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Colborne Lane
Category: Restaurants Asian Fusion Asian Fusion [Edit]
45 Colborne StToronto, ON M5E 1E3
Neighbourhoods: St. Lawrence, Downtown Core
(416) 368-9009
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- 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
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
19 reviews for Colborne Lane
19 reviews in English
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Review from Imran N.
3/26/2011
Ahh the glory of the tasting menu.
Amazing food, interesting and well priced (10 courses for $110).
I actually heard about this restaurant while i was in New York and was embarrassed for not having been there.
Service was excellent and waiters were very accomodating (though my date swore that she had the opposite experience last time and it was simply because the waiter seemed to like me).
All in all, the tasting menu is the only way i would go at Colborne lane. It's playful, experementative and unqiue gastro food.
I ended up having 16 courses at this place (there's a story behind this but i'm not going to get into it) and after eating that much, i have to say that roughly 70% was an amazing hit and 30% was a terrible terrible miss.
But that being said, even the 30% miss was still interesting (really, olives with my nitrogen rock brownie sundae?).
It's an expensive place with the booze and food in the end, but don't expect to have your life changed. Instead, appreciate the creativity and uniqueness and it's a good time. Also, be prepared to eat for 2.5 hours like you do in europe :) -
Review from Anni L.
11/2/2011
One of the most culinary let downs that I've ever experienced in my whole life. So I made reservations on my friend's recommendation through open table for a Tuesday night and called them the day of to make sure that they received it. I also asked about sharing the tasting menu and they assured me it was not a problem.
So we arrive, were seated in a corner booth after they put our coats away. When I asked about the sharing the tasting menu, the waiter told me that this could not be done. I told them I didn't want that much food and that a friend of mine had shared the tasting menu at this restaurant. They simply would not accomodate and insisted that we both had to order the 8 course meal. I couldn't understand this situation as I noticed throughout the night three women at the table next to us eating the tasting menu as well. They simply could not make four portions instead of 5?! Even worse, they would not tell us what was on the menu and said that the Chef likes to make it a surprise. So we had to decide without knowing what we were going to order. Strike no.1.
The first course that came out was a salmon sashimi dish. Mine was not even well plated but the fish tasted fresh with a sheet of seaweed and some other egg roe garnishes. This was the best dish of the night.
The second course was a fried ball of goat cheese served with a bunch of different sauces and a few strands of watercress. I don't like goat cheese so I gave the cheese ball to my friend. Strike no. 2
The third course was a tom yum soup. A single large cooked shrimp, enoki mushrooms, served on a soft tofu slice, immersed with a broth that was extremely salty, and nothing "Tom Yum" about it. Doesn't anyone taste the food when its cooking to make sure that its edible?!Strike n. 3
The fourth dish was beet dish with a bunch of non-impressive sauces on the side. All the beets, although looking fresh, tasted all the same and were non-descript.
The fifth course was a halibut served over lentils and a small decorative potatoe mash. The fish was good but nothing else about this dish was spectacular. By then, I started to feel full so my eating pace slowed down quite a bit. Although I had not even finished half of my entre, they brought the next entre advising me that it was coming out and that I had no choice. What restaurant does that?! So I told them to put the dish on the table while i finished my halibut. Another strike.
The sixth course was a pork tenderloin. The consistency was good and flavor was fine. Again, nothing spectacular or amazing about this dish.
The seventh course was a lime jalapeno sherbet over top mango chutney and two slabs of sesame flavor cake, topped with freeze dried pinapple flavored meringue. It tasted very weird. Another strike.
The eight course was an ice cream that they made in front of you by pouring liquid nitrogen and cream into a metal bowl. It tasted like frozen yogourt and was served with some chocolate meringue crunch, and more beet jelly/beet sauce.
I must say everything about this experience food-wise was pretty mediocre. We asked for a glass of wine to be paired with the last dish and they brought us something that tasted like cheap table wine. I could taste the strong alchohol in it, which is not a great sign. Another strike.
The wait staff's tune seemed to change when my friend went to pay for the meal with an American Titanium card. I don't think that they should have been rude to us, unaccomodating to our request to share the tasting menu (when others have done so in the past) - we were so full by the end of the fifth course that I felt annoyed on not only this much food being imposed onto us and that we were rushed through each one, not to mention serving us cheap wine, along with the culinary hodge podge of ill-matched flavored foods. Granted it was a Tuesday and they were trying to make money, but all i have to say is that with this experience, I am definitely never going back, nor would I recommend this place to anyone else that i know. The ambiance was actually very nice - the decor impeccable and modern, but I don't care to pay close to $300 for poor service and food that is mediocre, if not un-edible at best.
Total disappointment. Totally overrated. and Totally NOT going back. After more than 3 strikes (6 strikes) you're out!!! -
Review from Mel U.
12/10/2010
Have you ever eaten somewhere and had the feeling as though your conversation was being overheard? That's how I felt about my dining experience -- as though somewhere, in the depths of the kitchen, someone with a listening device heard my remarks to "boring" or "just OK" or "this is not good." But there's more to that, of course. I'll just say, thankfully, that we didn't opt for the chef's "fantasy" 10-course... or whatever they termed it.
I ordered the squash soup, sashimi and risotto. The soup was delicious, albeit, I had a few tough pieces (perhaps, the frozen chunk leftovers) that I could barely chew through -- strange for a soup, right? But I was blown away by the combination of duck confit, Asian beer and maple. It was a brilliant dish and TASTY way to start the meal.
Being that the portions were called "small", I expected my salmon to fit its description. It was a GIANT piece of fish -- no complaints there -- other than, our waiter recommended (because of the smaller sizes) to select two apps and one entree, to which we humbly obliged. I did NOT like the consistency of the fish, as though it was smoked or something, but it was tough. I've certainly had salmon (and yes, raw) before, but I'm no fish connoisseur so I'm not certain of this, but I like salmon to melt in my mouth, not take me a handful of vigorous chews. Not to mention that the combination of ingredients left me feeling very meh. Of note: way too much ginger -- and if it was in fact, pickled, it didn't taste it. But as I'm eating, I'm internally telling myself, I'm going to be sick from eating this...
I was nearly full after that... so when the giant bowl of wild mushroom, marscapone and black truffle risotto came out, I knew I was screwed.
Boyfriend ordered the so-called "best thing on the menu" scallops (I could not try because of my shellfish allergy), but was bored by them as well. As he tries scallops from many restaurants, he mentioned there was no way these were his favorite or "the best." Let alone, even interesting. "Cooked perfect" though, he remarked.
And then, apparently, I was being punished for not finishing my plate. It was quite awkward, but every time another wait person, floor manager... whomever, came to our table to ask about our meal, I felt guilted to have another bite. I was also pointed out that "there are no to-go containers" which is fine. We were in a hotel, and I was the one who made the decision to spend $33 on a plate of rice. And it became increasingly more difficult to stomach with such an over-abundance of truffle oil. I'm not saying it's a BAD thing, just not that pleasant for me. To be fair, I was asked honestly if everything was OK, and I did not complain (it's just not in me, but perhaps I need to change that. That said, it's not like I could have eaten something else!).
Then, the waiter brought the boyfriend an extra plate and silverware to help me finish, AFTER he said he was full. And then... it was like, we were ignored. Like, I couldn't leave the table until I FINISHED MY PLATE! We waited another 15 minutes for his return to ask for the check. And as if our check wasn't high enough, he asked (again) for desserts (are you serious?! After I said I was too full and didn't finish my entree) and after-dinner drinks.
Quite frankly, I had high expectations of the food, based on both a write-up in a Toronto magazine and the recommendation of a food blogger. But just goes to show, that an expensive meal does not equate a GOOD meal ($33-$45 for entrees is pricey, so one should definitely expect quality). It's certainly not above us to pay $400 for a dinner... but it best be damn worth it. I would have much preferred another dinner at the Black Hoof.
Our waiter (Irish guy) was completely friendly -- in fact, he -- with the conscientious bartender and personable host -- made our visit worth it. But even if I lived in Toronto, its unique facade is not enough to coerce me into going back.Listed in: Taste of Toronto
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Review from Tina H.
1/20/2011
Everything tastes pretty good but nothing that is all that memorable that makes you say "wow" or want to come back.
Expensive, overpriced food. The wine was ok but I was expecting more from 5 oz. glass that was $17.
The microgreens had some fresh and yummy greens on them that gave them a unique flavour. Lamb was mediocre but cooked to perfection but didn't have any flavour that impressed me. Everything was pretty good but not for this price point. Espresso was good, except for the part I had to ask for sugar, but it was raw sugar that came in a cute holder, which made up for it.
The place looks very nice and fancy. Service is pretty good but it was interesting to see that absolutely no women were working there (from what I could see). A little fake pretentious and inattentive at times, but for the most part pretty good.
I wouldn't come here again. -
Review from Fishee F.
Toronto, ON
11/16/2010
Pretentious and cliche attempt at avant-garde / molecular gastronomy -- a near total waste of time and money.
Pros:
- smoked pork loin was very tasty and beautifully presented / plated - despite one of the pieces being a big piece of fat
- pretty much all of the dishes ordered were beautifully presented / plated
- nice decor
- food quality is top notch
Cons:
- Indifferent and superior wait staff, who seem as if it is a bother to serve the patronage
- Wait staff that had no clue how to properly pair wine with our food, their suggestions were completely off
- Automatic 18% gratuity, 4% of which goes to the owner, who never even bothered to show his face at our table of 8 (large spend)
- Prices have increased 33-50% since the restaurant opened in 2007, they are now out of line with reality, $16 for a small tepid bowl of soup?
- I suppose the 3 year old reviews that pop in front of your face on the website justify the price jump?
- The service was incredibly slow, there was a gap of nearly 60 minutes between our starters and our mains
- The portions are very small and relatively unsatisfying; order a minimum of three dishes for every two people
- We had to ask our server for bread, at which he seemed quite put off
- The dishes seem like the tired, old, and cliched attempts (luke warm poached eggs, liquid N, etc.) at molecular gastronomy you've seen on foodtv for the last 10 years, way to move the game forward
- Some dishes work well, others are a terrible combination of flavours that seem oddly miss-matched (the scallops were perfectly prepared but the flavourings were horrible together), and still others just plain bland or boring (the miso black cod)
7/8 of our party left disappointed - fueled by the minimal creativity and originality of the food and the apathetic hospitality. We left hungry and feeling ripped off, and not because we opposed to this type and cost of cuisine; but because it failed to deliver on everything that it is supposed to be. When spending $100+ per person, you should expect to feel welcome and appreciated, not like you're a bother.
I suppose, this is a very polarizing restaurant... you either really like it, or you do not; there is no middle ground. I applaude the effort for trying to raise the bar for dining in Toronto, it's too bad it doesn't live up to the hype.
A quote by the Caludio Aprile sums up his pretention and arrogance (albeit, this is in relation to Origin, not CL):
"If you can do a better job than me and my staff, then why aren't you doing it?"
Is he saying that one must be able to prepare food as well as or better than him in order to have an opinion? Wow. -
Review from LouLou L.
Toronto, ON
7/26/2010
Wow - for $400 for two people, you'd expect the tasting to be close to perfect. I don't have a problem spending this kind of money, however it better be worth it. Based on my experience, it was far from it.
Service - waiters have a very snotty attitude and don't really pay attention to the guests needs. If you ask them for a condiment, they forget to bring it OR you indicate that a menu item is not to your liking, etc...
Food - not much variety. Everything is on ice, using liquid nitrogen, which is extremely boring and was overdone in 4 of the 6 dishes. My tongue was so cold from all the ice! Portions were terrible and inconsistent. I ordered a scallop dish and received 1 mere scallop, where the guy next to me ordered the same thing and received 3. The salad came out wilted and the crisps were a bit stale.
Please don't waste your money at such a terrible restaurant. -
Review from Vanessa G.
Toronto, ON
10/21/2008 ROTD 8/28/2009
Oh my god. Is all I can say. The cuisine here is beyond words. Absolutely sensational and unlike anything I have ever had in my life.
To preface this, you will pay through your nose to eat here. However, in my opinion it is worth every penny.
Claudio Aprile is one of Canada's best chefs and he's well known throughout culinary circles the world over. He has a gift for gastronomic experimentation that never fails to please. I had everything from sirloin to scallops to squab to several different things prepared via liquid nitrogen. It was magnificent and a dining experience I will never forget
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we enjoyed the tasting menu which was 10 dishes long. I couldn't list off all the things we had but they were delicious. Everything had no less than 10 ingredients but the flavours were so interesting and dynamic I was always pleasantly surprised with the innovating pairings.
Our waiter was great - very knowledgeable and pleasant, always explaining in detail what we were about to eat (which was necessary as sometimes it was hard to tell). The best part of the meal was dessert - creme fraiche that when poured into liquid nitrogen (at our table!) turned into ice cream before our eyes! We were told to scoop some out of the bowl before it was whisked away and served with a delicious donut and melt in your mouth pieces of ginger toffee. It was most definitely the highlight.
If you are a foodie and live in the city - or are visiting - go here Our meal, with wine, was close to $500 after tip but it was worth it. Five stars, hands down, the best restaurant in the city. -
Review from ritchie c.
Toronto, ON
12/17/2009
Easily the most disappointing culinary experience of my life. With high expectations, my girlfriend and I were super excited to dine in such a highly regarded establishment only to leave feeling robbed, nauseous and hungry.
We both ordered the tasting menu, hoping to get the full experience and range of the Chef's abilities.
The most delicious dish served to us was the brioche at the very beginning of our meal (we ordered seconds). From there it steadily went downhill. Chef Aprile attempts to wow his customers with the use of liquid nitrogen at every opportunity instead of serving them a tasty, fulfilling meal. It's unfortunate because I'm sure some of you will read this and assume that I'm a closed minded gastronomical buffoon, incapable of appreciating such delicacies, but when your 5th course of a tasting menu is a bland beet salad incorporating foam and dehydrated "beet dirt", one can only be wondering "when am I going to be fed?".
My latest experience with molecular gastronomy was in Hong Kong at Alvin Leung's 'Bo Innovation' and even though he's ventured into the same shock and awe territory as Chef Aprile, I found myself blown away by the intricacies of his flavours, textures and often satisfying tapas. Things that sparked conversation and general excitement about the next dish and how the Chef would dazzle us.
At Colbourne lane I felt like I was just waiting for the ride to be over so I could leave.
It's a beautiful thing when food and art combine, creating something truly memorable. But when your food becomes an array of molecularly broken down ingredients, pretty little dots of puree with zero cohesiveness it just feels like you're doing those things for the sake of proving you can.
$450 (2 tastings, wine + tip) is pricey, but if it's worth it, it's worth it. In retrospect, a hotdog on Front would've made me happier.
PS. Our waiter was fantastic. Too bad we couldn't give HIM the whole bill. -
Review from Madhu R.
11/18/2009
Cute location in a (nice) alley in Downtown Toronto. The atmosphere is romantic, but not intimidatingly so. I loved the flavorful, fresh dishes which involved a variety of complimentary flavors. The vegetable tart had lightly braised cut veggies (carrots, beets, asparagus) in a mashed sweet potato base, all in a yummy crust. There were some glazes on the side which also added to the complex but natural flavors. Presentation here is great. A neighbouring table had smoking dishes (probably dry-ice) and seemed to be as excited as kids in Disneyland when the waiter brought each steaming treat by.
Wine was excellent. The only complaint I had was the cheescake which wasn't really a cheesecake, but a ribbon of goop on a plate with crumbled crust in mounds on the side. -
Review from john t.
Toronto, ON
5/24/2010
A new potential fave...but then at $350 for 2 its blooming well should be. Great bar and quite cosy dining space. The bar would be good place for a group for drinks. However on a Fri eve it was DEAD...wtf?? THen we understood why...the cocktails were not really that great. Flavours were off and too sweet ot another too sour.
Back to dindin and the meal was great. Wonderful tastes if a little sparse. I went home feeling a little underfed..and for $350 that should not be the case. -
Review from Whiskey L.
Toronto, ON
8/3/2009
Will definitely be back here again. Splendid service in a well designed space.
+ bonus points for the Tapas style menu. Recommended 3 dishes per person, which seems like the right amount to explore without leaving you too full.
- Minus points for miso glazed black cod. *yawn*
Recommend: The crispy wok squid had a completely different type of texture. A little bit chewy...but in a good way.
Reservations: Walk-in (no reservation required)
The Damage: ~$75pp, pre-tax,tip,drinks.
Extra-tidbit: The 10-course tasting menu clocks in at a very reasonable $99 and includes the infamous iced coffee bomb. CL is also one of the fewer restaurants in the city that offers a chef's table in the kitchen (seats ~6, 15-course set menu). -
Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2009 4 photos
I feel really conflicted about this review and my rating. I am going to break it down by pros and cons as I normally do, but there will also be another 'I don't know' section as well, and you can decide on your own how it all fits in.
+++PROS+++
1. It is a very unique dining experience, and you will likely have vivid memories of a few of the dishes' presentation
2. Staff is excellent, very knowledgeable
3. You can say you've had molecular gastronomy!
4. It is a neat conversation starter with people; I've already talked to all my coworkers about it as well as a couple of clients
---CONS---
1. It may have been an off-night, but there seemed to be a lot of dishes that contained creme fraiche. I am lactose intolerant, so I am very glad I downed a bottle of lactaid prior to dinner. This act likely prevented me from peeing out my ass.
2. A couple of dishes were just off. One was a beet dish (love beets) and it was just very bitter, I don't think the dehydrated beets worked in that dish. Another dish, the fois gras, wasn't really edible. It was a chunk of fois gras served on brioche with blueberry. The fois gras wasn't grilled or anything, it looked and tasted more like a pate. Neither of us could finish it (barely could taste it in small doses). I'm a fan of mystery meats and call the Black Hoof my second home, so I think this says something about this dish.
3. I don't really fit into a place like this. Even with a nice suit on a pretty lady at my side, it just didn't feel right. Maybe it's because I hate rich people?
4. The tasting menu online is nothing like what it is the night of. I don't know if they change it up often or not.
+-+I DON'T KNOWS-+-
1. We had the 10-course tasting menu. It was $109/pp.
2. The bill was over $300 with no alcohol. The water was $8 (note: opt for sparkling since it will cost the same as the flat, though it was Fiji)
3. The meal took nearly 3.5 hours from beginning to end.
4. I emailed Colborne Lane post-meal to tell them a couple of the dishes were off. I said I enjoyed the experience immensely but a few dishes were barely edible. I also mentioned about the difference in tasting menus as well. They responded and didn't really apologize or offer us incentive to come back.
Overall, for $300 without alcohol, I would expect a 5-star place. Colborne Lane gets 5/5 for the experience but only 3/5 on the food. I weight the food more heavily than the experience, so the overall rating is 3.5 (I rounded down to three, sorry).
A pictoral review of my meal can be found on my Facebook photo page at http://www.facebook.co.... -
Review from Michael U.
11/15/2009 22 photos
Full review with pictures in the blog - 10 course tasting highlights below:
All in all I'm of mixed feelings about "molecular gastronomy." While the best meal of my entire life was at Alinea and many consider El Buli to be the best restaurant in the world I have to say that I was largely unimpressed by Cantu's Moto and while the food of Jose Andres was good I imagine it would've been better using traditional cooking techniques. Planning out my visit to Toronto I'd heard good things about Colborne Lane and since I was visiting many decidedly "safe" choices during my visit I decided to give the local 'mg' outpost a try, it was particularly convenient that unlike many of Toronto's best they are open on Sundays. Additionally, at $109 for a ten course tasting the menu looked like a veritable bargain and on communication with the restaurant I found event coordinator Allie MacDonald quite pleasant and helpful.
Scallop - clotted coconut + sweet chili dressing + citrus fruit + nitro crème fraiche arrived next and proved to be the first "wow" moment of the evening. A single large scallop anchored this dish and was absolutely flawlessly prepared - caramelized on the outside, raw at the center, fresh and sweet as can be. Accompanying the scallop was a dollop of sweet and creamy coconut cream atop a pile of tangerines and grapefruit, dehydrated coconut foam flanking the dies, a sweet and mildly spicy dressing, and small balls of liquid nitrogen frozen crème fraiche. Despite using starkly contrasting flavors and textures this dish was absolutely brilliant and no component went overshadowed while each contributed to highlighting the quality of the scallop. Most impressive I found that the combination of the two forms of coconut plus the citrus fruits created a taste and mouth feel similar to a "floating island" meringue.
Kicking of the proteins was perhaps the best dish of the night and perhaps the best fish dish I've had outside of L20, Providence, and Guy Savoy in the past year. Titled East Coast Halibut - sweet potato + lychee + tomato and lime chutney + coconut broth the dish was presented as a flawless filet of fresh halibut topped with tomato/lyme chutney served over a smear of creamy cinnamon sweet potato puree. Again finished tableside, this time with the addition of a warm coconut and champagne broth I was immediately struck by the tenderness of the halibut flesh and the crispiness of the skin. Having become somewhat disenchanted with the homogenous sous vide texture propagated by Thomas Keller I quite appreciated the variance in texture.
Next up on the menu was another great dish, and this time featuring an item I'd never before tasted. Lamb Loin - cannelloni + quinoa + licorice yogurt + medjool date + borage at first seemed somewhat standard - well prepared lamb, a puree of sweet dates, chewy quinoa, and borage. The two things that separated this dish from average, however, were the dehydrated licorice and creamy licorice yogurt plus that incredible cannelloni stuffed with roasted lamb neck. Featuring a level of fattiness akin to foie gras, pork trotters, or sweetbreads the cannelloni was absolutely bursting with flavor and texture while the contents simply melted on the tongue releasing the very air of spring lamb.
Waiting only approximately 10 minutes while enjoying some Red Hot Chili Peppers and REM my server soon appeared with a true masterpiece of innovation - Foie Gras - orange + huckleberry + foie gras parfait + hot foie brioche. Featuring a generous portion of seared foie gras (perfectly cleaned) atop a split piece of grilled brioche accented with orange the dish was further embellished with dollops and streaks of orange and huckleberry puree, a hemisphere of foie/fruit parfait, and dehydrated almond butter with the overall "feel" of the plate being that of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Having had a dish remotely similar in the past I can say without doubt that this preparation was vastly more effective and the foie textures and flavors were beautifully complimented by the accoutrements - even the manner in which the dehydrated nut butter soaked up the juices from the foie seemed intentional and decadent.
An interesting restaurant to be sure. While some dishes were astounding others were merely good and it was as though someone thought that by adding "tricks" people would think them better. At $109 I have to admit the tasting was a bargain since I got the foie, but I personally feel that if you advertise ten courses the amuse and mignardise should not be counted in those ten - Keller doesn't do it, nor does Kinch, Cimarusti, or Gras - if you want to count it, don't call it an amuse when you serve it. While it might sound nitpicky, I really do believe that Colborne Lane has the potential to be the best restaurant in Toronto with a few modest refinements - the chef is clearly talented while the front of the house is attentive, witty and effective. -
Review from Justin B.
Etobicoke, ON
6/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
It was agreat culinary experience, the food was creative, the taste supreme and the service impecable. It was my son's bday and the perfect place to celebrate. Three of us had the tasting menu, and the fourth person the beef. However, let us make a suggestion to the Chef, pleaseeeee skip the almost raw egg served as one of the dishes, your food is tasty and tasteful and the egg lowered the total experince, having said that, we will return, but for us, no egg!
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Review from Kim A.
5/26/2009
Amazing. We went here based on a Fodor guide recommendation, and were blown away. It's a little pricy, but a great place if you're in the mood to splurge. The service is great, and the waitstaff is very friendly. Great special occassion place.
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Review from Rich T.
Toronto, ON
5/6/2010
Maybe I wasn't in a good food mood but this was a disappointment after all the buildup. Just got back from dinner here and it was alright. Menu is of the tasting fare (I think) so our group tried the risotto (mushy), halibut (bland), scallops (good), and steak (great). All in, for the price you're paying, you can get better elsewhere. What's worse, the beer selection is limited to 3, yes 3, can you believe that? Decor is standard new age modern and comfortable seating. Also, servers are fairly well informed so I would give that a plus. +ives: steak is melt in your mouth tender, great service -ives: not worth the money.
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Review from Joe N.
9/25/2009
When we sat, the waiter came and said, prepare for a 'wow' experience. He wasn't lying. I would give them 10 stars if I could, but the system only allow for 5. Amazing food (we let the waiter choose for us). Nice people, great service, wonderful decor. you wont be disappointed
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Review from Stella N.
Toronto, ON
7/29/2010
This is the worlds greatest restaurant. Alright, maybe not the WORLDS greatest, but it's the best one I've gone to so far. I went here for my birthday once and had the tasting menu. There were eight courses and they were all tiny, but in total they filled me up just fine. It was my first tasting menu so of course, after seeing the large plate with little food I eyed the waiter and asked, that's it? I was then proved wrong because by the time half of the menu was done, I was feeling full. Even over a year later, I can still remember the beef tenderloin I had melting in my mouth. It must have been one of the greatest food moments I have ever had. A few days ago I had my birthday at another restaurant with a fancy tasting menu. As I ate my food I couldn't help but remember how great it felt to eat such a wonderful thing. I have read an interview about the head chef, Claudio, and after that I knew it was an amazing place. It said that he was so hygienic in his kitchen. Only the best leaves for the salad, after a smoke the staff would brush their teeth, and the hand washing was almost done as often as breathing. Everything was 5 star. Food, service, scenario. Everything I ate in there I loved, and though I can't remember it all, I know I liked it all and would beg on my knees to go again. The service was great. They explain everything you are eating, and even though my parents didn't order the tasting menu (we called ahead to see if this was alright, and it was) they got to try some of the ice cream they made at the table. The waiter exclaimed, "You HAVE to try this" So I don't really remember what it was that we tried, but I know it was frozen, so cold that icy "steam" was rising from it. Now the scenario of the place was stunning. I remember when entering just gazing at the entire place. Everything seemed so... pretty. I still have the buisness card I snatched because I found it pretty. All in all, I love the place, and wish I could go back.
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Review from Jenny T.
Toronto, ON
7/24/2009 8 photos
I found this place through the Toronto Life magazine reviews. We decided to celebrate my daughter's 12th birthday here (splurge). I made reservations about a month ahead of time and confirmed that it would be alright for my daughter to get the tasting menu while my husband and I tried other items on the menu. When we ordered the tasting menu for my daughter, the waiter advised us that we would all need to have the tasting menu. I told him that this was not the case when I called to make the reservations and he took care of the situation immediately to my pleasure. The service was 5 stars plus. Let me share some back personal information to help you understand what I mean by "5 star service". I've been to restaurants that are pretty ordinary (i.e. Canyon Creek) where the staff acted as snooty as the shares owners might. I can guarantee that it was very obvious that I am not a regular patron of expensive restaurants (didn't need to try the wine before I accepted it). Yet the staff here was very warm, attentive, and seemed sincerely interested in making it an outstanding dining experience. The waiter treated my daughter as any other patron should be treated, carefully explaining each item he presented to her. When I called, the price quoted for the tasting menu was $120 and I don't like unexpected changes but my daughter's tasting menu was charged for $99 instead (yay!). Moving on to the food - my hubby and I shared 2 starters and 2 entrees. Our waiter suggested 2 starters per person plus and entrée but we were full with just what we ordered and trust me, my hubby can really eat. The prawn ceviche was amazing - especially since I like spicy food. The texture of the shrimp was perfect. The scallops were done just right and all sauces were superbly flavorful and almost like a mini journey. We had the miso glazed black cod + sesame panna cotta + green onion sauce + pistachio + puffed tapioca and it was so rich. Both the fish and panna cotta would melt in your mouth. The pistachio crumble really helped cut down the richness of both aforementioned items. The Beef tenderloin + slow & soft poached egg + chorizo + fondant potato + smoked salt + steak sauce jelly + Yukon gold potato puree was to die for. The meat was done as it should be done, the only way to be truly enjoyed. The flavor exploded with each bite. I will definitely return, even if it means dining out less often to be able to afford this. One thing to note - their wine was more than triple the cost.
