Grey Gardens
Restaurant · Kensington-Chinatown ·
Seafood-heavy menu with a vast wine list in a relaxed setting
Seafood-heavy menu with a vast wine list in a relaxed setting
"Living up to its bohemian-luxe address in Kensington Market, this part wine bar and part restaurant offers small snacks, medium, and full-sized plates with an emphasis on seafood, with standouts including sweet shrimp with compressed watermelon radishes. But don't leave without trying the dry-aged Peking-style duck breast, which is served on homemade sauerkraut and duck fried rice. The real joy here is the wine list, which is stocked with everything from hard-to-find and private-order bottles to biodynamic selections, organic Burgundies, and orange wines. Luckily for neophytes, the menu offers easy-to-understand tasting notes. Pop in for a glass of rare Sauternes and a snack after work (no reservations required), or come with a friend to linger over dinner in the back dining room (reservations only)." - Todd Plummer
"Everyone is drawn to restaurateur Jen Agg's hip, boisterous venue, which manages both style and substance with confident charm. An excellent wine list is paired with a small, mercurial menu that punches above its weight class, where ostensibly simple, unassuming dishes turn out to be heavy hitters. Raw items like oysters and crudos are commendably fresh, and the house-made pastas are real showstoppers. Take as an example the cavatelli, resting in a chili oil along with braised oxtail and crispy fried tripe. The menu might only offer a duo of desserts, but they’re just as inspired as the rest—in other words, not to be missed." - Michelin Inspector
"Jen Agg's hip, boisterous venue manages both style and substance with confident charm. An excellent wine list is paired with a small, mercurial menu that punches above its weight class, where ostensibly simple, unassuming dishes turn out to be heavy hitters. Raw items like oysters and crudos are commendably fresh, and the house-made pastas are real showstoppers." - The MICHELIN Guide
"Restaurateur Jen Agg first made her mark on the Toronto food scenewitha little joint calledthe Black Hoof, visited by Anthony Bourdain and an endless parade of chefs. The latest addition to her empire is Grey Gardens, located in the midst of the city’s hippie enclave. The fruits of herpartnership with chef Mitch Bates, under whose watch New York City's Momofuku Ko earned two Michelin stars, have kept the customers streamingin the door. Expect a beautiful room awash in grays and pastels and extraordinarily pretty dishes, too, like a sea bass entrée taken to the next level with a smattering of perfect green-apple stars."
"Restaurateur Jen Agg first made her mark on the Toronto food scenewitha little joint calledthe Black Hoof, visited by Anthony Bourdain and an endless parade of chefs. The latest addition to her empire is Grey Gardens, located in the midst of the city’s hippie enclave. The fruits of herpartnership with chef Mitch Bates, under whose watch New York City's Momofuku Ko earned two Michelin stars, have kept the customers streamingin the door. Expect a beautiful room awash in grays and pastels and extraordinarily pretty dishes, too, like a sea bass entrée taken to the next level with a smattering of perfect green-apple stars."