- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
La Palette
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
492 Queen St WToronto, ON M5V 2B3
Neighbourhoods: Alexandra Park, Queen Street West
(416) 929-4900
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Jiao S. said: "I admit that I went in because I saw the sticker on the door "people like us on yelp":) I ordered hazelnut latte, very rich foam, although instead of hazelnut, it has a caramel taste to me, but i loved it. Love the cream flake cake,…" read more »
37 reviews for La Palette
Review Highlights
"Wild boar is a satisfying comfort food."
(in 5 reviews)
"I loved the Confit de Canard."
(in 2 reviews)
"The steak frites was excellent as well."
(in 4 reviews)
Loading...
37 reviews in English
-
Review from Rob C.
Moncton, NB
1/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Hey now. Do you like French food?
Do you like a comprehensive wine list and enjoy tasty beers?
Are you a little adventurous with your meat?
If so, I think you might enjoy La Palette. I've heard my friends talking about this place for a few years now. It used to be fairly famous for serving delicious, tasty, horse. Well, I never got to try that, but this week, I had an opportunity to go for a beer and check out their menu. I was so impressed, I went back the next day for dinner.
For a starter, I enjoyed a plate of 6 Prince Edward Island oysters. They were served on the half-shell with some kind of mango chutney and lemon. Pretty tasty.
My main was the Cerf (venison), oatmeal risotto and roasted vegetables. The venison was expertly grilled and very tasty, smothered in a mushroom and wine sauce. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
Fine dining. Would totally eat there again. -
Review from Pati P.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2012
From the solitary table with a fluttering tablecloth sitting outside the restaurant displaying the menu, to the dim and cozy ambiance, this place is on my list of fave restaurants in the city.
Uh-Mazing.
My hubby and I decided to try this place out as we were looking for a new dining experience in the city. We were able to get same-day reservations and when making them, were told exactly where we would be sitting. It meant nothing to us at the time as we'd never been there before, but if we had, it would have been useful to know where we'd be sat.
I love the creative use of old Moulin Rouge books which hold the wine lists. Not sure what wine you'd like to order. Tasting is encouraged :) Not sure what to order off the food menu, the staff will break it down for you and explain it all. We started with the Escargots La Palette - Marinated escargots sauteed with morels, leeks, baby spinach, spinach, torn croutons, & lemon-dill beurre blanc. For my main, I had the Sanglier - Ouraboaros (Manitoba) - Pan roasted wild boar tenderloin, mine was medium, boar belly stuffed duck neck and confit head (which initially kind of turned me off from ordering it, but I was so curious I had to do it), roasted chestnut, celery root, apple, parsnip and red cabbage w/ maple mustard jus. I seriously had to close my eyes and allow the flavour, texture and awesomeness of the boar belly stuffed duck neck to really be experienced. It was a foodgasm.
My hubby had one of the specials; Mixed Grill - Wild Boar and Venison with truffled chanterelle oat risotto, winter vegetables and a blueberry-juniper demi 3-piece add Musk-ox. Also incredible. For dessert we had the3-combo Crême Brulée - Vanilla, Absinthe and Cinnamon Espresso. Surprisingly, my favourite was the good ol' vanilla. All three were amazing though - let's be honest, it's creme brulee!
Only reason I didn't give it five stars, was because I would have given it 4.5 if I could. It was the washrooms. With so much effort put into the decor, menu and quality of food, I totally expected a washroom that was nice, updated - or at least in line with the rest of the decor. They're clean, but I felt dirty going down into the basement and into the shady stalls.
All in all - The menu is intriguing and encourages you to try something new. The staff is superb. The owner is incredibly warm and welcoming. The music, authentic. If you see the rickshaw out on the street, make sure you step inside to be whisked away to Paris for a few hours.
La Pallette, nous reviendrons. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
2/15/2012 2 photos
Oh wow, yum.
We came for a Valentine's date last night. I had asked AT to book it weeks in advance, they called at least twice to confirm. I guess it was that much in demand.
It was a set menu priced at $60 per person. Wine was extra.
The atmosphere in here is definitely Bohemian. It's not the posh bistro that you would find on champ elysses, nor does the food in the menu reflect that.
Tons of appetizers to choose from - escargot, salad, lobster bisque, pan sear foie gras for an extra $10. I got the roasted sweetbread that came with a bunch of side fixings. It was the best part of the meal.
AT got the doie liver pate. Good, but not as worth the money as my sweetbread.
For the entree, he ordered the Wild Boar that came with some sweet potato veggie concoction. It tasted a lot like chicken breast. We confirmed it with her, but I guess that's how boar tastes. Not flavourful except for the outside. (I don't like chicken's breasts...)
My bison rib eye was delicious. Cooked medium rare, thinly, with the burnt edges that I like. It was gamey and flavourful and came with fries and a dip made out of bone marrow and something else. Delicious.
For dessert, they had creme brulee (vanilla, darjeeling, and absinthe). Absinthe!? I had to get it. It tasted like a regular creme brulee, but with a definite kick. I was also mighty happy after this. AT got the Clafouti, and he loved it. It was a basically a custard baked pie.
The service was great, and after about 2 hours, they gracefully kicked us out by giving us the bill. And everyone got homemade chocolate truffles to take home. Yum.
Would come back especially for a special occasion. It's dim in here, and super romantic (not sure why romantic = dim) -
Review from Renay R.
Toronto, ON
12/26/2011
Love, love, LOVE this place!
I came here for a Christmas get together with a great friend and we both really liked it. It has a very comfy, boho kind of feel with really good, well cooked, food. There's a real mix of customers too - all ages, all types of people.
I had the chicken dinner that came with some sort of bread pudding which was fantastic and then some brussel sprouts. I didn't have an appetizer or dessert but they all looked really good and judging from what other people around us ordered, it looked like everything was great.
What I liked the most is that it was quite busy and yet, we didn't feel rushed at all. We spent a fair bit of time there and the waiter didn't push us out at all. Great place to spend an evening! -
Review from Steph L.
12/13/2011
Le Prix Fixe, s'il vous plaît!
On Queen West, this is a nice casual spot to grab a French Bistro dinner.
The service is friendly and we were seated at a small table at the back.
I liked the poster artwork on the walls, but the tablecloths and decor was very outdated and borderline unappealing. Also, I did find the tables a bit close together, but at least I can check out what's on my neighbor's plate.
The service was okay, but nothing notable.
They had a list of specials but we were there for the Prix Fixe ($33) that included an appetizer, entree, and dessert.
There were several options for appetizer including mussels and escargot.
They escargot was surprisingly good. There were bits of spinach and crispy croutons in a butter sauce that wasn't saucy.
The entree I ordered was the steak frites.
My 6oz steak was perfectly cooked. The garlic butter and shallots were just awesome with the steak! Completely enjoyable!
The dessert wasn't all that fantastic.
I ordered the chocolate almond flourless torte.
Fresh from the fridge, it was chocolately but had a strange aftertaste I didn't quite like.
Also, I wished that they had more of a selection of French wines, for a French bistro.
Overall, I didn't have a bad meal here but there's not enough "ooh-la-la" to bring me back. -
Review from Renata R.
12/9/2011
What can I say? I am still astonished by the experience I've just had there - and I needed it.
It's been a while I've been looking for new experiences in food, and La Palette provided me exactly what I was looking for. I shared from the appetizer to the dessert, including the wine with my husband and everything was perfect for the two of us.
We started with the venison tartar, you shouldn't miss it! Delicious! Then, came the main dish: the three-way musk ox - now, this is THE THING, YOU WANT THAT. It's a musk-ox sausage, musk-ox tenderloin and musk-ox ragu served with magic sauce and everything delicious. The tenderloin is SOOO TENDER you can't believe it's not butter (ha). It's one of those things you have to try before you die. I'm glad I did.
For dessert, we ordered the creme brulée trio. I've had, about eight years ago (yeah, man) an AMAZING CRÈME BRULÉE EXPERIENCE that I'll never forget (for those curious, the place is called Bar D'Hotel, in Rio de Janeiro). Finally, I've had a similar experience! And, I LOVE CRÈME BRULÉE!
Service was impeccable, fast, friendly, perfect. I have no words to describe.
If there's something I don't like there? Although I think the idea of having the kitchen in the middle of the restaurant seems super cool and modern, you end up smelling like food. I don't want that after spending lots of money in a restaurant. The stairs to the washroom are greasy for obvious reasons.
Still, I loved it and plan to come back really soon. I am in love. -
Review from Yvonne T.
La Palette is not as it used to be. My sister snd I decided to treat our relatives in HK out for dinner - French food - not something different.
Although I enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant with the open kitchen taking centre stage, I can't help but raise an eyebrow to their tacky tablecloths and chairs.
The servers are all relatively young. The nice thing is that La Palette is not too hard on your wallet with its Prix Fixe menu ringing in at $33. All items on the menu marked with a star are available on the PF menu.
We ordered the Escargot, Roasted Red Pepper Soup and Pàté de Compagne to start. The escargot was not prepared in it's traditional drenched in butter fashion and was served atop a bed of spinach topped with croutons. It was disappointing and rather bland. The pâté was quite yummy though it came with no crackers or even a slice of bread until we asked for our bread basket to be replenished.
For mains we ordered duck confit, soufflé and steak frites. The duck confit was rather tender and flavourful though the skin was lacking crispness. It was served atop a bed of a corn & peas spaëtzle mixture.
The soufflé was a ricotta soufflé served with ratatouille and a side salad. The soufflé was creamy but the outer layer wS too sponge-y for me. The ratatouille was rather flavorless and the side salad was nothing special.
The steak was rather disappointing as it was 1) cold 2) tough and 3) a tiny piece of steak. I will vouch though that it was seared to a perfect medium rare and I will also vouch for their yummy yummy frites! One of the best frites I've had!
Desserts consisted of crême brûlée, clafouti, flourless almond and chocolate cake, and a lemon tart.
The crême brûlée was so small the spoon barely fit. The lemon tart was too sour. The flourless cake was dry as a dessert and the clafouti was meh.
All in all, the place was a miss for me. If you're looking for good French food. Look elsewhere. -
Review from Brett C.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
A co-worker of my wife's told us about this French restaurant, and having had great French back in Vancouver at Les Faux Bourgois we were looking for a Toronto equivalent, and we think we succeeded.
We managed to have an early dinner on a Sunday before there was a single person there to eat, so we sat down immediately and were watched over by the very friendly staff all night. My wife and I both went with the fixed menu and enjoyed every course, from appetizer to dessert. We walked away very happy people, ready to go back whenever the desire for French food strikes us. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Drop by La Palette for brunch on a Sunny Sunday afternoon. If you love and enjoy the warm sunshine, make sure you sit at the front of the restaurant... I have to wear my sunglasses while enjoying my brunch!
Eggs Benedict with hollondaise on ricotta herb biscuits with Wild boar belly shank crepinette ($14) was A-OK. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the wild boar belly was tender..... The only thing I can complain was my salad was drowned in the really sour dressing...
Services was hit and miss...I wouldn't say I was neglected, but not overly attentive...
I might come back for the Prix Fixe menu and give La Palette another try! -
Review from Melissa A.
Toronto, ON
12/30/2011
After searching and researching for a French restaurant open on a Tuesday in the city, which happened to be my birthday two weeks ago, I decided to make a reservation with La Palette. I wanted some typically French menu options at reasonable prices and was not interested in any type of Nouveau or Fusion creations, and I was certainly pleased with everything La Palette had to offer.
The place was packed when we arrived so I was glad to have a reservation. We were greeted and taken to our table swiftly and our drink orders were taken very shortly after. Their website lists all sorts of beers, so I went to the bar to see what they had in stock and ordered a Barbar - fantastic! My boyfriend is a basic lager kind of guy and they had something for him too. We didn't look at the wine list because we don't tend to drink vino when we dine out, and I personally love to sample any different imported brew I can get my juicy little paws on... of which they had a surplus!
For our apps we ordered the fromage fondant and charcuterie platter. The camembert was sublime! The moment you cut into it, it oozed all over the plate which was adorned with braised cabbage and candied walnuts, with crostinis on the side. Heaven! Each bite of the charcuterie was all equally as mouth watering as the last. It had an array of wild boar and duck cured meats, rillettes and pâté. Spectacular.
For our mains my boyfriend ordered the duck breast and I had the duck & buck. I can't remember what his was accompanied with but mine was served overtop of a bed of barley risotto with juniper berries and veg. Honestly and truthfully, after each bite of food we took we both uttered 'mmmmmm'. I kid you not. It was impossible not to savour and enjoy every morsel!
Dessert of course was crême brulée, which was delectable but truth be told it wasn't best I've ever had. My only criticism of the evening would be about the brulée, which as others have mentioned should be served at room temperature. But if that's the biggest oversight of the evening, really, who cares? The overall experience was fantastic! I would highly recommend this place to anyone who loves typical French cuisine sans stuffy attitude. -
Review from jocelyn l.
6/19/2011
Had one of my best meals in Toronto so far...and it revolved around the horse tenderloin
We started with the foie gras, which was perfectly seared, silky, rich and flavorful.
I had the horse tenderloin, which I've been dying to try since I read about it. I didn't know what to expect...but i'll say this- it's better than any filet mignon i've ever had.
Juicy, tender, buttery and so flavorful.
I savored every single bite of it.
The risotto that accompanied it was delicious...but the tenderloin was definitely the star. It was quite a hefty piece of meat too; they definitely were not cheap with it.
The ambience is great; cozy, unpretentious and just like a French bistro. We had a great wine that went with our meal...french...can't remember the grape...something i've never heard of (fer...?)
My carnivore friend had the bison which was good, but not as amazing as my horse. He enjoyed his meal too
Highly recommendListed in: Faves in TO
-
Review from Madelaine D.
Toronto, ON
La Palette is an unassuming, dimly lit French restaurant known for its horse tenderloin (hello, what?!)
The restaurant has character inside; it really is the definition of my kind of restaurant. It's dimly lit, cozy and pretty romantic. A red brick interior wall, high ceilings and an array of interesting things on the walls like a horses head, some interesting pictures, and variety of odd knick knacks. The servers are all dressed quite casually but most of the clientele are dressed up.
The food was to die for.
Before every meal comes warm soft fresh bread served with olive oil for dipping.
The French onion soup was flavourful without being too salty with a sharp rich cheese.
The Fromage Fondant (fried Camembert) is an absolute MUST. This stuff is sinful and delicious to the max and the maple-glazed pumpkin seeds that come with it are beautifully presented and surprisingly great.
Horse tenderloin. I was a bit nervous about this one, but if you can wrap your head around the fact you're eating horse, it's like the most tender steaks you have ever eaten (not gamey at all). Truly, we ordered this medium rare and once you got through the charred outer crust your knife cuts through the meat like butter. YUM! (You HAVE to order this when you come here...)
We also ordered the Confit de Canard, the safe option, which was equally delicious.
The Bottle of Organic Pinot Noir we had was perfect. We were offered the option of tasting the wines before we purchases a bottle since they serve everything by the glass, 1/2 bottle and bottle.
The service was quick, a bit casual and friendly as can be. There are two main seating's 6:00-6:30 and 8:30-9. (There were also people coming in around 11:30, this place is open late!)
Honestly, I couldn't have asked for more from this restaurant. As we say in French:
C'est Incroyable! -
Review from Shasta K.
Toronto, ON
I was at La Palette this past Saturday to have brunch with some friends before my friend was about to make the biggest mistake of his life....get married ;)
Seeing it was a big day and all, I wanted to make brunch memorable so we choose La Palette. After reviewing their website, we were sold on the many tasty items listed (including stuffed french toast and croque monsieur....mmm). Sadly, when we got to the restaurant, turns out that the website is wildly outdated and there is a new menu without any of the tasty items we were craving. We were definitely sad, but lucky for us, there were plenty of other items that could substitiute equally as well.
I had the eggs benny with shallots and some mushrooms who's name I still cannot pronounce. Eggs benny was cooked perfect - no complaints.
As we were leaving, the owner (I think???) came over and asked if we could do a round of shots on the house having heard my buddy was getting married...nothing like vodka shots at 11:45am...in any case, a great way to end a great breakie!
A repeat. -
Review from Munis T.
Toronto, ON
7/19/2011
I had brunch here on a sunday.
I started with the fried camembert, which was great. The exterior was crunchy, the inside ranged from liquid to gooey. The berry coulis was neither too sweet nor too sour, and complemented the camembert very nicely. Despite the fat content, overall it didn't feel too "heavy."
Next I had a boar crepinette, which was a little dry, but only slightly so. It came with a fried egg, and when I ate them together it was just fine. The green beans on the side were nice and crisp.
The duck confit omlette was satisfactory, but nothing special. The duck was mostly lost in the omlette, neither the texture nor the flavor were sufficiently prominent.
For dessert, I had the trio of creme brulees.
The vanilla was a well-executed classic, with a rich full-bodied flavor.
I was quite happy with the lime (I'm generally a fan of lime) which had sweet and sour flavors well-balanced.
The chocolate-chili (which they warned me was still in an experimental stage) was okay, but I had to use my imagination a bit to taste the chili.
The service was prompt, accurate, and friendly.
While some of the food was not awesome, I decided to award 4 stars on the strength of the fried camembert and the creme brulees, and also on account of the great service. -
Review from hangover n.
Toronto, ON
11/17/2011
i have of late despaired of finding a toronto restaurant on Queen with a friendly bar and a nice atmosphere. Thankfully I wandered into La Palette randomly a few weeks ago. Nice bistro setup, and fantastic owner working the bar. Old fashioned friendliness and good service is vastly underrated in this city. I'll be back very soon to try the food because of my positive drinking experience.
-
Review from Alex K.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2011
Their new location is certainly more apt for this perfectly pleasant french bistro. The old spot, at the outskirts of Kensington felt strange for a place which boasts such a traditional french menu. The open concept kitchen is great, and gives the place an exciting and intimate feel. The tables and chairs seem kind of cheap, as if they were going for rustic but ended up ghetto instead. But the reason you go is for the food.
We had the pheasant to start which was succulent and full flavored. We then both had steak frites, and this is where the place shines. I'm not sure if it's grilled or pan seared in cast iron (the more traditional method) but it's damn fine and the shoestring fries are delish.
It was a fun night, and apart from some gentleman who seemed to want to play romantic guitar (read: my absolute nightmare) it was perfectly pleasant experience. The only 'but' to all this is that for the price - it could be better. -
Review from Melissa M.
Toronto, ON
I am French. I was raised in France and this restaurant brings back all the comfort of my culinary experiences while growing up. Unlike most restaurants, la palette understands how to use fresh herbs and spices, while not over salting the dishes.
I recommend any soup they offer. The best tartare is elk (elk is delicious and savory whether cooked or raw). Wild boar is a satisfying comfort food. The hot chocolate cake is good but maybe a little too sweet. Excellent palette cleansers: house made 'not too sweet' sorbets: pear, lemongrass, Clementine, etc... -
Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
11/20/2010
La Palette is a small unpretentious restaurant on Queen St. It's dimly lit and gives off a very cozy and romantic feeling. Great atmosphere with service staffs that are very friendly and informative about daily specials and recommendations.
I initially came to this restaurant for a birthday dinner with some close friends and was not disappointed. The food was amazing. Simple yet rich in flavour and extremely tasty! The escargots were DELICIOUS, baked in mushrooms and garlic sauce - it was a great way to start the meal. For my entrée I tried the 'Cheval' and it was orgasmic - very juicy/tender inside while maintaining a crisp outside without being overly cooked, I just wish the piece of meat wasn't so small :'(
Overall it was a great dinner and an amazing night. I would recommend this restaurant to anybody that would like to try French cuisine or is looking for a romantic evening. -
Review from Charles S.
12/10/2010
La Palette was more than a restaurant, it was a fun evening:
- The owner was behind the bar and talked to us before we sat down, even showing us some of the dishes as the headed from the kitchen to the customers.
- Stephanie, our waitress, was super nice.
- The food was very good. My colleague had venison ribs. I had two small steaks -- one horse, the other elk. Both came accompanied by assorted vegetables appropriate for the season.
- Except for me, the crowd was pretty cool. Lots of funky clothes. That said, three well-heeled couples in suits and ties and stylish dresses came and fit right in.
A couple of things to watch out for:
- Noise. This is a noisy locale.
- Personal space. The tables are pretty darn close together.
- Smokey. The kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant. The advantage is that you can watch the chefs cook. The downside if that the smoke overwhelmed the exhaust fan the night we were there and the restaurant smelled a bit smokey.
I had a great time at La Palette. Unusual but good food in an unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere.Listed in: Ottawa and Toronto
-
Review from Justine K.
Toronto, ON
10/24/2010
I am shocked this place has such great reviews. Sure, it's cute and the service is good, but the food didn't blow me away. I had better food at Le Select though the service was atrocious!
Still on the hunt for a go to French restaurant in the city. -
Review from Brenna K.
Toronto, ON
12/16/2010
This is my second time at this restaurant. Second time in 10 years. The first time I was at the one in Kensington market which was lovely. I have to say the new one on queen is nice but not nearly as cozey as the old one. The food was good and they have a 30$ pre fixe menu which is great.
I had oysters, steak & frites and a chocolate tart type dessert. Food was good. My only complaint would be service was great at the start and then kind of faded at bit by the end and we were left with some time waiting for our bill, ordering another drink, etc. -
Review from Shannon F.
Toronto, ON
2/18/2011
One of my very favourite restaurants in the city right now. Consistently spectacular food - very nice french based wine list, knowledgeable staff and did I mention the spectacular food? The menu is very meat heavy and I'm a vegetarian but I do eat fish and they always have a lovely local fish special that is delicious. All of my meat eating friends agree its delicious, well cooked and decent portions. I highly recommend getting the creme brulee trio for dessert!
I've also had the risotto, tuna, escargot, oysters, and my friend can't stop talking about the wild boar. Everything is here top notch.
They also do a beautiful breakfast/brunch. Coffee is delicious and decor is warm and welcoming.
While i haven't stayed for this I have seen the transformation from dinner to live band which looks fun for a Friday/Saturday night outing. -
Review from Leeor J.
8/22/2010
I've only gone here for drinks a couple times and I'm meaning to eat there one of these days. I need to eat horse sometime.
They have a decent beer selection. Not a huge selection, but some different options from your average bar. The thing that really wins me about this place is the vibe. It has the kind of bar where you actually sit at the bar and maybe can even talk to the person sitting next to you. Some of the bartenders there are pretty cool too and are more than happy to explain anything on the menu to you and get into a conversation.
Last time I went they had some hungarian gypsy band playing. Pretty nice stuff. -
Review from Sean H.
Toronto, ON
3/14/2011
La Palette great food and chic atmosphere.
I have probably been to La Palette 4 or 5 times now and it has yet to disappoint. The food and service have always been excellent. La Palette is the type of place where you can easily spend the entire night chatting, sipping wine, laughing, and just purely enjoying the act of eating with others.
I have seen others comparing La Palette and Le Select. Yes they are both french restaurants, but I think beyond that the comparisons pretty much stop. The style of food at La Palette is much more country/rustic french, while Le Select is much more akin to Parisian cuisine (or at least my experience of Parisian cuisine), which is much more refined. Both offer highly accomplished food, but by no means could dishes from one be confused with dishes from the other.
Furthermore, the atmospheres of these two restaurants could not be more different. La Palette is small, dark, and eclectic (in a very charming, comforting sort of way). Le Select is open, bright, and while not formal, it certainly can't be mistaken for a casual restaurant.
So while both restaurants are french and in the same neighbourhood they offer very different experiences. Both are certainly worth checking out, but currently given the choice, I would choose La Palette. -
Review from Augusto B.
North York, ON
6/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What an amazing brunch! I tried the eggs Benedict with wild boar, it was perfect. Wife went with the croissant with halibut, she says she could eat another one so good it was. They also have the amazing Dieu du Ciel! beer, only those are worth the visit. A gem in Toronto fashion district.
-
Review from M. C. F.
North York, ON
5/17/2010
I'm a big fan of Shamez and his head chef Brook. They've recently opened this new location on Queen St. W. in order to expand the market they can reach with their flair for French Bistro cuisine.
For those who know the brand as well as the new comers: you'll love the new joint. Open and airy with high ceilings, a skylight, and an original full-length brick wall to one side, you simply can't deny the charm of this eclectic space. The building served as a barn and was built in 1880 and a lot of that vintage design has been carried over. The art and posters are as quirky as ever, and the atmosphere is open yet intimate. This is helped by the small two-seater tables and completely mismatching chairs dotting the back of the restaurant (where you have seated meals).
That area is roughly similar in size as the original restaurant, but the new space has an amazing entrance that houses a long curved bar around which you'd mingle, and a totally open kitchen that showcases the gastronomic magic of this restaurant.
Of course, in the end, that's why you're there. The food is delicious. The menu is similar to the old establishment but there are some new items too. Expect to see your favorite game meats.
Thus far, I've only tried one item off of the brunch menu: eggs benedict on crispy bacon combined with horseradish sitting on rye bread with a mixed green salad. This is a must eat dish. The open kitchen design is brilliant in the fact that it lets you sense the aromas of your dish and build up mouth watering anticipation before being able to dig in.
Mimosas with fresh orange juice helped wash down the delectable meal and we walked away not feeling overly stuffed or light in the pocket. $50 (ex. tip) for 2.
I highly recommend La Palette (South) along with its sister restaurant in Kensington Market. -
Review from Kat T.
5/18/2010 2 photos
On Friday night, I saw. On Sunday morning I went. I waited til Tuesday to review and missed my FTR!
Alas, I have been to La Palette for brunch and will return for dinner this week. I've only been to the old location for dinner because who needs to walk more than a block for weekend brunch? Now with the new location, I get to experience the exquisite brunch that was put together in the old Taro Grill locale. With the same open kitchen and long bar with seating at the front and a group of small tables at the back, La Palette will be an even more entertaining experience. To watch the chefs strut their stuff out in the open will be so exciting!
The staff remain super friendly and the beer selection is coming together nicely with McAuslan on tap.
We're going back for the bison and Talouti. Any surprises and I'll let you know. -
Review from Leah H.
Toronto, ON
5/11/2011
Excellent place for reveling at the top of the food chain. Delicious meats such as braised bison cheeks, cheval tenderloin, elk, and caribou. No worries though there are options for the vegetarian in your party too! Phenomenal attention to detail and the open kitchen let's you observe the highly skilled chefs in action.
-
Review from Ares X.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2011
First time going to this restaurant. Im in love.
Decor/Setting:
- First thing I noticed was the open kitchen. It's a plus because it adds a sort of aura around the restaurant, hearing the pans, sizzling, etc. It's great.
- The inside of the restaurant is pretty sexy I must say. Lots of great french posters, beautiful bar, nice dim lights with candles (it's not that dark! just perfect).
- Seats are a little crammed
Food:
- Food was very good. I had the duck liver pate and the Steak frites done medium. Pate was very good, it was served with some veg and mustard, and just enough bread.
The steak frites was excellent as well. The portion size was very good as well (I had the prix fix menu and I was expecting a tiny potion but it was pretty generous). Steak done perfectly, very very good. Fries were nice as well, but there were a couple that I didnt bother to eat because they were hard as rock.
Wine list was good as well.
Service:
Seem like cool people, pushy when it came to wine. And didn't fill water often
Overall: Great restaurant. Do want to come back here
And just so you guys know: The menu in the restaurant is a little bit bigger, and they have specials in stuff. So dont think the menu on the website is all that they have -
Review from Rob D.
11/8/2010
Let's even call it 3.5 .... OK call me simple in a restaurant with a solid menu full of exquisite meats ... i am still craving my standard sirloin :)
I tasted my friend's bison ribs, which were literally fall off the bone juicy and tender. I know that is an expression, but I'm talkin those bones were clean as a whistle cuz all meat just slid right off.
Back to my steak. Meeei ... I opted for the 6oz version on the prix fixe menu in order to enjoy the sweet potatoe soup and cafe creme brule for dessert ($32) over the 8oz at $28 plus $7 for soup + dessert.
The steak was tender. The sauce was great. The fries were fresh and hot hot hot. Still that steak only rates a 8.75/10 ... a bit more tender and a hair above (the never to be knocked and only marveled) Keg quality.
Its a shame I notice I'm more interested in the one bite of the bison rib.
Cremebrule cup could barely fit my spoon inside. Damn French.
3 different guys served our table. 1 stunk of cigarette smoke. Authentic French.
I'd walked by this place enough times to finally drop in for a late night meal and glass of red. It surely didn't disappoint. I am very pleased to see Queen street toward the Spadina end get some better quality restaurants. All in favour. " I " ... There, the " I's " have it.
In summary:
- food 8/10
- style and decor: 7.5/10
- ambiance and vibe: 7.5/10
- cleanliness & presentation: 8/10
- service & timing: 8/10
- value for money: 8/10 -
Review from Wini L.
Toronto, ON
10/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
I made a reservation for the dinner and looked at the menu before going so I knew in advance that I want the fois gras for entree. It never fails. I ordered the quack and track (duck and horse) for main course - very interesting. He horse tasted like steak. Over all, loved it. The service was wonderful - very friendly. The price is fair, a little on the higher side but worthy for the great adventure. Decor gives me a very warn and cozy feeling. Seems like the only thing missing was a nice warm fireplace.
-
Review from Secyw W.
Richmond Hill, ON
11/13/2010 3 photos
This was for a birthday gathering. I would say, don't get their house white wine because its horrible. I forgot even what it was - it was that bad.
The menu had a $30-35 type of set menu for appetizer, entree and desserts. My friends and I had a few items on the menu. The appetizer was the Escargots La Palette and that was so-so. For entrees, Confit de Canard & Cheval (Horse Tenderloin) that was very unique and delicious. I loved the Confit de Canard. The Côtes du Sanglier - Wild Boar side ribs was very unique and good too; and huge servings on this plate if you order the regular meal. For desserts, I got the creme bruilee. There were 3 types of bruilee, but I got the regular one. Very good and price was not as bad for a fine dining restaurant. -
Review from Ben S.
Toronto, ON
11/3/2010
Great beer selection, disappointing food. There are better places to go for French food at the same price, or cheaper.
-
Review from sunnee s.
Toronto, ON
3/17/2011
knowing that i've been wanting to try la palette for the longest time, my bf took me here for our anniversary . now that i have been, i have mixed feelings towards it . i went in, wanting to fall in love with it so maybe i went with too much of a high expectation .
i absolutely loved the atmosphere . with the cozy decor & the dimmed lights .. but not at ALL pretentious ! even my bf felt comfortable here . i really wish i had the chance to try them out when they were at the kensington location . i heard it was even cozier ! servers were very attentive & everything came out timely . extra star just for the atmosphere & the service .
now the food .
for app: we ordered the escargot & foie gras (we always order foie gras whenever we can after trying them for the first time at hoof cafe!) . it was my very first time trying escargot and for such exotic food such as this, i expected it would be much more flavorful . foie gras was wonderful but we still prefer hoof cafe's . just a little .
for entrees: my bf got the bison steak . it was good but some part of the steak was wayy too salty . perfectly cooked med rare tho . i had the game meat (elk that evening) and it was just okay . the bf liked it a lot more than i did . i LOVE french food so this was a bit of a disappointment . :(
dessert: we just ordered what looked like a chocolate brownie . sounded amazing on menu, but nothing spectacular . -
Review from Kate S.
7/28/2010
Almost missed this place. Glad I didn't. Menu was amazing, service was friendly while not over bearing, and the atmosphere was not at all pretentious.
-
Review from Arcady G.
Toronto, ON
6/12/2010
We walked into this place by chance, and we'll surely be back. The amazing food is distinctively French, the service is excellent in all respects, and the decor is lovely.
-
Review from Elvis A.
3/15/2011 5 photos
After a typical long Monday (hey everyone feels down after the first Monday when the Daylight Saving has ended!) I decided to try this place as they have the Delirium Tremens Beer on tap. I really wanted to try this beer and this place had decent reviews so I decided to give it a try. I went for the Prixe Fix menu which has 3 courses for 32$. I went the escargots, Steak and Creme Brulee'. Escargots were excellent. Nicely Balanced with crisp croutons and just right spinach. Steak was ok and I think the portion was tiny but the fries made the dish better. The Dessert was tiny made with real vanilla beans and topped with Pineapple bits (I think they were too chewy) The beer selection was great so I tried out a bottle in addition to my Delirium Tremens. The place is laid back and I had a nice chat with the couple next too me. We ended up sharing a drink together which is great as the place is not stuffy. 3.5 Stars IMO. Good bistro food if you are looking for one.
