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Wish
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Lounges, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
3 Charles St EToronto, ON M4Y 1R9
Neighbourhoods: Church-Wellesley Village, Downtown Core
(416) 935-0240
- Hours:
Mon 10 am - 10 pm
Tue-Wed 10 am - 11 pm
Thu-Sat 10 am - 12 am
Sun 11 am - 4 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Wish
19 reviews in English
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Review from Ayesha A.
1/5/2012
I went here for a lunch meeting in winter time. I can't wait to try out the outdoor seating in the spring/summertime.
The place is trendy, and you won't find students or many non-wealthy people as it is certainly not cheap.
We went for lunch and for an entree paid between $12-$15 per person, without drink or dessert.
But the ambiance is very lovely and the place is so neat! It's located right in the heart of the city and all of it's furnishings are white which makes it very trendy. Not only that, but every table has 2 seats on one side (okay, big deal) and ONE WHITE COUCH on the other.
The way it's shaped, not my fav-esp for winter as you hang your coat on a rack but since there isn't a lot of room, trying to squeeze into the hallway to get out, without hitting people with your jacket or knocking over the wine bottle holder (like I did, luckily no wine inside) takes some serious concentration.
The fries are excellent, thin, crispy and if you ask they'll give you a buttery garlicy condiment alongside.
The 3 decker grilled-cheese is not quite cheesy enough, but still delish and the spinach salad with carmelized pecans and pears (and some strong cheese whose name I have forgotten) is very nice, but I admit on it's own, not that big (and it's $13).
They were out of regular condiments such as vinegar for the fries (they offered balsalmic vinegar....for fries?!) and mineral water.
But, oh well, it was still yummy and I felt important dining there, being surrounded by highfalutin peeps. -
Review from Graeham M.
Toronto, ON
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have to vent a bit here and I wish I didn't. I desperately wanted to like, actually love Wish. It has an amazing patio, is super trendy (love the white), and as one reviewer noted allows itself to be both trendy and somehow cozy simultaneously, a rare feat of restaurant engineering indeed. But and it is a massive BUT, the service was awful. I will briefly explain.
I recently had lunch here with my girlfriend and the food was decent, definitely passable without being memorable which is fine, yet I cannot forget, nor forgive the brutal massacre of service. My GF ordered soup ( I don't' even remember what she ordered), but what I do remember is that midway through the soup she stopped eating and a frightened look suddenly masked her delicate features. I noticed immediately and asked what was wrong. She slowly worked something around in her mouth and proceeded to expel the offending object into a napkin. Upon examination it appeared to be a large chunk of the soup bowl that had evidently been chipped before the soup had been served. As we are both under the radar people and don't like to "make scenes" if you will we briefly contemplated whether to say anything. I decided that we must. She politely called our Server over and explained what had happened and even showed him the physical evidence. He mumbled a brief "sorry" under his breath and made an exaggerated gesture in taking the half finished soup bowl from the table, as if we were somehow at fault for bringing it to his attention. The soup was never replenished, nor were we even addressed until our bill was brought, which included the aforementioned SOUP!
My girlfriend asked what I wanted to do, and I decided that I would pay for the meal in its entirety, but that I refused with certainty to leave a tip of any kind. I work in the service industry and it pains me greatly when I have to break the cardinal rule and turn my back on a fellow member of the tribe. Yet I had no choice, for my hand had been forced. Now I should mention that I have worked in kitchens and understand that this type of thing does happen. However all a Server needs to do is explain to the kitchen what happened. grab a new soup, maybe some bread or a small appetizer, and potentially comp the soup. Had he followed this basic service protocol he would have received a standard 15-20% tip and all would be forgotten. I wish I didn't have to slam Wish, but I do, because something that was so simple was handled so inappropriately and at the end of the day people need to see that service is the backbone of everything. And without solid service food, decor and level of perceived "hipness" matter not. Wish clearly demonstartes this. -
Review from Anne B.
2/2/2012
I met my sister here for lunch to try out Wish's Winterlicious menu. When I called the restaurant to make the reservation I informed them that we would be bringing my 3 month old niece and would require enough room at our table for her stroller. In spite of this being a small establishment, they were awesome at accommodating our needs.
Both my sister and I started with the Cesar salad with lardons (for the layman - that's a fancy word for big ol' bacon bits). I found the dressing to be far too thick, but I appreciated that it was covered in a healthy dose of grated parmesan. Also, the lettuce to bacon ratio was about 60/40 which improved matters greatly! When in doubt? Bacon solves EVERYTHING.
For my main course I had the linguini sauteed with red peppers, grilled zucchini, spinach and black olives in rose sauce. The pasta itself was cooked perfectly, but I found the sauce to be overly heavy (particularly for lunch). I would suggest applying ample amounts of black pepper to balance out the rich sauce. In my opinion, you needn't add parmesan to this. My sister had the fish and chips and said she was pleased with it overall.
For dessert, I had ordered the flourless chocolate cake, but was informed that they had run out of it. Instead, I got the dulce de leche cheesecake which was delicious, but far too sweet and dense to finish. I have a super sweet tooth, but I'd still say you'd be better off splitting a piece of this with someone.
The service here was pretty slow and we often had to remind them to fill our empty water glasses. However, the waitstaff were very friendly. The decor is absolutely charming and it would be a great intimate place to go for a date. -
Review from Chris W.
Toronto, ON
5/27/2012
Ate here again yesterday at lunch! Solid menu and helpful, friendly staff. The patio is sweet but noisy these days with all the construction around. Try the fish tacos! go for Sunday brunch.
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Review from Fern H.
7/21/2011
On one of the hottest days of the year, my friend and I came to Wish for lunch, only to discover that they did not have air conditioning. Luckily we didn't have to brave the sun and heat on the patio and were seated indoors, near a window where a fan which provided a little breeze.
We decided to order from the Summerlicious menu. Appetizers included the spinach pear salad and the soup of the day which was gazpacho (thank god). Both were good and the gazpacho was definitely refreshing with small chunks of watermelon in it.
Mains - we choose the fish and chips with saffron tartar sauce and beetroot slaw. The fish was slightly overcooked. It was a bit hard and crispy the way that food is when it's been left in the deep fryer for too long. Fries were average, nothing outstanding.
For dessert, we went with the ducle de leche cheesecake which was very good and really the highlight of the meal.
Service was decent, considering the poor waitstaff had to walk back and forth with orders in the sweltering heat.Listed in: Downtown Lunching
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Review from Gus Gus L.
11/10/2011
Good, intimate spot if you don't mind spending $30CAN on breakfast for one.
Well located west of Church near the gay village.
The menu is small but manageable. I choose the grill cheese on rye with bacon an egg over easy on the side. The meal was perfect and came with a side of potatoes and fruit. The double expresso was bold and just what I needed.
The service was also good although I felt I would get in trouble if I asked for ketchup.
If your on a budget skip it, other then that go ahead and enjoy a good breakfast or brunch. -
Review from S D.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2012
A great, intimate, cozy but chic place in T.O., with a great selection of food and drinks and polite staff. The mojitos in particular are superb, and the burger is one of the best I have tasted in Toronto. The only con is that it does run pretty expensive, but it's worth it to check it out.
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Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2011
We headed here for a late night dessert and coffee fix taking a suggestion of the server from the restaurant we had dinner at (crazy, I know!)... but it was truly fabulous!
The decor and atmosphere was absolutely stunning - it was unlike any other restaurant I've seen (almost like it was a house first before it became Wish). The service was fantastic! She suggested we try the Chocolate Ganache Brownie with homemade raspberry compote. And WOW - I "WISH" this could be a daily indulgence! It was so delicious that the table next to us ordered it too - saying we were their inspiration!
On a side note: the food menu looked pretty delectable, so we'll be back! -
Review from Chad M.
8/8/2010
I wish I could get some salt with my eggs!
Understanding that the owners of 7 also own Wish, my expectation levels were set appropriately.
Unfortunately the experience did not measure up in any way. Most notably the lack of attentive service. Our waiter failed to bring out any sweetener options for my coffee and completely forgot my wife's request for ketchup for her breakfast potatoes.
During this entire time I'm waiting to eat my eggs because there's no salt to be found. After he returned to ask how we were doing, we reminded him about the ketchup and asked for salt.
Unbelievably, we waited another 10 minutes for those items, which were finally brought out by a different waiter and now rendered moot since we'd finished our meals.
An unremarkable food experience tainted by poor service makes me say MEH! -
Review from Monica K.
North York, ON
2/12/2011 4 photos
I discovered this place back when I lived a block away and I have been recommending this place since. I just love the décor, the vibe and the general environment, it's soo pretty, even the patio is adorable! The patio is open year round and is of course heated in the winter, warm enough to wear a t-shirt. The food is okay, the Dulce de Lèche cheesecake is delicious, the hot chocolate is good, and the cocktails are great too! The service is also very friendly.
This is the perfect place for a girls night out or a date!! =) -
Review from Kreag S.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2008
I wish I may I Wish I might have the Wish I Wish tonight....that opening has absolutely nothing to do with the review....it just came out..sorry..
Anywhoooo..Wish is a very cool spot to go for some good eats and a nice cocktail...it's small..intimate and chic..great little patio and very good looking servers...food is nice..I recommend the angel hair pasta with balsamic reduction and a grey goose martini...ok ..5 grey goose martinis...maybe that's why the pasta seemed so good??...it seems to me like it would be the ideal first date place...although it's been 5 years since I've been on a first date so I could be out of touch with current dating rituals...Listed in: Liquor? I hardly know her!
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Review from Bijan V.
Updated - 10/31/2008 1 Check-in Here
Came here for lunch to take out a friend for his birthday and I'm impressed yet again! The food wasn't "especially" breathtaking - it was pretty good but the service is what made the lunch and they oversee every part of your meal! Another thing, they make a meeaann sweet Sangria, try it out!
I saw their dinner menu which is a bit more expensive ($40 - $50 / person with a drink) but actually seemed very interesting, maybe I'll try it out sometime soon.Listed in: Yonge Street!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/25/2008
I WISH this place wasn't just hidden off Yonge Street so I would've come here before! Had a great… Read more »
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Review from Steph L.
8/16/2010
Wish is a small trendy little spot tucked away on Charles.
The all white decor looks awesome and the wonderful little patio is perfect for hanging out.
This is a great place for a date!
Service was fairly prompt and the drinks were good.
I hear this place has great sangria that I still need to try.
We ordered the calamari which unfortunately wasn't as good as the drinks. Freezer calamari, batter in chunky bits sliding off...
It just wasn't good. I don't want to judge the place based our one appetizer...
I'll be back for drinks on the cute patio... and maybe I'll give other menu items a shot. -
Review from Erin K.
Toronto, ON
9/16/2010
Fried Calamari with Aioli & Salsa Fresca
The lightly breaded and deep-fried rings and tentacles were tender and neither overcooked nor too salty - two things that often ruin calamari. It wasn't put in the deep fryer for too long, so it wasn't especially crispy and the batter was so-so. I personally would have liked a bit more spice. It was okay, but I've had better value from Mezes in Greektown. The *best* calamari I've ever tried was from Yoso's-Call Joso's in Yorkville - pricey, but spiced and fried to perfection. Would not order calamari from Wish again.
Romaine Salad w Cherry Tomatoes, Herb Dressing, Feta Cheese, & Crostini
The waitress made a strong recommendation for the salad - she raved that she loved it and it is really great starter. Really? I think the picture speaks for itself. Romaine lettuce, a couple cherry tomatoes and an unmemorable dressing. Very poor value at $9.
Lamb Burger with Tomato Tzatziki & Feta
The saving grace of our lunch - the lamb was nicely ground and mixed with a good dash of cumin. Tender and juicy, I savoured it to make up for the disappointing salad and so-so calamari. The bun was a typical white hamburger-type of bun - too bad, really. I think that a great bun on a good burger makes a world of difference. The fries were decent - nice, thin, a little on the softer side (like the calamari! Perhaps this is just their style)
The patio and interior are simple and great for a summer brunch or lunch. Fresh, sunny flowers at each table, simple decor, and comfy couches created a low-key, relaxed atmosphere. However, for the value I don't think I will be returning for lunch...although I may give the weekend brunch another go. Maybe. -
Review from Kevin D.
Toronto, ON
1/25/2009
Nice upbeat atmosphere. The dining room is small so they crank the music a bit, which gets the blood flowing on a Saturday night.
My beef tenderloin was delicious, but the service put a damper on the night. The servers were friendly, but the timing was awful. We had a party of six and the courses were all over the place. The actually forgot an appetizer for one of our guests and challenged us on whether or not we even ordered it (we did).
That being said, I believe in a party of two this place would excel and the service wouldn't be an issue. The wine list is pretty thin as well.
Check it perhaps because the food is decent, but don't bring all your friends at the same time. -
Review from Vanessa G.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2008 2 photos
If you're looking for a cheap and cheerful brunch spot, this cozy restaurant will make your wishes come true! Their eggs bennie are delicious and come with fried potatoes and a side salad for a completely satiating meal. For those watching their waistlines, you can opt to try their delicious spinach and parmesan sauce in lieu of the hollandaise (which is buttery and decadent and oh-so-worth-it).
Their sweeter fare, like the French toast, is equally satisfying and every brunch dish I have ever seen looked amazing. The wait staff is always attentive and coffee refills are frequent! The outdoor patio is great in the summer but the inside of this establishment is uniquely decorated and also worth a visit! Wish is a great place to spend a lazy day on the weekend! -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2008
I love Wish.
It's owned by the same people who own 7 West and it's absolutely delicious. the waiters are just plain hot.
The indoor bar is great and cozy in the winter as both a coffee bar to read the paper at while you sip espresso and as a good spot to have a beer or a glass of vino with a friend.
in the summer, they open their lush patio which is mostly white couches and tables with chairs. There is also a dry ice fountain in the middle of the patio that ads to the ambiance with soft smoke.
The patio is split in two parts, the bulk being non smoking and the smaller patio is uncovered for smokers.
They serve a full dinner, but realistically, it's a bit cramped, so really you come here for the great aps' and desserts, or to have a cool mojito after work.
Did I mention that the waiters are really really handsome?
Great spot off dirty old Yonge. i recommend it for anyone. -
Review from Alon G.
Toronto, ON
10/31/2010
this is a great little local restaurant. the food is modern canadian. everything is very reasonably priced and the service is excellent.
i had the lamb burger and it was awesome. this restaurant has a few different burger options, and i'm sure they're all really good.
the decor is really cool. the whole restaurant is really white and it made the eating experience a little more fun. definitely check this place out. -
Review from Colin B.
Bedford, NS
2/11/2011
I've had dinner on numerous occasions and never been disappointed...for the price, the food is consistently creative and delicious. I think it compares well with Messis on Harbord St...similar cool urban vibe, both have great patios... prices a little cheaper at Wish.
