ēst Restaurant

We came here for a birthday brunch with my girlfriends, and it ended up being such a lovely experience. The service was truly amazing! our server handled everything with so much care, from taking our orders to making our delicious cocktails herself. The food was decent, the vibe was great, and the atmosphere made the whole celebration feel special. Definitely planning to come back soon for dinner!

We went for their neighborhood menu, which at $65/person sounded like a good deal. The appetizers and mains were perfect and delicious. We had the scallops and the steak tartare to begin with and an additional charred octopus to share. For mains we had the truffle gnocchi and the steak frites. All dishes so far had been amazing and had made us thought $65 was a really fair price for their 3 course menu. Until we got to the dessert… The only option was a cheesecake, which sounded ok, though when we got to it we got really REALLY frustrated. It looked and tasted like a cheap frozen cheesecake from the grocery store, which is something we obviously wouldn’t expect from them given the high quality meal we had just had. We’ll come back for their regular menu for sure, though we might just skip the dessert next time. The service was ok, nothing really exceptional.

Their Summerlicious menu ($75 per person) is at the highest price point, but still good value compared to normal prices (reflected in this post). For example, the burrata & caviar starter is typically $41, more than half of the special deal, which is surprising given its modest size. Hopefully, they usually give a full burrata as the palm-sized portion barely whet the appetite. Served on top of toasted pain-au-lait with a dollop of sturgeon caviar, the starter was a blend of flavours with the olive oil and honey. It’s good, but would I order it again for $40? Let’s just say I’m glad I experienced it with Summerlicious. Unlike the burrata, they weren’t stingy with the lobster agnolotti ($39) with plenty of plump stuffed pasta to go around. The chopped lobster and ricotta (?) filling was wrapped in an al dante shell that went nicely with the light champagne butter sauce. Simply topped with chopped fermented garlic scapes and a yuzu foam, they complimented but didn’t overpower the seafood. You can’t go wrong with the braised beef short rib ($51) a large hunk of tender beef sitting on silky pomme purée (or mashed potatoes for the English) swimming in a lovely red wine jus. It’s a classic for a reason, excellently executed at Ēst. If you like chocolate, you’ll love the Ēst chocolate cake ($15), a rich dark chocolate dessert with sweet chocolate whipped cream and more warm chocolate sauce on the side. It’s A LOT but thankfully there’s a bit of vanilla gelato to help cut through it all. At the other end of the spectrum, the piña colada sorbet ($15) was lighter with coconut sorbet topped with crispy coconut, pineapple, and nuts. It’s good, if you wanted to end on a more manageable note. At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, the crème brulee cheesecake was just right - a balanced sweetness with a creamy and not overly dense texture. The scoop of gelato didn’t hurt either. Of the three desserts, this was my favourite.

4.6/5 Food quality is comparable to some other top french cuisine. Service is excellent as well. Tartar beef is very good, and Crispy Mushrooms is impressive. Duck breast is awesome, the way they slice the potatoes is amazing. Chocolate cake with icecream dessert is also very nice.

Great food and on par or better than most high-end restaurants downtown / midtown. Decent sized portions for what it is and well priced versus restaurants of its tier, reviews saying otherwise needs to get their expectations checked. Gem of a place

Food was unseasoned, literally no salt on anything. Bit weird. Its a shame because all the food looks great, and tastes good (3 - 4 star) but just missing X-Factor / seasoning to be memorable. Wont come back.

As a foodie, this spot was absolutely delicious and a gem of the east end. The waitress was a delight - so kind and accomodating with atmosphere. The food was SO GOOD - the kind were you say « wow » after the first bite. I had the smoked salmon and potato pave - which was cooked to perfection - and my partner had the brioche french toast with foie gras, which was just the right amount of sweet, and combined with the foie gras was chef’s kiss. We are definitely adding this place to our usual rotation!

Here for the Summerlicious. The food was good and the service was super friendly and attentive all night, which made the whole experience feel even better. • Charred octopus: tender with a beautiful char. It was paired nicely with layered potatoes and bold flavours. • Braised beef shortrib: ridiculously soft, and juicy. You can really tell it was slow-braised for 12 hours. • Lobster agnolotti: buttery but not at all heavy, with the agnolotti cooked to perfectly al dente. • Burrata with caviar: fun, creative, and super tasty. The waffle was a bit hard though. • Steak tartare (off menu): solid and well-balanced, great texture. Dessert wasn’t really for me, but everything else made up for it, and we will definitely come back to try the regular menu.

Here for the Summerlicious. The food was good and the service was super friendly and attentive all night, which made the whole experience feel even better. * Charred octopus: tender with a beautiful char. It was paired nicely with layered potatoes and bold flavours. * Braised beef shortrib: ridiculously soft, and juicy. You can really tell it was slow-braised for 12 hours. * Lobster agnolotti: buttery but not at all heavy, with the agnolotti cooked to perfectly al dente. * Burrata with caviar: fun, creative, and super tasty. The waffle was a bit hard though. * Steak tartare (off menu): solid and well-balanced, great texture. Dessert wasn't really for me, but everything else made up for it, and we will definitely come back to try the regular menu.

Their Summerlicious menu ($75 per person) is at the highest price point, but still good value compared to normal prices (reflected in this post). For example, the burrata & caviar starter is typically $41, more than half of the special deal, which is surprising given its modest size. Hopefully, they usually give a full burrata as the palm-sized portion barely whet the appetite. Served on top of toasted pain-au-lait with a dollop of sturgeon caviar, the starter was a blend of flavours with the olive oil and honey. It's good, but would I order it again for $40? Let's just say I'm glad I experienced it with Summerlicious. Unlike the burrata, they weren't stingy with the lobster agnolotti ($39) with plenty of plump stuffed pasta to go around. The chopped lobster and ricotta (?) filling was wrapped in an al dante shell that went nicely with the light champagne butter sauce. Simply topped with chopped fermented garlic scapes and a yuzu foam, they complimented but didn't overpower the seafood. You can't go wrong with the braised beef short rib ($51) a large hunk of tender beef sitting on silky pomme purée (or mashed potatoes for the English) swimming in a lovely red wine jus. It's a classic for a reason, excellently executed at Ēst. If you like chocolate, you'll love the Ēst chocolate cake ($15), a rich dark chocolate dessert with sweet chocolate whipped cream and more warm chocolate sauce on the side. It's A LOT but thankfully there's a bit of vanilla gelato to help cut through it all. At the other end of the spectrum, the piña colada sorbet ($15) was lighter with coconut sorbet topped with crispy coconut, pineapple, and nuts. It's good, if you wanted to end on a more manageable note. At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, the crème brulee cheesecake was just right - a balanced sweetness with a creamy and not overly dense texture. The scoop of gelato didn't hurt either. Of the three desserts, this was my favourite.

Had a great meal with friends. Went early and then more people started to artive as we finished. Scallops were nice as well as the duck. Everything looks nice and service was attentive. Friends had steak, truffle gnocchi and fish.

Had a fantastic birthday meal here for the hubby. Love this local spot near Queen and Broadview. The service was wonderful and the food outstanding. If you are looking for a great French restaurant, look no further. Calm and modern vibe. Helpful service. The pics say it all. The food was excellent. But do start with their own milk bread and honey butter. Sooo good. ( you might want to pass if you have the parfait starter as it dies also come with milk bread).

Stopped by to try their weekend brunch and was delighted to find out they offered both their brunch and regular menus. We got items from both: - Charred Octopus: My favourite dish of the meal! The octopus was cooked really well, not rubbery at all. But what put it over the top wad the delightful honey glaze squid ink sauce that really accentuated the flavours. - Braised Beef Shortrib: You can taste the 12 hour braise as the shortrib melts in your mouth. - Chicken and Waffles: Standard fried chicken but those waffles were something else - there was a nutty tastiness to them. - Chocolate Cake: Decadent and indulgent, with a light vanilla gelato to complement the cake. - Creme Brulee and Caviar: Standard brulee, with the dollop of salty caviar to balance the sweetness. The place is small but well laid out. Service was excellent. The music is an absolute treat. Prices are what prices are these days for places like this. Overall, really loved dining here and will definitely be back.

Came from summerlicious, decent deal. The arctic char was the highlight of the meal. The octopus app was also great. Good ambiance

We came to ēst for a birthday dinner with about 25 people. This is a great space for a smaller group event - we had most of the restaurant to ourselves, and they have a few different prix fixe menus to choose from. We had the reservation from 7pm to closing. They had a coat rack at the front, and a bit of space by the bar to mingle prior to sitting down for dinner. I appreciated that they had a virgin espresso martini - as someone who doesn't drink alcohol, I loved trying an iteration of this popular drink. The meal was also great - I especially enjoyed the burratta & caviar, mushroom truffle fettuccine, and rack of lamb. There was one particular staff member who was a bit short with us, but otherwise servers were kind and allowed us to stay well past dinnertime. I really enjoyed my time at ēst and would recommend it for a nice intimate dinner.

I'm really glad this place exists in the area! I dined here for a big anniversary dinner and they did make us feel special with a nice table and a card. The restaurant is very nice; clean, quiet and quaint with all booth seating and a few high chairs looking out to the street. It was a Tuesday evening so they have buck a shuck oysters and 25% off bottles of sparkling wine, which is a fantastic deal. The oysters were very small, but for a promotion night, I get it. We also ordered the steak frites for $45 and it was good. The charred octopus was the star of the show. This dish had a lot of good flavours and components to it. I did check reviews before coming and after reading and experiencing it, I can see it's inconsistent. Our octopus dish was a big portion compared to others, but I think it's because it was a special night for us. From the consensus it seems more hits than misses, but to be a repeat customer I'd want to trust that I'd be receiving best of the best each time. Regarding service, it was not bad at all, but I hate to say it, it wasn't the best. I understand it though because I did come on a weeknight. I could definitely tell she was trying to provide great service to get through the night and because it was a special night for us. I would only recommend coming either for a promo night or a weekend night.

This restaurant was on the Summerliscious event. Good was excellent. The restaurant is quite cozy. The food was amazingly delicious and well presented. The grilled octopus was very tender and delicious. The trout was tender and the skin was so crispy. It was a great experience!

Generally great food - we loved the burrata, pain au lait and short rib. I'd pass on the lobster pasta, we had high hopes and the server recommended it but it was swimming in butter. Overall we really enjoyed the food! They also do buck a shuck oysters twice a week and half priced short rib on wednesdays.

Just so wonderful. The amazing Jaden took such great and appropriate care of us. Be it drink suggestions, menu explanations, further chilling our wine....she was fully and graciously on top of it all!!! It didn't hurt that everything we ordered was perfect, including signature cocktails, and the food was on the table quickly. Portion sizes were equally perfect. Filling, but neither tiny bits of food with squiggles of sauce nor huge portions ending up with leftovers we couldn't take to the theater, which was our next stop. Next time I'm in town I'll be back!!!

The cutest brunch spot! I really loved the vibes, I feel like dinner here would be really romantic. I ordered the eggs Benny it was delicious. The only reason I am giving 4 stars is because service was very slow. I felt bad because it only looked like one server was working which was why it was so slow. I would definitely go back for cute brunch vibes!

Now that I have ordered 6 times within the last couple of months, and seen that the quality has gotten where I knew it could be, I'm giving five stars. Who else has duck confit? Nobody for delivery (except with waffles). Who else has Cornish Hen? Nobody! Why purchase chicken when you can get this high-quality Cornish hen with jus, mushrooms, and mashed potatoes? It is excellent. Now that they have remembered to include all the components listed on the menu, the meal is awesome. Highly recommended -- especially for those living in River City because it will arrive piping hot via delivery! Packaging is pretty sustainable and the freshness and taste cannot be beat. It tastes like you're at a fine dining restaurant.

Est Restaurant located on Queen St. E. near Broadview Ave, serves up Italian-French cuisine in the heart of Riverdale. I had hear of est restaurant before under the previous owners where I had wanted to always try their tasting menu (wasn't able to though!). The restaurant actually reopened under new ownership in 2022. The interior of the restaurant is simple but warm with wooden accents throughout. The bar is along the right side of the restaurant and there is about seating for about 20-25 customers. There is primarily table seating but also a few bar seats available as well. This review will be for their brunch service, which is served on Sat and Sun from 10am to 3pm. My friend and I dropped by est Restaurant on a Sunday around 12:30pm. We did not have a reservation but the restaurant was able to accommodate us where we sat at the bar (we didn't mind as we didn't want to wait). Service was friendly and attentive. We ordered cocktails (I got the sangria while my friend got the mimosa (unlimited $5 refills!)). We both shared a chicken and waffles, as we were not too hungry and were just looking for a small bite to eat. Their brunch menu also consisted of many classic brunch dishes - think eggs benny, breakfast sandwich, French toast, etc. The cocktails we ordered were made at a reasonable time and were delicious! A refreshing boozy start to our meal. Our chicken and waffles did take a while as later on, the kitchen staff told us that they had issues with the waffle machine. We weren't in a rush and were just catching up so we were ok with waiting. The kitchen staff also apologized many times which was appreciated. The chicken and waffles were delicious! The Belgian waffle was fluffy which paired well with the whisky maple crème anglaise. The buttermilk fried chicken was juicy and crunchy. The overall dish was tasty and executed well. Well worth the wait! Overall, great brunch option in the Riverdale area. Reservations are recommended, however, they may be able to accommodate walk ins as well during their non-busy hours. The service was great and the cocktails and food were delicious. Definitely would return!

Great new place GreaT cocktails Giving Comrade a run fir their money Delish food Small slow clean friendly easy

Stumbled by this place during our after dinner late night walks. We decided to go in for late snack and it did not disappoint. It's a fine dinning restaurant, therefore slower service is expected and justifiable. The interior design is very slick, and modern. Highly recommend this venue for people looking for a date night or an elegant dinner with the girls! The oysters were fresh and thick! If you like oysters/ raw food you will like their oysters! I will definitely return again to explore their menu, especially their brunch menu! Brunch is available until 3pm on the weekends!

[3.75/4]: Came here last night for a belated Valentine's day dinner because I was influenced by Toronto Restaurant TikTok. Overall good food but some misses that I can't fully give this place a true 4/5. It's definitely better than a 3.5/5 so that's why I came up with the average of 3.75/5. The restaurant is all white and very bright and nicely decorated inside. Calm atmosphere. Small - fits a total of 30 patrons (including 6 that are bar seats). When we got there, only 2 tables of 2 were seated and had begun their complimentary bread. So it was pretty empty at 6pm. By the time we finished at 830pm, it was filling up but not packed. There were 2 servers all night and they were nice and pleasant however, the pacing between courses were very slow. We didn't know our dinner would go that long. The one thing they didn't do is really go through the menu and explain all the dishes we ended up ordering. I don't know if they only do that when you do a tasting menu but they also just didn't go through any stand outs on the menu either. We started with 2 drinks. Their drink menu was extremely fruity and tropical - no complaints from me! I love so called "girly" drinks. We ordered a white peach sangria - which basically tasted like a tropical juice with no alcohol - loved it lol. It was also a very large portion considering the cocktails were $15 (average cocktail prices in Toronto) I was happy! We also ordered a raspberry moscow mule which was very gingery and good as well for $15. They had a chocolate espresso martini that I really wanted but couldn't justify $22 for. For food appetizers we ordered the octopus and $43 truffle pasta for appetizers. The octopus was hands down the best thing we ate that night. The squid ink sauce was so nice. The truffle pasta was kind of luke warm? I was disappointed that it didn't come out hot given that it was $43 for the small plate. However, they did include a lot of shaved truffle on top. Probably the most forgettable dish of the night - unfortunately. Before the appetizer and between the appetizer and the main courses, we were given complimentary bread with butter and a lime sorbet palette cleanser. A very nice touch however, the food between the appetizer and the main came out very very very slowly. We waited a noticeably long time that we thought the pacing could've been improved on for a better dining experience. For the food mains we ordered the beef short ribs - which were quite popular all night since we saw basically everyone ordering it. And the Irish salmon with squid ink again. Unfortunately, the beef short ribs tasted like wedding food to us. I like the mash potatoes it sat on. Came with a sauce we could drizzle on top of the dish yourself. The salmon dish was definitely the better of the two mains. It came with the same really nice sauce that the octopus appetizer came with. However, I didn't understand why it was plated skin side down? They had crisped up the salmon skin but plated it down on the plate so it got soggy by the time we ate it. The dish could've used more of the crispy contrast that the small prosciutto or bacon -type meat on the edge tried to provide. Lastly, the dessert we ordered the chocolate cake. It's very hard to mess up dessert. The chocolate cake was beautiful and delicious. It also came with chocolate sauce on the side for us to drizzle ourselves. It came with an ice cream on top of these crispy cake bits - probably my favourite part of the dessert. I love good contrast! Overall, I was happy with my valentine's day dinner but I wasn't blown away considering the price.

Came here for my birthday after seeing the great reviews. The service was friendly and the atmosphere relaxed. However, the decor seems unfinished and plain. There's a lack of visual interest and the bench seating is uncomfortable since there are no cushions to sit on. Our party of four ordered the duck confit and a couple of pasta dishes. The duck confit was decent but was very rustic and plain, lacked elevation. The pasta was not bad but certainly nothing special. Overall, I expected a fine dining experience based on the pricing and reviews, but for us it was just an overpriced low-grade bistro.

Delicious food, friendly service and nice ambience vibe. Love the steak tartare and burrata salad. Lychee martini is sooo good.

Went to this restaurant for our anniversary dinner. I'd rate 3.5 if I could. We ordered octopus for appetizer, truffle pasta and tenderloin steak for main, truffle french fries as a side and chocolate cake for dessert. Octopus was very tender and flavorful, the best dish at the dinner. Pasta and steak were ok but not mind-blowing. Although chocolate cake was beautifully presented, the taste was average. Service was a bit slow but pleasant. Price is definitely on a higher side. It seems that they changed the owner in summer this year and most of the dishes that were posted on yelp were not available now.

Came here in mid Jan for a friend's birthday brunch! Pemeal Eggs Benny Chicken & Waffles Truffle Grilled Cheese French Toast Bites Parmesan Truffle Fries Wanted to come here forever for dinner but ended up trying their new brunch service back in January! We loved everything we ordered, especially their tasty chicken & waffles- super juicy and crispy chicken with one if my favourite waffle flavour and textures ever! The French Toast Bites were a bit sweet for me but again the crunchy exterior and soft inside was amazing! The Truffle Grilled Cheese was also very flavourful and came with a small side salad which helps cut some of the saltiness from the cheese Can't wait to go back for dinner one day!

Came here to celebrate Father's Day. Wow, I'll just say this place was great! Food was delicious and service was spot on. Will definitely return!

***2.5 stars**** Went last night for the first time and unfortunately left disappointed and unsatisfied. We had read strong reviews and thought the menu looked right up our alley so we were excited to try. Before complaining though, we will say our service was incredible so thank you to our server, Cameron! On a small starting note, they stopped their free bread and specialty butter service which was too bad. We then started with the octopus, because it's usually a favourite dish of ours, but found this one was just fine. It was well cooked and the accompanying sauces were good, but overall its flavour was underwhelming. For mains, I got the mushroom truffle fettuccine and my boyfriend got the braised beef short rib. We also got a side of the broccolini as it was recommended. Credit where it's due, my boyfriend enjoyed his meal. The meat was tender and very flavourful, and paired well with its sides. However, we both agreed my pasta was a huge letdown. We've had tons of versions of this type of dish and unfortunately this is the only one at a nice restaurant we have both disliked. It just completely lacked all flavour unfortunately. Overall, the service was great and the plating was specifically nice. We do like the look of the menu so I wish we could have enjoyed the overall experience more, but for us, I don't think we'll be returning.

Part of a longer review... "Chef Sean MacDonald, together with his chef de cuisine, Reece MacIsaac, used seasonal ingredients, exceptional quality and meticulous technique to both comfort and delight patrons. A prime example of delight was through the amuse-bouche, which we savoured with a glass of bubbly. Four exquisite plates derived from the land, the sea and from plants captured our attention from a visual point of view and through the story that accompanied them. For example, the sunchoke skin with whipped sunchoke and sunflower seed condiment, cleverly presented in a miniature terra cotta pot with red pepper chips shaped like clay bricks, told the story of the bricklayers and gardeners who used to work in the neighbourhood. Pork cheek with a fish sauce caramel, and the prawn hotdog with chive mustard and brioche were also outstanding, and set the bar high for what was about to unfold..."

We went to Est for brunch, and it was amazing. The food was incredible, and I felt like it wasn't too pricey. (My drink, food, tax, and tip came to about $25 USD.) They also have fun drink options, including mocktails if you would prefer to avoid alcohol. The vibes are also super cute. I do think there was only one waitress working, but it wasn't particularly crowded, so our service was pretty good. However, I could understand why the service might be a little slower at busier times of the day. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant for brunch. It was definitely our best meal in Toronto!

Came here on a wednesday evening with two others and was seated at the very back. I thought the ambiance and vibe was much nicer in the front and middle section however the place is relatively small. Saw and heard good things about this place on tiktok and gave it a shot! Like how their menu changes and their dishes are prepared uniquely. The biggest disappointment is that all their food came out lukewarm...the quality of the ingredients were there but the final outcome was just ok because it was all just warm. The dishes i do recommend is the branzino - the fish was cooked perfectly with a great sauce on the side with a smoky flavor and crispy skin. The 72 hr short rib was the highlight for my friend as it was a melt in your mouth experience - it was made well however extremely sweet which threw me off a bit.

3.5/5 Definitely a pretty restaurant - perfect for a cute date night dinner! Service is friendly and there is adequate space for social distancing from other patrons. Drinks... amazing! We loved the Est wind cocktail the most - it has a lovely floral hint. Food... uber salty. The menu is definitely interesting and some dishes were executed very well. But it was overwhelmingly salty for the most part. Highlights were: - Lobster curry.... The curry sauce is amazing - Duck confit.... Massive portion and tender - Octopus.... Super tender and nicely cooked Disappointments: - Maitake mushrooms.... In true mushroom fashion, they soaked up all the sauce which was insanely salty - Focaccia.... good bread but much too salty - Branzino.... A tad too salty AND dirty in the spinach, yikes I love a rotating menu but was disappointed they didn't have the short rib when we came... the reviews for that were amazing!

Loved everything here. I came here after seeing that the chef makes amazing meals for his dog, Hazelnut, on TikTok and knew I had to go when I found out about his restaurant in Toronto. I would say that Est is a semi formal dining experience. It's not your uppity up tasting menu spot but it was more affordable and casual (which I love). The food was amazing and their menu varies according to the seasons. For now, they're doing a-la-carte but you can also ask the staff to surprise you so technically it's still a tasting. If you're going with a-la-carte, I am adamant that everyone has to try the 72 Hour Sous Vide Short Rib with fish caramel. It literally melts in your mouth. Flavours were on point. I also really enjoyed the Maitake Mushrooms with its bold forest-y mushroom flavours mixed in with XO sauce. Everything here is pretty sauce reliable too so eat it all with the sauce in the dish to really savior each bite. I would say maybe 5-6 dishes for 2 people would be good enough here. Close off with the Ube Flan, you won't regret it.

This is one of my fav 'hidden gem' restaurants in Toronto, tucked away in the east end. It's a charming and intimate venue with a curated Italian-French inspired menu. The staff are very courteous and knowledgeable, and the service is well-paced and attentive. The menu itself is succinct and pared down to dishes they do quite well; the Burrata with figs is one of my favourites, particularly the generous showering of truffles over top! It's so decadent! I tried their soup feature which was the brown butter roasted cauliflower on this occasion; I was expecting more depth of flavour, but it was still quite tasty. The best dish on the menu in my opinion is their octopus, which is charred with a honey glaze, served with a tarragon-yuzu salad and the presentation is standout with black garlic and squid ink. Although I wish the portion were made into a larger entree vs an app which is on the smaller size (2 tentacles). They also have a small dessert menu which I've tried, but to be honest, not their strongest selling points. They also have a unique selection of cocktails including a quite potent espresso Martini! They also make a pretty fantastic Paloma which is my fav! Thank you to the staff and chefs for your incredible hospitality!

Excellent lunch. What an exiting experience for me. All the dishes were very original and the flavour was incredible. For now I will say that I will be back and this place is worth visiting. The menu is small and special. A bit of Asian and Canadian flair. Presentation was first class. Yum.

I had to give this one some thought before posting. Essentially, it's a foodie paradise. The courses roll out in a sauntering low key way, each one a completely new experience. We have high salty seas, comforting buttery carby happiness, rich savory umami. Not one course is like the last. Myself and my date each had the omnivore tasting menu, I with the wine pairing, him with a couple of alcohol free cocktails that were decadent and thoughtful. The wine list is full of underground hits. The pairing was perfection. I'm going back to have the upgraded pairing next. If you like Alo or La Banane or great food in a beautiful place, make this your next stop. But don't be fooled, this is nothing like any other experience in town, the space is a gallery, strict and simple, a plinth for the experience which begins when you are greeted at the door, as you look around the well lit space, take in the well honed materials and quiet atmospheric enhancements. Simple Decadence is how I'd describe the experience offered by Est. This restaurant is really quite special. I'd bring a friend who adores food, or clients to impress them or a romantic date spot.

Went on a Saturday night for my boyfriend's birthday, we loved it my boyfriend is not a fan of scallops, lobster and duck but he loved all the dishes. We got the 5 course menu for 90$ (S.Pellegrino special). We will definitely return, it was a great experience with amazing food.

we were very excited to try this restaurant after a friend had been posting about it on her socials. We booked it for my birthday and showed up early to our reservation and asked if we could be seated outside at a shaded table vs inside since it was a nice day. They accommodated us and sat us outside at a table with an umbrella. We sat for about 10 minutes and then I went inside to use the bathroom. ON my way out our server asked if we would change tables. I replied nicely that we would prefer to stay where we were as we wanted to be in the shade, and she said she understood. I went back to the table and 5 minutes later was tapped on the shoulder by another server who said "you have to leave this table, other people have it booked." There was no apology or explanation and were a bit stunned as we had been seated there and the server who sat as had said it was an open table. We were not approached about this nicely or kindly. We got up from the table and told the server we would go elsewhere. The next day we were charged $50 for a no-show fee which has since been resolved after I called the restaurant, When i called to ask for the fee to be refunded i was again surprised that the server who was there that night tried to justify her behavior saying they were busy and the people that came in after us were upset as they wanted that table and felt that since their reservation was for the patio they should have it not us. In my opinion that is an error on the restaurants part not ours and we shouldn't have been treated so poorly.

ēst is an intimate restaurant with 30 seats (24 table seating and 6 at the bar) in the Riverside community. Executive Chef and owner Sean MacDonald offers 9-courses traditional and vegan tasting menus. The space is clean and minimalist, providing a neutral stage to showcase the beautifully plated culinary creations. Baskets under the bench seats provide a convenient arrangement to store personal belongings. Bench seats do not have padding and are uncomfortable. Chairs are a bit low for the height of the tables and could use a little more padding as well. The current menu is very interesting, consisting of a culinary travel across the country, highlighting ingredients, cooking techniques, the history and traditions of each province/region of Canada. Our first stop was British Columbia (steelhead trout, sambal, kohlrabi). It was a lovely bite-sized dish, with striking flavors and perfect level of spiciness. Our next stop was Alberta (48-hour sous vide beef tongue with bone marrow glaze, and koji inoculated culotte, horseradish, bread miso). The beef tongue had a nice saltiness to it; I love the texture of beef tongue, but the serving size was so small that I could barely feel it. The wagyu beef was tender and delectable, with the horseradish and miso bread providing a unique flavor. Our stop in Saskatchewan brought us bannock, crispy chicken tails, Saskatoon berry powder. The bannock was nice, but the cultured butter with crispy chicken tails and berry powder was tasteless and did not contribute or improve the flavor of the course. Manitoba brought us roasted beet, forest floor dashi and black walnut. The creme fraiche filled beet had a nice rich flavor. For our stop in Ontario, we were presented with white corn porridge, pickled squash and corn ash. The porridge had a lovely creamy soft flavor, and the pickled squash and bacon created interesting textures. Quebec was represented by smoked duck breast, duck heart and maple jus. Duck was tender; the maple jus reminded me of Christmas ham. For the Maritimes, we stopped in Nova Scotia (scallop rappie pie, crisp potato, pickled dulse), New Brunswick (maple yeast ploye, salted lentil caviar) and PEI (butter poached lobster, steamed mussel, burn corn husk mignonette). The scallop rappie pie tasted like cold mashed potato with a hint of seafood. The ploye tasted like fat and nothing else; it was gross. The steamed mussel flavor completely overpowered the lobster. At our stop in Newfoyndland & Labrador, the rabbit terrine with cloudberry and wild mushrooms was lovely presented in a rabbit trap. The terrine had a nice texture, but unfortunately the wild mushroom sauce was too salty. We finished our journey across Canada in the Northern Territories (pumpkin seed ice cream with lemon verbena snow; chocolate brownie soil with balsam fir sponge, candied lichen and lingonberry; pine cruller with corn silk kombucha). The pumpkin seed ice cream had a very unique flavor with was not unpleasant to the palate. Chocolate brownie was unexpected, as it was all different types of crumbles in a plate; again, it was unique, I did not love it, but did not dislike it either. Finally, the cruller was awesome and had a delicate texture. Chef Sean MacDonald succeeded providing a unique culinary experience that you cannot get anywhere else, although some dishes were more successful than others. The serving sizes need to be improved; they were too small. Having had tasting menus in so many different restaurants, I have to say this was the first time that at the end of the meal I did not feel satisfied. Tiffany (General Manager) and Gina provided excellent service throughout the evening. They were knowledgeable and friendly. Service was timed well; we didn't feel rushed or waiting for long periods of time between courses. It was a nice touch that for a couple of the courses, Chef Sean MacDonald presented the dishes himself. Deposit is required at the time of reservation. Street parking available on Queen Street. Served by TTC streetcar route 501. TLDR; good food, great service, some hits and some opportunities for improvement Photos: https://thomassu.smugmug.com/Food/2020/200206est/n-8gPtp9/

I wanted to like it, really I did. est is clearly trying hard to get up there with the big names, but there's a lack of substance that makes it so hard to enjoy. The service was impeccable- warm, patient and seamless. The space itself is boring but inoffensive. The plates are...definitely trying. It's hit or miss, with the potato dumplings delivering on their reputation, soured by missteps like over cooked duck and a weirdly crumby dessert (why so many crumbs??) We see another dessert pass by, we're told it's the vegan option- a messy bowl of purple ube served with a spatula. Nope. As the other reviewer mentioned, if you're an alo fan you might be tempted but truly- save yourself time time. The plating might be picturesque, but there's a reason the emphasis here is on presentation. The food is a disappointment.

Checked out Toronto's newest tasting menu restaurant, Est Restaurant by Chef Sean MacDonald! Enjoyed the Traditional Tasting Menu of six courses plus snacks for $90. Worth a try for tasting menu lovers. Depending on what you look for in tasting menu, expect unique dishes with simple flavours bringing out the main ingredient of the dish. https://travellingfoodie.net/est-restaurant-toronto/

We finally made it to est. wow. Amazing. Flavours and complex prep are foremost here. Sometimes the main item is acting as a conduit for the complex, forward sauce. Not for the immature palette. My new fave. Can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu.

Fabulous meal! Right at queen and broadview with tons of post dinner bar options a short walk away. The space was simple and minimalist but there was great attention to detail. The staff was knowledgeable without an ounce of pretentiousness, which is a hard balance to strike. We did the tasting menu with the wine pairings - the wine pours were extremely generous (pretty much a full glass each), so I'm pretty sure I consumed a full bottle by the end of it all. Having the sommelier come out and talk about each wine pairing was a nice touch. Highly recommend for a special night out!

Huge disappointment... trying hard but missed the mark big time!! If you've ever actually eaten at a Michelin star restaurant you will know how incredibly far off this restaurant is. Like not-even-close (other reviewers put it in this category which is why I'm even mentioning it). From cold dumplings, to cold soup, to barely rendered pork belly and fairly unsophisticated flavours, weird desserts and frankly pretentious service, I really really wish we had taken our dollars and time elsewhere. The host was the only nice thing about our night at Est a few wks ago. If you go, pls manage your expectations. Don't let the pre-reservation bill fool you! They've got a long way to go to justify a $300/couple meal!!

One of the best restaurants in the city! The food is incredible - particularly the pork, crispy potatoes and the skate fish. Honestly you really can't go wrong. I know that they opened as a tasting menu, ( which I'm sad I missed) but the way they've managed to pivot since Covid is commendable. The menu is approachable, well thought out and just plain good food. Of the two times I've been there service has been 5/5. Highly recommend.

Hands down the best meal I've had in a long time, and not just in Toronto. The food was inventive, playful and unusual without being pretentious, and every morsel I consumed was absolutely delicious. Decor is understated yet super stylish and service was simply superb. A truly memorable experience. This is my first yelp restaurant review. I just felt compelled to endorse this rare gem!

This place is an absolute gem. We've been here twice now and are in love with the menu. The service is also fantastic; very warm and friendly. They also offer a tasting experience which is really nice. Solid wine by the glass list. Must try their ube flan- it's out of this world. Basically everything we tried was delicious though.

Let me begin by saying the service was amazing. The food was far from. How does one describe the feelings I experienced dining here. Disappointed. Anger. Frustration. Confused. Sorry. Sad. Embarrassed. I don't know what kind of people gave them such a high rating. That solidified IMO people in this city know f*** all about food. That's why Toronto will never be recognized on a world stage. I digress as my stomach attempts to digest. Someone once said you eat with your eyes and if the food doesn't taste the greatest but looks great I'll forgive it. But if it looks blegh then to me it won't taste great. To that person I would slap the f*** out of you. Presentation is outstanding but that couldn't save anything while I've eaten food that looks rubbish but blows you away on its flavour. The beginning of the meal you're presented with an amuse bouche of tastings. The shrimp hotdog had an old butter taste that's stale in texture in the bun where the shrimp wiener was a little too thin to hold up against the bun. Very lack lustre that left a murky after taste. The sunflower crisp was overly sour that left nothing left to savour from the nutty and sweet flavours that one would expect to experience. Probably the best item was the red pepper crisp. Not saying much as nothing about it popped a memorable flavour to even remember how to describe it. The Asian flavoured pork belly skewer was rampant of salinity that was so overwhelming that it immediately gave me goosebumps and not in the good way. Moving onto the bread course the "fluffiest leek scones you'll ever have" though fully cooked tasted of raw dough to the point I had to slather on this overly salty cultured butter in abundance. Probably the only other dish that didn't send me reeling was the squid on a bed of charred cabbage and xo sauce. The squid was light and soft while the cabbage was impossible to cut through with a sauce that was borderline too salty. We were given some lame story of the olden days when work was hard especially in manual labour...Lalala I didn't care and to be honest didn't see the connection between stories and food. Afterwards you receive a tomato salad that is very acidic that had lingering tastes of clementine and mint. No one that I know enjoyed this dish. Following after this was the "signature potato dumpling" let me begin by saying it's practically a gnocchi. I make good gnocchi. His butter Parmesan sauce is essentially gnocchi bianco. In hopes of thinking I'll love this dish to my disappointment had an overly salty sauce to a denser dumpling yet again had a finish of citrus?!? That killed it for me. Going forward was the cod wrapped in zucchini cooked en papillote with this spiced sauce with something green. This was the dish that made me feel like I had food poisoning. My stomach was not about it. Overly spiced with cloves and cardamom or whatever was so overwhelming that's all I tasted. The sauce left such a strong unpleasant aftertaste it ruined my night. Cod is very bland and to sauce it like that was disgusting. I get it. Contrast is key in fine dining. I've had dinner at 200 dollar restaurants where the meat was under salted and the sauce was over seasoned. Any one on its own was unpleasant, however to combine that makes a balanced harmony that enhances the savouriness and harmonizes the dish. This did not achieve that. It masked any flavour of the fish making the zucchini pointless as well. The duck dish (my main) was again super salty to the point I was scrapping the sauce off the meat and don't get me started on the paper thin slices. The Asian flavours in the sauce can't beat the cheapest of duck dishes in Asian restaurants I was disappointed. The beef main my friend ordered was texturally soft however the inoculation of the koji bacteria to "age and tenderize" the meat left an unpalatable flavour only to be saved by the charred onions that weren't sweet as they were pickled. The sea buckthorn sour palate cleanser was too sour and not refreshing. I could taste the flavour of that paper straw it left me with uneasy feelings and I couldn't finish the tiny drink. The crumbled ice cream lacked any sweetness although individually they tasted well, but combining them together left a bland muted un refreshing dessert. The final nail in this coffin was the orange caramel with black olives and black salt. Gross. Alas the portions are insanely tiny. At $100 a head this is ridiculous.

Fabulous tasting menu! Delicious, beautifully plated offerings plus a few surprise amuse bouche selections from the chef. Dishes are very well balanced with layers of flavour. Proteins and vegetables cooked to perfection. The fish stew and root vegetable dessert were amazing! Servers were very attentive and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Wine pairings made the experience even better. Everything you would want in a special dining experience. Have been to this restaurant a couple of times now. Can't wait for my next visit!

Simplicity elevated. This was the most pleasurable tasting menu I've ever had. I could not stop saying "mmm" with every bite. The seasoning was perfect and the ingredients really shined. This is Canada's best new restaurant without a doubt.