Le Swan

Our group ordered the Corndog, Tuna melt, Steak Tartare, Cod, Fish Sticks, Leeks Pate, Trout Crudo, Salad Nicoise, Steak Frites, & Onion Rings, and Banana Foster. I highly recommend this restaurant for their elevated & very thoughtful menu. They really know how to make great food. My favourite was the Corndog and Tuna Melt but we loved every single dish that we were served. They also have a serious cocktail menu as well.

Le Swan is sort of an allegory of what restaurants should be. The dishes are simple and indulgent, classic but not boring. Le Swan pays tribute to French cuisine in an unpretentious and poetic way. Come here with your best friend. Order two appetizers and a malt milkshake (trust me!!). Make sure one person orders the steak frites as a main and share a side of green beans. Get a French 75. The wine list is also fabulous but no pressure! Share your dessert. Take a selfie in the bathroom. Have a perfect evening.

Fantastic meal! Fondue to start was very flavourful. I had the hot chicken sandwich and it was perfect. Chocolate terrine for dessert also top notch. Music and lighting at the right level to make everything feel comfortable and warm.

Walked by here for years and was always curious about what it would be like. Its menu for entrees is split in two, with ‘French’ and ‘Diner’ headings, with arguable equivalent pairings under each (ie beef bourguignon beside meatloaf and mash). I had the steak fruits with a side salad, and my daughter had the French onion soup. The portion size for the steak frites was quite small considering it was $39 without the salad. However, the steak was of the utmost quality (lean yet tender) and cooked to perfection. Additionally, the french fries had a nice fluffy yet crispy outer coating along with an unusual mashed potato-like texture inside. I wouldn’t say that there was a lot of flavour on the inside, but whatever oil they used resulted in a perfect outer texture. The contrast in texture between inner and outer was a unique experience for me. Surprisingly, the standout was the $5 side salad. It was diminutive in size, however, the selection of greens were an interesting combination for texture, and they included just the right amount of red onion, so that it wouldn’t overpower yet added a nice accent to the overall flavor. The most impressive aspect of this salad was the light dressing that reminded me of some of the best salad dressings that I’ve had in Germany. I tried some of the soup as well, but I felt that the broth was rather overpowering, and call me a traditionalist, but I prefer it when the melted cheese bread is resting directly on top of the soup. Service was very welcoming although our waiter was somewhat pushy/persistent with drink requests.

Came here for the steak frites and they didn’t disappoint. Extremely tender and perfect amount of flavour. Also ordered the fondue for two as an appetizer which was delicious. The staff were very kind. Would highly recommend and would love to come back again

After living in the city for a few years, this remains my favorite restaurant. Unless you want to go later in the evening, make a reservation early because this is a small but popular place to come for a delicious, quiet dinner with friends or a date. The balance between French cuisine and diner food allows you to pick and choose what you want. I recommend getting a few things and sharing. The onion rings are the best I’ve ever had, and we love the tartare and the green beans. The only thing we haven’t raved about was the French onion soup, but I think that speaks more to our tastes than the quality of the soup. Never had any issue with the wait staff, always accommodating and friendly. Honestly, highly recommend.

Great food selections in a cozy diner environment. Great selection of wines available that pair with food. Servers are knowledgable and provide great recommendations. Will need to go back for the fondue

Very good experience! The drinks were delicious, and they had a variety of interesting choices. We got two cocktails, pictured here, and the cod with buerre blanc, as well as the 1/4 rotisserie chicken. Super delicious, although smaller portions for those two but still great. The service was also lovely. Highly recommend for a nice date night!

A friend recommended we come to Le Swan and she was right. The cocktails were unique and the one I had was fresh and not too sweet - just how I like. The sole dish was buttery and delicious with perfectly cooked fish and thinly sliced potatoes. The steak frites was as a classic should be - cooked medium rare with crispy fries and a garlicky dipping sauce. We were seated outside in a cosy table on the street. It's a great spot for people watching. The service was friendly and prompt. It would be lovely to sit inside during some colder months as the decor felt like a throwback to another time.

Food: 4.5/5 Started off with the fondue, which I was probably most excited for but I did find slightly underwhelming. While still tasty, the portion was a pit small and I found that I enjoyed the rest of the dishes much more. The steak tartare here is FANTASTIC. I almost always order tartare if it's on a menu and le swans is rly up there. Wedge salad was huge! So fresh and crunchy, with a delicate creamy dressing! We were so surprised at the size of the wedge we couldn't even finish all the appetizers ordered. The trout was also a favourite! Perfectly balanced and sooo tasty. We also had the steak frites which was perfectly cooked to a medium rare and so so yummy. Dessert was truly unforgettable! We loved the bananas foster so much we ordered a second one! Perfectly sweet with a nice touch of a caramel and a toasted sugar flavour... I can't stop thinking about it. The chocolate terrine was also delightful... very decadent and I love that they put flaky salt over it which adds some contrast and brings out the richness of the chocolate. But the bananas foster was by far our favourite. Overall, le swan offers excellent food with decent portions at very reasonable prices! Will definitely be back for the Winter menu!! Service 5/5 Thank you so much to the lovely staff here for such a great night! All the servers were so so friendly. They were very knowledgeable about the menu and despite it being busy, they were so attentive. Water glasses were never empty and it never felt difficult to ask for something! Truly such genuine and kind people here that really gives this place that cozy diner feel. Atmosphere 5/5 while not a large place, they still have plenty of seating while not feeling too tight. Absolutely gorgeous interior as well! Not too loud and I also really appreciate that it's not one of those super dark moody places. This is definitely a place that makes you feel so comfortable you can have just fall into a conversation and time just flies.

Decided to come back to this restaurant after Jen Agg's urging people not to forget the classics of the restaurant industry. It's super cozy on a January night and the food was solid. Only off putting element was being warned mid way through our meal that the table would be needed soon for another party. If I am not dawdling or doing something to cause delays, it isn't my responsibility to time the meal. We were then asked to eat our desert at the bar, which we declined and thus elicited frosty treatment from our waiter for the rest of the meal. All in all, we left the table five minutes after their expected timing but not with a good feeling at this point in the meal. In my mind, that isn't worth alienating customers for - not sure that I will go back soon on this basis alone.

Update 2023: We came here on a weekend evening without a reservation and we were able to get bar seating. They have hooks under the counter for you to hang your jackets and your bags. We just wanted a quick drink and we had a tuna melt and bananas Foster to share. The quality and ambiance are as amazing as last time that I came to this restaurant. It's just perfect for a romantic cozy date night. Highly recommend. 2022: A casual French bistro/diner with great ambiance and high quality dishes, le swan is a gem. My bf treated me to a dinner here; we made a reservation just in case, but it was not too busy. The servers were super nice and always refilled our water. We got a capuccino, steak tartare, tuna melt, a side of green beans, steak frites, and bananas Foster, all to share. Every single dish we had was delicious and ingredients are high quality and well prepared/presented. For example, the fries were the best I ever had, and the bananas Foster had perfectly crunchy bruleed sugar on top. I like that the menu is not too large, and it seems like every dish is their specialty. Everything is reasonably priced, and a good size. Our bill came to $100 after tax (before tip), but that was because we ordered so much. The downstairs washrooms are clean. We will be coming back to try other dishes!

Super food and impeccable service. We went for my birthday and I loved it. Portions were a little tight but everything was perfectly seasoned.

Came here on a Monday late night and we were satisfied with our experience! I'd heard really good things from TikTok, and I can see why - the ambience is lovely, dim and romantic but also great for friends to hang out. The service was good considering we were there 15 mins before last call, because my parents were flying into Toronto on a layover so we had little options for where to go. Food was what you'd probably expect for a casual/slightly upscale French restaurant with a reputation for great food. It all felt very homey, but with quality. Can't complain! Here's what we had: * CORN DOGS were yummy - this is a popular dish here * STEAK TARTARE always a favourite dish of mine, this one is good but could use some mustard to elevate the taste. * STEAK FRITES simple, and the steak is cooked very well * GREEN BEANS had a delicious flavour, would recommend! * 1/4 ROTISSERIE CHICKEN I don't remember much, I think it was fine but could have been a bit juicier

Le Swan is my shit. This aesthetic is a dream. Lana Del Rey, Lee hazelwood came on the radio. It was a swoonfest from start to finish. I named my dog after the Apple gimlet. We had desserts on site, both of which were insane. We took the steak frites back to the hotel and even an hour later, it was delish. This is the standard I set for every dining experience. Total perfection.

Loved the vibe in here! The french diner concept is super cozy and give a warm intimate feel, perfect for date night. They serve a lot of comfort food style dishes, and my fave is probably the hot chicken sandwich. We also tried the steak frites (which was great, we especially loved the crispness of the fries), and the beef bourguignon which was so tender you didn't even need to cut it. The cocktails were creative and delicious too; overall a great meal.

Great food and service! Love the atmosphere and the whole place smelt really nice. Definitely gonna re-visit

While I was exploring the West Queen West Toronto neighbourhood last weekend, I passed by the Le Swan restaurant and got attracted by their 50's classic French interior décor. This place is already full around 6 PM. After reading their super simple menu, I decided to set at their bar and gave this restaurant a try. The first thing I ordered was a Vanilla Milkshake. I haven't tasted real milkshake for at least 20 years and the bartender told me their milkshake is just simply ice cream and wrap cream. No wonder it tasted that good, as most other places mixed other ingredients in their milkshake. Then I ordered their Steak Tartare with Fries as side dish. I did wait for a while before this dish was served. This is a good thing, as they prepare all their dished fresh when ordered. Instead of using a lot of different sauces, the chef chooses to use pickle to mix the Steak Tartare. This combination is very refreshing and did not cover the taste of the beef steak. I am also surprise how good the fries side dish tasted. I believe the chef uses animal fat instead of plant oil to fry the fries. I encored and ordered the Sole Meuniere with salad as side dish. The chef uses very traditional method to prepare this Sole Meuniere dish, as the whole plate is full of melted butter. I squeeze a lot of lemon juice to the balance out the melted butter. Since the sole fillet is submerged in melted butter with lemon juice, the sole fillet is very puffy and not greasy at all. If the chef has added a bit more sea salt will make this dish perfect. Also, the potato is light and puffy as well. The chef is so attention to details, even the salad side dish dressing is not too sour and the veg are crisp. A meal is not complete without dessert. Therefore, I ordered the Bananas Foster and you cannot go wrong with ice cream and banana serve together. Overall, chefs at Le Swan use their heart to prepare every dish for their customer. Highly recommended.

You're transported back in time to an actual diner vibes when you step into Le Swan. Half the menu is french cuisine while the other half is fried and true diner food- true comforts. We stopped by in the night time on a weekend to catch up. The lights are dim and really gives an ambiance to catch up or spill your soul secrets to friends. They have a selection of alcohol to help that as well. We had the beef tartare, string beans and fish and chips (to check off both sides of the menu of french and diner). The beef tartare had a nice mustard flavour, those who are not fans of mustard may not like this. The toasted pieces of bread were nice and crispy and had a great contrast with the soft tartare. The fish and chips took a bit longer than expected to receive but they had a nice charred flavour on them. surprisingly even the green peas that came along with the fish and chips had a nice charred flavour to them. Also surprising that they use fresh peas- not frozen, which was a nice touch. The green beans were also delicious and had the same garlic, smoky char flavour to them that made them taste so good and worth the wait. For alcohol they actually have a selection of orange wine, something you don't commonly see at establishments and I wasn't expecting it from a diner either.

GREAT PLACE! Onions rings are hitting ALWAYS. Ambiance is great, food is always great. I need to go back for the fondue. Come here with friends or family, especially a date. Always a good time.

Le Swan, located on Queen St W. near Crawford, is an intimate French Diner offering bistro classics and comfort foods. I've passed by Le Swan many times but never had the chance to try the restaurant until recently. Their offerings range from Steak Frites to Sloppy Joes and even elevated corn dogs. They also have fondue and a great cocktail and wine list. Reservations are definitely recommended as the restaurant is not big and it can get busy quickly. My friend and I decided to dine at Le Swan on a Thursday around 7:15pm. We were lucky enough to sit at the window booth seat. The décor was cute and the place of course had a diner vibe to it. The menu is simple with one side of the menu offering French bistro classics and the other side offering comfort diner foods. Our server was friendly and ready to give us suggestions when we asked. She also gave us plenty of time to decide what to order and also brought us new plates and cutlery with each dish. My friend and I both had 2 drinks each, I opted for 2 glasses of red and my friend had 2 cocktails, both which she enjoyed! Food wise, we ordered the following items: - Salade nicoise: Super light and refreshing salad! Definitely a bistro classic that was elevated. The tuna pieces worked well with all the other components of the salad. Definitely a great start to the meal. Would love to know how that dressing is made! - Steak tartare: A classic steak tartare, can't go wrong with that. Served with crispy mini slices of baguette crackers. My friend and I preferred the steak to be chopped more finely but other than that the seasoning and taste of the tartare was on point. - Steak frites: This dish was delicious! The steak was cooked to a medium rare (they didn't even ask how we wanted our steak when we ordered) but it was cooked perfectly. The fries were as well, slightly thicker than usual and fried well. - Corn dogs: You get 2 corn dogs for the price of $10. These were definitely elevated corn dogs! The batter to sausage ratio was just the right amount. The mayo and jalapeno on top added a nice creaminess and kick to the classic corn dog. Would definitely order this again. - Green beans: Simple ingredients cooked well. There was a slight char taste to the beans but also some other unique spices they cooked the beans in. I can't quite put my finger on what they are but these were great as well. - Banana foster: Lastly, a simple, well executed dessert to end our meal. Good portion and the warm caramelized banana with the vanilla ice cream is a classic. Not too sweet but refreshing as well. Overall, my friend and I definitely enjoyed our time at Le Swan! The food is simple but made well and delicious. Love the concept of the restaurant too where you can order bistro classics and/or diner comfort foods. Definitely do check out Le Swan if you're looking for elevated classics!

If you want a cozy, warm atmosphere with soft & nostalgic music... go here!! Le Swan has a delicate interior with a feeling of serenity. Would be perfect for an intimate dinner with a small group or a date. Ambiance 10/10. Server was attentive, but also allowed us to enjoy our experience there while remaining helpful. Gave great recommendations & explained dishes well. Service 10/10. Food is spectacular, with traditional French cuisines that have powerful flavors. The tuna melt was delicious and filling. Although, MUST get food item would have to be the onion rings... AMAZING. Food 10/10. Definitely coming back next time I'm in Toronto. I would make a reservation since there is limited seating.

This super cool old school French diner in Ossington serves up classics like steak frites and beef tartare as well as some vummy cocktails. Check them out! I Steak Tartare, French Onion Soup, Onion Rings, Oysters, Salad Nicoise, Steak Frites, Chocolate Terrine, Bananas Foster

This diner sucks you from the noise of Queen Street into a quiet, cozy, booth. The music is nostalgic, the staff are incredibly friendly, and the food is incredible. Would highly recommend the corn dogs! Have also tried the steak frites, fried chicken, milkshakes, grilled cheese, and Shirley Temples. The details of this place are what make it so special- I will be back many more times!

Amazing food Amazing ambiance ,Service was A1 Cant complain my new favorite spot !!!!!

Tiny place and it has a very cozy feeling inside. The food was great. We had the fried chicken which was tender and juicy. we had the pork chop and applesauce, the pork chop was tender, and the applesauce tasted good with the pork chops . The steak frites was a slight miss, the steak itself wasn't as tender. The fries was very tasty.

For a date night spot this place should be high up on your list! I took my daughter for her birthday dinner here, and since she's a big fan of anything French, including getting 100% in Grade 9 French, I figured Le Swan should be apropos for her and I was right. The atmosphere is perfect at the cute little tables with just the right amount of lighting, noise level and visual cues letting you imagine you're in France. Great little menu too with comfort food on it. The drinks were amazing as well. I had the "root beer" which had absinthe and bourbon; very impressive with each little sip packing a punch of flavour that I won't easily forget. Looking around we had fun people watching and checking out people on their date nights having the signature cheese fondue and red wine orgies. Actually one couple ordered the fondue and then it was completely returned to the kitchen! Oh well, maybe it wasn't what they expected, but looked super fun for anyone who is ok eating cheese and drinking wine (YES please). I found the prices quite acceptable for the level of service and it was a pleasant experience over all. Jen Agg does it again! Highly recommended!

I'd been wanting to check this place out for ages, but obstacles kept cropping up that prevented a visit from happening. So when my birthday rolled around, I didn't have to think too long about where I wanted to go. We showed up right on time for our reservation and were immediately shown to a cozy booth right at the front of the restaurant. I'm a huge booth fan, so I was obviously very excited about this development. And as I discovered a little later, the booth-heavy layout means that Le Swan avoids that seemingly pervasive issue of tables being mere inches away from each other. (It felt surprisingly private and intimate, is what I'm trying to say.) I pretty much wanted to eat everything on the menu, but we wound up getting four dishes: Smoked Trout Rillette: Holy cow. I knew we were in good hands right from the get-go, because this relatively simple dish knocked my socks right off. Everything about this works, and the huge chunks of smoky fish are completely delicious (and irresistible). I honestly could've eaten just this all night. Salad Niçoise: I didn't know what to expect from this, mostly because I figured how much could they elevate a salad? The answer is an insane amount. Every single component in this is just a million times better than you'd expect, including the perfectly-cooked jammy eggs and large pieces of raw tuna. The delectable dressing ties the whole thing together perfectly. Grilled Cheese: I wanted to try something from the Diner side of the menu, so we settled on the Grilled Cheese. This is a really simple dish that's done better than you've ever experienced. Imagine the best grilled cheese sandwich possible and then elevate it by like a million percent and you have this. Just amazing. Steak Frites: This is the dish I was looking forward to the most. And ironically, it turned out to be my least favorite dish of the night. The fries were amazing and next level, but the steak was pretty run of the mill. We weren't asked how we wanted it cooked, so it wound up arriving at around a medium, which isn't exactly an ideal choice. Also, it was riddled with chewy bits that made it a little unpleasant at times. The seasoning was top-notch, at least. We were obviously quite full at this point but I couldn't resist getting dessert: Bananas Foster: We sure chose well because this is one of the best desserts I can recall eating. The ice cream is very tasty, but it's the preparation of the bananas that bowled me over. They're presented with a caramelized, creme brulee-like layer that's just ridiculous in terms of deliciousness. And eaten together with the ice cream... My lord. I also want to single out the service, which was incredibly helpful and friendly, and the cocktails, which were as delicious as the food. All in all, Le Swan has unquestionably landed at the top of my list of Toronto's best restaurants.

3.5. It was fine. We got a cute table on the curbside patio. Best part of the meal were the fries and milkshake. Was hoping to try the onion rings but they were unavailable. Enjoyed the green beans as well. Chicken was under seasoned and potato salad a bit too "vinegary" for me. Trout was good. Service was pleasant and the plating of the dishes was very pretty. Menu is scaled down a bit due to covid but would give this place another shot to try a few other items.

First time here and loved it! Small French diner, very intimate, perfect date spot. Would come again to try the other things on the menu. Steak Tartare - Yummyyyy! First time having steak tartare and it was goooddd. Licked the whole plate clean. The only thing is that they had sliced pickles in it. I don't like pickles, but I was able to pick it out. There wasn't any lingering pickle taste in the tartare. Steak Frites - Heard great things about the steak frites, so had to get it. Pretty good, but it was a bit too cooked for me. Would've liked it a bit more rare. The fries were so hot and crispy, but it was a tad bit salty. The fries in the mayo dip was yummy Tuna Melt - Ooo that melted cheese! I honestly felt like the tuna melt I make myself at home is quite similar. Regardless it was good, but very filling!

This diner is the definition of "less is more". I will be completely honest, when I first saw the menu, I found it incredibly underwhelming. Everything sounded quite boring, but I was so happy to be proven completely wrong. I came here for a girls night and the 4 of us ordered a whole bunch of food to share. We got Steak Frites, Green Beans, Tuna Melt, Hot Chicken Sandwich, and Beef Bourguignon. We also shared a bottle of wine and were lucky enough to receive a complementary dessert to share. Such a fun night, and such delicious food. I was so stuffed I could barely walk when we were finished.

Lively French bistro with dishes that jump out and surprise your tastebuds. My wife and I went here for an early dinner and got: - Onion Rings: Believe the hype - these were great! Super sweet onion, just the right thickness of batter. Mmmmm. - French Onion Soup: This onion offering paled in comparison to the rings. The soup was a tad too salty, and having the bread and cheese on the side - despite the obvious option to dunk it in- was weird (and also led to not enough cheese). - Beef Cheek Bourguignon: Super tender beef, and you can really taste the braising with the wine. - Meatloaf and Mash: Meatloaf was elevated home cooking, while the mash was sublimely smooth. - Bananas Foster: Good caramelization of the bananas with a nice vanilla ice cream dollop to complement it (think the ice cream may have even come from nearby Bang Bang). Value for money was good ($90 with tip for all of this). Service was quick and friendly despite the cramped space and noisy atmosphere. I have to say, I had no expectations for this place, and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Le Swan definitely put on a show worthy of an encore.

Been meaning to write this review for a while! This is a cute spot that really embodies that diner feel with a Parisian twist! First off...I must say,...the service here is amazing! They are really attentive, clean the table after each dish and are really friendly and can make suggestions if you are unsure of what to order. What I like about this place is that the menu is simple and refined. There aren't 40000000 choices. The menu/cuisine is split into 'french style' and a 'diner style' so you can choose from either section. Of course the French side has the classics, while the diner side is more Americanized. My friend and I decided to order a few dishes and share. The salad Nicoise is definitely a must have! I was surprised salad could taste this good - all the flavours and the tang of the dressing just worked well together. The greens stayed crispy bc the dressing in put on the plate first, instead of last (ie it's on the bottom of the plate and not drizzled on the top) I also enjoyed the smoked trout rillette - this is a great dish that's light, but heavy on flavour! The smokiness, with the sharp red onions work well together. The beef cheek bourguignon was my favourite dish. So packed with that red wine flavour and tender pieces of beef. You definitely need to order this dish - you won't regret it. My least favourite was the the chicken fried steak. It's a large portion of chicken steak with gravy and mash, but I felt it tasted really heavy. I could pass on this and do a double order of the beef. Definitely make a reservation bc this is a small space with not a lot of booths. They also apparently do a fondue plate - but only after 11pm!

**This is a 4.5 star review** There is a lot to like about Le Swan. The ambiance, the attentive and friendly service and some very good food. The place resembles a French diner; it is an intimate place with a few booths and bar stools, dim lighting, and some pictures of swans and swan figurines. Food is a mixture of French and American items. I am not sure why there is a melange of cuisines, but it is eclectic. The standouts in terms of food were the gruyere cheese on the bread in the French onion soup, the smoked trout ritelette, and the onion rings. The meatloaf was pretty good. The cocktails were delicious as well. Service was excellent. Waitress was really on point, she knew her stuff. She was fast and she was very friendly. Overall, a great experience. Make sure to have a reservation, as it's very busy.

The las time I was here I had a really good time. It was a diner and I was sitting on the patio in the summertime. In this reincarnation, it is a French diner. A small menu which for me could have used a few more choices in each offering (starters to dessert) but that being said what I did order, the beef cheek bourgignon was perfect. Tender, flavourful beef accompanied by the tastiest carrots I have ever had. Hands-down....I would order that again! I also tried the meatloaf which was delicious but I would not trade it for the beef cheek. I also had the aperitif called La Vie Un Rose. Perfect refreshing cocktail I would have loved order more but they ran out of the ingredients to make it. It's a busy spot so I recommend you make a reservation. It's loud so if you are wanting a quiet, romantic table - my friends not happening. It's a difficult space for big groups because the place is so narrow. Think of a big group as 4 per table. There is one big table but thats all. Customer service is great even though it's so busy. It was kind of nice that everyone acknowledges you as you leave. PS...washroom is fantastic.

The cocktails are amazing. I loved the root beer old fashioned. I saw "corn dogs" listed as a side and HAD to get them. They did not disappoint. Such a unique dining experience. I'm a big fan! The pork chop was delicious as well.

Came here for a weekend lunch for a table of 2 around 1pm on a Sunday and there were a few tables left. The quality of food is really good but it is expensive as an everyday diner meal. The interior is so cute, old school classy vintage vibes, its like you stepped back in time. The service is amazing here, they wipe the table after every dish and change your plates even for lunch. Smoked trout toilette was good, the caviar on top really makes it extra fancy and comes with a pancake. The Jambon & Raclette on a Baguette was basic but done well, the bread was crispy and chewy and the jambon was high quality. The chicken fried steak was again basic but done well, the meat was tender and the gravy was very savoury. It tastes like home. Its really heavy with the mashed potatoes and there's no vegetables at all or anything to cut the fat. And lastly theBeef Cheek Bourguignon again the meat was so tender, and it was so savoury, it was so umami. It was all very comfort food that didn't hold back on the butter.

I already reviewed Le Swan in 2018 (5 stars) but I'm just touching base with y'all to let you know it's CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT. Food, drinks, service, atmosphere, wow, wow, wow, wow. That's some resto-bar alchemy right there. True, it's not your typical menu, but typical is so typical. This is currently my favourite spot in Toronto.

The food here was amazing! The decor is homey and intimate feeling with a relaxed atmosphere. We ordered the steak frites, onion rings, green beans and Jambon and raclette baguette. The steak frites and green beans were amazing!! Quite possibly the best steak frites I've ever had. It was crispy on the outside but so tender and perfectly medium rare in the middle. It was flavourful and beautifully cooked. The green beans had some acidic/savoury sauce that was unique and delicious and it was topped with some crushed almonds. The onion rings are quite popular there but I personally did not enjoy them as much. They were a bit soft/soggy in terms of the batter and there was not much of a crunch. The onion itself was very sweet and fresh. The baguette was what you would expect and had some sweet jam/marmalade in it as well. There wasn't really a wow factor and was savoury with a hint of sweetness. Overall the experience was amazing and service was attentive. I would definitely return to order the steak frites and green beans.

Came here for Happy hour on a Sunday for table for 2. Cocktails are $10 each and food items at $4 to $5 each for a small plate. The patio was cute and spacious. The restaurant inside looked well decorated with great details. The food and drinks were okay but not too memorable. Service was attentive especially when mentioned about food allergies.

If you've read my reviews of other Jen Agg spots before, you know there are three things her restaurants consistently do well: alcoholic beverages, impeccable service and beautiful bathrooms. However, food at her spots, for my taste, has ranged from fantastic to less impressive (sorry, GG, sorry). I had Le Swan on my list for the sheer amount of items they have with melted cheese, which I love. However, I am no longer able to drink alcoholic drinks, so I was a bit nervous that the experience wasn't going to be a home run. Came in for lunch on a Saturday and snagged the beauty of a booth in the window. Service was as expected - friendly, thoughtful, on point. Bravo. Bathrooms lived up to expectations as well. I loved the coat hooks at the end of the booths (they are small seats) and the music was cool too. We shared : Onion rings . If you know me, you know that if there are onion rings on a menu, I'm ordering them. These were amazing, and brought our final review from a 4 to 5 stars. If you also like onion rings, do yourself a favour and get these. Grilled cheese w tomato soup - grilled cheese sandwich part was pedestrian, edible and yummy but nothing unique or earth shattering. Tomato soup I can't judge because I've been weird about tomatoes lately but husband gave positive comments and finished it all. Tuna melt - YAAAAAAS. Yes. Thank you. Yes. I don't even want to ruin the surprises for you by saying too much but if you even KIND OF like tuna melts, order this. Did not need the hot sauce on the side it was damn fine standing on its own. Sober lunch for two was $35. Gonna go back for rings and tuna 100%. Yay!

Le Swan is a cute little elevated diner bistro. The dishes are comfort food. The ambience is a bit dark but you can get a little light sitting by the table right at the front. It just gets a little hit or cold with its proximity to the door as customers come in and out. Our server was really nice - attentive and happy to give suggestions. The food itself was delicious, but I found the portions (especially the steak) to be a bit small for the price. Otherwise, if you're looking for comfier food, this is a place to go.

The food here is so impossibly good it should be on the list of controlled substances. Nothing that feels this good to ingest isn't a fucking narcotic. The chef is my new street pharmacist. It's a slick looking bistro that was lovely to visit in the before times. And now they deliver some of the best food in the city. Everything from their mains to their desserts, from their soups to their cocktails are brilliant. Even their white bread is perfection (you read that right. Fucking white bread?!?! It's amazing). Let Le Swan be your new addiction.

Very unique foods for very reasonable prices. Great service and ambiance. Highly recommend!

The service is really good and attentive. We came here for lunch but would have to admit that their menu is limited. They were sold out of 2 items and many dishes such as their French onion soup and their fried chicken steak is only offered in their dinner menu. Therefore, I would admit we were a little dissapointed because that was what we wanted to try. I ordered the salad nicoise and it was ok. I did like that they used raw tuna or else I would not have liked it. The onion rings are quite large but full of battered. It tasted like a large donut. It's a cute diner. Be prepared for traditional French food and flavours that you are not familiar with. I would like to try their dinner menu next time.

So I totally missed out on Black Hoof which I regret, even more so after my meal at Le Swan. Le Swan has taken over the Swan Diner on Queen West and it's been transformed into a Parisian bistro fresh with clean white tiles and comfy diner booths. I had a pretty early dinner reservation (5:30) so there weren't many people when I arrived, but it did fill up by 6:30. The menu is spilt into 'french' & 'diner' style cuisine. The French side of the menu captures classic, hearty French dishes, while the Diner side of the menu is American food with French influence. It's an interesting way to cater to people who are looking to enjoy both cuisines. After grabbing a couple glasses of wine, we opted for a few dishes to share. Niçoise salad - light and refreshing. The dressing is on the bottom of the plate which means the green don't get slathered is dressing. Smoked Trout Rillette - smoky, flaked pieces of trout topped with red onions. Really tasty and light. My second fav dish of the night. Chicken fried steak - really decent portion of fried steak served with gravy and mash. The coating has a nice kick of spice and was very crunchy. I would only order this if you are really hungry though as it's a pretty heavy dish. Beef cheek bourguignon - my favourite dish of the night. Beef was incredibly tender, flavourful and rich. It was served on top of mash and covered in thick sauce. This will send you into a food coma guaranteed. Service here is impeccable. All the staff are attentive while being really knowledgeable about the menu. Also, I didn't get to try either of their charcuterie boards but I did find out they make the cured meats in house. They also have fondue available after 11:00pm so looks like I may have to stumble back here to check that out.

This review is for cocktails and onion rings ONLY. We came here for dinner, saw the menu, and very quickly changed our minds. The new plan: have a cocktail, some onion rings, and go somewhere else. Cocktails were good. Will have again.

Have a friend who has found reason to complain at every restaurant we've ever dined at for the last 13 years and this is the first place where the words out of his mouth was "excellent" to the cocktails and excellent to the food! And he's right - there is nothing short of perfection here from the service, ambience, food and drink - GO!

This will be a new go to spot. Great food, service and atmosphere. Well priced. Easy date night.

More 3.5 than four stars. Lovely transformation of this space! Warm lighting, beautiful tiling, nice details from the swan etching on the wine glasses to the very cute and detail oriented bathrooms. We had onion rings, beef bourguignon, steak frites and then ordered the chicken fried steak (we were still hungry...). Between two people. And a very nice Rhone. Onion rings were delish! Great batter and flavour. Beef bourguignon had good flavour and was nice and tender. Very small portion though for the price. Steak fries was a nice Denver cut which I had never tried before. Tender and good flavour. Again portion was small, perhaps a few green beans or another veg would make the dish seem more complete. Chicken fried steak was very tough - I didn't like it at all and my partner thought it was just ok. Also it should be served with a steak knife. Maybe sous vide it first so it is tender? I really wanted a cheese plate to share while I finished off my wine. Also server brought a dirty fork and a dirty plate to the table - they noticed at the table which was good. Some quality control needed in this area. I thought the service was good. Very nice staff, knowledgeable of the menu items. Not great when you assume the man is paying though... especially when the woman is paying. I'll be happy when that old chestnut goes away for good. I'll def be back! And am really looking forward to late night fondue and trying cocktails and more from the well curated wine list!

A nice menu with something for everyone. They have a casual diner menu and French bistro side. I ordered the sole and it was a very tasty dish cooked just so nicely. The green beans side dish was delicious, I'd go back just for that. Love the ambience and casual aspect of the place, it's a good neighbourhood option for any day of the week!

I have been meaning to try Le Swan since I found out that Jen Agg of Black Hoof bought the place. I suggested coming to this place for my birthday and it was definitely the right choice. We started off with a Caesar-like drink that I forget the name of, and the chocolate alcoholic milkshake. Both were excellent. My boyfriend said the Caesars drink was perhaps one of the best he has had. If there's one thing Jen Agg's various establishments does well consistently is their drinks menu. Absolutely delish. We had some charcuterie, which contained a few surprises, the pate was amazing! For our mains we got beef cheek bourguignon and steak and frites. The portion size seems small for the price but it was definitely worth it. The Denver cut steak melt in my mouth and I thought I died and went to heaven. The beef cheek bourguignon was more like a stew and it was soooo tender, not fought at all. Also some melt in your mouth goodness. We were sad when black hoof closed but Le Swan is definitely one of our favorites now. Some how Jen Agg is able to get even the simplest things like fries perfect. Can't wait to come back to try the late night fondue!

Part of a longer review... "Any French restaurant must produce Steak Frites ($32) with conviction, and Le Swan didn't disappoint. The meat was perfectly cooked to medium and had been resting for the appropriate amount of time before it was served, as evidenced by the jus on the plate. The accompanying herb butter was divine. Don't miss out on the fries, either. The pillowy white interior oozed from an equally enjoyable crispy golden coating - it was as if they had been injected with helium. For the price of this dish, I would have added a heartier helping of fries - after all, Le Swan is a diner. For those who don't want to use a steak knife, there are two salads and a side of beans ($16). The Cobb salad ($17), for example, appeared to be assembled in haste. A shallow layer of romaine was so sparse that parts of the white plate gleamed through, begging for a heavier dose of toppings (sundried tomatoes, olives, chunks of salmon). And, sadly, I couldn't decipher if the salmon was canned. The only redeeming quality was the soft, silky poached egg. This salad could go back to the kitchen (desolée)."

Very disappointing take out order. Not aure if this is the situation when they run indoor dining but my partner and I both ordered thw meatloaf and an extra side of mashed potatoes. The meal was so small for the amount paid and for $5 the extra side of potatoes was maybe 2 spoonfuls. For a $50 order I expect to be full after my meal or at least satisfied. We ended up ordering a second dinner.

This is the gourmet comfort food you're looking for!! Out of this world delicious tuna melt and the hot chicken sandwich was inhaled by my picky toddler. Meals held up great in the delivery process too, they separated the toast from the French onion soup so that it wasn't a soggy mess when it arrived. Hope Le Swan can stay afloat through this pandemic.

If you are a fan of arborite tables, vinyl booths, counter stools, old-timey bar fixtures and completely genius menus, then Le Swan will not disappoint. We ordered a fair amount of takeout from LS in 2020/21 and it is ungodly how well the French fries travelled. Twenty-some-odd-minutes steaming in a container on the drive home and somehow they still showed up super-crispy? But they're even better in person as I was reminded when we sat on their Café TO patio recently. Which I was dubious about, TBH. Sitting proximate to a storm drain was never going to be anyone's first choice for a dining experience, LBH. But my god was it ever fun out there! As for the food, I don't eat meat so there isn't an abundance of choice for me, which is fine. The non-meat options are all great. The green beans taste really nice. I often get the grilled cheese which, you know. It's a really good grilled cheese. But I usually go for the omelette when I can. It's nice and custardy and comforting. One of the worst clichés in any type of review, and especially in a Yelp review (let's be honest, Yelp is the lowest form of review on the planet--half the people here are doing bad imitations of professional food writers and saying things like "on point" and the other half are sociopaths who seem determined to destroy the livelihood of small business owners) is the "I don't like [food item X] but I liked the [food item X] here" formula. In this case, all my life I would have rather starved to death and set my legs on fire than eat potato salad. (In my defense, I had the extreme misfortune of being born into a Miracle Whip family.) Luckily the potato salad at Le Swan is more of a mustardy/vinegary concoction and it is just delightful! Some might even call it on point. We always finish with a boozy milkshake. The last one I had there was made with absinthe. Crazy delicious. As for the old-timey interior, I did some digging to find out how 892 Queen St West came to be and went back as far as 1919 when it was home to Trinity Café. Presumably the interior hasn't changed much in the last century which I find amazing. Especially in a city like Toronto that seems hellbent on demolishing its history and preserving nothing. I digress. Sorry. Go to Le Swan. It's good.

My husband and I managed to talk a sweet family member into babysitting our kiddo last minute, and decided to try our luck at getting a table at Le Swan. As expected, they were fully booked for the evening, but they had room at the bar. The bar was cozy, candlelit and lots of fun. The menu is both diner and French inspired, and truly is just that: inspired. I had the French onion soup and a salad while my husband enjoyed his beloved brinner, a fois gras omelette. To go with these delights we tried their cocktails and wines pretty extensively. A standout for me was the Five Alive cocktail, if you grew up drinking that you will *love* this boozy version. Merci, Le Swan! We love that you kept the bones of the old iterations of this restaurant and that you're in our hood.