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Boehmer
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
93 Ossington AveToronto, ON M6J 2Z2
Neighbourhoods: Ossington Strip, Trinity Bellwoods, Beaconsfield Village
(416) 531-3800
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 1 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for Boehmer
Review Highlights
"The venison tartare was probably the best tartare I've had."
(in 5 reviews)
"The beet and goat cheese salad was delicious too."
(in 2 reviews)
"...from them and a large communal table in the central area to..."
(in 3 reviews)
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Ksenja T.
11/28/2011
While frolicking in the Queen west/Ossington area, I stumbled upon Boehmer and was immediately struck by their huge chandelier. We made a reservation for Saturday night, and chose the 9 pm seating. For its vibe and look, this place clearly deserves a 5/5. The crowd ranges, not too rowdy but it's not too quiet either. The chandelier continued to smitten me as did the overall wooden décor. We could see the kitchen from where we were seated, and it was cool to see the chefs in action.
I'm glad I got to try two of their cocktails, they were quite good. I got the tears of the bee and the dahlia. The tears of the bee was really refreshing and citrusy whereas the Dahlia came in this cute little glass and intoxicated me with lavender. Service was good. Our waitress was clumsy at times (think breaking your martini glass in front of you), but she was really graceful in fixing it.
I would highly suggest trying out their harvest platters. The portions are quite good and the quality was also excellent. We got three harvest platters: the smoked atlantic salmon, the chicken and duck terrine and the stilton cheese. When our harvest platter got there, we got chorizo sausage instead of the stilton and our waitress quickly brought over our cheese and did not charge for the chorizo (after all, it was their mistake but that chorizo was so good!) We also tried the beef tartar for an appetizer, and I would rate that a 3. It just didn't taste as fresh and the yolk on top did not add any flavour to it.
For our mains, I got the chicken fricasee and my bf the ribs. WOW at the portion of the ribs--massive!! And that's not an understatement. It was gigantic and came with beans. My chicken fricasee was really good, the skin was crispy and the baked potatoes were delicious. I didn't have room for dessert, perhaps next time! I would definitely come back. -
Review from Lee D.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2012
The food is decent but it's also on the pricey scale. The trouble though (as with Terroni on Queen) is the owners like to hire inexperienced servers and incompetent managers to oversee them. The service was initially attentive and courteous, but it's when there's an issue that a lack of experience and consideration shows.
It's so bloody loud at Boehmer (fabric on the 14 ft high ceiling would probably solve this), that I shifted to the side of my table to avoid the yelling match I was having with my dining partner in a half empty restaurant.
Apparently this move is a no-no so the manager sent a sheepish server over to ask me to move my seat. I moved immediately. But I later politely asked to speak to the manager about this to let him know the issue was with the sound volume and - long story short - the whole thing devolved (by way of his passive-agressive behaviour and my incredulousness) into him calling me a jerk when I couldn't wrap my head around his offer to seat us at a "quieter table" two tables away in the same giant echoing room. And all this after we'd finished our meal. Madness.
My attitude is simple: if restaurant owners don't care enough about their patrons to hire competent staff to serve them, I'm not interested in supporting their establishment. There are too many great spots in Toronto to deal with a mediocre experience. Especially a pricey one. -
Review from Cindy C.
Toronto, ON
12/25/2011
Beautiful decor on the Ossington strip, one of those boho-chique restaurants that definitely doesn't lack in character!
Went there to celebrate our holiday festivities. The food was good, not mindblowing. The service was a bit slow. The ambiance was relaxing and cozy.
For starters, we were famished, so three of us, in lieu of tradition, shared everything. We started with 3 little house complimentary AMUSE-BOUCHE, that was nice but the Melba toast seemed a bit chewed. Together, we ordered the BREAD AND BUTTER, yes, you had to pay 3 bucks for it!!!! It was good but not 3 dollars good. We also got the FRIES and BEET SALAD. The fried were great, they were large and juicy, like fries steaks!! Its funny, i just read a review where someone else got offended to asking for ketchup, i totally did and the waitress "forgot" my request. Ummm relax, fries and ketchup, matrimony of the skies above. The beet salad was definitely lacking, there were aye 4 pieces of beets in this salad. Amongst our hunger, we decided to share another appy, which we settled for the FOIE GRAS, which was delicious but on very thick bread, which took away the flavor and the value of the FOIE.
For our mains, since we did enjoy our sharing so much, we decided to share all our mains too. we ordered the CHICKEN (long name) it was sweet, quite tasty, so said their "signature that they've had on their menu since they started". Was good but not mind blowing. I ordered the RACK OF LAMB, I was underwhelmed by it, it was very generic and not memorable. The bed of carrot purée was much more memorable. What was really good actually, was the VENISON STEAK, this was cooked medium rare to perfection but it had a very meaty taste and thick texture that still melted in your mouth. Very dee-lish.
We passed on dessert, but overall, it was a good time with friends. The tables are big so it was hard to hear if you want an intimate dinner. The decor was trendy and well planned. The bathrooms were gorgeous and clean. The service was inconsistent, I wanted to give her. Good chance, she started out strong but ended very weak, we waited for her to come check on us, from getting our bill to paying... She was clearly more attentive to another table of 2 that picked the right bottle of wine - I hate that. A bit pretentious for me but overall the experience is like a 7/10. It's good to go try and a great place to go on a date or big group of friends, but in a few years, there is nothing to anchor its popularity. -
Review from Suan W.
12/16/2011 1 photo
Imagine Suany Pants and the most gorgeous man in the universe dining at an Anthropologie-looking restaurant that sounds like "boner". Are you erect yet? The food definitely penetrated my sweet spot - light and flavorful smoked chicken salad, mouth-watering foie gras and the most g-spot tickling dish of all...lobster thermidor!!! Succulent, texturally harmonious and sexy...this was hands-down the best dish I had during my week-long stay in Canada. The picture says it all: http://www.yelp.com/bi.... More Boner...I mean Boehmer, please!
The reason I'm only giving out a three-star rating is because our server was a total joykill. He never cracked a smile and didn't seem to care that our food took FOREVER to come out. In fact, it took so long that we didn't have time to order dessert and had to run out to the car because street parking ends at 12:00 AM in that neighborhood. I need to have my dessert or I'll get cranky! -
Review from Jennifer L.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2012
Food - Too pricey for what we got. The harvest platter (we had cheddar, smoked salmon and sausage) was good but nothing you could not put together yourself by visiting a good grocer. I had the pasta special of gnocchi (it was very mushy, is gnocchi suppose to be mushy??) and bitter greens. The trout with sweet potato and kale was good but not outstanding.
Service - cool reception. Got a dirty look for not ordering their "special" water. Jesus.
One more thing - the music was way to loud for a restaurant. Probably will not visit again due to price. -
Review from Diana D.
Etobicoke, ON
2/8/2012
Terrible service! Music was so loud my friends and I could not hear ourselves or the server. The manager poured wine in our glasses splashing everywhere and gave us attitude when asked about the specials. The saving grace is the decor and atmosphere but not enough to ever return again. Food was overpriced and average to say the least.
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Review from Magdalena R.
Toronto, ON
11/8/2011
You must begin with one of their marvelous cocktails before getting anything else. They are pretty, delicious, and strong; a happy trio.
Once you are ready to jump into the food, it is oh so good. Everything on the menu has that extra little something about it. When they place the delicious smelling art in front of you, you find yourself fighting the urge to destroy it in the name of your taste buds, or I at least tried. However, as always when I find myself in these bitter/sweet situations, the buds win and the next thing I know, the art piece in front of me has vanished. It is a little like a blackout with a faint memory of amazingness lingering in the background, and it is exactly what happened here; the taste of the food knocked me out. Now, you may be wondering how I can tell you about this foodelicious experience if I had blacked out; all I have to say in reply is: trust me, I'm a doctor.*
* I am not a doctor.**
**Unless we're talking about a self proclaimed food doctor, because I'm definitely that. -
Review from Kenny T.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Would this place have a draw if it weren't on Ossington? Hard to say. Great industrial space...can feel strange when it isn't busy though - much cooler with a crowd.
First time I went we sat at the big long table with a group of 10 - the bench is awkward if you are wearing skirts, but it is a cool spot for a big group - I wasn't overly impressed with the shared harvest plates / shared apps - kind of stingy - but boy was the bread amazing - I could have left satisfied after a bread and butter dinner - really nice crusty, salty with fresh butter... our mains were also good across the board.
The next few times I went back I sat at the bar - one of the key bar tenders is a bit of a jerk - seems pissed off all the time - cocktails are uninspired / basic...for instance, I ordered a dark & stormy and let's just say that it was not stormy... wouldn't rate it as a bar, except that there is space if you are meeting a crew before heading somewhere else...
Overall, I think Boehmer is cool, with an neat vibe when the crowd is there. Over priced but very well executed food - and worth a try, but not a jaw dropper...
hmm reading the above again...think it would struggle if it weren't on Ossington... -
Review from KL M.
Toronto, ON
11/20/2011
I remember the setting more than the food, and that's neither good nor bad. The food wasn't bad by any means - just not memorable. The setting, however, is very elegant and modern. High ceilings, industrial touches and interesting decor choices make it one of the more interesting restaurant settings in the city.
Therefore, Boehmer a nice place to meet up with friends or go on a date, just maybe not as a food destination. -
Review from Anthony L.
1/30/2012
the first round of cocktails my friend, my wife & i ordered were near-mind blowing: unique & creative yet still tasty & refreshing. however, the second round of american rye manhattans my fellow bar-worker partner-in-crime & i ordered were shaken to a watery solution & devoid of any depth or texture. we didn't have any main plates but the several appetizers we shared (the oysters & the venison tartare), while perfectly pleasant, weren't particularly flavorful or inventive. i'm not a pretentious foodie who requires innovation with my dishes, but with the character & facade this place very purposefully emits, you kind of expect it as it feels like they're trying pretty hard to prove something. the servers were super friendly (particularly the female asian 'tender) & i'd be remiss if i didn't mention the absolutely gorgeous decor. i'll have to stop by for dinner the next time i'm in TO.
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Review from Lauren M.
Agreed with Yvonne, this place was a solid 3.5 star for me.
We visited during Happy Hour (5:30-7:00pm Tuesday-Saturday). $5 pints of creemore, $4 bar rails and $6 house red and white wine, plus half price off all appetizers. (Oysters only $1.50 each during happy hour). You can't really go wrong.
The mix and match charcuterie plates they do are a sweet deal. 3 items for $15 or 6 choices for $29. Portions were generous. The chorizo and the venison sausage were tasty. The goat cheese with balsamic was a bit bland but not bad.
The decor in Boehmer is beautiful, lots of wood! The bar is particularly pleasant to sit at, very comfortable wide chairs.
The place is empty during happy hour and the server/bartenders were not overly friendly but they did their job.
Overall this place just feels kind of pretentious - I think it was a mix of both the staff and customers that made me feel this way.
I would go back though, for happy hour. Can't complain. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Updated - 9/14/2011 15 photos
Happy Hour! Oysters half price for $1.50 everyday can't really go wrong...
And all the starters are 50% off too... Vension Tartare for $9?! I tried the Mozzarella and Tomato salad ($9) which was awesome....
I wish Boehmer has a different bar menu with some sinfully deep fried fingering food to go with the drinks.. It is just too healthy to be eating salads during Happy Hour.... Yes Deep Fried Food is the way to go!Listed in: A Day in Ossington!, Happy Hours in GTA!, Oysters!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/3/2011
Boehmer.... I am going to be back soon!
Armed with a voucher for $50, I decide to drop by for dinner… Read more »
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Review from Eric L.
I came here for happy hour with a few friends and I was pleased with happy hour prices, but the menu would probably keep me away at other times. Fresh PEI oysters were only $1.50 each. Tiny plates of cheese and meat about $4-5 dollars each. $5 pints of Creemore and $6 glasses of house wine during this time. Basically double the price any other time.
The reason I wouldn't pay full price for this is because the food wasn't all that great for what they were trying to accomplish. I've had much better charcuterie, cheese, and oysters for the same price at other places (which shall rename nameless for fairness sake) and the waiters kept forgetting to bring us stuff. When you need to remind your waiter to bring stuff to you 3 times before you get it, it just drives me insane.
Would I come back for happy hour special if I was in the area, probably. Would I go out of my way, no? But if you are in the area, give it a shot. -
Review from Yvonne T.
Homer is a term in baseball which refers to a "base hit on which the batter scores a run" - more commonly known as a home run. If I were to use baseball terms to describe my experiences at Boëhmer, I would probably use the term - bunt. Why? Well a bunt just passes as a move in baseball that allows the batter to start running, but is not a real "hit" if you ask me. I've been to Boëhmer three times in the past year and I think, like a bunt, they are fooling us into believing that they will give their diners a run for their money.
Boëhmer is located on the increasingly popular Ossington Strip. You could easily miss it if you weren't looking at the actual numbers as signage is next to invisible (white letters displayed on the window - good luck trying to see that at night!)
It should be noted that those of you looking to dine on Parisian time should look elsewhere, as there is a 2 hour time limit per seating.
The space itself is very open, with a sparkling arborous chandelier hanging over its largest table. The bland white walls are adorned with canvas art from local artists and then printed fades to bring life to an otherwise sterile interior. Seating at the bar is available in addition to a private dining room and a lounge which are both tucked into their own nooks.
The prices at Boëhmer are quite grand with entrées ranging from $18-$36. Sides are on the light side, but an à la carte menu of sides are also available.
It should be noted that the menu on their website is outdated, and should be used as a reference guide to the types of dishes to expect. Even the cocktail list had been rewritten. I ordered a Pink Rain cocktail which was a rum-based drink with Campari, ginger, hibiscus syrup, pineapple and lime. I quite enjoyed this drink as it was refreshing, not overly sweetened, and the hints of ginger gave the drink a bit of a kick without being overpowering. The lime was subtle. My dining companion ordered a glass of 2009 Monte Velho which was a lighter red which he enjoyed with his main.A complimentary amuse-bouche of smoked sausage with Matzu apples was served which reminded me of Chinese sausage (Lap Cheong) with a bit of heat to it. The foie gras appetizer served with a bitter black currant reduction and Matzu apples was most disappointing. I love foie gras, and have tasted many mouth-watering, tongue-melting, buttery livers in my day - which was not the case at Boëhmer which served a rather dry and compact one. Mains were most disappointing. A wild boar, that was so tough and dry took strength and perseverance to cut through. At one point I just felt like eating it caveman-style with my hands and tearing into the beast with my teeth. The spaëtzle was note-worthy; it was light and fluffy and the braised cabbage was nice and tender. It gave my jaw a break. The Venison was so raw that I was about to wander into the nearby woods to see if a carcass was still lying around from a fresh kill. I am no stranger to game meats, but this was gamey. I will add though that both the jus in the dishes were flavourful. Our server was so unwelcoming that her name might as well have been Medusa with her stone-like indifference. It would be a cold day in hell before I would order what she recommended with her unconvincing demeanor.
Verdict:
Boëhmer is located in a hip and trendy neighbourhood. Its interior is nothing special as I can't count the amount of times I've walked into a restaurant that features wood as its theme. The service was terrible and the food was less than stellar although they aren't shy to charge you a pretty nickel for it.
I had a FabFind certificate in hand which had a $50 value to cushion the steep prices. With tax and tip our bill came to $158 for a shared appetizer, 2 entrées, 1 bar rail and a glass of wine. What we actually paid was $50 less than that, which would've rang in at a little shy of $100. And that's still pretty steep!
Will I be coming back? Me thinks not!Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge: The…, The more the merrier..., Classy ladies don't chug..., Cool places to eat at in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/29/2011
***1/2 Stars
I've been meaning to come to Boëhmer (pronounced B-ee-m-eh-r, like the way we pronounce… Read more »
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Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 5/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I was already a fan of Bohmer for dinner, and now that they added a Sunday brunch service, I had to try it.
Again, the food is delicious. Very fresh ingredients, classic preparation, and perfectly seasoned food. As you know from reading all of the reviews, Bohmer is an upscale restaurant with a small, pricy menu. The brunch menu continues that tradition. It contains classic items like a cheese omelet, eggs benny (which came on croissant! I had this and it was delicious. FAB peameal bacon!), farmers breakfast, pancakes, and a smoked salmon rosti that was also very delicious.
Brunch for two came to $50 (with coffees), so not cheap, but the food is spectacular.
This weekend will be their third brunch service, they don't take resos, and when we went, at 11am last Sunday, we were the only customers.
One comment - those chairs look very chic, but they are UNCOMFORTABLE. Replace them! Sitting on one of those for an hour is not good for anyone's back.Listed in: Ossington Village (Dundas and…, MEAT
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/5/2010
Wow. Bohmer really does it right. The decor is beautiful, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable,… Read more »
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Review from Dan H.
St John's, NL
9/17/2011
This place could be great. The decor is beautiful, the ambience lively and inviting, and maybe if we gave it another chance, we'd get to enjoy some of that - but that's not what happened.
Despite friendly service, it took 1 hour for our soup to come. And then it took another hour for our mains...and when they came, the three orders of the halibut were overcooked and tepid. Not worth the wait or the price. Apparently the lamb was excellent.
Yes, there were apologies and we were comped some wine, but in the end, I still had a $250 ( for 4) bill to pay.... so I will not go back. -
Review from Kent P.
3/19/2011 1 photo
Food was decent. Space was nice. Service - not great. Price- about 30% too high.
Sat at the bar and had some veal cheeks on mashed potatoes. My comrade had the salmon with lobster bisque on risotto. Both thought our meals were 3/5s in terms of enjoyability. Good - but nothing worth returning for $30+ a main.
Beers: they ONLY have Creemore. Huh? -
Review from Meems C.
Toronto, ON
6/16/2011
Pros: Nice space & service. Great location.
Cons: Not my 1st choice, but all the really good places in this nabe (and some of the soso ones) don't take reservations, and can't seat a group of 8 or more at the last minute/day of.... so my pals and I ended up here. Nice but nothing blew our socks off, but maybe that is because we're all spoiled rotten and do a lot of travelling? Big surprise was that even after 3 courses & wine (total into 4 digits for sure) when we mentioned that the 4 orders of bread pudding they sent to table were all cold, they sent out a round of nearly undrinkable port and proceeded to CHARGE US THE FULL PRICE of all these desserts, even though the kitchen made an error. Comping us the desserts would have cost them less than 5% of our bill but instead, they've lost 8 people as customers... interesting business approach.
For the price, there are a lot better choices in the city, and in the 'nabe. -
Review from Vivek S.
1/16/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Since my visit to NOPA in San Francisco, I've been dying to find a spot with a similar vibe in Toronto. I think I've found it. About halfway up the Ossington strip is the umlautted Böhmer restaurant. A former garage turned fine resto, it's spartan and stunning. Concrete floors, beautiful wood candeliers, touches of green vines in wine bottle sconces, all in a gorgeous cavernous space. Touches like the coat rack behind the host's desk are impressive in their simplicity. A communal table the length of a limousine bisects the dining hall, and I really dig how spaced out the tables are. It's loud in here, and I like that. My kind of atmosphere.
The menu is Napoleonic: short and impressive. In fact, the food options are easily dwarfed by their wines and cocktails. I started off with a Ginger Julep (Bombay and ginger liqueur) with fresh ginger and mint. Yes! So good. They also make their own water here. You heard me correctly. You'll be charged for an initial serving of bubbly or still water (if you want it), and it's unlimited thereafter. It tastes nice, but I'm not really sure how they "make" it.
Our meals were pretty damn good. We started off with a trio of tartares: venison, scallop, and salmon. The venison (topped with a quail egg) was tender and flavorful. The seafood was served in the passionfruit hulls. I'll admit the the salmon was so-so, but the scallop with it's marrow-like texture was buttery and smooth.
Mains were equally impressive. I scored the chicken fricasee which was gently fried chicken in savoury jus served with the most amazing mushrooms I have ever tasted. My DCs had the arctic char and roast duck. The char had a deep flavour to it, as though poached in brine, and the duck was meaty and rich -- almost like steak.
It was pretty much a flawless dinner experience. If I had to pick on one thing it was the mewling manner of service. Our server was more than bit cloying in his affectations: "I would like to bring some more water to your table, if that is all right with you," followed by some awkward wrist movements. It was weird, but whatever.
Yeah, it's pricy, but I can't wait to go back.
Obligatory Title Pun: The BOH-ld is so beautiful.
Menu Readability: Short, simple and to the point.
Need to mention: They have a cocktail "named after the winning 1856 democratic ticket James Buchanan and John C. Brechenridge." Yep.
What this place teaches me about myself: I will lift my ban on umlauts to dine at this spot.Listed in: Spendy, Spendy, Ossington Strip
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Review from Tina H.
This restaurant was absolutely delicious! Everything tasted divine. Service was friendly and attentive. The interior design and atmosphere was very awesome... some of the best I've seen in a restaurant (according to my style preferences of course).
They have a large communal table in the middle of the restaurant.
They make their own water in-house so for $2 per person you can have unlimited house-purified and -carbonated water.
The venison tartare was probably the best tartare I've had. It was perfect in every way.
The beet and goat cheese salad was delicious too.
The bison steak with chanterelles was delicious in every way. I loved it.
For dessert I had crème brûlée and it was amazing. Perfect in every way as well. They use real vanilla and you can see the specs in the crème. A nice shallow crème brûlée, not too deep like some places. Perfectly crispy and caramelized on top. The shortbread that came with it was equally good.
Tea was served in a nice cast iron teapot with a double walled glass. The fancy stuff. No skimping anywhere, it seems.
Overall, Boehmer seems to have impeccable quality and flavour. I love this place and definitely plan on going back.Listed in: My Favourite Food & Drink…
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Review from Sam C.
This is going to be a 3 Part Review:
Service: Spectacular, the hostess was very accommodating even when we were running late for our reservation (granted it was a Monday Night) and when we showed up we were greeted with a warm smile, had our jackets hung up and shown to our table. Our sever was equally impressive breaking all the norms and actually making an effort to have a real conversation. He was always attentive, not overly which I hate as well, and made sure we had a pleasant dining experience.
Atmosphere: Very modern chic, the restaurant is carved out of what looks to be an old warehouse and the kitchen is openly exposed with high ceilings and a lot of modern décor to lighten up the place. A lot of space, overall just a very open restaurant with a relaxed and no pretentious vibe.
Food: Solid, the menu supposedly changes periodically to cater to what's fresh and grown locally. On our night we tried the Venison Tartar as an appy, entrees we had the Sea Scallops, Bison Strip Loin, and a side of the lobster potato puree. Dessert we had the Vanilla Crème Brule. My only negative comment about the food was the sea scallops where we found it to be a bit salty and the scallops itself a bit sandy. At one point I think I ate a whole chunk of sea salt. Only one negative comment but overall the food was solid and the dessert was phenomenally executed.
This is a great restaurant for drinks or dinner and would highly recommend. -
Review from Luke S.
Updated - 2/2/2011
No, still does not do it for me.
The bartenders have to mount the bar in order to reach certain liquors which is not cool. This made me realize how the entire architecture is not thought through all that well, giving the place a bit of a cold feel. Like what you would get if you were to convert a long and narrow former garage into a restaurant, but inadvertently still retain the garage-y feel. And I can't relax and eat in a garage, never have been able to. And no, 50 Wishbone chairs won't make the place posh or sophisticated if paired with cheap tables.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/29/2010
This was a spontaneous decision. We walked by around 5.30p, Saturday, not having had dinner, and… Read more »
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Review from Kelly H.
Toronto, ON
7/28/2010
I have now been to Bohmer 3 times and each time was equally fabulous.
The service was excellent and it was so nice to be remembered and welcomed back each time I went by the various wait staff and management.
It is a very cool industrial space with amazing chandeliers. While they could cram people in, they most certainly don't allowing for a lot of space between the tables.
The vibe is very cool, the patrons a mix of wealthy older people and young, trendy and attractive groups.
Some notable dishes: the foie gras, the beet salad, the chicken, the veal cheek. I could live without the pickerel. Reasonable wine list.
I'm already excited to go back. -
Review from Matt M.
Toronto, ON
7/14/2011
Total let down. To be clear, I'm not the pickiest and leave a lot of room for error but this was a wholly underwhelming experience.
To their credit, when we offered our honest experience of our dining experience, the staff and chef went above and beyond to make things right.
Uninspired, bland, tired entrees at $40 on the Ossington strip just won't work for a restaurant. There are a dozen better options at half the price less than a block away. To be clear, it's not about the sticker price, but if your price point is set that high in this area then you're promising a unique dining experience. This was completely banal. I have literally eaten better steaks at diners. I have never had chewy duck before this night. Portion size was small and sides were boring and improperly prepared (chip truck fries and rock hard carrots).
The decor, while very beautiful and austere, creates a stark, cafeteria like room. Concrete floors and white walls makes for the antithesis of intimacy and yelling at the table to be heard (though the ambiance did improve when the lights were lowered). The odd selection of common office plants - all dying - puzzled me in a place featuring high end designer furniture.
Service was very kind for sure but also very slow and the kitchen was slow as well (again, puzzling as the restaurant was far from full).
I would love to see this restaurant come together and bring its A game. I hope Boehmer goes for dinner at Frank's kitchen, The Woodlot, Foxley's and Enoteca to see what the competition is executing so well for so much less. Unless they step up their game I fear Boehmer won't be around for long. The clientele seemed very 905, grey haired old money carry over from the Rosewater. That will only last so long.
Locals aren't impressed and that will sink the business. -
Review from The Vong Choice I.
Toronto, ON
6/22/2011
The trendy Ossington strip is home to many of my favourite restaurants including Foxley, Delux, Pizza Libretto and now Bohmers. This 5000 sq feet old open gallery-esque space is the newest project for chef Paul Bohmer formerly of the Rosewater Supper club. It has taken the chef/owner over a year for this project to become a reality as he was the last to put in his application for a liquor licence application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario before the Ossington bylaw to ban the development of new bars/restos was put in place.
The restaurant's modern decor from it's gorgeous antler inspired chandeliers with sparking Swarovski crystals dripping from them and a large communal table in the central area to smaller nooks where original paintings from Bohmer's late father hang as a tribute and a private dining area off to the back are things of pure beauty.The menu is focused on local fare and our waitress told us that our seasonal vegetable of the evening would be fiddleheads as they are in season. What funny veggies they are!
Delish meal, loud place, good for group -
Review from Tavis C.
Toronto, ON
8/24/2010
Hello, Ossington... I'm back. It's been a while. I see you've acquired some more urban hipster citizens. Haven't you reached capacity yet? That said, I gather you have a relatively new addition to the neighbourhood: Boehmer. With all of that lovely wood throughout the restaurant it certainly looks promising.
If you're looking for great preparations and an interesting room - not to a mention a dose of people watching - this is the spot. I started with the venison tartar, which was good (not great); however, the greens that came with it were superb.
My main course was one of the best plates of goodness I can recall consuming in recent memory. Rabbit saddle, stuffed with blood sausage, wrapped in bacon and then served on top of some blanched brussel sprouts tossed with roasted hazel nuts. Would I eat this every night if I could? Probably not. Would I suggest that you definitely consider breaking your "no bunnies for dinner" rule in the name of this dish? Absolutely. I would actually recommend going to Boehmer just to have this dish - although I gather the menu turns over with the seasons.
Capped off the evening with the profiteroles, which were good; but I thought the filling they used was Chapman's ice cream (note: there is a time and place for Chapman's, but it doesn't involve a $10 desert at a restaurant).
Overall, service was good. We were given an extra 45 minutes grace on our reservation window before we were asked to vacate - there are two sittings and we'd paid the bill, so it really was time for us to leave.
My only real criticisms of Boehmer are the bar and the wine list.
One of my guests ordered a greyhound, but they didn't have grapefruit juice available. I found this hard to believe at the time and am having an even harder time with it now that I see some of the other posts alluding to this place as having an above-average bar (it doesn't). However, instead of Pabst Blue Ribbon, they do have Victoria gin on the menu. Definitely a step in the right direction.
I thought the wine list was nothing to write home about. Simply OK (not enough of my preferred Ontario whites). Furthermore, some of the new world stuff on the list - e.g., the Kistler Pinot Noir - was marked up 15% beyond what I have seen it for at other restaurants in the city.
I'll definitely be back at some point before the end of the summer to give this place another go. If you go to Boehmer, I hope you enjoy it too. -
Review from Anna H.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2011
I really wanted to like it here. But: they are insanely loud. Louder than Libretto! No insulating surface on the ceiling, or anything -- my friend and me had to scream at each other all dinner, and eventually went to Lakeview for dessert. Drinks: great. (Vivek, you were right about the ginger cocktail!). Venison tartare: great! The famous mushroom chicken (or, fowl, as they call it) -- and now it comes -- was a real bummer. It was utterly undercooked and bloody and as if it was not enough, waaay too salty. Like, 200 grams of salt. (And I already feel bad for using too much salt). That for 27$, comrades. So we wrapped it up, tipped the pretty hatcheck girl, and went to have 5$ sundae at Lakeview.
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Review from Di C.
Toronto, ON
1/24/2010
The restaurant isn't open yet, but we got a sneak peek during a private party last week.... what a beautiful space! They are using wood furniture and fixtures from the Dressler Brothers, and all of that is fantastic.
The room is huge, which feels different from all of the other Ossington hot spots.
The highlights had to be the wood/crystal chandelier by the Dressler Brothers, and the bathroom. I literally got teary eyed, it was so nice.
The pitfalls? There seemed to be a gazillion security cameras. What are they expecting? And unfortunately, the cameras are all a dark grey/black, so they really stand out. The other odd thing.... the photos on the walls. They seem a little cheesy for a restaurant.... not sure what they're about!
I can't wait for them to finish and start seating people regularly, I'll want to be one of the first in line! -
Review from Ryan S.
Toronto, ON
4/3/2010
First off, here's a disclaimer. My wife has worked with and is friends with Chef Paul Boemer. That being said, I've loved his food since he was at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-On-The-Lake.
I loved this restaurant. It was one of the best meals I've had in quite some time. I started with the mushroom consomme, with was simple, but just plain amazing. However, it was the veal cheeks that were just amazing. I was in food heaven. It came with wild mushrooms and this amazing mashed potato, but, even though I love mushrooms, I could barely pay attention to them because the veal was just that good. I must say something about the dessert. I tried the Mexican chocolate dessert and I really did taste the chili's and spices in it. I hate to disagree with another Yelper, so I'll say that one of us got the anomaly. Since I know and like Paul, my bias points toward the me getting the norm. OK, I've gushed enough. All I can say is that I really badly want to go back.
The ambiance is really cool and there was quite the mix of people there. It did get a little loud, but I'm the guy who likes a really quiet place anyway. I wonder if it's a teacher thing. Anyway, Paul has done really well and I can see things just getting better as he really hits his stride.
Call it love at first bite...and second...and third...
You get the idea. -
Review from Tom G.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 3/29/2010
Ok... we were back again, this time with the partner's parents.
Confirmation on the food. Outstanding.
Scallops: one complaint... is that anise in the flavors... it was a bit overpowering.
Desert: bread pudding, I would say, once again, a superlative. Something they've done with the bread makes it almost like a mousse.
One note... the room gets loud. Which would be fine except a) the waiter attempts to describe desserts to us instead of handing us a menu (like they did the first time). Even I can't hear him.... b) we have seniors in tow ... #FAIL ... our bad partly, but they love the new stuff in T.O... fortunately ... waiter calls manager over based on minor complaint, manager effusively agrees to lower volume. Volume lowers.
And also on the + side, partner/architect agrees that room works better from this end (we were sat very close to the front). I dunno, architect should eat his food ;-) Hopefully architect does not read Yelp.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2010
Well, it's been a long while since I wrote a review but a few have been piling up and, since I have… Read more »
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Review from Emily F.
Toronto, ON
3/17/2010 1 photo
We stopped in last night because the architecture caught our eye. We ended up grabbing delicate and delicious drinks at the bar; the Winter Mojito is fabulous as is their refreshing Flowering Cucumber. We didn't stay for dinner (as we were craving pizza) but we will be back!
We spoke with the hostess (and owner, perhaps?) and she said that the resto is eco-inspired, with hearty recycled wood adorning the clean gallery lines. It's a very inspirational space, but doesn't feel haughty. Thanks for a welcoming experience, Boehmer! -
Review from Stephanie I.
Toronto, ON
12/18/2010
The scallop ap with lobster bisque was great, actually came with chunks of lobster! Everyone loved the beet salad - refreshing and yummy. Mains: steak frites was good and cooked to order. Artic char was ok but I would have liked a crispier skin. The sides with this sounded great but wasn't that amazing. It tasted greasy.
Apple tartin dessert was disappointing but the beautiful amaretto ice cream made up for it. I usually like a generous scoop of ice cream with my dessert and here it was small, especially when it was the star player in the dessert I could have used 2 scoops. -
Review from edwin h.
Scarborough, ON
9/20/2010
Boehmer is a terrific new boite in the very chic Ossington and Dundas area.
When you enter the vast yet inviting space, you are greeted by a very friendly hipster hostess. They've done wonderful job at making the vast space comfortable and inviting and are immediately struck by the vast root like chandeliers in the room.
Service was excellent, attentive, informative and friendly as well.
I cant say enough about the food. Every single dish we ordered was fan-freakin-tastic.
Not being a fan of raw meat, I did manage to have a good taste of the venison tartare. DELICIOUS!! perfectly seasoned, quail egg yolk on top all to spread over sturdy crostini.
Heirloom beet salad was scrumptious as well.
All the main dishes were excellent. Duck breast perfectly done to medium rare with just enough sauce to enhance the flavour but not too much to have the duck swimming in a gooey mess. WONDERFUL!
My friend had the Bugs Bunny which was equally delicious. ;-)
Dessert was terrific as well, tasty - save for one minor disappointment in the creme brulee which we found to be too runny.
All in all Boehmer's food was well executed, perfectly done, not overly complicated.
Highly recommended! -
Review from john t.
Toronto, ON
12/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
My current fave. Great all rounder and hip and fun. Whatelsedoyerwant??
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Review from Susan A.
Toronto, ON
3/20/2010
Went there for dinner tonight and it was alright. For the price, the dinner should have been better than that.
The evening got off to a good start. We entered the restaurant and ooohed and ahhed over the decor which was industrial, arty, and complemented by a dramatically high ceiling - the space's best asset (certainly not the chandeliers which resemble awkward antelope-tentacles). I was grateful that, for once, I was at a 'cool' restaurant that did not assault its diners with freakishly loud club or spa music. Also refreshing was the lack of hauteur. Receiving a warm reception in gorgeous digs gives me confidence in a place.
The wine prices by bottle were predictably overpriced. But of course. So, we settled on drinks and wines by the glass. The Flowering Cucumber cocktail (sparkling wine, elderflower essence, and cucumber) was overly sweet and tasted sweaty on the palate. The wines were excellent.
Appetizers were good. My Jerusalem Artichoke soup w/quail tasted more like a hearty corn chowder - but the quail drumstick was perfect. My husband's arctic char/rosti app met expectations, but he ended up leaving the overly briny salmon roe on the plate.
Mains were better, and generously portioned. My husband ordered rabbit saddle stuffed with blood sausage, and although the rabbit meat was served on the tough side, he raved about the sauce. The brussel sprouts accompaniment was fantastic - no easy feat in his opinion.
My scallop entree was also bathed in a delicious sauce, and the scallops were cooked well, but the dish was ruined by the bed of raw pea sprouts that sat like a garden in the middle of the plate. When I asked the server if they were intentionally undercooked, she checked with the kitchen and came back to inform me that they were 'flash fried' and supposed to be like that.
Really? My mistake, meaning instead of ASKING her, I should have TOLD her they were raw and sent it back. Instead, I left a couple stalks on the plate like a martyr. Tsk, tsk on me.
The dessert was another ambivalent experience. We were served a dense brick of good-tasting chocolate, instead of the mousse we were expecting. Moreover, the dessert was billed as a chocolate mousse infused with Mexican chilies. We couldn't tell. Not a hint of heat, or chili spice or flavoring could be detected. Hmph. Good dessert, but false advertising.
Notwithstanding the pea sprout and dessert incidents, the server tried her best - something I always appreciate. She answered all our questions patiently, if not accurately.
The final bill with taxes (but before tips), was $150 for two. For these prices, the dinner was good, but should have, and could have, been better. The place has only been open a week, so I'm hoping to return somewhere down the road when all these inconsistencies have been worked out and give it another try. -
Review from Beth F.
7/23/2010
Had a really good experience here the other night. I liked the decor and really liked the fact that the tables are spaced pretty far apart, which makes the place seem really relaxed even when it's pretty busy. I hate being crammed so close to other tables that I have to shimmy my way out to get to the bathroom. Anyway, our server was really knowledgeable and helpful. I was deciding between 2 different wines and he offered to give me tastes of both which was very nice. I started with the beet and goat cheese salad. Yum! Creamiest goat cheese I've ever had. I really dig that they use all fresh, local ingredients. I tried a bit of my friend's venison tar tare (which is way out of my normal comfort zone) and I actually liked it. For my main course I had the chicken fricassee....the portion was huge and came with peas, beans and a few other veggies. It was very tasty. The meat was slightly tough, but that's because it's a natural chicken that has actually run around a bit and not been pumped with hormones to fatten it up. We had an assortment of desserts, including profiteroles, a raspberry tart, a blueberry shortcake and some type of chocolate creme brûlée--which was my favorite since it was chocolaty and tasted slightly of alcohol. Way better than fruit. I left stuffed and happy.
