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Fressen Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Vegetarian Vegan, Vegetarian [Edit]
478 Queen St WToronto, ON M5V 2B2
Neighbourhoods: Alexandra Park, Queen Street West
(416) 504-5127
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 3:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
37 reviews for Fressen Restaurant
Review Highlights
"...was amazing (I had the Moroccan stew - and I'm not a strict..."
(in 4 reviews)
"vegans welcome, but gluten-free diners not."
(in 4 reviews)
"The menu is set up tapas-style, so you order a few dishes..."
(in 3 reviews)
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37 reviews in English
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Review from Caroline W.
Scarborough, ON
1/15/2012
I've been here a few years ago around the time it first opened. It was much different back then- there were fewer cooks, food portions were much smaller, and there were nowhere near as many people dining there at that time, as there are now.
I recently visited Fressen for dinner and it's changed quite a bit. It's much busier, there are a few more cooks, and the portions are huge. The menu has changed as well, and there are quite a lot of options to choose from- I had a difficult time deciding at first, but decided upon the kebabs, which were served with roasted potatoes and mixed vegetables. It was really good, but I think they might have used a bit too much sauce on the kebabs. Other then that, I felt like I was eating a really healthy meal. Like I mentioned before, the portions are larger, so you might want to take some home. They use small fold-up cardboard cartons that don't exactly hold the meal in it too well- so you might want to bring a bag for it.
The food is kind of pricey, so I guess you could call it a more upscale vegan restaurant. However, I feel that the prices now are much more suited to the portions then they were in the past.
The atmosphere is still the same, dark, but rustic and cozy. That being said, the atmosphere makes for a good date.
Service is kind of slow, but friendly. Also, it might be a good idea to make reservations, depending on he day- some days are much busier then others. -
Review from Shannon F.
Toronto, ON
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Vegan/Vegetarian restaurants are all worth a try by me! An inviting Queen West spot with a multi-layer layout and adequate bar seating for a smallish place, Fressen is a nice spot.
The menus is good and diverse and I look forward to working my way through it over the years. My last visit I wasn't starving so had soup - a beautiful butternut squash with hints of leek and ginger and a mixed mushroom appetizer did not disappoint. A variety of mushrooms with wilted spinach in a, hmm, not sure, rice vinegar warm sauce with sesame seeds? Very tasty.
Good prices and friendly staff made my visit complete. Vegan food isn't for everyone but if you're going to give it a try for the vegetarian in your life, I think you'll be pleased here. -
Review from Emily M.
11/30/2011
Ok what everyone already knows about Fressen:
1. Its really (in my opinion) the only "fancy" vegan restaurant in Toronto. All the others have a cafeteria feel or are a bit more casual.
2. Slowest service possible in the world and just a really lazy attitude from the servers (just ask anyone that frequents this place). But us vegetarians keep going back because (see #1) it's the only fancy place!
3. Their brunch is WAY better than their dinner (but it would seem that they have stopped serving brunch!?) boo!!
4. Decent vegan food.
5. Enough seating to accommodate large groups.Listed in: veg veg veg...!!!
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Review from Amy P.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2011
IMO, Fressen is the best vegan restaurant in the city, hands down, at least for dinner.
The atmosphere is wonderful - dark and warm and friendly. I had the beer-battered tofu for my main and it was PHENOMENAL.
The service was also wonderful. I have never had a bad experience here and it will always be my go-to special occasion place. -
Review from David B.
Toronto, ON
10/26/2011
Toronto's only gourmet vegan restaurant. Can be a bit on the salty side but there's no other place in town like it that offers a vegan dining experience like this. For special occasions only.
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Review from Jack W.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2011
Beer Battered Tofu - very good.
Spelt Linguine - reportedly good.
Polenta and tomato sauce appetizer - wonderfullll.
The staff were fast on the water refill, and were helpful to us even though we wandered in on Mother's Day (d'oh). The tapas/appetizers all sounded pretty good, and some of the meals appealed. The vegetables with the meal were great except for the grossly oversalted grilled greens (and I love greens, sob!). The tofu was one of the most filling meals I've had in a very long time, definitely for big eaters.
The atmosphere was a little rarefied for us - we're kind of a relaxed pair and it seemed pretty stuffy here. Could be because we weren't exactly dressed for Mother's Day or something, who knows.
The prices were actually very good - we didn't have anything to drink so it was quite a bargain.
We'll probably come back some day, but there are so many places where we feel more comfortable, it won't be often. -
Review from Amy C.
Toronto, ON
3/22/2011
The last time I tried Fressen was back in 2006. It took me almost 5 long years to try again; but I probably should have left it indefinitely.
In total, I've been here once for dinner and twice for brunch. The dinner foray, from what I remember (because this was 2004), was a nice intimate evening and the food was interesting and tasty. But what I'm really here to write about is the brunch. In two words: stay away!
Between 2006 and 2011, the general results of the brunch service have not changed:
- slow service
- cold tea and tasteless coffee
- forgetful staff (missing items)
- cost not relative to amount (teeny tiny tapas)
- vegans welcome, but gluten-free diners not
The last time I went, I ordered the soup of the day - coconut butternut squash - which had much more coconut cream than I'd like in a soup, but it was at least warm and filling. I also had a very small chickpea and avocado salad which was supposed to have some greens in it, but I counted three pieces of tiny arugula. My dining mates were shocked at their cold tea. From the sounds of it, the diners from the table next to us were not pleased at all with their food and had demanded a refund on one of their items.
I was very surprised that the restaurant offered no gluten-free alternative options for their sandwiches. Their excuse was that they couldn't find a recipe good enough for what they wanted. Please - this has to be pure laziness. There are so many gluten-free companies and bakeries in the Toronto area. And if they're dedicated to making things in-house, there are hundreds of blog posts online with variations on gluten-free bread that they can experiment with.
Be warned if you go with groups and you want to split the bill. It is the owner's policy that tables must have one bill together. Sure, the servers can split it up for you after, but why not allow separate bills in the first place so that each of us, one-by-one, doesn't have to traipse up to the till and keep wasting their time?
Also, they really have to get with the times: a menu from 2006 on their website? A clear sign that they do not put any care into their image or public presence or reaching out to their customers. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
9/16/2010
I'm disappointed. Why? Because the food was really good. More on that later, but here is my praise about the food. (deservedly +1 star)
There is so much selection. The food was delicious. The plates were hearty and fills you up. There is so much flavour that no meat eater can complain that it's just "salad".
Price wise you can get tapas for 3 for $15 (good enough to share between 2 people as an appetizer), larger sized appetizers for $9, and entree for $14.
Between myself and my boyfriend we shared 3 tapas, 1 appetizer and the Moroccan stew and it was more than enough.
My favourite dishes were the Spicy Lentil Balls (the tapas comes with bread to dip), King Mushroom appetizer sauteed in watercress), Moroccan Stew (spicy, hearty, rich, flavourful).
My friends also had the Portobello Mushroom which they said was too salty.
My concerns about the food part of the meal:
- for a restaurant that caters to so many dietary restrictions, I'm surprised that they don't serve any bread/crackers that are gluten free (even rice crackers would have done), so I was forced to eat the spreads with my fork.
- the menu online has not changed in 5 years. granted the restaurant might change their menu daily, but a more current menu could have been posted
- although the Moroccan stew was amazing, there were hidden olives in it, and twice, i bit down on the pit without knowing. be careful!
And yet I was disappointed. Why? Because I would like to come here again. But I could not stand the service. We sat down at 6:30 and we left at 10pm.
Don't get me wrong, I had a great time, and only because of the company. We literally chatted for over an hour before we realized that no one had asked us for our order. For an establishment that does not allow reservations between 7pm and 745pm and had to ask permission from someone if I could change my time from 6:30pm to 6:45pm they didn't seem to be doing their time management very well.
By the time we did order it was about 7:45 -8pm. But the food took forever to come. The friendly server told us that she would bring out the dishes as they were prepared as some ordered Tapas,, some didn't. etc.
So everything came out on it's turn, but when the entrees finally came out it was almost 2 hours later. Did this mean that the entrees take 2 hours to make? I can't understand it.
All of this, I don't believe it's the servers fault. She was one of two that had to cater to the whole place. But I do believe more management in the kitchen is needed to get food to people in a timely manner. I have never been in a restaurant this long before! It's so frustrating because I am torn between the food being so great, and the long wait.
Even though our large party was charged a mandatory 17% gratuity, it was done pre-tax, which was nice because a lot of places don't do that and I get angry. But here I am again torn because I am paying for someone that just brought my food to me and forced me to wait 4hrs??!
I would recommend coming here with a big party, good company, and good conversation. With all that the long wait time will fly by.
I don't recommend coming here with you and your date, because you may get frustrated and leave like we saw two other customers.Listed in: Thanks Yelp!, Gluten Free and Substitute…, Great for Groups!
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Review from tim w.
8/15/2011
This place is so cute and cozy. It was nice to dine in a vegan eatery that felt like a "regular" restaurant.
I was happy they had good beer choices. We went for the Mill Street Organic Pilsner, which was great with the food. We had the eggplant rollatini and the polenta with mushrooms, spinach, and balsamic for appetizers. Both dishes were delicious. I chose the crusted tempeh with veggies for my entree. The tempeh was so good! Deep fried tempeh? Had never even thought of it. Very generous with veggies, and there was a delicious au ju (I even asked for the recipe). My friend had the Moroccan Stew. So flavorful. And not spicy.
Great service and warm atmosphere. I want to visit Toronto again just to try other menu items. -
Review from Blake i.
4/17/2010
As a former meat eater (stopped in 2002) I do like to have options that are close to the flavor and texture and the seared seitan they served reminded me of steak. I was so good I was simply in shock. When the waitress offered a dessert menu I had to refuse because I couldn't believe they could top that dinner. Quite possibly the best seitan I have ever eaten.
The vegetables were also well seasoned and the pumpkin soup? WOW!
If I am ever back in Toronto, I will make a bee-line to this place, but I will call ahead for a table because I almost didn't get seating on the Friday night I visited. -
Review from Tina H.
7/2/2010
This place had a good rose wine that they got from the Buenas Ondas winery in Argentina. This wasn't sold in stores.
Service was rude and very insensitive to my pine nut allergy. The waitress mocked me at some point, which was very disappointing, especially since I brought a big group there for my birthday.
Portions are small and the food taste is very mediocre. The prices were too costly for what they were offering, which was tasteless soy meat substitutes. Even as a vegan I didn't enjoy it there. I'm not vegan anymore, so I can't imagine how omnivores would feel eating there.
I would never go back because of the rude service I had. The food is nothing to bring me back either so I definitely have no reason to return. Vegetarian Haven, Live Organic Food Bar, Camros and Fresh are better veggie options. -
Review from Marie F.
6/21/2009
As I am sure my fellow yelpers would agree Fressen can be summed up by saying: great food, shit service! I met some friends for brunch today and it took 15 minute for the waitress to come over and take my order.
I ordered the Stewed mixed seasonal fruit under three a freshly cooked berry infused pancakes (it was super yummy) . My food arrived in a decent amount of time but the waitress failed to bring me my coffee (she never ended up bringing it even though I asked twice) and my plate was served without utensils!
Once again kids the food here is wonderful and as a carnivore who enjoys all types of food I highly recommend it ... but like I said don't expect great service.
It should be noted that although I didn't have one today their one desert, Vegan Chocolate cake is amazing!Listed in: God save the Queen...…, Veggie Friendly places (don't…
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Review from Will L.
Toronto, ON
4/8/2010
One of the foremost vegan restaurants in Toronto, Fressen is dimly lit and exudes a warm vibe that's conducive to connecting with your date or friends. Fressen provides a tapas-style menu items that provide generous portions and never exceed $9. This might tempt you into try ing out their entire menu, which is a good or bad thing depending which way you look at it.
Besides being a vegan restaurant, they source organic food whenever possible which allows animal lovers and the environmentally conscious to breath easy. It also allows Fressen to claim the title as "Best Guilt Free" restaurant in Toronto -
Review from Helen L.
Toronto, ON
This review is for both their brunch and dinner.
One of my first meals out as a vegetarian was brunch at Fressen. Since I was new to the whole vegetarian/vegan scene, I was really curious about vegan food so when my friend wanted to take me out to brunch for my birthday, I chose to go to Fressen as we planned on going shopping in that area afterwards.
I ordered the Griddle brunch with Scrambled Tofu. It has scrambled tofu and black bean tortilla with side of toast, roasted potatoes, salsa, guacamole, mango chutney and tempeh 'bacon.' For my drink, I ordered the green juice after seeing a few other tables with it. It has apple, kale, cucumber, ginger and lemon. My friend ordered tofu florentine and orange juice.
My verdict of the meal? Healthy and fabulous! If I can eat this good everyday, I'd happily be a vegan. Seriously! Everything was SO yummy with the exception of a bit too much ginger in the green juice. That being said, i think of the 2 brunches, mine was way better than my friend's tofu florentine (too much spinach!)
I tried to go back twice for brunch since my first meal there but both times it was closed. what gives???
I also went back recently for dinner there with my boyfriend. They started a new menu since August 18 (IIRC) so its no longer just tapas. For our appetizer, we had a trio of 3 cold tapas for $15 to start. We chose the marinated olives and 2 types of salads. Definitely a good start to our meal. For our main, I had the crusted tempeh and bf had a pasta. His was the better choice IMO. Mine needed some adjustments to the seasoning...maybe too much soy sauce? We ordered the dessert (they only have 1 option) and it was really good. TONS of fresh fruits and a great chocolate/avocado thing.
It was too bad they ran out of some of the dinner menu items we wanted to order. Hopefully, we can go back soon to try those items. For me, so far anyway, the brunch meal was better than the dinner meal even though they were both good. -
Review from Andrew G.
Toronto, ON
2/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I feel like this is *the* vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Toronto that every vegetarian/vegan ought to chime in on.
What they're doing is ballsy; It's high-end cuisine and decor, the likes of which you'd expect at a fairly upscale restaurant in the city, but it's entirely meat-free (and they have a few good options for the gluten-intolerant as well). As far as I know, there's nothing else like it in the city, and so the legitimacy of a vegan menu as haute-cuisine in TO appears to rest solely on this kitchen. This is my interpretation, anyway.
Before going to Fressen myself, I'd heard mixed things. Some about price, some about friendliness, some about the food itself. In the last few months, I've been twice, and am generally just kinda meh on the place.
My first visit was with a friend from high school who is gluten intolerant. We split three dishes from the tapas menu and a half-litre of wine. She ordered an app, I ordered an entrée - the seitan steak with roast vegetables.
The second time, I went with my girlfriend. We got an app, tapas, an entrée each (beer-battered tofu for me), a half-litre wine, and dessert (mm-boy!)
I have zero complaints about the service. Both times, the people were very friendly. From the person who sat us, to our waiter, to the water-refiller, everyone was attentive and courteous.
The ambiance, as well, is really a step above your Fresh or Vegetarian Haven. Again, I feel like this is Toronto's sole offering of classy, upscale vegetarian dining.
But for me, and most reading this review I'll assume, what matters most is the food. Does Fressen quash the belief that vegan food must be bland and flavourless while elevating the cuisine to a level where it can compete with Toronto's finest restaurants? My answer, a saddened, not quite.
The tapas entries were very tasty, but my girlfriend noted that the hummus comes topped with a few olives, which is not listed in the menu. This would be a nice surprise, if we hadn't also ordered a plate of olives.
I thought the spinach blinis were excellent. Probably my favourite part of the meal.
The entrées were really the disappointing part, not because they weren't good, but because they really weren't enough to make me choose this place over another of Toronto's many fantastic vegetarian restaurants. The roast veggies that came with both the seitan steak and beer-battered tofu were the same. This led me to believe that they're probably also the same for the skewered tofu. Suddenly the menu didn't look so diverse (I would like to try the chickpea stew though). The veggies themselves were fine, but not necessarily something I'd feel like I had to go out for. The steaks were a little on the dry side by the last few bites. And the beer-battered tofu didn't really blow me away. I like to make my own battered seitan at home, and felt that my homemade version was preferable to this.
I have no complaints about the dessert. Rich vegan chocolate, excellently executed like this, should be enough to convince anyone that being vegan doesn't mean cutting out indulgences.
My conclusion on this place is that, for the price, ambiance and reputation in the city, I'd love to have a vegan restaurant that is consistently fantastic food; a place I can take my meat-loving friends to show them that vegan food can be every bit as good as meat-based food (it can), but Fressen does not fully deliver. It's an excellent restaurant, but not something I crave. Maybe I haven't had the "stand-out" dish here yet.
I hope it's been clear that a three-star review here doesn't mean I don't like the place, or that Toronto doesn't have some fantastic vegan restaurants in and outside its city limits (oh, boy, does it ever). I guess I just wanted Fressen to be something it isn't, like my dad wanted me to be in sports. Just because I'm not, doesn't mean he doesn't love me; it just means he's a little upset that he spent that money to buy me soccer equipment and register me in a league when all I was gonna do is stand around and not bother to learn the rules. See how that relates here? -
Review from Dean L.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2010
Too Salty....made my mouth hurt, and my stomach ill.
The food sucks. -
Review from Hailey E.
Toronto, ON
2/22/2009
After eating at Fressen for the first time I said to my friends... If I had someone to cook for me like this all the time, I could seriously consider a vegan diet. Though I am a huge fan of cheese (perhaps even an addict) I LOVED the food at Fressen (for both dinner & brunch) and hardly noticed the missing dairy and meat!
Fressen's menu is always changing, but their brunch menu always features a wide selection of comfort foods -- from scrambled tofu to delicious veggie sandwiches to french toast piled high with fresh fruit.
Fressen is truly an adventure in food! And it's totally affordable!Listed in: Best Brunch
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Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
11/19/2008 3 photos
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that I don't eat meat given my reviews. Now, I'm not super strict on this fact, and chose to quit eating meat (and it's dirty little brother, milk) because it's bad for you. Plain and simple. Meat and milk are both over farmed, filled with harmful chemicals and hormones and are mishandled to the point where I'm convinced that they are the cause of most cancers. In any case, that's not anyone's business. In fact, I never tell people not to eat meat (au contraire to my previous rant). Generally, if people ask, I say, "you really want to know"? And when they stupidly say "yes", I tell them because there's blood and puss in milk. Then I watch them finish their milkshakes all disgusted.
All jokes aside, I usually avoid vegetarian restaurants because I hate vegetarians. They're a bunch of self-righteous bastards. But, when I was totally vegetarian, I longed for proper meals (not modified ones I had to make off menu at most places). So, I went to this shit place. Not only does the food tastes sorta like hippy's houses smell, but it's bland and they have this stupid no-fur policy that drives me bananas.
I wear fur and I don't eat meat. So bite me. I had some girl in leather Doc Martins to her knees ask me to turn my rabbit fur coat inside out if I wanted to come in cause they have a no-fur policy. I guess cows just aren't cuddly enough. I eat three meals a day in restaurants and have never returned since that say. And I never well. I don't mix food with politics. -
Review from chris m.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 11/9/2010
I went back to Fressen recently and felt compelled to write a new review to give it 5 stars instead of 4.
1. The staff was very friendly. No one was pushing for us to order more food (they did this once 5 years ago).
2. The main course (beer-battered tofu) was AMAZING
3. They've re-decorated and the atmosphere is awesome.
4. still highly recommend for vegans and people who can appreciate healthy and delicious food with no meat or dairyListed in: vegan in toronto
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2010
1. very flavourful (something that's hard to master with vegan food)
2. don't go with 'steak and… Read more »
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Review from Cynthia F.
Toronto, ON
6/22/2009
I have mixed feelings about Fressen. Along with other reviewers, I agree: service can be consistently relied on to stink. Missed orders, confused orders, poor response times, inconsistent presentation, missing utensils -- you name it, I've experienced it at Fressen. It also seems strange to me that a higher-end restaurant keeps having a different server each time I've visited. Generally there is some kind of loyalty generated at the front of house and people stay for years. I hadn't noticed tension between the front and back-of-house, but that might just be because I'm generally seated far from the kitchen and hadn't had the experience Antonella L witnessed. It's a shame if this is the source of the problem because it means that regulars are never recognized and welcomed by the staff when we stop by.
That said, the food really is good. Expect a well-prepared, user-friendly menu that avoids the temptation of sloppily replacing meat with some kind of veggie mush. Here, there's a lot of thought spent in pushing beyond offering vegetarian "alternatives" to meat, and instead to having vegetables stand out in taste and texture. When I was a vegan (for 5 years), I often lamented food options that were located on the two extremes: either clumsily offering substitutes by having something really chewy, industrially processed, overly spiced and "meat"-like or the "granola" crowd that thought that tofu, unadorned, really could stand on its own as a bland substitute to eggs. As with vegetarian and vegan dishes in many cultures all around the world, the trick to satisfaction is found through texture.
But I digress.
Even while I have to say I like the thought process behind many of Fressen's dishes and its philosophy (food presentation is also really appetizing and very eye-catching), I'm not particularly impressed with the fact that the chef seems to like to keep the same menu items, with no variation, for years on end.
I really wondered if the brunch menu would ever change. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had, finally, been added to, on my last visit a few weeks ago. The old favourites were still there, but the new additions were welcome -- and long overdue. -
Review from Dharti A.
5/14/2009
Don't get me wrong its good, decent food. We really liked the "fish" tempeh, the pan seared mushrooms on baby spinach with really yummy sauce and the jicama mango salad. The one star less is for the less than spectacular didn't know what it wanted to be dessert and that there was only one choice of dessert. Their juice (not on the menu) is freshly made which is great so ask them about it! The decor is slightly strange, I think they were going after organic.
I think the other star marked off is more to do with comparing it to Millineum in SF - a high end vegan restaurant. The food was decent at Fressen but nothing remarkable, nothing that would make me say, I want to go there again to have that one dish. A friend of ours indicated that we won't find vegetarian as a cuisine unto it self in Toronto, as 1) there are a lot mid level vegetarian places and 2) people in Toronto won't pay that kind of money for it. Interesting. We'll keep trying places in the mean time! -
Review from Richard S.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2008
I've been here many times. Too often to count.
My favourite thing here is the avacado sandwiches they have on their lunch menu. Its a big heavy sandwich on home made bread.
When it comes to the dinner menu they also have many tasty dishes. The way this place works is you order a bunch of plates for $9 a plate. For 2 people you could get maybe 3-4 dishes. Then you share. The butternut squash ravioli is my fiance's favourite.
Please note that it will take a while to get your food. I do believe its because things are made fresh. But its definitely worth the wait.
They are usually closed between lunch and dinner for a few hours.
r -
Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
12/6/2008
I'm a convicted carnivore when it comes to dining but given that several in our party needed a vegetarian option we decided on Fressen.
I was very surpised. Great food and something for everyone. Seriously worth a try. -
Review from Lisha K.
1/10/2011
I was only here for weekend brunch, so I can't rate the dinner or weekday menus. However, my brunch experience was perfect. All of the servers were really nice and attentive, and explained the menu Nd gave great selections. At $10 a platform for brunch, out meal was actually really reasonably priced. I had the corn fritters which came with salad and guacamole and delicious bread and potatoes, and my friend had the pancakes of the day, which were apple Ginger. Everything was sooooo good. And then we had some chocolate mouse fruit creation thing for desert that I can't even begin to describe the yumminess of. Mmm I made myself hungry writing this review.....
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Review from Jessica D.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2008
Fressen is my favourite 'nice meal out' restaurant. The entire menu is vegan and they clearly mark items that are gluten-free, which saves me from hassling the wait staff and kitchen. I've been here a bunch of times, for brunch and for dinner.
The menu is set up tapas-style, so you order a few dishes to share between everyone. Things come out at all different times, it helps to pace the meal and also doesn't crowd the table too much. They serve bread (which I don't eat but smells amazing) with a fantastic hummus while you are waiting for your food to arrive. The hummus is so good I always grab a forkful.
For brunch I like the scrambled tofu. Really hearty and filling, and comes with greens and veggies on the side.
The absolute best dish on the dinner menu is the deep-fried taro balls with a mango relish-type of thing. I think they are called something more appetizing but every time I go with my boyfriend we EACH order a plate of these, plus other things to share. I only order dessert if someone else will share with me, the gluten-free chocolate amazingness is so rich and decadent I think I would buzz right out of there if I ate it all myself.
Bonus points for really cozy decor, and they have a variety of table set-ups to accommodate different size groups of people. In the summer they open the whole front wall of the restaurant so it is open to the street. -
Review from Dardana M.
ON
1/29/2009
I just realized something like, a minute ago, that I think is pretty hilarious. This is the only other strictly vegetarian restaurant I have *ever* set foot in, and as I did with the other (see review of "Live") all I had was an alcoholic beverage.
It was like, 2 years ago (at least) and a friend of mine was acting as DJ (yes, we was dancing, I don't know if that happens there often, I think it was for some specific occasion), and it seemed alright enough. It was kind of lounge-y at that hour, so I didn't try the eats, but...I had an amazing screwdriver-type drink. All I remember was that it was made with the freshest, realest orange and grapefruit juice I have ever had and did I mention they mixed this with ALCOHOL? The idea literally seemed revolutionary to me. Man, that was a good drink. -
Review from A V.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2010
I've only been once but the food was amazing (I had the Moroccan stew - and I'm not a strict vegetarian), the service was very good, the restaurant had a nice ambiance, and the bill was very reasonable.
Just wish they were open on Mondays, too!
I definitely plan to go there again. -
Review from Bryce G.
Stewiacke, NS
3/20/2010
Everyone I know in Toronto was raving about the brunch at this place. Vegans, meat eaters, aliens, all of them. I knew I had to try it. "Try" is a key word here. I had to try several times to try it because every time I was in Toronto they weren't open. I tried three times with a couple months in between each attempt and they were either renovating, keeping crazy hours, or mysteriously not open during normal hours. Luckily (sorta) the fourth time was a charm.
The real problem was that they were out of everything. Like four things. The biggest rave people had was the waffles or pancakes or something like that but of course those weren't available. I settled on a tofu omelette that sounded nice in writing. The "tofu ham" was absolute garbage and the texture of the tofu was attrocious. I can do better in my own kitchen. I tried my friend's tofu scramble and it was really good, though. If I get dragged back I'll try that. The menu was also incredibly short, adding in that they were out of everything the options were pretty limited. I guess if you're only open four days a year though it's hard to ensure you have adequate product to feed the customers. -
Review from Dayna S.
Vancouver, BC
6/24/2010
I was really happy with out decision to eat at this restaurant. It was a bit more than a super-cheap meal, but not over priced. I recommend the 3-appetizer for $15 deal so you can try a few of the tasty dishes. It was comfy inside and the food was very tasty - not the usual suspects I'd expect at a vegan spot. They did not have a gluten-free option for the spreads/dips, however.
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Review from Elizabeth L.
Toronto, ON
6/14/2009
I adore the food at Fressen, but that's where it ends.
The service is the worst I have ever experienced. Time and time again, it takes so long to get your food and it seems that you can never get the servers attention.
Every time I go to brunch there and order a dish with fake ham in it, it NEVER comes in the dish. And every time I inform the server about it, they just say "Oh." or "I don't think there is ham in that dish." Yes, yes there is. Don't treat me like an idiot who doesn't know what they ordered. One reason the service is so bad may be because they never have someone working the drink/bar station and there are never more than two servers working at a time. Look, this is a pretty nice restaurant with pricey bills so why can't they splurge and hire more help? It's a total slap in the face to the customers.
The kitchen staff are always so loud and the main chef is beyond rude and moody. I don't really give a shit if he wants to treat his staff with total disrespect, but then at least put a door on the kitchen so when seated within close proximity, I don't have to hear your obnoxious and loud banter.
The food however, when served with all ingredients, is truly unique. The dinner portions are small, but you are urged to order a couple and share, which I love. I'm such a sampler and if you are too, you will love this place - you know, besides experiencing terrible service. -
Review from Lauren T.
Toronto, ON
3/9/2010
WTF! Why is Fressen NEVER open. It says its open on the website and on the frigging door of the actual restaurant and yet, it's not! I was really looking forward to trying this gourmet vegan food. And now I am REALLY mad. Seems from other people's reviews this happens rather frequently. Get it together you slacking vegan hippies.
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Review from Sara K.
8/13/2010
This was a good meal, but not my favorite. The restaurant is so dark you can hardly see your plate. We had a spinach appetizer which was the highlight of the meal, it has this really yummy sauce. The Moroccan stew was good, but not amazing. And the blackened seiten was really really black. Now, maybe it is supposed to be like that, but it was not my thing at all. Dessert didn't sound too appetizing so we skipped it. I would go again and give it another try as I love to support veggie restaurants.
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Review from Shawn B.
Oshawa, ON
7/29/2010
A fixture on the Queen West drag, Fressen serves up gourmet vegetarian fare at average upscale prices. The soup is always a winner, especially when there's sweet potato and ginger involved. Try the battered tofu, which is crumbled, has spices and other goodness added, then is re-formed and beer-battered with delicious results. The staff are friendlier than you'd expect for this neighbourhood, as well.
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Review from Jimi S.
ON
12/4/2008
so its taken me some time to get to the point where i have a craving for a vegetarian meal, much less the notion of a vegan one. in fact, that notion still turns me off a bit. so it is with great pleasure that i say that EVERYTHING i had was delicious there.
i was with a bunch of guys believe it or not, none of us being vegetarian or vegan but only one of us who lived in san diego and who also happened to be a chiropractor and the healthiest of all of us, probably combined, if that can even make any sense.
when i went this time, they had changed their set up to a tapas style restaurant; great for me as i always love to try everything if i can. i think we ordered two orders of the mushroom rawzagna which is made with pesto, sundried tomato paste, and hemp butter. we fought over the last bits of the squash ravioli (go with me here, there really was no wrestling or even anything as much as a raised eyebrow, but we all did like it.)....we chomped on spinach blinis, gnocchi which i normally dont like, and we all had desert, again which was great.
each dish is 9 bucks. period. easy to calculate, and i think we picked 6 dishes for the three of us (plus our other friend came later and mooched.) and it was plenty.
the waitress, my only complaint, didnt seem like she could handle the pressure and felt impatient to me. so it costs her a star.
other than that, fress away baby. (fressen means to eat in yiddish, by the by) -
Review from Alexandra K.
12/4/2008
I just discovered Yelp Canada and I am so thrilled because I've been dying to Yelp about Fressen for two years. No, I'm being serious. Friends and I dined here before Second City and really enjoyed everything about it. Great list of cocktails, extremely reasonable in terms of price. Additionally, the friendly staff were more than willing to help my carnivorous friends find an appetizing vegan appetizer worth sharing. I remember that we ordered dishes consisting of cornbread like substance, with avocado and chickpeas. There was this tangy vinaigrette that I still cannot get off my mind. I would highly recommend Fressen, even for the college-crowd. It's affordable and delicious.
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Review from Jonathan G.
11/29/2009
In contrast to other reviewers, I didn't have a problem with the service at Fressen. Maybe that's because the restaurant was not crowded when I ate (around 9:30 on a Thursday night) or maybe Fressen has made an effort to improve its service. Although the service was good, the food was disappointing. I enjoyed the coconut-based soup, but my dish of cubed beets mixed with greens was too sweet and the balls of spiced lentils were drowning in oil. In addition, my friend's sweet potato tart was charred (to the point of inedible) on the bottom.
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Review from Janet L.
11/8/2008
awesome awesome awesome food.
this place makes me want to eat this fresh and healthy everyday.
(although i'd definitely miss seafood and meat...)
but definitely vegan friendly!
the avacado chickpea salad was fantastic
mushroom philo was YUM
tofu spinach ravioli was a lil messier on the plate but tasty and crunchy
beet and root soup of the day was good stuff.
the asparagus and quinoa dish was alright ~ didn't like the flavour components, though the asparagus was cooked beautifully.
super fresh fruit on their vegan chocolate dessert plate (i haven't seen such fresh fruit cut up in a whileeee served at any restaurant)
and the cinnamon cha cha tea makes you want to snuggle up in the booth and sit there all night
the service was EgH~
although food came pretty quick and constant.
portion sizes are perfect so if you go with someone, you can share about 4 or 5 things. plus dessert and tea came out to be ~$70 with tip.
i left very satisfied and feeling good from eating such good food made with such 'pure' and wholesome ingredients.
large organic selection as well.
make sure you make a reservation!
