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Trevor Kitchen & Bar
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Canadian (New), Wine Bars [Edit]
38 Wellington Street EToronto, ON M5E 1C7
Neighbourhoods: St. Lawrence, Downtown Core
(416) 941-9410
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
32 reviews for Trevor Kitchen & Bar
Review Highlights
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"Whisky marinated Foie Gras (of course it does." In 13 reviews -
"...Tiramisu and the Dark Chocolate & Caramel Torte with Peanut..." In 2 reviews -
"...things are the truffle goat cheese poutine and the trio of..." In 3 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from R Y.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2012
Stumbled onto this place b/c the Korean place we wanted to go to next door was full. I'm so glad we tried it because the food is amazing. We started with the seared foie gras that came with three mini buttermilk pancakes that were made just right (light and fluffy with a little crunch on the outside). It was layered with a piece of bacon that just added so much flavour to it, and it came with this perfectly paired plum sauce.
I ordered the beef cheek and it's OMG delicious. It literally melted in my mouth and was so infused with flavour. It was served on a bed of risotto that was made with beef stock so was a perfect compliment. My date had the duck confit that I got a few bites of. The skin had the perfect crunch and a nice salty flavour. It came with a pouched-like egg that was not at all runny. She originally was going to skip it b/c it looked raw but the waiter came by and said it takes them a good 30 minutes to make so she tried it. It was really delicious.
To top off the evening they brought us a complementary bowl of cotton candy. We thought that was so whimsical and so impressionable. We picked at it because we were so full. All in all this was a great place. I will definitely be back for more of that melt-like-butter beef cheek. -
Review from Niya B.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2012
I've been going to Trevor Kitchen and Bar for after work drinks, and special occasion dinners for the past 3 years and have not yet had an unpleasant experience. The staff has always been cheerful and positive, and always makes my guests and I feel welcome - whether we're there for cocktails, dinner, or Winterlicious (when service can be abysmal). The macaroni and cheese is always to die for, and my steaks have yet to be anything but cooked to perfection. Also pleasant is the innovative use of seasonal ingredients: turnip risotto anyone?
Why Trevor Kitchen and Bar gets five stars:
1. They always call to confirm reservations
2. Their creative cocktail list
3. Their friendly, accommodating service.
4. The mushrooms under the stairs -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
My second Winterlicious destination for 2012 was Trevor Kitchen & Bar, a place that I've been dying to try for a long while. Note that it was extremely hard to make a reservation. My boyfriend called on the first day of Winterlicious reservations for AMEX early birds, the only time available was 9 pm on a Thursday. I was quite surprised that the restaurant was so booked up 3 weeks in advance on a weekday!
The restaurant is divided into two sides- a dining room and a bar area. Unfortunately, we were seated at one of the high tables near the bar area, and as a result it was very loud. Throughout dinner, our conversation was carried out in shouts in order to be heard.
The dinner didn't start out that great. They forgot to serve us bread so I had to inquire about it. Anyhow, the bread basket actually arrived after our appetizer, but I did enjoy the warm baguette with butter.
Appetizers
My boyfriend ordered a macaroni and asiago cheese to start. This was yummy and comforting, and I loved the abundance of breadcrumbs. There were breadcrumbs in every mouthful that I took, even when I got to the bottom. For such a heavy starter, I was glad that the portion was small.
My shrimp & bacon ravioli with coconut lobster sauce didn't fare as well. The coconut lobster sauce was more like a delicate broth, and although it was tasty, it didn't really stand up to the thick ravioli. The Chinese often refers to ravioli as "Italian wonton", and in this case, it really reminded me of a wonton, especially with the chives on top. Even though the ravioli was disappointing, I enjoyed soaking up the delicious lobster sauce with the bread.
Mains
For his entrée, my boyfriend chose crispy roast chicken with sour cream and bacon gravy, buttermilk biscuit and collard greens. I honestly thought that this plate of food was divine! Even though I couldn't really see what I was eating (lighting was just abysmally bad), everything was scrumptious. The sour cream gravy was just to die for, and the chicken was marvelously juicy and flavourful. I didn't really get much of the skin, but my boyfriend assured me that it was very crispy, as it should be.
I opted for the port braised beef cheeks with turnip risotto and horseradish crème fraiche instead. This was also a very delectable plate of food. The risotto was very creamy and rich, and it was cooked to my preferred degree of doneness- with a slight bite and not too mushy. The beef cheeks were incredibly tender and just melted in my mouth. The horseradish flavour really came through and paired well with the rich meat. But my favourite component was the turnip chips scattered on top of the risotto. They provided a delightful, crunchy contrast to the risotto. My only complaint about this dish was that everything was amazingly rich: the meat, the cream, and the risotto.
Dessert
We both ordered the cookies & cream tiramisu because there was no way that either of us could pass up on this! No regrets at all because this was fabulous! It was exactly like a tiramisu, minus the coffee and add the cookies and cream! The ratio of cream to cake was good, but I would've liked more cookie crumbs for more textural contrast. Nevertheless, we both loved this dessert and it was a great end to the meal!
At the end, we were also served some complimentary cotton candy. Even though I'm not a big fan of cotton candy myself, I loved that it's so whimsical and fun! We were both pretty full, so we only took nibbles of it.
All in all, this was undoubtedly one of my best Winterlicious experiences so far. Even though service wasn't perfect, I was blown away by the food (except for the ravioli), and I would seriously consider coming back for the next 'licious event!Listed in: 'licious Restaurant Reviews
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Review from Tim S.
Etobicoke, ON
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those instances where i wish i could do half-stars on Yelp.
I would say this is closer to 3.5 than 4...however, this was Winterlicious, so portions need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Found parking on the street right outside the place.
Lovely setting, intimate and nicely lit.
Strong wine and cocktail list.
Winterlicious menu was quite big. 5 choices each for appetizer and entree. I went with the chicken liver pate, and my friend had the asiago mac n cheese (which was quite good!)
Entree was a tiny bit disappointing...we both had the surf and turf. The surf was a small shrimp that was not cleaned very well (the plastic like skin was still on one side), and the turf was not seasoned at all. Like, no salt, no pepper, here's-some-meat not seasoned. Very surprising. The tiny bit of BBQ sauce that accompanied was tasty, but too small of a blurp of sauce. The poutine that came along was the best part.
Dessert was decent. I had a sorbet, and my friend had the chocolate dessert.
The neat surprise though is when the bill comes...it comes with a bowl of cotton candy!! :) Very fun.
So, all in all, was semi disappointing, but the parts i enjoyed, i definitely enjoyed. So willing to lean towards 4 stars than 3, but its reluctantly. -
Review from Faye C.
12/29/2011
I like this resto and it's location. The decor is nice, although the floors are a bit crooked with lower ceilings in some parts. But the food it delish!
Worth a visit, and great for a girls night out or even a date night! -
Review from David D.
Markham, ON
10/18/2011 5 photos
Trevor is a modern, unpretentious, and chic restaurant, hidden away near the St. Lawrence Market, offering a dim-litted and romantic dining experience. Service was impeccable, friendly and knowledgeable, recommending several popular dishes when the choices are many.
Ordered:
Rutabaga tortellini - I didn't know what to expect with this, but it came with two tortelli over pieces of ham hock. The rutabaga filling had a creamy texture; and when combined with the saltiness of the ham hock, it was the perfect complexity. It was delicious and made me want more.
Seared foie gras - This came with buttermilk pancakes, smoked pork belly and spiced apple puree. There was so much going at once, I didn't know where to start. The seared foie gras itself was just as I imagined, creamy texture with fatty side to it. The smoked pork belly had a sweet taste to it, and worked really well with the foie gras.
Port braised beef cheeks - Probably the less exciting dish of the evening. The risotto was rich and creamy. The braised beef cheeks was tender, smooth and had the right balance of fat. Though it wouldn't be something I would order again.
Chocolate rice pudding - It came with burnt marshmallow, smoked caramel and graham cracker gelato. I felt it was a deconstruction of s'mores into its elements. The chocolate rice pudding had a gooey richness, and when combined with the gelato and graham cracker, it was delectable. Definitely made to share, though it was something I didn't exactly want to do after that first bite. It wasn't a heavy dessert and it was a great way to end a delicious meal.
Definitely at must-return restaurant for me.
Note: As Trevor isn't opened on Sunday, make sure you make reservations when going on a Friday or Saturday night. They're usually booked!Listed in: 30-Day Yelp Challenge: October…
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Review from eh B.
Toronto, ON
12/24/2011
Trevor is doing lunch ($25 prix fixe) now, and that is a great idea. Went with a pal, we reserved seats at the bar (good idea, it's always busy). Mac and asiago cheese for her, Steak frites for me. Both were perfect. The steak was nice and barely bloody, the poutine with truffled goat cheese was right on. Didn't need the steak sauce. It looked like it was just there to balance the visual of the plate.
Soup of the day (dressed up tomato soup with parm) was excellent, loved the creme brulee with the perfect thin thin crispy crunch layer.
Service at the bar seemed smoother than some of what was happening on the floor.
The food is really basic made fancy, in an unaffected way. We'll be back for lunch. -
Review from Glen M.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was kind of expecting something a little less swanky, but pleasantly surprised descending the stairs to Trevor's mood lit bar and restaurant.
Having attempted to go here on Monday to find out they were closed (should've read the opening times beforehand), we stopped by here for a quick dinner tonight (Wednesday) immediately after work. A few people were already in attendance at the bar, but we were able to sit at a nearby table and ordered a few tasting plates to share with a glass of red each.
The fact that they've dedicated an entire section of the one page menu to foie gras dishes is commendable. The dishes are homemade made fancy with plates like Salt Cured Foie Gras club sandwich, macaroni and asiago cheese with seared foie gras and trio of mini Kobe burgers with an amazing truffle mayonnaise.
Our server for the evening seemed to be the only one in the restaurant, but it did not result in any kind of delay in our service. The food came out promptly and the presentation matched the amazing flavours of the dishes.
This certainly is a more up market venue than the name suggests, with our total for 3 appetiser plates which were shared and 2 glasses of wine coming to $100 including tip, but all-in-all well worth it.
A nice little surprise was post meal fairy floss which I've not had in ages. Almost as good as desserts containing pop rocks. Awesome. -
Review from Imran N.
7/8/2011
A solid solid 3.5
The goods:
- I had the tasting menu. 8 courses, but really i was served around 11. I appreciated that. There was no pretentiousness of little food. I was fed, and fed well.
- Food was all done very well. Everything tasted great. You can see that the chef puts in alot of effort into his food - things being prepared for days, to two weeks.
- Interior is very warm and welcoming, quite romantic.
- Staff are excellent and well chosen. Not pretentious at all which is a great welcome in Toronto for a place like this
The room for improvement:
- Flooring is not even, makes for a wobbly experience.
- Food is very good, but the chef could get more creative if he wanted to. Basically, the food was all very good. The chef demonstrates great technique, but little creativity. I would have like to have seen some more of it.
- I normally don't eat salt and don't even cook with it, but some of the dishes actually felt like salt might have helped take it to the next level. The chef could play around a bit more with basic spices to see what he
comes up with. I'm sure it would be even greater.
My over all recommendation is go here. It's worth it, and the food is good. It's one of the few better places in Toronto. There is effort put into the food and you can taste it. -
Review from Lynn T.
Toronto, ON
2/2/2012
Admittedly, the only times I've been here were for the Winterlicious promotion, so it may not reflect its full talents. This notwithstanding:
Last year, my group and I were seated at the Chef's Table. Service was attentive, and we were able to interact with the kitchen staff - who, while busy, remained professional and eager to please. The Mac N Cheese was wildly popular with our group - it was well-prepared, al-dente, with enough depth of flavour to make our mouths water for more. Their beef cheeks were excellently prepared and paired with a tender risotto. The crème brulée, while served in a shallow dish and therefore lacking in the warm brulée-d top contrasting the cool cream below, was still tasty.
This year, I tried something different. No longer seated at the chef's table, my group was well-serviced by our waiter and we were quite content with the attentiveness of staff. My food, however, left something to be desired. The shrimp and bacon ravioli was well-prepared and fresh, but the sauce was lacking entirely, making the entire dish rather bland. A tenderloin of beef was adequately prepared at medium-rare, however, it appeared roasted - the telltale juices draining from the meat as time passed. The texture had lost its softness and the outer portions came across gritty and the whole cut was unseasoned. By contrast, the duck poutine was oversalted (it's poutine, I know), but the fries were fresh enough and the cheese tasty enough and I was hungry enough that it didn't much matter, by that point.
Dessert - a "Cookies and creme" thing - yes, thing - was inoffensive enough, but indeed, lacked in the cookie and the creme department - and I found myself spooning as much of the accompanying sauce into each bite as possible, begging for a bit of flavour.
Others in my group - who had ordered such items as the soup, the beef cheeks, and the chocolate and peanut butter dessert - had a much better sensory experience. If you are to go to this place, stick to their specialities. Otherwise, I wonder if I just caught someone on a rather uninspired night. -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
This review is from summer 2011:
One of the few places I eat at consistently. Why? It's definitely not their toilets (stinkymagoo). It's everything else. I love it. It's always good. So I'm telling you again. Pay attention.
It doesn't matter when I go to Trevor - weekend, weekday, holiday, winter, summer, three years ago, a month a go, or two days in a row. It is always good. That is pretty darn special.
This is what I had yesterday:
Ahi Tuna Niçoise - Think deconstructed...
Note that the tomato sauce ruined it for me.
My friend Cracker had:
Slow roasted pork belly...*%&#@@#
And I could eat that octopus all day and all night
I almost licked Cracker's plate...
Cracker won. Not that it was a competition. We finished dinner with tea for her and dessert for me. It deserved a double Celine chest pump. Mmmm....peanut butter chantilly...I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER (but not jelly, in case you were wondering).
Sh*t, can I get another with a side of the pork crackelin. THAT would be soooo dirrrtyyy. Food for thought.
This review is from summer 2010:
Trevor is one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto because it always delivers, the food at least. The service can be hit or miss. For some reason I always get stuck with the girl who hates her job, but loves herself. I find her so insignificant compared to the food so I always go back.
Since it opened in the fall of 2006, I have dined there about a dozen times, and popped in for drinks a handful more. The basement venue is dimly lit and cozy. I would describe it as comfy-chic.
Trevor is a more affordable and trendy dining alternative. Two of my favourite things are the truffle goat cheese poutine and the trio of mini kobe burgers with garlic truffle mayo. Truffles are decadent and earthy and, if used wisely, an indulgent addition to a dish.
Trevor also has several foie gras selections.
Here's one from 2008. I don't remember exactly what it was, but to this day it is one of my fondest memories. I believe that's a berry jelly or compote of sorts, and I'm pretty sure that's pork belly under there.
I'm also not chocolate's greatest fan, but Trevor has a dark chocolate peanut butter cake that is ridiculously good. No words do it justice.
I never count calories when I eat here. My favourite person to go with is my friend Saltine - you first met her when I celebrated the start of summer with her at Torito. I'd describe her as a trendy artsy type who has a sophisticated eye and classy palate. Her appreciation for good food parallels mine - we don't skim on carbs or worry about fat content. The focus is on keeping our stomachs happy and Trevor does just that. -
Review from Nicole M.
Vancouver, BC
4/9/2011
My girlfriends and I had a lovely dinner experience at Trevor. We sat at the "Chef's Table" - which is essentially inside the kitchen. Normally they use that table for tasting menus, but the table was available and so they let us have it to order off the menu. Thanks!
Our server was helpful and friendly - when we discovered the amount of foie gras on the menu (not our favorite flavour sensation), and the fact that we were all interested in the mac & cheese (sans foie gras) he was quick to point out that we could order a larger bowl to share from the bar menu WITHOUT foie gras! Yay!
We ordered the goat cheese poutine, mac & cheese and sliders to start. All were fantastic. Poutine had a great flavour, and even though I don't love goat cheese I was a big fan. We were all scavenging for the last few bites of mac & cheese.
As for mains, I had the roast chicken which was actually falling off the bone. I don't usually like eating the skin, but it was so crispy and delicious to discard. My friends ordered the white fish, shrimp & lobster spagetini and the pork belly. All were fantastic.
With the bill came a big bowl of cotton candy. Nice way to round out a lovely evening! -
Review from Yvonne T.
Winterlicious round... Oh I lost count! Have always been a fan of Trevor Kitchen & Bar. This is my third time dining here.
I must say that I must lower my initial review of the restaurant as the food seemed uncharacteristic and out of the norm. I've always had great food at Trevor, but something just wasn't right today.
First and foremost, they get points deducted because they ran out of one of the dishes being offered on the menu - the Port Braised Beef Cheeks with Sunchoke Risotto. To me, that is just bad logistics planning, and it reflects badly on the management of the restaurant.
We ordered the following items to start:
Shaved winter vegetable salad with arugula, spiced pecans & pomegranate molasses
-and-
Asiago Mac 'n Cheese
The salad I've had in the past, and it is really good! The spiced pecans have a nice crunch and sweetness to them, the arugula and beets are very fresh, and the pomegranate molasses is what really makes this dish shine.
The Asiago Mac 'n Cheese was topped with fried panko breadcrumbs... Deviating from the traditional, and sometimes boring, plain breadcrumbs, really makes this dish interesting. The dish was just oozing of cheese, and I got caught with a "stringy-cheese-hanging-from-your-lip" moment (thank God I wasn't on a date!) I am personally a cheese-lover, and I like stronger cheeses... However, for those of you who are faint at heart and prefer milder cheeses, you may find the Asiago to be too overpowering for your tastebuds.
On to our mains... After the initial disappointment that the beef cheeks were sold out, we opted for the Chicken Confit and the Fish Sticks & Chips. The Chicken Confit was tender, and was reminiscent of a pulled pork. The meat came off in shreds, and was moist. However, it still doesn't beat the "melt-off-the-bone" goodness of a DUCK confit. It was served with a buttermilk gravy (which I suspect had sweet potato in it, as the gravy had a hint of sweetness to it), and a potato pierogi.
The fish sticks and cheese was disappointing. Deviating from using the traditional halibut, Trevor opted for cod. The fish itself was nice and flaky, neither under- nor overcooked. The batter itself was bland and boring, and really greasy! The "lobster" tartare sauce that accompanied it was really bland as well. All I could taste was lemon, and the "lobster" was lost in the sauce somewhere. The fries redeemed this entire dish. It was bursting of intense potato flavour, they were neither too thick, nor too matchstick thin, neither too soft or too crunchy either - just right. But seriously, if I wanted to just have fries, I would've gone to a poutine house!
The desserts, however, made me forget all the initial disappointments from the appetizer to the main. They were absolutely DIVINE! We had the Cookies & Cream Tiramisu and the Dark Chocolate & Caramel Torte with Peanut Butter Chantilly. I don't think that the tiramisu was properly named because there was nothing about it that screamed tiramisu. It was a cookies and cream CAKE at best - but a very tasty one at that. The cake batter was nice and fluffy, and the cream was really smooth and savory. The texture of the Oreo cookies were soft and came together well with the cake. If the cake were thicker or heavier, I think the cake would've been too heavy. Kudos to Trevor for that! If you like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, you will LOVE the torte. The cake was spongey-good and the chantilly cream was TO DIE FOR! R.I.P. Vonnie... x_x
All in all, Trevor is a great restaurant, but I think I will be skipping it on my Winterlicious tour next year.Listed in: Sate a Date, St. Lawrence Eats, Splurge-Worthy, Milles "Foies" Merci, Summer/Winterlicious Dont's
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/19/2011
Dined yet again at Trevor tonight... Determined to try out their Foie Gras menu. And I was NOT… Read more »
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Review from Christine W.
Markham, ON
1/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I will have to admit that after reading some of the reviews here I was second guessing my decision to bring my parents here for dinner. I knew it was Winterlicious and that can sometimes impact the restaurant's service and atmosphere but I really wanted to give it a try. The other reason I really wanted to go here was for their fois gras selections. My dad is a big fois gras fan and I figured this would be a great place for him.
Despite what others have said I enjoyed the downstairs venue. I could see how in the summer it might not be as appealing but on a cold winter night it was very welcoming.
The hostess quickly took our coats and showed us to our table. My parents were already there and enjoying a drink. When I sat down my dad broke the bad news to me - we could only order from the Winterlicious menu. What!!!! No fois gras! Are you kidding me?!
I quickly ordered a cocktail to help me get over my shock and disappointment. I have to say the specialty cocktail of the evening which consisted of apple cider, brown sugar and rum was rather delicious and put me in a better mood. I then had a very quiet heart to heart with our server Garth (great guy) and explained that my parents had driven all the way from Peterborough for some fois gras and could he please ask the chef to dig some up. Well I guess my pleading worked because the chef agreed to add some fois gras to my dad's entree. Yeah!
Once all of that was settled we got down to the business of ordering. For appetizers we ordered the shaved winter vegetable salad, macaroni and asiago cheese and the diver scallops with pork belly. My mom loved her salad and was surprised by how good the arugula was as she's not normally a fan. My boyfriend was in love with his mac and cheese. So much so I didn't think I was going to get a bite. And well my dad and I were in heaven with our diver scallops that were cooked to perfection and well who doesn't love pork belly with crispy skin? Hmmm pork fat. Love it!
Our mains were just as good. My mom the vegetarian ordered the pasta with sage and parsnip cream, I had the port braised beef cheeks with risotto, dad had the surf and turf with a side of fois gras (which was huge!) and my BF had the trout. Of all the dishes I would have to say that the trout was my least favourite. Tad too greasy tasting. But everything else was great. My beef cheeks were so tender and good. My mom's pasta was really really good. Very rich. And well my dad didn't say much. I think he was having a fois gras moment.
Dessert was also good. 2 creme brules, a chocolate torte and a cookies and cream tiramasu later we were pretty stuffed. However my mom found room to eat all of the cotton candy that arrived at our table at the end of the meal.
A big thank you to Garth our server. Let's face it good food can often be overshadowed by bad service. Garth did a great job! -
Review from Amy L.
7/11/2011 ROTD 2/13/2012
Trevor Kitchen & Bar - a restaurant that serves such phenomenal food, coupled with their impeccable service and wonderful ambiance, created a dining experience that blew me away. Unpretentious and under the radar for many, Trevor is tucked away on the quiet side of Wellington Street, between Victoria St. & Church St. A delectable menu with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, you'd be surprised to discover a friendly and inviting atmosphere where casual meets fine dining. Whoever said it's impossible for both worlds to co-exist? At Trevor, you get to enjoy gourmet food in a space that is neither too formal nor uptight.
Trevor is separated into two different spaces: a main dining area and a bar that includes two lounges. My friend Joyce and I decided to stick with the more conventional dining area. Aside from ordering à la carte style, prix fixe menus are available at $49, $58, and $75. An 8 course tasting menu is also an option at $89, and $159 with wine pairings. If you're a foie gras lover, then you might go crazy as Trevor is a foie gras paradise. There is a good selection of foie gras dishes, ranging from seared foie gras mac n' cheese, to foie gras blueberry pancakes, to a chilled version where exceptional technique is presented. Although I had my mind set on the foie gras mac n' cheese earlier, I wasn't in the mood for something so heavy after an entire day of food festivities. Being a dedicated fan of fish, I couldn't resist but to succumb to the seduction of Ahi Tuna Tartare. After all, Ahi is the crème de la crème when it comes to tuna :)
For starters, Joyce ordered a Broccoli & Asparagus soup, topped with crème fraîche. Creamy and incredibly fresh, this soup was flawless. The small pieces of broccoli and asparagus were a lovely contrast to the purée, and their flavours blended together really well.
My Sushi Pizza with Ahi Tuna Taretare on top of crispy rice cake ($15) was not your typical Sushi Pizza. In fact, it was far from being so. The rice had a nice crispy exterior and the amount of vinegar used was perfect. I believe there was a herb in it which made the flavour even more appetizing. The rice was also not mushy at all. The Ahi Tuna Taretare, the high-light of this dish, was very fresh with the idea amount of seasoning used. In a way, this was such a simple yet sophisticated dish to create. Sometimes when we eat, we don't think too much of it and we just come up with the conclusion of whether it was tasty or not. This sushi pizza made me take it slow so that I could revel in every bite, fully appreciating the entire cooking process that went into it. This sushi pizza is to-die-for.
The side of Sesame Charred Asparagus ($9) was a great portion and the asparagus was grilled to the right tenderness. It was not too oily and the sesame seeds were an excellent addition as they brought out more flavour. Everyone loves sesame, and toasted sesame? What! That's totally drool-worthy!
Joyce ordered the special of the day, which was Smoked Trout Rillettes with potato crusted oysters, stout caramel & red fife soda bread. This dish didn't disappoint either. Potato crusted oysters, wowsers! Who would've thought of that? They were undeniably scrumptious; if only they gave us more pieces :P The smoked trout rillettes was soft and smooth, easily spreadable on the bread. Because the rillettes was mixed with fat (lol), there was a lot of flavour and moisture. The combination of smooth fatty rilettes, crisp earthy frisée, crispy deep-fried oysters, and rich strout caramel made this dish very dimensional with such textural contrasts. It was definitely a winning dish.
I've never been so close to heaven in my dear life. Trevor's Crispy Rice Pudding ($9) with strawberry preserve and caramalized white chocolate was so luscious and decadent that it left Joyce and I mesmerized at the beauty of it. So sensational, so marvelous, so wondrous - the world stopped as we indulged in this miraculous piece of art. The vanilla curd that filled this rice pudding was exploding with rich vanilla bean flavour and contributed to an ooey-gooey interior. We couldn't take our eyes off of it, and before we knew it, we were both staring at an empty plate. Everything about it was divine. This Crispy Rice Pudding will surely take your breath away.
Although I can't comment on the other dishes, the ones that we ordered were exceptional. It's been several weeks since I've had dinner at Trevor, and I still can't think of anything negative to say about them. I loved the décor and service was truly amazing. Our waitress was so friendly and attentive; we couldn't have asked for more. Perhaps the dim lighting is the only downside when it comes to taking photos? You know the reason why I take food photos and write these reviews - I do it all out of my love for you guys ;) So if I've thoroughly convinced you to give Trevor Kitchen & Bar a try, don't forget to let me know your thoughts after :)Listed in: Five Star places
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Review from Linda M.
7/15/2011
Summerlicious Round 2, and it was just okay. Based on the menu, I was super excited for Trevor Kitchen and Bar. Between scallops and duck, steak and foie gras poutine, chocolate and peanut butter - what could go wrong?
The experience started off well enough. We were greeted at the door by a girl who informed us that we were at a "Summerlicious Hot Spot", so we'd be getting a free coffee or tea with our meal. If we paid with American Express, then we'd get a $20 restaurant coupon - I really wished one of us had an AMEX at that point. Oh well, any freebie is good by me!
The restaurant itself has a lot of character and ambiance. The front seemed a little too dark (maybe from coming out of the sun?), but the area we were sat in was just dark enough. Very romantic - too bad I was there with a girlfriend! The décor definitely enhanced the experience.
Our server was also fantastic. I don't know what it was about him, but the word "adorable" kept coming to mind. He sold us on the Summerlicious cocktail special (lychee and mint iced tea) and was very attentive when my friend asked for the vegetarian meal - he mentioned that her starter wasn't vegetarian but could be made that way if she preferred. Being a "part-time" vegetarian, the bacon in her corn soup was okay by her, but the offer was appreciated.
Unfortunately, that's where the amazing ends and the just-okay begins. First were the cocktails. These weren't even okay. They tasted like when the soda machine is running out of syrup, so the iced tea is really watered down...and then had a strange aftertaste of lychee. I only got halfway through it, and same for my friend.
The starter for me was the best part of the meal. I can't complain about my scallop or the duck meat, both components were cooked perfectly and the sweet pee puree was a nice accent. The only disappointment was that I only got one scallop. My friend's corn soup was apparently overpoweringly onion-y.
Then the mains came out. From the description of "dry aged sirloin with goat cheese poutine & foie gras butter", I assumed that the foie gras butter would be on the poutine. Wrong. There was a pog-sized (channel your inner 90s child folks) piece of butter on top of my steak. The steak itself was perfectly medium-rare and was very tasty, although I didn't really notice the flavour of the foie gras which was disappointing for my first experience with it. As for the poutine, I was really looking forward to it because I love goat cheese. It was pretty good, but for using such a dry cheese, I really wish that they'd been more generous with the gravy. My friend ordered the ratatouille and stated that it was to food what the cocktails were to drinks. Translation: not a lot of flavour. She did opt to take it home though (it was a very generous portion), noting that she would be adding salt.
Finally, the desserts. I ordered the amazing sounding dark chocolate & caramel torte with peanut butter chantilly, and my friend the strawberry tiramisu. Again, not what I had expected. The shape of my torte was vaguely reminiscent of a poached egg, but a little rounder on top. There wasn't a lot of caramel sauce, but it was there so can't call fault. While heavy, I didn't find the torte to be particularly rich. When I go for chocolate cake, which isn't that often, I want richness and depth of flavour. I didn't feel like I got that. The peanut butter chantilly on the side was the best part. The strawberry tiramisu, which sounds so light and airy, was apparently dense and heavy - even the strawberry mousse was heavy.
All in all, lovely décor, great service, but the food was just okay. Maybe it's the common complaint that restaurants don't put in the effort for summerlicious...but to me that's not a good enough argument, because I go to Summerlicious to try restaurants and see if I would be willing to spend the money on their regular menu. Had I been paying regular price for these items, I would have been a bit disappointed.Listed in: 'Licious List
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Review from Kelly A.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Must have a been a bad night I got there, but I can still smell soot.
I was in a group of 8 people, all ordering apps, mains, and several pricey bottles of wine. To begin, my seared foie gras appetiser appeared to me, but the interpretation was more like burnt than seared. I don't usually send stuff back to the kitchen, but this was expensive and inedible. It took about 10 minutes to get a replacement, which probably explains the degree of doneness. The replacement was also burnt, so I just sliced off the sides and ate the rest.
The to the mains. I ordered the crispy pork with octopus. As I should have expected, the octopus was badly burnt. I asked the waiter if anyone actually looked at the stuff before sending it out. He took it back without a word. He returned later and asked if everything else on the plate was ok, but I never actually got my replacement octopus.
Add to this crap food seriously lazy service - no wine refills, no real apologies, no inedible items taken off the bill, and a pre-added tip to boot, and suffice it to say I won't be back. -
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
Updated - 8/28/2009 6 photos
My Girlie Yelper Susan suggested that I post up this note I received in response to my review of Trevor Kitchen & Bar. Now I wondered who could have possibly written this.....hmmmm.....it was sent to me by carolyn b. (all lower case) and she has no reviews, posts etc. Here you go, read for yourself....
when you get a clue about food, feel free to write a review.
you are so amateur it's hilarious.
you brought your own wine b/c you were TOO CHEAP to order off the wine list. that's why the server looked down on you. she already knew the tip that 2 cheap women would leave.
people like you are the REASON for summerlicious--CHEAPNESS.
Suck it up buttercup.
There you have it folks.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/18/2009
I invited an old friend to dinner and she really wanted to go to Trevor Kitchen & Bar. I hesitated… Read more »
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Review from Chris H.
Toronto, ON
10/21/2011
Whoever wrote this place is unpretentious clearly wasn't there on a Friday night. It is the height of pretentious, with half the crowd there just to be seen.
But this isn't about the patrons. Let's talk about food.
My complaint is that the menu tries soooo hard to be something beyond itself. Sure, you can be in love with foie gras, but does it need to be 1/4 of the menu?
And if you are going that heavy, maybe you can offset it with something a bit lighter. Hello, green salad? Anything would be nice to contrast the rich meats and oils that seem integral to every plate. A side of poutine? Sure, I'll just book an arterial cleaning with my heart surgeon for next month.
We honestly felt ill after eating here, and it was because of how overwhelmingly rich and heavy the meal was.
If that doesn't bother you, then bombs away - the food is legitimately good. More than a few innovative creations are on offer.
My last complaint would be value for money. It is definitely on the low end here, as plates are about 20% overpriced. To eat in a windowless, low-ceilinged basement, I expect more competitive prices. -
Review from Shannon F.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2010
I was really looking forward to dinner her as my bf had been here a year ago and really loved it.
I was really disappointed. The food was a weird mix of flavours - and not a good weird. Neither of us were happy with our meals, any part of it, not the appetizer, not the main, we didn't bother with dessert. We even returned a side of cauliflower that was oddly burnt on the outsides with no flavour. To their credit, they didn't charge us for it.
What I can say is that the service was wonderful. We asked for a private table and we got one and Jeff made an excellent martini. I feel bad that the service isn't enough for me to go back when the food was so lacklustre. -
Review from Elle P.
7/2/2010
Sometimes all it takes is just one moment to fall deeply and madly in love.
As you step into Trevor, you are ensconced in a warm, intimate atmosphere, ripe for romance. The flickering candles cast a warm glow. The crisp white tablecloths and napkins serve as Trevor's butlered uniform that you will be very well taken care of that night.
The chickpea crouton in the green salad made for a wonderful startling surprise. I wasn't sure what to expect from a chickpea crouton, but it was a crispy and salty bite of surprise among the cool greens.
And then love came.
One bite of the pasta lovingly coated with a creamy, buttery cognac and chive sauce with lobster and prawns and I was gone. One perfect mouthful of bliss. Seriously, it was incredible. I wanted to cry with each bite because it was so perfect. Silently in the inside, I wept with the knowledge that with each heaven sent bite, I was one bite closer to being done. This is heaven.
Also incredible and wonderful was the side of roasted cauliflower with buerre noisette and almonds. The almonds complemented the roasted cauliflower. Some of the pieces were a little too large. I preferred the smaller pieces, which had a chance to carmelize. The sweetness of the carmelized cauliflower with the nutty flavor of the brown butter and almonds was absolutely delicious.
I ordered the Honey Fizz (bacardi limon & raz with honey, lemon juice, fresh raspberry & cava) as my cocktail. It was also perfection. If I could have this every week as my Sunday brunch cocktail of choice, I would. It was crisp, fruit, sweet, tart, and utterly refreshing. This drink is my drug of choice.
If you're looking for a place to impress someone, Trevor is it. -
Review from Richie S.
1/20/2010
I still can't believe I glossed over the foie gras portion of the menu. Foie gras mac'n'cheese?!?! C'mon!
I dread restaurants in basements as I would like a window to look out of, but the decor balanced well - modern but cozy.
Started with the roasted beet plate and it was...okay. Underwhelming. The arugula salad was standard stuff. Alberta tenderloin was cooked well. Gorgeous piece of meat and I'm sorry but I don't remember the side.
Guests were a well-heeled crowd and I imagine they were the theatre crowd which made for a nice, laidback feeling to the evening. Seated against the long back wall, tables for two are tiiiight as they try to squeeze in as many as possible; good and bad to this I suppose, but I'm not a skinny kid by any means and I felt like a bull in a china shop when trying to leave my seat.
Will return eventually for the tasting menu. Staff were young, but were well-versed with the menu and gave personal recommendations to those that couldn't make up their minds.
Can't comment on wine list, as I scarfed martinis. -
Review from Vanessa G.
Toronto, ON
9/16/2008
I went here for a work Christmas party after wayyy too many brews at the Bier Markt so my memory might be a little rough.
However, I do remember Trevor being a lot of fun and the food being especially tasty. We sat down in the small lounge area at first and had some cocktails and appetizers. They had these mini hamburgers that were to die for and I remember the next day at the office everyone was still talking about them.
The restaurant itself is set in a basement but the area sprawls into several different seating areas. The restaurant feels very historic and brooding with lots of soft lighting. We sat in our own private nook, which makes it great for private functions.
The food was spectacular. I started with a lobster dish that was absolutely delicious. For my main course I had a tenderloin and whipped potatoes and they were both so tasty and filling. In fact everyone at my table raved about their food the whole night. For dessert I had some kind of dark chocolate ganache that I couldn't even finish because I was so stuffed from all the food (and booze).
The prices at Trevor are in line with most fine dining establishments, so it won't be a cheap date. However, their summerlicious/winterlicious menus feature some tasty meals and won't cost you quite as much. I highly recommend this restaurant for a nice date or anniversary! -
Review from Emily B.
11/4/2011
Amazing dinner. Our server Ashleigh was friendly, attentive and had amazing suggestions. Would go back again and again.
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Review from Stephanie I.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2011
Came for the lounge food and it was mostly hits. Everyone enjoyed the pulled pork. I really liked the mac and cheese. It was well made comfort food.
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Review from Magdalena R.
Toronto, ON
2/12/2010
Absolutely DELICIOUS! Everything that I ordered turned out to be the love of my taste buds' life. The presentation was pretty, the staff was excellent, and the atmosphere very cozy.
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Review from Greg F.
Toronto, ON
2/13/2009
Ill have to admit that this place at first glance looks like I just stepped into a sleek NYC Contemporary Lounge. As I looked over, I realized that the dining room was just as impressive.
The restaurant sits below ground in the basement, and gives off a very masculine feel. The wine list is huge, and well represented by both the New and the Old World. The were mentioned in the 2008 Wine Spectators Award of Excellence Group.
The one thing that did surprise me was that there were countless Foie Gras items on the appetizer list. I have never seen that before - maybe there's a fetish with the Chef??!!
I had the grilled strip - which was cooked a bit too much.
I should have gone for the Whisky Dinner which includes:
Whisky marinated Foie Gras (of course it does!)
Black Cod
Ribeye Venison
Whisky Cheddar
Pecan Pie
All courses are served with a shot of Whisky! Go figure.
All and all it is a great experience, but I would like to try my luck at the Whisky menu next time around - YEEEEHAAA -
Review from Rosanne C.
Cambridge, ON
12/16/2009
Took my fiancé here for his birthday and reserved for the sample tasting menu at the chefs table. It was an amazing experience, they made his birthday not just memorable but a new adventure. I've had several sample tasting menu's before but this is my fiancés first ever tasting menu. They accommodated my special requests and also asked for any food allergies in advance to eliminate a bad tasting menu experience. Every single entrée was paired with a particular wine picked by the chef and recited the ingredients for the delectable food we're eating. My fiancé is not fond of seafood but ended up liking their appetizer of pickled watermelon and spanish white anchovy. Also that BLT consommé is so scrumptious, I would've slurped that all evening. Also the food & wine pairing was great it just added the "zing" to your taste.
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Review from Annie L.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 8/19/2010
I just want to say. Yelp filtered my review. Everyone, do not neglect the negative side of this restaurant. I created an account to review Trevor Kitchen & Bar solely because it was THAT bad of an experience.
If its because on record, I only have that one review on yelp - thus making me an untrusted source. Thats pretty bull.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/16/2010
The purpose of Summerlicious to most of us is to try out new restaurants, appreciate their menus… Read more »
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Review from Joe N.
9/25/2009
Trevor has a huge potential but It doesn't yet delivery to the maximum they can. I like the place, the food and the service... but whatever they did... it wasnt just perfect. they make mistake in the order (kindly fixed it), the place was a bit smelly and not well air conditioned, but still.. it has some spark in it... which you cant ignore... i expected more for such an amazing owner and chef ... but didnt get the right return for my investment...
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Review from Jennie B.
Toronto, ON
1/20/2011
Ate here last night - service was great - and the food was something else - it was amazing! We were a table of 3 and there was an order of arugula salad with shaved root vegetables that was abundant and flavorful. A side order of the poutine fries with truffled goat cheese that was out of control goodness. And with all the hoopla over their mac n' cheese, of course, I had the mac n' cheese with the foie gras (personally, not a huge foie gras fan so mine was put on a side plate and not on top of my mac n' cheese) and it came in such a small little bowl, I thought for sure I would have to order more food. I was so wrong. It was so filling. And it was another meal out where the seasoning to the food was perfect - I didn't go home and drink a jug of water. We had the creme brulee for dessert, which had cookies accompanying it on the side. And the big finale - a surprise - a pink surprise - cotton candy! Totally funny, unexpected and yet, so delicious and nostalgic. I highly recommend this place and want to go back sooner rather than later!
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Review from TOFoodReviews n.
Toronto, ON
11/17/2010
Chef Vallins redefines comfort food. A beautiful, intimate atmosphere that proudly displays everything Trevor has to offer is front and center only to the creative food. I'd recommend the Truffle Poutine, Pork Belly, and anything with Foie Gras or Demi Glace.
Listed in: 5 Star Eats in Toronto
