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Parkette
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
874 Queen St WestToronto, ON M6J 1G3
Neighbourhoods: Niagara, West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
(416) 536-3883
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
18 reviews for Parkette
18 reviews in English
-
Review from Shiona R.
5/14/2012
Sunday Brunch was extremely tasty!
Word from the wise (my friend who is a Parkette regular): Get there before 11 and be seated with ease, after 11 and it was busy! We had a table of 10 and arrived around 10 15 and were seated straight away...in fact we were the only people in the place (for the whole of oh 5 minutes!!).
Food/Drinks: OJ, latte (or 2) and the eggs benny served on a donut!! Oh praise the gods of good food...this was so tasty! The fact that I should not eat gluten was overcome by curiosity and greed. Curiosity killed the cat in this case, but it was worth it! Served with huge chunky slice of pork belly, spinach and potatoes. So I felt the need to walk home after this considerably calorific brunch but it was worth every mouthful! Other friends had the omelette of the day. I was advised by a friend, who frequents Parkette for brunch not t have the corned beef hash as he found it very disappointing.
Really good choice of brunch items on the menu, everything was fresh and just delicious! Reasonably priced as far as I am concerned for a brunch spot on Queen West, for the above I was around $24 including tax and tip.
Atmosphere/Decor: Cool, clean...I love that you can see in to the kitchen. For a small brunch place they have used the space will and have a fair number of tables without feeling squashed together.
Staff: Attentive, helpful and fast.
I really liked Parkette, definitely try the eggs benny.worth every forkful! -
Review from S. E.
Toronto, ON
5/13/2012
Order:
Corned Beef Hash
French Toast with Walnuts and Maple Syrup
Side of Pork Belly
We hit this spot because Swan had a long waiting list on a Sunday, and it seemed cool enough. Maybe this place could get up to a 4-star rating, but I'm not feeling generous today. I might come back if I order something like the Eggs Benny with pork belly (although I saw two of the dishes go by us and the thickness of the cuts were very inconsistent!! Nothing would bother me more than getting skimped of pork belly).
So, service was alright - friendly and timely, but even in our laid-back morning I had to get their attention for more coffee, and the bill, while they walked by. A refill on the house was expected, but our Americano bill (for 2 cups each) came to $12. At least mention it on the menu.
My partner had the French Toast with Walnuts and I had a few bites - seriously a dish to come back for! Sweet, thick, lovely bread toasted perfectly, with a side of whipped cream. Excellent.
Lighting is mostly natural, but the lack of indoor lighting felt a bit uncomfortable because it gleams in from the front windows putting most of the dining area into darkness with the red walls.
An okay experience - may go back - but there's a list waiting of great places to try first! -
Review from Kat T.
3/11/2012
I think this is probably a solid 3 1/2 stars, but I'm rounding down today, just cuz I can.
Parkette was deemed cool enough to host our party of 6, and could accomodate on a Saturday night, so off we went. Music selection was not bad, but not memorable, either. Quiet enough that I could hear everyone well.
The server was super cute with plaid shirt and sweater.
We started off with cocktails, and at $14 each, it was tough to choke the price down. Although both of my friends who ordered the espresso-bourbon beverage kept it, I would have sent it back. It was such a strong bitter flavour, and just not balanced enough for me. I got the basic bourbon drink, which was super strong, and I didn't even have room for wine.
Everything here has pork on it, so it seems.
I'm sure they will remove it, and I know everyone loves pork. But, everything seemed to be seasoned with sopprosetto or ham.
I got a special dish made with squid ink pasta- amazing and topped with shrimp- generous portion, but overcooked shrimp. It was pretty good.
Would I go back? Probably not. There was not the spark I love with other places. And since so many other places do pizza so well, why would I risk it here? -
Review from Jennifer L.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2012
Had brunch at Parkette a couple of weekends ago. Great little spot with friendly service. I had the eggs benny, my favorite brunch meal!
Overall, It was pretty good. My friend had the corned beef hash which was really different than the ones I've seen before.
Probably not a spot I'd go to every weekend but the food was decent, the prices reasonable and the staff friendly.
Worth a try. -
Review from Tammy Y.
10/17/2011
Parkette sure snuck up and surprised me. With the slew of restaurants always popping up in the city, trying yet another spot serving up Italian food was not even close to the Top 10 on my "To Try" list.
I found myself there for a friend's birthday (party of 12 with reservations on a bustly Saturday evening), and after ordering a bottle of Mill St. Wit, opted to share a bowl of mussels to start with a companion. They should have called this dish 'The Best Freaking Mussels You'll Have', cause that's what they were. Simmered in a broth of tomatoes, chorizo sausage (the secret ingredient?), and fennel, we were slurping up that broth like nobody's business. To our server's chagrin, we had to keep asking for more bread so that those within arm's reach of our mussels could dunk and try the tastiness. Highly recommended.
My entree was the most basic pasta on their menu, a Spaghettini dressed with nothing but garlic, chilis, parsley and parm. It was delicious. Simply delicious. If you're looking for a pasta dish that's not too heavy (well, in Italian terms), this is a goodie, and the flavour still packs a punch.
With dessert topped with a candle for the birthday boy, so ended our evening. With a warm, cozy atmosphere, delicious food, and attentive service, I'm glad this dark horse shone through all the other buzzy restos on my massive foodie list... for the win! -
Review from Tara A.
10/25/2011
I finally was able to coordinate my timing and visit this place when it was open! (They always seemed to be closed when I was hungry!). Living across the street I really have been keen to try this restaurant for Brunch and on Sunday I finally got that chance.
The decor is brilliant. Rustic Chic. I love the lighting and the long table in the back (perhaps it will fill the void in my heart since odd fellows left).. The service was great, helpful but not pushy and the best part... the food was FANTASTIC. I had the sandwich of the day which was pork belly with Arugula and a pear spread and Gorgonzola.. it was heavenly.. Any time I see that as their sandwich on the menu, I will be going back! My BF had the beef corn hash and he ate it faster than I have ever seen him eat before.. his only comment was that he wished there was a second one coming as it was so good.
The portion sizes were very great and the prices were incredibly reasonable to match the quality of the food.
I would highly recommend coordinating your timing and checking out this location. You will NOT be disappointed -
Review from Talal A.
Toronto, ON
3/17/2012
Wonderful atmosphere with some of the best service ive had in a long time.
The menu was also delightful.. However the food is where it falls short.
The pizza was ok.. (with liberetto around the corner its hard to compete)
our pasta, both our dishes were fairly bland and the portions quite small. I had the oxtail gnocci and my wife the rabbit penne. Honestly, the gnocci was very fresh but again not enough flavour to back up the dishes.
Unfortunately we will not be back. -
Review from Steph L.
9/11/2011
Parkette, a perfectly nice place for brunch by Trinity Bellwoods park!
...Especially when Swan down the street has a super long line up.
After Jenn K's yoga UYE (which I totally wish I could have been a part of because she did an awesome job teaching!), we ended up at Parkette for brunch.
It's a bright space and I love coca-cola decor!
They offered some interesting brunch options.
Deep fried pork belly eggs benedict?!
..Okay!
For $12 dollars, you can have crispy pork belly smothered in hollandaise sauce, with spinach, potatoes, and eggs.
* Fatty pork belly for breakfast was good but different.
* I found the hollandaise had a bit too much lemon juice and it was a bit citrusy for my liking.
* I wasn't into the eggs benedict served on fresh cut bread.
* A bit skimpy on the fruit
It's a nice spot though, so if I'm in the area, I would consider popping in again, perhaps for a rustic Italian dinner. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
10/22/2011 3 photos
After my UYE: Yoga In the Park at Trinity Bellwoods Park, we were hungry and ready for the highlight of the UYE, BRUNCH!!
I don't know why we ended up at Parkette... I guess there was a table for the 5 of us with no wait and I never been here before really sealed the deal!
I shared with another yelper:
Egg Benedict with Fried Pork Belly ($12)/Corn Beef Hash with Eggs ($13)
- I don't like Deep Fried Pork Belly!! I found it way too dry, chewy and rubbery!
- The harsh was not bad but taste a little bland
The services though was excellent. The atmosphere here is casual and laid back, great place to chill with friends on a Sunday afternoon.....
I might come back to Parkette for their dinner but I would just skip their brunch! -
Review from Alan W.
Toronto, ON
11/8/2011
There was a line up at Swan for brunch, so I decided to try Parkette instead (and there were was no wait) and I am glad I did.
The decor is casual yet cool.
The waitress was very pleasant and courteous.
I ordered the Eggs Benedict with Pork Belly, which was excellent. It had a nice smokey flavor with a hint of spice. The eggs were prefectly poached. The side salad was perfectly dressed in a slightly sweet and tangy vinegrette.
I had a bloody caesar which was very tasty, and I love the spice mixture they used to rim the glass (which happened to be pepper, salt and horseradish).
My only gripe was the imbalanced sound system in the restaurant. The speakers at the front of the restaurant had no base and sounded very sharp and scratchy while the speakers in the kitchen at the back of the restaurant was bass heavy and muffled, which made it sound like there are two kinds of music competiting with each other -- particularly annoying when you are sitting in the middle of the restaurant. -
Review from Lawrence H.
Toronto, ON
9/6/2011
Decided to check out this Trinity-Bellwoods restaurant on a Friday evening with 2 other guests.
Food (4/5): Menu is Italian. I tried one of the specials of the day, a pasta with stuffed rabbit and apricot, garnished with bacon in a light sauce. The pasta reminded me of a chinese dumpling...overall a nice dish. My fellow diners had the lobster and mushroom tagliatelle and the margharita pizza. Both were admirable. I believe there is a focus on simplicity and quality ingredients.
Drinks (2/5): Only one red wine was available that night which was strange, but there are about 10 reds and whites on the drink menu, along with a few beers. We had a nice Californian Merlot from a small winery. This rating is mainly a function of the lack of selection that night.
Ambiance (3/5): The space is quite small and intimate, with part exposed brick and retro decor items (Coca Cola sign from 1937, old radio, lights). Semi-open kitchen. I would say ambiance is more well suited for night out with friends, rather than a romantic dinner. I find the tables are all quite close to each other.
Service (3/5): We came as a walk-in and were turned away initially, only to come back 45 minutes later to find out that there were many spaces available. The waitress was nice and helpful with the menu, but that night only one person was working the tables therefore I found the service lacked the standard level of attention.
Value (3/5): with bottle of wine and mains only, all-inclusive total was about $40-50 per person. I'd say overall the prices were reasonable.
I wouldn't be dying to go there again given the abundance of Italian alternatives in the city, but would consider it more if I lived in the area and wanted some good no-fuss italian food. -
Review from Denise S.
7/10/2011
Parkette is a charming new addition to the Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood. I came for dinner on a weeknight with a friend. The space is warm and inviting. There are a few tables along one side of the room and a long communal table on the other. There is sort of a semi-open kitchen at the back. Decor is retro kitsch, including a huge Coca-Cola sign.
I had the ricotta gnocchi with pork meatballs, rapini and cheese brodo ($15). The gnocchi was fluffy and oh-so-good. The meatballs were also juicy and delicious! The whole dish came in a mild broth-like sauce. My DC had the pasta special ($16) which was a tagliatelle with chicken and vegetables in a light but creamy sauce (I tried a bite -- spot on). We shared a side order of rapini with garlic and chili ($5).
Our server was exceedingly thoughtful and lovely, a rarity these days. The restaurant wasn't very busy when we went, so I hope through Yelp and word-of-mouth that this place gets more recognition and does well. The menu changes regularly, so it's worth it to come back often and the price point is very reasonable (feels like casual fine dining without fine dining prices).Listed in: La Dolce Vita
-
Review from Catherine L.
Toronto, ON
7/24/2011
I came to Parkette for brunch when I didn't feel like lining up and waiting for Swan. Parkette looked like a cute spot and we got seats right away so we decided to give it a try.
I had the quiche special of the day and it hit the spot. It was fresh and light, and served with a salad so it was both delicious and I didn't feel guilty about it.
The down side is that there weren't too many choices on the brunch menu. The food, while good, wasn't particularly special or stood out to me. The portions are also on the small side for the price, when compared to some of their brunch neighbors like Swan and Bar One.
Overall I wouldn't mind coming here again to check out the dinner italian food. For brunch I would come again but I wouldn't make a special trip. -
Review from Jen W.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2012
I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately they disappointed me. I didn't actually get the chance to eat here, so this review is not based on the food, but on the service.
I had called ahead and was told that there would be a table available in about 20 minutes. We arrived 20 minutes later to find the table had just been given away, but there would be another table available in about 15-20 minutes - so they said. We went next door for a drink and checked back a half hour later, but the table was still unavailable. We waited a further half hour and checked again and the table was still not available, but we were told that it would be available shortly. An hour and half of waiting and several checks later we sat down to eat elsewhere when I finally received a call to say that the table was ready. I was not impressed. -
Review from Piper M.
Toronto, ON
3/28/2011
I live in the neighbourhood (Ossington and Queen-ish) so when I walked by this place to find the doors had finally opened I felt a desperate need to eeeeeeeeeeat theeeeeere.
I'd been seriously considering the beef cheeks and polenta while checking out the menu online, but I'm kind of obsessed with pizza (and needed to know if theirs was any good) so I opted for the margherita pizza. I trusted the rest of the group (6 plus me) to order some more adventurous items (and let me taste 'em!). A friend and I also split the fried artichokes, which were delicious. Crunchcrunchcrunch.
The pizza was a little... "meh" for me. The crust was all corn-mealy and did a nice job of ripping up the roof of my mouth, but it was nice and crispy so I guess that was the point. From what I tasted of everyone else's dishes, though, I deduced would have been very happy with something other than pizza. Everything tasted pretty darn good.
Gotta go back for dem beef cheeks now. Where ma foodpals at? -
Review from Sophie D.
Toronto, ON
3/7/2011
Wow. Just...wow. Went here for brunch with friends yesterday and I was blown away. Since it was their first weekend doing brunch, and there have been no major reviews yet, it was completely empty, and we had the place to ourselves. That won't last long.
It's a cosy, sophisticated, intimate space (with a great view into the massive kitchen). There's attentive, friendly service, surprisingly pleasant--even fancy!--washrooms, and the food... oh, the food. Delish. The chef is apparently ex-Buca, and that pedigree shows. The prices, however, are eminently reasonable (especially for such good food)--mostly because the dishes are so unpretentious and what I guess is called "rustic" that it would be inappropriate to charge too much. (Take note, Stout Irish Pub.) Most of the dishes were around $13-$14. Big tick number one.
The brunch menu is a shorter rendition of their full card but there were still plenty of enticing options. I was highly impressed by the fact that it wasn't just the same old boring eggs benny--big tick number two. There was an egg and pork belly dish, which one of us ordered, but I had a pork belly panino with fig jam and gorgonzola; and we also got a pasta dish with albacore tuna, and a dish of mussels with fennel, basil, white beans and San Marzano tomato. I only got to try the panino and the tuna pasta, but both were fantastic. My sandwich came on a beautifully crispy bun--kind of like those incredible subs you get with a really good Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, but round. The pork belly was cooked to crunchy, fatty perfection and beautifully offset by the sweetness of the jam and tanginess of the cheese, which had melted to a kind of creamy sauce. Amazing. The accompanying salad was simple--just greens and some shredded radicchio; slightly bitter with just the amount of tangy dressing, it was a perfect foil to the fatty extravagance of the bun and even, somehow, made the meal feel semi-healthy. I only managed to snag a bite of the pasta but it too was gorgeous--thick, wide strands of luxurious pappardelle with chunks of tuna and roasted olives. Really, really good (even if, as I suspect, it was conceived as a way to use up tuna that needed to be used). The mussel-eater also reported favourable resuts. Our round of Caesars were also well made, with a spicy pickled chilli in each and the glasses rimmed with some kind of tasty spice mixture--including, I think, black pepper, and either onion or garlic flakes--instead of the usual celery salt.
Toronto can't seem to get enough of rustic Italian comfort food, and when it's done so well at such good prices, who can blame us. I will definitely be back to try out the full menu. Long Live Parkette! -
Review from TOFoodReviews n.
Toronto, ON
3/19/2011 1 photo
If you venture away from the downtown core, just outside the hustle and bustle of the 9-5 crowd, the theatres and skyscrapers, you might just find a restaurant that is surprisingly unique and that shows some real passion. You can still see the CN Tower, but it all seems far removed from the tourist-focused mentality. Preparing food requires creativity and there is no better place for the chefs of Parkette to find artistic inspiration than on Queen West beside Trinity Bellwoods Park.
A very tiny restaurant, Parkette offers an equally small, very succinct menu with starters, second courses, salads, pasta, pizza mains and desserts. The server tells me, "our dishes are meant to be shared, like family-style," and so we did.
A meal for two should typically be made of three dishes; a starter, a salad and a main or a "second" and two mains, and so on. They offer, what I would call, up-to-date traditional Italian food. Our starter of mussels in tomato broth, topped with fennel and white beans ($10), was just light enough to leave room for the heavier mains of beef cheeks on bed of polenta ($16) and ricotta gnocchi with oxtail ($14). The beef was tender enough that only a fork was needed to pull the pieces apart and, though not experienced with polenta, I thought it was appropriately soft and that it held up to the rich beef.
As mentioned in previous reviews, I am a new gnocchi-addict. Parkette's was not so dumpling-like as I've had before and it was certainly not topped with your typical pasta sauce. Little packets of tender potato, assumingly kept so soft by the ricotta, were paired with oxtail and sun-dried tomatoes in more of an aus jus, than a sauce. I think I had a bit more than my fair share of that dish - at a $14 price-point, this was the best of the night. The ingredients are bold, but the layered flavours hold up perfectly.
Humble, but delicious, Parkette offers carefully prepared food in a great atmosphere; natural woods, stemless wine glasses and paper napkins prevent the tiny interior from becoming claustrophobic. Parkette does almost make you feel like you're having a lovely dinner in the park. -
Review from Marina D.
Toronto, ON
10/1/2011
Was very excited to try Parkette. Had ribs cauliflower puree last night . Found the plate too salty to the point where my tongue burned. Not sure if the chef is a smoker which usually results in overly salted dishes but it was too much. The sad thing was that I could taste it had potential. Otherwise the service was great which is why I'm giving it a 3* instead of a 2.
