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Lusso Restaurant - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
Queen's Quay Terminal207 Queen's Quay West
Toronto, ON M5J 1A7
Neighbourhood: Harbourfront
(416) 848-0005
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for Lusso Restaurant
9 reviews in English
-
Review from Rebecca W.
3/28/2010 2 photos
This is a bar/restaurant on the harbor (or harbour, for the natives), connected to El Fornello restaurant next door.
We just had one drink here, so can't comment on the menu, but had the best seats in the house for people, plane, and lake watching on a gorgeous--if chilly--day. I loved that we could sit on the curvy wooden benches outside, even though it was less than 50 degrees out. Just bundled up in the soft blankets that were strewn about and enjoyed the sunshine and a HUGE glass of Stella.
A perfect spot for an afternoon drink or snack, just a short walk down the lakefront from our hotel. -
Review from Monica F.
3/22/2011
Would have wrote this one sooner, but I didn't know the name of the restaurant until now.
Came here with a date last year in the early Spring. It was the type of day where it was warm-ish because the sun was out during the day, but as soon as the sun went down it was FREEZING. Outside AND inside the restaurant. We finally had to ask them to shut the patio doors but it didn't make a difference.
Anyways, we ordered some clams and a fish main, and because none of the main's came with a side, I ordered a salad as well.
A couple who had arrived before us (must not have been long before us as we saw them receive their drink orders) ordered food and got theirs within about 20 minutes (clams and fish.) So thank god for the bread cause 10 minutes goes by...still waiting. 20 minutes passes... the other couple has finished their meal and we still weren't even told our food was on the way or anything...
At some point we were finally acknowledged by our waitress who assured us that although it was taking a really long time, our food was coming. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes. I'm serious. I think she came out once more and told us that she was sorry and it was still on it's way.
She then disappeared for the remainder of the night until my date and I couldn't wait any longer (we had plans) and asked the bartender to please cancel our food order and give us the bill for our wine. The bartender went to the back for a moment, came back and told us again, our food was on the way and they would comp our meal for the trouble. We actually had to go, so we kindly declined and left immediately. How embarrassing would it have been to stay and eat that food? Really embarrassing, I think. And by that point I was so angry I wasn't even hungry anymore.
I would understand the long wait if it were busy. But we were the ONLY couple dining (other than that 1 other couple) and it was a Sunday evening/night. It was dead. And why did the other couple get their food with no problems when they got there probably 5 minutes before us? I just felt like they felt my time wasn't worth anything, and that I was actually going to wait for this food because I had nothing better to do...
Such a bad experience. And what's with the cheap balsamic vinegar they are serving? They had the cheapest bottle of balsamic vinegar that you can buy at No Frills sitting on the table with the label on and stains on the label and everything. How tacky. At least switch it into a nice glass bottle.Listed in: My S#!% List
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Review from Sergey S.
11/14/2010
Well to begin with, there is no such restaurant as Lusso. It is actually a cafe-sized dependency of the "Il Fornello" restaurant - they share menu and bills, and apparently the kitchen as well.
If you have been to Il Fornello, there is no need to describe their food. If you haven't, good for you. Small portions of something "Italian-like", with main plates being the worst, pastas slightly better and pizzas a no-no. Menu is short and wine list is nothing to brag about.
This place is also in a "$$$", not "$$" price range (we've left $370 there yesterday for a rather unremarkable dinner for four - appetizers, three bottles of wine, dessert/coffee finishing). Wines on a bill looked about twice the price then on the menu.
Servers are friendly, though not hesitating a second to seat you at the table just wiped with a wet cloth, or put an empty glass on a menu you have left on the table.
I called them an hour in advance to book a table at 6:30, and was reassured that the place is empty so I can just drop in (hmm). When we did, the place was full and their only table seating four - the one on the way to the washrooms - was occupied.
Again, that is a cafe-sized place - one table seating four, three tablets for two and two cozy booths. That is as much space as you get. Plus an open "patio" or rather a veranda adjacent to the quay' sidewalk.
Oh, and if you dream about an unobstructed lake view, be sure to tow away all the ships docked in front of the place, otherwise there will not be that much to look at...
Personally, my first time at Lusso was good enough to never return. -
Review from Ktimene G.
8/15/2009
I had low expectations given the touristy Harborfront area, but Lusso was lovely!
The patio was really romantic, the bellinis were delicious, and the sangria looked mighty tasty, too. Plus the hostess was cute as a button and our server was really cool and made good recos. I must say the service was also quite efficient for such a busy waterfront location.
The mixed greens and avocado salad plus the sauteed vegetables were perfectly savory, lightly spiced, and anything other than boring. I munched down to the last decorative frisee.
The enigmatic piece de resistance was a beet torta-- you read it right: BEET, not beef. Imagine baked red risotto cakes pressing layers of crispy chard and crinkly bok choy, all topped with a pungent mushroom cream sauce. Yum! I can't promise, but it looked to be gluten-free and almost vegan. And every bit as satisfying as a meaty pasta dish.
Cheers! -
Review from Kurt G.
ON
8/18/2009
Lusso is a great spot for a drink down by the lake on a steamy summer evening. The temperature always seems about 10 degrees cooler than the core, even though it is only a few blocks away. Don't worry as the night progresses they will come around with warm blankets for those that get chilly.
Their martini list hasn't changed much since it was Lago years ago. They have a good selection of original drinks, making it a stand out spot among the row of restaurants down on the boardwalk.
The food is also pretty tasty, although I can only speak for the Lamb and some of their appetizers. If you want a real hearty meal, I would go next door to Il Fornello, but for drinks and apps Lusso is the spot.
Fair warning, they shut down around midnight on weekdays, so prepared to get the boot if you get too cozy while enjoying their special cocktails and the view over the water. -
Review from Ben D.
9/2/2011
We had dessert and coffee and can't find much to rave about. The food and coffee were merely okay, and the place was very loud. Not bad, but nothing remarkable in our one experience.
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Review from LINDA R.
6/10/2009 2 photos
Awesome! Why? The BEST views: people watching, few feet from waters' edge & boardwalk, ships, ferries, Toronto Island & Airport.
2 tiered patio. Street level is tables, upper level is cozy benches with pillows and blankets for the cool breezes when not July or August.
Our server was efficient, freindly & very prompt. She was always willing to bring a taste test of any wine, with a good 1oz + pour (not a drip which evaporates by the time it comes to your table at alot of places).
It was a perfect summer day, but quite chilly with the wind. But the huge wrap-around blankets took care of any discomfort!
Flatbreads were yummy and so was the bruschetta. Had a crisp & cold bottle of savignon blanc, then moved onto some red to warm up :-)
It was a perfect Sunday afternoon to visit while in Toronoto. I can't think of a more perfect, romantic thing to do!! -
Review from Dejan M.
8/5/2010
If you view this place as a bar, then it's very good, as previous reviewers have described. Excellent views, libations, and people watching.
But the restaurant aspect is much flimsier. The food menu fits on one small sheet (4 paninis, 5 mains, and 5 salads). The mains come without sides, which you need to order separately. I've tried the halibut and roast potatoes, finding them OK but nothing exciting. The dessert menu offers a bit more variety, though I haven't had any.
On this particular night, the waiters were slow; I sat at my table for 10 minutes before the waitress came by. But this may have been an exception, judging from other reviews. Everyone was definitely pleasant, polite, and cheerful, so that's a big plus.
All in all, I give it three stars as a compromise. It's an excellent waterlooking watering hole and a mediocre restaurant.
Tip #1: Entrance is from the outside facing the water. It's hard to reach from inside the mall, and you end up going outside anyway.
Tip #2: Remember to order some sides with your main. -
Review from Hassan A.
Toronto, ON
5/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
great food and drinks. The view of the harbour front is amazing. The patio's are always packed in the summer time. They have the best Kobe Burgers in Toronto and awesome margaritas.
