Jacqueline V.
Yelp
Adding another Michelin Guide restaurant to my list! Came here for our Valentine's dinner. Make sure you get an easy-to-get reservation on OpenTable before you come. We came on a Saturday night and they were completely booked up, and most likely if you were a walk-in then you weren't getting a table for the night. Also agree with someone mentioning that right as we walked in, they told us we had an "out-time" which felt like sort of unwelcoming comment right off the bat. Maybe it was the delivery of it but it was like oook.
Ambiance - It's got that Toronto vibe, decor is nice, like a nice casual luxury. Didn't feel stuffy, but the place is narrow. Music was at a medium volume in the background, so it's got a nice lively buzz to the ambiance. If you're looking for a super intimate/quiet place, this might not be 100% what you were looking for.
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Food
Gem Lettuce Salad - Good
- Would order this if you like salad, but I wouldn't say it was a game changer
- Had lettuce with bits and pieces of nuts and I think bacon? Textures were great
- Would try something else next time
Beef Tartare - Recommend
- Everyone mentions this one and for good reason! It's these two pockets of goodness with the tofu skin on the outside, and fresh beef on the inside with spices and super flavourful, would recommend!
Chicken Wings - Recommend
- Also another good one! These stuffed chicken wings were really tasty and flavourful. It had a nice crispy coating on the outside.
Mushroom Jook + Truffles - Recommend
- Very similar to a risotto. I really like this kind of texture and love truffles so I really enjoyed this dish. It might be too "goopy" for some though.
Skirt Steak - Recommend, but any of the steaks/proteins should be great!
- I don't know what I was expecting as I didn't see the pictures, but I really enjoyed the experience of this being like a korean bbq with all the little side dishes and wraps and sauces. Big fan of everything here together like the wasabi crema, chimichurri, etc.
Banana Tiramisu - Banger
- Yes. Banger. I LOVE tiramisu though so I might be biased. I didn't really taste the banana milk, but I loved how not-sweet it was, and had the perfect texture of a tiramisu with the light and fluffy cream and ladyfinger biscuits.
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Service - Was good. I wouldn't say absolutely stellar per se. We had a few different staff members rotate in and out and it seemed more like a free for all rather than someone focused on us. Some were much more friendly and warmer than others. I also felt like compared to the other Michelin restaurants we've been to, they weren't as quick or attentive, but it's a really high standard so I get it.
Consistency - One thing that bothered me is that my friend came a week before, and really talked up the mushroom jook with truffles. I LOVE truffles so I was really hyped about this, but when we got it, it looked like we received half the amount of what he had. Not sure what's going on there, but it would be nice if it was consistent across the board, especially for a high end restaurant.
Bill came to about $315 for two people with two rounds of cocktails. Was a good spot, but definitely for the special occasions!