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Globe Bistro
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New)
124 Danforth AvenueToronto, ON M4K 1N1
Neighbourhoods: The Danforth, Riverdale
(416) 466-2000
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 2 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:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Globe Bistro
Review Highlights
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"...beautiful, they feature local ingredients, have an amazing..." In 3 reviews -
"...was to eat on the roof-top patio and had a magnificently..." In 3 reviews -
"Ewenity Crème Fraiche Panna Cotta." In 3 reviews
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Anni L.
8/3/2011
We had a class back to school gathering at this resto since it is owned by one of our classmates.
I arrived an hour late but just in time for ordering. Our table ordered several apetizers (Albacore Tuna Takaki, Elk Tartare, Crispy Pork Terrine, Oysters, and the Heirloom Tomato/Cheese salad). We did not wait too long as they brought us bread with butter and another tasteful spread and an amuse bouche (lobster on a crispy deep fried chip). The amuse bouche is on the house and melts in your mouth. The drinks also came promptly.
The Tuna Takaki tasted amazing...a piece of butterry sashimi that melts in your mouth. By the time the apetizer made rounds to me there wasn't much salad left other than red radish. Its served with pickled wild ginger, crispy shallots, scallion purée. The Elk Tartare also melts in your mouth. Very flavourful raw beef like texture. The Crispy Pork Terrine was light flaked shredded pork deep fried into a rectangle. This one was my least favorite apetizer - it was dry and not sure where the flavor lies. The Tomatoe salad had very fresh cheese and was very tasty. The oysters were good but did not come with the normal seasoning sauces on the side. Rather the sauces were served on 3 spoons in the middle of the dish which made it awkward.
For the main course I ordered the duck breast. It was cooked in a breaded exterior. The meat was tender and had good flavor. Portion was small. It was served with some baby radish (3 small pieces the size of a dime) and a orange reduction sauce. On the other side of the plate was this deep fried crispy ball made with shredded duck. This crispy ball was tasty since the outside was deep fried. It had good flavor.
The ambiance of the resto is quite nice. We sat indoors but they do have a patio.
My meal came to $34 including tax, tip, and a juice. I did not have an apetizer or dessert. They automatically added gratuity of 15%. They put an apetizer onto other people's bills since we did separate billing. If you want separate billing, they prefer you tell them from the beginning especially for a larger group.
Overall it was a good experience. I was hungry shortly after. Its more of a tasting fine dining type of menu rather than a hearty homestyle cooking judging by the portions/pricing. As we were all catching up a month and a half after we had all seen each other last, the conversation rotated around what we missed the most and what we missed the least about school. Our focus was on catching up more so than on the food.
Their motto is think globally, eat locally. So they source their ingredients from local producers. Overall, it was a good experience with a unique variety of items to try on the menu. I would recommend it for those that enjoy high quality ingredients over portion size. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
5/20/2012
I made reservartions to come on a Friday night at 8:30 and right after they asked me for my name and number, they got straight to the point in asking "Are you here for the Groupon deal?" I wasn't sure whether to feel a little offended (because if I wasn't, how was that supposed to make me feel). I'm probably just being over sensitive and I'm sure they wanted to make sure they had enough portions. Funny enough - from the time I bought the groupon to now (which is probably over 6 months ago), the price of their 5 course meal has actually dropped by $10.... meh I got a deal any way right?
I walked in on time to a beautiful interior with high ceilings and very cool linking loopy chandeliers, with dim lighting and a romantic setting. The room totally reminded me of WEST in Vancouver - long and narrow but still spacious. Our server was really polite, and patient, but the patience soon became long waits for her to come by, and missing in action for a lot of it.
The complimentary bread came with a walnut and raisin butter, along with regular butter - nice tough and bread was fresh and soft. What came next was a pickerel croquette which was flavourful, and complimented well with the aioli it rested on.
The first course was a cauliflower puree soup with bacon crisps and aged cheddar. At first taste, the soup was not even close to luke warm - S tried mine and said his was better, although I thought his wasn't up to par after. I got it sent back and the second bowl that came out was definitely steaming.... wondering where my first bowl was sitting. I could have done without the bacon bits because I'm not a bacon fan, but it added saltiness and texture to it, along with the cheddar.
Second course was an asparagus and arugula salad with goat cheese. This was one of the better courses with lots of flavours and textures, and different varieties of ingredients.
Third course was a very small tasting piece of perch on a bed of lemon couscous with tomato pepper sauce. The fish was very potent and if you are not a fan of fishiness, then this isn't for you. I thought the taste was nice, although the skin was a little tough to cut through. There was not much citrus to the couscous although the pepper tomato sauce gave each bite a nice kick to it.
Fourth course - main - was pork tenderloin over a bed of kale with some sort of barley ( I think). The sauce was delicious and the pork was super tender. Definitely my favourite dish of the night... and wish I knew how to make it too!
Last course, we opted not to get cheese, although our waitress assumed that we were ordering one of each and brought it out to us without even asking first... odd. We got two of the dessert plates which consisted of one round and one oval shaped pear roasted with tobacco parisian macaron with chocolate toule. Maybe the tabacco was in the chocolate because I didn't taste it in the macaron at all. It was very soft and very well made - so soft I actually could not pick it up with my hands. Wish there was more pear flavour because it is my absolute favourite but I was super happy with how the last plate finished off.
The food was not what disappointed me tonight.. it was definitely the service. With the cold soup, and plates being served while we had not been given new cutlery, or watching the servers bring our plates to another table only to come back to present it to us... I didn't think we received much attention at all throughout the night. They were either short staffed as it seemed like one woman was handling the entire line of tables, and half the time she seemed scattered brained and running all over the place. At one point, she had forgotten what course she was serving to one table, and told another table the wrong main course. It was a little tough to watch while being in the middle of it all. I was really surprised at how amateur it felt.
It was worth trying, but won't be rushing back. -
Review from Danielle N.
Toronto, ON
2/26/2012
"Meh"
That's the exact word I would use to describe my experience at Globe Bistro. It really pains me to say this because I have been itching to indulge in what they call a "unique local food experience" for months. But that experience fell short relative to my high expectations. The local aspect is what landed Globe a spot on my hit list. I just hoped that it would come with the whole package.
We took advantage of the Groupon deal ($69 for a 5-course tasting menu for two) but oddly I still felt as though I was ripped off. It was partly because of the "big plate/small portion" syndrome, all while being short on flavour. A formula that doesn't produce lasting impressions when I'm at the table.
The Service: meh.
It started off on the right foot when I called to reserve and request a paleo-friendly meal. They were graciously willing to accommodate and I thank them for that.
It was once we were situated at our cozy table that the service faltered. Our main server just didn't deliver on the high-end experience. She was dismissive and looked as though it was a struggle to smile. I think her name was "Debbie Downer".
On a positive note, the sequencing and timing was perfect: with less than 5 minutes between each course, and glasses proactively topped up. (Although, it was 10pm and we were one of three tables left, which may have worked in our favour).
Our Order: meh
Two of us took advantage of the Groupon, and my sister-in-law went with the a la carte menu. Remember, all of my meals were tweaked to exclude dairy, grains and gluten so it's not fair for me to judge. Nor is it fair to the chef, who has to deliver his vision while forced to omit key ingredients. That's why I relied on the opinions of my company...and their response was a unanimous "meh". Then again, service is a huge part of the experience. So when the service is "meh", the meal is "meh".
Starter: Maple Salt Cured Rainbow Trout ($11) - my sister-in-law and I shared this appetizer to hold us over until our cousin arrived. Smoked salmon and the like are hard to screw up, and Globe's version was tasty as expected. The contrasting flavours of the sweet cranberries next the the salty trout were a nice touch. I would have just liked to see more trout :)
5-Course Tasting Menu:
1. Soup - Northern woods mushroom purée, sherry, truffle cream,red fife croutons
On a blistering cold winter day, this is exactly how I would have liked the meal to start - with a warm, creamy and cozy soup. I'm a mushroom fanatic so this had my taste buds singing, even without the cream and croutons which were omitted per my Paleo diet restrictions.
2. Salad - Salt roasted celeriac, tobacco poached pear, celeryhearts, maple creme fraiche, sherry foie gras vinaigrette
The only wow factor here was the presentation. With or without the dressing, the consensus was that this salad left much to be desired. The components were interesting and unique, but they didn't come together to leave an impression. As one of the girls put it: "this is the lamest salad I've ever had".
3. Fish - Smoked haddock croquette, espellete aoli, pea shoot salad
My food envy kicked in as soon as I saw this land across the table. The girls were beaming with delight at their first bite. It was quite painful to watch.
Paleo version: Rainbow trout - While the girls continued to fight for the mini croquette on massive plate, I tried to enjoy my tiny Paleo friendly fish course. I'm sure it was wonderful, but I was too distracted by the commotion across the table.
4. Main - Bradford bay chicken supreme, roasted cauliflower, blackmquinoa, walnut purée, coriander lemon cumin jus
Below is the non-Paleo version with quinoa. I had a chance to sample the roasted cauliflower (which as you know, I am a fan of) but the chicken itself was...how do I put this..."meh". The flavour could have been more impressive perhaps. I'm not a chef, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about. As a consumer and a foodie though, I can say that I've had better chicken. Sorry Globe.
Paleo version: Chicken with broccoli. I was pleased to see my chicken on a pile of bright green broccoli (it made up for the salad which had little substance). I understand the chef had limitations, but I would still expect to see something a little more interesting and unique. In fact, my dinners at home don't look much different from this.
Out of space! More on my blog:) -
Review from Chay H.
Mississauga, ON
2/1/2012 2 photos
Me and my friends came here for Winterlicious last week, and after having spent some time to think on it, I would still say this place was just average. With a mid-sized group, we were seated in a somewhat strange area - in a corner edge near the hallway that connects to the kitchen entrance and the front bar area. It wasn't the worst thing, it was just weird having people and staff brush by when it got bottle-necked in that little hallway area. Anyway, we had came for Winterlicious and upon receiving our menus we were surprised to find that the Winterlicious menu posted online wasn't the same as the one we got when we sat down. Asking about this discrepancy, the staff simply told us it was just what they had in season, or some variation of that. Not a big deal, it's just that we really wanted to try certain items on the menu that weren't there anymore.. a bit disappointing.
Anyway, the food that we did get was somewhat lacking. My country terrine was dry, and the toast that it came with even drier. Some friends got the Butternut squash consomme for their starter, and the wuxi wellington rib as their main - they were not impressed. The overall feeling was that the food was just okay to mediocre, and definitely on the small side of portions; we were all quite hungry shortly afterwards.
If there's one silver lining to our dining experience it was that our waitress was very attentive and came by to check on us often, refill our drinks, etc. This might have something to do with the 18% gratuity they tack on to groups of 6 or more, or that it wasn't very busy, but there you go. Probably won't be going back for a second try, as I feel like there's better (and cheaper) alternatives out there that are more worthwhile for the price. -
Review from Valerie K.
Richmond Hill, ON
4/29/2012
I went there this morning and I was the first to arrive at 11 a.m. I indicated that I was in a hurry. I ordered steak and eggs and it was with many requests that I finally had to take it out as a take out order at 12:00. Do not go if you have any kind of time constraint cause it is the slowest place next to lava rock. I took the order with me
and the steak tasted like it had some very salty spicing...could it be msg? I am not sure what it was. Over-rated. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
4/18/2012
Went here on a groupon night with 2 other couples. Service was so-so. 2 couples on groupon had the tasting menu, and the 3 rd couple ordered a la carte. I wouldn't recommend the tasting menu, found the selections to be a bit bland and some of the portions very small. The couple who ordered a la carte seemed much happier with their meal. I was disappointed in this spot as I'd heard that it was special, but given this performance I won't be going back. Not horrible, just not worth the trip from the west end.
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Review from Kent P.
11/7/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Pretty standard up-scale spot. I don't know if it was worth the moolah, but the food was pretty good. There was a fly in my negroni so they made me a second one, which was nice of them. Staff were all pretty attentive and good-looking.
Had these great little snacks the chef sent out to the tables to get us excited for the meal (there's a name for those things right?) which was basically deep fried boar. It was so delicious I asked for a second order of them...I got a funny look but they came out anyway. Perfect.
Atmosphere is probably the best part about Globe - dim lighting, white table cloths, modern finishes...great place to take a date in that regard (or maybe Robert K. because you both have nothing to do except be creepy weirdos).
As for the mains...there is nothing to complain about but nothing I can remember from a few weeks ago...so can't have been that great, right? What a useless review this was. Sorry for making you read all that. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
11/5/2011 4 photos
I got confused easily, and I was trying to make a reservation through Open table for Sunday Brunch, I accidentally booked a table at Globe Earth instead.
And when I arrived, of course there was no reservation under my name and they were full booked! Since I am meeting a fellow Yelper here for brunch and no way I am leaving so I was offered to sit at the bar. Then after 15 minute or so I was offered a table at the back of the restaurant.
To be honest I like Globe Earth a lot better! From the staffs, the setting, the food! If I going for brunch I don't think I will be back at Globe Bistro. The dining room here though is classy and nice but I found it a little dim, a little impersonal and a little pretentious.
My Brunch mate was nice enough to offer share with me:
Egg Benny Yelper's Way with White Fish ($13)
Omelette of the Day ($12) with King Mushroom and Goat Cheese
Both nicely done, but did not wow me....
Sitting at the back of the room has it's disadvantages as getting our waitress to refill our water glass and coffee proved not a easy task! -
Review from Sara K. P.
Toronto, ON
7/31/2011 ROTD 4/13/2012
When Globe Bistro first opened, I really tried to force my self to dislike it as Globe usurped what was once my beloved Cafe Brussels, home of a myriad of mollusk delights.
Well I've had the pleasure of visiting Globe several times from its dawning and have ALWAYS been well impressed by its exemplary service, elegant relaxed surroundings and incredible food.
My first visit was casual as hubby & me were seated upfront close to the bar. I ordered the Globe hamburger (mmm with smokey ketchup) and was feeling festive so I decided to order a Proseco too...mid way through my meal I had a fruit fly in my Proseco and I swear the bartender had x-ray vision 'cos as soon as he saw me inspecting my glass, dude like nearly jumped the bar to come ask if there's a bug in it and if I wanted my Proseco replaced, which he did and then did not charge me for it which I thought was pretty awesome on their part.
Second visit was to eat on the roof-top patio and had a magnificently yummy cobb salad, very impressed with the slick patio set-up, arguably one of the best in the city.
Third visit was for Winterlicious diner 2010. This time hubby and myself dined intimately on the top floor overllooking patrons and murals of nude silhouttes while basking in the deliciousness of the Cornmeal Crusted Lake Huron Whitefish with prawn "gumbo" sauce , plus Cauliflower Moussaka with Ontario buffalo mozzarella and to finish a Walnut Butter Tart Vanilla Chantilly, Muskoka cranberry preserve. All this amazing-ness for $35! Holy Hannah!!
I love and also appreciate that Globe's menu incorporates local and seasonal items so it is everchanging and supporting the local economy.
Well Globe I tried to dislike you but... you're good enough, you're smart enough and gosh darnitt, I just like you!Listed in: Mouthgasms :D, 24 Karat Dining
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Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
2/2/2011 ROTD 10/22/2011
Globe Bistro is a beautiful restaurant located in a former entertainment complex/bowling alley from the 1920s. The dining area in the back retains the alley flooring, (keep an eye out for markings). They specialize in locally produced, and globally influenced dining.
The sister restaurant to Earth in Rosedale, http://www.yelp.ca/biz..., Globe is consistent, and that is what counts. I have been for Summerlicious, Winterlicious, Business lunches and dinners and every time the quality and service has been as good as the last. I have certainly ordered things that were not to my taste, but it is clear that everything is prepared with care.
This is definitely a more formal/more expensive restaurant, more suitable for business or special occasions. It is not pretentious by any means, and last night I wore full winter boots under the table and did not feel out of place. Menu changes frequently utilizing local and seasonal ingredients.
The service is fantastic. Friendly, not overbearing, professional, courteous. The attention to detail is superb. On last visit (last night) one of my companions arose to go to the washroom and left his napkin bunched on the table. Our server swept in and silently folded it with one hand and had it neatly ready for his return. Water is always filled, everything comes right at the perfect time, the entire experience is very orchestrated, all signs of a restaurant with impeccable service principles. these are not the kind of servers standing around txting or even chatting with each other.
Food very fresh and tasty. Great atmosphere. Washrooms are always spotless.
if you are historically inclined, you can read a breakdown of the properties history here from their website (including a lot of information about Danforth in general) http://www.globebistro...
Globe is a safe bet for quality food, good service and a nice time.Listed in: Leslieville, Riverdale &…, BOOM ROTD!
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Review from Yvonne T.
**1/2 stars
Tasked with finding a patio that was smoker-friendly, I stumbled upon Globe Bistro, the sister restaurant to Earth (Rosedale). I had had a stellar dining experience at Earth; I had high hopes for Globe.
We arrived promptly for our 6:30PM reservation and found ourselves a seat on their rooftop patio. The patio layout is quite nice with the bar to one side, and zebra-printed booth-like seats on the outer edges of the patio, which is encased by wooded walls. I also saw heating lamps, which would've come in handy as the night went on. It got rather chilly, but it was my fault for wearing sleeveless and not bringing a jacket! Keep in mind that you will have to brave 3 flights of stairs to reach the roof-top patio, so you may want to leave gramps at home for this one!
The crowd ranged from all ages, both young and old. As the night got on, the restaurant got busier - but still relatively half empty for a Saturday night. Perhaps with TIFF taking place, all the restaurant-goers' attention has diverted to the Yorkville area?The bartender would also double as the server tonight, which made for inattentive, slow service which was insult to injury on top of small food portions with a big price tag.
Ms. B ordered a half bottle of 2007 Henry Pelham Chardonnay instead of her usual half litre because it was cheaper. Later in the evening, to her dismay, she would find out that an 80z. glass of wine would cost her almost the same as a half bottle ($12 vs. $19). Because I was chaffeuring tonight, I limited myself to an 8oz. glass of Rosé, ringing in at $9.
We ordered 2 appetizers, a main, and dessert to share.The Butter Poached Lobster was served with a black truffle potato "risotto," fried zucchini pesto and Toscano cheese. We were served the claw, which made for a firmer texture. The potato risotto was quite delicious, and if I had not referred back to the menu I would've been tricked into thinking it was jicama. The batter was not too heavy on the oil. Overall, this dish scores great from a taste perspective, but from a textural perspective, I would've used a different part of the lobster as I found the claw meat to be rather "tough."
Our second appetizer of the evening was the "Asparagus" Salad. I use the term asparagus sparingly as there was more arugula than asparagus. The asparagus spears are thinly sliced and there was one random asparagus floret in the salad somewhere. It was a light and refreshing salad sprinkled with toasted almonds, and lemon oil with a round of fried ricotta. Overall, a yummy salad - and a decent size for an appetizer salad.I really had a hard time picking a main as they all sounded so enticing. However, at the end we settled for the Duck Confit which consisted of a yarn ball, duck breast, a bed of greens, baby parsnips and finished with an apricot jus. I found the duck breast to be slightly overcooked which took a few more bites to properly digest. The yarn ball was quite creative and was bits of shredded duck, that was encased with "yarn." The yarn ball, from a textural perspective, loosely resembled a taro "nest" that you would most often see at a Chinese restaurant that would contain a celery, snap beans and seafood melange of sorts. The yarn ball was a culinary piece of art, but alas, the overcooked duck breast brought it down a notch.
Their dessert list was rather disappointing but in the end we opted for the Callebaut Chocolate Mousse which was served with a bacon nougatine, espresso brownies and strawberry ice wine gelée. The chocolate mousse was encased by a chocolate shell, which was rather solid and hard to break through. Ours almost went flying off the plate! I also ordered a coffee to go with dessert and found it to leave a really dry aftertaste in my mouth. I am quite a picky coffee drinker, and theirs is one I would not order again.
Verdict
Globe Bistro fell short of my expectations. With its small portion sizes, pricey menu and lax service I can say with certainty that I probably won't be back again with the plethora of options available in Toronto.
The ambiance and patio are what I would say are the selling points to this restaurant. I will add that all their dishes are beautifully presented and appealing, just not very satisfying. It'd be a great place to go to impress your date with the amount of money you'd be dropping on the table. Our bill came to about $112 before tip which, we felt, was money better spent elsewhere.
I definitely had two polar opposite experiences at Earth and Rosedale. I would definitely go back to Earth, but Globe? Me thinks not!Listed in: All that talk about nothing..., Pat-Pat-Patio
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Review from Anastassia M.
Toronto, ON
7/13/2011
Me and my girlfriend went there on a quite Tuesday night to catch up on life after a long walk in Don Valley Park.
One of the doors with nothing-special sign 'Globe Bistro' on Danforth opens up into a fancy dining area that expands massively before you. To get to the roof top patio - the *gem* of the restaurant - you have to go three flights of stairs. Cozy little space with pillows on couches, superb specialty martinis, huge wine list and friendly service. The food selection is not big but is also exquisite. To say the least, you feel like you have found a secret get away in the middle of a greek town. Highly recommended. -
Review from TOFoodReviews n.
Toronto, ON
12/2/2011
Much like Ed Ho's recent earth Bloor West endeavour, Globe bistro's focus is on local and simple; myself, I find that to be a beautiful combination, if it's pulled off right that is.
Cut off from the cozy front bar space, you can't help but notice how welcoming Globe's dining room is; distinguishingly set tables, character hardwood floors, and an interesting play on shadows and lighting all come together to create a soft and intimate space. It draws you in as soon as you enter, and it gives you the feeling that you're in for something special.
With considerate, friendly, detail orientated staff, the service at Globe doesn't disappoint. While it might have partly been because we were among the first tables they had in for dinner that night, we were warmly greeted by the entire front house as we were led to our table. No matter what business you're in, that type of attention scores big points.
Trouble is, I was there to eat, and most of the food at Globe fell a little flat...
There's a lot to be said about going local. With hype from the 100 Mile Challenege and a seemingly growing concern for eating local and sustainable, people are looking for food that's produced closer to home and with a smaller carbon footprint. While Globe's focus may be on local, it's hard to identify exactly how close 'local' is since they have items sourced from as far as Kelowna and Vancouver.
The West Coast Dungeness Crab starter was overcomplicated, which made it slightly hard to identify what the heck we were eating. Besides the obvious crab meat, which was subtly sweet and perfectly cooked, the plate also had a far-to-large savoury panna cotta and some haphazardly scattered popcorn. Yep. Popcorn. While the consistencies were actually pretty good, it was mostly a confusing dish to eat that came with no explanation.
The Second Winds Farm Elk main was a little too simple; too little color, not enough flavor, and effortless presentation. While the elk loin was perfectly cooked, the braised shoulder was tough and near-tasteless. The best part of the dish was the corn polenta.
Much the same with the pheasant, which also served the meat two ways. While the citrus breast was moist and tasty, the jerked leg was tough and lacking spices.
It's really too bad, because I truly wanted to love Globe. From the beautiful dining room to the amazing staff, I was sure I was in for something special.
Perhaps simpler is better, especially since what we're talking about here is a focus on local ingredients. Great cooking is all about balance, and if Globe could just work on simplifying some of their dishes (like the crab starter) and making others slightly more complicated (like the Elk main) and identify where they draw the line on being local, they'd have nothing stopping them. -
Review from Andie S.
Toronto, ON
11/18/2011
I came here for drinks on the patio after work. The patio is small and cozy and although it wasn't covered, we didn't get any direct sun. The wine list was extensive, but otherwise the bar was understocked. I ordered a blonde ale that was on tap and I couldn't finish it. It was so bad, but they didn't charge me for it. Then I had the fish and chips which was mostly batter with a smattering of fish. Don't come here if you are hungry. The serving sizes are "gourmet". And since when is Elk a local food? Eastern Elk are extinct.
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Review from Kyle P.
Toronto, ON
6/16/2009 ROTD 6/24/2009
Including last week's dinner, I've now been to this place 5 or 6 times and have found the food, service, and experience to be excellent every time. Also impressive is that I've been on different days of the week, including weekends, and have never noticed a difference in the quality of food, service, or attention to detail, which says a lot about a place, imo.
The space has a very light and airy feel to it, with very high ceilings, muted lighting, and an upper level of seating lined by a glass railing. Definitely not a spot for large groups of friends, more suitable for say a table of four or romantic dinner. I understand they now have a rooftop patio but I've never been so I can't comment on it.
The menu is relatively short, with five to six entree and a similar number of mains, along with by-the-glass wine pairing suggestions. The wine list itself is pretty comprehensive, with a very good selection of some gems from Niagara and PE County, as well as interesting options from around the world. At last week's dinner, we chose to abandon all pretence of pairing, choosing a full-bodied Aussie red that didn't go with any of our dishes but was nonetheless really satisyfing.
As for food, we both enjoyed lobster three ways--in a salad, raw, and in a light tempura batter--and it was difficult to figure out which was tastiest. Along with a glass of white Burgundy (okay, I had to pair the lobster properly) this was a real treat. I opted for the coq au vin, which was a much lighter treatment of what is usually a fairly heavy, rustic winter dish, the almost duck-like (crispy, yet melt in your mouth like) chicken accompanied by sweet sauteed grape tomatoes and some cloud-like mashed potatoes. My wife had the forementioned lobster as a main and a very rich yet delicate asparagus soup with chevre as a starter.
Didn't have time to stick around for dessert but have enjoyed these on previous occassions. Highly recommend. -
Review from Helen L.
Toronto, ON
10/13/2009
Globe Bistro can do no wrong in my books.
If you want a to have a meal at a nice restaurant without the snooty servers and pretentious clientele, Globe Bistro is your best bet. The space is beautiful, they feature local ingredients, have an amazing wine list and the servers are always professional, friendly and knowledgeable.
I love going there for brunch as the food is always excellent. There is usually something for everyone and they're pretty good at accommodating special requests. Also, they take reservation so you never have to line up for an hour just to eat there. -
Review from Erin K.
Toronto, ON
9/13/2010
Globe Bistro is my Summerlicious 2010 winner!
Spiced chutney & warm, crusty bread
I've come to appreciate a good spread that accompanies a nice bread basket. The spiced chutney was a pleasant start to the meal while my friend and I waited for the rest of our party to arrive.
Tom Collins Cucumber Gazpacho
Lake Erie farms cucumber, lemon cress, preserved lemon, Canadian gin
I enjoyed this version quite a bit. Never having tried a non-tomato gazpacho before, this was my first pick for lunch. I was very pleased with the light, refreshing flavour and great consistency. Unlike Biff's gazpacho, it was neither too creamy nor smooth. I prefer it with texture, and this one definitely rivals Boulevard Cafe's tomato-based gazpacho. I did not notice the gin, which is a good thing since I'm not a fan and I'd have to do a blind taste test to see if it made a difference. This was my favourite starter.
Smoked Black Cod Brandade
Crispy shallot rings, smoked paprika essence, confit garlic crostini
The crispy shallot rings were great with the paprika essence topped with a generous helping of the brandade. The texture was similar to very thick mashed potatoes, and the cod flavour was not too strong. This was the overall favourite appetizer of the table (but not mine!)
Shaved Fennel & Purple Basil Cress Salad
Spiced pistachio, taggiashi olive dust, orange gelée
I enjoyed this salad - the fennel had a good bite, the pistachios were great, and I enjoyed the orange gelée quite a bit. The gelée was sweet with a firm texture, which paired well with the vegetables.
Lake Erie Pickerel
Wild rice coriander salad, Millbank green peas, marjoram cress, earth chardonnay vinaigrette
In spite of my typical hesitation to order fish, I have tried it at all of my Summerlicious outings this year. I was very glad that I did not miss out on this dish! The pickerel was cooked with the skin, which was nice and crispy and the wild rice salad was wonderful. The fish was seared very well, and was neither dry nor oily and was my favourite entree. I would order the fish at Globe Bistro again based on this!
Swiss Chard Torte Verde
Best Baa Farm feta, charred tomato coulis, blonde frisée, chives
The warm, baked feta on top of tomato coulis was quite savoury without an overpowering feta flavour. The tomato coulis had a cheesy taste and thick texture - I personally would have preferred a stronger charred tomato flavour instead but it was a great sauce to swirl the torte around before each bite.
Seared Cumbrae's Flank Steak
Duck fat Yukon chips, vine ripe tomato, scallion, Triple Crunch aioli
Carefully cooked, the steak was wonderfully pink and juicy. The aioli was a great accompaniment and steak's usual partner in crime - the fries - were quite tasty. Thickly cut and cooked in duck fat, they were enjoyed with each tender slice of steak. This was the overall favourite.
Callebaut Dark Chocolate Torte
Espresso mousse, Cherry Lane Farms black cherry sugar
Torte, torte, torte! Topped with mousse, this thick treat was a nice way to end the meal. I liked the torte at Biff's a bit more, as it was a more moist and was served with a fruity sauce but this was a nice, satisfying variation as well. I love the density of torte, and the flavour of dark chocolate is something that I'll never tire of. I wasn't a huge fan of the espresso mousse - while good, I would prefer something a little sweeter/fruity/saucy for this dense dessert.
Globe Summer Berry "Mess"
Vanilla spiced meringue, bacon infused whiskey, Ontario berries
Yum! I'm not usually a fan of meringue or vanilla but this dessert was light and pleasant. The meringue was airy and sweet, and a great combination with the Ontario strawberries. The stiff peaks were lightly browned and the vanilla flavour was very pleasant with the sweet berries.
Ewenity Crème Fraiche Panna Cotta
Candied lemon zest, wild blueberry soup
This is the first panna cotta that I've enjoyed at a Summerlicious meal. I usually find it too creamy in taste, however joined with the blueberry soup and candied lemon this was great. I particularly enjoyed the lemon zest! The blueberry soup was akin to syrup and I'll admit that I took some torte and gave it a good swirl - it was fantastic.
Overall, I was very pleased with my experience at Globe Bistro - definitely a nice way to end this year's Summerlicious escapades. Great service, good food made with local ingredients, and wonderful decor - a surefire recipe for a nice lunch or dinner. A pleasant bistro to go with friends or clients and it has a rooftop patio!
Pics: http://cookiesandtomat... -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
7/19/2010 5 photos
Came here for Summerlicious with my girlfriends on a Sunday afternoon. We wanted to come Saturday, but they weren't open at lunch time.
The place is quite nice. Narrow, but 2 levels and seats a lot. I also think one of the reasons is that there are only 2 single stall bathrooms. I guess that saves a lot of real estate, but proves to be inconvenient a little. Depends on your luck I guess.
The Summerlicious menu had a lot of choice, but was a little deceiving. The really appetizing looking Black Cod App, was actually a mashed potato type thing served with chips. Other choices were Fennel Salad (it was okay, fancy coleslaw) and a Cold Gazpacho soup.
As for the mains, my friends got the steak (other choices were Pickerel and a quiche type thing). The meat was quite tender, and they seems pleased with it.
Dessert was a Chocolate torte, panna cotta and a berry 'mess' (like a parfait). They both got the torte, it looked a little dry, but they liked it and couldn't finish it because it was quite filling.
Because I have dietary restrictions, I couldn't get anything I really wanted on this menu (quiche/pannacotta) so I decided to go on their Brunch menu.
It looked good, with some egg options and a goat cheese crepe. I got the Swine and Dine. It was essentially Eggs with Toast and Pork 6 ways (aka fatty fatty fatty bacon type things).
It was disappointing that on a Sunday Brunch at 12pm she had to inform me that the Confit of Pork was unavailable. It's this early, and this means that the chef just didn't bother to get it. Meaning also, that I am being ripped off a little as I am getting LESS than I paid for. Also, when I asked her to describe to me what exactly will I be getting on my plate, she was not helpful at all and couldn't really answer me.
No matter.
I got salad instead of toast, and egg yolk scrambled only. It came with bacon, fatty bacon, some fried fatness, sausage and more bacon and 3 mushrooms. To be honest I only saw the pork 4 ways, when it should be 5.
When we paid, we had three credit cards and asked her to pay different amounts on each. She came back and said it's not possible to add the tip on the credit card like that, so...? I've never seen this happen before, and wondering if it's just the server trying to get her share of tip. What I don't understand is that the total amount will be more than what the total would be, and therefore the difference is her tip.
Anyway, she reluctantly went back and split the bill to our respective meals when we told her.
It was okay, wouldn't be on my list to try again however. -
Review from Norm S.
East York, ON
2/9/2010
We recently went to Globe Bistro with another foodie couple. We all arrived for our early reservation separately and the first few to arrive ordered cocktails at the bar when the whole party was assembled and our table on the mezzanine was ready they offered to carry our drinks for us, nice touch.
During Winterlicious Globe has reduced their ala carte menu, fine for us as we planned for Winterlicious but some may be surprised by this.
We ordered our prix fixe selections as well as an extra appetizer course. Three of us had the scallop app, it consisted of three medium sized scallops which were perfectly cooked and the sauce and lardons with it were a perfect complement to the sweetness of the scallop. Then the extra app of pork belly which was very good, I didn't care for the sauce on this dish which can stand on it's own but the other diners enjoyed it. For mains we had the braised short ribs which were perfect, and duck which was a touch overcooked. We had two bottles of wine suggested by the sommelier an Australian Temprinillo which was excellent and an Argentine Malbec which was less successful but still good.
On to dessert the apple tart was a disappointment, it was served fridge cold which really ruined it, hardening the pastry the toffee pudding on the other hand was super.
Service was excellent, there was one small problem, immediately recognized, corrected and compensated for, we lingered a bit at the table taking nearly 2 1/2 hours but never felt the slightest pressure, especially during winterlicious they must have planned to turn that table quicker but never let on to us.
So for 4 winterlicious menus plus 2 extra apps, 4 cocktails, 2 bottles of wine plus a glass and corkage on a dessert wine we brought from our cellar (yes we were walking or rather staggering home) the bill came to just over $400 tip included, a bit steep for winterlicious but we did load on the booze, I thought this was good value. -
Review from Vivian L.
Scarborough, ON
4/12/2011
This is a restaurant with a good concept, a good wait staff, but mediocre food. I forgot the precise name of what I ordered but it was along the lines of steak, eggs, bread, and mushroom fricasse (it was on the brunch menu). For the price I was paying, I expected more for presentation on the test. However my steak and eggs were very under seasoned, and the dish was only salvaged by the deliciously prepared mushrooms. I would've given this restaurant only 2 stars had it not been the great service, and the neat concept of serving local foods. I will probably not be returning simply because it is too expensive for that quality of food.
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Review from Sheila B.
Toronto, ON
2/18/2010
**We also went to Globe for Winterlicious but our experience was no where as nice as previous reviewer.
**The scallop appetizer did not consist of three scallops, it was one large scallop cut into three on a cold plate with a mere scattering (and that's being generous) of some rendition of pork belly the size of an eraser top. Over cooked and cooked like yesterday.
**The next course was Duck breast over risotto. The duck was just ok (cold again) about 2 oz over about a 1/2 cup of risotto that litterally tasted like it came from one of those packages. Non-existing sauce of any kind. Boring is what it was. Yearning for one of those ducks in the window in Chinatown at this moment.....
**3rd course was Apple tart, it was ok if you were say at a donut shop. could make better at home. About the size of 2 loonies.
**Beer and wine fine (one star for that). Service was ok (one star for that). Waiter presented bill even though we didn't ask for it. I guess the 100 or so patrons (or suckers) waiting at the door didn't help the cause.
**I know that winterlicious is a tasting menu and portions are smaller then norm but this was ridiculous and if Globe wants returning business this menu was not it.
7 people, 7-$35 winterlicious, 2 bottles red, 6 beers, 2 cognacs, 4 coffee + tip.....$600 not worth it... -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
3/29/2011 3 photos
I went to Globe Bistro for Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner last year. I was blown away with food and the impeccable service! The turkey was the best that I've ever tasted, and everything, including the amuse bouche and desserts, were just delectable. I look forward to returning to Globe Bistro soon!
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Review from Jimi S.
ON
11/24/2008 6 photos
as we walked in to globe bistro i felt like i owned everything. i felt like all my minions had hovered around me and did their best not to be the unlucky one that would be on the receiving end of my beatings or floggings maybe. i felt like everything was a little precious.
that being said, it is quite elegant there. too bad i wasnt on a date. i was with my dad. thanks dad. nonetheless, i debated what to get for a while (i always do that) and noticed that the pork belly came with greens. "oh, thats good" i thought. "it cant be that unhealthy then; why, with those greens im sure to get the requisite number of veggies in. i daresay that by ordering this i will have even combined two courses!"
there was one leaf of romain lettuce reaching out of the pork belly for dear life.
now the pork belly WAS great. and then i had a steak.
with a whole bunch of onion rings around it.
AND a cheese plate of some really stinky cheese after that.
....and a grappa.
plus some wine before...and maybe the remainder of my dads wine...(i was only being responsible...he had to drive home...wine shouldnt be wasted.)
some cool things about the dishes: it seems their signature move is the foam. on one of my dishes there was a blue cheese type foam. not styrofoam, but more like soap suds. but it tasted good. and everything was cooked to perfection.
and its all canadian.
but i do think its all a bit foofy. great food can be served in a place that welcomes a little bit of noise, community, laughter. even formal weddings arent usually that formal.
but then again...for a nice date... -
Review from Su B.
4/29/2009
This was the first place we went out to in Toronto and I loved it. We were here for brunch and there is something about this place that invites you in and promises you a great time - even in the middle if winter. Although the place got super busy, the staff was attentive and cheery. (Nothing like a droopy wait staff to kill the joy of brunch). I had Globe's benedict with some smoothie (it was a special) and I loved it. It was a perfect brunch - relaxing with a kick from a caffeine high:)
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Review from John B.
Toronto, ON
11/22/2009
I was initially interested in Globe Bistro because of the locally sourced ingredients, and had read some positive reviews, but I am seriously regretting wasting a Saturday night and birthday dinner there now. We went as a party of 10 on November 21, 2009, and every diner agreed that the food was bland at best, and service was slow and inattentive. Perhaps for some the decor will be enough to fool them into thinking they are experiencing 'fine dining', but if you are someone with even a somewhat educated palate there are certainly better choices in Toronto in this price range. There were no balance of flavours, little creativity and not one wow. I make better food at home.
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Review from Michael S.
Toronto, ON
5/12/2010
Mother's Day Brunch - $29/person - 3 courses plus coffee & scones. Great offerings like smoked Arctic char and lamb with couscous. Despite the fact that the place was jam-packed, our waiter was incredibly attentive and very gracious - an incident with an oversalted quiche was dealt with so quickly and professionally that I was astounded. Great customer service and a very positive experience.
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Review from Jonathan G.
North York, ON
7/28/2010
Went to Globe for a business lunch today...
Overall, we felt that the meal was mediocre and overpriced. We began with a eggplant soup that had a horrible acidity to it ($9, later taken off by our waitress, we left almost all of it). a pasta dish had nice al dente pasta and fresh mushrooms, it was one of the highlights.
The frites were greasy but undercooked inside. The ribeye was very flavorful, but the "6 oz" portion looked like much less than 4 oz, it was about 6 very civilized (small) bites. Reportedly the fish and chips was good (our dining companion) but there was a very stingy portion of chips.
Overall, Meh! Not worth the price for sure. -
Review from Thom H.
Updated - 6/24/2010
Here for brunch again this weekend and nothing seemed nearly as good as last time even though I ordered the same things. Steak was no better/ worse than the Tulip, and I prefer the atmosphere at Tulip so I'm knocking a star off.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/27/2010
Here again for dinner recently. Now their fabulous dinners have been supplemented with a "patio… Read more »
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