooooo tender and tasty. It was absolutely exquisite.
Dessert--I cannot remember exactly what it was, there was a cheesecake (?) with a praline crust (yuuuuum) and a bit of sorbet (passion fruit possibly). You might think that because I cannot recall, it must not have been really good. Wrong! It was awesome!!! Not too sweet, great flavor, and ended the meal on a fantastic note.
If you loooove food, and especially if you like fancy eats, this is the place to go. It is expesnive, yes, but totally worth it. You will not be sorry! -
Review from secyw w.
Richmond Hill, ON
11/13/2010 4 photos
This is a Summerlicious restaurant I go to every year, and everytime I go my friends and I are always satisfied. This we were placed inside. Although I had a reservation for 16, they tried hard to put us close to each other. Previous years, I had a patio experience and it was awesome if the weather is nice, of course.
I went in July, and I tried the Velouté aux Petit Pois (Green Pea Soup) which was very chilly and good. The colour was defin' unique. I really loved the entrees which was Poulet Rôti, Fricassée de Saison (Chicken). The chicken was smooth and not dry, and the sauce was amazing. To end off, we had the Bombe Framboise (Raspberry Mousse) for desserts and it was awesome. Always love my time, not to say service is good, located near York Mills and 401 and parking is free. -
Review from ilove f.
Scarborough, ON
9/7/2011
This is review is long overdue. I was here for summerlicious with friends. The experience of making a reservation, being seated, service, and food was excellent! The decor is romantic and is great for a nice dinner. I would return to have their full priced menu.
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Review from spaniel l.
Calgary, AB
2/27/2009
One of my favorite restaurants in TO.
Classy deco with unforgettable ambiance.
Everything was cooked to perfection and beautifully presented !
It is a must try if you are visiting TO and are craving French food. Definitely won't regret! -
Review from Sean S.
North York, ON
Updated - 10/23/2010
We went back to Auberge last night. The experience was completely the opposite of my first trip there. Service was out of this world (really amazing waiter). The food was quite good. I just wanted to update to say the second time around was much better. It must have been an off night the first time I was there.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/2/2010
We went here for my wife's Birthday. It's a nice restaurant however there were some issues.
We… Read more »
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Review from Teresa H.
Greektown, Toronto, ON
7/24/2010 3 photos
Auberge Du Pommier is a cozy restaurant with staff who are warm, welcoming and caring for their guests. We went for Summerlicious 2010 but were really going to check out the restaurant as my sister is getting married there. The maitre d' was more than welcoming including adding a sorbet palette cleanse between the app and entree. Even for Summerlicious the food was incredible and the service impeccable. This is definitely an A+ experience and my sister and her fiancé were sure of their choice in wedding venue.
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Review from B A.
Markham, ON
7/21/2010
My family of 5 went for summerlicious dinner last week, my second time there. When we called the restaurant said they didn't have any spots but when we went there they seated us on the patio, which is covered and quite nice. The food was mediocre consisting of overcooked mini-quiches for the amuse bouche (which came out twice due to an error in the kitchen - they said they had a new system that was screwing everything up) and mains that were nothing to write home about, I barely remember what we even had. What I do remember very clearly is that it took us TWO HOURS from start to finish and we would have felt unattended if it wasn't for the man with bread who kept coming around to our table.
The first time we went last year we were impressed with everything, the service was impeccable and the food was delicious. After this visit however we probably won't go back again.
