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Byzantium
Categories: Nightlife Bars Gay Bars Restaurants Canadian (New) Gay Bars, Canadian (New) [Edit]
499 Church StToronto, ON M4Y 2C6
Neighbourhoods: Church-Wellesley Village, Downtown Core
(416) 922-3859
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 5:30 pm - 12 am
Thu 5 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
13 reviews for Byzantium
13 reviews in English
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Review from Terry P.
8/9/2010
Byzantium is a trendy place to dine in the gay village. They have a HUGE martini menu (so many that it is divided into sections such as "sweet" and "tart"), which is highly appropriate given this area's appetite for cocktails.
The menu is very meat-based, and even features rarities such as ostrich and kangaroo. Being in a not-too-adventurous mood last night, I stuck with the baby back ribs, served with sweet potato strings and a salad of black beans and mango. The ribs were tasty and oh-so-tender, the "strings" (fries) were perfectly cooked, and the small salad was light and refreshing.
We had a great table next to the street, and our server was friendly and attentive. A great dinner! -
Review from Real B.
Toronto, ON
7/8/2011
More martinis (over 100 perhaps?) than you can shake a well coiffed, worked out gay at... ;) good natured service surprisingly.
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
8/29/2010
It was a really nice venue, but I wasn't a huge fan of the music this saturday. It was also quite crowed. A small dance floor, but plenty of space in the narrow bar are to mingle and meet people.
You can eat here too! However it was quite expensive ($15 for a pizza, or for a dip platter) The only thing that was afforadable was the fries (of different flavours and sweet potato with ailoi for $5.
What i did like was he variety and extnsive martini and cocktail menu. There are no prices, $9 - 11 .
The service was also quite good. Very prompt, and plates and glasses taken away in a timely manner. I didn't like that with our ten people group that immediate 17% (!!!) tip was automatically added onto our bill (ONTOP of the TAX) that was about $40 extra. Wow.
I'd come again for the drinks, but for the dancing, I'd take it to Crew/Tango. -
Review from Zack S.
Toronto, ON
Byzantium is one of those staples in its neighbourhood, where you can go from dinner into night club, and all you have to do is get out of your chair.
However, it is not the club reason that I go to Byzanitum, or the fact that they have a zillion type of Martini's (their specialty,... and I drink beer).
It is their Steak. If you like steak frites, then this is the place to go. The service is great, and during the summer they have a very nice patio in the back.
The steak, and I always get mine the same way each time, medium rare, with bearnaise sause, is delicious. Not to mention the aole mayo for the frites is great!
In fact, I like to eat it so often, while watching tv, I just get the steak to go. Only thing is, it's a bit pricey at $27 for it...
Just again:
Great service, and atmosphere
Got the drinks / club if you need it
It's more than that, it's a nice restaurant
Have the steak frites. Mmmm. -
Review from Tina H.
5/4/2010
Nice place. A tad pricey but if you want to be swanky on Church Street then you have to pay the price. Service isn't that great, and they run off with your change assuming/hoping that it's all a tip. Not cool.
Great music, good drinks. I think it's a good spot to go if you're feeling a tad classier than Woody's, Slack's or the attempt at class Voglie and don't mind spending a lot (intentionally or not since they can "forget" to give you your change).
Food is decent. I don't think I'd recommend going for dinner here, just drinks. -
Review from Kimmy B.
East York, ON
5/1/2009
I have been to Byzantium many times, both for dinner and just for drinks, and by that I mean martinis! (of which I believe they have a martini list 4 pages or so long, so you'll definitely find something you like or would like to try!!)
Everytime I've eaten here I've been pleased! I usually order the Caprese salad which is always delicious, but also have the luck of trying my guest's salad or soup. One time it was my mom's butternut squash soup with a hint of cinnamon, and I loved it so much, I almost ordered a second appetizer! Another time it was a goat cheese salad with a sesame vinaigrette dressing, yummy too!
The entrées are challenging for me cuz I don't eat red meat or wild game or fuzzy creatures...I'm a chicken or fish kinda girl. Problem with Byzantium for me is the creativity of their entrée section, you'll often see things like quail, and ostrich (a customer favorite), rabbit, and I remember boar being on there once, don't know if it was wild or not? Good thing is they'll always have one fish special and a pasta special, and they have one chicken dish on the menu. So I usually go for the fish. One time it was tilapia, but the time I died was the halibut, pan-seared to perfection and asparagus on the side. Each flaky flavorful bite was heaven. I remember my girlfriend having beef medallions, so I didn't share, but she thought they were divine!!
Not to be undersold by dessert!!! My absolute favorite: crème brûlée! And not just one but a trio of them, yum-o! A traditional, a banana flavored, and a hazelnut flavored!! I say again, YUM-O!!!
In my opinion, you get what you pay for, Byzantium is expensive, but the food quality is awesome! Martinis are yummy! Service is polite and courteous. This IS my favorite place to dine!! -
Review from Kevin F.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 6/23/2010
When Il Fornello closed down the only equivalent on the street in regards to food, service and atmosphere was Byzantium. I gave it a three star review because I thought it fell short when I compared the two. I've been frequenting this restaurant lately and I have to give this place an updated review; it's really become a great restaurant on Church St.
My stance on the menu still stands, it's a tad adventurous with the random meat selections (sorry, Ostrich just isn't an animal I'd like to eat) but they've updated it to appeal to those less adventurous, including new dishes like the curry chicken pasta and the beef tenderloin.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/12/2009
Byzantium is more of a Martini Bar. They have an extensive martini menu that I am single handedly… Read more »
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Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2008
Do you like martini's? Me too.
Byzantium is a Church St. staple. Its impossibly thin and long. One half is a dining room for dinner only (I think), the other is just one super long bar with seats and a whole bunch of hot, traditional bartenders. It's like Cocktail on steroids here.
It gets pretty packed at night, and leans more to the boy crowd. 25 and up but there's the odd younger bean in the bunch. They have local DJs like Dekoze spin and the bartenders can literally make anything.
On the weekends, it's the perfect place to meet up with friends for a few 'tini's before heading out dancing. -
Review from LouLou L.
Toronto, ON
7/26/2010
Byzantium served great fish - the ingredients were very fresh. The ribs are definitely home-made, but could be crispier. Calamari was quite good, along with the yam chips. Mussels could have had more taste.
Great winelist. Didn't try the martinis.
Service was average. All-in-all, the restaurant was pretty good. Didn't try the patio in the back, but it looked cozy.
Would go back to try other items. -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
10/4/2008
According to people in the know, Byzantium is a Church Street staple and where all the cool kids congregate. At night, the storefront is barely recognizable and darkness cloaks the grime. Lights shine brightly, luring potential customers and long-standing patrons alike.
Byzantium is separated into two parts: lounge and restaurant. Delicious martinis keep the lounge full. The restaurant, with its tempting and extensive menu, keeps the would-be hungry sated.
Word to the wise, towards the end of the night, it becomes harder and harder to flad down the staff. -
Review from Tara Z.
11/15/2010
Excellent food, with a good selection of exotic meats (ostrich, kangaroo). I'd never paid much attention to the dinner menu--I've usually visited Byzantium for pre-club drinking, thanks to the extensive martini menu--but the food is sophisticated and well presented. Get there early, though--after about 11, they clear the tables in the front room to make a dance floor.
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Review from Peter D.
Toronto, ON
4/4/2010
Great place to be seen, a Church St establishment. Drinks are rather pricey but live DJ spinning some great tracks helps add to environment. Generally prettier people get served much faster. Only complaint , being there for dinner and drinks is that music is EXCEPTIONALLY loud for such a small space, making conversation very challenging at times. (hint please to owners). Excellent design and layout, big recommendation.
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Review from John G.
East York, ON
5/6/2009
My visits here are mainly to dine, as I have found the long bar clients quite unfriendly and the bar-tenders even more so. Not a place to meet or even talk to anybody.
Food however is quite different. Adequate menu with some interesting twists i.e. bison. Sit close to street windows, which open in summer, to people watch. Service is professional.
