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Pan On the Danforth
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
516 Ave DanforthToronto, ON M4K 1P6
Neighbourhoods: Greektown, Riverdale
(416) 466-8158
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Pan On the Danforth
19 reviews in English
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Review from D X.
4/16/2012
Normally I'd view live entertainment at a restaurant as a gimmick to make up for subpar food or exorbitant pricing. Not so at Pan's. The food is done well, with traditional greek dishes, dressed up just a little. The flavours are fresh and the huge portion sizes make it a great value. On top of that the service amazingly friendly. We came on a busy friday night with no reservations, ate at the bar, and had a wonderful evening.
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Review from SuperwomanEats L.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2012
This place has been on my radar for a while since it's supposed to be one of the better and interesting Greek restaurants on the Danforth. I brought my much younger sister here for Winterlicious on a Thursday January evening for their $25 prix-fixe menu. I am not too big a fan of souvlaki myself becuase I find it a bit dry, so I chose this restaurant because it consisted of more choices (5+) on their 'licious menus and interesting dishes I've never tried before.
Arriving at about 7pm, this cozy place was packed! We were lucky to find a 2-top snuggled in the corner right by the window against the strings of x-mas-like lit stars from celiing to floor. The place is definitely casual and full of people chattering away happily! It took a little long (5min) for us to be greeted, but when we finally were, the service was not bad. The wine I asked him to surprise me with was great, but... I forgot.
APPS: (3/5 stars)
-Mydia Santorini: Mussels in a tomato and ouzo broth- good, but I think I could make better.
-Kolokithokeftedes: Zucchini croquettes with feta, kefalograviera cheese and Fresh herbs, served with tzatziki- Lightly breaded and deep-fried till delicious!! I only wish it came with more!!!
MAINS: (4/5 stars)
-Exohiko: Chicken breast with onions, sweet peppers, mushrooms, and cream cheese, wrapped in phyllo pastry, served with green salad.- Not usually a fan of chicken breast, but in the delcious sauce it was very good. Though I personally thought it needed just a touch more salt and pepper. However, my sister thought it was perfect.
-Arni Kotsi Yiouvetsi: Braised Lamb Shank with Mediterranean herbs and savory vegetables, an Aegean specialty served over veggie orzo in a tomato broth- Soooo tender and flavourful! This was the hi-light of the night! This was just as good as any delicious lamb shank I've had. The portion was huge!
DESSERTS: (2/5 stars)
-Galaktoboureko: Custard wrapped with a thin layer of phyllo pastry- Not too heavy and very good. Next time I would ask for the honey on the side instead of having it drizzled on top though.
-Ravani (vegetarian): A traditional Greek cake with honey syrup and sprinkle almonds- A bit too sweet for me, but I'm not usually a dessert fan.
Service: (4/5 stars)
I understand they were extremely busy, but they all made a team effort to deliver great service. The server did however make a mistake in delivering the pita for the hummus dish for us. But when we both noticed, my sister and I were already eating it thinking it was bread service haha. The server left us to indulge.
Overall, I will come back for their interesting menu, friendly service, good portions sizes, and probably Summerlicious! -
Review from Melanie H.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2012
yeah! I like this place. A nice greek family runs it. We sat on the patio, which is quite nice for ladies who lunch, and I ordered the chicken pita, with a greek salad. The food took forever to arrive - but when it came, it was really nice, you could tell someone had put a lot of care into making it, and it was well balanced, tasty, fresh, and plentiful. I believe the price was right too. I would definitely go back here and check out their menu a little more in depth.
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Review from Garrett F.
East York, ON
5/9/2012
I ate at this establishment based on reviews I have read. I was not impressed at all with the service, everything was slow slow slow. Granted they were busy, I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
Most importantly, the food... well it was very tasteless. I do not know what all the hype is about this place. They charge standard prices for the area, but do not keep up to the standard with quality of food and service. Sadly, I probably would not go back. -
Review from Angela M.
Calgary, AB
7/13/2011
Oh ma gawd.
My evening at the Pan on the Danforth was brilliant and perfect from start to finish. It didn't even bother me that it was garbage night and the night aroma whilst walking back to our car was laden with the stench of rotting food.
I am enamoured with all things Greek, especially their food. It is a must for me to find a Greek restaurant in every city I visit.
Heavens to Murgatroyd, there's an entire Greek district in Toronto? Ohmylanta.
My friend who works for the Four Seasons called a colleague to find out what the best resto is in the Danforth 500s area. She whittled it down to two (I forget the other) and we chose the Pan for its cozy, quiet atmosphere.
I picked a glass of the house boutari, while my friend opted for pineapple juice. She is celiac and must have everything gluten-free. Our server was happy to accommodate her in every way, shape and form.
Our massive Greek salads were presented with such flourish -- big circles of fresh red, yellow and green peppers, huge chunks of tomato and cucumber, and one large triangle slice of feta.
Totally delightful.
We each passed over the Summerlicious menu, going straight the souvlaki plates. I chose the lamb, as I always do at Greek restos. It was seared to medium-rare perfection ... almost melting in my mouth with its youthful, sheepish wiles.
The plate was heaped with lemon-roasted potatoes, rice and seasonal, roasted veggies.
We were full but our server suggested we cap our nights with a tea, offering to make mine iced. My pot of brewed tea came with the honey already in it and all I had to do was pour it into my glass. Oh and she brought us a pair of honey balls, on the house.
The food was sublime and the service was top class. I wholeheartedly recommend the Pan on the Danforth. -
Review from Lauren M.
Pan on the Danforth does a $15 set lunch and $25 set dinner for Winterlicious. We tried out the $25 set dinner and were not disappointed.
This place is right next to Ouzeri (my usual Greek go-to during Winter/Summerlicious) but I was intrigued by Pan's unique menu so decided it was time to give it a try.
The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a gorgeous interior. Simply sexy. Really hot date spot for sure.
The service here was fantastic. Much better than Ouzeri, I admit. I could find no fault. The food came out fast, the waitress knew everything about each dish and there was a constant stream of serving staff topping up our wine, water and clearing our plates.
The food was presented in more of a fine dining style than most of the other Greek restaurants who aim for big portion size over nice presentation.
I had the mussels for a starter and they were disappointing. They were "tough" and I had a hard time getting them off the shells for the most part. Not impressed. My dad had the fried calamari and it was not great either. (Ouzeri next door has AWESOME calamari). Others at my table tried "Kolokithokeftedes" - zucchini croquettes - which were much nicer.
My entree made up for the shoddy appetizer. Kakavia - a Greek traditional seafood dish of shrimp, mussels, salmon, calamari, scallops, and onion in a tomato wine sauce. YES! Delicious.
For dessert I had the Loukoumades - Greek honey balls. SO RICH AND HEAVY. Phenomenal. I am already fantasizing about the next time I get to eat those.
Pan also has live Greek music every evening (check their schedule) as well as bellydancing. I didn't get to see either but it sounds cool!Listed in: Lauren M's BIG FAT GREEK LIST
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Review from anita y.
2/1/2011
My first time in Greektown Toronto, somehow I always end up in Chinatown or Richmond Hill.
Pan had an appealing look from the street, so after a glance at the menu we ventured in.
Festive glass ball Christmas ornaments dangling from a faux tin ceiling. Lightly swaying as the waiter rushes by, I'd be tempted to keep them up all year
We inquired about getting a prix fix menu and sharing it. Our Robert DeNiro look alike (although shorter and not quite as handsome) discourages it with a scowl.
So we order off the menu:
Avegolomono, a chicken lemon and rice soup, the best I've ever had, even including the version from Greek family I used to work for--sorry Liz, I cannot tell a lie.
Saganaki - the flaming cheese appetizer--mainly because we are in Greektown and I can't resist. It's the flames, it's the OOMPAH!!! It was too much food!
Lamb entree on orzo,the tomato based sauce was a bit strong for me, but it could be just me, the lamb was tender,
No Dessert for us.
The restaurant filled up as we were eating, a mix of tourists and regulars it seemed.
As I thought back. We should have just ordered the Prix Fix, rather than asking.
They would have gotten one more star from me. -
Review from Mariko M.
7/15/2011
With all the raving reviews from fellow Yelp'ers, my expectations for this place was quite high. With the Danforth, I find that a lot of restaurants have similar menus for similar prices with very little difference in quality.
I came in on a Saturday afternoon with two friends. My Dining Companions ordered from the Summerlicious menu and I ordered from their regular menu.
Service was excellent. It was a scorching hot day and we were machines when it came to drinking water. Our server was constantly at our table refilling our glasses with water. I was impressed with her attentive service.
The food was a-ok. I ordered the grilled calamari appetizer. It was a generous portion and was served over a bed of greens, onions, and feta cheese. The squid was just grilled; mixing it with the items under it was necessary to add taste. I didn't try any of what my DC's ordered, but I thought the portions were way too big - to the point of not being able to enjoy it.
I truly enjoyed looking at the decor of the place. It's eclectic and reminds you of being in a little taberna in Greece.
When you go, I highly recommend sharing a main entree or ordering an appetizer as your main meal. If you've been on a hunger strike for a few days, however, order a main entree all for yourself. Next time, I'd like to try the desserts.
A solid 4 star ~ -
Review from Tammy H.
East York, ON
I love this place! My favorite is the lamb chop special.
Highly recommended is the fixed price menu.
Service and food has always been great and the owners really go out of their way to make you feel special. -
Review from Arina K.
Markham, ON
11/8/2010
I planned my boyfriend surprise birthday party here several weeks in advance. Every time I called I spoke with the incredibly kind owner, Chris. He double checked the number of guests with me a week before and then several days prior to the event. And even when half of them showed up, he was nothing but gracious.
The atmosphere on a Saturday night here is fantastic - lively and exciting yet intimate. The servers are incredibly good-spirited and attentive and even the band chipped in and played a Happy Birthday to my boyfriend!
The food is fantastic - large portions, well-cooked meat and delicious sides. While we didn't have much to drink, the drink menu looked great as well. The scallop starter is delicious.
Overall my experience here was absolutely fantastic. I would recommend this place to ANYONE. The hospitality here is over the top, which makes everything else just that much better. -
Review from John F.
North York, ON
1/24/2010
Was here today for a celebration lunch and ordered from their Winterlicious prix fixe menu - a three-course bargain at $15.
The decor is a bit dark but pleasantly cozy. The dark gold colour scheme and the decorations invoke California more than Greece and it is devoiid of Greek tschotshckes, for the most part.
My partner and I both ordered dolmades as an appetizer. They were filled with ground beef instead of lamb, but the seasoning was delicious and they came with tomato sauce as well as a container of tzatziki. Pita was presented hot and toasted to a nice slight char. We both had a grouper main dish which presented a nice sized piece of very fresh tasting fish on a bed of mashed potatoes and veggies (the cauliflower was pleasantly crisp) in a wine-calamata sauce. It was delicious. Both creme brulee and honey balls were good desserts, though the former was a tad more interesting. The waitress/owner was friendly and obliging - removing excess dishes promptly but not rushing our large group.
I am withholding a higher rating pending regular visits and sampling the regular menu, but overall this was very good Greek food. -
Review from Jyotsna M.
11/20/2008
We stopped in here starving and wanting to escape from the pouring rain! As lovers of Greek/Meditteranean food and first time visitors to Toronto, we had high expectations!
The restaurant is beautiful - the atmosphere was great and it was fun because there was variety. There was a live band, but there was also a bellydancer who performed a few times.
The food was really good - but save for the appetizers, it wasn't all that greek! I had the lemon roasted chicken and my friend had the loin of lamb. Both dishes were really well done, but they could've been served at any upscale restaurant! The appetizers were delicious- the pita bread served with the dips is delicious and we scarfed down two orders of it.
Fun place for a date - you can make a night of it. If you're craving souvlaki, grape leaves, and really traditional greek food though, hit up one of the other places on the street. -
Review from David V.
North York, ON
12/21/2010
Excellent portions of delicious food. Parking on the Danforth can get difficult sometimes. Great atmosphere and ambiance in the evening.
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Review from Elizabeth T.
York, ON
10/18/2011
The food at this restaurant is absolutely delicious, the atmosphere warm and inviting and the staff are always friendly and attentive. Great place to bring a date or enjoy a family dinner :) Plus they have bellydancing on the weekends!
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Review from Jeff C.
East York, ON
My better half and I first moved near the area about 2 years ago. Just after moving in we tried this place out and have been regulars ever since. The lamb and fish are to die for and the wine list is excellent, as are many other Mediterranean style dishes. It's perfect for a dinner date, groups may be an issue as space is limited and it's always packed. They always have a price fix menu available. I usually go for the pan seared fish with white wine, lemon, and butter. My love can't get enough of the lamb dish. The owners are very happy to have customers and go out of their way to treat guests.
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Review from Alon G.
Toronto, ON
4/3/2010
great restaurant. the food was delicious, and the prix-fixe summer menu was a good deal. i had the lamb souvlaki and it tasted great.
the service was on time, courteous and polite. i went on a saturday night, and there was the belly dancing show, which was very fun to watch while eating dinner.
afterward, a small band started to play some music, and it complimented the atmosphere very much. i will definitely be coming back next time i'm in greektown. -
Review from Simon V.
Toronto, ON
9/26/2008
We arrived on a pleasant Saturday evening after making reservations; weather was nice so my date requested for us to be seated in the front of the restaurant (not on the patio, but close to the windows letting sun in). The hostess mentioned that she was anticipating a regular customer shortly so she couldn't give the table up. Bear in mind the restaurant was about 30-40% occupied; not a busy night. Instead the hostess seated us towards the back of the restaurant which felt like a dark corner! We weren't impressed. Ultimately we were moved after the scheduled 'regular' failed to show up (and we asked to be moved).
The food itself was OK as we had been there previously. I tried my best to put aside the poor experience with the hostess, and do recall the souvlaki being better. Service (besides the hostess) was good. Overall, considering there are plenty of other options on better options on Danforth, I won't be going back anytime soon. -
Review from Tina H.
3/24/2010
Went here for a birthday dinner. Food was pretty bad. I tried to find somewhere affordable so everyone could feel like they could join but like my dad always said about the famous shoe store: pay less, receive less. It wasn't cheap by any means but it wasn't good value either. On the Danforth there are so many other restaurants that are a better choice for Greek.
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Review from Lisasia C.
Toronto, ON
8/3/2009
It was my first experience at Pan of the Danforth and I have to say that it was very disappointing. The service was very poor from the start to the end, the menu was over priced significantly for very average food and the portions were quite small for the price. No wonder why the place was empty.
The saganaki which was barely seared was disapointing, and they didn't give us any bread to make this very salty cheese enjoyable.
The fried calamari itself did not leave me wanting more, even though I was starving. It was just rubbery and bland.
The worst had to be the creme brulee. Not only it was a tiny portion that was equivalent to 3 tablespoons but it was not creamy as it is supposed to be but almost liquid and tasted anything else but creme brulee.
We were a party of 4 and asked for separate bills while we were still having our dessert but what we had as an answer was that the bill was already printed out and that it was too late to make a change.
Eventually, the waiter took 20 minutes to bring us the bill while the restaurant was almost empty and obviously, gratuity was included, because otherwise no one would have left them anything, as I have never felt more ignored or had such disgusting service.
I will never go back there again and felt we were totally overcharged for the type of food that they served. Once was more than enough for me.
