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DT Bistro-Patisserie
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants French Coffee & Tea, French
154 Harbord StreetToronto, ON M5S 1H2
(416) 916-8155
- Hours:
Wed-Thu 10 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
38 reviews for DT Bistro-Patisserie
Review Highlights
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"...is divine, as is the dill-scrambled eggs with smoked salmon." In 4 reviews -
"The sourness of the passion fruit was so intense but tangy..." In 3 reviews -
"The chocolate cake was light and chocolately, but a little..." In 3 reviews
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38 reviews in English
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Review from Angela L.
11/4/2011 2 photos
I've been a fan of Dessert Trends for years now and haven't been able to switch to calling it by it's new streamlined "DT Bistro" name. Call it whatever you want though, this place has always been great. It would be unfathomable for anyone to not get the hint from their name and the consistently spectacular front entrance display case that their specialty is in desserts, but it must be noted that their savoury dishes are also amazing.
One of my fondest meal memories from DT features a snow crab quiche that was featured on their seasonal menu. The flaky pastry and rich, flavourful filling still haunts me in my foodie daydreams years later.
My most recent lunchtime visit there was to celebrate a friend's birthday. My deconstructed beef short rib pie was served with scrumptiously juicy sauteed mushrooms. My guest of honour's calamari seaweed salad was reported to be a perfect balance of flavours. As always, it took a while for us to finalize our decisions for dessert, but it was all well worth saving room for. -
Review from Stefanie L.
Markham, ON
3/3/2012
I actually went here in September for brunch. I got the French Toast, which was pretty fantastic. It was very sweet, just the way I like it. The strawberries were really good too.
For dessert I got the chocolate cake which was just kinda "meh" in my opinion. I mean, anything chocolate has to be good, but I've had some pretty amazing flourless chocolate cakes before and this one just didn't compare.
The bigger issue I had with this place was the abundance of bees flying around. I am absolutely TERRIFIED of any kind of bee/hornet/wasp and I swear this restaurant was like their nesting place. They flew in through the windows and were hovering around all of our food. One even landed in some honey and got stuck. One also went into my drink. For this reason alone I don't think I can return in the summer. Just a warning to all my fellow bee-haters out there. -
Review from Michy M.
York, ON
1/7/2012
I was amazed by the poor customer service that I encountered when I attempted to arrange an appointment for a wedding cake tasting. I contacted Dessert Trends in August 2011, but was told that I would have to wait until mid-October to have the tasting because they were "too busy" to meet with me during wedding season. So I set up a tentative date in October and we agreed to confirm the appointment a week before-hand. A week prior to the appointment I had not received the confirmation email. So I waited for a few more days and contacted them to confirm the date and time.
The day before the appointment I was told that everything was arranged for the cake tasting and that I should call Chef Don the following morning. I was given Chef Don's cell number which I promptly called in the morning. The phone was off and I left one or two messages, however no one called me back and no one followed up via email to explain what happened.
Needless to say, if Chef Don and his staff cannot even keep a simple appointment for a cake testing (and do not return phone calls), I certainly would not trust them with being able to handle baking and delivering my wedding. It was definitely a very disappointing experience because they had been highly recommended to us. -
Review from Nicole C.
10/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I only get dragged here because I continue to fail at getting my friend to try anything new.
So I've been to DT about 5 times in total and I continue to be ho-hummed with their menu but always satisfied with their desert selection (they are a patisserie after all you would expect no less then yumminess in this area).
Get anything - ANYTHING with apple in it. ANYTHING. Seriously, I'm not sure what they do to the apple deserts to make them taste so delicious but I'm pretty sure it involves the head baker massaging the apples lovingly, rubbing them down with a luxurious sheep skin cloth, sprinkling gold dust and fairy tears on them, peeling them while singing lullabies and then while they're nice and lulled into comfortable bliss - baking them into some sort of tart while they least expect it. -
Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
So... let's start out with what I actually liked. My boyfriend's Potato Pancake with Smoked Salmon - with sour cream and a side salad ($16) was quite tasty. When it was served, I was a bit disappointed since I was expecting a crispy latke-like potato pancake. However, I actually really enjoyed the chewy texture of it and it was seasoned quite nicely.
Now, for the bad. My Chorizo and Egg Skillet - baked with potatoes, chorizo sausage, bell peppers with a side salad ($16) wasn't very impressive. It would've been better if the eggs were still runny. Instead, they had a very plastic-like exterior. I'm not sure if this is what eggs are like when they've been baked, but it wasn't appetizing at all. Everything else was just... underwhelming. And the most disappointing part? Spending $16 on that...
I should've learned my lesson, but I was tempted by these chocolate and espresso cookies they had in the display case as we were leaving. I asked for one, thinking it couldn't cost more than a couple bucks. The cashier rang it in, and it cost me $5.09! For a cookie! Which wasn't that great, by the way. Really should've asked for the price first. But like my mom always says - if you have to ask, you can't afford it.Listed in: Once was enough....
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Review from Shael K.
Richmond Hill, ON
8/3/2011
My friends and I made a 40 minute walking detour to try the the desserts here based on my friend's recommendation who had been there a few years back. Well, it turns out the walk was worth it. Although the desserts looked amazing, we all ended up getting the ice cream. All the unique flavours are what really made this place stick out. I had the Champagne Grapefruit (which apparently measures in at about 5% alcohol!), Blueberry Cassis, and Guiness (yup, as in the beer)! All excellent. They also had Durian (the Southeast Asian fruit that smells like rotting meat), Pina Colada, and Almond Butter, to name a few others.
Another reason for bringing me to rate this place was the service. Not only did they let us sample as many flavours as we wanted, they even seemed to encourage it!
All in all it was a great experience, and don't let the size of the bowls mislead you - they give you about twice as much ice cream as the bowl can handle... -
Review from Miranda B.
Toronto, ON
6/29/2011
I've been here twice and didn't have a bad experience either time. Reading these "unprofessional" reviews you have to sort out the naivete from the foodies. (eg: the girl who was upset that they have different rooms for dessert and dinner...have you ever been to Paris???)
Both times I went for brunch and I was WOW'd. GREAT service, GREAT food, GREAT drinks.
I plan on going for dinner and will get a better idea of their evening atmosphere.
But if you are looking for a good place for brunch in the Annex, give this place a try. It is well worth it. -
Review from Ellie A.
4/8/2011
I've been to Dessert Trends a few times and the experience has been uneven. Brunch is rich and tasty, heavier than necessary but delicious nonetheless. Desserts are...well...a little disappointing on the whole.
My husband said it best when I asked him to compose a review: "When I go for dessert, I'm looking for layers of flavour and some surprise. This was exactly what I might have expected, but nothing special." My heart sings for his food snobbery. I clearly married the right guy. And I have to agree with him. The chocolate cake was light and chocolately, but a little flat. It had none of the ooziness that you'd expect from a flourless cake. Quoth my husband, "Where were the little explosions of joy?" (He got a little carried away, no?) My merlot poached pear tart was nice but also nothing that special.
And service is always slow here.
Go for brunch, skip the dessert? -
Review from Laura P.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2011 2 photos
Needing something delicious to help us forget about a lousy dinner experience, my friend and I were searching for a place where we could just have dessert. Fortunately, this was the only "dessert" place I could think of. While it appears they also serve dinner (never had it), their desserts are probably what will bring me back.
We walked in about 10 minutes before closing (I know, I know, it's inconsiderate), but the servers greeted us politely and said we could absolutely stay for dessert. One server even patiently stood with us and described the desserts in the window while we tried to choose just two.
Eventually, we picked the flourless chocolate cake (for the celiac) and the tiramisu in a chocolate bowl. Two glasses of sparkling wine later, our evening was saved. Both desserts were fabulous. The chocolate cake was a deep chocolate, and had a great, gooey texture. The tiramisu was more of a mousse, with a subtle orangey flavour mixed in with the traditional espresso taste. Both were served with berry compote (I think mosly blueberries) and what tasted like a passion fruit creme anglaise, it was the perfect end to our night.
(two desserts and two glasses of bubbles= ~$40 including tax and tip) -
Review from jocelyn l.
4/16/2011
Discovered Harbord street via recommendations by friends, and DT Bistro seemed popular with Yelpers, so i decided to give it a try.
I really wanted to try the Snow Crab Ricotta Quiche, but it wasn't on the menu today; SADNESS.
But i was curious about the Lemon Shrimp Crepes, so i gave that a whirl.
It was very tasty, albeit a little greasy.
The crepes were stuffed with asiago cheese, shrimps in a bechamel sauce with charred asparagus and onions on the crepes. Taste-wise, so yummy.
I also tried the Goat Cheese Cheesecake with figs. Very subtle and quite good. It was just a tad dry, but flavor-wise, it was good.
Would love to come back and try other brunch dishes as well. -
Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
2/17/2011
I ate here. & didn't have dessert. Is that a shocker? Believe me, I'll be back for some of the decadent treats on display when you first walk in.
I was here for a birthday luncheon. We didn't intend for this to be our final resting spot but after discovering Harbord House was closed for the day to redo their flooring, we continued in a hungry stupor down the street.
& let me tell you: it was pretty delicious. I was in a brunch-y place, even though it was close to 3pm. I originally ordered ricotta pancakes but was told after a few minutes that they had just run out of ricotta. Instead of 'regular' pancakes (no way, suckers!) I ordered this coconut waffle dish instead. Oh my. Oh yum. HANDS OFF.
Service was a little on the slow side, but I think the server was covering the whole place & if that was the case - she was doing the best she could since it was rather hopping - even for Valentine's Day. It was also a little pricier than I would have preferred - they didn't have a spanning range of $$ choice.
A nice gesture: Given an order of pancakes with extra berry compote to 'make up' for the no ricotta. Very maple-soaked & delicious.
I'm saving future stars for trying out the desserts + coffees. You might think that makes me stingy but I have to make every star count. -
Review from Soren M.
Vancouver, BC
4/9/2011
Do NOT go to DT Bistro because they will transform your perception of dessert beyond recognition, so bad that you would never like the dessert anywhere else.
I refuse to recommend anything. You'll be mind-***ed when you see the line-up....
Warning: quite pricey and addictive! -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
7/26/2010 5 photos
PERFECT night for DT Bistro to have all their doorway to the street open as we arrived closer to 9:00 pm and saw 1 table of patron and was greeted shortly by a server. He explained to us the display case was down but the offerings are still there in the tall fridge next to the display.
He also explained that their GELATO are made without any additives and offered to give out samples and sample we did. I personally was given the Mango Cream but then I was curious towards the Salted Caramel but changed back to the Mango Cream after tasting the Salted Caramel.
The Mango Cream($3.50/small) tasted just like Mango and even had a tiny bit of acidity to it that gave it that Mango taste. It could definitely be an excellent palate cleanser between courses. It had what I believe to be a DRIED blood orange slice on top as a garnish.
Desserts($7.50-$8.00) reviews as follows:
Strawberry/Mango/Panna Cotta - I like the Mango Panna Cotta combination as it is common to have a Mango and Cream go well together. I like the Strawberry Panna Cotta combo as well because who doesn't like Strawberry and Cream. However when all three combined, I'm not sure if the Mango goes that well with the Strawberry.
Blueberry(?) Cheesecake - Cheesecake texture and flavour was spot-on but unfortunately I cannot call myself a Cheesecake connoisseur at the moment so I'm A-OK with this for now.
Chocolate Ganache Paramid - Smooth Chocolate Ganache that I'm a FAN of. What more can I say?? Maybe just to say if I was a Chocolate Addict, this would be my choice within this district.
Chocolate Mousse w/Macaron - Mousse was smooth and creamy with a HINT of something I sadly could not pick out. As there was a UYE Macaron Event I could not attend, I wanted to try a Macaron for myself and it was A-OK.
As 10:00pm came by we were given INDICATION(Lights) that the shop was closing and we asked and the server said when there's little business it will close earlier than 11:00pm but told as after that we were okay to stay a bit longer. It was fortunate as a few more patrons came in and chatted with them and purchased some Gelato. BTW, I give full marks for the service tonight.Listed in: 4+ ****Stars****, Desserts - Western, En Français
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Review from Farheen K.
Toronto, ON
8/11/2010
I think the level of bad service at DT Bistro deserves 5 fantastically red glowing stars. I mean, I have never ever experienced such atrocious behavior at the hands of servers before and truly it must take the best to be this bad.
Dont YOU think 5 stars are required when a server seats you and completely forgets about you for 20 minutes? Or how about when they finally pay attention to you (after you go looking all over the restaurant for them) and smartly retort "oh well I forgot all about you didnt I". Ummm yeah hipstergirlincutoffjeanshorts, you did. Its nothing to be proud of.
Moving on, you patiently await the arrival of your cappuccino. But no, hipstergirlincutoffjeanshorts has something else planned for you: she's going to spill your cup of java and she's not going to be merciful about it. So there you go, the entire wall and the entire table and your entire leg covered in burning hot milk. My server smiled her evil smile, said "oops" and walked off. Bravo.
If the above does not deserve 5 stars, i dont know what does!!! -
Review from Jessica D.
Toronto, ON
6/2/2011
A friend and I stopped in for Thursday lunch date and the place quickly filled up during our stay. I was excited by the menu choices and, after some deliberation, I settled on the lemon-shrimp crepes. My friend ordered the mushroom sandwich.
The service was slow - there were two servers and we were served by both - and sometimes brusque, as if they couldn't conceal that they were dealing with the lunch rush. We weren't in a hurry, so I wasn't concerned.
My crepe arrived looking beautiful, albeit a little greasy, but inside I found the shrimp to be tough and overcooked (which is very obvious when paired with a soft crepe and silky bechemel). There also wasn't very much shrimp inside. About half of each crepe could be eaten at a rate of one shrimp per bite, but there were severl shrimpless bites! I just left about half of each crepe because the idea of eating crepes filled with just cream sauce was a little too rich for me. The whole thing was topped with undercooked asparagus (which sucks, because I LOVE asparagus!)
I suppose I can't really speak for the mushroom sandwich. I only had one bite and nothing about the flavours stood out to me. I also scavenged some of her mushrooms off the plate, and they were unexciting. They had none of the earthy richness you expect from a field mushroom mix and they were remarkably bland despite their beautiful browned hue.
We rounded it out with gelato and we were offered several flavours to try (many of which were quite good! I'd recommend the Greek yogurt and strawberry) but I went with the banana sundae. I love banana, especially in ice cream form, and there was chocolate cake, caramel and chocolate chips mixed in. Yet it still managed to be disappointing. The banana flavour was muted, the chocolate cake was more like chocolate crumbs and the gelato wasn't sweet enough to balance the bitter chocolate chips.
Another visit might be warranted to sample some of the desserts, but I won't be returning for lunch. -
Review from Jennifer B.
10/31/2011
Went to DT Bistro for brunch with a friend who lives in the Annex. Between sitting by the open windows, the flowers & small candles on the tables gave the place a sweet, unrushed ambiance. Our meals were fresh & tasty, coffee (check!) & we shared some gelato for dessert despite the array of luring desserts behind the glass display. Service was average.
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Review from Amy L.
3/26/2011
My friend ordered the prix fixe ($25) while I ordered a main and a dessert. The waiter started us off with Toast and olive oil. The Shrimp Bruschetta appetizer was pretty tasty and they weren't stingy with the shrimp, haha. The topping consisted of shrimp, onions, tomato pesto, and micro-arugula (I think I got the ingredients right, lol). My main was a Chicken Artichoke Fusili with Creamy White Wine Sauce ($15). I asked for a sauce replacement because I'm not too crazy about Tomato sauce; I absolutely love creamy white sauce though! I liked how the saltiness of the artichoke was compensated with the sweetness of the oven-roasted tomatoes. The basil pesto added some nice herb flavour as well. I kept on alternating each ingredient; it was fun. Colleen's main was a Mushroom Pappardelle in a white wine sauce.
The most exciting part of the evening was the desserts! We had the classic Creme Brulee and a Passion Fruit Parfait ($7.50) in a white chocolate shell. The Passion Fruit Parfait was quite the little thing and was the reason why I specifically chose it. It was made with passion fruit mousse and a bit of cake soaked in raspberry sauce. The sourness of the passion fruit was so intense but tangy and unique. The seeds were crunchy which gave the dessert a great texture and added to its presentation. The strawberry and blueberry reduction sauce was very flavourful and the whole dessert was just simply amazing.
Their food isn't spectacular, but I gave them 4 stars because of their incredible desserts. -
Review from Kat F.
9/21/2009 7 photos
When you enter DT (aka "Dessert Trends") Bistro you're immediately greeted by an overwhelming panoply of delicious cakes, tarts, souffles and mousses. If I had to guess I'd say there were about 40 different individual-sized selections, each one more beautifully crafted than the next. Mind-numbing to say the least...
Service was pleasant and attentive despite the obnoxious enormity of our group. They handled us well. Thank goodness for making reservations (highly recommended) in advance.
The brunch menu is wonderfully inventive and includes things like "healthy green apple seaweed and sweet baby calamari with lemon miso vinaigrette," "Canadian Snow Crab quiche," and "open face, crispy and runny duck egg sandwich topped with pesto shrimp, roasted pepper and sweet onion." I couldn't help but LOL at this unfortunate menu typo: "French toast served with maple syrup and mixed barriers."
I ordered the lemon dill cheddar cheese scrambled eggs topped (or rather, sided, so I could pass them along to a fellow diner) with smoked salmon on toasted brioche ($11.50). The brioche was eggy and delicious and while the lemon and dill stood out incredibly well in the scramble, the cheddar cheese (was it in there? I don't know) did not. There were also a lot of onions in the scramble (not indicated in the menu). Still dill-icious (!). The side salad was great as well and so was the lone, halved fingerling potato hanging out on my plate. I could have eaten a dozen more of those.
After sloppily shoving brunch down our gullets we got back to anticipating dessert. I was practically ready to fight myself; I was so torn between about five different desserts (Lemon Meringue, Pumpkin Tart, Chocolate Raspberry Tart, Raspberry Cheesecake, Lemon Lavendar Tart). Kate M and I ended up splitting the first two although admittedly I didn't really want to share mine, it was SO tart. With every passing day I love lemon desserts more and more and this was no exception. I would come back here just to buy a few of these for takeaway. Pumpkin tart was equally toothsome and the filling was smooth and velvety.
DT Bistro alleges to be opening a new bistro location "in late 2009" (hi, it IS late 2009) but no location has been chosen yet. Let me go ahead and nominate Leslieville. :) -
Review from Jeremy P.
Toronto, ON
7/30/2010
Last night my girlfriend and I went to DT Bistro for dinner. We were supposed to go to the Blue Jays game the prior night, but something came up, and it didn't happen. As an alternative, I suggested that we go to DT Bistro the following night as it was one of those places that we had passed by on Harbord Street on many occasions and marveled at the menu and the setting. I am happy to say that we were not disappointed.
I did not make a reservation as I was under the impression that DT Bistro was not one of those places where you needed one. We arrived at around 6:30 pm and found that 80% of the tables were filled. Mind you the restaurant is relatively small, with a total seating capacity of maybe 50 people.
We were greeted at the front of the restaurant rather promptly and were given a few different seating choices. We chose a table on the west end of the dining area as all of the window seats on the east end of the dining area were taken, leaving only one available cramped table on that side.
As a result of having a rather large lunch, I did not have a significant appetite for many of their entrees (there was a range of choices from a lamb burger to pasta to roasted chicken), so I chose the french onion soup topped with gruyere cheese and the avocado and strawberry salad tossed in a light vinaigrette. I find that at many restaurants, french onion soup comes with a healthy dose of sodium, so I was pleasantly surprised that it did not make me want to consume a pitcher of water.
The salad was served on a bed of mixed greens with chunks of avocado, sliced strawberries and cucumbers. For my appetite, the size of the salad was neither too big nor too small. It was just right.
For dessert, I chose the salted caramel/chocolate pudding cup (I'm not sure quite how else to describe its name at this moment). It was simply incredible. Definitely worth the calories. No other description required.
Also, if I had come to the restaurant with a larger appetite, I likely would have chosen the 3 course pre-fixe menu for $25.
My girlfriend ordered the the mushroom pastry for the appetizer and the rack of lamb served on a bed of Israeli cous-cous for the entree. I had a taste of each and enjoyed both. My girlfriend (whom has admitted to having quite high culinary standards), stated that this was one of the best meals that she has had in recent memory.
One thing that I did notice that was a bit of a turn off (resulting in 4 rather than 5 stars) was the fact that as a result of the restaurant's location, and as a result of the fact that all of the windows were open, that the noise levels could be quite high, especially when a bus would stop right in front of the restaurant. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
10/6/2010 7 photos
I love Dessert Trends! It has qualities that makes me fall in love...
- Cute and Good Looking: nicely decorated
- Great Personality: cheerful(in a sunny afternoon) and romantic(in the evening with the dim lighting)
- Tasty and Delicious: the lobster pasta for $20 is great! chunks of lobster tail and freshly made pasta!
- Sweet yet Healthy: all those desserts and gelato... what more can I say.. and especially if it is made in house by their own chef!
- Patient and Understanding: our waiter is soft spoken and polite. Did not even blink when we just order 1 main to share and bring us complimentary bread!
Sweet Sweet DT! I will be back! -
Review from Kat T.
11/1/2009
I had DT* for the first time after a long weekend of drinking. (Medical joke intended.) With a rotating menu of seasonal brunch and lunch options, I appreciate the work the chef puts into his creations. I had a tower of lemon-dill scrambled eggs served above, below and between two slices of brioche toast and the mountain was topped with luscious smoked salmon. Luscious!
The sweet brunch items seem to be served in smaller quantities than the 'salty' items such as the egg, quiche, and omelet options.
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*DT = Delirium tremons- the shakes an alcoholic gets after not having a drink for a while.
**Nod to Susan C for the footnote option. This may be the only time I will ever do this!Listed in: Glutton for Carbs
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Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
12/10/2008 3 photos
I've been to this place every week since I discovered it a couple of months ago. Of note, I have been there mostly for brunch and lunch, only a couple of dinner outings.
The building it's housed in is pretty "classy" for the price point -- especially considering the other restaurants on the same street. They are normally under-staffed but the staff they do have is very friendly. The dinning room only seats about 40-people, so I wouldn't recommend it for larger groups.
On with the food. One word - WOW. I would classify the food as a mix of Western, French, and Vietnamese (thank you colonization). The brunch/lunch menu is superb; you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. The grilled mushroom sandwich or pulled pork hoisin wraps are a couple of my staples. Make sure to wash everything down with a berry box (or any other dessert for that matter).
I think this is the perfect spot to take your significant other. It's just a cute place.Listed in: My Favorite Spots in the T.Dot, Communal Dining!
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Review from Dream S.
Updated - 7/4/2009 23 photos
Dear Berry Box,
The first time I laid eyes on you, I knew I had to have you.
When you reached the table, it was hard not to immediately devour you. I had to resist and show some constraint (I am a lady after all)! The berries on top were not only deliciously sweet, but abundant. Your drape of white chocolate had a hint of milk chocolate. But the most surprising aspect? When i disrobed you, I found a bed of creamy chocolate mousse! TO_DIE_FOR! Needless to say, I did not want to share you, but felt if I didn't extend the offer, I would be one selfish biitch.
Please don't haunt me by telling me your calorie count, some things are better left unsaid...
Love,
Dreamsrey1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/15/2009
If I could give this place 10 stars I would!
What can I say about DT Bistro? I LOVE THIS PLACE! It is… Read more »
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Review from Yvonne T.
5/5/2011 3 photos
After having had a marvelous dinner at Campagnolo, we decided to go elsewhere for dessert since their dessert menu was rather scant and nothing was calling out to me.
Dessert Trends aka DT Bistro-Patisserie, had been on my to-try list for awhile. It is not very often that an Asian pastry chef builds a reputation for himself, and so in support of my heritage I decided to give it a try. Chef Duong is the man behind all of this. On their website, it states that he has created cakes for the Queen, the Pope, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. These people may be high profile individuals, but they must not have very high expectations when it comes to food.
When we arrived, we were asked if we were there for dinner or dessert. If dinner, please go to the left, to the much nicer seating area, if dessert, please make a right into the nook.
When you walk in, you will be wowed by the display of pastries displayed at the counter. I found it rather unprofessional and tacky that the signs in front of each sweet good was messily scribbled on a piece of white cardboard/paper in a blue ballpoint pen. It just made for a sloppy presentation.
Our server had walked past us a dozen times, mostly into the dining room and we were ignored. It was a good 5-10 minutes before he finally came to take our order. We decided on the Lemon Meringue Tart and a London Fog. We had wanted to try the Durian Gelato, but it was sold out. What a bummer! Other Asian-inspired desserts were available such as the Lychee & Passionfruit Pannacotta.I have never had a London Fog before. The London Fog at DT was served as a steamed milk with an Earl Grey tea bag steeping in it. I found it to be bland, and cold barely taste the tea. However, this could be because Earl Grey is not a strong tea. At the end of the day, I felt I paid for a cup of heated milk. The Lemon Meringue Tart gets points for presentation. The meringue was not quite as light and airy as I have tasted in the past and I imagine the tart had been sitting in the refrigerated counter for some time which led to a stiffer meringue. You can definitely tell it was not fresh. The tart shell was too hard though the lemon filling was quite good.
Verdict:
I was thoroughly disappointed with Dessert Trends. Everything from the lack of service to the ant I saw crawling across the floor. For $13, I felt the quality was lacking. I will go elsewhere for my future sugar fix. -
Review from Tammy Y.
7/10/2009
So I'm typically a fan of this place, but in all honesty, their service is what's really dragging them down to a 3 star rating. Every time I walk in here, there is no greeting or anything, and customers are kind of just left there looking around confused trying to figure out whether or not they are meant to seat themselves.
Given, they are relatively short-staffed for a busy Thursday lunch hour. The place is bustling and busy, and with only 2 friendly servers (and apparently only 1 chef) people are bound to be a little neglected.
My first time here for lunch after coming here for brunch and dinner a number of times, I went for the calamari salad while my friend had the mushroom sandwich. After waiting almost an hour, food arrives (what can I say? Our expectations for slow-service here prepared us). For a calamari salad as an entree, this thing was puny. Like - a side salad with calamari plopped on top. However, as small and unsatisfying as it was, it sure was tasty. The olive encrusted bread that came on the side was delicious.
My friend's plate came with a wonderfully toasted mushroom sandwich and side salad that seemed far more filling, and she savoured every bit of it. WIth a window-side table and the sunshine filtering in, it makes for a great people-watching on a lazy afternoon.
The upside about the teensy salad was that it left room for dessert, which is where they really shine. Deliciously light miniature cakes and a range of gelato flavours that are juuuuuuust right, and a really lovely atmosphere, are what keep me coming back.
If only they could whip their service into shape! -
Review from Sophia K.
Toronto, ON
5/3/2009
DT Bistro is just so damn cute, I keep meaning to try it as I have to walk by it almost every day. Finally made it in for lunch and dessert with my sister and had a pretty great experience.
The decor and atmosphere is lovely, especially with the big windows on a sunny day. It was pretty packed so we sat at a little table in the back corner but still no complaints here.
We both ordered salads (mango shrimp and roasted pepper and goat cheese) and weren't disappointed. I would suggest the mango shrimp salad as I feel you get more bang for your buck but the presentation on the goat cheese salad was nothing short of five star and the taste didn't come up short either. We also shared a smoothie, and while it was pretty small, it was delicious and fresh and well worth it.
You absolutely can't come here without trying one of their desserts. They will stare you in the eye until you order one! We had some chocolate mousse tower thingy of goodness and it was to die for! The service was also very good.
To be honest, I'm a student and this place is a little pricier than where I would normally go. My sister and I both threw in a twenty and that was enough for the bill + tip. So while it was more than I would normally spend on lunch, it was well worth it and a great treat! -
Review from Andrea B.
Montréal, QC
5/31/2009
In a serene and Cape-Cod like environment, enjoy a fresh take on breakfast in the Annex.
The delicate omelet with oyster mushrooms and parmesan is divine, as is the dill-scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. The coffee's alright, but the side salad with a crushed almond dressing is fantastic.
A wonderful place to go for breakfast or lunch when in the neighborhood.
Oh and there are the desserts..... -
Review from Fiona F.
Updated - 4/24/2010
Fourth visit, but only because the same friend initiated. Previous experiences have indicated their customer marginalization tactics, and this time, it was more evident than ever.
We were a party of five and all ordered the same entree - baked miso black cod. The waiter served my friend and his family first, and then mine. While their miso black cods were heaped with red clover sprouts, mine was topped with a few "threads" of inferior, anemic looking daikon sprouts. I doubt they ran out of red clover sprouts, because that adorned the mixed green salads they served the customer cramped next to our table, which was after we had our cods.
Customer marginalization conviction #2: for dessert, I pointed at the display counter the chocolate mousse that I'd wanted, which was topped with a (raspberry?) macaron. The macaron was the only reason I ordered that; when it arrived, my chocolate mousse was topped with 2 chocolate triangles instead. Oops!
While it is understandable to treat loyal clientele well, "ordinary" customers should not be treated unfavorably. There is hardly a justification for this kind of blatant discrimination - I am not paying any more or less than my friend, and what we ordered were the same, I did not make any special requests nor did I speak impolitely.
I guess they assumed my loyal customer friend was paying, because when the bill arrived, they also directed it to my friend. They can hold onto their dear patrons, because I definitely won't be initiating, nor suggest/recommend it to anyone any time soon.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/12/2009
The chef is European culinary school trained, with a gastronomic family history. this is reflected… Read more »
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Review from Good T.
Toronto, ON
7/19/2010
We went there for coffee and dessert and had a nice relaxed time. The place is painted in cool tones and the French windows with the summer breeze blowing through them, greatly add to the good times.
I've had better coffee but the pastries were all around great. We had a pecan tart, a lemon meringue pie, a chocolate mousse cake and mango sorbet. The chef was friendly as was the waitress, and they both chatted us up. It was also nice that they didn't try to hurry us even though we had come during dinner time but didn't order food food. I noticed that it's a BYOB, in addition to their drinks menu, which is great! -
Review from Evan J.
Toronto, ON
6/4/2011
These desserts where so bad that I we threw them out in the garbage. The desserts look good, but man, they're just bad.
I had two different desserts, both went in the garbage. Me and m husband felt the same. And the two desserts cost $16
This was a complete waste of money. I threw away cake! Who throws away cake?! That's how bad this place was. -
Review from Arcady G.
Toronto, ON
7/8/2010
We were here for a late lunch, and the food and the atmosphere are fantastic. We had gazpacho followed by the crab cake sandwich and seafood linguini with two glasses of wine, coffee and dessert. The bill was around $85.
When we walked in at around 4pm, there was only one waitress, who looked quite overwhelmed with work. She was very friendly, but had to run around a lot - good thing we were not in a hurry. At around 5pm the situation improved as more waiters came in.
Otherwise, this was a totally enjoyable experience. We'll be back. -
Review from Dylan O.
Toronto, ON
5/30/2010
Unbelieveable. The best French Onion soup I've ever had. Cozy little bistro with a great view and a calming summer breeze through the antique French doors.
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Review from Denise S.
4/5/2010
Delightful little place for desserts or weekend brunch. The space is airy and light. Right when you enter, you will be overwhelmed with all the different tarts, cakes, and such on display. The presentation is stunning, each is a beautiful (and labour-intensive) work of art. For instance, the tiramisu comes in a delicate chocolate eggshell. The brunch dishes are great too. The goat cheese frittata with veggies is delicious and leaves just enough room for dessert. Service can be slow, depending on how busy it is. Sometimes during peak hours on weekends, you will have to wait. But they take reservations, if you'd rather call first from home.
Listed in: Brunch, The Sweet Escape
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Review from bryon B.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2010
Walking by this place I feel should be on the narrow streets of Paris? With it's large double doors opening up to the street with tables placed just inside with its seats full of a variety of clientele from college kids to well off baby boomers. Upon entering your eyes focus on a huge assortment of delicious looking deserts of all shapes and colours. But thats not it, they also have a menu with various sandwiches, soups and more. The staff, at the end of a long day seemed tired but were still attentive. The food was not only appealing to the eyes, but also was delicious. I would defiantly be back.
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Review from Igor F.
Toronto, ON
6/17/2009
The atmosphere is nice. The wait staff are nice. We had dessert. It was OK. Nothing to write home to Uncle Balthazar about. But then again, he was always a dessert prude. The black sheep of the family. But another time about him.
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Review from Nate W.
7/18/2010
Props to DT Bistro! We were looking for a dessert place to have a tasty treat after a nice meal. I yelped this place, and we made our way over. Unfortunately we got there right as they were closing. The waitress there at the moment kindly told us they might be closing, but asked us if we would like to order something take-out.
My friend was hoping to sit and have a nice treat, so she was so wonderful and told us not to worry and have a seat and she'd get us some desserts. To the kind waitress who helped us, you rocked! I would come back just because you went the extra mile to help us out. Even your suggestions on the pastry to try was dead-on!
I had the Chocolate Pecan Tart, and it was awesome!!! I will be back for sure! -
Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
10/3/2008
Great open seating in the summer for brunch. Surprisingly well crafted plates. At teh end, you can indulge in their desserts.
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Review from Joe N.
10/16/2009
Love love this place... last week i was in the City... hopping from one restaurant to another... started at Blowfish, then Spice Route... but i couldn't find a desert that i like... i looked at my watch... and it was around 1015pm... i headed to this place... Just Desserts... i arrived around 1030pm... they were already closing, but they couldn't resist me! they knew i have to have something sweet! they were so nice, served me the amazing Dessert and also some latte! i love you guys, you made my evening!
