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Jump Cafe & Bar
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
18 Wellington St WCommerce Court East
Toronto, ON M5L 1G4
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 363-3400
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Jump Cafe & Bar
Review Highlights
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"And the white chocolate cheesecake wrapped in phyllo pastry." In 5 reviews -
"Wild & Tame Mushroom soup." In 4 reviews -
"Hands down, one of the best crab cake I have ever had." In 6 reviews
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Lindsay R.
Scarborough, ON
3/9/2012
I went here for an anniversary dinner with my boyfriend. The service was absolutely amazing, all be it embarrassing sometimes :) When making the reservations online (which is always a huge plus in my books) I guess my boyfriend had put that it was for an anniversary. When we arrived the hostess was very friendly and nice, she took our coats and wished us a happy anniversary. Our waiter was very nice, knew the menu very well and was very thoughtful (my boyfriend accidentally dropped his fork, and the waiter came out of nowhere with a new one literally in 10 seconds). The only complaint would be how close the tables were. It was hard to not eavesdrop on our neighbours! And also hard not to comment on them (we're big people watchers and usually make comments about those around us...I know we're horrible people)
The food was great. I had the crab cakes to start. The were very flavourful, with great toppings and extras. I only wish that their had been more cilantro in them as I thought that kick of flavour mixed with everything else was what made them. Also they were a little 'wetter' (more mayo mixed in) then I would prefer, but overall they were good. My boyfriend had the fois gras to start. It was AMAZING. Perfectly seared, very flavourful and served with great accents. I would say it was the best thing we had. I had the special for dinner, a huge rib-eye steak with asparagus and blue cheese butter with a side of the pan seared wild mushrooms. The steak was great (but actually too big to finish) and perfectly cooked, but I wish there had been more to the dish. The blue cheese flavour was too subtle for my liking, I think when you order blue cheese, you want a punch of flavour. Also I wish it had been served with a starch like mashed potatoes. The wild mushrooms had great variety, but didn't have any flavour beyond their natural (I don't think they were even seasoned) with would have been nice. My boyfriend had the mushroom gnocchi. The handmade gnocchi were super yummy and melted in your mouth beautifully and the creamy mushroom sauce was full of flavour. The portions were all very large but we saved room for dessert. For dessert I had the toffee creme brulee and my boyfriend had the icees (mango, blood orange, and raspberry sorbets). Both were good, but the embarrassing thing was they came out on a long plate together with a lit candle and in chocolate "Happy Anniversary" written. When I had seen the plate leaving the kitchen I actually said to my boyfriend "That's always so embarrassing when restaurants do that. Please never have a restaurant ever, ever, ever sing me Happy Birthday!" and then the plate came to our table. At least they didn't sing and it was just one server, not a crowd. The Shiraz wine we ordered was super yummy (although expensive) and went well with our meals. The wine list is extensive, and definitely not cheap.
Overall, amazing service, great food, good atmosphere. I would go back again, but it's not the place we'll go every year for our anniversary. I definitely wouldn't call it a cafe though! -
Review from Daniel D.
Scarborough, Toronto, ON
2/26/2012
Food leaves something to desire.
Place isn't too pricey unless you get wine. Their selection is pretty decent though -
Review from Mariko M.
2/3/2012
Came here tonight (Friday) for Winterlicious.
Reservations were made on-line through Open Table - always a plus in my books as I hate having to call in then having to leave a voice message and then waiting for a response (you get the picture).
Service was really good ... although, Dining Companions and I were convinced that our server was faking a British accent a la Madonna.
This is where Jump lost its star count : the food.
Starter - Ontario Buffalo Mozzarella ... it was actually pretty good. Light with an oil based dressing. The beets and candied pecans added to the salad.
Main - Grilled Salmon ... meh. The lemon aioli was not necessary as it didn't add anything to the salmon.
Dessert - Chocolate Cheesecake ... meh. I've had a lot better.
I'll be okay if I don't come back.
Not to say that I'd pass an opp to eat here again.
Solid three stars. -
Review from Emily M.
12/5/2011
Amazing service! I love this place!
I was here on the weekend for an office Christmas event. I was just the date and when I arrived I discovered that my date had failed to inform his office/the restaurant that I was a vegetarian. This freaked me out, as there was no vegetarian option listed on the private event menu.
However the staff and kitchen were AMAZING! They didn't make me feel like some freak of nature and were completely accommodating to my diet. I ended up with a delicious and well thought out vegan main dish (jasmine rice, lentil salad, chick pea fritters, tahini, and some roasted red pepper sauce - SUPER YUM!!!) and also they whipped up several vegan appetizers on the spot, even bringing my my own dish of appetizers. Really impressed with the service and food.
I would absolutely come back here. -
Review from Zachary P.
Hamilton, ON
1/29/2012
I decided to write my review before selecting my rating...I am struggling between 4 or 5 stars.
I dined during Winterlicious, I started with the Buffalo Mozzarella Beet Salad, not what I expected but still delicious. Next I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli. BEST THING OD LIFE. It melted in your mouth it was so good. This is the reason why I am struggling with my star review. Lastly I had the Hazelnut and Pralines Cheesecake. Also very good.
The two down sides were 1) I was sat a poor table. I was seated right by the bar, the waitress explained to us that they were expecting 500+ people and was going to break their record, so I understand it was busy. 2) For a high end restaurant their bathrooms are horrible. They need to update those ASAP.
Our waitress Lindsay was amazing... so because of her great service I will rate this place a 5. I will def be back!! -
Review from jocelyn l.
12/20/2011
I had high expectations from Jump because of Canoe, but i thought it was just good/ OK, definitely not fantastic, which is too bad.
Service was good, location is central but extra boring in an office building.
The 6 of us shared oysters (fresh, sweet PEIs), foie gras was seared perfectly, medium rare tuna was..not the best i've had. It was a little thicker and tougher than I'd have liked.
I had the scallops, which were a disappointment.
They were not seared properly, no crusty sear; it was kinda soggy and not very tasty.
The chorizo that came with it was definitely not a chorizo; it was a normal somewhat peppery sausage. I'm not convinced that Canadians do Mexican well.
The kale was perfect; that was pretty much the best thing on that dish
Mushroom as a side dish was yummy
Molten Choc cake was good; but again, it was technically correct and good but not mind-blowing -
Review from Tony F.
7/14/2011
Luckily my birthday lands smack in the middle of Summerlicious, and get treated to some nice places around the city for the week.
Some how Jump ends up being a spot I go to once a year, and well beggars can't be choosers and who am I to turn down a free meal? But overall, for the price (well not mine), I never find it up to snuff. In fact, I really don't see the difference between Jump and places like Moxie's or Joey's (food wise).
This night I had the Crab Cake, Korean Short Ribs and a chocolate cake. Everything was heavy handed with the salt, to the point it was almost inedible. Our waiter, as nice as he was, was super busy tied up due to the Sum'lish, and we had to ask for butter 4 different times because it never got there. Each time we'd ante up the amount. "Can we get some butter please?", 5 minutes later, 2nd time "Could we get a pound of butter?", another 5 minutes later, 3rd time, "Could we get 5 pounds of butter?" and the last time "Could we get all the butter you have in your fridge?". We were light hearted and it was all jokes, but we were still annoyed.
Anyways... meh.
I get up, and this place gets me down.
I don't really like to jump, because the waiter goes round and round
And I know, just how he feels.
You've got to roll with the punches to get to what's real
Oh you can't see me standing here,
I'm getting ready for a foodie scene and it ain't the worst that you've seen.
Oh can't you see what I mean ?
Might as well not jump. Jump !
Might as well not jump.
Don't go ahead, jump. Jump !
Don't go ahead, jump.Listed in: Date night, Meh!, Lyrical Miracals
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Review from Karl R.
I have two lists for women friends. Women friends may add their name to only one list. They cannot add their name to both lists. If you add yourself to List A, you are on my "I'll buy you dinner at a $$$$$ restaurant downtown if I have an excess of unspent money this month" (pro tip: the 22nd of the month is when I settle up what I've budgeted for credit card spending. If you want on List A, do some serious eye fluttering the week previous). If you're on List B, I take you to the symphony, the opera, ballets, and plays. We'll go dutch for dinner.
**You cannot add yourself to both lists.**
I'm pretty firm on that. I'm not a sucker.
Little do women know, I have a super secret sub list for List A women. It's the "omfg she's so pretty I'm taking her to Jump" list. If I'm taking you to Jump it's because I think you're about the prettiest thing on the planet.
I like Jump. I've liked it since the 1990s. It's never really slid. Prices have gone up. Sure. The bar isn't quite the phalanx of power suited lawyers and bankers drinking it up after the market is down that it used to be. There's nothing about it that says romantic. I don't want to scare off my List A women. It's just urban, sophisticated, and with easy subway access.
The thing I like about Yvonne is you don't have to work for it. She has no fear adding herself to lists. She's an A List friend. So I was quite happy when she picked -- unprompted -- Jump for her virtual birthday dinner and unknowing but properly added herself to my super secret sub A list. Check out those nails (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). That's some pretty stuff right there.
I had the strip steak this time around. Flavorful with some nice baked potatoes hiding under the steak. We shared fries and onion rings. Jumps one weakness is their dipping sauces/spreads for their fries, onion rings, and bread basket are uninspired.
Yvonne and I have this tradition where we indulge in a cocktail on our respective birthdays. I went with the Yellow Bird which was like drinking a creamsickle. At $11 a pop I'm not going to swill back many of these but it's a great way to toast Yvonne's quarter century mark.
I'm dinging them a star this time around. Usually Jump has about 2 or 3 people working your table but a couple times we felt we were looking for our waiter. And he missed writing down an item. And I swear he spent the last half of the meal hitting on Yvonne. And he made a big deal about it being her birthday and I kind of hoped he might bring out a gratis slice of cake or something. But nada.
The three of us did engage in a short but interesting conversation about Jeremy Irons and The Borgias. So few people seem to recall the Jeremy Irons horror movie Dead Ringers (http://www.imdb.com/ti...). Even trying to sum up the movie is difficult. "Twin gynecologists to upper class women. Irons plays both. One goes crazy and starts inventing horrific 'devices' for use down there because he thinks women are 'changing'..." Luckily I brought up the movie after I finished my raw steak.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/11/2010
Jump is my favorite date restaurant. In another shameless attempt to wine and dine the long-shot… Read more »
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Review from Amy L.
8/26/2011
My second stop for Summerlicious was the long-awaited (for me at least) Jump Café & Bar, located in the strip of fancy restaurants in the Financial District. Since Jump had been on my to-visit list for a while, I was more than excited when I viewed their enticing menu online. Crab Cake and Panna Cotta; may I say yum?
Reservations were made for the lunch hour, and I was impressed by the number of staff present at the door; they were clearly prepared for the massive Summerlicious crowd. High ceilings and tall, glass windows contributed to an airy and spacious interior, allowing the already large space to seem even larger. The burgundy and black accented banquets along with the light wooden furniture contrasted the contemporary architectural design, providing a warmer and more inviting atmosphere. Although I didn't have the opportunity to enjoy my food out in their gorgeous patio, I could tell how pleasant it would be to do so.
Regarding their service, I found my dining experience to be somewhat bizarre as the waiters seemed a bit oblivious themselves. Could they be temporary hires to accommodate the high volume of customers during Summerlicious? The waiter was doing fine until he gave up on the great service 10 minutes after I was seated down (lol). My lunch companion was running late, so I notified my waiter and inquired whether there would be people waiting for our table. I told him that my friend would be half an hour late, and to which he replied, "I really don't know what to say." Puzzled and quite surprised by his response, there was a moment of awkward silence until I couldn't help but to let out a strange, huh? Anyway, I remained seated at my table and played with my phone, trying desperately to dodge the abundance of odd stares from waiters... and more waiters.
For my appetizer, I selected the Peekytoe Crab Cake with cucumber dill salad and Creole rémoulade sauce. There was a generous amount of crab meat inside the cake, but it was too mushy for my preference. Accompanied with a Creole rémoulade sauce that simply overpowered the crab flavour, it was my turn to use the phrase, I really don't know what to say. Underwhelmed and mediocre at best, I was already looking forward to my main course.
I selected the Grilled Top Sirloin Fettina that came with pickled wild mushroom and Ontario asparagus salad, aged Fontina and truffle jus for my entrée. I was so disappointed in this dish that I don't even know where to start. The sirloin was thin, dry, and tough; not to mention bland as well. Oh yeah, it was also borderline cold (are you kidding me?). As for the salad on the side, it was definitely cold and terribly sour. They were drenched in an overly sour vinaigrette, taking away everything that this plate could be. This dish was such a fail that the fact they would even serve it to their customers is mind-boggling to me (flabbergasted).
One let down after another, I didn't have any more hope left in Jump. How could they destroy the fond impression I had of them by serving food that's so unforgivable? Since dessert is usually my favourite part of a meal, I closed my eyes and quietly prayed for a delicious dessert that would revive my spirits once again. Jump finally redeemed themselves with their decadent Butterscotch Panna Cotta. Presented with salted caramel, vanilla and spice sweet cream, this was a dish that I can say I actually liked. Even though the panna cotta was thicker and creamier than the kind served at other restaurants, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I could see the tiny vanilla bean specks in it and the vanilla spice sweet cream was absolutely amazing.
As much as I dislike writing negative (sarcastic) reviews and wanted to like this place, I have to be honest about my lunch experience at Jump. Overall, their food was unappetizing to the point where I'd never make a return visit. Yes, I know it was during Summerlicious but that's not an excuse to serve food that's not up to par. For my thoughts on Summer/Winterlicious in general, hop over to my Bymark post from last week. As for Jump, well, I bid them a kind farewell. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
7/7/2011
Fellow Elite Karl, when's the list for Men friends arriving?
Not greedy, just a simple White Chocolate Cheesecake[1] will do.
I don't want to sit near the front entrance either.
Sit me where there's Skylight, so I can watch Birds poop.
Can I tell them I'm Karl R so I can get the VIP table?
I went for Dessert but the Dining Room looked so much Klassier.
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[1] Double-baked in Phyllo with Biscotti Crust -
Review from Yvonne T.
It was only last week that I was here for my birthday dinner, courtesy of fellow Yelp Elite Karl R. Earlier this week, I came with 2 co-workers for their Summerlicious lunch.
Upon entering we noticed that each table already had bread baskets sitting out in the open. Minor detail but it only made me assume that the bread we were about to consume was going to be stale.
I ordered the Wild & Tame Mushroom Soup made with 6 different kinds of mushroom and it is specifically highlighted that the soup is made sans cream or butter. The soup was quite good, with the nice nuttiness and earthy taste of the blend of mushrooms. My dining companions both had the Peekytoe Crab Cake. I noticed there was a discrepancy in the tint of the batter - one seemed like it was fried in fresh oil, while the other seemed as if it had been fried in thousand-year oil. The crab cake was served with a cucumber-dill salad and creole remoulade sauce. I got to sample a piece, and thought that it was quite tasty. The lump crab meat mixture was held together nicely with a creamy texture.
For mains we all ordered the Pulled Pork Sandwich w/ Coleslaw and Chips. I was totally not expecting actual (kettle) chips to show up on my plate - but sure enough it did. The coleslaw was pretty dull and boring and lacked any real flavour. I have never had a pulled pork sandwich before, but I thought that the sandwich bun was quite tasty, and that the pulled pork was nicely seasoned with a barbecue sauce and caramelized onions. However, the 2 ladies I dined with, who have had more than their fair share of pulled pork sandwiches said that the one at Jump was awful - so awful that one of the ladies didn't get past 2 bites.
For dessert I ordered the Butterscotch Panna Cotta. Although it is advertised to be served with salted caramel, all I got were big salt flakes sprinkled on top of a plain panna cotta, with a butterscotch drizzle. The salt flakes really gave you a hit of sodium upon contact with your tongue - something I wasn't expecting of a dessert item. With that said, the panna cotta was extremely creamy, and I absolutely loved the dollop of vanilla spice sweet cream that came with it.
The other ladies ordered the Lemon Sour Cream Cake w/ lemon curd & blueberry sauce as well as the Amaretto Chocolate Marquise Cake. The Lemon cake did not have a blueberry sauce, it was just served with 2 blueberries. One of the ladies lamented that she wondered whether the lemon curd was out of a jar because it was so sweet. I, myself quite enjoyed the lemon sour cream cake as I felt the cake base was airy and light and not overly sweet and went well with the lemon curd. The chocolate Marquise cake is not something one should brave without a coffee or tea as it is an extremely rich dessert!
Verdict:
A few minor errors were made (e.g. cocktails coming out after appetizers were served, not asking if we wanted coffee or tea with dessert). The thing that really put us off was when we found the bottom of one of our dessert dishes covered in gunk. It made us wonder just how clean our dishes were... All in all for $20 during Summerlicious I would come back again - but not if I had to pay full pop. The crowd is older, and it wasn't all that busy considering it was lunch time AND Summerlicious at the same time. Perhaps a sign that this is one of the "has been" restaurants in the financial district.Listed in: St. Lawrence Eats, Spot the white-collars!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/7/2011
Fellow Elite, Karl R. took me to a very nice dinner at Jump last night. He had taken care of… Read more »
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Review from Tong J.
You follow your heart to find the love of your life. When choosing the perfect place to celebrate your love, you follow your gut. And my gut told me, "White Chocolate Cheesecake, Double-baked in Phyllo with Biscotti Crust."
The private dinning at Jump was perfect for an intimate celebration I had in mind, warm, classy and stylish. The restaurant event coordinator was professional, highly organized and very accommodating throughout the planning process.
The chef did a phenomenal job of creating delicious vegan dishes for our vegetarian friends.
Hors d' oeuvres:
+Mango and crunchy vegetable rice paper roll was fresh and tasty.
+Spiced beef empanada with chipotle sour cream was so good, there was none left. Golden pastry crust and flavorful filling.
+Vegetable samosa was crispy and lip-smacking good.
Appetizers:
+Peekytoe Crab Cakes with celeriac remoulade and citrus dill caper dressing. Hands down, one of the best crab cake I have ever had.
+Boneless Bacon Wrapped Quail with fiery pineapple B.B.Q. Thumbs up from the guests who ordered them.
+Wild & Tame Mushroom soup. If you see this on the menu, try it. "No less than six type of mushroom with no cream or butter," our chef friend couldn't stop talking about how tasty it was.
Entree:
+New York Strip & Shrimp with buttermilk mashed potatoes. This was no ordinary surf & turf. Tomato onion confit, sticky mushroom gravy and broccolini complimented the steak and shrimp perfectly.
+Mahogany Glazed Black Cod. I normally don't care for cod, but that glazed buttery cod with madras curried lentils, cilantro and mint chutney was so good!
Desserts.
+Soma Molten Chocolate Cake with espresso créme anglaise.
+Banana Cream Pie with toasted coconut and caramel sauce.
+White Chocolate Cheesecake, double-baked in phyllo with biscotti crust.
They were all fantastic. Everyone practically licked their plate.
I was extremely pleased with the high level of professionalism and service of the staff. The head wait staff was terrific. She was polite, attentive, and had a good sense of humor.
What a wonderful evening that was, good food, intimate and warm space and impeccable service.Listed in: Top Notch TO
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/21/2010
Imagine, a mouth-watering cheesecake neatly wrapped in golden brown phyllo dough. Now imagine,… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Updated - 7/9/2011 6 photos
Fellow Elite Karl, though I have no interest to be on any of your lists, I definitely on my Hot Yoga Date (HYD) A-list without even any need to add my name in.
I must be really really omfg HOT after my hot yoga practice when my date suggest to go to Jump with me for a drink or 2. Fortunately, after Jump my date is wise enough to know that I need more than to be impressed.
The experience is MEH... not romantic... the crowd is way older for our taste... food is overpriced...
Now my HYD is scratching Jump off the to go place to impress...Listed in: Dessert! Dessert! I want…, Places I Would Go For A Drink…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/23/2010
I have been to Jump a couple of times for dinner over the years and always have a great experience!… Read more »
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Review from Candice H.
Mississauga, ON
10/9/2011
I had the Truffle Ricotta Gnocchi with mushrooms, which was great. I've tried gnocchi before, but this was the first time that I enjoyed it. The texture of the gnocchi was light and smooth. The only complaint I have was that it was a bit salty for me. I got the smaller portion and a side of sweet potato fries. The fries were good, but I have had better. The smaller portions are great because if you want an appetizer or a side it is good if you don't want too much food. However, despite the smaller portion size I couldn't finish everything.
My friend had onion rings & pasta. The golden onion rings were crispy, and the beer batter gave it great flavour. The bread basket they gave us with the tomato dip was delicious. The service was great and the staff friendly and efficient. The atmosphere and the decor was really nice. I would definitely come back. Next time I want to try a dessert. -
Review from Andrea S.
Toronto, ON
9/14/2011
Lunched here late-ish (1pm) mid-week with a co-worker.
Lovely seat by a window in a relatively private booth.
Service was attentive and expedient. However, there was a bit of disdain in the waiter's voice when we inquired about the daily specials (as laid out on the website and menu) as well as the soup of the day. All had run out for the day :( According to the waiter we should have been there by noon to have any expectation of trying a special :(
I ordered the jerk chicken caesar salad - an interesting take on a classic. It was made more interesting by the addition of corn and beans (not something I would have put on my salad, and I probably won't be replicating this at home).
Both the chicken on my salad and the fish order by my colleague were dry - as though they were prepared for the noon rush and merely leftover when we arrived at 1pm. I guess the silver lining is that our meals were on the table much more quickly than expected.
Over all, this experience was a little below my expectations for the location, prices, and reputation. Perhaps I will give Jump another try when it isn't the end of a shift in order to try the specials and find a more congenial waiter.
p.s. the peach-mango juice was delicious but too viscous for my coworker. -
Review from Faezah W.
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
First time coming here with a date few nights ago.
Hostess was really nice, offered to take our coats into checking but we kept our jackets. The only problem I had with this place was the seating arrangement. The tables in the main dining room were awkwardly too close to each other, its like having dinner with 4 with 2 people on your side that you didnt know lol. So we asked to get a more private, quiet seating and were moved to the right side of the restaurant near the bar. Much better. The bartender was our server, she had good knowledge on the wines and recommendations for the pastas. I forgot what my date had but I got the crab cakes, they tasted amazing ( i already checked in and left a tip about them but im just going to write them again because they tasted soooo good)
So moist and tender, cut really easily with the butter knife, the corn and lil toppings around and above where the perfect touch. My long island iced tea actually tasted like a legit one, equal about of liquor and iced tea yay! The cappuccinos we got towards the end, they tasted okay. I enjoy the biscotti that cam with it more then my coffee.
Overall, nice decor, good looking people and nice servers! -
Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2011
I went to Jump for a Winterlicious Lunch because I had heard great things about it and wanted to give it a try. To my surprise, the limited menu was interesting and the food was great! I had the Chicken Milanese which was amazing (very soft and juicy) and the apple crostada for dessert, although it seemed more like a crumble, but still very good! My partner ordered the crab cakes for an appetizer and the BBQ pulled beef ribs sandwich for a main which I was lucky enough to try and they both were delicious!
The environment was elegant, my only complaint was the slow service. We waited forever to order our meal and there was an uncomfortable delay between courses. Other than that, unique atmosphere with excellent food. I would definitely do it all over again. -
Review from Donna M.
Toronto, ON
1/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have been to Jump a number of times over the years, as it is a popular lunch spot situated in the middle of the financial district. The service is great and the food consistently good. The mushroom soup (a staple at O&B restaurants) is a must.
The patio is busy in the summer. Thursday is the busiest night with the after work crowd of the financial district. However, the dining room can get quite noisy due to the large glass windows which makes the conversation of patrons seem even louder. Having said that, the atmosphere is lively and energetic. Definitely worth a visit. -
Review from Tom S.
5/18/2011
Was here on a business lunch while in Toronto. It was a late lunch, around 1pm, but Jump was still, well... jumping. If you're looking forward to trying the rotating daily special, make sure you arrive before 12:30pm, or else they will likely have run out for the day. Those of us looking forward to trying Wednesday's burger special were disappointed.
However, we all ordered the steak sandwich as our Plan B, and it was a more than welcome substitute. Sometimes I love or hate sweet potato fries depending on how they are prepared by a restaurant -- I have to say I very much enjoyed these. A few of us also tried the juice of the day, which you could tell had the appearance and taste of fresh ingredients.
Service was quick and attentive -- we were in and out of lunch in less than an hour. Great turnaround. -
Review from Derek L.
Oakville, ON
11/21/2010
Our waiter was super friendly, he spent the time to review everything on the menu with us. Not saying that I needed that, but still, I appreciate the effort.
The decor is beautiful, spacious, and elegant. The place feels like fine dining, but without the high prices.
There are some expensive items on the menu, but there are also cheaper dishes to choose from if you don't want to spend a lot.
The quality of food is amazing, makes me want to eat there every night, and I said that when I was eating. I made a promise to myself that eventually I will eat at this restaurant at least once a week. We were given a complimentary starter as well, which I really appreciated (although just a small one.)
You should definitely come here, I'll be coming back, and I've never been to a place this good.
Derek -
Review from Parv D.
Toronto, ON
2/20/2011
Being new to the city, I've only ever heard wonderful things about this stalwart of the Toronto restaurant scene.
As a fan and patron of other O&B joints in the GTA, my dinner at Jump was a highly-anticipated affair. And the experience was as fabulous as I expected it to be.
There's plenty of reviews on here about the excellent menu, so I won't get into the intricacies of what we ordered. However, I will say that, as starters, the Bacon-Wrapped Boneless Quail and Pan-Seared Foie Gras were exquisite, while my main of Roasted Half Free-Range Chicken, served on a bed of caramelized onions, capers, cracked green olives, and mascarpone polenta shined in both quality and quantity, compared to the selections of my dining party.
From Jump's excellent wine list, a few bottles of the 2006 Pirramimma Stock's Hill Shiraz served the perfect complement to our highly-palatable meal.
The staff were friendly, the music selection was très cool, and the ambiance was stellar.
I will conclude by saying that every appetizer, main and dessert, ordered by my group of nine, evoked an unanimous top score on the satisfaction and value for money scale...and was concluded by a definite promise to return. -
Review from Erika P.
Toronto, ON
11/26/2010
The hubby and I had dinner here to celebrate our anniversary and we were greeted by a very friendly hostess who took our coats (and even helped us put it on before we left...wow!).
Atmosphere: intimate, good for groups since they have these private rooms, decor is sleek and stylish. It got pretty busy when 6pm hit, but it was by no means crowded.
Food: a little expensive but the quality is absolutely amazing! My husband ordered the special for Thursday which was BBQ Spring Creek Brisket Poutine - the brisket literally melted in your mouth. The Yukon gold fries were cooked to perfection and the gravy wasn't too salty. I ordered an appetizer sized pappardelle and lamb osso buco ragu and a side of onion rings with buttermilk dressing. The pasta is made in house so it tasted really fresh and the sauce was buttery goodness. The lamb was super tender and just delicious. The size was a little smaller than I expected but I'm glad I ordered it since I probably wouldn't have finished the entree size. The onion rings tasted like onion rings to me.
NB: order the dessert platter for two - it gives you a little taste of everything for a reasonable price. Hands down THE best vanilla ice cream I've ever had (Tahitian vanilla). And the white chocolate cheesecake wrapped in phyllo pastry? Holy moly. My taste buds were dancing.
Service: excellent. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu and very friendly. She always kept an eye on us and we didn't even have to flag her down to ask for the bill!
Overall: good place to go if you're willing to spend a little more for a special night out on the town. Also good to note that it's pretty central, located in the financial district. They validate parking! -
Review from Agnes F.
4/5/2011
Had a very nice lunch experience at Jump, i enjoyed the modern yet intimate decor of Jump and found the service to be professional and helpful
I had the juice of the day and it was very nice and refreshing, then started with the mushroom soup (loved the fact that there was no cream in the soup, made it much healthier... i hope), then had the bay scallops parpadelle (the pasta was toothsome and i know for some ppl they might not like how naked the pasta is i.e. little sauce but i absolutely loved that, i don't like pasta that swims in a puddle of suace)
I hope to return to try the dinner service -
Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
7/29/2009
I had a great lunch at Jump on a weekday. The place was fairly busy at the time yet we still got top-notch service.
The prices were a little high, but the quality of the food was definitely above average. I enjoyed a Caesar salad and the salmon dish and was very pleased with both.
They also have a nice patio which is perfect for after work drinks. -
Review from Erin K.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2010
Tastefully decorated with wine bottles, glasses, and interesting lighting fixtures, the interior feels open and bright thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. A fantastic outdoor back patio includes an outdoor bar and lounge areas.
The service was pleasant and patient - We were given a bread basket with crispy flat bread seasoned with tarragon and a few slices of white bread. It was accompanied with a rather plain marinara sauce, which foreshadowed the upcoming meal.
Baby Red Romaine & Escarole Salad
Cara Cara orange, fennel, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and old wine vinaigrette
A light start of fresh lettuce, a slightly tart vinaigrette, ripe Cara Cara orange, and cheese. While the orange and the dressing was enjoyable, something was left to be desired...perhaps it's because of my unrefined wine and cheese palette, but I wasn't particularly impressed. Memorable Summerlicious starter salads include the butterleaf truffle salad at Truffles at the Four Seasons (which has since closed) and Tutti Matti's carpaccio salads.
Bigeye Tuna Tartare & Spicy Sopressata
Cracked olives, garlic grissini, arugula, lemon and Sicilian organic extra virgin olive oil
Fresh tuna tartare on a bed of salami was a welcome dish, especially since I've never tried sopressata before. The saltyness of the cured ham paired with the freshnesses of the tuna created an interesting balance between bites. The olives were typical, and the bread sticks brought a crunch but no flavour to the plate. Perhaps if they were toasted a bit more or rolled in sesame, it would've been a nice compliment to the dish.
Wild & Tame Mushroom Soup
Six kinds of mushrooms (no butter or cream)
Thick, warm, and hearty - this had the rich texture of a comforting soup despite the lack of cream or butter. I was impressed with the consistency and I love the taste of mushrooms so I thoroughly enjoyed this soup. As with the salad, there was something lacking - the "wow" factor that I always hope for at 'licious restaurants. The best mushroom soup that I've tasted was Wild Mushroom Soup from Tutti Matti - unfortunately not on their current menu.
Grilled Top Sirloin Fettina
Charred onion, heirloom tomato and rocket salad with crumbled Gorgonzola
The vegetables were nice and warm, and the sauce surrounding the steak sweet however the steak wasn't particularly interesting or great. Tender and nicely cooked, it was a good, simple cut of sirloin but didn't blow me away or leave a lasting impression on my palette.
Grilled Jail Island Salmon
Pickled summer beets, heirloom carrots, watercress salad and horseradish crème fraîche
Despite my half-success with the fish at Biff's Bistro, I decided that it was worth another go. While tasty, I'm quickly getting bored with this Summerlicious lunch. The beets were nice, warm, and soft and the horseradish crème fraîche had great flavour. However the salmon was...just salmon.
Roasted Portobello Mushroom & Brie Quesadilla
Caramelized onions, pico de gallo, chipotle crema, plantain tortilla chips and cilantro cress
My personal favourite of the entrées, the chipotle cream had a tangy flavour that tasted great with the pico de gallo and quesadilla. The pico de gallo (salsa) was ripe and simple. Always a fan of portobello, these quesadillas had great flavour. While an interesting visual, the tortilla chips were lacking the flavour I usually enjoy from plantains. As a plantain chip lover, they were a disappointment. I'd rather crack open a bag of the Samai Plantain chips that I got addicted to Barbados.
Chocolate Toffee Crunch Cheesecake
Dulce de leche cream
Thick cheesecake that was more toffee-like than chocolate. The caramel was pleasant with the dense cake. I wasn't a fan of the bit of toffee that accompanied the cake but overall I'd say that this was the best dessert out of the three.
Bavarian Vanilla Cream
Ontario strawberry compote and dark cherry balsamic
Nice and warm with a smooth texture, the vanilla cream dessert sat on one of the better compotes that I've tried. I found myself scooping this dessert up more for the compote than the cream.
Coconut Rum Baba
Tropical fruit salad and banana cream
This spongy cake was covered with coconut shavings over pineapple, mango, and lychee. A sweet, generous drizzle of rum syrup soaked into the cake quite nicely. While I wasn't the biggest fan of this dessert initially, over time as I enjoyed my company it grew on me. It wasn't too rich or filling.
Wonderfully designed and decorated, Jump Café & Bar creates a vibrant, young, and upscale environment quite well. I would return for a drink at the bar, and the service was fantastic. However, I thought it was missing that the "oomph" factor that would make me wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant for future Summerlicious romps. This is a good spot to take someone who wants a very simple no-frills meal. -
Review from Catherine L.
Toronto, ON
2/13/2010 3 photos
One of my favourite restaurants in the Financial District, and of the Oliver Bonancini group. Not as upscale as Canoe nor Auberge du Pommier, but the price reflects that too.
Dishes I love there - Truff le Ricotta Gnocchi and SOMA Molten Chocolate Cake. Both are just soo delicious. The gnocchi is actually made with potato instead of the usual ricotta cheese, so it's a bit heavier than your typical gnocchi but it's soo good. Even when I'm stuffed I can manage to finish every last bite!
I went recently for Winterlicious for lunch, and tho they didn't have any of my favourites on the menu, I did really enjoy the halibut course - it was nice and light with panko crumbs as the crust, which gave it a light taste similar to tempura.
All in all, a solid place with great service and decor. A must if you are looking for food in the area that is consistent and reasonably priced. It's also great for an after-work drink, and they have a nice patio in the summer. -
Review from Steve M.
Oakville, ON
7/13/2011
Well I just went through a bunch or reviews and there isn't much more I can add to praise the food or presentation! Both were very good and the flavours left my pallet more than satisfied. We were at Jump for Summerlicious Dinner - my second time but my wife had worked downtown has been here several times for lunch and she said she never had a bad meal here over the last 10 or 15 years.
I had the gazpacho(nice &spicy) and my wife had crab cakes. We both had Korean BBQ Ribs - Asian Sweet and very tender with asparagus mashed roasted potatoes - excellent and for dessert we both had the sweet cake with lemon curd and blue berries.
I must mention our server Courtney who was pleasant and chatty and kept our wine glasses filled with that very good house CabSav offered at $40 for Summerlicious. More restaurants should offer reasonable priced wines. All in all a great evening! -
Review from Pluggy S.
Toronto, ON
4/21/2009
Pretty standard food, ambiance and experience. Nice place to go after work for a drink. Staff is nice and wine list is pretty good as well. Tends to be a little more low key too than say a Ki or FOUR so the afterwork meat market cougar fest is less likely to be found here.
Ill be back...:) -
Review from Alison C.
2/2/2011
I was thrilled when my colleagues agreed to let me choose the restaurant for our Toronto dinner. After narrowing the options down to about a handful, I further zeroed in on Jump, which possessed an extremely interesting menu. We entered the beautiful, modern space and took in the industrial, manly decor of dark browns and black. The dining area was sprawling and offered a variety of seating beneath the lofty, high ceilings.
We decided to celebrate our productive afternoon with a bottle of white wine from their elaborate list. We began sipping the crisp beverage while we munched our way through the bread basket, which included rosemary crisps, foccacia, and crusty slices of artisan Italian bread. We also ordered starters to satisfy our rumbling bellies. I began with the Wild and Tame Mushroom Soup. The fragrant, earthy broth contained at least six different kinds of mushrooms, each putting forth their own signature flavor. The soup was lean in the sense that it did not contain any butter or cream, yet it was barely strained and contained comforting chunks of its namesake vegetable. Fresh mushroom and chive slices acted as garnishes, peering out from within the broth. I absolutely loved the dish. My co-workers, however, did not find their half a dozen Oysters very fresh. Even the spiced red pepper dipping sauce, fresh horseradish, cool lemon, and classic mignonette apparently did not do much to enhance the flavor.
My Mahogany Glazed Black Cod entree was perfectly cooked and served with an aromatic Indian blend of curried lentils, both enhanced with sprigs of cilantro and cool mint chutney. The Veggie Bowl that my colleague had ordered was an Asian-style compilation of cauliflower and Chinese cabbage served over jasmine rice and tossed in a Thai red coconut curry. The fragrant seasoning really added an unique kick to the traditional vegetables.
Lastly, I found our SOMA Molten Chocolate Cake dessert to be another home run. The warm, moist pastry was topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a sweet espresso syrup, and fresh strawberries. It was decadent and rich, but the fruit somehow made it feel lighter.
After all of my effort and dedication to the worthy cause of satisfying our hunger, I was disheartened by my companions' distaste for the meal. I really did not agree with their sentiments and would still recommend the restaurant for its flavorful food and entertaining atmosphere. -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
3/29/2011 4 photos
Had a lovely Winterlicious lunch at Jump back in January. The food was excellent and service was pretty good. I expected smaller portions, but surprisingly, I was quite full by the end my meal. I particularly loved the honey crisp apple and cranberry crostata!
Listed in: 'licious Restaurant Reviews
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Review from Joan L.
Mississauga, ON
7/24/2010 3 photos
I came here for summerlicious and was not at all impressed.
The food was far too salty (I could barely finish my appetizer). The balance was totally off. The meat was too tough (and tasteless if not for the goat cheese). The chocolate cheesecake was far too sweet (though very smooth). We were stuck in a corner. And no one came to check up on us.
Would I come back? Probably not. -
Review from Lee J.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2011 15 Check-ins Here
Great food, great service.
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Review from jessica m.
6/20/2010
Service was impeccable! Space is gorgeous! And the food tiny portions of delight!
Cocktail & appetizer reception was done beautifully. we had our own little section of the restaurant, where we enjoyed drinks and a delicious assortment of food. i will definitely have to go back! -
Review from Cindy P.
9/25/2010 1 photo
During a business trip in Toronto, the only women at the training (myself and 2 others) decided to have a girls night out. I had been doing pretty well with my recent picks so they tasked me with finding a place for dinner within walking distance to the office and the hotel. Corporate Offices were picking up the tab so money was no object, and when that is not an issue then the sky is the limit. We had originally intended on going to Canoe but they did not have a table available at the right time and we didn't find the menu all that appetizing, so we checked out their sister restaurant (their owned by the same people) Jump Cafe online and found their menu a little more appetizing.
We hoofed it over there just in time for our 5pm reservation. In a city as big as Toronto earlier is better for dinner because by 6:30 the places start to get crowded. We must have gotten there at shift change because we ended up with like 4 different waiters/waitresses, although they all seemed very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. I'm not a big fan of modern design but I did like the modern decor here, since it was not overdone.
We couldn't decide on one appetizer so we got 2; Peekytoe Crab Cakes with lemonade fruit tartar sauce and green bean jardiniere, and the Bacon wrapped boneless quail with grille dpineapple and sweet and sour pepper jelly. I don't know what a Peekytoe Crab is or even if it's a real crab but it was delicious. The seasoning within the crab cake blended so nicely with the fruity lemon tartar sauce and I am not a fan of lemon. The quail was tasty too, but the party of flavors within the crab cake were my favorite.
For our entrees; I chose the Truffle Ricotta Gnocchi with northern woods wild mushrooms and porcini cream, while the other 2 ladies chose the Ancho Chili Roasted Halibut with tomato and blue corn tortilla sopa, and avocado lime salsa. For the pasta dishes you can choose from a large or small portion and since I knew I wanted dessert I chose the small portion, and I was informed by the waiter that it was very rich and very filling. He was right. My first thought when the plate was set before me was that the gnocchi looked like plumb grub worms, but once you get past the way it looks it tasted great. The woodsy mushroom flavor and the creamy cheese filling gave it a very rustic taste which I liked. The cream sauce wasn't overly thick but it was very rich. I'm thankful I got the small portion. Being from Alaska it is against my up-bringing to order Halibut outside the state, but the ladies seemed to rave about their dishes as well.
Last but certainly not least we ordered dessert. There were so many delectable items on the menu we couldn't decide but luckily for us the Jump Cafe has already anticipated this and had an item on the menu that fit us perfectly; the Dessert Platter for Two. This divine sampler included; SOMA molten Chocolate cake, White Chocolate Cheesecake double-baked in phyllo with biscottie crust, Grand Marnier Creme Brulee with plum raspberry compote and amaretti cookie, and a scoop of milk chocolate and Tahitian vanilla ice cream. We devoured that poor platter, sample everything and each of finding something different that we all liked. The molten chocolate cake was actually rather dark and not very sweet. For me, my favorite was the cheesecake. I am not a fan of white chocolate but I am a fan of cheesecake. I think the thing I liked most about it was the added texture of the phyllo.
I had always heard of the virtues of Icewine and when I saw it on the menu I decided to try it with my desert. The waiter asked which Icewine I'd like to try and when I told him I'd never tried it before, he got a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face and told me "I know exactly what you should try" and dashed off. He presented me with a small glass of amber liquid that resembled cognac. I took a sip and I was in love with this rich honey-citrus flavor sweet wine. He showed me the bottle and explained it's something he found last summer and bought several bottles. I later found out this particular year of Icewine isn't even on the menu and he was kind enough to write it down for me; Cave Springs Reisling Icewine 2004.
Anyway; all in all it was a superb dinning and culinary experience that I will never forget. I hope to be back on my next trip to Toronto. -
Review from Raya B.
11/30/2010
While I would certainly hate to take money from the servers by dissuading you from going here, the management at this establishment makes the servers pay for the credit card use fees of their clients. I have never heard anything so ludicrous in my whole life. This is a policy that has to change before I ever step foot in Jump or one of their sister restaurants. If you go, please use cash, and put more money in the server's pocket.
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Review from Anthony M.
Grimsby, ON
2/7/2011
Good food with nice presentation. Messed up our order, but were able to fix it in a timely fashion.
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Review from David B.
Toronto, ON
7/24/2011
"Meh" is the perfect word for this place. I'm not sure if this is because I came here for summerlicious and the experience may not reflect the average one, but all I could think of was all the cheaper, better restaurants I could be eating at. The waiters are pretentious looking and act accordingly. Service isn't particularly polite either. I got the crab cake and it was decent but overly salty. The grilled korean short rib was alright as well but better than the pork shoulder of some of my colleagues. The only item I would say was good was the sour cream lemon cake. Overall, not worth it at all for summerlicious for dinner at least. I've been doing summerlicious for a number of years now and I felt I got the least out of money from this place.
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Review from Justin P.
3/30/2009
As S.S. said, this is a pretty good place. The food is well above-average, the decor is upscale and the service is attentive. My risotto was good, and my girlfriend's pasta was good as well. It may not be amazing or extraordinary, but if you are looking for a consistently good, solid, quality upscale-type place, then this one will definitely suffice.
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Review from Joe N.
9/26/2009
Jump has very good food, but i would say for a casual, 'after work ' restaurant it might be a bit pricey. having said that, it worth the money. nice people, the right size of portions. remember to shake the hand of the 'business man statue' in the lobby, as it will give you good luck (if you can, spare 25 cents and leave it on his business man hat... it will give you fortune)
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Review from Michael S.
Toronto, ON
5/12/2010
I could eat a bucketfull of the bacon wrapped quail. The service was outstanding. They stop short of a rave for me for puddles of water on the bathroom counter (c'mon guys!) and a pretty fatty veal shoulder I had for my main along with heart-stopping polenta fries that would put KFC to shame.
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