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The Ace
Category: Restaurants British British [Edit]
231A Roncesvalles AveToronto, ON M6R 1M3
Neighbourhoods: High Park, Roncesvalles
(416) 792-7729
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 9:30 pm - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
16 reviews for The Ace
16 reviews in English
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Review from Daniella E.
Vancouver, BC
4/23/2012
I love it. I came here for Brunch so I can only speak for that.. and that was great.
The Ace is a retro diner that has been well re-created. I loved being a part of the scene there, the place had great style and super friendly service.
The food is awesome! I had the French Toast and my bf had the Eggs Benny. They were both so good I ate my french toast and half my bf eggs benny. My poor bf couldn't even read the paper without me stealing bites of his dish. I can't wait to go back and try the green eggs and ham sandwich!! Or eat what I had all over again, it was that good. -
Review from Bob T.
Toronto, ON
5/7/2012
The decor is excellent. I had the fried chicken, as wisely recommended by the server.
We were disappointed with the high cost of drinks and that probably hastened our departure - to be frank.They have done a good job of maintaining that old antique feel, and the servers are cool, but why not offer an old-time whiskey sour or something neat and easy at a good price ... that's all that is missing to make this place a very busy hangout.. Nice open kitchen, and overall vibe from an attentive staff. -
Review from Danielle D.
Toronto, ON
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went to The Ace for a quiet celebratory dinner for my first day on a job and I had a really great experience that I hope I get to repeat sometime soon.
The Ace was an old Chinese food restaurant left empty for years on the Roncesvalles strip so when you go inside, you can tell they tried to keep as much of the character as possible. The tables are quite small, little booths and the like. It's definitely a cozy place and locals have made it their own, kids run up and down the aisles, couples pepper the sides, people eat at bar stools on the side, it's a fully integrated restaurant. Do not go here if you want quiet alone time. You won't get it.
The beer is a touch pricier than I was expecting, but it seems this upward momentum of beer prices is across the board so I settled in for my $7 pint of Mill St Organic while my partner got a fantastic Old Fashioned for $10, leaving me really jealous.
But for dinner, I think I won. I ordered the Southern Fried Chicken that came with corn bread and collard greens and I have to say, I was impressed. The chicken was perfect, not spicy unfortunately but it had that buttermilk flavour and it permeated throughout the piece. Salivating just thinking about it! The corn bread was great to sop up the sauce the collard greens rested on and those didn't last very long either. My partner got the steak frites which were good but we both agreed, mine was the clear winner of the evening.
For dessert we split chocolate pierogies and coconut saffron ice cream, they were both good but I think only the latter would I order again. They make all their ice cream and it's totaaaally working for them.
Anway, great night, fantastic servers and staff who were friendly and warm. Really loved this place! -
Review from Jenna M.
5/14/2012
When I'm kicking it in Roncesvalles with my favorite kids, I usually hit up Easy for some brunch. But, since we were all feeling a little bit adventurous (not really) last weekend, we decided to check out The Ace for some brunch eats. I have to say that this little diversion from our usual Roncy jam was, in fact, an ace choice. We managed to finagle a window seat, which j'adore for creepy people waching, and poured over the menu. Everything looked delish, but I went with my usual order of eggs benny, and it was a fine choice indeed! As per usual. Our server was an absolute gem and as sweet as pie. Overall, a very welcome and pleasing venture into a retro-inspired "diner" with good friends that of course equals good times. I will return one day for another brunch challenge. You have my word.
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Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
5/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Despite the hipsterish vibe, The Ace is one ace place to get your comfort food grub on. I've only been to the Ace a couple times for dinner, but every dish I've had has been pretty solid. I'd give highest marks to the steak frites and the country fried chicken, the latter of which is served boneless and perfectly crispy. The only criticism I'd have is that the last couple of times I've been, the ham gravy accompanying the chicken was on the lukewarm side, for some reason. I also dig the autumn green salad, which is garnished with these super-addictive crispy chickpeas, which I could probably eat by the boatload. Love the classic craft cocktails here, too. However, if there's one thing you shouldn't miss, it's dessert. They serve homemade oatmeal ice cream that is to die for. I honestly wish they'd sell it by the tub, as I'd definitely make the trek out to Roncy more often just for that alone.
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
2/8/2012
This place is so lovely! If you want comfort food, this is the place.
And it was restaurant number 8 crossed off my Restaurant resolutions list.
http://wp.me/p1t9bx-k0
VIBE
Yes, I have to say it. So hipster. It is a long, narrow diner with plenty of booths and stools at the bar. Really funky wallpaper adorns the walls and you can see the cooks working their magic in the back. It's dimlit in here and perfect on a grey or breezy night. Great for a casual date or catch up with a friend.
WE ATE
Warm bread and olives were comforting and I'm glad we got them because it took a while for our food to come. If you're in a rush, maybe this is not the place for you.
I had the fried chicken. It's not Stockyards but I gobbled it up! It felt like my grandmother's recipe. Yum and YUM.
I mistakenly thought Mac and Cheese was on the menu -- only the children's menu. Bring it for the adults!
My dining partner had the mussels and fries. I had a fry and they were thick and fresh and lovely. He seemed to enjoy the mussels. It was quite the bowl. Portions are just the right size to fill you up but not leave you stuffed.
After hearing that they had nutella perogies on the menu, we had to try them. What a creative dish! They were delish but they were not "wow" and a brown perogie may not be the most visually appealing. That said with some creme fraiche, lovely!
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
The Ace is ace. It seems like a lot of people are going here for brunch. Maybe I'll try it when the crowds die down? This place really does feel like the new Swan.Listed in: Hipster Havens, I Feel Like Chicken Tonight, Roncy Eats
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Review from Fern H.
2/10/2012
We came to the Ace for dinner on a Wednesday night.
Note, they only take reservations for groups of six or more for the front window table. The rest of the seating is first come, first served. This was not a problem when we arrived around 7pm. We were able to grab one of the last available booths near the back.
Our friendly server dropped off menus and then came back for drink orders. We got 2 glasses of wine ($10/each) and once we heard the specials, we ordered the steak frites entree ($21) and the special trout appetizer ($11). One of the dinner specials was a burger topped with mac&cheese ($13) which I thought was intriguing.
Atmosphere was old school diner, definitely kitchy and cute. A bustling dining room filled with lots of hungry patrons, just like the days of yore.
Not too long of a wait for our meals. The steak frites was excellent. Steak done medium rare as requested and the fresh cut fries were good as well. The meaty gravy that coated the steak tasted great on the fries. The trout appetizer came on a bed of salad. Simple but good, my DC wished it came in an entree size.
For dessert, we had to try some of the homemade ice creams ($4/each). We got the Mexican hot chocolate and the raspberry sorbet. The hot chocolate flavor had a hint of cinammon and the raspberry was tart but refreshing. Both great and the two tiny scoops of each didn't last too long.
Ventilation in the Ace could be improved. We sat close to the open kitchen and when we left, we were wearing the scent of our dinners. It required a full body shower and airing of my coat outside to get rid of the smells.
As soon as we payed our bill, we were requested by another server to vacate our table and finish up at the bar so that new customers could be seated. I understand the importance of turnover on a busy night and I respect it. We were on our way out and not intending to linger but give me a chance to put on my jacket. DC was not impressed, felt like we were being ushered out the door.
Solid 3.5 stars for good food and kitchy atmosphere. Happy to see new places pop up on Ronccy now that the streetcar tracks are repaired. -
Review from Patrick M.
Toronto, ON
1/10/2012
While not yet "as good as it gets", 5 stars shows the potential this place will almost surely attain! I can't in good conscience give less: 4.5 is closer the mark; 4 would do them a disservice. Reason being while there's room for improvement, this revitalized Roncy relic really hit the ground running!
(That's a hell of a lot of Rs. Yay for alliteration!)
Restored from a truly odd marriage of 50s diner and 80s Chinese Food Place, the owners (and their team of family and friends) really went the extra mile: what they couldn't salvage for its original purpose, they re-purposed (check out the awesome wall-mounted tea lights!). Seriously, this place is eye candy of the highest order (and I'm not talkin' about the servers or clientele, though surely there are plenty enough beautiful people milling about on a Saturday night).
It's small, equal parts cozy and sweaty, with a half-dozen bar seats, a half-dozen tables for two, a table (or two?) for four, and the large front table that seats eight pretty comfortably. Note that they *do* take reservations, though I suspect this may not last as their popularity grows and the limited space demands greater turnaround.
As for the food, drinks, and service, while there are still some kinks to be ironed out -- hence the room for improvement -- they've got the foundation of something great.
Some highlights and notables:
* Steak was asked for rare and arrived thusly, something I'm not accustomed to in this city. With four of our table ordering the steak it's pretty impressive the small kitchen hammered them out in a timely fashion and perfectly cooked to boot! All were nicely aged and damned tasty. Highlight indeed!
* Fried chicken, three pieces with a mess of delicious collard greens and ham gravy... good but not great. Two pieces were succulent and finger-lickin'; one piece was smaller and overcooked, suggesting their fryer-timing is still being fine-tuned. The head chef, Peter, is apparently known for this dish and I'll guess it'll ultimately be a big win once the kitchen staff perfects it.
* Taro chips. GET THE TARO CHIPS.
* House Manhattan is an interesting take on the classic, though I found the cinnamon on the candied apricot garnish had permeated the drink too much for my traditionalist tastes -- no worries, it's easy enough to ask for a classic, dry Manhattan.
* Some very interesting house-made ice creams, including one made with Hockley Stout and another with bourbon. "Sweet" indeed! At $4 a pop they're on the pricey side for two adorable little scoops, but they're a fine -- and novel -- way to close out a meal and definitely recommended at least once.
* Service can be a bit slow, but it's exceedingly friendly. These are good people looking to establish a new neighbourhood institution -- it really shows through in the way they interact with patrons (and each other). Respect, friendliness, attentiveness, and appreciation. They're not taking anything for granted and I love that.
Final curiosity: On our first visit we were graced by a sit down from a staff-member (who asks to remain anonymous!) as the night wound down. She cheerfully answered our questions, and relayed some very interesting stories... foremost being that The Ace is apparently haunted by the ghost of the previous proprietor of the Chinese joint... but the spirit is friendly, and happy to see the place jumping again.
If you get a chance and they're not too busy, ask about the renovations, the ghost, and the general tale behind the place. The Ace boasts a good yarn, and it's worth a listen! (Not to mention repeat visits!) -
Review from Ashley W.
Toronto, ON
4/10/2012
I love the Ace! I live on Roncy and it's a really nice place to go to get a little atmosphere, a couple beers, maybe some supper and a nice chat with a pal. As a vegan, I just get the eggplant tomato ragout- but I would seriously get it over and over again even if I was omni, because it's amazingly delicious.
Also, the peeps that work there are real gems and so lovely! :) -
Review from Mary D.
1/16/2012
We checked out the Ace for brunch this weekend. When we arrived, there were a few couples/groups ahead of us, waiting for tables. The problem is, there's nowhere to wait. With the frigid temperatures we've been having, we were all trying to huddle by the door. A few couples took a seat at the counter while they waited for a booth, but this also caused quite a bit of confusion, as couples were then being seated out of order (they lost track of who was next, and who was sitting at the counter). There's one larger table in the front window, and every time the server needed to get to their table, everyone in the doorway had to shift and shuffle around to let her by.
Anyway, we were able to get a table fairly quickly - I don't think we waited more than 10 minutes. We ordered a cappucino and latte right away, and when our server came back with water, we asked her if we could order - we hadn't received our drinks yet, but we already knew what we wanted, having stared at the menu while we waited for a table.
As is customary for my hubby and I, he had the Eggs Benny, and I had the French Toast. It showed up oddly fast! That is not a complaint, but it was a bit bizarre how quickly our food arrived. In fact, we were still waiting for our coffee drinks. The French Toast with carmelized bananas and blueberries was enjoyable. I liked it more than I thought I would. The latte was satisfying. My husband enjoyed his Eggs Benny, but decided that he preferred the Eggs Benny at Barque's Smokehouse up the street better. But he did enjoy this one. He also commented that he homefries were good - he particularly liked how crispy they were, but also noted that nothing compares to our favourite homefries at Mitzi's Sister, where the mystery seasoning is magical. The homefries at The Ace were more plain, but still very well enjoyed.
The atmosphere is interesting - I like the kitschy, vintage feel of the old diner/Chinese restaurant. But it also feels a bit stale. In fact, I can't say for sure, but the wallpaper seems to be leftover from the restaurant's previous lives, and I couldn't help but wonder how many years of deep fryer grease and cigarette smoke were buried in it.
I enjoyed the experience, but it felt a bit claustrophobic and stuffy for breakfast. I'd be intrigued to see what it feels like with a late-night dinner vibe.
One last note - we paid via credit card, and when our server brought us the credit card terminal to our table, I was quite surprised to see that the default tip % was set to 20%. Luckily it had the option of "other". While I may sometimes consider paying a 20% tip, I didn't feel that our breakfast experienced warranted that much. It seemed awfully presumptious. It's a bit of a put-off. While I always do tip, I'm of the school of thought that a tip should be earned, not expected.
We'll return, but not in a rush. -
Review from J F.
Toronto, ON
4/30/2012
Just the eggs Benny here is worth the trip. Honeslty the best eggs benny in the city. Service is also really good and kid friendly.
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Review from Emily L.
Toronto, ON
3/9/2012
This place is totally lovely. What a fabulous addition to the neighbourhood! I'm so glad that they preserved so many of the original details of the interior. This is definitely worth checking out if you haven't been. Check it out first on Google Streetview to see what it used to look like!
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Review from Wendy W.
Niagara, Toronto, ON
1/30/2012
Being on the Top 10 New Brunch Places on BlogTO, i decided to try this place out. We got there and the only seating was along the counter so we took it, it's really warm inside but it's also right by the door, so beware of freezing winds every time the door opens - and it opens a lot because it's pretty busy!
i decided to try the green eggs and ham which was basically a sandwich. The eggs were indeed green with pesto and arugula, very tasty, not too overpowering with pesto and the eggs were really nice and fluffy. Side of potatos and a bit of fruit. Yummy! My date got the special which was a hash - he thought it was really good and from my bite it was - not quite as meatylicious as other hashes but good nonetheless.
I don't usually drink alcohol so early but the hungover looking guys beside me decided to get caesars -and they looked daaaaamn good! Garnished with an olive and a green bean, they were delicious looking - and the guys agreed so definitely on my list for next time! -
Review from hangover n.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2012
A rare gem, formerly a Chinese restaurant. The owners have preserved the original interior to a large extent (check out the vintage wallpaper!), which gives the place a unique authentic quality. Friendly staff, great food and drink. A nice addition to the generally somewhat beige Roncesvalles strip.
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Review from Taylor O.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2011
Excellent. It is nice to see a new restaurant take over from where the previous tenant left off. This place is a 50's Diner through and through. The food is better, of course. Even the music was straight out of the 50's. Loved it all. Had a few drinks and they have a nice selection of foods. All fresh. For 2 people we had two appetizers, split a main and two desserts. The desserts were amazing. Zucchini cake with oatmeal ice cream and chocolate perogies. It is a great, comfortable place to go.
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Review from TOFoodReviews n.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2012
I am the first to admit that I don't know Roncesvalles Village well. A friend used to live there many moons ago, but we spent most of our time drinking red wine on her porch until the wee hours in the morning instead of exploring what the neighbourhood had to offer. In recent years, however, the lure of the restaurants lining Roncesvalles Ave has drawn me to the West side of the city more frequently. I never know quite what to expect when I arrive, but I am always pleasantly surprised.
One such surprise awaited me at The Ace. I had heard that the space had been standing empty for ages; even that it had once been a Chinese restaurant. Now headed up by chef Peter McKnight, it has been reopened as a place to stop in for some classic comfort food: fried chicken, burgers, soup, Shepherd's pie. While the menu has changed, the décor most certainly did not; the new owners have kept as much of the original decoration as possible giving the place an authentic 1950's feel.
My friend and I settled in for our meal in a booth near the back of across from the open kitchen. When asked what we'd like to drink, I tried to sneak a peek at the taps available only to find that there were none in sight. Well, no taps that I recognized anyway. Our waiter informed us that the fantastic milkshake mixer sitting on the counter served as the taps. A great aesthetic touch behind the bar.
We submitted our drink orders - Mill St. for me, the Ace Manhattan for my friend - and took stock of the menu. Written out on paper were five or six appetizers and five or six mains from which to choose. We pondered several options, but when the waiter announced that one of the specials of the day was a "Christmas burger" the whole plan changed. Ground turkey with stuffing in the middle, topped with cranberry chutney? THIS had to be eaten. As delicious as it sounded, it was actually better than anticipated. It hit all the parts of your palate and it was gobbled up in minutes.
Also sampled were the deep-fried Brussels sprouts with dill aioli and the gorgeous, briny oysters. Both were truly excellent and personified what The Ace is all about: simple food done perfectly. My dining companion and I nearly stabbed each other with our forks trying to get at the Brussels sprouts, something I truly thought would never, ever happen in my lifetime.
If you're at The Ace, do not miss the fried chicken, which is succulent, juicy and crispy, served with him gravy, collard greens and cornbread (though why the cornbread is served on the gravy is a bit beyond me, as it has the unfortunate effect of making the bread a big soggy after a while). The fresh pasta with tuna, chiles, plum tomatoes and basil was cooked to exactly al dente and the flaked trout with potatoes, radishes and red onions struck a great balance of temperature, texture and flavor.
No matter how full you may be from the well-sized portions, I implore you not to skip dessert. The ice cream in particular is outstanding. Do not miss the oatmeal, stout or chocolate-rosemary concoctions: they are all made in-house and I am not ashamed to admit that I asked for an entire vat of the chocolate-rosemary ice cream to take home so that I could swim in it. Seriously. Do not miss dessert!
By the time we left around 8pm, The Ace had a line up of hungry patrons eager to relax in a comfortable, homey environment with excellent comfort food, attentive staff and a great bartender. I would suggest dressing in layers as it gets quite warm, as evidenced by the perpetually fogged-over front window. Go early or go late or go for brunch. You won't be disappointed.
