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Utopia Café & Grill
Categories: Restaurants Tex-Mex Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Vegetarian Tex-Mex, Burgers, Vegetarian [Edit]
586 College StToronto, ON M6G 1B3
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Palmerston, Bickford Park
(416) 534-7751
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 12 am
Fri 11:30 am - 1 am
Sat 12 pm - 1 am
Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
104 reviews for Utopia Café & Grill
Review Highlights
"Chicken and goat cheese burrito."
(in 3 reviews)
"Oh yes, fantastic back patio-ish space."
(in 11 reviews)
"And be sure to try the hot sauce at every table."
(in 7 reviews)
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104 reviews in English
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Review from Joanne W.
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I came here on a cold Saturday evening with two of my friends. My friend told me that the burgers here were DELICIOUS, so I had to go.
We were sat at the bar initially, and we had a couple of beers. About 15 minutes later, we were seated at the back (heated patio?). It was a little bit TOO hot for me in my opinion (I was seated underneath the heaters).
We first ordered a poutine to share - definite recommend. I had ordered myself a crispy salmon burrito. Sadly, wasn't as good as I hoped. Mainly because the salmon wasn't as crispy a I hoped it to be. However, the sesame slaw was amazing. In regards to my friends - they said the burgers were really good. Perhaps I shall go again just to try myself some burgers. -
Review from Jocelyn B.
1/28/2012
I really don't know what the hype is about. We went this evening for dinner and were disappointed. If people are queued up for up to a 30min wait then definitely this place should be worth it. I should've known otherwise because while they don't take reservations, you can't even leave your name once you've queue up. Thirty minute wait, sure I'll just stand here in the cold instead of possibly waiting at the tiny bar or better yet, grab a quick drink down the way. No, you or someone in your party MUST wait in the queue like an ass.
We finally are seated and after seeing the enormous dishes going by of basic fare - burgers and burritos with mounds of fries - we were starving. The bartender recommended the burgers, including the veg burger. Now, I love me a well made veggie burger, one that's lightly crisp on the outside, hand formed with little chunks oddly sticking out. But what I received was an overpriced Gardenburger with side of avocado. The side of fries were enough for two people. But they were slightly over fried. At least they had malt vinegar. And pear cider, otherwise I'd give it 1 star. Everyone else had mediocre meals, exceptions were for the merguez and brie (!) and veggie nachos.
Based on what other reviews have said, perhaps this was an off day but I wouldn't give it a second chance.
One of the staff said it had been around for 18 years. Back in NYC, with food like this, not even 2months. -
Review from Graeham M.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I abide by the old adage that we "eat with our eyes," and I do appreciate when a place puts a bit of an emphasis on presentation, not that I frequently eat in places that make a practice of this. But with that said it does go a long way when a slice of lemon comes perched on the edge of an ice filled water glass or a wrap is cut neatly on a bias and stacked against a bed of fries and not just plopped on a plate. I relish the collective gasp of a table when certain crowd pleaser's make a grand entrance and at Utopia everything is aesthetically pleasing. Simple, yet elegant in it's own way, and yes the portions are more than generous.
When I first frequented Utopia a few weeks back it had been on my to do list for a few months prior. It came highly recommended by a roommate whose track record on food had been pretty solid, I was told to order the panko crusted salmon burrito, which I did and my girlfriend ordered the poutine and a mushroom/goat cheese salad. The poutine was EXCEPTIONAL!! I didn't think that veggie gravy could do the trick, but it did. the cheese curds were plentiful and the fries retained their satisfying crunch despite being drenched in amazing gravy.
However I was a bit disappointed with the panko crusted salmon. The portion was incredibly generous and coming to the table it did generate the aforementioned gasps of pleasure that a good looking plate of food should, yet unfortunately it didn't quite live up to it's potential. It was definitely passable, but wasn't memorable in any way. And in this case looks were deceiving, like a beautiful girl with a vacuous stare and a hollow heart. You want it to work so badly, but question whether it ever can or will, and this is my current predicament with Utopia. -
Review from Maheen M.
12/23/2011
I headed to Utopia Cafe & Grill with a few friends for lunch. When we walked in, we were instantly greeted by the staff and directed to their heated back patio! How awesome to be seated in a patio environment in the winter.
Menu
Extensive - they have various offerings on upscale pub food. This is a great place for vegetarians, they had many veggie dishes.
Food
Appetizer
Veggie nachos - they were great, huge portion! The three of us could not finish what they brought out. The extra guacamole we got was fabulous, we could not get enough of it. I would order this again!
Entree
Bison Burger - huge burger, juicy and right ratio of toppings to meat. I got half fries and half coleslaw with my burger. The fries were great, perfectly seasoned. Coleslaw was ok, on the bland side. I would try their other burger options my next visit.
My friends were great satisfied with their meals. One of my friends had a gluten allergy and the waitress offered options my friend options on their menu.
Service
Great service. No complaints.
Overall, Utopia is a great food and service. I will be back for sure in the future!Listed in: Little Italy
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Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
12/11/2011
Another late night at the office and my hubby agreed to pick me up something for dinner..... so another salad it was.. but where?
Blog TO recommended this place and I love seared tuna so that's what I got.
S brought it to me in a lovely Utopia cafe paper bag, and inside was a takeout box, biodegradable utensils, and a plastic container with marker drawn happy face containing my balsamic mushrooms (part of the dressing).
I opened the salad box to find probably the largest salad I've seen in my life. Honestly, it was as large as the boxed salad you buy in a grocery store. It looked fresh with lots of tomatoes inside, in addition to several slices of lemon for the tuna. Because the salad looked so big, the chunk of salad looked pretty small, but it was actually a pretty decent size of tuna steak. Slightly raw in the middle, I would have preferred the salad to be less seared.
The mushrooms were so incredibly large... i was very very happy because I don't get to eat mushes very often (s doesn't like them so it's not in our kitchen!). But they were still delicious.
I was told by S that when he arrived at the cafe, the people were extremely nice, offered him a drink as he waited for the take out order.
My coworker also says this place is often and it will be good to come back for a sit down meal.
I'm a pretty big salad eater, and this is one of the very few times I didn't finish my greens. shocking isn't it.? -
Review from Deepika T.
12/6/2011
Wandered into Utopia randomly and was this a pleasant surprise or what! The place is intimate yet casual; music at a good enough level, and great dim lighting. The menu was extremely vegetarian friendly (jackpot!). And the service was great.
The onion rings were the best I've ever had. Yes, EVER. Try them with the jalapeno mayo, heaven. They have other flavored options as well, and I'm sure they're all winners.
We went with the Utopia burger w/ veggie patty and it was huge. They mean it when they say "heaping portions" on the website.. we split the one burger between the two of us. The burger itself was great except it was piled high with so many things that some bites were an overwhelming mix of flavors and textures. That said, it did taste good for the most part! I'll definitely go back to try some other combos.Listed in: A Tourist in Toronto
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Review from Anna C.
Toronto, ON
10/14/2011
I am shocked that this place has the number of stars that it does considering my experience and what people have been only too eager to tell me about THEIR experiences. C'mon people, this is what Yelp's about.
I have been going to Utopia for years, generally for take-out as I find the service to be sluggish and when this place is hopping (which is around any meal time) it's extremely difficult to hear the person across the table from you. Last night, I dined in (not my first time for this either). My experience was horrifying. Utopia is NOT a utopia!!
I understand when places are having their dinner rush they may not be able to take your order promptly (heck, I WORK in the service industry, I know what it's like), but to not even bring a glass of water for 36 minutes? That is not a difficult service to do for your customers. When we finally ordered (40 minutes after arriving which we were still cool with), we had to wait yet another 20 minutes for our food to arrive at the table. At this point the dinner crowd was gone and we were one of only 3 tables left (one of which was just enjoying a few beverages).
Our plates were delivered and the server was gone before we could even ask for hot sauce. When I looked at my plate I realized that my vegetarian souvlaki (sans taztiki because I'm a vegan who is actually allergic to animal products - an allergy that was shared with the server), had been...
1) Dropped on the floor. That's right. There were actually bits of dirt on my food.
2) The tortilla was mangled (possibly from the fall).
3) AND it was cold.
I hailed the server as soon as I saw her and showed her my meal, asking if I could have another one.
"I guess. Sorry."
She went back to the kitchen with the plate never bothering to ask if there was anything she could bring me to tide me over until my meal was ready. After all, we had been there for about an hour and a half at this point.
ANOTHER 15 minutes later, my plate arrived again. This time with Tzatiki sauce on it. There were no servers around to hail (ours had seemed to vanish) so I took it to the front to tell them that my meal had been made incorrectly and I couldn't eat it. Once again, I mentioned that I had notified my server that I had a food allergy which is why I DIDN'T want the sauce. The girl at the front just looked at me and stated that she hadn't taken my order, what did I expect HER to do about it and basically gave some pretty shitty attitude.
Maybe you could give me the correct meal complimentary at this point, give me a side of some sort to tide me over and be polite. Just sayin'.
At this point I had decided that this hassle really wasn't worth it anymore and I no longer felt like enjoying a nice meal...I wasn't going to get one anyway. We decided to leave, but not before the girl at the front stomped back to dish out more attitude and sarcasm. When we tried to settle up my friend's meal with our assigned server we got major attitude from her as well because she didn't take debit at the back of the restaurant. Obviously no tip!
Thanks a lot Utopia for such a bloody "great" experience! I will NOT be going back and I will make sure to tell everyone what a horrible dining experience this was. -
Review from Ashley R.
Toronto, ON
12/21/2011
Utopia is, hands down, my favourite food in Toronto.
I struggle to walk by it without running in to get the vegetarian souvlaki and vegetarian poutine. Which is troublesome because I lived in the hood for 5 years and my veggie poutine/souvlaki addiction was starting to show in the waistline....
Whether you do or do not eat meant, this restaurant is great. It's amazing to go with a group of friends who are vegan/vegetarian/meatatarians and know that everyone will find something they love.
HOWEVER...
The service is atrocious. Don't bother asking for no onions. They will forget. Don't bother asking for ketchup. It will not make it to your table before your fries are cold. The service is so bad in fact, that when we went with my boyfriends parents, they flat out forgot his parents order. We had to tell them THREE TIMES (after my bf and I got food) that they had most certainly order full meals for themselves. That's not the first time that's happened while I'm there.
But I guess that says something about their food. Because I work in service, I find it terribly annoying to be around shit service. But their food is so good that I over look it for the souvlaki. -
Review from Am P.
Toronto, ON
10/14/2011
It is too bad that although Canada is a free country, men are still not legally allowed to marry burgers. Because if I could, I would have married the double-pattie bison burger that they serve up at this place. Damn, it is big, sexy, and delish.
I haven't tried other stuff on the menu, but seriously, their burgers are out of this world. -
Review from Rockland D.
Toronto, ON
10/3/2011
Space:
Looks modest from the street, but it's pretty nice inside, and not as tight as it looks (though it looks tight). I was first drawn in via the large open air window in the front. Often, when I come here, I sit at the bar. It's central located, but never in the way of the staff or other customers.
There is a very nice patio in the back, which I did not even realize existed until my second visit. Incognito!
Service:
Great. Friendly staff who give excellent food-related advice and recommendations. In fact, it was a bartender here who first recommending KLB Raspberry Wheat to me when I asked what beer I should have. I've never looked back.
Food:
It's great. Boasting a wide variety of very tasty burgers and burritos -- as well as, of course, less heart-attack-inducing fare -- makes this place an instant win in my books. The burgers quickly become delicious catastrophes on your plate -- which all good burgers should.
Rating:
Five las estrellas. I love the people working here, the atmosphere, and, importantly, the food. -
Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
9/24/2011 2 photos
I was excited to try Utopia given the great reviews there are for this place. However, I left feeling a little undecided.
The menu is enormous, which isn't necessarily a good thing for indecisive people like myself. But there definitely is something for everyone here - pages worth of salads, burritos, sandwiches and burgers, including some veggie options. I finally narrowed it down to burritos and asked the server for some recommendations. She said she loved anything with steak in it, so I went with the Steak & Cheddar burrito - - marinated grilled striploin, cheddar, grilled onions, lettuce, green onion mayo and salsa ($12.50). Not sure if I'd call it a burrito... more like a wrap. Name aside, it was quite tasty. My only complaint was that the mixture of the mayo and salsa got a little watery and started dripping out of my burrito.
All the burritos come with Costa Rican black bean rice and your choice of either a sesame slaw or field mix salad. Since I was in the mood for something unhealthy, I decided to substitute all of that for a side of fries. More like a mountain of fries, actually. The portions were enormous! The fries were a bit thicker than what I prefer, but underneath the mountain of fries I was able to find some smaller crispy bits.
Anyways, since the server had such high praise for their steak, my friend ordered the Steak Sandwich - striploin served on a Panini topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and green onion mayo with a side of fries ($9.50). On paper, this sounded exactly the same as what I had ordered. Surprisingly it was incredibly bland. Not recommended. If you're feeling something with steak in it, skip the sandwich and go for the burrito.
Like I said, this experience left me feeling a little undecided about Utopia. A hit and a miss. -
Review from Amanda M.
Toronto, ON
11/22/2011
Great food, amazing customer service. TONS of options for vegetarians. Great prices.
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Review from Anni L.
7/24/2011
I went to this place with low expectations. Afterall, how good can a mexican resto be in TO?! I've been spoiled by the authentic close to south of the border mexican food in san diego, so I prepared myself to be surprised.
When I got there, my friends were already seated on the patio. The menu was very diverse. From salads, to sandwiches, poutine, burgers, and burritos. I opted for the chicken and grilled shrimp burrito with a side of fries and salad. I especially requested avocado for an extra 1$. The order was 13$ + 1$.
The food came and it did not disappoint. The burrito was to die for. Very tasty and succulent. Hard to imagine it came from a cramped small kitchen and two chefs which you pass by on your way to the back patio.
The wait staff was busy but attentive. We got water and drinks prompty. Even our to go order was quickly processed.
The quality was up to my standards. I don't think you could go wrong with any menu items. Their burgers were of generous portion made from fresh sirloin.
My friend got some soup and burrito to go ($9 just for the burrito with no sides). Apparently they have really good sweet potato soup. At this time, their soup of the day was gazpacchio (?).
I would definitely go back to try the other menu items! -
Review from Ben B.
5/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Utopia should have been my last meal of my Toronto trip rather than one of my first. The experience lives up to its name almost too well, jading all meals that followed.
Think five pages of sandwiches, burritos, quesadillas and nachos of all shapes, sizes and ingredients, each under $10 (for the most part) and each able to be made with vegetarian 'meats'.
I'm still longing for just one more bite of that breaded 'chicken' burrito...I've never been more mad about getting full than that day. It was cheesy, saucy hotness and I'm pretty sure I was minutes away from doing dirty-bad things to it had there been fewer witnesses.
Utopia also has an incredible sense of humour. Order something with the 'handful of fries' and you'll know what I mean. You'll also then be able to feed a family of five.Listed in: The Big T
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Review from Matt G.
5/25/2011
What an awesome find! My first vegetarian poutine was everything I'd hoped for. My veggie burger was scorched beyond deliciousness. The layer of jalapenos did my my face numb, but what you do you expect from a Southwest burger? (Lightweight status: confirmed.)
And despite having the potential to be uber-hipster I was given nothing but smiles and helpfulness from the staff. Is this just Canada in general, or Utopia living up to its name? Regardless, I might have to apply for citizenship. -
Review from Lauren M.
Updated - 6/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I'm downgrading Utopia to a 3 star.
I went here last weekend for the first time since last summer (I used to be a regular).
Prices have increased....by about $2 on average. Most of the burritos are now $13 plus tax.
The waiting time is just as ridiculous as ever....OH MY GOD. It's agonizing waiting so long for food. I think we waited about 45 minutes this time from placing our order to receiving our food. Combine that with a 30 min wait for a table and a 25 min wait for the waitress to take our order = about 2.5 hours to eat a burrito and salad.
Yes, the food is good, and the price increase would have been justifiable with improved service time, but the waiting is still bad.
Don't get me wrong - the servers are very good here. I'm 100% sure it's the kitchen that is the bottleneck - it's a TINY area that can barely squeeze two chubby hipster chefs working tightly against each other. They need to renovate, increase the kitchen size that can accommodate another 2 chefs. I hope they sort it out.Listed in: Picky Eaters, Places I can still %^$!% eat…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/25/2010
Don't think I've reviewed this one yet because it already had so many other reviews! But what the… Read more »
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Review from Sergey S.
4/27/2011
There is nothing particularly wrong with Utopia, neither anything awe-inspiring. Yet, so many people gave them lots of stars - that's fantastic! I guess I've missed something - so here's an opportunity to visit the place once again and maybe finally understand how good it is...
But meanwhile, just my current opinion:
Food? Yes, it was there. And it was ok. But not like I was running in circles and yelling of joy after trying it.
Ambient? Positive, with a pronounced local'ish feeling, like, you expect the people from neighbouring tables know each other.
Service? Polite, a bit on the slower side in our case, but not to be really annoyed.
Portion size? Good enough. Not overwhelming, nah, just absolutely normal.
I guess that "absolutely normal" would be my overall mark for Utopia. And that's not bad at all. -
Review from Termina F.
Toronto, ON
11/13/2011
I've only been once, but the food was good and the portions were enormous.
My table of four were early so we avoided the rush of people that seemed to swarm in at 6:30 sharp. Before we knew it the place was full, and with that comes slightly slower service.
I had the veggie poutine app, and it was massive. A veggie burger second with a "side salad" that would rival most meal sized greens. Another in our party had a side of fries with his burger and it was equally as massive as my salad. My boyfriend had a burrito with a side of black bean rice and sesame slaw. The burrito and rice were great, but next time we'll opt for a salad in place of the slaw. It was just a bit too sesame-y for us.
The next time my boyfriend and I will get one plate and share it. -
Review from Claudia B.
Toronto, ON
11/5/2011
Ok went last night Friday around 1030p (Nov), with my sis (vegetarian) and our friend (vegan) + me (hungry carnivore)
Atmosphere:
swankier than expected from the outside. It is a bit 'cozy' but I never went further into the restaurant than my seat right at the front windows and my back was to the rest of the place so I didn't look around much. There is music playing at a level that will make you raise your voice a little, but no shouting necessary. Dim lighting, dark walls setting the mood.
Great for a date, for a few friends, but with the cramped quarters it is not a place to bring a large group [note I have not seen the back patio or back of restaurant but assume it maintains a similar space]
Service:
For us - great. Our waitress brought waters before greeting us (in my opinion a good tip when your busy, slows down chances of complaint). We order three hot teas, and she kept them coming throughout the night consistently. She knew we were clearly newcomers to the restaurant and needed to review the menu and didn't rush us and and took our orders and executed them to the T. Our plates were cleared promptly as we ate, she didn't over bother us, but yet was never too far to ask for an extra side of mushroom gravy for the fries. This is me should be a standard of dining service - she didn't go above and beyond, but did her job and service well. Thank you girl
Food/Drinks:
Only had water and hot tea, but they were...well water and hot tea, can you really do these wrong?
Food wise I say YES! They got it really right. Having vegan/veggie friends and being a well-versed carnivore can make eating out together and all being able to properly enjoy meals difficult. This menu had SO many options that were veggie/vegan friendly as well as so many options of meats dishes for me. A true rarity in my experience. Normally My sis has to choose from either the salmon, shrimp or vegetable medley mess and thats it.
I ordered the lamb burger and for $11.00 I was fearful of the norm of course. Will it taste good? Look good? most importantly be bigger than the size & thickness of a toonie?? And it was! It was fresh off the grill, surprisingly thick, well cooked and not burned, and most of all delicious!! My sis ordered I think the veggie sausage burrito and our friend a veggie burger of sorts but ALL of us thoroughly enjoyed our entrees. I'd say the biggest downfall of the meals was the fries. Plenty of them, but I love when restaurants of this standard give nice steak fries. Cannot wait to try out the Bison burger and the Le Brie burger next!
Bang for my Buck?
YES
For all 3 of us our total was $37. And we all went home full. I reccommend it, great locale, there seems to be some velvet rope club right next door and the streetcar drops off directly in front. I shall return even just for takeout.
*****
Update -
Went back last week to get some take-out.
Ordered the Bison burger, definitely not as great as the lamb, but sill very worth the money. Only issue I had, was it a just a bit dry. The meat is leaner and I guess I just prefer that deliciously fatty lamb.
We sat (before realizing we just wanted to go home and eat) in the back patio, it was well warmed for the winter winter, plenty of tables and our waiter for 10 minutes was a sweet guy.
Yes I will be a returning customer here :) -
Review from Aaron B.
Toronto, ON
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Always a wicked spot for cheap and delicious food. I usually try something different all the time. The burgers here are amazing, the burritos are too. The vegetarian options are galore. I'm, also a huge fan of the soups, always hot and spicy
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Review from Michelle A.
Toronto, ON
2/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been to Utopia many times, but I have never reviewed it. I used to reallly enjoy this place, but I think it's probably more enjoyable in the summer or for take-out only.
As a vegetarian, I've always been a fan of their menu because you can subsitute crispy soy protein or grilled soy in any burrito. They also have veggie burgers, veggie gravy and soy cheese.
I've had the plain burrito with grilled soy instead of chicken, the curried chick pea and potato burrito and the white bean/tofu quesadillas. I reallly enjoyed both burritos but I found the quesadillas to be quite bland and boring. The curried burrito looks like mashed sweet potatoes stuffed inside a quesadilla. It's huge and comes with a side of fabulous mango chutney. The vegetarian burrito comes with fake sausage-like meat. Like other reviewers have mentioned, they have a killer hot sauce.
The portionsof each are massive and come with a choice of two sides. I recommend the salad. The rice and beans is good, but the burritos/quesadillas are so large and filling, it's really just wasted stomach space. They also make a pretty tasty coleslaw.
The restaurant loses on ambience - it's always packed, the tables are very close together, the tables are picnic furniture, it's freezing in the winter, the heaters go on and off, and when it started snowing, the roof started dripping on me. The service is also extremely poor. It's not just slow, they're just poor servers. Our waiter cleared half the table and then disappeared for about 15 minutes even though we were all obviously done.
I'd give it four stars in the summer, three in the winter.
I also recommend going early - it's always SO busy.Listed in: Very vegetarian-friendly…
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Review from Diane C.
Toronto, ON
5/2/2011
**4.5 stars**
Nothing says "middle of spring" like lunch on College, on a Monday with friends.
Utopia's a cute little place. I found the staff just attentive enough and consistent with bringing our food out on time.
I REALLY liked my meal. I had a lamb sausage-and-brie burrito (which actually looked more like a wrap). Mmm - SO tasty. Also loved the rice and peas (yum! almost like mom's!), and the generous helping of freshly made coleslaw.
I also had a lava cake for dessert. Or rather, had a third of a lava cake. I actually thought there'd be ooey-gooey chocolate in the middle. But it was firm all the way through, and super-rich. Plus, I had no room after the "burrito", so I'm savin' it for later!
The pricing also seemed fair: my lunch entree was $12, and the lava cake was $5.
The only minor quibble: because it's such a small establishment, the tables were close together. As a result, I almost felt like I was being a little loud/obnoxious to the two young women sitting about a foot away from me. I know there's nothing that can be done about that. Maybe I'll have to come back here when the back patio's open.
It's probably because I went for lunch after 1 p.m., but I honestly have no complaints about this place. I'd definitely return. -
Review from D B.
Toronto, ON
5/21/2011
Pretty good, could have used a little more spice options.
I'll go back -
Review from Danielle F.
Toronto, ON
1/18/2011
Had lunch here not long ago and it was delicious. Upon entering the little space, you know you're in for something good otherwise why would all these people be here?
My friend and I got the last table before a huge lunch rush came flowing in and out. It took us a little while to get situated with the large menu, get our drinks etc. But the waitress definitely redeemed herself when an incredibly loud, obnoxious man came in and sat at the table beside us. In a moment of sheer fate another table opened up and we could not move fast enough. When I caught the waitress' eye to indicate our movement, after a millisecond she just gave me a knowing nod and smile in a way that said, "Yes, I feel your pain and I'll get all the goods to the right place".
Now let's get to the goods. Shrimp burrito! Perfectly cooked shrimp, melty cheese, great spices going on and a perfect portion for me. I wiped my plate clean, the black bean rice AND the salad. Both additions were fresh and great to eat when having a burrito break. My friend's Mediterranean burger was juicy and delicious with it's tzatziki, feta and other toppings.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I feel like the name "Utopia" is a lot of pressure to place on the shoulders of one restaurant. Don't get me wrong, Utopia is really, really good. Just saying utopian is pretty strong word to be throwing around. Go, eat some heavenly things.Listed in: Wrap It Up!
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Review from Liora I.
Toronto, ON
12/17/2010
YUM! I used to only order the lamb burrito. Then I used to only order the tandoori chicken sandwich. Now I only order the seared tuna sandwich with wasabi mayo. All the other food is great too but with this kind of selection it hard not to be overwhelmed.
Also noteworthy is the lamb sausage poutine with brie. And that they'll vegetarian-ize any dish.
Just be warned this place gets busy.
Be prepared to wait for a table during prime hours. -
Review from S. E.
Toronto, ON
6/14/2011
Nothing much can be added to the praise.
An amazing 'Utopian Burger' with eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms - goat, swiss, and cheddar cheese - with a massive side of beautiful onion rings.
A rare find. -
Review from Angela L.
10/17/2010 ROTD 2/9/2011
Since you're reading this, you undoubtedly already know that word-of-mouth is better than any other form of advertising a business can do. Utopia is one of the few restaurants that has repeatedly been highly recommended by friends outside of Yelp for years now. However, it was not until very recently that I finally committed to joining the long disorganized queue out front to find out what all the fuss was about. Boy, was the food worth the wait!
Despite the fact that the dining room itself is quite small and tight in spots, the weather which was arguably on the very verge of being too chilly still allowed the back patio to be seated as well on the evening of our visit. Luckily, we were able to snag a tiny two-top right beyond the door (and the cool gusts of wind that our server kept sternly telling eager queuers to stay outside and keep out) . The dim mood lighting and great choices of full albums (it was Belle and Sebastien's newest "Write About Love" and TV on the Radio's "Return to Cookie Mountain" that night) made for an enjoyable atmosphere to chew and chat to.
My super juicy medium-rare 8 oz steak and crispy (as promised) fries were sided with a generous handful of well dressed mixed greens and a large pot of satisfyingly flavourful gravy to dip into. My dinner date's grilled tuna salad was huge and reportedly surprisingly filling.
Although the food and ambiance were excellent, the service was the only thing that wasn't tops. Trying to figure out how the (non-existent) wait list worked outside was something of a puzzle. The guests who dared venture inside to see if they could put their name on a list were immediately (and apparently somewhat rudely) told to go back outside and just wait.
When we dared enter the front door ourselves, we were told firsthand quite abruptly to go back and wait outside. Frankly, we were a little bit confused as we i) had not checked in yet, ii) had seen a table open up, iii) were the next in line, and iv) saw a couple of girls who had just shown up walk right past the line.
Once seated, our orders were taken and served quickly, but we were never checked on again. No water was ever served and my empty wine glass (which I had wanted refilled) stayed as parched as my throat for the remainder of the meal. By the time we finally got our server's attention to come take away our crusty plates and bring the bill, we had decided to go elsewhere for more drinks.
If you're lucky (or can just look past the service), Utopia does have great food, great ambiance, and fantastic prices. -
Review from TOFoodReviews n.
Toronto, ON
8/5/2011
Utopia Cafe and Grill is aptly named. Let me tell you why... One hot and muggy Saturday evening, I found myself walking down College Street in search of sustenance and something cold to slake my thirst. Now, I'm notorious for my inability to make a decision when faced with many options, and College Street has a lot to offer in the way of restaurants. I passed by bistro after restaurant after lounge, growing hungrier by the minute. How did I choose? Divine intervention lent me a helping hand as the sky opened up and let loose a torrential downpour sending me running into the open arms (see: doorway) of Utopia.
It was already jam packed, which had nothing to do with the rain. There was a line-up for tables, but I managed to grab a seat at the bar to peruse both the menu and the environment. What is it about exposed brick and hardwood floors that make a place so cozy? Whatever it is, Utopia has both.
Needless to say, I was immediately enamoured, and when I opened the menu, that bubble remained intact. Now, I wouldn't call myself a vegetarian, nor would I dive into a steak with gusto, so for a selectavarian such as myself, I couldn't have designed a more heavenly menu if I tried. All but three of their appetizers are meat free, and they allow you to substitute soy (grilled or breaded & fried) for meat in most of their main dishes. Meat lovers and vegetarians unite!
And if that wasn't enough, it gets even better! I forgot to mention earlier that in between appreciating the exposed brick and opening the menu, I honed in on the beer selection (tunnel vision at its finest). And it made me smile, for they had KLB Raspberry Wheat on tap. Typically, I like my beer to taste like, well...beer, but I make an exception for KLB, especially in the summertime (although I find excuses to drink it at other points in the year) as the natural raspberry essence paired with the beer itself is possibly the most refreshing combination ever. Like angels dancing on my tongue...delicious, raspberry angels. Its difficult to find on tap, and Utopia has it, so I chalk them up some more points.
I started with the Mumahari Dip (roasted red peppers, pomegranate molasses and walnuts) that comes served with naan. While the dip itself wasn't exactly visually appealing (but really how many dips are?) with a likening to cat food, I was willing to overlook it. The Everlasting Gobstopper of dips, every bite of the Mumahari started sweet, moved onto nutty and finished with a bit of a kick. Delish.
Between the dip and the KLB, I was already very satisfied, but I wasn't done yet. Next came my Grilled Veggie & Goat Cheese Burrito. I love a good burrito, and this one didn't disappoint. Grilled zucchini, red peppers, eggplant, onions and a generous layer of goat cheese came wrapped in a soft tortilla. Served alongside substantial sides of both garden salad and rice, I couldn't finish it if I tried...and I tried. There is absolutely nothing wrong with leftovers though, and I can vouch that a Utopia burrito tastes just as delicious the day after.
On a tight budget? All of Utopia's mains hover around the $13 mark which in my opinion is a great deal considering the quality of the food and the very sizeable portions. I can easily see two people splitting a burrito and leaving the place with full stomachs (and wallets). The only problem with this scenario however, is the lack of leftovers.
If Utopia has any drawbacks, it's that the place is hot in the summer - really, really hot. The lack of air-conditioning combined with the open kitchen may have something to do with it. If I were anywhere else, I just may have been uncomfortable, but I had my pint of KLB, exposed brick, and a smiling bartender that made me feel like I was the only person in the room (okay...now I'm just getting carried away, but that being said the service is genuinely warm). Looking around, even though everyone had a sheen to them, nobody seemed to mind. Everybody just looked happy. People don't sweat at Utopia...they glow.
For a pasta-heavy neighbourhood, Utopia provides a nice deviation. It's the kind of place I could eat at everyday, so it's probably a good thing I don't live nearby, but it will definitely be my College Street go-to. They also have a four season patio (another good reason I don't live in the area, as much to my liver's chagrin, I have an almost instinctual draw to drinking outside).
Utopia is a contradiction unto itself: it's frenetic, but it's calm; blazers sit next to longboarders; meat lovers co-exist amongst vegetarians; it's hot, but oh so cool. As its name implies, this Bohemian spot in Little Italy is truly ideal.Listed in: 5 Star Eats in Toronto
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Review from Vivek S.
Updated - 10/3/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Utopia's still got it. Stopped here on an overcast Saturday afternoon to grab a late lunch and I was thoroughly satisfied by the Utopian experience. Our server picked up on my reluctance to grab a beer, and adroitly suggested a Caesar. Yes! Because I was carb loading for a (as it would turn out, ill-fated) run the next day, I opted for a chick pea and potato burrito. I was gently upsold on adding shrimp to the mix, and was not disappointed.
The burrito was quite unlike any I have had before. It's more like a dosa really; the shell is cooked until it's crispy and it was folded into a smart triangle. They provided a brown tamarind chutney for dipping which was a nice touch. There was also a salad nearby but it was completely unmemorable. You don't win friends with salad, anyway.Listed in: Little Italy, Burger Roll Call, No meat? No problem.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/21/2009
Great Grill on College. Their burgers are mouth-watering. Their veggie burger is one of the best… Read more »
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Review from Steph L.
11/29/2010
This place is indeed a vegetarian-friendly utopia.
One of my favorite spots for a burrito, poutine, and half a liter of wine!
I love this place!
It's easy to understand why this place is so popular.
With the dim lighting, it's casual, comfortable, but still nice enough to take a date (well, if you can eat a burrito neatly, that's a pretty special skill).
The menu is so extensive, there's something for everyone!
I didn't even know there could be so many types of burritos.
Also, there are vegetarian options galore!
The poutine is tasty, the fries were perfectly crispy, the gravy salty.
The gravy is good for a vegetarian gravy!
I had the crispy salmon burrito stuffed with salmon, onions, lettuce, etc.
Sesame slaw isn't too creamy and a bit tart which is perfect.
This place is my go-to place on College for a casual meal!
I could go for a grilled eggplant burrito right now... -
Review from Ashleigh G.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2010
Fantastic vegetarian-friendly casual fare. They will make anything on the menu for you with mock meat. Their burgers and burritos are fantastic and they take condiments to the next level.
They have lots of different flavored mayos. The wasabi and red pepper ones are both fantastic. The gravy is also great - and vegetarian. And be sure to try the hot sauce at every table.
The one downside for me is the wait. Not the amount of time, you have to expect that from most "hot" places. But that despite the popularity, the staff always seems completely unprepared to deal with the lineup - and the venue is set up in such a way that there is no waiting area, making an ever increasing amount of people wait in the doorway. -
Review from Payal D.
Brampton, ON
2/7/2011 2 photos
We arrived here on a snowy Saturday evening around 6ish hoping to be the only couple canoodling over wine and apps. Turns out we were just in time to grab one of the last available tables? interesting....
so the evening began with 1/2 liter of chardonnay, poutine, tofu cream croquettes, and it was simply divine. We had no room for dinner after that but why stop a good thing right?
Next up we ordered Mediterranean burger and chicken with coat cheese wrap made with grilled veggie soy chicken. the only thing that was blah on the plate was maybe the salad (too much vinaigrette). Everything else was delish! also, watching the snow fall as we ate and sipped on our wine was fun. They also dimmed the lights and turned up the music a bit to create this lounge atmosphere which was good but if you're looking for candle light romance then no luckily we weren't =)
I *must* dock a star for serving poutine in a (gasp!) basket lined with paper, comeon I know you folks have a bowl back there - is it too much to ask for?
As we got our leftover food to go, the only thought on our minds was must-come-back-and-try-other-things ! -
Review from bliss d.
9/10/2010
File under One More Thing About Canada That I love. Basically, file it under O unless you have a section with just a shimmering red heart drawn on the tab with a gel pen.
I am currently in Toronto for a few days for work. One night #2 my boyfriend and I headed to Utopia based on a reco from a pescatarian friend of mine. I knew when I saw the solar power lighting and the line out the front door that I was about to have a Double Rainbow Moment, or #drm.
Vegetarian restaurants full of beautiful people, odd hipsters, and good wine always make me happy. When the food is delicious it's an even bigger win. What can I say? WINNER WINNER TOFU DINNER!!!!!
The vegetarian poutine was STUPID GOOD. Three days later I'm still thinking about it. The tofu and white bean quesadilla? Spicy enough to be a party on my tongue, but mild enough to not require any watering down to get it down the hatch. And don't even get me started on the tofu cream croquettes. Ordinarily not a fan of fried food, I demolished two of the croquettes and secretly hoped my boyfriend would see how much I liked them and donate one of his to my cause. He did not, but last week he bought me a KitchenAid, so I can't hold a grudge.
The vegie burger actually DID resemble meat. It was not the best vegie burger I've ever had in my life (I like mine a bit more puffy and eclectic with things like beets and chickpeas backed in), but it was a solid 7 or 8 out of ten.
We got the bill for our 2 drinks, 2 appetizers, and 2 entrees and it only came to $48. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? There was only one appropriate response: We went back the next night.
On night #2 we both got burritos and shared the squash soup. The soup was mind blowing. The burritos were healthy and toasted. I like my burritos a bit more bloated, calorie-laden, and steamed. I think that's just a Toronto burrito vs. San Diego burrito thing. Overall the meal was a 9 out of 10.
I'm still in Toronto and going somewhere else tonight, but you know what...I'm sitting at work at 3:53pm and all I can think about is that effing poutine. I think I might have a 3rd trip to Utopia in me before I head back stateside.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Laz C.
Toronto, ON
2/9/2011
I've heard so many rave reviews of this place that I may have walked in with over-inflated expectations. I was dining in a group of four, two of us vegetarians and the other two were pretty serious meat-eaters so we figured that Utopia would be the perfect compromise.
I had the vegetarian burger and fries. The burger was huge, juicy and reminiscent of meat --sometimes I find that off-putting but the burger here is very tasty. The fries, not so much. They were dry and bland, at least compared to what I was anticipating from a place that is so renowned for poutine. I can't remember what my dining companions ordered. Everyone seemed to like their food, but nobody raved about it.
The atmosphere is the main drawback for me. Utopia is ALWAYS crowded and I get it, the place is popular therefore it's always packed. But still, given that crowds are the norm you'd think the servers would be accustomed to working in this environment but they seemed really flustered and we were ignored for the most part. The small size and large number of patrons also means that there is both little room for the servers to move and that the restaurant is inordinately loud, which makes it very difficult to have dinner conversation.
Overall, the food was decent and I wouldn't mind giving Utopia another chance but I'm not sure if it's worth it to wait for a table and slow service. If I ever walk by and see some free tables I might just pop in again. -
Review from Michael T.
Toronto, ON
1/20/2011
It's bad when you come home stinking of grease.
Boiled chicken in a wrap is not a burrito.
Friendly service. Kitchen EXCEEDINGLY slow.
People breathing down your neck standing behind you waiting for a table.
Loud. -
Review from Kristian and Julia L.
Toronto, ON
11/29/2010
To start with, it doesn't look like much from the outside. There's barely enough room in the front of the place to swing a dead cat, and it's kind of underlit, but it opens up a bit in the back so claustrophobics needn't fear. It has a definite hipsterish feel, at least on a Saturday night around 9:00 before it becomes bar time, and it can get fairly crowded around then so I would recommend shooting for a late dinner, maybe 9:30 or so when the place starts to open up.
As for the food, well, frankly it's kickass. She had the tuna panini (which for the record isn't grilled), he had the salmon fish and chips (crusted in panko!!!), and both are strongly recommended. Shared app was the gourmet poutine, which was a very strong veggie-friendly entry that might have benefited from a touch more cheese. Many very appetizing veggie options are on the menu, without the dead animal selection suffering at all for it. The beer selection leaves a little something to be desired, particularly as the taps go, but it's not as though you can't go take care of that angle after you finish your fine, very reasonably-priced meal; we're suckers for Kawartha Lakes' Raspberry Wheat, though, so its place on the draught menu meant we were pleased as punch.
Overall an excellent place to get a bite if you go at the right time and don't mind the environment/lighting. -
Review from Lindsay M.
Toronto, ON
1/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Tables were tightly packed. Noise level rose as the few aisles of the front room filled with people waiting for tables in the supposedly spacious back room, so it wasn't until after we'd missed our movie and were walking back to the car that I could ask how my partner's burrito was.
"It wasn't a burrito, it was a wrap with bland chicken and something else, but I'm not sure what that something was. Usually grilled chicken burrito means the chicken is grilled, not the burrito."
I had ordered the Lamb Sausage Poutine, but what came was not the creative take on a classic I was expecting. The merguez and brie were fine, but just sprinkled on top, out of place, unintegrated. It was like a random combination of foods in one container. After the top layer was gone, I was left eating generic gravy-soaked squishiness.
Yes, I said container, not dish. When one's food comes in a checkered paper lined basket, one expects it to come quickly. My mistake.
Bonus: We came home stinking of grease. -
Review from Luis M.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2010
Portions are very generous.
We ordered Steak nachos which were great, but took more than 30 min to arrive.
I ordered the burrito which was great, but the rice and coleslaw that came with it were pretty bad. It also took forever to come, we waiting a LONG time.
All in all the food is decent, but the service is EXTREMELY slow. Be prepared to spend at least 1 hour from the moment you order your main course till you're served.
The problem of this place may be the kitchen...?. Seems very small for a restaurant that size.
Waitstaff weren't bad, not too friendly but not bad either.
Although the food was OK, it's not worth the wait. I probably won't be coming back. -
Review from Lupillo R.
Toronto, ON
9/13/2010
I've been to Utopia several times and have always enjoyed it. Although it looks tiny from the street, there's also a covered patio in the back so don't let a line-up (which there often are) deter you, as the line generally moves along nicely.
The food is unpretentious but with enough flair to give it that special touch to make you think it was totally worth going out for dinner rather than stay in. The fact that there are an abundance of vegetarian options is the icing on the cake. I almost always order the crispy brie as an appetizer. You can't go wrong with melted cheese, fried in rice paper, served with raspberry sauce. Yum! The burgers are delicious, the salads imaginative, and the sandwiches have the perfect combinations. The flavoured mayos make a great dipping sauce for the fries. I have yet to try the desserts but I believe they're made in-house.
On the downside I wish the lighting were a bit better on the patio, it's quite dark at most tables. Like, too dark to read the menu without a flashlight the other night. Also, while I like the fries I don't love them. Perhaps that's just my personal preference as shoestring tend to be my favourite. I will definitely go back, fairly regularly I might add. -
Review from Giuliana B.
SCARBOROUGH, ON
8/31/2010
We came here on the recomendation of my friend's hunky eye doctor. **sigh** Who said he loved the burgers at this place, and since we were in the area and hungry,we decided to give it a shot.
It is a rather small place, but it has a really nice patio out back which we sat on this beautiful and sweltering hot day. There was only one server for the whole place, yet the service wasn't too slow and she was attentive and friendly. We decided on the crispy chicken and avocado burrito, and the Utopia burger and this was the veredict:
Utopia burger- tender, moist and delicious! It comes with the works (tomato,pickle,onion,green onion mayo) plus 3 cheeses ( I think they were asiago, cheddar and havarti) plus grilled veggies (eggplant,zuchinni and red peppers). It was huge! I had a hard time taking a bite because it was so loaded with toppings, I could barely get my mouth around it, and it came with crispy, golden french fries.
Crispy chicken avocado burrito- very good also, but the leafy greens in it got soggy from all the sauce and mustard seed mayo it had in it, and I really don't like soggy lettuce. Otherwise, the chicken was crispy and had good flavour, and the avocado was creamy and delicious, all in all a really good combination. The burrito comes with rice and beans and your choice of either slaw or salad. I got the salad and it was good, though nothing exciting. Just greens with a balsamic vinagrette, the rice and beans were bland, and I couldn't bring myself to eat them.
The servings are really big, I cant immagine ever being able to eat a whole burrito, with rice,beans and salad. There are lots of options on the menu including meal sized salads, quesadillas, sandwiches, and a huge list of burritos and burgers. They also have a board with specials.
I'm excited to come back here and try some of the other things on their menu, maybe one day we'll catch the hunky doctor here during his lunch break :)
