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This is my goto lunch place when I have a bit of money and want some delicious cooked food. I don't consider Marché to be an amazing place but it's in my comfort zone of lunch spots where I know I'll get something I like and have spent my money's worth.
Their pasta station is where you'll catch me and I am a sucker for their ground beef pasta in tomato sauce. It's a simple recipe but simple is perfect for me when it comes to comfort food. Plus, I can choose which veggies I want, ask for extra tomato sauce or ask for a bit of alfredo sauce for a rosé pasta.
My only problem is that I have to walk by the desserts to get from the pasta station to the cash..and if the tiramisu is out, I'll sadly spend the $6.90-something on a slice. It feels like a lot of money but the first bite usually makes me feel all better.
Listed in: My Comfort Zones
Unfortunately, Richtree Marche at the BCE place is NO MORE. IT IS CLOSED UNTIL MOVENPICK CLEANS AND RE SETUPS THE FACILITY from its previous operator RICHTREE.
The legal dispute between Movenpick and its former operator Richtree way back had caused the Marche franchise to split its franchise in Canada between the Movenpick Marche and the Richtree Market Restaurants.
The flagship located in the BCE Place was exceptionally nice for dates or out of town visitors who liked the idea, the deserts, the rosti, and most importantly the cozy ambiance in the streetview rooms or patio like open area in the front.
Unfortunately this venue just closed last week because Movenpick is returning to take full control of it. So until Richtree finishes moving out and Movenpick cleaning and setting up Marche in BCE is closed for now.
Dissapointingly, Richtree website does not show any press releases and Movenpick website was down for the whole day so I dont have any estimated open dates.
Can anyone now tell me where to go get the fruit flans? Or exquisite rosti with chicken?
Used to be Movenpick (sorry make that Mövenpick) and now re-branded as Richtree, which sounds like a brand of Asian instant coffee that's taken a faux Western name. Not sure why they went with the name change. The fear of the unnecessary umlaut in their name? I have a rule never read authors whose names I can't spell using a standard QWERTY keyboard (having to stop touching typing and access some alt+187 keypad combo just bugs me). Sø, sørry Søren Kierkegaard! However, with restaurants, I tend to be the opposite. I tend to patronize restaurants whose names I'd have to fiddle with my Windows IME to spell.
Anyway, the name change confuses me and I'm still trying to catch up with Skydome being called Rogers Centre and Upper Volta being called Burkina Faso.
They've not changed the rosti at Richtree. Which is good. Rosti at Mövenpick made more sense but then sushi at Mövenpick made less sense. Then again, you probably need a home style beating if you go to Richtree or Mövenpick for sushi.
They've recently switched to a card swipe system, no longer the little "grocery list" with the funky stamps. I'm sure kids are angry at this change.
Much of the rest has not changed since the Mövenpick days. The decor is still highly reminiscent of "the village" from the old The Prisoner TV show. A great, fun restaurant in general, especially if your parents are paying.
If you are looking to make a quick getaway and/or minimize time actually sitting down at a meal ("dining" with assy business connection(s), blind date, need to get back to work)... OR you are an exhausted tourist, with or without kids, who just needs to eat something, THEN Richtree, with its cafeteria style set-up and better-quality-than-food-court provisions, may fit your needs.
Otherwise, you should steer clear.
FOOD - generally is not great although people who come here often generally have a SAFE dish they get most of the time (mine = grilled salmon with rice). I like the coffee bar as well.
SERVICE - I dunno, how good are you at carrying your own food and getting your own drinks? Seriously, watch when you get in line at a station with 6-8 or more people in line for food they have to prepare (eg. salmon) - it can take a while.
PRICE - way overpriced for what you get... and as a bonus, you are charged 15% for "service"... Oh you thought bonus for you? Yeah, I meant bonus for them.
I haven't been to a Movenpick in a long time, so it was nice checking one out. However, the problems with these kinds of places immediately came up once I got there: a) lack of social, sit-down time. b) major indecisiveness. c) confusion about where to go, etc.
Having said that, it was a nice change of pace and I'm glad we went here before a Raptors game. We all got fed pretty well and left happy. Good for large groups.
3.5 stars
Arrived pretty late in Toronto, around 11PM. Went with my family + extended family here, the place was bustling despite the time of day. The concept behind this restaurant is that you are handed a charge card as you walk in and get seated. You flip the card on your table to "reserved" and go to one of the food stations. There are steaks, sushi, fish, pasta, pizza, sandwiches, breakfast foods, crepes, waffles, a coffee stand, a bar etc. You order the food, they serve it to you and swipe your card. At the end of it all you hand your card to the checkout person and pay. In practice this works well. Don't lose your cards; it's $100 flat if you lose it.
Anyway, I was damned hungry. I got the rosti (basically hash browns) with smoked salmon. A pretty decent serving, and it was tasty. Very good combination. For seconds I had a crepe with warm chocolate sauce; the crepe was nice and big and well prepared. I finished it off with a (non-alcoholic) irish coffee that came in a huge mug. It was all pretty good but nothing mind blowing.
This is great for large groups because everybody can serve himself. The prices are a little high, but tolerable. If you need some food then you wouldn't be making a poor choice coming here. But chances are there are better in Toronto.
This place is so up and down, you'd think it was built on a PogoBall (remember those?? I don't).
If I had reviewed this place during their Mövenpick heyday, I would've given it 5 stars. But a few years ago? Only 1 (it was really bad for a while). But I recently went back and was pleasantly surprised. Nice relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and the food quality seemed to be on the rise again.
But the best part? This place has the best crepes in the city. I usually go the mixed berries with chocolate sauce route, however they now also have a cherries option and it was to die for. Seriously. I would die for this. Add a scoop of their vanilla ice cream and loads of chocolate sauce and you will shoot yourself in the face it's so good - so be careful.
I went here for lunch on a Sunday. I'm single (sob! ;-)) but was in a group of couples with kids. Lots of buggies/strollers and toddlers to contend with. There was a queue to get in but it moved fairly rapidly. Once we got through the entrance, it was clear that this restaurant was perfect for our type of group. Staff were very helpful and multiple high chairs were sourced. The strollers were stored within minutes and adjoining tables found. The older kids headed straight for the happy chaos of the play area and we went about the adventure of finding some food.
Like the other reviewers have said, this is an open restaurant with multiple stalls to choose from. You get a swipe card on arrival and use it when ordering your food. There is lots of choice-all types of hot food, salads, pastries, sushi. It was Easter Sunday and the last day of my trip so I made a beeline for the crepe bar. Got a really yummy banana crepe with chocolate sauce and ice-cream. Yum! The other meals looked very tasty too and everyone seemed happy. It's not Michelin star material but it's good...
It is expensive for what you get...but it's also fun and especially good for groups because there is a choice for absolutely everybody. Would definitely go again-just wish it was a bit cheaper!
The less classy sounding Richtree, or Marche as it was originally known is a pretty decent place as far as open concept restaurants go.
Individuals are provided with "cards", which will serve as your personal bill, stamped at every location. Perfect for those who get carried away and also large groups who just want separate checks without confusion.
In terms of the food, you get an amazing variety of everything: large salad bar, smoothie bar, grilled meat, seafood, sushi station, bar.....so this makes for an ideal location to take some people you don't know very well!!
My favorite choices include the pizza, salad bar, Rosti, and the quail dish from the grill! The desserts are also great and I like the fresh strawberry-fondue they have in the summer........and no there is nothing wrong with a guy enjoying strawberries, it means nothing!
The food is delicious and made right before your eyes. You can see and smell all of the fresh ingredients while in the store. The home-made Cesar Salad is my all time favorite as their sauce is made from scratch. They have a variety of different foods as well but the only problem is that they are all a bit on the expensive side.
Looking for a good place for a first date?
This pseudo-European market-style restaurant has a great atmosphere where you can leave your table - not without making sure the paper plaque is flipped to 'reserved' - to stroll around as you flirt your way through your evening. It's often busy here with happy people, including families; the chatty crowd, silky croony of bad love songs, mood lighting and the wacky decor would be an advantage to erase any tension or nervousness. You really can't screw up a dinner date here!
But wait ... this is Yelp, not 'Dating in Toronto' 101 and we're reviewing food, right? Sorry to disappoint, but it is a hit or miss and the prices are a bit steep for the portions that you get. In the past, I found the vegetarian pizza here outstanding and on the next visit, antipasti that was less than satisfactory. The most reliable dish for vegetarians is the potato rosti with sour cream; it hasn't changed in the last 10 years that I've ordered it, although the obvious fact is that THAT too is pretty hard to screw up.
Bonus: There is WI-FI and newspapers if you just feel like hanging out and/or watching blind dates.
Hello, Richtree. I'd like to introduce you to a couple friends of mine...Salt? Pepper? Spices? I don't believe you have ever met.
I know, cheesy joke. But seriously, I think any sort of salt product is banned from Richtree. And instead, they replace it with all sorts of creams and butters that have made my intestines cry on many occasions. I've honestly never tasted such bland food in my life. Bland, uninteresting, intestine-clogging food that does not make me feel good about eating it at all.
I used to get the Rosti or the daily pasta dish pretty often due to the reason of work proximity, and then I would have to grab a handful of salt packets to do the seasoning on my lunch break. If you like typical, boring, bland, unadventurous food, Richtree (Marché) is for you. If you like fresh, seasonal vegetables, with the perfect use of spice and minimal presence of grease, go somewhere else.
And the novelty of having your little scan card wears off pretty quick. Especially when you are feeling lazy and just want your food brought to you.
I'm actually in shock that people really like this place...Well, to each his/her own. But I stay far away from Richtree and tend to favour places with tastier food.
It's been a really, really long time since I came here. Still in college, on spring break. My friend (a local) brought us here and I was pretty fascinated. I thought it was a pretty neat atmosphere, and yes, like a cafeteria, but I enjoyed myself. There were so many choices! I'm pretty sure I circled around numerous times before realizing what I wanted. The food wasn't too bad. Unfortunately, our final bill came out to be a lot higher than we had hoped... good, fun experience though.
The last time I went to Richtree, I believe it was called Marche - it's been a while. I don't know why I don't come more often, but I have a newly discovered love for this place.
Just walking through the market and seeing all the different food stations brought me back to Las Vegas, only this isn't an All you Can Eat buffet. I mean I guess it could be, but you'd be racking up a pretty hefty bill. They give you your food card, which is basically a credit card you give them when you find something you want to eat. The prices on the food are clearly labeled, so you're never wondering how much something is.
Pricewise, the food is decently priced. if you were to go to any restaurant downtown it would be comparable. The problem happens when you start ordering a different thing from each station. They have salad bar, antipesto bar, stir fry station, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, meats, desserts etc. I got the salad bar plate, and piled my plate up with different types of salads. They had a wide selection (pasta, grains, couscous, potato, corn, carrot, greens etc). Everything was super tasty. My boyfriend got the quiche (pretty good, though he complained it could have used a little more salt) and we split a bruschetta (pretty good too, though you can't really screw it up).
We topped everything off with a strawberry, banana, orange juice which I believe set us back $5 for a glass! pretty pricey, but it was alllll good! Our meal before tip cost $26, which I think is good for a dinner.
Also a little tip, if you park in the parking underground, I believe it's $9 after 6PM, it's half price if you go eat at Marche. There's no signs outside, but there is a sign on the inside. I'm not sure if you have to eat a certain amount, it would make sense. But if you're legitimately eating, you should be fine!
At the Brookfield Place location....
The good:
- tons of choices; anywhere from pasta that's fresh made right in front of you to pre-baked pasta to seafood soup
- tons of tables so the wait even on a Saturday night where there was a Leafs game going on was not long at all..and there were 6 of us..
- if you have kids, the atmosphere is really fun
- Rosti: famous potato pancakes; really yummy and fresh..you can also get it with sausages, pork loin, etc
- freshly squeezed orange juice
- in the heart of downtown so for a tourist it's good to go to after a long day
- the iced tea glasses are GINORMOUS!!!
The bad:
- the atmosphere is not the greatest for a date because it can get loud so conversation can be a little hard and it's not so intimate
- my baked pasta dish wasn't the greatest tasting; a little bland
- very very very yummy seafood paella is only available during lunch
- it can get a little crowded so sometimes trying to get food is a little annoying when there are so many people around
Overall, not too bad, not too fantastic...for three of us, 2 Rostis + 1 baked pasta dish + 1 beer + 2 iced teas: $36
Think cafeteria...
Now think cafeteria without the line.
Think chaos.
I took my family here tonight for dinner. We were in Toronto, going to Centre Island (which was great despite the rain). We were very hungry around 7pm and wanted to eat before we got back on the GO train back to Hamilton (and, we didn't want to brave rush hour on the GO with three kids under 4). This place was close, and looked pretty good.
My wife and I didn't bother getting anything to eat. The stress of finding out where we needed to go to get what the kids wanted, and then to 'fight' with other patrons to get the attention fo the cooks to get a grilled cheese sandwich... and then to have to struggle again to get thier attention to get the chicken fingers and fries... I had had enough and just wanted to leave.
But, the bill... that was really staggering. $25 for a couple of 'kids meals'. I wish we'd gone home and gone to East Side Marios -- the kids eat for free there on Monday nights.
They call it a 'market place' setup... I call it a trumped up cafeteria. I can't imagine anything that might make me want to go back here.
Glad to add my visiting 'tourist' review. I waited in a gradually progressive line of 80 people to get in the restaurant. Its about 10am on a saturday morning. The atrium is scenic and the hum of the crowd patiently waiting in line brimming with excitement of their to-be orders help stem your excitement. As you gradually come closer to the front of the line, each adult is granted a Richtree card with an explanation that you should swipe at each and every station you have a plate from.
With that we enter...and the place is like a breakfast/brunch/lunch/FOOD IS WHAT YOU LOVE YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE/Themepark. Eggs are being flipped into the air, the smell of hash browns are overlapped by cinnamon roll french toast, overlapped by canadian bacon and sausage, overlapped by fruit bar, and then finally overlapped by coffee. Great coffee, and cappucinos, and bailey's cappucino's and a flat out bloody mary/mimosa/full-on bar. Basically whatever you need is being tipped out at you in no remorse, whether you want to try a full on heavenly egg/cheese/sausage/veggie cholesterol attack or a fried steak bliss or a french toast/ essence of orange liquer/canadian maple syrup - meeting of food to lips. If I could sit here all day, eat, chat, rest on a cot to resume eating again I would never leave this place.
Your card will ring up quite a bit if you experience this place to the full, but well worth it.
I had an awful experience here. I don't know if it was the wine or the food, but I paid for eating here for days.
This reminded me a lot of the now defunct Marche in Boston, MA - only a TON more expensive. I know that they need to make up the cost to pay their staff that clears the tables because this is not the type of place you leave a tip - especially since its self serve.
I got a shrimp tempura roll, chocolate cheesecake and a beer...all for the low sum of, wait for it....$35.
Not worth it.
My friends took me here on my first visit to Toronto.
At first I was so confused and overwhelmed by the concept. (we don't have these in socal) Seriously, I felt like Ulysses fending off the sirens except the chefs aren't singing, they're seducing your senses with the delicious smells and sounds of grilling meat.
I ordered the Bouillabaisse. I regretted it a bit when the lady told me it would take 10 minutes to cook. but ohmygawd. so worth the wait!
we also shared Fruit Flan, which was basically fresh fruit on top of sponge cake, with vanilla sauce on the side. It was still very delicious.
I liked my experience so much I came back the next morning to try out their pastries. The strawberry danish is sooooooo good!
Definitely coming back next time I'm in Toronto!
Despite my rant about another Richtree location uptown, this place I actually liked.
For those that are unfamiliar with Richtree, the way the system works is when you go in, you get a Richtree Card (similar to a credit card) and as you walk around the "market" to different food stands and buy your food, you hand them the card and they charge the food your ordered on it and at the end you give you card to the cashier when you're leaving and they tally your bill. Pretty cool dining experience.
They pretty much have food ranging from pizza to chicken to steak to sushi to random things and most of them are very good meals - and more importantly they're made fresh in front of you. The atmosphere of the place is really cool as they really tried to make it like a little outdoor market but your actually indoors (they planted trees inside that you can sit around, with patio furniture etc) . The place is clean and the servers are friendly and efficient.
Their desserts however are reeaaalllyyy good and should definitely be tried and it makes for a great place to go for a gathering / business meeting / even a birthday party (they offered my friend a free cake when they found we came for his birthday) with a small group of people.
If you are coming with a large group of people make sure you make reservations so they can set up a section for you guys otherwise you will be dispersed!
All in all this Richtree location provides a great dining experience with good food and great atmosphere so if you're in town or are waiting for your train to leave (since this is right across from Union Station) then it's a good place to go.
This place is basically a serve yourself eatery with unique packaging. You have the feel of being in some kind of festival or marketplace where you order your food and then sit down to eat.
The food is decent and there is a wide selection from starters to dessert. Most of the food is premade, though warmed up for you. I found the servers somewhat cocky and unhelpful.
I would recommend you go here at least once for the experience.
This restaurant is very different from your average restaurant. Since we have nothing like it in the States it was quite an experience for me and my party. They do have a wide selection of food in their cafeteria style restaurant, however it is quite expensive for the amount of food you get. You do have to get your food yourself and it does cost close to $40 CAN for each person, but since it is something different our party was very satisfied.
Not bad. A buffet set up but with a la cart pricing on everything. There's something for everyone for breakfast or lunch - I just can't see this as a dinner spot, but that's just my style and not really a reflection of their offering. The layout is a little haphazard and not planned well, but the food is decent. I loved the sweet crepes but wish they would have some savory options (ham, spinach and gruyere please?). The smoothies are good too. I've only been on the weekdays during breakfast and there's been no trouble with lines or waits.
no one's mentioned the coffee/tea bar yet, so i'll rave about that.
along with the other market-style kiosks at richtree, there's also a little cafe that serves amazingly dark, rich, espresso-based beverages (and teas). each is made-to-order and i've never had a bad one yet.
delicious end to a meal or though a bit slower than your typical take-out cup, it's so worth venturing through the "market" for a latte or americano.
i totally love this place just because it's got something for everyone. it's a weird supermarket setup- glroified buffet, actually. but it's got a variety of food for everyone and a desert section that is fun to stare at. in fact the whole restaurant is rather nice to stare at and you never get bored. great place to take out of town friends that have never seen this sort of place before and a great place to go at least once to try it out.
Listed in: "I'm sitting here RIGHT NOW"-…
Lots and lots and lots of variety of foods and desserts. Think of it as a huge cafeteria/eatery place. I'm not sure its worth the long wait in line.
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Toronto, ON
Mississauga, ON
are you FUNemployed and work on your laptop a LOT?…
These are places that make me feel warm and fuzzy…
