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The Gabardine
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
372 Bay StToronto, ON M5H 3W1
Neighbourhoods: Financial District, Downtown Core
(647) 352-3211
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
42 reviews for The Gabardine
Review Highlights
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"Finally, the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich." In 9 reviews -
"Starter: Sweet Corn Hushpuppies ($9) super light and airy..." In 3 reviews -
"I normally don't like chicken pot pie, but I loved this." In 3 reviews
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Pumpkin E.
Ottawa, ON
2/1/2012
I stumbled into The Gabardine in the middle of a snowstorm with a giant suitcase and two bags, dishevelled after an eight-hour flight (and about to get on another plane). No matter: the staff overlooked my general stink and quickly found me a table, even though I didn't have a reservation.
I had the warm olives and the roasted root veggie salad with arugula, burrata and blood orange. I also had a huge glass of the Sancerre. All of it was delicious. I wish I had been with a dining partner, because I left so many juicy olives behind. I also wanted to sample so much more of the menu.
The restaurant is cozy and popular, so book a reservation in advance (especially for dinner, I was told). The Gabardine serves up fresh, quality comfort food with flair for reasonable prices in the financial district. I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Maheen M.
3/28/2012
Gabardine is a cross of hipster meets bay street; yes it is an odd mix but it works. It is a cozy restaurant tucked away close to the Bay & Richmond intersection. Gabardine prides itself in upscale pub food, I was able to try their classic club sandwich. It was good, a tab bit too much mayo. It was accompanied with a potato salad and fresh greens. With the potato salad, it was a bit mayo overkill. For $12, it was decently priced.
Service was attentive. they were able to spilt the bill when we asked!
Overall, Gabardine is a unique spot to check out on Bay street if you are craving pub food. -
Review from Justine H.
Toronto, ON
2/2/2012
1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very Good 5: Excellent
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ambiance: 3
Overall: 4
Extra information:
*Open for breakfast 8-10:30am
*Closed on Saturday and Sunday
*Don't take reso for lunch
*Make sure to make reso for dinner
*Canadian Comfort Food
The Gabardine is one of very few restaurants in Financial District that is known for their food, not for ridiculous price or pretentious service. It is conveniently located near the Eaton's Center which means you can get there by Subway even if you don't live in Downtown.
I dropped by on a Tuesday not expecting to wait. But boy, was I wrong! It was super busy at the restaurant filled with everyone dining in for dinner after getting off work. Thankfully I was there only with one friend so we waited about 30 minutes before we were finally seated. My point: make sure to make reso!!
Ordered: Devilled Eggs 2/5
* 4 pieces (2 eggs) of devilled eggs for $4
* I've never seen restaurants serving devilled eggs for snack/appetizer so this was new
* This was just a small and simple appetizer
* These were nothing special
* Paprika sprinkled on top
* The filling (egg yolk) was too sour for my likings
* I was expecting something special but the yolk was just whipped (with something that was giving it this sour taste; mustard perhaps?)
* I would not get these again
Ordered: Shrimp Po Boy 4/5
* Deep fried popcorn shrimp with butter lettuce, tomato relish and aioli on bread for $14
* Served with potato salad and greens on the side
* This was a huge sandwich, served as open-sandwich
* Generous amounts of deep fried shrimp
* I really liked the tomato relish on top
* The sweet-sour'ness of the tomato relish really balanced out what could have been a heavy sandwich
* The bread was soft and had just the right consistency to accompany all the fillings
* Salad had light dressing and it went well with the sandwich
* I didn't try the potato salad because I was too full
* This is def worth $14 and I would get this again
Ordered: Mac & Cheese 4/5
* Mac & Cheese with breadcrumb crust for $13
* This is one of their popular menu (for lunch & dinner)
* Huge portion of Mac & Cheese, served Canadian style
* You can add ham for extra $2
* I got mine without the ham and it was still a lot of food
* One of the creamiest and cheesiest Mac & Cheese I ever had
* Loved the cheese crust on top
* It is overall very rich
* This would be good to order and share with someone since it is a heavy dish
* Good price for dinner, would get this again
Ordered: Burnt Marshmallow Ice Cream Sandwich 4/5
* Ice Cream Sandwich drizzled with chocolate served with berries for $7
* This is another popular item on their menu
* It is a big dessert and comes in 2 huge pieces so share if you are full from your meal
* This was just sweet enough as it is
* I could have had it without the chocolate drizzle and it would still be good
* It was a solid, good dessert to end the meal
Service was excellent at The Gabardine. Our waitress was friendly and helpful- and checked on our table couple times. It's always nice when the service feels genuine and you feel welcomed at a restaurant.
Summary: The Gabardine is the place to go if you are looking for a restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere where you can enjoy dinner without breaking your bank in a Financial District. Their food is delicious and the staff will treat you like you are a regular. I will go back to this place. -
Review from Jeff D.
5/13/2012
Very cool vibe in this hip gastro pub. The food is a little heavy for my taste, but the beers are excellent and the atmosphere transports you far away from the financial district that surrounds.
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Review from Kristina G.
Toronto, ON
1/17/2012
I've been meaning to go to the Gabardine for ages now. There was a blizzard brewing outside, so it made this experience extra cozy.
Nestled on Bay Street between the clock tower and the biggest bank towers in the country, the Gaberdine is a lovely place for lunch or dinner. The menu is clean and honest modern pub food with a French / Asian accent. There is a sea of Brooks Brother's suits accompanied by a bar of slender good-looking business women and bar flies. The service staff are very friendly and make you feel at home. You wouldn't expect such a great place to exist beside a Tim Horton's and 7-11.
If you're looking to pick up a Bay Street investment banker or to slouch into a banquette and read the newspaper alone, this is the place. I only ordered snacks, but I really hope to come back very soon to have one of everything else on the menu.
http://www.swallowfood... -
Review from Amy L.
1/25/2012
Unlike many of the restaurants in the Financial District, The Garbardine located at Bay St & Richmond St W, is a small and cozy restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere. White brick walls, old newspaper cut-outs framed, hanging lights, and a white tin ceiling; I liked the ambiance. When I arrived at noon, the place was fully packed but luckily Jess and Jacob arrived early and grabbed a table already ;) The Garbardine doesn't take reservations for lunch time and they're close on the weekends, so do keep that in mind.
The noise level is high, tables are arranged close to one another, and the wait staff are bustling to accommodate customers' requests; what a lively place. Their lunch menu consists of snacks, salads, sandwiches, and mains. Your cravings for a philly cheese steak, a chicken pot pie, or even rabbit rillettes can all be satisfied here.
Since I was starving and knew I wanted something hearty on this rainy day, I ordered the fish pie with clams, mussels, arctic char, smoked trout, mashed potato & buttermilk biscuit ($20). The deconstructed fish pie in front of me looked promising, and I couldn't wait to dig in (but of course I had to fight the urge and quickly take a few shots of it first ;)). As expected, this was one hearty pie alright. The variety of seafood along with the rich, creamy mashed potato was satisfying and comforting in every way. Another component in this dish that simply cannot be ignored is the fresh dill on top. So flavourful and aromatic, yet not overwhelming; it added a nice tanginess to the entire dish. The buttermilk biscuits, however, were on the salty side for me. Although I was extremely hungry at the beginning of the meal, I couldn't finish the fish pie due to the large portion!
Jess had the fish tacos ($18); they looked so moist and delicious. Jess said she enjoyed them :)
Jacob went with a pulled pork bahn mi ($14) and it was ginormous! Eating it was a challenge itself as the mountain of filling got all over the place :) The bahn mi is definitely something that I would order in the future!
Despite the busy lunch crowd, service was friendly and welcoming, and they always made sure our glasses were filled. Greetings, smiles, and attentiveness, we appreciated all of that. I look forward to trying some of their other menu items at my next visit! -
Review from Cameron C.
3/17/2012
I ate here last night. Since I was alone, I ate at the bar. When I arrived, there were still tables, and lots of seats at the bar. I just beat the rush, however, because it filled up a few minutes later. The crowd seemed to be a mixture of locals and attendees at an academic meeting at the nearby Sheraton.
Service was prompt, attentive and friendly.
I had the fish pie, followed by fresh donuts and creme for dessert. Both were excellent.
The wines by the glass included local wines from the Niagara Peninsula and Niagara Escarpment. My first glass was a red from Organized Crime, on the Niagara Peninsula. The second was a Gamay (sp?) from Cave Spring, on the Niagara Escarpment. I think I liked the latter better, but overall it was nice to see the Niagara region moving beyond ice wines and so forth to reds and other types of whites.
I would have gone back for lunch today, except their website says they are closed on weekends. That makes me sad. -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2011
in a sea of suits
Gigi and I made plans to meet up. As per usual, we had a long wishlist. I left it to her to narrow down the list.
The Gabardine won the draw, but we were the ones who got lucky.
A lot has been said about this place already. I agree that it doesn't really fit on Bay Street. It's a welcome change from the usual watering holes. From the moment I walked it, I forgot where I was. It reminds me of something I might find in Montreal; a comfortable clean space with white walls, framed images and antique-y hanging lights.
It's a bit crowded in the front given the bar area, but the dining tables weren't as cramped as some critics have made it out to be.
At the risk of sounding like a superfan, I loved this place. It was warm and welcoming, and the service was spectacular. I'll say that again, because I don't get to say it often - spectacular. Our server anticipated needs, knew the food, was friendly and attentive, and aware of his surroudings (i.e. knew when to engage and knew when to be invisible) - basically, a bonafide superstar.
Gabardine's menu includes a wide range of unpretentious food like grilled cheese, sirloin bacon cheeseburger, and chicken pot pie.
They say come in and get fed, well, Gigi and I are really full:
We shared some fries (of course) and the sweet corn hushpuppies with buttermilk poppy seed dressing ($9). The hushpuppies were perfectly fried, moist and buttery.
I loved the mismatched plates, "Grandma's china" as Gigi said.
She had the black cod with braised lentils and mushrooms ($24). For those of you that know a little about me, you know I love black cod. One of my favourites is at Blue Water in Vancouver. The Gabardine's is a contender. It was really, really good. Delicate and delicious:
I had the shrimp po'boy with butter lettuce, tomato relish and aioli ($14). I'm a sucker for po'boys. It was really good. The bun/baguette was the way fresh bread should be - crispy outside, soft middle.
We finished with the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich ($7). I wanted to love it, but I ended up liking it. I wasn't too crazy about the sandwich part. I may have been hoping for a graham cookie, but then again, I'm thinking s'mores. Now there's an idea.
It really was fine grub.
Note 1: Based on service alone, I'd give this a rating of "Woohoo! As good as it gets!"
Note 2: Smaller restaurants with an open kitchen make for eau du restaurant. We left smelling like food. -
Review from Sherry Z.
1/4/2012
Food = Awesome
Service = Awesome
We had the beer battered fried cheese croquettes, the mac and cheese, the philly cheesesteak, and the lemon cardamom doughnuts. This place is fabulous. I wish I lived nearby. Yet another gem buried in the crap pile that is Toronto. -
Review from KL M.
Toronto, ON
11/20/2011
Such a welcome surprise in a sea of suits! It's hard to believe this little gem of a resto can be found on Bay Street. The setting is shabby chic and a complete foil to its surroundings.
I would describe the menu as upscale comfort food but without the upscale price tag. All dishes are under $20, and given the dimension of the ingredients, it's quite good value. I have never had a bad experience in the three times I've eaten here and can recommend the mac and cheese, the spare ribs, fish tacos, and a number of the starters. The signature cocktail is also lovely! -
Review from Antonia W.
Toronto, ON
10/18/2011
This place can be a lil hard to find lately cuz of all the scaffolding up around this area. It's just around the corner from where I work, so I chose this as a bday dinner spot. Made reservations the day of and got seated right away when we showed up. It's busy, loud, and tables are pretty close together. This isn't the place for a nice quiet dinner.
I had to order the daily risotto because, for some reason, somewhat mushy rice appeals to me. It's always a veggie risotto and today it happened to be some spicy corn risotto.It was done really well, the rice wasn't overcooked and it was just spicy enough to make my mouth tingle.
The other dish we ordered was the shrimp po'boy, based on recs. Not sure what to expect, but this didn't really live up to how good I thought it would be. I love shrimp and I love breaded shrimp, but when you put it in a sandwich with sauce and toppings, the breading turns into a soggy mess. Maybe I need to eat it faster next time, I dunno.
Ended the night with the famed burnt marshmallow sandwich, which was every good as I imagined it to be. I love the choco cookie they used to sandwich the marshmallow ice cream.
Drinks were reasonable. I got a Bourbon Old Fashioned and it was good enough to last me the dinner with a buzz. Great night. -
Review from Sharon F.
East York, ON
11/27/2011
Any place on Bay street that makes you feel like you're eating at home, is a place worth visiting.
I have been sitting at the bar at The Gabardine for more than half a year now, either sipping a latte, london fog, or munching down the occasional croissant. Their espressos stand out against the sea of Starbucks (using Rufino Espresso beans, if anyone cares) and Sonny pulls a mean espresso.
But the problem was I had never ventured in for dinner, since the place always seemed overloaded. A few days ago I finally decided to meet a friend for dinner. True to their nature and as a testament to their uniqueness, they were fully booked by 6pm. We sat at the bar, not far from where I usually linger, and enjoyed a feast for the ages.
We started with the rabbit rillettes with sour cherry preserve and toasts. The preserve was delicious and did not overpower the rillette. A nice touch was the inclusion of a few caper berries that added a nice salty sourness to our appetizer.
For mains we had the shrimp po boy and special of the day - fish tacos, thinking we could compare seafood and juggle between heavy and light. It was served with a heaping salad of butter lettuce, lightly dressed and almost falling off the plate. The french bread was strong enough to keep its fillings in, but so soft it melted in your mouth! The aioli and sauce on the po boys definitely blew us away. The fish tacos came in threes with a light side of potato salad. Both yukon and purple potatoes were used, which was a bonus; I love purple potatoes. The tacos were topped with pickled cabbage and assorted veggies. It was hard to pick out everything due to the dim lighting. I've had better spiced tacos, but this was a solid main.
For dessert...we ate air. Unfortunately by the time I enthusiastically asked about the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich, they were sold out. This was ~8pm! Note to others, order this early in your meal! It was just as well, since my companion and I had already filled up on beverages.
On the subject of libations (it is in their slogan), the bar is stacked with your standard spirits - heavy on the Italian side. Their draught beer list doesn't seem to vary from the 4 offerings: Sleeman's original, Sapporo, Okanagan Spring Ale and Blanche de Chambly. They also serve Q water, a filtration system attached to tap water. Their caesar was delicious, rimmed with a celery salt that seemed to taste not as overpowering as commercial ones and added plenty of horseradish.
As we were sitting at the bar, we were served frequently and got to see the wait staff's meticulous execution of drinks. It's a pleasure to see staff busting their behinds to serve patrons well-executed simple cooking - truly an intoxicating experience. -
Review from Su B.
1/16/2012
We finally managed to get a table on a walk-in on a tuesday night and I am so glad we did. This place lived up to all the hype and then some. The staff was friendly and very accommodating and the restaurant had a very relaxed feel that is so rare on Bay street. The food is the prefect comfort food that soothes the soul bumped up just a notch. I had a glass of the wonderful Caesar sans alcohol and it was strong, pungent and held its own.
My SO ordered the seafood stew which I thought might be too creamy but it wasn't. It was a perfect balance of stewiness and seasonings allowing the seafood to be the star. I had the po'boy and could not finish it. The shrimp was perfectly friend and seasoned but what makes this sandwich is the relish on it. - absolutely the best.
The burnt marshmallow icrecream sandwich was a perfect finish to a fun evening - one that I intend to replicate over and over again. Thank god I work across the street!! -
Review from Alex K.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2011
My main man @Vivek S. reviewed this place, so when a friend suggested we meet here for after work drinks I was all over it. And man, I was not disappointed,
It's a strange location in many ways - across from the humdrum of Bay just below Queen. It seems like a more likely location for a Subway Sandwiches than home to wheelers and dealers. The decor is fantastic. A warm, neoclassic look. The waiters are all very friendly and well versed in the food and drink. And that food and drink? Fantastic.
To start we had a plate of olives - which were oddly warm (on purpose) - but still delicious. We had a pint and talked at the bar which is a fantastic spot to look over the other 12 or 15 tables and watch the kitchen work away in the back. My friend ordered the club which he had with salad (IDIOT!) and which was satisfying. The chicken was moist and the bacon well-cooked. The salad had a nice vinaigrette which he enthused about. But all his words were wind compared to my burger. HOT DAMN that's a fine burger! Perhaps the best I've had in the city? Could be... So juicy, yet the fresh bun had the structural integrity to hold together. Slathered in cheese and bacon this was an absolute delight. Words are failing me - I wish I just had a GIFF of Homer drooling over the Gummy Venus De Milo. Oh, and the fries? Amazing too.
I picked up the bill - whoops - and the damage was a bit steep. This IS Bay Street after all, and I suspect that Gab's takes advantage of lots of folks throwing down expense account cards. So it's a bit steep for us mere mortals, but still pretty worth it. The burger was one of those things I want to ask for for my birthday. That, the great atmosphere and genial attitude of staff makes it a no-brainer for lunches of any kind; classy, friendly, whatever.
All in all a great place - heavily recommended.Listed in: Drinking IS fun!
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Review from Daniel O.
The Gabardine has just launched a new menu within the last two weeks.
Checked them out for dinner last Friday. Sampled a bunch of their new dishes. Here is what we had:
Starter: Sweet Corn Hushpuppies ($9) super light and airy, nice corn taste. Served with a buttermilk poppyseed dressing for dipping. Delicious.
Mains: All three of us ordered something different so that we could try as many new items as possible.
Fish Tacos (from the daily specials) ($16): Two huge tacos chalk full of beautifully crispy deep fried & battered pickerel. Spiced with cumin and garnished with a lovely slaw. Served with really tasty purple and yellow baby potato salad, light creamy dill dressing. Awesome
Shrimp Po'Boy ($14): Wowzers. A huge portion for the price, larger than I anticipated. The po'boy sandwich was served on a bun similar to the type usually used for lobster rolls. Tons of battered, deep fried shimp overflowing from the open face sandwich, dressed with butter lettuce, tomato relish & and aioli. Sides include a small green salad and a portion of the potato salad (which was served with the fish tacos).
Kolapore Springs Smoked Trout Salad ($13): Not a new menu item but has been updated. The smoked trout was melt in your mouth delicious. Salad consisted of green beans, cherry tomatoes, fingerling potato crisps (great addition, added some much needed crunchy texture), olives and a remoulade.
Topped off dinner with cappuccino's & two desserts: the burnt mashmallow ice cream sandwich ($7) & the chocolate whoopie pies with dulce de leche cream and cinnamon spiced roasted peanuts ($9). The whoopie pies were good, the cake was a bit overbaked but the dulce de leche cream was the perfect filling. The ice cream sandwiches were the clear hit at the table, even though we were all pretty full we couldn't stop eating them. They use Ed's Real Scoop ice cream, rich and decadent.
In conclusion, the new menu at the Gabardine is a clear hit. Check them out, you won't be disappointed.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2011
the gabardine is a newish gastro-pub at the northern tip of the financial district. its on bay… Read more »
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Review from dave o.
Pickering, ON
Updated - 8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Just did a take out from this fine restaurant. I had the lobster role with fries that comes with great home made ketchup.
Great fast service and the consistant food quality.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/2/2011
Looking forward today to my 3rd lunch visit. This is a real little gem. Service is very pleasant and… Read more »
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Review from Jason K.
Mississauga, ON
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow, it's been a while since I've done a review....
As soon as I entered, stumbling into the bar chairs that are inexplicably placed directly in front of the entrance, I felt like I was home. Well, if home was a ultra-trendy-hipster-themed restaurant with bar chairs in front of the entrance.
The atmosphere here is very relaxed (I mean, they are hipsters). It feels like I should be friends with everyone here... But, strangely, I'm feeling a bit of a cold shoulder from the staff. I might be projecting, though. There is a very "Starbucks" vibe here (stole that line from another review of another resto, forget which one).
I was here for a "business lunch," even though I was dining alone (shhhh don't tell my accountant-- wait-- I am an accountant)
I wanted to try a couple different things so I ordered rillettes (memories of France :( ) and a baby greens salad. For dessert I ordered the apparently famous burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich.
Interestingly, the rillettes alone were a bit sweet. The accompanying preserved sour cherries and pickled turnip made it even sweeter. Good thing was I still liked it. Portion was small, but then again, I was spoiled in France by having huge spoonfuls of it for supper at a friend's house... Along with the amazing Loire red it was a perfect experience. But I digress.
Actually, I don't digress-- the wine list is microscopic and at the same time too focused... A non-vintage Dolcetto D'Alba, a Spanish 2001 Tempranillo La Mancha 2001, and an Ontario Meritage 2007 is all they had for single glass reds! I peeked in their wine fridge and the selection was basically that-- Italian, Spanish and mainly Ontario. Boo.
Next up was the baby green salad with "seasonal veggies" (heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers). I learned from the waitress that October is tomato season in Ontario (to clarify, the previous statement was written with extreme sarcasm). The salad was overdressed, but I like it that way-- how did they know?!?!? Greens were browning at the bottom (yuck), the hydroponic heirloom tomatoes tasted quite hydroponicky. However, the saving grace to the dish was a slight bitterness to the baby romaine, which I love, and creamy dressing and shaved sheep cheese were a perfect complement.
Finally, the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich. After two mini-dishes, the dessert is inexplicably gargantuan (I know I used the word "inexplicably" twice. That is on purpose. I demand explanations.) The dessert is good, but not as good as the Yelp hype, and not as good as the server sold it.
Finished off with a cappuccino that had some embarrassing latte art which I pretended not to see so that I wouldn't have to be drawn into the barista's whirlpool of shame. Actually I lied-- I didn't finish with the cap, I followed that with an espresso which was also inexplicably monstrous. I ordered a double which they somehow were able to conjure into a quadruple.
Anyways, this is an OK place to go when you have a few bucks burning a hole in your pocket and are wearing your non-prescription clear Wayfarers and summer scarf with your ironic band t-shirt and espadrilles and feeling like savouring every single moment in life because really life is short and we should do more savouring shouldn't we. And on other non-such occasions as well. -
Review from Nicole B.
I met the lovely Steph C for lunch last week. I walked in & instantly felt like I was in a cafe in Europe. Just felt that way for me.
The place packed up pretty quickly yet I was impressed at how quickly we were served. Our waiter gave us time to talk & didn't overly check in on us.
I ordered the club house panino & I loved it. I ate as slow as possible just to savour the taste. The multigrain was perfect; just the right amount of grain and not too dry. The side salad lists that it comes with a "simple vinaigrette" and it was just that, simple. It didn't have enough dressing for my liking and I would've liked a bit more flavour. Also the lettuce pieces were big; listening to someones convo and trying to shove lettuce into your mouth is awkward. And cutting your lettuce or taking several bites of one piece looks weird.
All in all, the food & experience was good & we both got back to work in sufficient time. The food is a little on the pricey side, closer to sit-down restaurant prices than a lunch-grab spot. Still, I would def try this lunch spot again. -
Review from Daniel S.
Toronto, ON
2/23/2012
A gem in the midst of the contemptuous financial district. Food, service, ambiance are great. The beer cheese croquettes are delicious and the mac'n'cheese is an accomplished and gratifying rendition to this childhood comfort food. Delicious desserts and great drinks are the culmination to a great night at The Gabardine.
Highly recommend. Looking forward to returning soon. -
Review from Renay R.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2011
I came here yesterday for lunch as I decided to treat myself to a nice lunch on an afternoon off. When I first arrived it was absolutely packed so I went wandering around The Bay for a few minutes and came back so I could snag a table.
The tables are pretty close together so if you're wanting to have a quiet conversation, this isn't really the place for it but the decor is cheery and kind of cute.
I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and I really liked it. I think its one of my favourite grilled cheese sandwiches in the city. It had a great onion jam and a nice balance of cheese to bread. Its also not that greasy so you don't feel gross after eating it. The sandwich came with a nice little side of potato salad (with purple potatoes!) and some salad greens.
As I was on a mini vacation day, I decided to go for dessert so I ordered the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich - wow! It was decadent and worth every extra calorie.
The service was okay - I kind of felt like I was a bit ignored - maybe because I was by myslef? I don't know. Anyway, the food was great and I liked the decor so I would go back. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2011
The gabardine serves simple food with a gourmet flair... making it ... not so simple?
In a cute little restaurant with dim lighting and an open kitchen, the place seemed perfect for a date... and for me a catch up with a friend visiting from far far away. Service was definitely not the quickest, and we were pretty much waiting for our server to come to our table, do his job, and rush off to the next task.
After much debate, I went with the smoke trout salad with beans, shredded olives, and roumalade... in my mind, a twist on a nicoise inspired salad :). Not going to lie... the portion was smaller than I expected and left me wanting more. The smoked trout was very aromatic and it seemed to be infused with every bite.... still wish it was a little bigger.
My friend who got the smoked meat salad said it was good, especially the potato salad.
For dessert, we decided to share the strawberry and rhubarb shortcake with marscapone cream. I was surprised that there was only one shortcake (thought I had seen 2 in other photos). The rhubarb pieces were cut at a good size so I could actually taste it. The marscapone did taste more like whip cream.. but I guess I will never know.
We ordered soda water and it seemed to be unlimited and charged at $1 / person. I think this place is really cute, but may be a better fit for lunch appetites. There are dishes like mac and cheese and chicken pot pie for dinner plates that may satisfy the dinner palette.... heard it is REALLY GOOD. -
Review from Angela L.
5/26/2011
In an area like Parkdale, the Gabardine might have been just another artsy-updated-retro diner, but here in the downtown core, it's a down right hipster-inspired yet hipsterless (I'm obviously not counting the plaid-clad servers and chefs) haven. It is such a juxtaposition seeing the cinq-a-sept set chill out in this non-businessy hang out in their shirts and ties and designer handbags. Had there been a spot like this in the area back when I was still rocking the pinstripes and stilettos I might have been inclined to stay in the core for a few extra hours rather than brave the rush hour subway traffic with hunger pangs after a long day trapped in the cubicle.
The welcoming curved bar right up at the front can be a tempting place to park yourself, but the tables are more comfortable and the food is simply tasty. We chose to start with the devilled eggs and were pleased with the rich nostalgic flavour of them. My medium rare steak was just that and incredibly juicy. After all that and a bottle of wine, it was a small miracle that each of us still had room for dessert. Boy, were we glad that we did though! My sticky toffee pudding arrived looking like a giant meatball and was fantastic. A bite of the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich was also heavenly.
The service was incredibly pleasant from start to end. This is the type of no fuss place I'd be comfortable becoming a regular at if only my pocketbook would allow for such allowances. -
Review from lauren b.
Toronto, ON
6/28/2011
I had a friend coming into town at 10am from montreal for a meeting in the eaton center via porter airport so i texted a financial district friend for a resto reco that suited my west end style.
i got there before my friend at around 10:20am and the waitress was super friendly and sweet, gave me my pick of tables (was 30% full in there) and then alerted me the kitchen closed in 10 mins. so the kitchen staff could take a break btwn breakfast and lunch/dinner. But when my friend showed up late, she slipped in our order anyway.
I got the egg, cheese & carmelized onions panino which was on this fantastic bread and came with a small side salad. it was absolutely to die for. the cappuccino i got was also delicious. My friend got the smoothie which she raved about (she's uber picky) and just an order of toast with butter and jam but even the jam was special.
The plates were really pretty, the decor is very indie, ossington style, the staff is pleasant to look at. This definitely doesn't feel like it's in a stuffy neighborhood. All together the bill was around $25 which I think is quite standard since we both had coffee's as well. Definitely worth it. I absolutely loved this spot. Definitely a diamond in the rough (if you consider men in suits rough). -
Review from Vivek S.
The Gabardine is a hep lil' spot that seems more befitting of West Queen West than Financial District. Its washwashed brick walls covered with mismatched frames and old newspapers, white tin-ceiling, old-timey lightbulbs, newspaper clippings and well-bearded staff scream hipster more than pinstripes. It's like they took a well-heeled core cafe and "put a bird on it." Metaphorically speaking.
Their kitchen closes at 10pm, which only is a few minutes after I get up, so after a few false starts, I finally managed to grab a seat here. Their mostly-local menu features "snacks" (a collection of under $10 nibbles), salads, sandwiches, and their large plates (which range from $14 - 23). You can grab the Ploughman's Lunch which fancy-talk for a sharing platter. They also have a respectable array of desserts and old fashioned cocktails.
I picked the rabbit rillette with brioche. It was nice, not too salty, and a fair-sized portion for $9. I also snagged an Old Fashioned and a Negroni. The old fashioned was a bit sweet for my liking, but that's not really much of a complaint. Drinks are $7-10, and a premium martini will set you back $13, and they have a pretty long wine list too.
Definitely a welcome addition to the core. I'd like to come back and try more drinks and maybe a few more drinks after that. Closed on weekends.
Obligatory Title Pun: The gift of GABardine.
Menu Readability: Centred aligned and beautiful.
Need to mention: Closed on weekends.
What this place teaches me about myself: I need to get up earlier in the day.Listed in: Eats on the TO Subway Line
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Review from Pati P.
Toronto, ON
8/19/2011
The food is incredible, but the service has been hit and miss 50% of the time I've visited this place. I think the feel of the place is great, the menu is awesome, but if I have to hope that the service will be better than the "last time", I'd rather not go back.
I'm big on the entire experience, not just the food when resto-hopping. You can go to hundreds of restaurants in the city and get great food, there's just more to it and I've not been won over. -
Review from Tammy Y.
3/4/2011
Right now, my favourite locale for dinner. Given, The Gabardine lives in a neighbourhood where hip is hard to come by, which makes me love them all the more.
A quaint spot wedged in between soaring skyscrapers, this place has all the rustic homemade charm of a resto way west of Bathurst. Service is attentive, and despite making a reservation, we were surprised to see that the place was empty when we swung in at 7pm (though it did fill up by the time we left at 9).
"Snacks" aka "Appetizers" are well-priced and great to rev up our appetites as we lingered over moodily-lit conversation. Portions were extremely generous, especially with the desserts. $7/each for our toffee puddings and burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwiches were more than enough to share between 2 people.
I'll be back. Count on it. -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
10/24/2011
VIBE
This café is in my old work stomping grounds and it is really refreshing to see something (relatively) new on the Bay Street scene that welcomes in their customers and is affordable. I was immediately struck by the white walls and how it encompasses how bright and airy this place is. When I came in to meet my best friend after work, the place was relatively packed and it seems like The Gabardine is a place that is usually always crowded. It definitely felt like that when the gentleman beside me was eavesdropping on my conversation or when we noticed the 25 inches of space between the bar and my friend's chair. After the eavesdropper left, it was the perfect venue to catch up with the bestie, but there were a lot of coworkers and friends hanging out here as well. It's classy without being pretentious and it's exactly what the opera crowd needs (well, at least the middle class opera crowd).
WE ATE
Due to the impending doom of fall beckoning earlier sunsets, we were craving comfort food. We started with the sweet corn hushpuppies with buttermilk poppy seed dressing. The hushpuppies are essentially fried dough and they were cooked well, but I wish I had some bread to dip that poppy seed dressing. Yum. I ordered the mac n' cheese because you can't go wrong with a white cheddar baked mac n' cheese. It filled the comfort food gap but it was a bit too cheesy for me - as in it was just oozing everywhere. It was too much. I tasted my friend's pot pie and it had a bit more flavor than my mac n' cheese but it also seemed to be overly gooey. They were both large portions and we were stuffed by the end. I will return but I wouldn't order either of these items. I know many are raving about the po' boy and think I will try that instead. I'd also like to try their cocktails next time.
A note: Is it just me or is it awkward getting to the bathroom? I felt like I was going to the staff room on the way there.
Another note: those mix n match flowered plates are awfully cute! It reminds me of going to Grandmother's house.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
The Gabardine lets you chat and chew in a cozy setting that makes me feel like I could call this my "regular." Minus the calling out of "NORM!" but of course. Cheers, this café aint. -
Review from Jen C.
1/24/2011 4 Check-ins Here
(3.5)
Had lunch in this new space today and enjoyed the surroundings. Epoxy-lacquered wood tables, white walls, patterned white tin ceiling, mis-matched dishware, and a chalkboard. This is an upscale N. American bistro with elements to make it more casual.
Got a lovely and delicious grilled cheese. I opted for the smoked ham and thought it added a nice saltiness to things, but the ham didn't come up to the front. I'm nit-picking though. This was quite satisfying. Came with mixed greens in a light vinaigrette. All very good.
For dessert, I got the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich. Nice toasty-tasting ice cream, thin chocolate cookie wafer, all sitting on a dollop of dulce de leche (yes? wasn't as sweet as caramel). Was happy to have ordered it.
Service was amiable, but I did think it odd they'd offer a London Fog on their coffee/tea menu but not be able to offer me Earl Grey as a tea selection. Space is cozy - a max of 30ish seated, and maybe 6 at the bar. Menu includes a ploughman's, mac 'n' cheese, daily soup, and more meaty options, all comfort-food. Not extensive, but a good breadth of things.
For lunch, I felt prices are pretty high, but so's rent in that area. With a cup of tea, lunch cost me $25ish, after tax, before tip. Mostly because of the addition of dessert which most people wouldn't necessarily have at lunch. -
Review from Jen X.
Toronto, ON
1/4/2012
A new favourite. Feels like coming home every time I walk in the door. Food and service are just exceptional.
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Review from Nicole M.
Vancouver, BC
4/5/2011
Caught up with an old friend over lunch at the Gabardine this afternoon. This relatively new lunch spot is a welcome addition to the financial district!
We arrived at about 11:45 and had no difficulty getting a table (no lunch resos). We were warned that it would get busy and should order quickly if we were in a rush at all. Appreciated.
I had the grilled cheese with ham. It was served on a multigrain panini with caramelized onions and a tomato jam (yum!). There was enough cheese on that badboy for two sandwiches, but I'm not complaining. It was served with some mixed greens, but the pieces of lettuce were seriously massive and lacking dressing. For $14, maybe a bit much but a nice spot for a sit-down lunch.
I'm a little bummed I didn't try this marshmallow ice cream sandwich I keep reading about. Next time!Listed in: Bay Street Lunch
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Review from Jo M.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 8/16/2011 1 photo
Went here again last night (Aug. 15). Service was just as good as the first time, if not even better. Had the shrimp po'boy this time around and while it wasn't exactly the same as an authentic po'boy in New Orleans (see review on Parkway Tavern), it tasted just as great. The French bread that they use was on par with NOLA French bread (courtesy of Silverstein's I was told), and the shrimp was fried to a crispy but non-greasy goodness. My bf had the burger again and it was as excellent as the first time. Quick service, great food = you should definitely check this place out.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/7/2011
Hands down best burger I've had in a loooooooooong time. Thick, juicy, came with a thick slice of… Read more »
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Review from Brett C.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My wife and I found this restaurant while searching for a place to have dessert. Both of plates were very good. The atmosphere is nice inside. The biggest trouble is the slow service. Our waitress was not very attentive, although lady behind the bar was very friendly.
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Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
6/22/2011 6 photos
Since there were four of us, we made reservations for a friday night dinner. However, turns out it was a pretty quiet evening. I was hoping this wasn't an indication of the food...
My boyfriend and I were starving so we started out with the chicken liver pate - with house pickles and toasts ($7). It came with a spoonful of the pate. It came with a side of greens, pickled mushrooms, several pieces of toast and a bit of sweet marmalade. The sweetness went really well with the pate. We both really enjoyed this dish.
I went with the PEI mussels with white wine, garlic, cream and fries ($19). The mussels were cooked well and I really loved the sauce. The wine, garlic and cream are a classic combination - can't go wrong! It came with a large bowl of fries, which were perfectly crispy. A great dish.
My boyfriend ordered the chicken pot pie (must be a new item, since it wasn't on the online menu). It was fantastic! I normally don't like chicken pot pie, but I loved this. But be warned, its a really heavy dish - very creamy with large chunks of chicken in it. My boyfriend normally eats everything (and half of my meal), but he had trouble with this.
The other couple ordered the mac and cheese ($13 or $15 with ham) and the roasted brined pork with creamed polenta and vincotto ($21). They both enjoyed their dishes.
We ordered two orders of the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich ($7). One serving comes with two large triangular sandwiches. I can't imagine one person eating all of this. It was drizzled with caramel and was absolutely amazing. Perfect way to end the meal!
Overall - the food was fantastic. Everything was really enjoyable. The only thing keeping me from giving the Gabardine 5 stars is the service. Even though it wasn't very busy, our server wasn't very attentive and it was very difficult to locate him/flag him down. He just seemed very uninterested... -
Review from Linda M.
8/31/2011
Another month, another dining group meeting - and this month was my turn to choose the restaurant! I've been curious about this place for a while, and it didn't disappoint. Our reservation was at 6:30, and I'm glad it was because when we arrived there was a sign on the door that the restaurant had to close at 8 due to city work. The server explained and was apologetic, but apparently they had only been told the day before. We actually left after 8 though, so they definitely didn't rush us out.
Between us, the orders were shrimp po'boy, Caplansky's smoked meat, pulled pork, and mac n cheese. All looked fantastic, although I can only speak to my po'boy. The shrimp were very flavourful, and generously portioned on a fresh bun. The tomato relish was a nice sweet accompaniment to the saltiness of the shrimp - they were a little too salty on their own, but within the sandwich it worked nicely. My only complaint about this sandwich, and it's not much of one, was that it was a little difficult to eat it gracefully. The aioli oozed, some of the shrimps popped out (one actually rolled down my arm onto the floor!)...but it wasn't enough to negatively affect the experience. A friend and I decided to split the burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich - and it's a good thing we were sharing because it was huge! It was a little difficult to get the fork into because it so solid, but it was very tasty. It didn't blow me away like it seems to have for other people though.
I really liked the décor, it was cozy and country - even down to the mismatched patterned plates! I enjoyed it. It's a medium-sized restaurant, and it was pretty loud. The server was very friendly, but we couldn't understand the wait on our bills. Long after we'd finished dessert, we could see him at the bar polishing glasses. Due to the volume and the fact that his back was to us, we couldn't get his attention. When he did get our bills, he didn't give us any problems with splitting them which we appreciated, although he told us that he couldn't split the dessert - no problem for us.
All in all, fun décor, good food, decent prices, and pretty good service - I'd definitely go back!Listed in: Dining group!
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Review from Jeffrey W.
Toronto, ON
3/10/2011 1 photo
I will be honest. After reading these reviews, I was kind of expecting a lot. I guess I shouldn't have, because my experience didn't end up meeting expectations.
Let's start with what was good: The service was really great! Our server tried to find us a table and when she couldn't, she offered us seats at the bar. She kept our water refilled at almost all times -- it was like our cups had infinite water or something!
The roasted marshmallow ice cream sandwich. Yummeh. I think it's hard to go wrong with ice cream sandwiches but roasted marshmallow ice cream is just a totally swell idea. :)
Really pretty plates. Flowery and very catching.
The bad: Had the daily bruschetta which had sundried tomato, basil and cheese on bread crisps. WAY too salty. Really small portion for the price.
The server told us about the specials, and my girlfriend ordered one of them. Heinously small portion (that didn't even make my girlfriend full, and she doesn't even eat that much...) for $20? Also, it was aesthetically unpleasing. I've uploaded a photo to show you all what it looks like. NOTE: My camera is not the best, but I think you can get the gist of it from my picture.
The so-so: had my first mac and cheese in a long time here. Nice portion (which I shared with my gf to sate her hunger...), filling, hearty, simple good food. I think it's a little difficult to mess up mac and cheese, but this was nothing to write home about either.
All in all I kinda think this place may be just a little too expensive for what they're offering. You can see my full review on my food blog, located conveniently in my profile. Cheers! -
Review from Winnie H.
North York, ON
10/2/2011
I want to put 3.5-4 stars
The cappuccino is the best I ever had.
The black cod is excellent. However, the portion is small to a female and it is $24.
The vegetable ricsotto is so-so. It serves like an oatmeal with some tomato. Yes, it taste like ricsotto.
I should try the sanwich next time. -
Review from Mercedes M.
7/20/2011
This was an absolute pleasure of an experience. First, the decor is amazing. It is a warm, romantic, and inviting space with great little touches like the gorgeous tin ceiling. It is whimsical and totally unexpected for a place at Richmond and Bay. Second, the service was great - attentive, thoughtful, and prompt. Finally, the FOOD WAS FANTASTIC. We had the ploughman's platter which was elegantly served and full of amazing treats. My mac and cheese was awesome and the beef stroganoff my friend had was perfect. The burnt marshmellow sandwich for dessert cannot be missed. This place is a great addition to the restaurants downtown and would be perfect for a pre-theater dinner or just a romantic dinner downtown after work. It is a welcome addition.
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Review from Keeley-Ann H.
Mississauga, ON
2/12/2011
Look this place is as good as it gets. First off it use to be a hole in wall, the place before it was awful. I guess the previous restaurant tanked (go figure) so this place opened right up. Its beautiful inside. All white a little glamorous and super cozy. In the middle of all the hussel bussel fast food garbage, this place is a gem.
Lets talk food:
The food is incredible. I will start off by saying, my boyfriends work is right around the corner and when it opened, that week alone there were people from his work who went 3 times a day-no joke. He ranted and raved about this place and I finally got to go last night......its well worth raving about. The menu isn't even pricey considering the that you pay for and what you get. Even if you think its a bit pricey its still so damn worth it! I will not eat pulled pork. The though of it totally turns me off and the few other times i have had it i hated it. This place changed my mind completely. I got the pulled pork sandwich-O M G it was delicious. SO juicy and full of flavor, a little messy but you don't care when your eating it you just want it all in your belly. I got a side garden salad with balsamic dressing. This is my forte, I eat garden salad pretty much every time i go out and balsamic dressing i love, but i have never had dressing like this. It was so amazing words cant describe. My boyfriend got a burger-that ish tops any burger joint ive gone to,ever. It was perfectly made, not to greasy and just the most impressive homemade burger. Fresh homemade hand cute fries were the winner at our table, everyone dived in and did not stop. You didn't even need to add ketchup or salt, they were perfect!
dessert was ridiculous. Everyone else got dessert and i got to try a bit of each:) I would recommend the Burnt marshmallow ice cream sandwich and Sticky toffee pudding with sweet cream and toffee sauce...To.Die.For. This place is so impressive.
Lets talk service: Really really good. Even though the place looks kind of, say, uppity, the servers are not. Our guy was super friendly and was talking to us like we were regulars. which i though was really key, especially because the place was so busy, but he made us feel like we were worth his time. Key in any dining experience. You want to know your being taken care of right? one of our guests had ordered a salad with her meal but wanted to change it to fries. We call over the server, we get the fries for free.........UGH when does that ever happen? Id say never, so im even more impressed now.
Overall: really good experience, atmosphere and AMAZING food. I know this one is a winner just from the buzz i have heard about it and the many repeat customers it has created :my boyfriend and his fleet or workers lol Definitely going back again and again and again....and maybe again :) -
Review from Fern H.
4/29/2011
Really like this downtown eatery. There's nothing like it around that area. Had a late dinner around 9pm on a week night and the place was still bustling. We had the pull porked and the clubhouse sandwhiches. Both were good although I favoured the pulled pork over the clubhouse. The sandwiches came with a small mixed green side salad. We had originally wanted the burger but they were sold out. They have $3 or $4 cans of PBR which is a bonus. Skipped dessert but will get it next time around. Will definitely be back.
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Review from Mary E.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2011
I ate here on their second night open and everything was absolutely delicious. The steak frites ($23) was perfectly cooked and amazingly tender.The beet risotto and the beef stroganoff were big hits with my friends.
They also do tasty looking sandwiches, snacks, and desserts which are apparently all made in-house. I can't wait to go back here!
