- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
100 Adelaide St EToronto, ON M5C 1K9
Neighbourhoods: Corktown, Downtown Core
(416) 366-7827
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 3 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill
Review Highlights
"I got the sticky toffee pudding."
(in 3 reviews)
"Found this gem while browsing the Summerlicious menu."
(in 3 reviews)
"I love oysters from PEI and NB and I was happy with my..."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
27 reviews in English
-
Review from Emily H.
10/31/2011
**EDIT: After reviewing some more restaurants and putting everything into perspective, I think starfish deserves a 4.5 to a 5***
My girlfriend surprised me by taking me here one night and she deserves a giant starfish in points because I have not been so pleasantly surprised in quite a while!
The decor was unique, covered by starfish collectibles. It was a good blend of casual to intimate. Our waiter was super amazing; you all know those restaurants where the service dampens all the fun... he definitely enriched our meal with his charm.
We ordered a mix of North American oysters to start. They were fresh and giant! It was almost scary how big they were, but I guess that shows the quality items the restaurant goes for. I also had their Bloody Caesar which had a fresh clam for a topping. Now know this: I usually try a Caesar at restaurants where I feel that they might do a good job (and the fresh clam caught my attention here) but it was not to my liking here. There was way too much horseradish in it and my clam was sandy.
For my main, I ordered the scallops. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS - but I'll get to that in a bit. Decent plate presentation, about 6 or 7 large scallops distributed on a really big rectangular plate. I don't know, wasn't so crazy about it. It made the portion seem smaller as there was so much space on the plate, but by the end I was pretty done with scallops. It was actually quite a large portion. Anyway, the scallops themselves were to die for. SO PLUMP AND JUICY!!! The texture and flavour of the scallops is exactly what I imagine heaven to taste like in food form! It was served with crispy asparagus which were a little bitter - totally complemented, and even enhanced, the scallops. I would absolutely recommend this dish to anyone.
My girlfriend had a curry white fish which she enjoyed. I wasn't in the mood for curry (and who is when they have a plate of juicy, plump scallops in front of them???) so I can't really comment on hers. The presentation was really average on this dish though, but the portion was large.
In summary...
atmosphere 4/5
service 5/5
drink 3/5
food 4/5 (with the scallops being like 6/5)
price 4/5 -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
10/6/2011 6 photos
A Starfish, at least the ones we're familiar with have one, two, three, four, Five. Five arms and I'm taking Two of them away and then some. This style of place reminds me of a Boston Seafood establishment(Neptune Oyster) near Faneuil Hall region that I regret I never actually got to attend.
The Oyster selection while quite attractive in variety and pricing not too highly margin'd in this Downtown area, it came as the last offering from multiple dishes while we were expecting it as a Starter/Appetizer. Each and every Raw Oyster had some shell pieces underneath the bivalve that I had to carefully extract. Definitely not meant for Oyster Eating Competition by any stretch.
I was hoping at the cost and Clientele they serve here that there would be more of a welcoming casual friendly services but it's hit-and-miss from individual to individual as we had more of a nonchalant waitress this round. The atmosphere is a nice mix of warmth, seaside, casual while still have that fine-dining. The unusual aspect was the Jazz/Soul music playing from the speakers. Did I just open a Space-Bridge to Nawlins?
White stripe Bass($28.00)
White Fish($28.00)
PEI Mussels w/Frites($19.00)
Ribeye Steak w/Demi Glace($35.00)
The protein Meat part of the Meal is quite nicely accomplished, stars of the show. Both Fishes with crisp skin and well cooked within, much appreciated good job. The Steak looked tantilizing and smelled aromatic amazing, I wished I ordered that. The PEI Mussels were standard usual fare, nothing I would run back for.
The Carbs/Veg along were so-so but the fact is I came for Seafood and those sides are secondary in nature. I still wished they stood out more rather than being put-aside eat-if-you're-hungry elements. Considering the monies paid for this Meal, I personally consider this worth coming back for... Eventually. -
Review from Tara L.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Another lovely night at Starfish, great food, great service, warm atmosphere, love the bar and I'm not a drinker. There is something 'fun' about Starfish and I'm glad to have found it.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/5/2011
I really enjoyed an evening in Starfish. I'm not a big fish person and I still fitted right in as… Read more »
-
-
Review from Eddie C.
Toronto, ON
11/27/2011
I've been here a few times but the last time, Friday, was just meh. Oysters are always good, but the mains need working on. The appetizer, fishcake, was mediocre, and service was extremely slow even though it was not busy for a Friday prime time dinner night. The waiters/waitresses are also subpar for the service you are expecting. For the price I paid, I would go somewhere else even though I live half a block away.
-
Review from Evelyn W.
7/15/2011
We went during Summerlicious, so it was fairly busy, but the staff was handling it really well. Example: we ordered 3 tricky martinis and had them within 2 minutes.
We weren't planning on getting the Summerlicious menu, but it looked great so we went for it.
The oysters were super fresh, the mussels were good and the people I was with really seemed to enjoy their desserts.
Beware, you can easily rack up a high bill here. Even with the prix fixe menus (+ 3 martinis and one bottle of house sparkling) we were at $240 before tip. Eak!
Will I be back? Hell yes! Oysters for everyone!... and next time I'm going to splurge and get one of those huge lobsters I saw the rich guy next to us eating.
Basically, I can't afford to be a regular but it was a great night.
PS: Beware the Summerlicious diners.. they are the worst. -
Review from Mitch S.
Toronto, ON
7/30/2011
Yay for Summerlicious and getting me to this neck of the words to try out Starfish! The food here was just spectacular and I ended getting another order of oysters to go along with my prix fix as the selection and quality was top notch.
This is definitely a place I'll be coming back regularly to get my fix of oysters and tasty wine to pair! Also, it's pretty cool to say you get your oysters from one of the world's premier shuckers! ;) -
Review from Steph L.
3/6/2011
Sorry Starfish, one star + one star = two stars for you.
I'll start off with what I actually did like...The oysters of course.
Starfish offers a decent seasonal selection of oysters, East Coast, West Coast, and away (that evening oysters from Ireland, Scotland, NZ) ranging $3 - $4 dollars each,.
We had a large group, which makes it confusing for sharing since all the oysters were served from a giant platter in the center of the table and we all ordered different ones.
Shucked and perfect, they were slurpy and delicious. I love oysters from PEI and NB and I was happy with my order.
I recommend getting the platter of 12 oysters for $30 to share.
We didn't... but we wish we did.
As for my main, I ordered mussels and fries.
...And I was disappointed. Mussels were minuscule and flavorless.
That's all I really have to say about them.
Now, what really made my experience suck here was the service.
It was horrific. There were moments when I actually wanted to jump up and slap the server across the face.
What an asshole.
He rude and abrupt. He had this sour bitchy look on his face the entire night. It was like serving us was a chore. He made people at our table uncomfortable. Some people wanted to ask questions about the menu but didn't, because they didn't want to make him speak.
If you do go to Starfish, the oysters and sticky-toffee pudding are wonderful choices. However, my experience was so crappy, I'm not even going to give the place another try.
And I hope I run into that jerkface server again... maybe after I've had a few more glasses of wine... then I won't be so polite. -
Review from jacob m.
Hamilton, ON
10/21/2011
Phenomenal flavors with a cozy vibe...pair that with terrific wines and pro staff, and this one is a winner.
-
Review from Tara Z.
8/11/2011
It seems sacrilegious to admit to not having shellfish here, but I'm wary of seafood in land-locked Toronto, especially on one of the hottest days of the year. My friend and I shared the sourdough toast with mushrooms and bleu cheese--a lovely, complex starter that our waitress recommended when we asked what was good for sharing. I'm sure the rest of the menu is just as delicious.
-
Review from Marie F.
11/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
I had a perfect evening of shucking oysters at Starfish! I've passed this place a few times and never once knew what kind of seafood magic they had cooking inside. Everything we had was excellent and the service was fantastic.
We started a dozen local and away oysters ranging from Scotland to PEI and they were all amazing. I ordered the white wine mussels and substituted the fries for a salad.
Dessert was AMAZING! I got the sticky toffee pudding. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to have a nice time at a high end yet laid back restaurant. -
Review from Supriya A.
North York, ON
3/7/2011
For the past few months, on my way to night class at George Brown College, I pass by this cute yet elegant looking restaurant, yet never had the chance to experience a meal there. I finally decided to get a group together to enjoy some fine seafood and check out Starfish.
We were a group of 8 girls who wanted a relaxing Friday evening with good food, and that's exactly what we got!
We weren't too happy with our server initially, (one would expect a waiter to be extra keen serving a table of 8 lovely ladies) but he warmed up to us eventually! Now to the more important details...we sampled various freshly shucked oysters from both Canada and abroad (UK and Ireland), I was quite impressed with the ones I chose (St. Simon). Not bad for $2.75 ! I loved the toppings of horseradish..yummy! I'm not really an oyster connoisseur, but appreciated them. The other appetizers looked pretty good and were priced between
For mains, I had a plate of mussels with fries...also very nice. Some of the others ordered fish and had mediocre views on their dishes. I took a small nibble of one's sea bream and it was cooked very well! The best part about the food was its quality. The menu varies periodically due to what seafood is in season. I felt good about this because Starfish guarantees freshness and only the best ingredients from the ocean!
We concluded our meal with dessert...totally oh la la! The creme brulee was so so, it was fairly gourmet, very elegant looking and had a nice punch of ginger flavour, however what really stole the show was the sticky toffee pudding- an absolute must have!!
If I go here again, I would change my order to a platter of dozen oysters, an appetizer and the sticky toffee pudding.
Overall, good evening out..I'm glad I got to experiment Starfish and finally discovered what it's all about. The night would have been flawless had I found a pearl in my oyster shell! A gal can always dream can't she? -
Review from tokill a.
Etobicoke, ON
11/12/2010
Good, but not earth-shattering.
Staff was friendly, courteous, knowledgeable. Cuisine itself, was a bit better than "OK", but certainly not earth-shattering. Prices, reasonable. 4 Drinks, 6 Oysters, two appetizers, and two mains = $130. Reasonable. Portions weren't really all that generous.
I don't know that I'd go back vs. trying somewhere else when the urge to have Seafood strikes again. -
Review from Vivek S.
9/21/2009
This cosy oyster bar boasts a varied selection of high quality oysters, an inviting atmosphere, and a CHAMPION SHUCKER. Does your local have a world champion shucker working the Malpeques? I didn't think so. Our server was courteous and attentive and the food was great. My date's dish (fish) was superb. I got a dozen oysters for a decent price -- they were fresh and delicious.
Obligatory Title Pun: This FISH joint is a STAR.
Menu Readability: Well laid out and incredibly informative. Includes information on oyster types!
Need to mention: There is a plaque from Guinness on the wall. This shucker means business.
What this place teaches me about myself: Starfish isn't just a clever move in bed.Listed in: Lions and Tigers and Bears
-
Review from wed g.
Montréal, QC
7/17/2011
Went here for the summerlicious menu. Initially impressed by the ambiance, but the service was WAY too slow. 15 minutes before the waiter even came to ask about drinks. 45 minutes before the appetizer hit the table.
All the more agonizing given that the menu brags about how the shucker is world-record fast.
The oysters were fresh and the trout was decent, but the mussels were rubbery, and had a couple closed ones floating around.
Service was terrible for the price, and frankly, completely unapologetic. -
Review from Chris E.
Toronto, ON
1/25/2010
I was sooo looking forward to trying Rodney's Oyster House, but the latest reviews suggest it's gone right downhill lately. I'd been to Starfish a couple of times before, so tonight, craving molluscs I went back for the first time in a year. I'd gladly give five stars based on the seafood alone. But the price seems rather high to me. (I know, seafood is expensive). Tonight I had 3 yummy little Halibut cakes, a main dish of grilled salmon on a bed of creamy, delicious Israeli cous-cous, and eight raw oysters. Without a drink, my bill came to $90 including tip. Isn't that sort of steep? Maybe I'm out of touch.
It was awfully good though, and the service was excellent. I'm definitely a fan and will keep going back. But I have to save up a bit beforehand.Listed in: Restaurants
-
Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
5/19/2009
Found this gem while browsing the Summerlicious menu. Not sure about their regular menu, but during Summerlicious you can get an amazing three course meal for a great price.
If you appreciate seafood as much as I do, especially oysters, you should definitely try Starfish. Even with the smaller Summerlicious menu it was hard to choose. We each tried a different dish and they were all very tasty and well-prepared.
The service was also very good, even when the restaurant was packed. We had lots of questions about the items on the menu and our waiter was very patient with us and definitely knew what he was talking about.
The decor isn't anything fancy, but is definitely cozy. The floor isn't quite level in some areas (even before the wine sets in), so watch your step! The seats at the bar were very popular that evening, but our group was better-suited for a table. We were seated in the back room, which was nice and private at first, but quickly filled up and got a little noisy.
If you're driving, watch out for the timing of street parking. Our dinner reservation was relatively early (around 6pm) and we had to wait for rush hour to end before being allowed to park there on a weeknight.
Can't wait for Summerlicious! -
Review from Johanna K.
1/3/2010
Oh Starfish, how do I miss thee.
I no longer live in Toronto but will always be a fan and love to spread the word.
The selection of oysters are the best I've seen anywhere and I love the freshly grated horseradish and the in-house made hot sauce. My love of oysters started here and has left me on the quest of finding anything as close to this in Durham, North Carolina.
I also had the opportunity to try Sea Urchin for the first time here, the process is delicate and the result melt in your mouth. Patrick takes great care in the presentation with beautiful results.
Want to know about oysters? Patrick is the oyster master in my book and you can find out for yourself by picking up a copy of his book, "Consider the Oyster, A Shucker's Field Guide"
When back in Toronto, you are sure to find me at the bar (which by the way is made of oyster shells) eating a variety of succulent molluscs while sipping a beer. -
Review from Corey B.
5/16/2011
Fabulous meal! Great service. Nice quiet ambience on Sunday.
-
Review from john t.
Toronto, ON
5/10/2010
I cant really fault you STARFISH
nice welcome, great service, cool location, perfect meal
wish more of TO were like you, sweetie. -
Review from Lia E.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2011
Starfish is yummy, cool almost casual-ish ambiance, memorable caesars. Friendly service.
-
Review from Christopher B.
3/15/2009
One of the best oyster restaurants in North America!
The reason: an obsession for the highest quality in oysters, shucking, source knowledge and presentation. No, not the fanciest restaurant in Toronto. But the combination of oysters, an interesting wine & dinner menu and the friendly banter of Patrick and his expert shuckers earns Starfish five stars.
Sit at the oyster bar, order a glass of something with bubbles and enjoy! -
Review from Susie B.
Ajax, ON
8/27/2011
Four of us had dinner the other night. The service was very poor. The server knocked over both the wine and water bottles and no effort was made to replenish or compensate for either one. The scallop dinner should not be ordered by anyone who is hungry. At the end of the meal while were still engaged in conversation we were asked leave so that they could reuse the table. All this for $100/person. Not worth it!
-
Review from Janine D.
8/4/2010
I don't think i've ever waited so long for a meal in my life... the food was ok..
-
Review from Hratch P.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2008
Some might argue Starfish is not one of the best seafood restaurants in Toronto overall. However when it comes to oysters and shellfish I have no doubt it's THE best.
Owner and world champion oyster shucker Patrick McMurray always has a fresh selection of several varieties at hand so you won't be disappointed. That said, they also have a very good and creative menu outside of oysters. Case in point, their fish and chips, cleverly flipped and delicious; Thin crispy fish sticks and potato croquettes shaped like fish fillets
Both the oyster bar or the table section of the restaurant are pleasant in terms of atmosphere, but if I were you I'd sit at the bar. -
Review from Andrea H.
7/31/2009
If I was mostly interested in oysters and a glass of wine or a pint, I'd probably pick Oyster Boy or Rodney's, but if I was going out with a friend who doesn't like oysters (perish the thought!), Starfish would probably be a better choice because of the wider selection of non-oyster dishes.
-
Review from Deanna W.
11/15/2008
THE place to go for oysters and seafood in Toronto! However, it is not cheap but then again you pay for what you get. Oysters-fabulous selection of west coast, east coast varieties along with some off the european delights occasionally. And I love their fries, thin, crispy and fried with thyme leaves. Fish here is also done well. Service can be a bit chaotic sometimes as this place is booked very often or gets filled quickly and there can be a wait at times with one or two oyster shuckers doing the work. But if you're looking for fresh, top notch oysters-this is the place to go.
-
Review from Rosemary D.
5/21/2009
I am not an oyster fan. I know this is shocking for some people, and our friendly shucker even invited me to leave when he learned my dirty secret, but I loved the Starfish anyway. The raw clams and scallops stood out as the best thing all night especially since I had them with a great martini. My friends had a dozen oysters and were raving about them, and the fresh horseradish was also a hit. We shared the octopus dish with sausage and lentils, which was a surprisingly fantastic combination and the best cooked dish we had. S had the fried softshell crabs, D had the whitefish with ramps, and I had the sturgeon with beets, cabbage salad, and potatoes. The sturgeon was the best of the three, hands down, although fried softshell crabs are pretty much good no matter what. The rhubarb sauce on the side made them stand out. I would go back again and again for drinks and raw seafood and be perfectly happy.
