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Nota Bene
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
180 Queen St WToronto, ON M5V 3X3
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Queen Street West, Downtown Core
(416) 977-6400
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
90 reviews for Nota Bene
Review Highlights
"For dessert we had the Sticky Toffee Pudding."
(in 8 reviews)
"Crisp Duck Salad : duck was perfectly cooked and crispy..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Good wine list and service."
(in 7 reviews)
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90 reviews in English
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Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
1/31/2012 8 photos
I've been meaning to try Nota Bene for a long while now, but never really had a chance to till recently. I made a reservation through opentable for 7:15 pm. Upon arrival, I was told that they cancelled my reservation, but I could still have the table till 9. I was quite perplexed by the cancellation, but at least we still had a table albeit with the time constraint.
To start the meal, we had some bread with olive oil. I didn't particularly like this type of bread. But by habit, I naturally gobbled up a lot of it. I should really start practicing self control and stop filling up on bread before a meal.
As our starter, my boyfriend and I split the cavatelli pasta ($16) with truffle-scented mushroom bolognese. Personally, I thought the pasta was a little undercooked, but that mushroom bolognese was rich and luscious. I really enjoyed that bold punch of earthy flavours. I just wished that the pasta was cooked a little more.
My boyfriend ordered an 8 oz grass-fed beef tenderloin ($42), cooked medium. The steak was pretty enjoyable, although not as good as the one from Jacobs & Co. Nevertheless, this steak was still delicious and completely satisfying.
I love gourmet burgers, so I couldn't pass up on ordering Jennifer's Stilton beef brisket burger ($22), served with pommes frites. Ketchup, mustard, and mayo are provided on the side. I love it when my burger is cooked medium rare, and this one was perfect! The patty was so juicy that I made quite a mess trying to pick it up with my hands to eat it. In fact, the juice from the meat is seeping through the bottom bun, and I just loved that! The burger was marvelously flavourful and definitely one of the best that I've had. I barely ate any fries (thanks to the bread), so not much to comment on those.
For dessert, I wanted to try Nota Bene's sticky toffee pudding, but unfortunately my boyfriend is not a huge fan of toffee. So I compromised by settling with an apple galette ($12) with wild blueberries, and served with vanilla ice cream. The galette reminded me an apple pie, but no complaints from me since I love apple pies. I wished the scoop of vanilla ice cream could've been slightly bigger.
All in all, I had a wonderful meal at Nota Bene, and I definitely want to come back another time to try their onion rings. I spotted them at several tables and they looked absolutely fabulous! -
Review from Pascal P.
Toronto, ON
1/29/2012
The food was amazing but the service was on the slow side.
food
Big eye tuna tartar- 3/5 bland
Tunisian octopus- 3.5/5
Saturday dinner special- 5/5 amazing
sticky toffee pudding- 5/5 best part about it was the "spotted dick" ice cream
creme caramel- 4/5 -
Review from Yvonne T.
*3-1/2 stars*
It amazes me how the same restaurant can yield 2 different experiences. My first experience at Nota Bene was a little disappointing. Although they used high quality ingredients, I didn't think the food was anything special. But cue the namesake Suckling Pig & Bouding Noir Tart that has made Chef David Lee famous - and the result is phenomenal.
The restaurant was quite busy when I arrived, and without a reservation we were only able to nab a table at the front of the house. Lucky for us, it was a window seat. The crowd in here is a little older, and is a mix of the business and pre-show opera crowd. It isn't what I would call a casual dining restaurant as I spotted a lot of fancy dresses and dapper business suits.
While waiting, I sipped on a Muy Thai cocktail which was a drink for the senses. With lemon grass, red chillies, a splash of coconut, and basil leaves - there were many different flavours that came together in this seemingly simple, yet complex drink. It may just be one of the best cocktails I've had in Toronto. It is subtly sweet with a smooth coconut taste. Just as the mellowness of the coconut hits your tongue, the red chillies slowly make their way to the tip of your tongue to spice things up again. This is definitely a cocktail that is meant for slow sipping for the flavours to seep in.
We opted to skip on appetizers since the complimentary bread basket tided us over and head straight for the mains. My mission this time was to try the limited-time-only Suckling Pig & Boudin Noir Tart (available until February 9). For your information, Boudin Noir refers to a type of blood sausage that is almost black in colour composed mainly of pork and pig's blood. The tart was extremely rich in flavour and is something that should be shared. Although generally speaking there were many different components to this dish - the sauce was so rich that it turned this into what I would call a melting pot dish (e.g. everything tasted like the sauce). Texturally, this was an interesting dish. A puff pastry serves as the base of the tart, which loses its textural uniqueness with the sauce drenched all over and therefore losing the buttery, flaky texture. The tart itself is composed of crispy pork rinds, portabello mushrooms, tender pieces of pork, the Boudin Noir, thin slices of bacon and truffle vinaigrette. While I appreciate that this was a very rich and savory dish, I kind of wanted to be able to taste the distinct components that came together to tantalize the taste buds versus just having the same taste which came from the sauce in every bite. The slices of bacon were translucent in appearance and just melted in your mouth as was the pieces of juicy and tender pork. The blood sausage had an almost liver-like taste to it and was unique. The pork rinds were perhaps the only textural contrast in the dish as it steered away from being "soft" like the rest of the components in the dish. All in all, despite the lack in textures, the dish was savory.
My favourite pasta is Pappardelle (which is basically a broader fettuccine), particularly the egg variety. Eggs just make everything smoother and better! Tonight's pappardelle would be a Rabbit Sofrito. Sofrito, refers to a blend of "...aromatic ingredients [which have been] cut in very small pieces, and slowly sauteed or braised in cooking oil for 15-30 minutes." [1] Rabbit, to me, can be described as having a more tender texture than chicken. The sofrito consisted of ground up meet and a rich sauce and was no doubt, heavily lubed up from either cooking oil or butter. This is probably one of the better dishes I've had at a restaurant. The pasta was fresh and delicious.
I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but the most disappointing part of the evening was dessert. I still can't believe I said that because those of you who know me, know that I love dessert! Last time I opted for the Sticky Toffee Pudding which was way too sweet. This time, at the recommendation of our server, we ordered the Apple Galette. It was served with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream and a Blueberry Sauce. I found the pastry shell to be too hard. It was not buttery in taste, and was probably not made the same day. The filling was the best part, although you don't have to be a culinary genius to make a good pie filling.
Verdict:
I've now had 2 dining experiences at Nota Bene, one good and one so-so. With cocktails priced with an average price tag of $15, Nota Bene is definitely not an everyday indulgence. I applaud Chef David Lee for crafting the Suckling Pig & Boudin Noir Tart as I don't think I've ever had anything quite like it in my dining experiences. However, I think their desserts still need a bit of work.
This is a great place to go pre-theatre or for a special occasion. Our bill rang in at around $103 before tax and tip.Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge: The…, All that talk about nothing...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/4/2011
Nota Bene is classified as American (New) cuisine on Yelp, but I think I'd call it more Fusion based… Read more »
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
Updated - 1/21/2012
Menu Tasting update with yummy looking photos on my blog:
http://nearafar.wordpr...
I won't re-post the review but the "Will eat over and over again" items are:
Brussel Sprouts --the sauce is like crack
Rabbit Soffrito Pappardelle -- succulent rabbit, good flavouring and the best noodle I've ever had.
Crisp Duck Salad -- David Lee gets asian flavours right in this dish with crispy texturing and a big punch of flavour in the sauce with the papaya. Mouthgasm.
Nova Scotia Lobster Salad (from my first visit) --amazing. The lobster is super fresh.
Creme Caramel (I had this last time and it was my first love dessert.) Whoever is the pastry chef at Nota Bene: I want to give you a hug. You make truly amazing desserts. Our tastebuds and sweet tooths thank you.
**The Suckling Pig is amazing but it's very heavy so it's a once in a while treat (review below).
The charcuterie is interesting but my charcuterie first love is the Black Hoof.
Honorable Mention: Onion Rings, especially if I'm having a craving.Listed in: Libations, Meat, Sweets and Treats, Last Chance for Romance
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/19/2012
REVIEW ON SUCKLING PIG AND BOUDIN NOIR TART
On offer until Feb 8, 2012. A fantastic pre-Valentines… Read more »
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Review from Chay H.
Mississauga, ON
2/6/2012
I went to this place without knowing much about it. That said, I went with a mid-sized group of people for dinner and had a good time. My sea bass tasted great, but for the price I guess I would've wanted a bit more substance - the plate was a bit sparse IMO. My bf got the Jennifer brisket burger and said it tasted good also, but has had better at other places. The sticky toffee pudding however was delicious - I don't think you can ever go wrong with that! We also got some sides like the poutine and onion rings, they were also delicious and filling so no complaints there. What really stood out that night for us was the service. Our waiter was really exceptional; patient and knowledgeable, he pretty made us feel like the only diners in the restaurant that night. All in all, good food and even better service. I'd definitely recommend this place if you're feeling a bit more upscale for some fine dishes.
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Review from Raj B.
Toronto, ON
1/10/2012
The food was excellent (we had fish dishes and the creme caramel for dessert), the service was fawningly attentive, and the restaurant had an energetic vibe (and cool art work!).
Still, although I'm cool with paying a premium for a perfect dish, I can't stomach the exorbitant mark-up on things like wine ($12 for a glass of house prosecco?) and fries (sorry, I mean pomme frites! -- also $12).
Since I always divide (yumminess + service + ambiance) by price, four stars. -
Review from Taylor O.
Updated - 12/21/2011
Perfect pre-theater restaurant for the ballet at the Four Seasons Performance Center diagonally across the intersection. Previously here, I was wondering why the heck they were so darn fast with the food and obviously it's because they're trained to cater to the speed level of the pre-show crowd. We only had about 50 minutes to eat but the staff (even in the bar area, which is by the windows like I prefer) was on top of delivery and filling every glass of wine and water at exactly the right moment. They were very accommodating with returning for desert later post-show.
We enjoyed the wine, served in glassed tapering tightly to a small opening for the Pinot Noir, though a bit expensive per glass effectively doubling the bill. It was nice to have a several varietals by the glass. The Tom Yum soup version with lobster I had again and still enjoy it's refreshing simplicity and herbs. The cod was one of the better fish I've had in the city and the coarse grounds of kosher salt evenly distributed to great effect. I had but a taste of a very well done hummus that accompanied it.
I still probably wouldn't come here out of my way but for a pre-show or another event in this section of downtown, it's on my short-list.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/19/2010
I was feeling RAW; Hangar steak and tuna tartare. Tasty but my hangar wasn't as good as I've… Read more »
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Review from Danny T.
North York, ON
12/29/2011
I have been to Nata Bene a few times and I finally decide to write a review.
The owner / chef is David Lee who was previously owner/chef of Spledido, a restaurant David Lee bought from the owner at a young age of 29.
I have always enjoyed the food and service at nota bene. Most main dishes are at the $20's range and i think it's a steal if you compare it to the dishes and service provided by some other franchise "cool" restaurants like moxies.
I like how David Lee always put an Asian twist on western food. (more so than Susur Lee and I think he adds too much asian) Personally, i really enjoy the black cod and French classic Beef bourguignon with a modern twist. Most north american will probably find the hanger steak too "chewy". Once a year, Nota Bene will serve Porchetta on Tuesday and I highly recommend anyone to check it out.
Don't forget to order their appetizers as I really think the appetizers are the "Main" star at Nota Bene. Personal favorite is the pulled pork taco.
PS - If you feel a little Spanish, I'd recommend going to Nota Bene after 9pm - corkage is FREE! -
Review from Munis T.
Toronto, ON
1/4/2012
I went here for dinner a few weeks ago. I was with a large group and I forgot to take notes, so this review will not be as detailed as usual.
The crispy duck salad was okay: there was not enough crispiness to make it exciting, nor enough flavor.
The steak tartar was also okay, but it felt a little heavy.
The pistachio ice-cream did not particularly taste like pistachio, unless I really used my imagination: I found this annoying.
Maybe I ordered the wrong things... -
Review from Kate H.
York, ON
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Perfect. Totally perfect.
I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, and it's my new favourite restaurant in Toronto. Sorry, Rushton! I had made reservations at Mark McEwan's new restaurant, Fabbrica, but on the morning of the birthday became troubled by the deeply mixed reviews. I switched to Nota Bene at the last minute, and am so glad I did. They have everything all figured out.
I had made a reservation, which we were late for. I called to put it back and the hostesses were lovely about it and would accept no apologies when we arrived. The space is stunning. And huge. I was shocked at how much clean, contemporary, perfectly lit space was hiding behind that tiny little Queen and John facade. It's a beautiful place to have a long, quiet meal.
They have free corkage after 9, which we took advantage of. They took the bottle away from us while we had our cocktails, and brought it back at just the right moment. It had been decanted and allowed to air out just the right amount. I was nervous to bring it in and expected, perhaps, a bit of attitude about it or an up-sell on other things to make up for it - it didn't happen.
We were initially seated beside a group of four, with two drunk women that were simply screaming laughter. It was absolutely impossible to have any sort of conversation. We asked our server to re-seat us, stressing he had already begun to provide us with lovely service and did not want him to lose the table. He wasn't willing to be worried about that, but did remain our server in the end. The staff seemed to sense we were trying to have a quiet, intimate meal and ended up seating us in a completely empty area of the restaurant which we both recognized as a closed section. This was incredibly kind.
We saw lots of large groups having long, enjoyable, boozy meals. Everyone looked happy.
Salted cod appetizer was stunning to my palette. I could have eaten 3 servings. Just stunning. I had the Cavatelli with truffle oil and mushrooms, my boyfriend had the hangar steak - not one of the "expensive ones." Both were amazing - if this is the "cheap steak," well... I don't know what to say. We had some sticky-toffee pudding for dessert, which was to die for, and they brought our a large piece of dark chocolate with "Happy Birthday" piped in white. Nice touch.
We were the very last people in the restaurant but were admonished not to rush even a tiny bit.
Worth every penny and perfect end-to-end. GO!! -
Review from Jen C.
10/8/2011 8 Check-ins Here
This space is chic, bustling, and great for a nice-looking meal. Thankfully, the food is on par with its surroundings. Given that it is helmed by chef David Lee, it's not surprising - but I am still thankful. Most dishes are strong and while not all dishes are winner, I haven't had a truly bad dish.
If you're a fan of mushrooms, you'll enjoy their cavatelli starter; with a mushroom ragu and laced with truffle oil. I often skip the mains and order this (available as a starter size or dinner size) and another side/starter as my meal.
The waygu burger is something to try if you've got the extra coin, but not something you're absolutely missing out on.
While I'd usually pass on a chicken sesame salad, the green papaya listed as an ingredient seemed to catch my fancy. Peppered with petals, this mix with mint, coriander, and Thai basil was quite satisfying, both to the eye and to the tongue. The green papaya was the star of this dish - it was crisp with a bit of tang and a dash heat.
Their onion ring side is always tasty, though less-good if you let it get too cool
The new side of Shoshito peppers are really fun to eat; they reminded me of the Pimientos de padron that I'd had at a pintxos bar in Seattle.
Desserts are fairly good, but I'm most pleased that they offer salted caramel truffles. They're really lovely and perfect when you're full but still want something sweet to end your night.
Should they ever put the grapefruit sorbet back on though, you should definitely get that. Really perfect taste - not too tart, but with a little bite.
This place is ideal for a nice and trendy (but not romantic) night out. Unless you're going late, the room is busy and loud and buzzing with life. -
Review from Charles M.
9/4/2011
The only thing worth noting about Nota Bene is the incredible difference between the food and the front-of-house operation.
Is the food good? Yes. However, when one drops over $350 on two appetizers, two entrees, a $89 bottle of wine plus three cocktails, one should receive more than just good food.
The night started so poorly that had we another place to go, we would have walked immediately. In retrospect, we should have done so.
We arrived 40 minutes early to have a cocktail and relax. We met the front desk and advised that we were there and would take a seat at the bar. Further, we let them know that while we had no expectation about being seated early, should the opportunity arrive we would be willing to sit whenever convenient.
After this conversation we took our seats at the bar and noticed a screen detailing open tables and turned our attention to the cocktail menu. After ordering our drinks we settled into our conversation and thirty minutes passed quickly.
It was at this time that we noticed that there were seven two-tops open.
Thinking that the front desk might have forgotten us, I went over to remind them that we were there. The responded gruffly and told me to back to the bar and they would get me when ready.
Twenty minutes pass as does our appointed reservation time...
Seeing more than five two-tops open, I go back up and they tell me that they are setting our table.
Five minutes later they lead my wife and I to the single worst table in the establishment - one that we had sat and watched stay open for the last 25 minutes.
Frustrated, I ask if we could take any one of the FOUR other open two-tops. After expressing her frustration, she told us to stand there and she would see what she could do. She was clearly very angry and thought little of us.
She comes back after a very uncomfortable delay and finally led us to another table which was not fully set. This despite the FOUR that sat ready and waiting for patrons. Two of which would never get used - at least as of 10:30 pm.
We enjoyed our meal and our server was very kind. We even told her of our displeasure with the front desk and she was mortified. Our favorite part was when she returned to let us know that she even told the manager - who cared so much that he never came over and never said a word.
And don't even get me started about their wine list. Nothing disappoints me more than seeing a wine I have at home and bought for $45 on a wine list for $175.
My apologies if this comes across as more rambling than informative, but having a romantic and expensive night ruined by a front desk really frustrates. -
Review from Daniel O.
8/26/2011
Went for lunch yesterday and had a really great experience.
From the street, Nota Bene looks like a super impressive space. But once inside, I was surprised how....boring the decor was. Beige walls and wood. I wanted it to be more modern. But that's me just being a tad picky.
Service was really great and attentive, my water glass was never empty, there seemed to be a waiter around at all times, but not in an annoying way.
Ordered the mediterranean sea bass as a main. It came perfectly cooked, drizzled in high quality olive oil with over a warm salad of cherry tomatoes, slivered fennel, super ripe cubed avocado, and my favourite: panko crusted, deep fried zucchini blossoms. the avocado added a much needed layer of creaminess, the tomatoes a bunch of acid and the zucchini flowers the perfect amount of crispiness and fat. loved everything about this dish.
Sprung for dessert, had the sticky toffee pudding with pecan prailine & spotted dick ice cream. again, perfectly executed. the pudding/cake layer was light a fluffy (not dense like most sticky toffee puddings), the toffee sauce was sweet with a bit of salty and the ice cream was....simply amazing.
A great lunch Would love it check it out for dinner. Maybe I'll sit in the bar area where the decor is much more my taste :) -
Review from Jess C.
8/22/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
No.
Not good, even when it's free.
:P -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
It took me forever to get to Nota Bene, probably because I was never in the "right" company. Then my BFF flew in. He was just the extravagance I needed. Note that he is also a food enigma who eats microwaved chicken fingers (ewww) with as much enjoyment as he does a $400 tasting menu. What a nut.
I love Toronto when he and his fiancé are here. It puts me in a good mood! Woot woot. I decided to take them to a nice dinner on Friday, so I booked a table at Nota. I knew what I was going to order before I even walked in. The female counterpart of the fashionable duo I often dined with had recommended the crisp duck salad. She insisted I would love it. I did. Like hard.
I was impressed with everything about Nota from the dining room to the service. All the dishes were extravagantly plated and delicious, save and except the hangar steak. It was a bit of a miss for all three of us. It was far too chewy and very reminiscent of the chimichurri steak we had at Foxley (the latter's was better).
Refreshing and crispy, with so many flavours and textures.
The special of the day was the swordfish. I'm not a fan of the fish itself so it's hard to say whether I liked it or not, but if I were to be objective, I'd say it was good.
A beautiful plate with well-seasoned chanterelle mushrooms and rapini.
I loved the fries with pecorino and my BFF loved the salt cod fritters with iberico chorizo, quail eggs and fries. We also appreciated the additional sides we got courtesy of the kitchen.
As I am writing this blog, I just realized that the chef, David Lee, is the David Lee of Splendido pre-2009. Splendido pre-2009 was one of my absolute favourite restaurants. I will have to go back and see how it is now. I suppose it makes complete sense then that I loved Nota. I'm not sure I loved it as much as I did Splendido, but they are very different. Can't compare apples and kumquats.
I am craving that duck salad again. It's seriously perfect. Sumac-dusted green papaya slaw, cashews and some chilli flakes. It's listed as an appetizer ($15), but I highly recommend you ask them to make it an entrée (add $7). You can thank me later. -
Review from Genevieve L.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2011
In the spirit of Yelp Eats! my family decided to try a new fancier/classy kind of restaurant.
(If you want my overall opinion, skip to the end!)
From the street:
I would say that the restaurant stands out from it's surroundings in a good way. However, if I didn't look up where the restaurant was, I probably would have had a really hard time finding it because the name doesn't stand out from the street.
Service:
From the greeting hostess to the servers, the service was friendly, polite, and very efficient. The server was more than willing to point out his favourites when I asked. (I like to ask servers their favourite selections. I find it's a good indication if they actually know the food that they're serving.) And I have to agree with his selections.
Food:
I started with the Cavatelli Pasta. It was delicious! Even better than I had anticipated. If you like truffles/mushroom flavour, you'll love this appetizer! It was pretty hardy, too. I think that it is big enough to be someone's main. The sauce was thick enough to have flavour and stick to the pasta, but thin enough that it didn't taste chunky or overly rich.
For my main, I had Jennifer's Stilton Beef Brisket Burger. I ordered mine medium-rare (as per the server's suggestion). It came with carmelized onions and a slice of cheese similar to blue cheese. I'm not a fan of blue cheese... and the server immediately offered to replace it with a different slice of cheese. So he brought out a slice of white cheddar instead. The bun for the burger had perfectly crispy crust, but was nice and soft without being chewy. When I took my first bite, it was soooo juicy and delicious! The brisket burger also comes with a side of fries which were also really good. Overall, I would highly recommend this as your main.
I chose the Pistachio Ice Cream for dessert. It comes with a sugar cookie (one of my favourites). The flavour is very different from what you'd expect. It took my second bite to really like this ice cream. It's very rich, but if you like pistachios, you'll understand that the flavour can be addicting. Would I get it again? DEFINITELY.
Other foods I tasted from others:
APPETIZERS
Crisp Duck Salad : duck was perfectly cooked and crispy indeed!
Big Eye Tuna Tartare : if you like tuna sashimi, you'll love this! So good!
Salt Cod Fritters : least favourite part was the salt cod fritters because it was too salty for my taste. But the rest of the garnishings (i.e. the quail eggs, chorizo, and greenery were delicious.
MAINS
Sea Scallops: cooked to perfection!
Rabbit Soffrito, Pappardelle Pasta: the pappardelle pasta is super good and I like the rabbit, but according to the person, some pieces were tough.
SIDES
Shaved Onion Rings: these were just okay. I found them way too salty for my taste. I would recommend asking for less salt on these.
Sautéed Rapini: also just okay. I prefer them with a bit of oyster sauce.
Sea Salted Peppers: I enjoyed the peppers. I found it refreshing and the peppers were perfectly sweet.
DESSERT
Double Chocolate Brownie: this was sweet and not too heavy (normally I don't like brownies because I find them too heavy, but I liked this one!)
Salted Caramel Truffle: others with me really liked these, but personally I found mine to be too salty and too sweet. Maybe it was because it was one of the last things I ate and all the flavours by the end were overwhelming?
OVERALL:
I liked everything about this restaurant - the ambience, the atmosphere, the service. I loved my selections for the appetizer, main and dessert. The reason for the only 4 out of 5 stars is because I found that much of the food was too salty. I think that the sea salt was a little over-used. By the time I finished my wine, you could see all the salt that had been left behind and ended up stuck to the bottom and sides of my wine glass - that's how much salt was used. (FYI - I drink my wine through my front teeth, so no it was not backwash.)
Would I go back? Yes. Would I bring a friend? Definitely. -
Review from Steve M.
Coquitlam, BC
12/12/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I went to Nota Bene with a colleague while on a business trip to Toronto. The room was nice and while it was busy, it never felt cramped as is often the case in high end restaurants. I was tempted by the lobster salad but went for the hamachi ceviche instead for my starter. The flavours were excellent, with a big blast of lime/vinegar that was bracing but didn't overwhelm the fish. We pared it with a glass of white recommended by the waiter and it was a nice combo. My only quibble was the portion was a bit on the small side - and I am not a fan of giant portions. For my main I had the Thursday special - papardelle with a ragu. It was really good. If you order it, save some bread because you will want to sop up the last of the sauce (which is about the highest praise you can give a sauce in my book). We had a nice Amarone with it.
I think 5 stars should be saved for destination dining, so 4 stars is my way of saying that I expect this is one of the best places to eat in Toronto. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Sweet Pea Ravioli, Rabbit, Summer Truffle ($29)!! I didn't taste the rabbit nor the sweet pea...but TRUFFLES! Generous amount of truffles all over the few ravioli....creamy...and I wish I can have more....
My Yelp Drinking Buddy is really the only guy I dine with that can get so excited over desserts. The Sticky Toffee Pudding ($12) was so so so delicious that I almost tell him just to get his own... or he was telling me to get my own?!!
Waiter was professional and services were excellent.
I feel a little out of place at Note Bene as I am not in my little black dress and all dolled up.... and the crowd here for sure are more mature...... -
Review from Tonja B.
Toronto, ON
8/3/2011
Nota Bene hits the nail on the head when it comes to clientele and location. While I agree with fellow Yelpers that NB is too expensive for what it is, they're location caters to the downtown working crowd who are more than likely using corporate credit cards to pay for their meals. In this case, heck yes I'll spend $25 on the smallest piece of Halibut for lunch.
I recently came to NB on a business lunch in the same situation as I mentioned above: on someone else's dime. However, besides the high priced lunch, NB is quite a lovely place to dine.
The restaurant's decor is simple-sophistication: clean simple lines and nice finishes, complete with an intimate eating space conducive to keeping your business to yourself without sharing with your neighbour. The servers are friendly yet discreet and maintain a high level of professionalism during service.
Needless to say, the meal was fantastic. The Halibut was cooked perfectly with the simplest flavours and buttery melt-in-your-mouth texture. The garlic-sauteed rapini was also cooked with the same perfection - steamed, sauteed, yet still maintaining a nice crispness.
The cappuccino I ordered following lunch was mediocre, but that was to be expected.
Honourable Mentions:
- our glasses were never empty (i thoroughly appreciate a server who is conscious of this simple gesture)
- a well rounded menu that would keep both vegetarians and meat eaters tres satisfied. -
Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
6/29/2011 5 photos
Nota Bene is a very classy restaurant. The food is very tasty but pricey. The look is modern but fancy and the service is great. This was the main stop for my friend and I as we were on a night of drinking and tomfoolery.
*** FOOD & DRINK ***
To eat, I had the Grilled "Rare" Hangar Steak. For dessert we had the Sticky Toffee Pudding. We washed down our meals with a bottle of Sassaiolo.
* Grilled "Rare" Hangar Steak | $28 *
The steak is cooked on the outside, but is pretty much raw inside. The meat was tender and juicy. The meat has to be eaten with the sauce provided which I think was a pesto. The meal tasted good, but the portion size was small. There is just steak, a spot of sauce and nothing else.
* Sticky Toffee Pudding | $12 *
This was one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. The pecan praline was soft and moist. It was slightly sweet, but was accentuated by the sweet toffee. The Spotted Dick Ice Cream brought the dessert together. It was a creamy, not too sweet ice cream. It was very authentic and soft. If you're getting dessert, get this!
*** ATMOSPHERE ***
Nota Bene is a very chic restaurant. The furniture and decor is modern and trendy. The furniture and floors are all hardwood, but the seating is comfortable. The restaurant is well lit and very clean, including the washrooms. Noise level is okay so you can carry a good conversation at a table without worrying about ambient noise from your neighbors.
*** SERVICE ***
Service was great! We had reservations and the hostess was ready for us as soon as we entered. Our waiter was friendly and very helpful. He made suggestions when we weren't sure what to order and he came back to check on us and ask us if we wanted anything else. The sommelier was friendly and informative. She poured the wine, let me taste it and continued to pour when I said that I was satisfied. I watched her open the bottle, so now I know to do it too. The staff are experts at making their customers feel special.
*** PRICE ***
* Grilled "Rare" Hangar Steak | $28 *
* Sticky Toffee Pudding | $12 *
* Ricotta & Pea Ravioli | $29 * [Friend's order]
** Total (AT&T) | $130 **
Restaurants like this follow a different economic model where their prices are inversely proportional to the portion size of the meal. It's a bit on the pricey side.
*** NOTA FINALE ***
Nota Bene is a great restaurant to bring someone you're looking to impress. It's style and class are not overwhelming. The service is very inviting makes you feel like a king. The food is really good, but the portion size is too small for the price. Nota Bene is a great restaurant and I would recommend everyone try it if they're planning a special evening.Listed in: Steak Out, Dressed to Impress
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Review from Greg B.
7/27/2011
The only thing I liked about Note Bena is that I left completely stuffed since none of my friends ate anything they ordered and gave it all to me (clearly I'm less picky).
I was pretty pissed when I realized we had to pay a fortune for all that junk, though.
Frankly, the food was not good and the service was poor. We gave up on the restaurant and went down the street for froyo for dessert.
I would not recommend at such high prices. Go to any O&B restaurant instead. -
Review from Kristy P.
Toronto, ON
6/5/2011 4 photos
Came in with a high expectation, left the place feeling "it's 'aight".
SERVICE: Our waitress was very friendly. She's attentive but not annoying (you know what I mean). Plus 1 star for service.
DECOR: Modern minimalism. Boring table setting (no centre piece, just a plain white table cloth). No star for decor.
DRINKS: cocktails are expensive. I got the Nota Bene signature cocktail for $14. It's alright -- it's similar to what I've had at Milestones. The boyfriend had a pint of sapporo, which came with his Wagyu Beef Burger order. Minus 1 star for pricey drinks!
APPETIZER: we shared the Lobster Salad. Boy, this one was great. The lobster chunks were huge and fresh. The bacon bits were bacon cubes (not the pre-packaged ones). Loved the avocado chunks as well. It's pretty filling -- the entire portion was perfect for lunch and perfect to share as an appetizer. Plus 1.5 stars for Appy.
ENTREE: I got the brisket beef burger and the boyfriend got their infamous wagyu beef burger. THEY WERE ALRIGHT. The patties were juicy and tender, even though his wagyu patty was definitely undercooked. The side fries were nothing special (we were expecting sweet potato fries). Overall, we'd rather go to a "gourmet burger" place, like Craft's or Acme, instead of spending $40 on a burger. Plus 0.5 star for expensive burgers!
DESSERT: Of course I had to try the Toffee Pudding with Spotted Dick ice cream. This thing was rich but oh so yummy! I'm not a sweet tooth person, but I loved it. Plus 1 star for anything with a funny name like Spotted Dick ;)
Our tab came out to be $150 (incl. tips and taxes). Will not go back. -
Review from Charlotte W.
North York, ON
4/11/2011
My first introduction to Nota Bene was a year ago when a couple of my friends wanted to meet up for drinks and a bite. Because it was quite last minute, we sat at the bar where tables were pulled together to accommodate a group of 5. All I remember was being very excited for onion rings and being disappointed in getting thin ringlets of nothingness that were dry and UN-crispy.
Fast forward to MY birthday a year later and my mom had requested to eat at Nota Bene because she never got around to eating there, but had heard so much positive reviews on the restaurant. So, I had the concierge from my credit card company make the reservation for Saturday 7pm, 6 people to celebrate my birthday as well as my amour. I had requested for a little cake or treat to be brought out during the night to celebrate.
Intro. 6:30 my family arrived amid the already busy restaurant and I gave my name. They informed me that my table was ready at 8pm for 5 people as previously reserved. Needless to day, Ms. Incompetent was not the highlight of the evening, but the party started when the manager advised a table would be ready shortly and for us to have drinks at the bar (hence she being a manager). As soon as we placed our drinks order, our table was ready.
Food. Excellent. My dad rarely loves non-Asian food so for him to give positive reviews means a lot. He loves his soup so he ordered twice the Yucatan hot and sour soup. I had the Hamachi Ceviche which was a burst of fresh flavours and textures and the beef brisket burger. My mom had the sea bass and a friend of mine had the rabbit pasta. All in all, everyone enjoyed their food immensely and my dad has found a new "American" restaurant that he will be returning.
Towards the end of the night, our birthday "treats" came out. I was so excited to see from afar plates with candles thinking a surprise cake, but it was just my name scribbled in chocolate sauce with a candle stuck to a chocolate slab...I cannot thank Nota Bene enough for their thoughtful and generous gift.
Service. It's a very hustle and bustle place so our waiter was very efficient. Nothing to complain about.
Ambiance. The restaurant is spacious and our table afforded a great view of the place. I wouldn't mind coming back here for drinks (sans tasteless onion rings) at the bar or even after work.
Reservations are a must as I had to book my birthday event months in advance and when changing the number of guests or the time, this caused a delay in my reservation a month more (which is probably how Ms. Incompetent messed up my reservation but someoneee is not holding a grudge...)
All in all, Nota Bene serves really good food...its not a place where its all talk and no action. The restaurant has a pre-dinner theater menu which I will definitely try before a show at the Four Seasons. I will definitely be coming back to the restaurant and hopefully the next time, well, no grudges...no grudges. -
Review from Laura D.
Toronto, ON
1/2/2012
It was pretty, and the onion rings were good. I was seriously regretting the sea bass an hour later, though.
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Review from Kent P.
3/14/2011
This place is too expensive for what you're getting.
I figure if you're going to spend some money, go all out - not 3/4 of the way with NB.
Onion rings were recommended - huge pile! But they were cold so I sent them back. Fish of the day was basically their version of fish and chips made with seabass. It was....not great. Not bad... but Harbord Fish n Chips is about 4x better and 1/3 as expensive.
Had a solid champagne glass of mango juice for about $7.
The space and atmosphere are really impressive here - as is the service. So that's positive, I guess.Listed in: ALL HYPE
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Review from aleiza a.
Toronto, ON
8/3/2011
Came here for a business lunch a few days ago. As soon as I walked in, (solely by the way I was dressed), I felt out of place. TONS of suits. I am not a suit. However, feeling out of place was all in my head because the waitstaff was awesome.
I had the octopus appetizer (the day's special) - it was pretty delicious. It was charred and awesomely seasoned. With some really great olive oil and some arugula and shaved onions for some flavour. mmmmm......
My next course was the soft shell crab sandwich. It was probably one of the richest sandwiches I had ever had. Everything was doused in butter or deepfried...I could only eat half the sandwich. I did, of course eat the I 2nd morsel of soft shell crab. How could i pass that up?!?!
I must admit...the portions are deceivingly small. But going back to the office and sitting at my desk was puuuure torture. I could barely walk. -
Review from Susu H.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2011
I really wanted to love this restaurant, especially from all of the hype surrounding it and the delicious looking pictures....
...but to be honest, I can say I liked it okay (if that makes any sense).
I went there for a friend's 30th birthday, and we went all out: drinks, appetizers, entrees, desserts, the works. VERY expensive bill, but if it had been worth it, I wouldn't have minded (went to Kobe in Japan just for Kobe beef...amazing.)
Too bad this place was not quite worth the cost.
We had a tuna tartar dish and the mozzarella appetizers, both decent but sort of skimpy. My friend got the cod, which was delicious, another friend had the steak, which looked great in terms of steak, and I had the rabbit pasta dish. It was my first time eating rabbit, and I thought it was very tasty...but was it really worth the amount it cost? I don't think so.
It just felt like each dish was lacking some fundamental component that would make the dish go from just "really good" to "I can't stop smiling this is so amazing". Nota Bene just did not do that for me. -
Review from Candy W.
2/3/2011
Without reservations for a weekend evening, my friend and I were directed to the bar area upon arriving. There was a neat coat check area prior to entering, which was a nice addition that I was not expecting. The bar area was lively - much more casual compared to the dining room area, and offered great views of the bustling streets outside.
We shared an appetizer of Mozzarella Di Bufala - a mild cheese dish. I'm not a fancy cheese type of person, but the this cheese was creamy, milky and tasted excellent with the surrounding roasted peppers, basil pesto and lemon preserves. The pesto was especially memorable since it tasted so fresh and complimented really well the texture of the cheese.
For the entree, I was so tempted to order the rabbit dish, but ended up with the Glazed Black Cod. The fish was smoked and served with small slivers of salt on top. The potatoes on the side were amazing - I was even skeptical whether they were potatoes or not! This dish overall was gentle in flavour - well suited for people who prefer less salt/sauces on their dishes, such as myself! =)
My friend had the Pulled Beef Short Ribs on Fettuccine, which was the special of the day. The sauce was cream based, but not thick at all. This dish was more hearty and I would highly recommend this if you like meat!
I thought this place was quite pricey for the food, but the convenient location and the friendly service made my dinner a great experience. I would definitely come back again. -
Review from Rachel S.
2/12/2011
I decided to try Nota Bene at the recommendation of a client while I was traveling through Toronto on business. I stopped by for a quick bite on a Friday night before flying back to Baltimore the next morning.
I arrived around 10:30, and decided to just sit at the bar for speeds sake (I was exhausted after a week of training). The atmosphere was warm, and maintained the bohemian-posh mood that hums through the Queen Street West area. The bartender was friendly and entertaining, providing mischievous quips and chat. It was a nice addition since I was dining alone. I'd say he executed his role as the quintessential confidant with ease.
The wine list isn't overwhelmingly extensive, but what they lack in breadth of selection, they compensate with the depth of thought put into each item. I ordered the Malbec (glass), and was pleased with the spiciness and smooth earthy finish.
For food I ordered the Crispy Duck Salad and the pommes frites. The salad was unlike anything I've ever tasted... tender duck and crunchy strips of skin layered atop Asian vegetables, cucumbers, and a tangy yet smoky vinaigrette. It's a must-try. The pommes frites were typical shoestring fries, but cooked by the God of French Frydom. There is an art to the fry, and Nota Bene has mastered it. Sprinkled with Pecorino cheese and served with a petite portion of heavenly lemon-garlic aioli, these fries are a step above the rest. These are labeled as "for the table", but order one for yourself... you won't want to share. -
Review from Vivek S.
Updated - 11/26/2010 2 Check-ins Here
As our previous day's lunch was less than $20 between the two of us, I decided to test my boss's budget by bringing her to the fancy-pantalons Nota Bene. Lunch was amazing. We split a plate of roasted brussel sprouts which were sprinkled with little tempura flakes. For my main I got the lobster salad, sans bacon, which was abundant with avocado and the most amazing stilton cheese I've ever tasted. So delicious and quite filling.
Service as to be expected, was impeccable, and the lounge is a perfectly passable spot for a quick business lunch. I gotta get people to take me here more often.Listed in: Queen Street Address, Eats on the TO Subway Line, Spendy, Spendy
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/13/2009
Fancy schmancy resto on Queen West. Very nondescript facade at the base of an office building.… Read more »
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Review from Kim M.
Niagara Falls, ON
10/11/2011
I was excited to eat here having met Mr. Lee at a cooking event. I remember his food from a previous outing and was impressed.
As everyone has noted, the room is very nice, spacious and very elegant. The three of us ordered and waited....and waited..........and waited! I think you are getting the message.
The apps were good, just good. In a room like this I was expecting WOW! My senses were ready, my palate primed, but the food fizzled. Just the sound of the Big Eye Tuna had my mouth watering. Well presented but lacking the favours I was looking for, clean and elegant were not to be found. Ok, we are ready to move on. Now the entrees. After much discussion (which is code for fighting over who was going to order what) we selected the Halibut and the Rabbit.
Both again were well presented but there was something missing, again the WOW was no where to be seen. (The 3rd in our trio was too busy playing with his Blackberry to enjoy his food....idiot!)
Would I go back? Possibly, but I think I will cast my fishing line into other waters in the City before I give this a 2nd try. -
Review from Jon L.
Scarborough, ON
12/4/2010 5 photos
I took my girlfriend to Nota Bene for a celebratory dinner because of great recommendations from friends. I was not disappointed.
We were greeted by our fantastic server, Bonnie, who told us about the specials for the night and filled our glasses with water immediately.
I ordered:
- Tuna tartare
- Hangar steak
- Sticky toffee pudding
My girlfriend ordered:
- Crisp duck salad
- Hangar steak
- Molten chocolate cake
The food was phenomenal, and you really could not have asked for a better meal. Our server was very attentive, and even had a slab of chocolate sent to our table that said "Congratulations!"
I was absolutely thrilled to eat at Nota Bene, and I would not hesitate to go back and let my friends all know about my great experience there. If anyone on the Nota Bene staff happens to read this, please give my warmest regards to Bonnie, she's an amazing server. -
Review from Lianne F.
5/21/2011 5 photos
Fantastic spot for GREAT food. I had a lobster club salad that was PHENOMENAL. The atmosphere is warm and cozy. The waiters were SUPER attentive and had great suggestions and knowledge of the menu.
I love trying new things and this was definitely the spot to do that...all around yummy. -
Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
12/4/2010
Went to this restaurant for my birthday and it turned out to be an excellent dining experience. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable so no issues with the service here. The dishes were well-cooked with a fine balance of originality and decent portions - it's not a "trendy" restaurant so don't expect a whole lot of food on your plate.
From my experience dining here, I'd personally recommend people to try the Rabbit Soffrito with the side of Onion Rings. The rabbit meat was cooked to perfection as was exceptionally tender which went well with the soft parpadelle pasta. The onion rings on the other hand were not the typical kind. It was sliced very thinly and then fried which made it even crunchier than usual - perfectly seasoned as well. The food at Nota Bene comes with a high price but you definitely leave happy, so overall, it's worth a try. -
Review from Athena S.
11/30/2010
Went here after work with a colleague to redeem the hype I heard much about...
Wine list. Over the top...
we opted for cocktails (way overpriced but like some swanky places in SF, I get it. Still pricey nonetheless) Don't order a mojito here. Stick with a classic martini if you're going to spend that much on a drink, make it worthwhile.
Service - 5 stars, they all were very attentive and detailed but not overbearing.
Appetizers - my tuna tartar was OTH . Her steak tartare shouldn't have been downgraded to be put on cheap potato chips like that.
Hamachi - pretty good, both bites (2)
Salad- mine: Crisp duck. What the duck? Small, disappointing
Hers - Lobster salad - for $24, it better have been amazing. She said it was "pretty good."
Dessert - shared calories!
4 drinks, 3 apps, 2 salads, 1 dessert = $128. with tip ---$160.
hmmm. 2.5 stars to be honest but rounded to 3
If it's a scene you're paying for, I hadn't seen much more than people trying really hard to get noticed. It was mildly entertaining.
But I don't think I'll drop that kind of money for mere entertainment. I'd rather go to the Symphony or the cool dive bar with great local talent right down the block. -
Review from Alex K.
Toronto, ON
7/5/2011
Now, to be fair, I was here for a work dinner, which is to say, I didn't have to deal with the bill and that's probably for the best as my wallet would have just shriveled up like an old sloppy balloon. Aside from cost? This place is amazing.
We had a delicious red which was medium priced (on their list, expensive by most other lists). The staff were incredibly helpful and informed when it came to both booze and food. For starters I had a crispy duck salad which was served on a bed of cold noodles. The duck was indeed crispy (read: delicious!!) and the noodles were flavorful. I could have done without the chopsticks because I think they're pretentious in a non-Asian restaurant, but it wasn't the end of the world. I ordered the flank steak for my main which came with a side of delicious shoe string fries, cooked to perfection. The steak was outstandingly moist and succulent. I love me a good steak and Nota Bene did not disappoint. A side of spinach completed the perfect main course. We followed it up with the cheese plate. Don't bother trying to choose, they're all good. When she asked which ones we wanted we just said, "yes" and it was the right choice. There is something for everyone there.
It bears repeating how nice and knowledgeable the head of house and wait staff were. We left long after everyone else had hit the road and servers were clearly keen to go home but they still waved us goodbye with good cheer and friendly smiles. All in all a great experience if you're not paying and a great (but pricey) one if you are. -
Review from Jessica L.
9/6/2010
I'm shocked to hear all the rave reviews for this place. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, but nothing stood out and I felt like I overpaid for a mediocre meal.
My friend and I planned this to be our expensive, delicious night out in Toronto. Upon arrival, the hostess ignored us for a few minutes, and then unsmilingly led us to our table. As I looked over the menu, I was disappointed to see that the options listed on the website were not what was available on the actual menu. While it happens often that restaurants change their menus, I couldn't help but feel disappointed, since I had preselected the items about which I was excited.
I started with the steak tartare, which was good, but nothing special. I much prefer my tartare on toast crisps, as opposed to the potato chips on which this was served. Also, no quail egg? That made me sad. My friend had the soft shell crab salad. The crab was great, but the rest of the noodles, etc, fell flat.
For our entrees, we both had the scallop and octopus dish. It was listed as being in an Argentinean chimichurri sauce. To be fair, the scallops and octopus were both prepared perfectly. They were cooked to perfection, unfortunately, the seasoning was not. The chimichurri was barely flavored and just looked more like a weak pesto. There was a lack of salt and pepper and I just felt bored by the dish. And, although our waiter was friendly, he was absent and possibly too busy with other tables, as he never checked back to see how our meals were tasting. This was unfortunate, as I was never able to get salt and pepper to make everything taste better.
For dessert, we shared the fruit crumble. For $10, I was imagining something amazing. Nope. Just an average fruit crumble that I could have made myself.
Upon leaving, the two hostesses did not wish us a good night or even acknowledge our presence.
Overall, a disappointing dinner. Thankfully, we had an incredible night in Prince Edward County the night before and ate well enough to make up for this experience. -
Review from Sean T.
8/30/2011
The steak tar tar gets 5 stars ..
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Review from Steph L.
7/16/2010
Dinner tonight at Nota Bene was top notch!
We had dinner here before seeing Miss Saigon at the Four Seasons.
I like the menu here. It's small but creative. They even have a pre-theater special (2 courses for $32, 3 courses for $42).
I was going to go for the special, but I had heard the burgers could rival some of the best in the city.
Dude, it's a $44 dollar burger.
What makes a burger worth $44 dollars?
* A 9 oz patty of "forked wagyu brisket burger"
* It's got foie gras. Everything is better with foie gras.
* Pancetta (not as exciting as foie gras)
* Truffle Mayonnaise (equally exciting as foie gras)
Now that's what I call a fk'n fantastic burger!!!
It's fat on fat on fat and oh so good.
The burger was fall apart soft, fat-marbled, juice dripping deliciousness. I don't exactly know what they do to wagyu cows but they end up as damn good burgers.
The service made you feel like a movie star. Everyone was so nice and friendly. We had a fantastic time!!!
Next time I have to try this crispy duck salad... and maybe order the burger again. :P
This restaurant is one of my favorite dinner spots for sure! -
Review from Christian P.
Toronto, ON
3/4/2011
It is more a 4.5 than 5 (but because I gave 4 stars to restaurants that do not reach the ankles of this one, I have no choice).
The waiters were really kind
Sea bass was really fresh , perfectly cooked, with a very tasty sauce.
Sticky toffee pudding is very good (not enough sticky for me... but that would be not high class to make it as sticky as I like it...)
Good wines (not so many, but who really knows more than 10 sort of wines???)
Great atmosphere, modern, hype, not noisy, and more importantly, tables not packed to each others! so great (and rare) for a trendy restaurant.
