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Real People. Real Reviews.®
Categories: Champagne Bars, Gastropubs [Edit]
928 Dundas St WMon, Sun 6 pm - 11:30 pm
Thu-Sat 6 pm - 1 am
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Top stars. My love for meat grows when places like these appear in the city. Dreamy, quiet, low-key and romantic, you and your slabs of meat can dine together at Black Hoof with uninterrupted intimacy. Servers describe all elements of your meal in gentle and hushed tones. Being served the generous charcuterie and cheese trays is overwhelming but it is certainly not intimidating. People: my meat dreams were realized. The staff members sweep in and quickly and frequently refill your cups with water without you even blinking in their direction. Roasted Bone Marrow is on the menu. Bone marrow was something I had only associated with disease. I didn't know you could eat it, let alone it tasting so amazingly delightful. Can I eat my own bone marrow?
Get here before 6 if you want to avoid the rush.
Listed in: I Love Meat
The Black Hoof is Charcuterie at it's best, but it's so much more than that. It's got inventive uses of offal, a modern beer and wine list, and arrogant servers to boot. The arrogant, downright surly servers are part of the experience you could say, but if I wanted the attitude to match the avante-garde menu, I'd be in Brooklyn, not Toronto. It all adds up to a story, and fortunately for The Black Hoof, that story is passion, dedication and delicious food. The menu is not for the faint of heart, I wouldn't exactly call calf's brain, sweetbreads, and horse universally appealing. Yes, there was horse, both on the outstanding Charcuterie plate in a cured form, and raw in the horse "sammy" with a house-made hot sauce. The raw horse was rather mild, cut from the tenderloin, it's a glorified play on traditional beef tartare, rounded out with a fresh egg yolk, the addition of a little salt could have carried the dish to another level.
Plates are intended to share, much like tapas, the bill could get away from you pretty quickly if you go in starving. But everything is worth a try, the passion is literally on the plate. Three guys man the tiny kitchen, all in the open, and just about everything is made in-house. Sweetbreads are light and crispy, kind of a grown-up chicken nugget, and I mean that in the best way possible. Accompanied with mushrooms, pea and pea tendrils, they are glazed delicately with a palate satisfying horseradish butter. Bone marrow comes piping hot, served classically with parsley salad and toasted bread, it's the most in-your-face offering on the menu, nothing is disguised, either you like it or you don't. Pork belly, squid and watermelon is pleasing to the eye, and the pork is divine, crispy on the outside and soft and delicate on the inside. The squid is a miss, however, tough and fishy, it fails to deliver. The seared watermelon and watermelon syrup round out the plate, but don't necessarily make the dish noteworthy. Calf's brain ravioli is solid, slightly gamey, the tang of Parmesan makes it one of the most accessible dishes on the menu.
The key with offal is that although it may not appealing to everyone on the surface, in most cases, the flavors and textures are familiar, and frying or stuffing it in a ravioli truly makes it accessible to all. The Black Hoof is good at what it's best at, which is meat and lots of it. While vegetables do make an appearance on some plates, they aren't the star, but of course, they don't have to be. The Charcuterie, offal, and dedicated chefs make this a trendy place to dine in downtown Toronto.
Two incredible reasons Black Hoof gets 5 stars:
* Items on the menu I've seen no where else
* Awesome service from the woman who sets the beer menu
Black Hoof exceeded my expectations. I'd read about it on Yelp from my home in Los Angeles and it was my first destination after landing in YYZ. Even with such high expectations Black Hoof exceeded them.
Why I am I raving about the menu? It has items like a Raw Horse Sammy, Beets and Lamb Tongue, Crispy Pig Ear salad there's bound to be something on the chalk board menu that you haven't had before. I had to officiate a wedding the next day so was more conservative than I might have been otherwise so I had a charcuterie plate (that did include horse mortadella) and a spreadable salumi on taglietelle.
When Erin and I let the server know that we're into beer and were interested in trying some beers from Toronto or Ontario, the server's face lit up and she shared that she creates the beer list. Erin wanted a porter and she recommended Wellington Porter. I asked for one of her favorites and she recommended an IPA from Mike Duggan. She then ran across the street to Black Hoof's sister restaurant to get these bottles (more beers are stored over there because they have a larger fridge). We were quite impressed and pleased with our beer selection.
Finally the vibe of the place is my kind of place.
Big Kudo's for the server's recommendation that we out-of-towners stroll down Ossington after dinner (at 12 am) to find something to do. We were impressed with how many people were out and about, moreover with the number of people riding bikes that time of night. I saw more people riding bikes in 5 minutes at midnight than I've seen in one year in Los Angeles.
Listed in: Gastropubs
I finally understand what all the hype over this place is really about.
This food is goooooooooood :)
We walked in on a Saturday night around 8pm and had no problems getting a table, we were seated immediately. Given the other reviews, this is obviously unusual.
I tried the pork belly with squid and melon. YUMMMMMMMMMMM!!! I didn't get to photo it, it was delicious though. Nice piece of fatty pork belly with grilled calamari bits and cubed watermelon. The sauce was awesome.
We also had the roasted bone marrow and a raw horse sammy. Those were both great too. But pork belly was still my fav.
Oh, and they have a back patio, which I didn't really get to see. Geez. Very cool.
I'm going to be the fly in the ointment here, but this place just isn't that great. I'm going to try to base my review solely on the food and service, and pretend that I didn't have to rush home shortly after eating to - how shall I put it - reboot my digestive system.
I went with my GF this evening for dinner, and we ordered the large Charcuture ($24) and the famous Raw Horse Sammy ($22).
We started off with an assorted serving of glorified cold cuts, which to be honest wouldn't have impressed me had the server not told me that I was eating Horse Mortadella and Boar sausage. In terms of taste alone, it's not like I was tasting meats that were entirely foreign to me, and the price for such a dish was far more than it should have been. Tasty indeed, but not worth over $20.
Next was the Horse tartar sandwich which was just as everyone described. Again, it was tasty but for something that was kind of small and didn't come with ANY sides $24 was a little much. We split both dishes and left feeling a little queasy yet still hungry.
I think that this is the sort of place that you should go to once in your life just to say that you've eaten raw horse, but I honestly can't see myself ever returning. The food is great for conversation, but leaves you feeling kind of ripped off (especially if you're somebody who spent a few years working in the meat business and don't instantly get a halfie when something's put in front of you that isn't beef or chicken).
The question one should ask themselves when eating here is "if they didn't tell me it was horse/boar/tongue, would I find it so incredible"? I think that in the majority of cases the honest answer would be "no". Am I the only one who read "The Emperor's New Clothes" as a kid?!
Having said all that, our server was quite friendly and efficient.
Yes it is as good as they say it is!
First time I came with 3 friends on a Saturday - and couldn't wait for 2 hours. This time, Thursday nite @ 7, 2 of us were seated right away.
Was worried about the no credit cards but they take debit.
Started with the guava margarita: perfect sweet/salt/tart blend. Delicious!
Had the charcuterie, of course! I repeat all good things said about it. If you go here, you MUST order it.
The blood sausage and beet salad was surprisingly mild, with beautiful soft textures and a well balanced flavour accented with fresh basil. Had the Foxcroft Riesling which paired well.
Even though I was a bit nervous, I trusted the reviews and had the tongue on brioche- just like pastrami! I enjoyed it and the purple mustard is delicious. It is a really heaping pile of meat!
Date had the foie gras on brioche - tender, soft and sooooo rich!
Our server was also great: friendly and attentive.
We were both too full to try the fresh daily dessert.
We were in a meat induced euphoric state for a long time after. Looking forward already to the next visit - when I might be brave enough to try the raw horse!
Holy freaking crap. This place is amazing! The menu is a chef d'oeuvre of carnivorous delights.
First let me say that if you dine at the Hoof you MUST try the charcutrie. As others have mentioned, there is charcuterie (cured/cooked meat platter served on a wood plank) and then there's Black Hoof charcuterie. This is their speciality. For two, go with the regular size. The large is good for a group of 4 or more to share.
Next, we tried the succulent marrow. At fist, I was a little apprehensive but based on the reviews I forced myself to scoop some of the oily gelatin onto a piece of rye bread and oh my god... this is quite possibly the best thing I've every eaten. I recommend adding a pinch of the raw salt that comes with it. It enhances the flavour a hundredfold.
Finally I HAD to go for the raw horse sandwich. Now this may sound disgusting or blasphemous to some but let me warn you, your taste buds will love you for this. Get over your PETA loving self and try this thing! A very well prepared steak tartare made with horse meat shallots and a raw egg for texture served open-faced on rye bread with a speciality spicy sauce (with which they cleverly spell "Horse" on your bread).
Lastly, the wine list, rotating cocktail offering and on-tap beers are all very good.
Went on a Thursday at 7pm. Patio was filled up, so ate inside at a table. The staff was friendly and service was attentive.
Likes? The finely sliced beef tongue sandwich, foie gras on brioche, and a pasta ravioli with sausage. Had the roasted bone marrow, but was not feeling it. I thought it would have the "blood" in the bone cooked up.
They make a mean margarita cocktail - had two of those. Would I go back? Maybe to hang on the patio and try their blood pudding next time. Although that will be in a few months when my cholesterol count comes down.
Last night I died and went to "WTF are you eating heaven"! Seriously Fear factor has nothing on Black Hoof's exotic menu, and despite being scared shitless I had complete faith in my fellow Yelpers... man am I ever glad I did!
Lets start with the arrival. After reading horror stories of hour long waits for this place, hubby and I decided to be at BH right as they opened for dinner. This proved to be a smart idea as we were immediately seated.
Our waitress was great: friendly knowledgeable and generally a pleasure.
I guess you could say the decor is "minimalistic barn chic". Lots of untreated wood and unpolished sheet-metal help give the place a very no frills and almost masculine appearance... we are after all about to eat "Noah's Ark" worth of meat!
The menu had no veggies in sight, which is good news for me, bad news for my arteries! We started with a small charcuterie and the roasted bone marrow, both were amazing! I hate liver, even in fancy spread formats and yet here I was devouring their incredible Duck Liver Mousse Pate.
The roasted bone marrow freaked me out a bit at first but one bite of my bread with this jelly wonder (and a bit of salt) and I wondered is all marrow was this good!
Last but not least, hubby and I ordered the raw horse meat sandwich with hot sauce. This was by far my favourite part of the meal! The horse meat was tender and the flavour was beautifully intense.
As everyone has already mentioned, they only take cash and debit here and most starters and main dishes run between $15-$25. Definitely worth the money!
A short cab ride from the main convention centre drag where I was holed up for most of the week - about 10 minute ride.
It was admittedly a challenge to get some colleagues to head over to Black Hoof. But I think that turned out for the better since it is a smaller place and our wait was tolerable (35 mins for 2 people across the street at the bar!).
I was a bit overwhelmed by all of the mesmerizing and delectable options, so buddy and I tried to sample as many different dishes as possible.
We worked on olives & bread and the small charcuterie plate. The meats were very delicious and a bit adventurous - blueberries in salami? sweeeet.
Main courses include the veggie gnocchi (just OK for me), the rabbit and pea pasta (savory meat, fresh pasta, good!) and the tongue on brioche (WHOA EXCELLENT!). The tongue sandwich was recommended by not only the waitress (her favorite on the menu), but also the ladies sitting next to us who said it was stupendous. And it was.
For any Americans, they graciously accept CAD and USD!
Fun, unpretentious contemporary vibe.
Brillant, I tried the place a few time this winter. Once for tapas dinner which rocked..deep fried navy beans..yum, duck salami, apple sausages..oh and a few other delights..a bottle a delicous Merlot..
Then brunch..delightful..peanutbutter french toast with - frois grois..Heaven..just..grrrr..
Third and (dare I say it) final time coming to Black Hoof.
Showed at 6:30ish for a table for four and was told it would be about an hour and a half wait. Walked across the street to the Cafe and it was jam-packed. Staff were very apologetic but inevitably told us that there would be an equally long wait.
We hoofed (get it?!) it to Dundas/Ossington to sit in a bar until our phone call. At 8, we got the call and walked back to the restaurant and we're shown immediately to our table.
The large charcuterie was ordered, some of the foie gras (a dish so nice, we ordered it twice!), the tongue on brioche sandwich, the roasted marrow, a spaghetti with bottarga (the most garlicky dish I've had in years; couldn't finish for fear of offending people I spoke to later) and sticky pudding for dessert. A couple drinks and two bottles of Tempranillo Reserva. An overall lovely meal. I'm a little disappointed we missed out on the brain ravioli early on in the week, but whatchagonnado?
Charcuterie was fantastic as always. Tongue on brioche was lovely - I remember a caper-puree? (I was hammed by then, so memories blur). THAT was awesome. The seared foie gras was good as well. Dessert was nice and moist.
I say this is my last time at BH because of a couple simple reasons - the no-reservation rule and no credit cards. Hey I get it - thats how they roll. But you know what? I've chosen to live in not-so-close proximity to this establishment and a wait this long each and every time? Not unless some friends beg me to go. There are so many other places to try in the city. As for the cash or debit only, I just don't agree with it. Our bill was over $300 before tip. I try my best not to carry that kind of cash on my person any more, as in the past I always wound up in a rap video, throwin' dolla' bills down in front of expensive cars and wimmens wearing bikinis with rather large posteriors.
It is inconvenient to say the least. Maybe things will change one day.
4.5 star review. Only because it doesn't take reseravations and we waited (a very tolerable) 1 hr across the street at the hoof cafe, and the bathroom smelt funny.
I knew it would be a wait, but we got there at 8pm and we were told there was a 1.5 hr wait. We went to the HOOF CAFE to WAIT across the street and thought we'd get an app here, along with some drinks. $8 for the BONE MARROW was amazing. decadent. 1 bone split in half covered with bread crumbs, raisins and some type of nut (not sure what) on a bed of apples and dandelions (the same thing, but onely one half was $9 at the black hoof, so I don't suggest getting it there)
After about 45 we got a call saying they had bar stools. we wanted to wait til we got a table. 15 mins later we got a call and headed over.
The place is small. Dim, and cozy. Loud, but okay to talk. Crowded, but not obstrusive. The daily menu was written on the wall, as were the drinks. and the Blonde Asian was so attractive, but I drank so much at the hoof cafe, I couldn't order another drink (shezchaun peppercorn, sake, rhubarb, lime juice). Next time.
We got a CHARCUTERIE PLATE ($16 small, good for 2 ppl) and included proscuitto, 'lardo' (buttery fat bacon type thing), horse (quite tasty), different types of salami, pork mousse (yum), rabbit (couldn't eat it without thinking of a poor white bunny), bread and pickled veggies.
I ordered the SOUTHERN FRIED SWEETBREAD $16 (recommended by our server bc I was deciding between the tongue on brioche, sweetbread, and the wild boar belly on rhubarb). I'm glad I chose it. Deep fried in a batter, it has the rich sweetbread taste, but a different texture than the normal gooey. Served on creamed collard greens, on a warm (not toasted) brioche. With some tangy hot sauce on the side. Not a fan of the hot sauce, but I can see how it could complement.
My friend ordered the FOIE GRAS ON TOASTED BRIOCHE ($22) What a big slab of foie gras. It was decedant as well.
Both dishes so filling, we couldn't have the daily dessert.
LOVE THIS PLACE. Will come again. Definately something different.
I would recommend to come here the minute it opens to avoid line up.
Listed in: Where to take my parents to…, A meal to remember (and to go…
This is more a conversation piece than a place to eat.
All the food offered here is super rich and full of fat. Flavors are full and variable as well as not your everyday tastes. Only for once and a while, the meats offered at this restaurant is delicious and unique. Price reflects that.
Hipsters rejoice because here you can eat the taste of France and Montreal and yap yap yap about how amazing each mouthful of flavour is.
Come early. The place opens exactly at 6 and you need to get there early to get a seat. The place gets pretty packed even on a weekday.
I've been to Black Hoof twice now, and still can't stop praising the place - even with its flaws.
In short: great tasting food, mediocre service. I've ordered the large charcuterie platter (25) and the cheese platter (15/24) twice, and both are terrific. The cheese leans on the expensive side, especially when you factor in that you're paying for bread (2/4). Speaking of which, the bread arrives fresh, though at room temperature or slightly cooler; when the tastes and flavours are as delicate as they are, something like cold bread shouldn't be allowed to serve as a distraction. The condiments the cheese is served with, particularly the almond paste, is *really* good, and edible alone. The olives (4) are tasty, even if uncomfortably small, and the oil they're in is, in a word, delicious.
The tongue on brioche (14) is the very best of its kind, and the portion is huge - it's flawlessly cooked, but a little too messy given that the mayo it's served with is drizzled on top and on the actual bread. Strange, if not aesthetically pleasing. The foie gras is possibly one of the weakest items on the menu - my order came charred, a good 15 minutes after we had finished the starters (even though I'd asked for it to come sooner, knowing how long this kitchen likes to take), and I'm sure was salted with the intention of being cured. It was entirely unpalatable, and entirely ruined by the quantity. Shame. I've tried the pork belly, which is good, but served fattier than necessary.
The decor is clean and simple, and even cute. Bonus points for the server who remembered my drink.
Dinner for two will run you about $120 if you do it right. And do it right, it's worth it, despite the problems. Go, and take everyone you know. Because of the issues, I was leaning towards a rating of 3/5, but I can't bring myself to do it. This place is special.
Went here recently by myself after a concert at the Phoenix. I hadn't eaten all day after standing for 5 straight hours and coming from work before that.
Walked into the Hoof around 10 expecting to be seated at the bar or something even though it was Saturday (it was also dreadfully rainy so I figured that was in my favour). Was dismayed to hear of a wait of at least an hour. Left my name, my number, and hoofed it over (couldn't resist sorry!) to the Hoof Cafe. Ordered a sweetbread and tongue stew that wasn't on the chalkboard menu and before it got there, I got a call that they would be able to seat me. The woman behind the bar was awfully nice about it and walked across the street to ask them to hold my seat for me until I finished my stew.
I burnt my tongue in my eager, hungry rush in finally having something to eat after a long time so I didn't get to taste the dish as well as I would have liked. It was warm, thick, salty, full of beans, and most importantly full of meat. However it felt a bit toooo salty. After I finished, I paid my bill, run across the street, sat down and ordered the lardo crostini and the n'duja and fennel sandwich.
The lardo crostini was a tiny thing but for 2 bucks I got what I expected. Tasted mostly of rosemary with a touch of flavour from the lentils under the lardo. The sandwich kind of suffered the same problem with the overload of fennel on top of it. It tasted of fennel, the n'duja under it still left a nice spicy burn/aftertaste in my mouth but the open-faced sandwich aspect of it still made for awkward eating. All in all: only an okay meal.
Addendum: While my review may not sound like it's worth 4 stars (it's not), a good part of that score is based on a previous visit I had done about a month ago that was pretty much great. Sure, it can be flawed at times but I honestly can't complain about a menu that frequently changes like Black Hoof's. The service is nice, the atmosphere is good, the waiting is terrible but oh so worth it. (Maybe that is their secret ingredient: hunger does make for the best condiment after all)
I know Black Hoof is getting tons of hype. I remember the venue when it was still Cocktail Molotov and feel like a restaurant is a better use of the space.
Although the service was great, friendly, attentive but non-obtrusive and the venue is dim and intimate, for anyone who can go to a supermarket like Highland Farms and see the seemingly interminable selection of "cold cuts" or specialty meats at St. Lawrence Market, this type of "charcuterie" is nothing new aside for one or two flourishes or unique items.
Sure, the charcuterie platter that my father and I ordered was tasty, but considering the paltry few and onion-skin-thin slices of actual meat that came with the order - it was *ridiculously* expensive and completely unsatisfying as an appetizer.
The mains that we each had were excellent, proper portions and priced appropriately. Unlike the experience others had, personally I would say, go for the mains and don't believe the charcuterie hype, unless you've never eaten that sort of thing before.
5 stars for the charcuterie, but 4 for everything else.
The charcuterie is the best I've had anywhere. Duck proscuitto so fatty and moist, spicy thin sliced meats, delicious foie gras and terrine. Go just for the charcuterie. It is the best dish on their menu (based on the ones I've tried).
We also ordered the fried calves brains. The sauce was delicious but the meat itself just had a mushy texture that didn't appeal.
The sweetbread agnolloti was a better dish. Really, the charcuterie is king though. Don't ever go there without ordering it.
The main problem was the service. it started out ok, we ordered quickly and got our wine fast. The server was also very nice. It just took an unusually long time to get the charcuterie plate from when we ordered it. The table next to us, who ordered after us, got cooked dishes before our charcuterie came. Once we got that, the other dishes were timed right. Then, when we ordered dessert, the waitress went away for a while and came back to tell us it was a different dessert. We ordered that, but waited so long for it, we finally went and told the waitress to cancel it.
I will go back for more charcuterie, the bone marrow and the tongue sandwich (WHICH WAS HUGE!). Hopefully the service is better next time.
In a related note, the Black Hoof Cafe is supposedly opening today across the street!
I took myself out to the Hoof last night for my birthday. This makes my third visit in the last year. In fact, my first visit was my birthday last year. Overall the food at the Hoof tends to be exquisite. I think, however, based on my experience last night that the foods are best enjoyed in a small group. My fairly modest meal was more expensive than I would have liked by far.
The good:
The Southern Fried Sweetbreads. (15) I love that they smoke their sweetbreads. It adds so much body to the flavour. They cook these to perfection I love the crispy exterior and chewy interior. The creamed Collard greens and cornbread were a nice accompaniment to the dish. Hot sauce and apple cider vinegar reduction worked very well.
The bad:
The Foie Gras. (24) Last year on my birthday I got the foie gras. It was perfection. Two large chunks of lobe seared to dripping buttery perfection on a brioche round with a tangy caramelized onion compote. The last two times I have visited they have turned foie gras into a dessert. I don't like it. In my opinion, it should be a savoury dish. There should be something acidic to cut through the buttery luxury of the foie. I disliked this cookie crumble vanilla mascarpone crap they served with it this time around. The foie was perfectly cooked as per usual but the portion was tiny. It was about half of the portion I've received before. Until they get it right I won't order this again.
The Interesting:
I arrived at 6:10 on a Friday night and there were 2 seats available at the bar. The whole place was filled with a 45 minute wait list. Clearly they're not hurting for business.
The Booze:
I like the selection of alcohol here. I had an Innis & Gunn (6.50) and a Ricard (8).
I like the Hoof a lot but I felt that $60 before tip was a bit vulgar for the meal I ate. Regardless, I will be back and I'll continue to plead with them to improve/restore the Foie Gras.
OMAHGAWD - If you like meat GO TO THIS PLACE. NOW. DON"T DELAY.
Infact, why am I not there right now??!
DELICIOUS. MEAT. and GREAT service.
Food:
Large charcuterie board. Delicious. all of it. Especially the Lardo Proscuitto and Frois Gras.
Tongue. Delicious. So good.
Raw Horse Meat. Good, but by that time I had too much food.
Cheese board. Delicious. Do it!
Added two bottles of wine on top of that, only came to $200.
This place is so damn affordable for the best prepared meats.
GO.
Fresh off the latest Enroute Magazine accolades as one of the best new restaurants in Canada....I finally made my way over here. Finally.
This charcuterie movement really appeals to the carnivore in me and this place certainly adds a different dimension to the Toronto food scene.
Place was packed in late Sat night but we split a table up front within 15 mins. Better to be lucky than organized I guess.
Large board charcuterie....variety is the spice of life and this lineup was delicious. Organized from mild to strong flavors, various house-made cuts aside from the chorizo, served with a side dish of pickled veggies...melt-in-your mouth goodness, duck prosciutto, duck liver mousse, sopressata flecked with blueberries and foie. Great starter.
The raw horse sammy - just like a great smooth steak tartare, the shallots, capers and yolk complimented the tangy spice of the hot sauce mayo.
Ox-tongue cappilletti - small, al dente blanched, tortellini bites, clarifying and delightful.
Sweetbread on polenta - interesting, a more textured breaded nugget, slightly heavy on the coating, but still tasty.
The accolades are warranted, this place caters well to the carnivorous gourmand. Despite all this, I'm not sure I would come here to dine repeatedly but more to gnash on a few meats.
It was a New York state of mind last night for the girls who love to eat the meat. Deanna's official last night in the land of maple leaf before jetting off to NYC was spent in part on Dundas Street where we managed to snag up the last available table at the Hoof. Joining us was our favorite sharp dressed man, Dale "don't you love my frittatas" M. It was his maiden voyage at the Hoof so we were pleased that the girls who loved to eat the meat could be a part of this special moment. :)
As usual the cocktails rocked. Rosy Cheeks all the way for this girl! Tis cool that they actually garnish this drink with a fresh rose petal. Drinks aside, the Black Hoof had its carnivore A game in full working gear. We shared, noshed, gabbed, laughed, cajoled and bonded as foodies over the charcuterie board.
Of course everyone at the table knew what we came for....giddeup! That's right, it was all about the raw horse meat sammy. If you ain't into the tartar then ain't gonna be your thing. Seasoned raw horse meat piled high with an egg yolk on the top, garnished with onions and some lip tingling mustard made for a major mmmmmm moment. It's pretty cool that they spell the word horse on a slice of bread with the mustard.
It was a great way to spend Deanna's last evening in the city knowing it was one of her most favorite spots. Now I'm waiting patiently for the Baby Hoof to open up across the street. Can't wait to see what they've got in store for us there.
Moooooooooooooooooooooooo oo. This ain't no place for the vegetarians, that is for certain. With its… Read more »
Charcuterie is the new black, bitches.
Any hip restaurant that wants to be taken seriously in this town has some kind of charcuterie platter on its menu (e.g. Union, Nota Bene, Table 17). I'm bracing myself for the day McDonald's offers its own watered-down version (tongue on sesame seed bun and confit McMuffin, perhaps?) in some twisted trickle down effect--like the cerulean blue hue of the infamous "lumpy" sweater in The Devil Wears Prada. And, if so, The Black Hoof is poised to be Miranda Priestly.
Charcuterie at The Black Hoof is a big deal. It's so big, the word "charcuterie" is written on their chocolate-brown awning more prominently than the actual name of the establishment (etched in tiny letters on the storefront window).
Our dream team of Yelp diners that night included Neil "F*ck Vegetarians!" T., Jay G., Ariel G. and his Mrs. G. -- all adventurous diners who wouldn't be squeamish about a little tongue in their mouths. We arrived early enough to grab that plumb 6-top in the front*, away from the chatter of the young, hipster crowd that has made The Black Hoof a very unlikely playground.**
We started with cocktails which I'd heard were specialty-creations on the ever-rotating menu of delights at TBH. I had a Bittersweet Symphony ($11), a refreshingly tart aperitif featuring rye and grapefruit bitters; Mrs. G. had a "My-Tie"; and Jay had a Manhattan. The drinks displayed The Black Hoof's creativity and attention to detail, and were a harbinger of amazing things to come.
Now on to the food...
Charcuterie (large, $25): A generous board (changes daily) that included foie gras, terrine, guanciale, duck liver mousse, spicy chorizo, sopressata flecked with blueberries, and several other cured meats shaved so thin Stevie Wonder could read braille music through them. Served with toothsome brown bread, house-made mustard and pickled veg.
Roasted bone marrow ($5 each): Oozy, flavorful, just perfect on baguette rounds with a sprinkle of flaky, sea salt. Me. Eat. More. (Please?)
Tongue on brioche ($13): Thin ribbons of tongue drizzled with tarragon mayonnaise on buttery brioche. Never has such an unholy, unkosher creation tasted so divine. Served with exotic purple mustard. Ooh. Ahh.
Raw Horse Sammy ($22): Arrived right as we were finishing up the tongue and as good as it was, we all got collective whiplash as we ogled this head-turning knockout of a sandwich. It's seasoned horse tartare served open faced on toasted light rye, garnished with capers and with an egg yolk on top. The word "HORSE" is playfully scrawled in hot sauce mayo on the matching slice of bread.
The horse is shimmering and ruby red with a velvety melt-in-your-mouth texture almost like sashimi-grade tuna. Sandwiched between the two crisp layers of thin rye, each bite launched crazy fireworks of textural contrast and exquisite flavors in my mouth. We all loved this sammy so much we immediately ordered another one to share.
Dessert ($7): Chocolate and bacon bread pudding with orange-citrus creme fraiche. Not too sweet but not too exciting either.
Wine: Excellent selection by the glass or bottle including a bold '04 Rioja and an '06 Zin from The Lyeth Estate, which paired with the meats surprisingly well.
Service: Young, good-looking but also knowledgeable and helpful--a rare and noteworthy combination. (Yeah, I'm looking at you, Ame.)
Decor and Crowd: A little bit French brasserie and a little bit Spanish tapas cellar. No suits but plenty of skinny jeans and pointy shoes.
Yipes. I've overwritten again. But that's how enthusiastic I am about this place. Go if you want to try new things and see what talented hands can do with meat, both humble and posh. Or don't, and help cut down on the waiting time for my next visit.
_________________________
* No reservations so come early or be prepared to wait
**How do they manage to fit into their skinny jeans after eating all this pork fat?
Listed in: Must Eat, See, Do in Toronto, My Food & Drink Faves in…, Worth the Splurge
With 4 other yelpers, I attended last night this high temple of meat.
On entering the sanctuary my wife and I were greeted by the other sacrificial lambs. On the wall hung black tablets outlining what torture we could be subjected to. Our 5 person altar was soon approached by a priestess who outlined the measure of the pain we were about to endure. She, however, gave us choices as to the types of gastronomic purgatories we could enter. We played our role and responded by ordering sweet, sweet tantalizing tortures from the menu.
The large charcuterie board (or was it a rack?) was a symphony of sinfully displayed meats. They were arranged in order from milder to strongest. All the charcuteries were home made with the exception of the chorizo. They were all delectable especially the mousse, and the pate (which was a lot like a good rillettes de caen). An offering of fresh bread flanked the viands.
We followed this up by torture disguised as oven- roasted marrow filled bones. These were decadently delectable and oh so good.
We were almost speechless at the goodness, but thankfully next came Tongue en brioche. It almost looked like a pastry. It was tender, tasty, moist, and totally awesome.
And what would be gastronomical torture without a horse? Ask Sancho Panza (he used a mule?). The Horse Tartare finally loosened the lips of one of the diners to say "this is the best sandwich I ever had". I concurred and thus we had achieved full penance, after that confession.
A couple of other diners proceeded to the bread pudding, and I was told it was awesome. At long last the high priest presented us with the reckoning: a reasonably priced meal. We had expiated our hunger, and achieved sweet penance.
All you sinners out there, get thee to the Black Hoof. Salvation awaits!
Its not a five star but its certainly 4.5!
So I have decided to leave Yelp. Sorry guys, it was bound to happen. From now on, I will be eating my meals exclusively with Susan C. and she will be writing 'our' reviews on behalf of the both of us!!! Goddamn she really knows how to make my reviews look like donkey dick (a new Black Hoof menu item perhaps?).
This being said here is my review.
1) What Susan C. said.
2) Horse sammy -- probably the best thing ever.
3) It is only CASH or debit ONLY.
4) Need a visual tour of my visit? Try here: http://iambidong.blogs...
5) Fuck vegetarians.
That is all.
Listed in: My Favorite Spots in the T.Dot, Communal Dining!
I looooooved Black Hoof! I'm a meat girl and this was a perfect place to go. A friend brought me knowing how much I'd enjoy it. We arrived just after 6 and got a table right away. It was good timing because it filled up immediately after and they don't take reservations.
We split a small charcuterie board and it was such an amazing spread of meats. Duck mousse was delicious. MUST TRY the roasted bone marrow. I was freezing cold and this warmed me right up. Then ordered the suckling pig with turnips and sauteed dandelion leaves. Simply prepared but the flavours were bursting. Turnips were sweet which offset the dandelions. The pork was crispy but juicy. I was stuffed but very satisfied (even if I'm eating fruit and veggies for the rest of the weekend to make up for the amount of meat I had).
For what you get, it's good value for your money.
This place has been on the top of my list to try out and I got the chance recently to try the ever so hyped restaurant in the country (I think they were voted one of the top best new restaurants in Canada). After reading a lot of the reviews I thought the meats would be really really gamey but I didn't find that at all. Their menu was pretty short and simple which made it easy with the options...we tried the following:
Horse Meat
Tongue Brioche
Large Charcuterie
Lamb Belly
All were excellent, the Charcuterie seem to be the norm on the night I had went and it was a great way to sample a great variety of meats and pate. The lamb belly was excellent as it was very flavorful. The horse meat I found just ok, they make it in a style like a tartar so it was very hard to distinguish the actual taste of horse meat. The Tongue brioche was by far the best, you would expect tongue to be tough and gamey but it was very soft and succulent. Almost reminded us of really fatty Montreal smoked meat.
Overall the experience was worth it, it's not a place I would go every week but a place I would hit up every now and then to get my taste buds going. I will definitely be back to try the brunch at Hoof Cafe.
On a recent Saturday we dined at the Black Hoof with another foodie couple. We arrived at 6:30PM and we're seated immediately, the room filled up quickly after which the hostess managed a waiting list for tables, people waiting were mostly accommodated in the newly opened Hoof Cafe across the street.
The menu changes frequently and is written on a chalkboard on the wall. Service was friendly and efficient, our server was very knowledgeable about the menu items and answered several questions. Black Hoof describes itself as a charcuterie, as other reviews have pointed out this makes for a very meaty menu. We started with bread and olives and a large (10 item) charcuterie platter, which arrived promptly, the server carefully explained each of the items on the platter which were arranged in order from mildest to strongest. All were delicious. There were three pates, some delicate fatty pancetta and a very Catalan style selection of sausages mostly from iberico pigs.
For wine we had a Spanish Temprinillo off of a "bin end" wine list that went very well with the charcuterie.
We then ordered several items off the main dish side of the menu, Testina, scallops in bone marrow sauce, tongue sandwich, octopus with n'duja and pasta and seared foie gras. All 4 diners were sharing each dish and they were happy to facilitate with extra side plates. The octopus was tender but underwhelming and the pasta quite blah. The testina (a sort of terrine made by poaching all of the meat from a pig head) was delicate but a little bland, the tounge tender and tasty but the star dishes were the scallops and the foie.
More wine was in order and we found that they were serious about the "bin end" thing, our bottle had been the last they had so we switched to an Italian primitivo. We also ordered more food, another round of the scallops and the foie and a round of roasted marrow bones from the appetizer menu. Marrow bones are a bistro standard and these were a note perfect version although this dish is usually served with cornichons and parsley salad and these were found wanting here.
Service throughout was attentive and friendly without being cloying and at no time did we feel the slightest pressure to give up our table.
We finished with their only dessert, a goat milk panna cotta with cookie crumble that was really quite disappointing.
So to sum up, each diner had two appetizers and we shared 7 main dishes and one dessert, cocktails before dinner and three bottles of wine. Total bill for the table before tip was just under 100 each.
Dessert aside even the misses were decent and the hits were amazing.
One warning, Black Hoof does not take credit cards but they do take debit.
We splashed out and managed to run the bill up but one could also be a little more restrained in ordering, a couple ordering a single app and a single main each and one bottle of wine could easily dine for 50 dollars or less each and be very well fed.
We will be back.
The hoof is easily the most innovative cooking to come to Toronto this year.
Incredible charcuterie, delicious libations, and a convivial atmosphere.
A few words of caution...
1. if you follow any dietary rules, throw them out the window.
2. you might have to wait for a table, it is worth the wait.
2009 is winding down so we may very well be in the beginning stages of some new food trend already, but charcuterie is still making a big impression as it finds its way from town to town. And why not? It lends itself to using local goods and has a kind of fast-food version of slow-food thing going on. You don't need an expert chef working the stove, just some good knife skills and a love for flavor combinations and a space to get some curing and smoking done. I think there were maybe two pots in use while I had dinner at The Black Hoof, but the meal was worth twice as much as it ended up costing.
It's highly recommended that you begin with a cheese and charcuterie plate or two and while the horse sandwich was tempting I went with the tongue and have no regrets -- it was rather amazing. My date went with the scallops for the main course and I certainly understood the logic behind that -- it didn't fail to impress and despite what some might say, too much meat can be bad thing (in that you may feel unsure of whether you'll be able to make it out the door without assistance).
The wine selection was great -- found a new Canadian favorite in Fielding. The cocktails on the other hand, could use a little restraint in the amount of herbage that goes into them. Aside from that though, one of the best, most memorable meals I've had in some time.
Listed in: Toronto or Bust
Some points with which to preface this review:
1. I have a very limited budget.
2. I can only really afford to go out to eat once a week.
3. I have, in my 5 years thus-far in Toronto attempted to eat at as many places as possible, often to the exclusion of repeated trips to favorites.
4. I only discovered Black Hoof a month and a half ago.
5. I have been six times.
I'm pretty sure that this is not a unique situation, it really is just that fucking great. I have two friends with whom the sole topic of our mutual telephone conversations has been the next time we will meet up to go to the Hoof. The reasons are as follows:
1. The Raw Horse Sammy: This is the last thing I ate there, which is why it goes at the top of the list. If I had have written this review after any of the last 5 times, the number one spot would have been otherwise occupied. This sandwich,with it's admirably blunt appellation (fuck this 'Cheval' shit...you are eating Horsey, no flinching), is a wonderful, wonderfully messy pile of mild and tender horse tartar topped with red onions, capers and a raw egg yolk, perfectly prepped to burst over the warm Thuet bread the moment you sink your teeth (or knife) into the yellow bubble. If that made you feel Ill, skip to number two. If it made you salivate...make plans to go tomorrow.
2. Charcuterie and Cheese-Plates: I actually made myself stop ordering these after the fifth time here, but that alone is a massive anomaly for me (I am usually loathe to order the same thing twice even on familiar menus). The selection of meats is always interesting and broad enough to include at least one item that I am not sure about but is unusual, and one item that I wish I could have in shovelfuls. The cheese-plate is equally dependable and dependably varied, with the added bonus of awesome sauce pairings, most notably blues with delicious so-called pickled walnuts (I refuse to believe the walnuts are actually pickled, but they are awesome with blue cheese).
3. Jamon Iberico: This is the best ham in the world.
4. Pretty much everything else. All the entrees I have tried have been delicious, (share the Testina though, there is a limit to the amount of pig face one person can devour). The cocktails are imaginative and wonderful, the service is friendly, informed and fast, and the atmosphere is relaxed, with a wonderful touch of sustained, often communal excitement about the delicacies on everyone's plate.
My favorite place in Toronto.
Listed in: Favourite TO Bars
Dear Black Hoof,
It has been some time since I vacated Tawrana for the Big Apple and already the cravings for your comforting edibles have started to hit me like a flood as winter creeps forth. Granted I'm aware that NYC has a lot to offer in terms of gastronomical delights and exotic food adventures but will I ever find a suitable stand-in for my addiction to meat, salt and fat here? A casual yet happenin' enough place that takes me as I am in my slob uniform of flip flops, sweat pants and badly wrinkled graphic T's? Or a wonderful bar featuring a crafty mixologist by the name of Jen who makes slammin' cocktails depending on your choice of poison. Yea you know it, these of some of the reasons why I adore you so.
My SO scoffs at all the fuss I've made over you and mutters that I'm being melodramatic but pay no heed to him. I'm sure if he had a taste of your moist tongue sandwich spiked with tarragon mayo or your smokey, gorgeously fatty pork belly pastrami he would concede and relate.
How much do I adore you? I saved up my moolah and time during my last week up north to pay visit to you for my last dinner in Toronto. Armed with my good yelp friends Dale and Christine and my mother in-law in tow, we stormed your tiny establishment for a night of feasting and drinking. More specifically, I came back because I wanted to savour your charcuterie again and try your famed raw horse sammy. Needless to say, you did not disappoint our maws' as we tore into your charcuterie plate of pates, sausages and cured meat with the vigor of a defensive line. And the horse sammy-YES, it was every bit the sandwich of my dreams with its mind-blowing combination of diced raw horse, sliced onion, capers and hot sauce piled high on some rustic, crisp bread. The raw horse was a healthy crimson red and had a plush mouth feel not unlike tuna tartare. Outstanding. The egg yolk (a must for this dish) on top served to push this fantastic sammy further into the gastronomic stratosphere, enveloping the meat in a luxurious texture and binding the hodgepodge of flavours together. My MIL and I were politely fighting over the remnants of this dish at the end of the meal, narrowly staving off confrontation. I'm also pleased to report that you passed the MIL test, at the end of our gut-busting meal, the normally prim lady with the stoic reserve of a typical Scandinavian remarked brightly: "oh MY, that was a good meal!"
Alas, now we are miles apart and I am pinning and scheming for a return to the big smoke so I can enjoy your creative goods once again. When I boarded my flight out that fateful day, I pulled out the En Route magazine in front of my seat only to see your tongue on brioche sammich artfully and boldly displayed on the cover. Sadness! And now I hear that you are featuring pig's blood pasta and cherry-marrow beignets! Why do you tempt me so?! It may be months till we meet again!
Until then, keep on stuffin' and packin' the meat for me.
D
Listed in: Bistro's R US: Toronto's…
Still royally as awesome as ever and the place to go to if you're in the mood for cured meat and… Read more »
I finally made it to The Black Hoof and wasn't disappointed. I loved the food and atmosphere. We came right at 6pm when it opened for dinner and were lucky to get one of the few tables left. We had:
Tongue on Brioche - delicious and actually kind of reminded me of Montreal smoked meat. It came with purple mustard, couple of baby pickles and sauteed onions.
Beef Heart Frites - frites were fried string thin taro and the tongue was a bit tough but it is heart after all. The sauce gave it a good kick & was delicious with the heart. I am probably going to be lambasted by this but it tasted like a thick creamy version of Taco Bell's spicy sauce (my friend agreed so I don't feel like I'm completely off). The serving is large enough for 4 people to share.
Lamb Brain Ravioli - the ravioli was really lemon-y and it wasn't stuffed with a lot of brain so the lemon overwhelmed the dish. So I can't say that I really know what lamb brain tastes like but since I like lemon, I did enjoy the dish.
Foie Gras on Brioche - !!!!!! Melt in your mouth goodness. Best dish of the night. The foie was so delicious & full of flavour on its own, I ate it without the brioche.
The waitresses came by often to change our cutlery. It was nice that we were able to really taste all the dishes without having the different dishes' flavours mix together. My friend and I left complete stuffed since the dishes were so rich. We weren't even able to enjoy the apps at my friend's party that we went to afterwards (and we're both huge eaters).
It was lovely. Rubbing my belly lovely.
I'm about to announce the unprecedented: I went to Black Hoof last night. I'm a full-fledged vegetarian. I wonder if a vegetarian has ever set foot in the restaurant. You'd think I'd have no business going to a place like Black Hoof that specializes in horse meat, tongue, deer and other such meat. But the cocktails. OH THE COCKTAILS.
They're on regular rotation and are divided in columns - "white" vs "brown". My friend and I arrived at around 1am and quickly ordered "The Stinger", which is courvoisier and homemade mint syrup, as well as "Basil Faulty" - gin, orange blossom water, basil and lime. The drinks are made from scratch and take about 10 minutes apiece for everything to come together. I couldn't leave without trying a "Hot Date" - lavender infused gin, date syrup and lemon juice. Yummy!
Great mix of music, too, including songs by Kaiser Chiefs, Interpol and Guided By Voices.
Listed in: List Of Things For New Yorkers…, The Art Of Mixology &…
I'll second the comment about the Jamon Iberico, the softest, tastiest cured ham you may find. Not too salty, so much flavor, but, can I just say this, for $30, not quite enough.
We also went for a cheese plate and the olives and bread. Great flavors, each cheese served with it's own unique accompanying gelatin/mustard/etc. The olives were a beautiful flavor and texture. Should I use the word flavor again?
Had a decent 2005 Rioja for not bad $$--but it's stock LCBO stuff. You really need to pay decent coin for a good Rioja but I fall for them every time. I do wish that more restaurants would do what the owners of Terroni do, import your own unique collection of wines. Terroni does it and still offers great wine for a moderate price. I'm sure the Iberophiles at Black Hoof could find stuff that we will never see at the LCBO.
Loved the room... dark and warm. Good service. Wouldn't hurt to have a menu for the desserts (either on the wall or printed)--I couldn't hear our server at all when she tried to describe them--so no dessert. (Did I say that the place is busy and loud. Personally I like it that way.)
Anyway, Black Hoof is a great food experience, and not to be missed.
Upon my first visit to the Black Hoof my expectations were extremely high. Were they met? No...They were crushed! A note to vegetarians: This establishment is a carnivore's utopia, it should be renamed Jurassic Hoof, it is a meat lover orgy that will be the venue for my wedding ceremony.
My first experience was a special one. Upon arriving on a Thursday @ 8pm with 2 other patrons, we were told the wait would be 45min-1hr (no reservations). We waited around outside for 5 or so minutes before deciding that we should go somewhere else as we had a prior engagement to be ready for later that evening. Instead of just taking off I went in to inform the pretty hostess that we were going somewhere else and that I would for sure be back because I heard so much about this restaurant, she told me the best time to return would be Sunday and Monday evenings.
A few minutes later, depressed walking north on Claremont to College, the Hoofstess called me back to inform me 3 seats opened up at the bar and to hurry back if we were not too far! Needless to say we sprinted back and were seated right away. Extremely nice gesture from her considering there were people waiting around outside and the place was completely packed. As we sat down and the serotonin rushed around in my brain I knew it would be a meal to remember without having eaten yet.
We started with olives, bread and andouille spread. The spread was truly exceptional, we savored it throughout our entire meal and when one of the waiters tried to take it away from us when it was 80% finished he received extreme cut eye from all 3 of us followed with me screaming "NO!". He was startled but soon realized the power of the spread. In addition came a bowl of pickled vegetables such as artichoke, broccoflower, and pickles. The tartness of the contents of this bowl helped to cut and compliment a lot of the sweet and salty flavours that came ahead.
Our wooden plank of love, aka large charcuterie board was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life. The neatly laid out meat rested so gracefully in front of me I almost did not want to tamper with it, it looked so perfect and best of all it is mostly made in house changing daily. It consisted of: Guanciale (unsmoked Italian bacon, pig's cheek or jowls) - delicious, Duck Liver Mousse - 1st time for everything, nice spread in subtle portions, Foie Gras - delectably rich & silky smooth texture, Duck Prosciutto - typically darker and tougher than your avg prosciutto, my rule of thumb which never fails is any prosciutto is amazing prosciutto, Angus Sausage - darker and tougher meat, bold flavour, Venison Bresaola - air dried salted, deep woody flavour, there were a few more items on the board but towards the end of the waiter explaining the contents I had drifted off into a foodgasm. This charcuterie board was the most diverse and best tasting example of charcuterie I have had yet.
We had a follow up plank of sheer prosciutto. It was the same sized plank just covered with carefully shaved neatly trimmed layers of sciutto. This was a nice change for me because I am so used to Parma style sciutto and this was house made, so it had a distinct flavour that I can confidently claim I had never had before. The overall flavour had a hint of nuttiness to it and it was lighter in flavour compared to the sciutto I am used to which is very bold very salty. An additional large order or bread and olives accompanied this item.
Next we had the extremely critically acclaimed Raw Horse Sammy Sandwich. I knew this would be a knockout because everyone who previously told me to eat at the Hoof made sure I tried this sandwich. Even when I ordered it our waitress's eyes perked up and she smiled. I could tell in her heard she was thinking "These dudes are gonna lose it when they see/try this".
The sandwich arrives open faced on rye bread. One side has the rich, velvety, purplish/red meat mixed with onions, olive oil, some herbs topped with capers and an egg yolk. The other side has the signature hot sauce compliments of G-Mo, the Peruvian sous-chef. Ideally you want to spread the yolk all over the meat and get it right into and around the meat, this will prevent the yolk from dripping out of the sandwich when you eat it thus locking in all the love, and believe me, there's a whole lotta love. One of the major highlights of this sandwich for me is that I had never had anything like it before, the texture, taste and whole vibe of the sandwich was new to me, and as I sit here typing I am borderline losing it recounting this experience. Truly a magical dish worthy of its own restaurant.
I simply can not wait to go back to this restaurant. I have yet to try the duck confit sandwiches, cheeses, roasted bone marrow, tongue on brioche, deserts, wine, and daily delights. For the record I could care less about the décor because I don't take my eyes off the food.
Thurs-Mon 6pm-2am, Sun (midnight)
patio
cash/d
Best menu item ever-Raw horse meat sandwich with hot sauce. Need I say more?
The Black Hoof is fantastic. We had a selection of cured meats and pates (both made in house), olives, and cheeses with delicious accompaniments. Even the chutneys have meat in them-bacon jam anyone? I will definitely be returning for that horse meat sandwich...
Listed in: Top Restaurants
Nothing short of genius. One of the best meals I've ever had. Amazing service, delicious wines. The raw horse sandwich was tangy and delicious. We were a group of 8 and with that many you can order the whole menu. So we did and sat there all night eating. In the end the chef came out and we gave him a standing ovation. It was awesome.
If I had to choose only two things I could put in my mouth, I'd probably have to go with cured meat and red wine, though not necessarily in that order.
The Black Hoof has excellent selections of both, and it's open really late.
What more needs to be said? Dig it.
I came to the Black Hoof with my girlfriend after just wandering along Dundas West trying to decide where to eat. Any place that says "Charcuterie" on the awning immediately grabs my attention, so we thought we'd give it a try.
We split the crispy duck tongue salad and the large charcuterie place. I myself loved the duck tongue salad, but my girlfriend isn't quite as big a fan of mayonnaise, and the dressing had loads of it. The duck prosciutto in the salad was probably the tastiest of the meats we had that evening.
The charcuterie plate was also delicious, with rustic mustard to go with the variety of meats and a good sized plate of bread on which to sample these cured meats. It was all delicious, but left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.
It don't know if I'm cheap, or expect too much, but for $25, I think there should have been a bit more to the charcuterie dish. If it were priced at $20, then I think the quantity would have matched the price.
If I could, I'd give this place 3.5 stars, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt because of the atmosphere and service, both of which were top notch.
Toronto, ON
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Neighborhood: Queen Street West
Neighborhood: Greenwood-Coxwell
Toronto, ON
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