Lake Inez

We went to Lake Inez yesterday and every bite felt thoughtful and magical. We started with cocktails that were perfectly balanced and full of flavour. The menu is always changing, which makes each visit exciting. We tried four different dishes—each one more delicious than the last—with plenty of fun flavour surprises along the way. We finished with a fantastic dessert that wrapped everything up beautifully. Cozy atmosphere, great vibes, and an unforgettable meal. This is definitely now in our top three restaurants in Toronto!

I loved it. What an experience. I went for a wine club event paired with a vegan menu by some visiting chefs and everything was so thoughtfully matched and curated. This is a different experience I understand from their a la carte service but it made for the most captivating experience. As it was a special event, you are seated at the same time as everyone else with handwritten and quippy place cards. Each wine has a story, told in the most uncontrived and charming manner. Each detail is considered including the playlist. The food was incredible. Showcasing the cuisine of Eastern Europe, but leveraging the fresh spring / summer produce of Ontario. Dining out is meant to be special, an experience. Lake Inez goes above and beyond what many restaurants in the city, and the world offer. One of my favourite dining experiences ever.

Had a great night at Lake Inez this weekend. We tried everything on the menu and were impressed by everything. Nothing was mind blowing but it was all just very good. We tried the whole menu with 4 people and it was the perfect amount of food. We also had a very nice beaujolais at a decent price and our server was very kind and helpful. Very chill vibe inside as well. We will certainly be going back for the chefs menu. Also best calzone I’ve ever had. Elevated pilsbury pizza pocket!

We dined here last night and loved our whole evening. Service was great and the atmosphere was unique for Toronto. Food was delicious, throughly enjoyed each plate and its unique pairings. Each dish also comes with a veg alternative. Would definitely come back and recommend to family and friends. Thanks for a great dinner!

Had an awesome night at Lake Inez. The vibe is cozy but upbeat, the menu has a Middle Eastern influence that really works. It’s definitely a spot where you go for the experience — creative food, great drinks, and a chill but lively atmosphere. We ordered five dishes between two of us and that was more than enough. Some people complain about the portion sizes, but it’s a tapas menu — the whole point is to try a bunch of things. If you’re hoping to share one plate with three people, this probably isn’t the spot for you. Order a few and enjoy the variety. The food itself was a mix of highs and lows. The beef tartare was probably the best I’ve ever had (and I love beef tartare). The brassica rail was another standout — really creative and packed with flavour. The hamachi was good but didn’t blow me away. The beef dish, while cooked perfectly was unfortunately, way too salty and heavily spiced. Drinks were good — super tasty and well-made. For what we ordered, I thought the price was totally fair (5 dishes, 6 drinks around $260 with tip) All in all, strong flavours, cool menu, great setting. Not every dish hit, but I’d definitely go back to try new menu items as I understand they rotate from time to time.

To fully appreciate Lake Inez, you have to start with the menu—not just for the food, but for the sheer poetry of its descriptions. Each dish reads like a chapter in an abstract novel: playful, enigmatic, and richly imaginative. I often don’t quite know what I’m ordering—and that’s part of the magic. What I do know is that I’ve never had a dish here I didn’t love. The menu rotates regularly, which only adds to the intrigue. Every visit brings something new—an ever-changing canvas where the chefs boldly blend spices and flavours from around the world, grounded by a commitment to local ingredients. The result is inventive, genre-blurring cuisine that surprises and delights—like a harmonious chorus of unexpected notes. The space itself is intimate and stylish, with vintage decor, candlelit tables, and a vibe that feels effortlessly cool without tipping into pretension. The soundtrack—often a nostalgic rotation of ’90s hits—is a particular joy for millennials like me. The cocktails are playful and creative, and the wine list is carefully curated. I’d be remiss not to mention the owner, Zak, who we met while celebrating our anniversary on their “mystery patio”—a limited-run tasting menu experience that feels more like performance art than dinner. Zak brings each course to life with infectious passion and backstories that deepen the experience. It’s not just a tasting menu; it’s dinner and a show. Pricey, yes—but if you’re up for it, worth every cent. Note: My husband and I are regulars at Lake Inez. The photos included are from a recent visit, but truthfully—no matter when you go, you can’t go wrong here.

11/10 experience. We did the secret menu and it was an unbelievably fun and delicious experience. Chef Zach makes every guest feel like they're in on a secret, sexy joke. Each course was thoughtfully designed and served with a drink pairing and a story. The stories had us quite literally slapping our knees, we were laughing so hard. I went with the non-alc pairings and my friends were jealous of my bevs! They were so fun and again THOUGHTFUL. It was a bit of a pricier night out ($160 per person for the secret patio tasting menu experience, which included 7 courses and either alcoholic or non-alc drink pairings), the value was amazing. We all left full and raving about the dishes (and chef Zach). I cannot recommend Lake Inez and specifically the secret patio experience enough. SO FUN!!

A close friend was visiting from out of town and had always wanted to try Lake Inez. The food was SO good, the atmosphere is close, cozy and intimate; perfect for catching up with friends or a date night. The music isn’t loud so you can actually talk and hear each other lol which I love for a dinner setting. We ordered a few items off the menu all of them were great. Our favourite was the pork and beans, probably because we didn’t expect it to be as good as it was.. savoury and salty; reminded me of a home cooked meal. Our server was friendly and gave us great suggestions. I didn’t drink, but my friends said their cocktails were boozy and tasty.

Brassica Rail (8/10): absolutely delicious layering of textures, from crispy crunchy to softer crunch. Felt like an awesome snack. Sauce was really good. It was a tad on the salty side, though Rojas con Totopos (10/10): the maitake was so freakin' good!! It tasted like an umami bomb, with amazing texture. So tender. The sauce and all the flavors were incredible. Postcards from Bay of Fundy (9/10): the striped bass was so tender and delicious. Nicely seared on the outside. In terms of flavors, I think the iberico Pork was better. Iberico Pork dish (forgot name, 10/10): the pork was perfectly cooked. So, so tender and the flavors were on point. Felt very rich, but the vegetables offered a nice balance to the meat. Really love this restaurant's use of vegetables. Every dish was amazing. We were very comfortably full at the end, sharing 4 dishes between 2 people. Service was great.

stepping into this tiny spot feels like finding a hidden treasure - you might actually miss it walking by, with just its small white lettering marking the entrance. if anything truly shines about this place, it's definitely the service. our server was incredibly friendly and accommodating, constantly making sure our table was clean and our drinks were full. they were so genuinely wonderful that i couldn't help but leave a bigger tip than usual lol. we came at night, and the atmosphere here is so cozy with warm, low lighting (fair warning: your food pics might not turn out great). they've created this alt boho vibe that somehow works perfectly - it's eclectic and informal without feeling messy. you'll spot servers in casual sweaters and shirts, and some of their menus are even handwritten, which adds to this unique, intimate feel they've cultivated. someone mentioned trader joes here, and I have to agree lol it's slightly TJ coded. now about the food - let's be honest about the portions. they're tiny. while they say the dishes are meant for sharing, the portions are really only enough for one person. the prices definitely feel like sharing prices though - you're looking at $20-31 for these small plates. but here's where it gets interesting - the flavours are absolutely incredible. every dish carries that complex southeast asian kitchen depth that just feels so homey and delicious. we tried 6 dishes in total, and i genuinely can't pick a favourite because they were all five stars. the 'chicken wing noodle' was a bit perplexing at first but ended up being amazing like everything else. the drinks menu is fairly priced and offers some unique flavours too. make sure to try the 'thirsty like the woolf'. bathrooms are downstairs and kept perfectly clean. despite the portion-to-price ratio giving us pause, the impeccable flavors and wonderful service make this spot worth returning to. just come prepared to order more dishes than you might expect - your taste buds will thank you, even if your wallet might not.

this restaurant has my entire heart, it's such a unique food spot in the toronto food scene!! lake inez is super cozy, it kind of feels like you're sitting inside an italian grandma's cute vintage house that likes to blast a mishmash of genres of music really loud haha lake inez offers a rotating menu with very eclectic spins on dishes. i would never think to put some of these ingredients/flavour profiles together but they worked really well together. not all the dishes were hitters for us but the underlying thought we had was that we wouldn't be able to get this dish at any other restaurant in toronto. this is one of the only restaurants i can see myself frequenting with the nature of their rotating menu. verdict: the hype is real, pls go check this restaurant out!!!

LOVE THIS PLACE. I can see it becoming Michelin star one day with their take on Asian inspired dishes. Favorites were the wagyu tartar toast and the fried romanesco brassica rail although the menu changes constantly. To die for.

Lake Inez continues to be very hyped but I can't say that I agree! My colleagues and I tried the entire menu and the flavours just fell flat. It was not worth it. The menu was Asian Mexican fusion with seafood, chicken, and beef dishes. The hamachi that we had was fishy; the dish needed some acidity for balance. The tartar was my least favourite - too acidic! The shrimp patty was also a tad undercooked as it still tasted a little floury. The autumn noodles were soggy and bland... you get the picture. The non-alcoholic drinks were tasty but many of us thought the wine and cocktails were ordinary. Nothing special. The service was great and the dishes came out quickly.

We enjoyed our time at Lake Inez. The food was incredible. I loved the wine selection. The service was exactly how you want to be served. For a high end restaurant, the vibe was friendly. We are heading back in a couple of weeks for our anniversary. It feels good to be excited about a night out for dinner

This place has been on our must-try list for at least two years and my wife's birthday was the occasion that finally pushed me to call far enough in advance for a reservation...they're booked at least 2 weeks out but I think they accommodate walk-ups with a reasonable wait. Expectations were high for this much-hyped fusion eatery in the heart of little India and I'm afraid to say we were underwhelmed. Even so, the food was good and it's a charming and warm spot. You're first struck by how inconspicuous the restaurant frontage is on Gerard street. We were standing in front of it on the sidewalk and it looked closed. Not a light or murmur from inside but upon opening the door, the warmth of an English tea room, the fragrance of a Caribbean kitchen, and the din of a New Year's Eve party hit you all at once. The menu was a good selection of items, not too long, not too short and impressively, each and every item had a veg option. We started with the veg version of the wagyu tat tar, which was an eggplant concoction not unlike babaganoush but without the sesame. It was a nice flavour, cumin-forward, but served fridge cold. This was my principle critique of the food. It was mostly served too cold. The magic of that dish however was the garnish of anise hyssop. Mixing the unique herb with the flavour of the eggplant produced a beautiful medley in the palate. Then we had the bean salad with a dressing that tasted like a sesame miso combination. Great flavour! Alas, served fridge cold. It would have been better at room temp. Next was the potato and grilled octopus. Again, amazing flavours and I was looking forward to hot and fresh grilled octopus and steaming potatoes in a flavourful pesto dressing. But this dish was served at room temp. We finished with the only hot dish of the night, the corn-dog inspired fried halibut. It was served with a sweet chutney, which worked well with the simple and perfectly done fish. We thought Lake Inez would wow us and make its way on to our favourites list of places like Bar Isabel and The Wood Owl. It came close, very close, but we're leaving it out in the cold for now.

Very glad I decided to celebrate a special occasion at Lake Inez. They were very kind to provide us with a treat! The pepper and walnut dip was incredibly unique, a perfect balance of acid and fat. It paired so well with the fried pita. Next we had the persimmon salad, which definitely had a funk and kick from the chilis. The kale was delicious (and I'm not normally a kale fan). We also had the red snapper, which was cooked to perfection, with a crispy skin. The pineapple based sauce with lime complimented the fish well. Finally, we finished with the delicious meatballs and peach ragu, which had a balanced sweetness. The sour dough was also soooo good, and great for mopping up the delicious sauce. The service was immaculate. Thank you for giving us an amazing evening to celebrate!

Alright, I came back for the rooftop patio thingy. It's awesome. It's a pretty penny, but it's truly an experience. The food and drink is absolutely outstanding, with wines from far and wide, even sharing some of the background around some of the winemakers. One example was a Chilean wine that doesn't conform to traditional wine making methods, and preserves his wines in beeswax -- it really tasted like he doesn't conform to traditional winemaking methods. Service is immaculate. It's almost a dinner and a show with the way that each course is presented with a short poem? Story? Whatever it is, it's weird, and it's great and if you can justify the 160pp for a special occasion, you can be sure that your experience will be a memorable one.

I like this restaurant because their food is super unique, the staff is so friendly and the service is amazing. Their menu is seasonal and this time the dishes didn't blow me away. The best dishes were the tartare and the dessert imo. The cocktail wasn't the best - stick to wine. Their wine list is a good time.

Dishes are presented with eccentric names that has a Trader Joe-like feel, such as the Hand Upstream Rolls ($22), which presents the upstream swimming fish, salmon, cured into gravlax form and covers it with cream fraiche and plum sauce. I enjoyed the meaty chunks of fish but wish the chefs weren't so heavy handed with the sauce, it masked the salmon's flavours and made it difficult to wrap in the nori. While pairing tomatoes with bonito seems strange, the Tomato Tonnato ($21) was one of our favorite dishes of the night. Somehow, the fish flakes' umami essence and the juicy heirlooms just work, bringing out the freshness of the fruit but giving it a bit of je ne sais quoi as well. In fact, Lake Inez's most simple sounding dishes were the tastiest. The Humble Potato ($19) featured big chunks of well-fried, roughed up potatoes that have a lovely crispy coating and tosses it in a flavourful Gouda queso. While the dish may sound heavy, the addition of herbs and anise hyssop (an edible flower) added a freshness to the cheesy potatoes. Along the same vein, the Corn Puddin' & Baby Shrimp ($23) was a lovely dip of hot gooey Fresno sauce studded with sweet corn and a fair amount of just cooked through shrimp. While it was tasty, it would be even better with more seasoning and salt. Still, the bread plate sized tortillas added a sunniness to the dish that I couldn't help but smile when seeing it. The Wham! Bam! Thank You, Ham! ($22) started with promise with slices of lightly cured country ham paired with sweet Korean melon and pears. But then the pickled watermelon rind and pickled peanuts were so pungent that after getting a bite of these that's all I could taste. It seems Lake Inez really likes sour flavours as the Cucumber?! I Hardly Know Her! ($19) was also too tart for my taste. The diced crunchy cucumber was tossed with a cashew cream that seems to contain a fair amount of preserved lemon. Aside from the refreshing cucumber and lemon, the other flavours were rather muted as I couldn't really taste the curry leaves or much salt. This was a divided dish for the table. The Miami Memory ($28) contained a piece of well-seasoned blackened snapper that had a nice spice but was over cooked. While it was considered a larger "main" dish, there was a scant portion of snapper, and the shredded greens and couscous side didn't increase it's substantialness by much. Mama's Meatballs ($28 for two; $10 for an additional meatball and bread) was more generous and the better of the two mains if you're hungry. Mama makes moist and not overly dense meatballs and the peach ragu and mostarda lightens the otherwise hearty dish. Serving these with a large hunk of buttered toast was smart to help mop up the sauce.

Came here for the mystery patio. It's a lovely comfy rooftop patio with a tasting menu to die for. Each of the 6 dishes had either a wine or cocktail to put it over the top. Service was so fun. A small group of diners allowed for some awesome attention from the owner and chefs. Each offering was described in detail as well as the accompanying alcohol. Lots of seafood, ie tuna, lobster etc. one of the dishes was pork and I let them know beforehand that I don't eat meat. No biggie. The pork was replaced with fish in the exact same sauce. It was a pricey evening but oh so worth it.

I applaud Lake Inez for its originality and creative ambition. I can't think of another Toronto restaurant quite like it, and for that alone it's worth your time, if only just to see if it's your cup o' tea. For our group, we were very intrigued by the menu but at the end of the day, we just weren't enamored with the food. Keep in mind that the menu changes (daily?) so perhaps it was just a 'miss' for us that night. But the place itself is very cool and cozy with a buzzing atmosphere and interesting cocktail options. Give'r a go and see for yourself.

The food here was amazing! Came for a bday dinner and we were all so satisfied with the menu - dug in before having a chance to take photos! Food here is creative fusion, very well done and unique. Vibe is cozy and service is friendly. Lake Inez's menu changes seasonally so we're looking forward to trying out the next batch of dishes! Make sure you get a reservation in advance!

Cute restaurant in leslieville! The dishes are creative with lots of vegetarian option. Large selection of wine. My favourite was the corn pudding and fennel tempura. Service was great.

The ambiance was romantic and is the perfect place for a date night! We got to try a few of their dishes and they are all unique and delicious. Would recommend for special occasion or just wanting delicious small dishes to share !

Came here for a date last summer (oops late review) and the interior is romantic, dimly lit, and great for a date. We tried various items on their menu. I like how they have a rotating seasonal menu, you won't be able to eat what I ordered basically which is cool!

Wonderful ambiance and food. Only negative was that we were rushed out after 2 hours at the tables

I have only heard rave reviews about Lake Inez, and people tend to go regularly. My expectations were pretty high and I was still very impressed. delightful staff, really passionate and knowledgeable. they did not try to up sell. The restaurant is quirky and interesting decor. Small number of seasonally inspired small or sharing plates. Really enjoyed everything we had; Tuna crudo, peas peas peas and liver mouse. Also an interesting selection on the wine list. I will definitely be going back

Had dinner here a thursday evening and it was quite enjoyable. We had a reservation, and it got quite busy at around 7pm, so would definitely recommend getting a reservation. Restaurant is very quaint with very unique decor choices and and overall easygoing atmosphere & vibe. Service was pretty good, but they're definitely short-staffed. As it got busier, service became less attentive. They had 3 servers running around doing everything, including bartending; so patience will be important. The food was overall very good! My favourite was definitely the chicken liver mousse and Nachos. We ordered 4 dishes from the dinner menu (they recommend 3-4 for a table of 2). Fennel moment - this was sort of like a fennel sour cream dip with thin crisps to smear the dip on. It was pretty good, but I was hoping for more fennel and fennel flavour as fennal has a strong licorice flavour if eaten raw. Chicken liver mousse - my fav dish of the night. If you've had chick liver mousse before, it can be very heavy and rich. by adding the sour cherry and hazlenuts, it was the perfect combo and when served on the rice crackers, it was delicious! we are depressed thus: nachos: definitely order this, it was VERY cheesy (in a good way) and so delicious. it's slightly spicey but not to the point where you actually feel it... so people who don't enjoy spice (which is unfathomable to me!) can likely still eat it without being torched. wild watercress clams in brodo: this was pretty good, especially the black bird bread and the broth! BUT I wish it was mussels instead of clams, simply because there were about 12 or so clams, and it seemed like a tiny portion after you remove the shells... Clams are expensive and have a tiny yield. Mussels are relatively cheaper and much meatier. The sauce is 100% the star. Lastly, their drinks were quite good. Yuzu margo cocktail was refreshing and unique, and the nothing lasts forever cocktail definitely had a good amount of Johnny Walker black & lagavulin so that you can actually taste it. Big wine selection as well Overall really enjoyed Lake Inez and very solid 4 stars.

We went to Lake Inez for the first time last night.We were warmly welcomed and the menu and format were explained by our server.the service throughout the meal was excellent.We ordered 4 plates and shared each one .We were very impressed with the variety of the flavors in each dish .We enjoyed our meal very much .The restaurant was very busy but that did not effect the great level of service we were given.Its a very funky ambiance inside a very plain storefront on Gerrard East. We loved our whole experience and will be back soon.

Lake Inez is an unassuming hidden gem that is loved by Toronto locals and foodies. From the moment you walk through the door of the restaurant you feel like you are transported to the inside of what might be your grandparent's house. Although The decor might be rustic, the food, beverage and atmosphere are far from "rickety." It was evident that it is loved because eveb on a Thursday night, the dining room was packed with diners. The main level dining room offers an a la carte menu that is ever changing with the offerings of the season. Upstairs they offer a unique set course dining experience that is raved about on social media. We dined from the a la carte menu which allowed us the opportunity to share several of their dishes. We started with the roasted beet dish and green salad. The beets were a combination of perfectly roasted red and yellow beets that sit atop the most delicious yogurt schmear and pesto sauce. The creamy yogurt and the tangy pesto were perfect compliments to the earthy root vegetables. Although the green salad sounded simple, it was far from boring. The salad came tossed with crispy radishes and was tossed in a balanced vinaigrette. Finally it was topped with toasted nuts that added a rich crunch to the light dish. We then had the grilled bread covered in a cheese spread and topped with roasted peaches and sausage. I was so excited to hear that they have gluten free bread so I was able to indulge in this plate. This dish was a favourite of the night. The sweet roasted peaches contrasted with the meaty sausage was akin to a sweet and sour Swedish meatball. Finally we had the pastrami plate. The dish was like an upscale version of a pastrami plate I would be served at my bubbie's house. The braised beef was fork tender and was topped with a crispy potato latke. The whole concoction sat in a beef jus that ensured the beef was moist and flavourful. This dish was certainly a wonderful and creative take on a traditional meat and potato offering. Not only was the food memorable at lake Inez but the service was attentive and on point. I cannot wait to return to see what new creations they conjure in the future.

This is literally one of our top 3 favourite restaurants in Toronto! The Nystery Roodtop Patio Tasting Menu is a fantastic experience. The regular dining menu is also always great. Unique dishes. Fabulous ingredients. Great natural wines. Wonderful people!

Can't recommend this place highly enough. We tried the mystery patio and it was by far my favourite dining experience in Toronto. The food was incredible, of course, but the service and many personal stories from the host were what really made the experience. Will be back again soon to try their regular menu!

Our server was lovely and on the ball. Very cute place. Looks like a home that was renovated. There is even a piano. The menu was full of interesting twists on classic items with a lot of variety for adventurous eaters. The cocktail menu was beautiful with a ton of interesting cocktails with neat infusions. The food was tasty for sure. I would go back for the liver mouse any day but the rest was a little lacklustre for me for the price you were paying. We got the gyoza sausage rolls which were packed with flavour but it was gyoza meet inside of puff pastry. The Tuna Tataki was good as well but there wasn't a ton of it for the 18$ price. Again, great experience, really interesting menu but I think there are other spots with great menus where you're more full at the end for the price.

I pat myself on the back for this one. What a great choice for a client dinner. The ambience is relaxed classy. Tastefully decorated. Great space for an intimate dinner or a large group. The flavours here are outstanding! We tried 6 dishes and here's the breakdown. Falafel - 5/5. -perfectly crunchy on outside and soft on the inside. The humus makes you want to lick your fingers Fried green tomatoes -5/5 (perfect score for the pomegranate remoulade alone)! Quinoa breading was perfect and made it extra crispy. Chicken wings -5/5. - the client KILLED these. Crunchy with a sweet and spicy wing sauce. Wow! Flavour! Sausage rolls -5/5. Rice dish 5/5 Divine. We did a vegetarian version (bacon on side). So so delicious. The spicy sauce on the side looks gross (dark green) but when you mix it into the rice it's next level. Don't judge a book. Amazing! Strawberry shortbread -5/5 Wow the Macerated strawberries were divine. $100 for two people for all the above. I left stuffed. I ate like a queen. Lake Inez will be tough to unseat as my new fav restaurant in Toronto. Phenomenal!

went to the mystery menu on the rooftop patio last night. We had incredibly interesting dishes with complex delicious taste. The patio as well as inside has great energy and vibe.

When I first saw the menu for this place, I was a tad skeptical. There aren't many menu items, and frankly, most of the dishes just didn't stand out to me. But boy oh boy, was I pleasantly surprised! My favourite dishes, and what I found to be the highlights of the meal, were the spicy charred brussels, market fish curry, roasted squash salad, and the Japanese deviled eggs. All beautifully incorporated Asian flavours in a very natural way. My companions loved the Sinigang wings, brussels, and market fish curry. We came as a group of seven, and thus chose to order everything on the menu. We asked the server to decide for us, and he seemed a bit overwhelmed / nonplussed. I started with the 4am Birdsong and expected a lighter drink, given the lychee flavour. However, it ended up being a much strong whiskey drink. Next time, I should definitely order the Thai Gin Fizz instead, as it is their most popular cocktail product. Japanese Deviled Eggs: These were the first to arrive, and we had one half each. I was NOT expecting them to taste like wonderful bites of sushi, but they had the pleasant umami flavour of the ocean! It must have been the salmon roe, combined with the nori and furikake. The kewpie mayo and yuzu added a slight tangy note, but not overwhelming by any means. Duck & Chicken Liver Mousse: The server had initially proposed only getting one of these, but then after careful consideration, he came back with two orders. Good call on his part! The liver mousse was so wonderfully creamy and earthy, and paired perfectly with the housemade Filipino sweet bread (pandesol). The pomelo was okay - slightly bitter (obviously not in season), and the shallot jam was a sweet addition. The mousse killed it though! Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower: Out of all the dishes we ordered, I found this to be the most underwhelming. The Za'atar gave it a nice curry kick, but the flavour profile was weak and the edamame hummus wasn't very prominent. I still had seconds though, as I was trying to get some veggies in ahead of a protein-packed meal - though I regretted it shortly afterwards when everything arrived and was so delicious! Roasted Squash Salad: I don't think that my companions appreciated this dish much, but I absolutely loved it! The squash was roasted to be wonderfully creamy, and the arugula was coated in this umami-filled Thai dressing. You could really taste the dried shrimp and fish sauce, and I loved every bit of it. This dish has really inspired me to go home and experiment with these flavours, because the Asian fusion reminded me of home in a very modern way. I definitely consumed half the dish, but I'm not ashamed to admit it! Sinigang Wings: We ordered three dishes (15 pieces) to share among the 7 of us. Everyone at my table adored this dish - some even went so far to state that it was the "best wings" they've ever had! On my part, I found the wings very flavourful; the tamarind sauce with peanuts and chilies really shone through. However, it wasn't my preferred dish, as I thought the wings were too salty and saucy. Had to gulp down multiple glasses of water after consuming just one! Spicy Charred Brussels: Don't be fooled by the appearance of this dish... the brussel sprouts look blackened, saucy, and mushy, and they'rehidden under this fresh green bed, but are so delicious! The sprouts are coated generously in this very salty and spicy oyster sauce, but there's a very rich and earthy flavour coming from the anchovies. My companion kept asking incredulously, "Is there meat in this dish?!" but all the flavour definitely came from the crispy anchovies. We got two orders of this, and everyone really enjoyed it. Rice w/ Mushrooms: This was my least liked dish of the night - the taste was quite bland. Perhaps it would have been better to start with this dish due to the subdued flavours, as the richness and saltiness of all the other dishes probably overpowered the profile of this dish. The slow-cooked egg didn't really mix well with the rice (maybe they could consider a poached egg), and the porcini flavours didn't really come through. Market Fish Curry: This came with Malaysian roti and jasmine rice, and was by far everyone's pick of the night (we ended up getting three orders!). Though I forgot what type of fish it was that night (some sort of trout) but it stayed warm in the hot stone pot. The curry was sinfully creamy (probably had a can of coconut cream in each pot), and I loved the hidden mustard greens. I did find that there were too many peanuts though - filled me up much too fast. Grilled Bavette: The steak was very well-marinated, and there was an unexpected spicy kick to it! A little chewy/tough, but still very delicious. Unfortunately, it paled in comparison to all the other Asian dishes! Ricotta Donuts: These deep-fried goodies resembled Chinese style donuts, but by then I was too full to have an entire one. Wasn't my favourite though... To conclude - an amazing, indulgent meal!

If I could give this place 6 stars, I would! Everything about this restaurant is AMAZING! My boyfriend and I came here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. The restaurant was dimly lit and pretty full. The service was wonderful. The servers were attentive and extremely friendly. Their cocktail menu was quite interesting, so we got two of their cocktails which were delicious. We continued to order 4 dishes and a dessert. The Ode to Rangoon was INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS! Definitely a must tried. My next favourite was the Apple Cider Donuts. They were SO GOOD!!! Nothing we had wasn't amazing. The Queso with Chips and potato dish were also great. My boyfriend got the wings which he really enjoyed. It looks like they change their menu every so often. This is a highly recommended restaurant. The food and service was AMAZING!!!

I love this place. There's a certain charm to it. It's pretty dim with a bunch of random items decorating the restaurant. The servers are casual but friendly and the service is a bit slow. Everyone is having a good time, going at their own pace so I don't mind the slower service. I think the vibe is what does it for me here. It's just super chill. The first time I came was a few years ago and I remember thinking oh wow, there are so many flavours that I don't usually get to taste or I haven't had before. The food was very interesting and exciting. The server mentioned it was the last day they would be serving their fish curry before they change the menu so obviously we had to get it. It ended up being my favourite dish. I recently came back and it happened to be on the night of the snow storm. Arrived at 8:30pm and I was surprised the restaurant was almost full. They have a bunch of craft beers if that's what you're into. I prefer non-alcoholic drinks and they were out of their lime kombucha so they ended up making something similar to the lime kombucha. No complaints. It was yummy so I got a second Fried Green Tomatoes ($15) - Comes with four pieces, battered in some hard crispy stuff with a ricotta, tomato, basil spread. It wasn't bad but nothing to be impressed about. I wasn't really a fan of the crispy layer. The texture of it was like eating something that went stale. Mussels Marseille ($23) - Bouillabaisse was spicier than I expected. Came with two slices of sourdough, each one loaded with saffron spread. Definitely too much spread. You could wipe it off and have enough to cover another slice. I wasn't impressed with this dish either. Chantrelle & Shitake & New potato ($17) - Their version of a poutine. The potatoes were done well and were crispy on the outside. Didn't think there were enough mushrooms. I wasn't a huge fan of this dish either though. 2:45am Fried Rice ($22) - I wouldn't order this but everyone around me was getting served this dish and it felt like everyone knew something I didn't. Apparently the sauce was very spicy and there would be no way I could handle it (FYI, I can't handle spice) so I didn't try any. That's also probably why I thought the rice was a little bland (sauce was served on the side). Others around me were all raving about it though so maybe the sauce makes all the difference. Apple Cider Donuts ($12) - Comes with three pieces and I didn't like it. Very dense. There's a thing apple slice on top of each donut. Our Friend Trevor's Truffles ($4) - For two pieces. They're real tiny, probably the same size as the tip of my finger but I really loved it. Even considered getting another order of them but also had to take into account that they were $4.00 for 2 seconds of happiness, 10 if you stretch it out. If I based this only on the first time, I would definitely give them 5 stars. I didn't really like the food this time but the vibe and the staff are still super cool. I would definitely come again because I'm a believer. *Pictures didn't turn out great. Phone was acting up. Oops.

This is a 3.5 review not 3. This spot is tucked away in a far off land I like to call east, east side Toronto. I had been dying to go and very happy I made the trek. It's a solid three for me for several reasons. Although the food was good of the dishes that astounded me it was not what I anticipated for the cuisines influence. The chicken and duck liver mousse was incredible. Absolutely would order again. Flavour profile on point. Smooth, delicious yet not too rich. Paired well with the filipino bread of pandesal. Another stand out was the sunchoke skewers. Usually not a big of fan of these but I am a believer if they could taste this good. Another fave was the roasted squash salad. An interesting combination of roasted acorn, pumpkin seed pesto, thai dressing and arugula. It had this spicy zing to it. Hard to explain but I almost would say this was a tie for my favourite dish. The pork skewers I have today were disappointing. It made my eyeballs roll back from something in the marinade that was excessive. It was the one dish I was completely looking forward and let me down the most. They ran out of the ingredients for the drink I had wanted so I settled for the Thai Gin Fizz. I couldn't finish it. Maybe it was the lime leaf infusion then more lime on top of it. Didn't seem to balance for me and somewhat turned me off drinking it. The ginger in it was fine but we definitely found it off. I will say super knowledgeable server. She knew her beer and the technicalities behind them to impress someone like me that knows nothing. Would I go back? Not sure. I'm glad I went but I can't say I'm dying to go back.

An excerpt from a longer review. "Service was laid back and efficient. When it came to the food, our server was well-informed about the dishes and their ingredients. I was impressed that she could rhyme off the definition of "arare cracker" without sounding like it had been rehearsed. The menu had five sections: snacks, smaller shared plates, larger shared plates, starch and desserts. Chef Robbie Hojilla (Harbord Room, Hudson Kitchen) creatively profiled many regions and flavours of Asia in the menu--from Japan to Thailand. My guest and I were drawn to almost everything. First to arrive were the Japanese deviled eggs ($6 for two pieces)--a mixture of creamy golden yolks, kewpie mayo and yuzu kosho. These were not the deviled eggs your mum would take to a potluck in the 90s. Nori and roe garnishes took this snack staple of the past into the present. One bite satisfied my appetite, as well as my nostalgia."

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Every staff was very helpful with our questions with the Menu, their attitude was very positive and upbringing. Waiter constantly checked if we were okay and refilled our drinks. FOOD: BC Snapper Curry, Beef Short Ribs, Thai Winter Vegetable Salad, and Ube Cheesecake. EVERY order was SOOO good. It was a fusion, yes, but it was so unique that I wish the serving size was bigger. The only downfall is the wait time was very long and the serving portion is too small. My most favorite part was the Ube Cheesecake. LIKE WOW. Words cannot explain that this is the best cheesecake I've ever tasted. Every bite I just had to close my eyes and imagine beautiful fireworks. I WOULD HIGHLY recommend. Just be prepared for small portions. Order a lot of dishes in order to avoid longer wait time. And oh yeah, their beer was good too!

Saw some great reviews on yelp and was excited when I got the chance to visit this restaurant. Came here for dinner on a weekday with a few friends. We ordered multiple dishes to share - the Japanese devil eggs, honey garlic adobo wings, Filipino BBQ pork skewer, chicken liver mousse, seafood kaldereta, and the beef short ribs. Our favourites were the BBQ pork skewers and the beef short ribs. Both of them were very tender and juicy - highly recommend. The rest of the dishes were good but nothing exceptional for the price. It wasn't busy on the night that we went but it took us a while to get the attention of the server when we tried to order, have our water refilled and get the cheque, therefore we were a little disappointed. It was an alright experience but not sure if I'll come back.

I've had this place bookmarked for a while and finally had an excuse to go when a friend from out of town visited. It was a trek to the east side for me, however I was glad I did. The restaurant was cozy and had really great decor. The food was a solid 3.5/5 for me, however the service & restaurant was a 4.5/5 for me. Because one of our dishes took a bit longer, we were given a free dish as well! The beef tartare with nori was absolutely amazing. A solid 4.5/5 and I highly recommend getting this dish if it's still on the menu. The devilled eggs were surprisingly great too, with umami flavour, a 3/5. We also got the gyoza dish, which was a bit on the underwhelming side, but still pretty good - I'd give that a 3/5 as well. At that point, we were quite full, but our last dish included ribs and rice. We ended up taking that home, but that was a solid 4/5. I would definitely order this again! Overall, I'm glad I went here after having wanted to for so long, but not sure if it's something I'd revisit casually. I'd still recommend it to others!

Is too cool for school. We reserved a week in advance for 7:30 on a Sunday, after cross-referencing Eater and Yelp. The place was about half full. The very gracious host, who doubled as our server, seated us at a four top saying most of the reservations for parties of 2, like us. Started with a Swartwaal - South African blood orange tinged cocktail. La Portena had her usual white wine by the glass. The dished are idiosyncratic and increase in size and price as you go down the menu. I have a feeling they change often, but here is what we had mid-month October. We began with a sort of Mediterranean plate of hummus, Jerusalem artichoke,etc. This came with heavenly homemade chips - they could easily sell these on their own. Recommended. Next up was a tuna tataki, topped with alfalfa sprouts. This one puzzled me - the effect was more negitoro than tataki. I would skip this one on a reboot. Mussels came third and they were outstanding. Instead of a broth they were in a sort of soupe de poisson/bouillabaise that had been thickened - probably with yogurt and cream and thus ate like a chowder. (sorry for the Fierism). Along for the ride were two rafts of toast, smeared with a great aioli. A great dish, rich and quite filling. Our last big plate reminded me of Austrian food - chanterelles, potatoes, chicken skin nuggets, and halloumi. Rich and tasty - my only complaint is not enough chanterelles -- which were partially substituted with another mushroom - could have been cremini- could have been button. Still a very savory and satisfying dish. The richness of the mussels and the mushroom dish precluded a dessert order. For those in this position, the house offers (vegan?) truffles from a related business - a matcha one was just what the doctor ordered. I loved the bluesy/funk soundtrack and in particular the Shuggie Otis - they went deep for that selection.

Been here twice in the past week. Not sorry. It's my new favourite restaurant and I'll be back again soon. The food is amazing. I've had the wings, pork skewers, pasta, short ribs, roti, chicken liver, eggs...nothing was not great. The best part is the sizing of the plates: the small shared plates are small, medium are medium, and large are very substantial (Grey Gardens, take notes). The server is laid back but efficient, super friendly and professional. Room is loud but in a fun way, and the bathrooms are excellent (I'm a sucker for a great bathroom!). Drinks are good, wish they had a bit of a longer cocktail choice, but I'm sure they'd make you whatever. Ugh. So far East but this place is worth a trek, trust me. Reservations suggested.

First time dining here! Have tried popping in a few times over the years and delighted to finally get a seat. Food is fabulous, the decor is funky and cute and works really well. Service is very good. Very inventive and unique dishes that surprIsed and delighted. Yum

I had no idea this restaurant existed in the heart of Little India on the east end of Toronto. And boy was I glad my bf found it and took me here for my birthday! Being a big fan of food, I was not disappointed. I had the best tasting wings here, it was saucy with the right touch of heat! The brussel sprouts were perfectly charred and with the tight amount of crunch. The curry we had was probably great too but I have trouble remembering how it tasted (that's what happens when I decide to write reviews months later). Definitely get the donuts, they so soooooooooo good - three was enough for us but I secretly wanted it all to myself!

Food and service were amazing! My friend and I shared Japanese deviled eggs, pork skewers, wings and Sichuan style lamb pasta. All of the dishes were flavorful and tasty, especially the pork skewers and lamb pasta. The lamb pasta combines western and Chinese elements perfectly and is hard to find elsewhere in Toronto. The ube cheesecake is also unique, earthy and delicious. Location is a bit off and I think the indoor design can be improved. But will definitely return to try other items.

Great space, awesome customer service, and amazing food! We went as a group, and we ordered couple of things to share. Hands down, the group really enjoyed the Japanese deviled eggs. We can easily eat 10 pieces per person. The duck leg congee was our second favorite, Lake Inez definitely elevated the concept of congee to another level. These are the other dishes we had and they were all very good: - charred Brussels sprouts - lumpia - roti - fish curry - chiffon cake - coconut sorbet We'll definitely be back to try out their other dishes!!

Just came by for cocktails and beer, so I can't necessarily vouch for their food. Based on my limited knowledge of the place, I am eager to make a return to try their menu. Drinks: Had 3 cocktails from them. All of them were pretty good. Don't exactly remember what they were called though. It was strictly just drinks and dessert at the time of my visit as they already did last call for the kitchen. Gives me a excuse to come back a second time to try their snack menu. Overall it was a pleasant experience. Based on the drinks alone I would recommend it.

The only mystery in this Mystery Dinner is why anyone would pay money to eat here. The "6 course" dinner had no through-line, and seemed to be more focused on the owner's dating history than the food; which might have been ok - except for the price of the night. While the cardboard and electric heater ambience is charming (*note - do not dress for a cold night - the heat is overwhelming) the lack-luster taste of every note (no heat, no sour, no bitter) only exacerbates the "I'm trying too hard" vibe. Mashed potatoes - hyped to be something more - at least filled the void in our stomaches left open by fish wrapped fish encased in cabbage with a cream sauce - not a joke. The dessert, which should have been easy, had such a grainy mouth feel I just wanted it out. Also, enough with the dulce, nori, kelp....etc,e etc. You wil reek of smoke - Don't go.

I just went to Lake Inez for the mytery patio experience. I had high expectations and they were blown away. Best dining experience I've ever had. The owners passion shines through the entire time. The food and drinks were paired perfectly along with stories and music. Would 10/10 recommend!!

This place is going to be my next favourite location! It is an amazing spot, great atmosphere, great service, fantastic food and drinks! A MUST IN THE CITY!

I usually don't like Asian fusion, but this one was pretty interesting. The storefront looks so sketchy and unassuming, almost abandoned and not a place you'd want to step inside. But once inside, it's a transformed, beautifully renovated restaurant with a very interesting mosaic by the beer taps. Food portions are small, but you're there for a tasting and sampling experience, rather than a filling meal. Beer selection is quite good for the beer lover, lots of local and sour beers.

US friends visiting Toronto made us go here. WHAT A FANTASTIC IDEA! We were a bit skeptical because the menu seemed like a mix of Japanese, Spanish and fusion food that could not possibly go well together. So we started with some of their deviled eggs, thinking it a safe choice. We also ordered some beet salad. OMG! the two dishes were SO AMAZING, that we ordered the WHOLE menu. Don't worry, the menu is not that big. There was not a single dish that was not amazing! Every dish rocked! I love to cook and everybody in my family is an amazing cook, so I LOVE when I can go to a restaurant that can do it so much better than I can. I traveled a bit around the world and this place is definitely world class. We had one deliciously fantastic experience after another. We ordered the French hard cider, which we joked about it being like liquid blue cheese. It was such a great cider we kept drinking it down! The servers were incredibly friendly, had no trouble explaining the food, and seem to enjoy us loving the food as if we had been at their home. Our glasses were never empty, and they were quick to offer ways to adapt to the one or two allergies my friends brought along. If you are one of those people that judges a restaurant by its atmosphere, this place is done in a funky way that reminded me of down-home restaurants from the 80's, either that, or I did not care. The food is what you come here for, and we were impressed. Thank you Lake Inez staff for such a great experience!

Unfortunately I have to give a bad review mostly for the really bad service. I have been a server now for over 15 years and nothing erks me more than bad service. We sat at a dirty table ( our fault we chose it so not to be so close to the next couple) this really annoyed the server I guess. She came over, didn't greet us and just started cleaning the table. So I decided I'd say " hello how are you" to her instead. Great start. The rest of the night we were dead to her, she was non existent. Never once to came to see how our food was ( food was ok, I won't exactly be running back). Didn't see if we needed another drink when I was finished, I had to flag someone down. And the list goes on....... A shame.

We walked in at 7pm on a Saturday and the place was packed! We were lucky to get a table due to a cancellation. The service was great, the drinks were delicious and the dishes were brought one at a time which I appreciate. Everthing we had was surprising and delicious. The falafel was crispy and delicious, the steak tartar was sweet and savory, the pork was flavorful. Would definetly recommend.