Taline

Taline has a great atmosphere with warm, friendly service that makes you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. The vibe is inviting, and the staff is attentive. The food itself was flavorful and well-prepared, but unfortunately, after a long wait, it arrived cold, which was disappointing. Had it been served hot, it would have easily been a five-star experience. I’d consider giving it another try, hoping for better timing in the kitchen.

My fiancée and I got a reservation for Valentine’s Day. The chef had curated a set menu and every single dish had us impressed. Not 1 miss on the set menu and I’m sure the full menu is just as tasty. Amazing atmosphere, music was not too loud and we could converse at normal talking levels, lighting was dim but not too dark. Highly recommend and definitely will be coming back. One of the best tasting food we’ve had in the city.

Great lamb chops and their pita that they serve with their dips is amazing. Also, their potatoes are really crispy and delicious Would skip the octopus, I found it a bit chewy. Also, was surprised that when we asked for more sauce for the potatoes, we were charged $4 for the extra dip. It was good, but I was not expecting an additional charge and wished that I was told at least.

The food was really good (especially the Mante dumplings) but the service progressively dropped throughout the night. When we were leaving for our ride, there was a line for coat check with three groups waiting for their coats ahead of us — we had to wait on the stairs. It was Valentine’s so I can appreciate that they were unusually busy.

Was not sure what to expect but had several people recommend this restaurant. Went with friends and we were not disappointed. Staff were friendly and helpful. Small restaurant with open kitchen to see the chef in action. Comfortable non rushed dining experience. Went for the tasting menu with a wine bottle pairing. An excellent choice and good value given other tasting menus I have had. Food came out at a nice pace. Staff explained each dish, answered questions. Each dish was well prepared and presented. A mix of textures and flavours. Just excellent. Highly recommend. Should mention cocktails very tasty and wine selection is great.

Recently visited Taline that has been listed in the Michelin Guide. While they describe it as Armenian food with a Lebanese twist, I felt it was more Lebanese dishes with an Armenian touch. The food was delicious and beautifully presented, and the modern interior was stylish and cool. However, it got very loud, making it hard to talk, which isn’t ideal for a high-end restaurant. The service was good, and overall, it was a nice experience, though not exceptional. Worth a visit if you’re curious, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking

Dining at Taline was an unforgettable experience. The ambience is warm and inviting, with every detail thoughtfully designed to create a space that feels both elegant and homely. You can feel the love and care that has gone into the restaurant, inspired by the owner’s late mother, it’s clear this place is built on a foundation of family. The food and drinks were exceptional, bursting with flavour and made with the freshest ingredients. The team was welcoming and attentive, making the entire experience feel personal and special. Taline is a true gem, and I can’t wait to return!

I hosted a small business dinner at Taline with a colleague from out of town and a few locals. It was a really wonderful experience- intimate, warm hospitality and the food was just incredible. This is more a place for a quiet chat and that suited our vibe perfectly. The menu is both familiar and exotic at the same time. Many of the dishes will be readily recognizable to most people - hummus, tzatziki , etc - but they are prepared in an Armenian style and an elevated presentation style which made for a memorable experience. But don’t be shy when ordering, there are uniquely Armenian dishes to be discovered that are delightful as well. We went for a tasting menu program and our host walked us through a memorable set of dishes. All I can say is save room for dessert because it is a bit of a show stealer.

Our first time at Taline; 4 of us were seated upstairs ( the place occupied 2 levels) and by the look it got packed by 8 they will need to find more room ( on the rooftop?:)) Despite the small space, it felt elegant, and somehow "homie". Pleasantly easy going but knowledgeable staff. We were offered some sampling to help choose the wine and ended up picking a bottle that went nicely with the food. The FOOD - was really good. The kind of good that makes you pick up a piece of bread and clean the remaining food off the plate. Chef Seb served some of the dishes himself, saying hello and presenting the dishes he had brought out , while his younger brother took care of our drinks and made sure all were content. We had the baba ganoush, the fattoush salad ( what an interesting and tasty take on it!) , veal chops( Ontario lamb, nicely done), the pilaff, the potatoes, mante ( absolutely wonderful) and of course the matnakash ( the yummy bread ). We enjoyed everything quite a bit. Thank you guys, we will be back.

My sister took me here as my surprise bday dinner. Walking in I was so excited seeing the Michelin mark outside and the restaurant full of patrons. As we headed upstairs, we asked the hostess if we can sit at the table by the window, she said it was reserved. Didn't we also make a reservation? I didn't make a fuss because I thought maybe the other reservation had a special occasion such as a proposal. Turned out they had a speedy dinner where they both played on their phone and rarely talked to each other. The night got increasing disappointing as it unfolded. While our server did all the expected service eg checked in on us and topped up our water she was not personable. It was a snowy night and both of us didn't want to drink much so I asked if I can order 1 cocktail pairing with our set dinner, she said no. When I responded why can't I order it for myself and decide to share the cocktails with my sister, she went quiet. Food took way too long, our dinner was 3 hours long. Everything was vegetarian except for the lamb that we requested. First round was good with dips and persimmons salad. Second round was confusing, they ran out of mante (dumplings) so our substitute was kale salad and a carrot/celery lettuce wrap. This was tasteless and confusing. Third course, fish was brought out by accident but they left the cabbage side dish on the table while they cooked the lamb. The worst thing about this whole experience is that the table next to us is close by so we can hear each other's conversation but they also ordered the set menu and they were 1 course ahead of us so we saw everything they ate including the better looking dishes they received vs ours eg mante and the different side dish to compliment the lamb. It was noted on our reservation that it was my birthday and our dessert didn't come with a candle. At this point we were just ready to leave. I had to walk up to the 3 servers just standing by the bar chatting to ask for the bill. The bathroom was freezing and out of paper napkins while 3 servers are just standing right outside. Really disappointing experience overall.

The banru ($16) was described as a three-cheese dip, in which I could decipher two - cream cheese and feta - creating a thick, smooth but textured spread reminiscent of a cheese ball. It's salty with a ting of spice (from Thai chili jam) and was topped with three circles of charred carrots that provided a neutral finish. The spread was served with hot toasted matnakash, an Armenian flatbread that's soft but surprisingly dense so a slice was enough. Taline's fattoush ($28) eliminates lettuce and uses roasted squash, cucumbers, sweet persimmon, and microgreens instead. Tossed with a well-seasoned pomegranate and shallot vinaigrette, the salad was almost salsa like - sweet, salty, tangy - all things good on a fork. In lieu of pita, chunks of toasted matnakash create croutons that soak up the salad's juices. Taline should consider reordering how appetizers arrive as the mante ($30) needs to be served first. Being a more neutral dish - simply seasoned with sumac, mint, and tomato consommé - it seemed bland compared to the other flavourful starters. For me, the meat screamed for seasoning and a tomato sauce (instead of a consommé) would be more flavourful and stick to the wrapper, which was a bit hard and could benefit from being softened. Still, I liked that Taline's mante doesn't rely on tons of yoghurt, just a bit of it at the bottom, and instead focuses on the actual dumpling - beautifully made containing an ample portion of ground beef. Once I smeared the mante with banru and topped it with a few vegetables from the fattoush, it was delicious. So, maybe you need to eat the dumplings in conjunction with other starters. Lamb chop fans must try the vochkhar ($58). Its spice rub creates a flavourful but not overly salty crust that's delicious plain or with a smear of the garlicky herbed yoghurt sauce. Cooked to a medium/medium rare, the lamb was deliciously tender served with pearl couscous that soak up excess meat juice. Yet, at first bite, you wouldn't know the chops are tender as the "steak knives" were so dull that a regular serrated butter knife would work better. Please Taline, switch out the knives. As the maitake jasmine broth was poured over the dikranagerd pilav ($30), an intoxicating aroma flooded the table. And while I loved the soft flavourful mushroom studded rice, the overly thick dough wrapped around the grains detracted from the dish. It doesn't need the dough, served with a thick smoked labneh and bright barberries the rice on its own is enough. Dining at Taline does require patience, especially during the busy weekend dinner service. It takes a while to get a drink (our cocktails arrived after the first appetizer) and we were never asked if we wanted a second. Even water refills were slow, finally picking up after half the tables left. While not deal breakers, if you're a thirsty table, I'd recommend ordering a bottle of wine and asking for a carafe of water.

This was a very interesting and unique experience. I was visiting Toronto and had heard about this place. I checked the Yelp and it intrigued me. We are Armenian so we don't need introduction to the cuisine, but I sure was impressed by the presentation of the food here, the decor and the ambiance . Very contemporary. I am a bit surprised that high scale restaurant like this doesn't have and valet or any parking suggestions. When I called to ask for the parking , they only suggested street parking or public green P. Not sure where that was located so that was a struggle, but me made it on time. We were the first reservation at 5 pm and weee the only table for a while . The place got almost full around 6. The menu was very interesting. They had a nicely designed menu, some Armenian writing in it. The server was friendly. She gave her recommendations and we decided to go with Yalla Ber option. $95 per person, this was supposed to be a custom selection of their choice, based on what we tell her we like and don't like. This was supposed to be 4 course meal. 1 appetizer, one first course, one entree and one dessert (per person) I have 3 problems with this situation: 1. They didn't ask how spicy we wanted it . They just brought it and some of us didn't like spicy so ended up not eating much. Some of the items were quite spicy. 2. I didn't know bread was considered an item in the appetizer . They actually counted the bread as an appetizer for 1 person. Same for potatoes . I never knew potatoes are considered an entree item . It was : fish, ghavurma , cabbage and potato- 4 entrees for 4 people !? Not sure if that was fair for the amount of money they are charging . It was kind of a rip off in my opinion. Still a lot of food but I have been to countless restaurants and have never considered potatoes as part of main course , and a basket of bread as part of an appetizer item. And the dessert ? Only 1 ashta for 4 of us . Unfair I think 3. The fish was not good - I am a seafood lover and couldn't eat this item. None of us liked it. It was mushy, and bland . Eww not good at all Nevertheless, this place gets 4 stars for being so unique and mostly tasty food. I would like to go back here given the opportunity, but this time I will order my own items and not let them give me potatoes as an entree!

This was my first time trying Armenian food, and I loved it. Taline is an upscale version with most of the dishes falling into the classic middle eastern palate. The vibe of the restaurant was great too, with big marble tables, a window to the chef's kitchen, and great service. As for the food, there were no misses. We tried a bit of everything. Start off with the creamy spiced hummus with their crispy thick pita, refreshing tabbouleh, and savoury mante dumplings. The octopus, potatoes, fattoush salad, beef lettuce wraps, and crispy cabbage were all really nice but to me the star of the show was the lamb - with a tomato relish and herby yogurt sauce, this made for an incredible bite. As for the cocktails, they were average. The dessert was really nice - a twist of shortbread ice cream and coffee ice cream, drizzled with olive oil. I would definitely come back here!

Wow! This place is incredible. The service was on point and the food and drinks were amazing. We got the chefs tasting menu. We started with a selection of dips and salads (Lobi was 5/5, Fatoush was 3.5/5). The stars of the show were the mains and if I came again, I would skip the dips and go straight for the good stuff: Akhtaubtb - tender octopus (5/5) Vochkhar- grilled lamb chops (5/5) Soong - a mushroom dish (6/5) - hands down amazing dish. Ishkhanatsoug - rainbow trout baked in vine leaves. (5/5). The flavor profile on this one really impressed me. Tsoug - whole bass with a mango sauce (5/5) - other than me, everyone at the table loved this one more than the trout. Gedzou Patates - (3.5/5) - really good confit potatoes. Kaghamp - braised cabbage with tahini (5/5) - so good! You'd think after so much food we wouldn't have room for dessert but it was too good to pass up! The Ashta Tart, made with halva, tahini, and pistachios was my absolute favorite (5/5). I would come back just to have that. We also got the Mahalabiye (5/5) and a soft serve ice cream (3.5/5). The ambiance was intimate and you can see the chef and kitchen staff working through a giant window at the end of the restaurant. Accessibility and dietary restrictions: - They easily accommodated a gluten free request. - The bathrooms are down a set of stairs. - I don't believe they had changing stations in the bathrooms - though it may not be the best place for young children. We will be back!

We recently dined at Taline and have mixed feelings about the experience. The ambiance and service were pretty good. Also, I have to say that the dishes have been very well arranged on the plate, in very appealing way. However, we go to restaurants for FOOD experience first of all. The food fell short of expectations. Appetizers:" kibbeh nayeh" was plain and lacked texture. The Mante dumplings were good, but were too dry, the sauce was supposed to balance it, but failed to do the job (maybe just not enough). The Banru (cheeses mixture with chili) was pretty good, but how could this tiny plate cost $26??? The fattoush salad was OK, but not more than just "OK". Mains: we had 2 dishes of lamb chops. one was good, on the other one chops had a lot of fat and very strong lamb "odor" This definitely should have been stopped by the kitchen and not be served to the table!!! The veal shank on the jus was surprisingly dry and hard to chew... The last one was the Kunefe desert and it was very successful! In summary, dishes are not balanced, although well set on plates. Way way overpriced!!!!! It's totally not worth it!!! We don't understand the HIPE about this place.

Taline, located in the heart of mid-town near Yonge & St. Clair, has a modern and elegant ambience. The interior design is on point, with shades of muted green adorning the walls, cloth napkins, booth seatings, and decorations. It has a bit of a King West vibe with good music in the background, but without the massive crowd or line-ups. We came on a Saturday evening without a reservation, and we were able to get seated right away (the restaurant didn't seem too busy at that time). Service was great and friendly. The server was very attentive, and food came out relatively quick. They were even able to accommodate our request to have all the dishes (including appetizers, mains, and sides) to come out at the same time. There was a big glass window separating the dining room and the kitchen, so you could see the cooking in action if you wanted to. It seemed like a well-run kitchen. There was a second floor for extra dining space. Food-wise, they serve Armenian cuisine with modern interpretations and superb presentation. The plating for every dish is done beautifully, with taste that matches its looks. All the dishes that we had were delicious. The sides and some of the appetizers were almost as big to stand out as a main dish on its own. 1) Akhtabut (Mediterranean octopus, moghrabieh (Lebanese pearl couscous), urfa biber (Turkish dried chili pepper), ful (Egyptian fava beans & cumin)) - This came as 4 tender pieces of octopus that were pretty good. 2) Tuna Nayeh (tuna tartare with bottarga (cured fish roe), puffed bulgur, onions, mint, lettuce, pickled turnip, and garlic toum) - Loved wrapping the tuna nayeh with crisp lettuce, and eating it together with the garlic toum. I could taste lots of onions in the nayeh. I wish they gave more lettuce though, because they only gave 3 pieces of lettuce and we were left with lots of the tuna nayeh leftover without anything to scoop or eat with / wrap in. 3) Fattoush Salad (cucumber, tomatoes, shallots, purslane, matnakash (traditional Armenian leavened bread), pomegranate molasses) - This was different than the typical fattoush salad that I've seen or had previously. Perhaps this was the Armenian version of fattoush salad, which was different than the Lebanese / other Middle Eastern version (which usually includes lettuce and fried pita bread). In this version, there was no lettuce and the bread component was matnakash (traditional Armenian leavened bread), instead of pita chips. It was still delicious and fresh-tasting, and the pomegranate molasses didn't make the salad too sweet (thankfully). 4) Tsoug (whole grilled fish, za'atar, caper leaves, charred grapes, persimmon) - I liked that they de-boned this, making it very easy to eat without having to dig and pick through the small bones. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I also loved the charred grapes - it's rare that you find fruits that are cooked / grilled and go so well with a savoury dish. 5) Gedzou Patates (confit potatoes, black garlic toum, shallots, urfa biber, Aleppo biber) - Super crispy and a bit spicy. They stayed crispy for the entire duration of our meal. 6) Fasoulia (green beans, tomato chutney, crispy garlic, halloumi) - This side dish was just okay. It would've been better without the halloumi cheese. As a big garlic fan, I vote up any dish or side with lots of garlic in it. 7) Kaghamp (braised cabbage, fennel tahini, pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts) - BEST (SIDE) DISH OF THE NIGHT. This was unexpectedly unique, and it showed creativity in taking such a simple and common ingredient (cabbage), elevating it, and turning it into a flavour bomb in your mouth. It reminded me of the Middle Eastern whole cauliflower head that's showered with tahini, pomegranates, various nuts (usually pine nuts) - which makes a wholesome stand-alone dish on its own. The cabbage itself was charred perfectly, with black crisps on the outer edges, yet piping hot and soft when you cut into it. The smooth, velvety, and creamy fennel tahini complemented it so well, and the pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, and pine nuts added a nice crunch to the dish. 10/10.

AMAZINGG!!! This place is a great combination of middle eastern and Armenian cuisine. I bet they have Michelin star chefs. Great food. Really High quality. Amazing staff. We loved the atmosphere. It would be an amazing location for a cozy, casual, sheik date night. And, also great for a friend/family gathering. We chose this restaurant completely out of the blue, and we couldn't be happier with our choice. WILL DEFINITELY VISIT AGAIN. We got the Davar, Imam Bayildi, ASHTA TART.... You should visit before it gets packed. Cheers!

Loved everything about the place...service was efficient and friendly, the atmosphere was lovely and not pretenscious and the food was amazing. Everything was tasty and beautifully presented. Next time doing the tasting menu which we should have done but we were with others not interested in being so adventurous. Can't wait to go back!

The best restaurant in Toronto in my opinion. All categories are my absolute favourites perhaps besides the cabbage. I've gone back many times and plan to go more. I think it should get a Michelin star though now is a mention only.

Amazing fusion restaurant with a foundation to Armenian and Lebanese cuisine. The menu is is eclectic and not run of the mill. If you're looking for a standard middle eastern restaurant this is not it. It's definitely next level. Don't pass it by worth the visit.

This spot was a bit intriguing when it opened up. Located in summerhill area which is a bit of a mixed bag IMO for restaurants especially this stretch of Yonge as I can't recall anything memorable within this block other than the nut bar nearby. The interior is nice and has a pleasant feel there is giant glass window into the kitchen even but I couldn't see anything due to the reflection. On to the menu oh they are priced on the high side. We tried Labneh and BANRU (I think we ordered this by mistake as wanted the halloumi starter) They came with a nice bread which unfortunately had so much oil on it that was very hard to eat without a fork and knife. Banru has a nice kick to it as well. Labneh is decent. I ordered the lamb chops and other diner ordered the chicken. Both don't come with any sides so we added a side of potatoes as well (hefty price again for what you get) The lamb chops are nicely grilled and cooked to the medium rare (good) the chicken went well too. A major sticking point IMO was that both were served with plate with high sides (Almost a bowl) now there is no way for one to cut the meat especially lamb chops at a decent angle. The place started to get busy as the evening progressed. I tried a red wine which was decent and paired well with the lamb chops. I think this place has its work cut out for them (pun intended) starting with a few adjustments needed for the server ware :) as at this price point there is little room for mistakes IMO. 3.5 stars for now.

Less than a month old, I can't wait to see Taline cement itself as an haute cuisine cornerstone of Middle Eastern food in Canada. Specializing in Armenian fare, Taline comfortably hits all the notes that make Armenian cuisine historically distinct, while imbuing it with culinary ingenuity reserved for the most accomplished chefs. This comes as no surprise given the team behind it. The Yacoubian brothers of Mayrik fame have completely reimagined the possibilities ingrained in Armenian culture, and created a space and experience where those possibilities are maximally realized. Every inch of the restaurant is intentionally considered, from the art and custom tiling to the message written inside the menu in the Yacoubian brothers' mother's handwriting. The lamb was easily the tastiest I've ever had, as was my experience of the baba ghanoush. The chi kefte (a personal favourite dish of mine) does what an excellent steak tartare does and more. The manti was comforting and delectable. Even the garlic potatoes, which generally is a dish I'm not as drawn to, were fried in a way I've never had potatoes fried before, making a potentially dull side into something exciting and successful. The pita was perfect. Do yourself a favour and get to Taline as fast as you can. Book a reso, because seats are not easy to find during peak hours. Will be back endlessly!

Blown away by the experience we had at Taline. Having the opportunity to have an authentic food experience in a fine dining setting is something I'm sure we all chase. I can sit here and tell you the food was amazing and the ambiance was cool or that the service was top tier like Yelp wants me to do but in all honesty it doesn't end there for this restaurant. As an Armenian I felt so proud to see my people showcase our food in the way they did. I didn't know it was possible to have a fatoush salad the way they made it or eat the same lebne I did as a kid with the amazing fresh baked pita that they made. How the chef managed to take a steakhouse style steak and make it taste like the best skewered over charcoal grilled xhrovats is nothing short of magic. What made the night even better was with the food we had some of the best drinks I've had in years with a music playlist you have to be in there to appreciate. Being from LA we are making sure we let everyone back home know that one of the best Armenian restaurants in the world is in Toronto

I was initially disappointed to be seated on the second floor away from the action, but the food was so delicious I quickly forgot. Had hummus, labneh, fattoush and vochkhar. Everything was fabulous. Topped off by excellent service and tasty drinks. I'll definitely go back when I am in town again.

What a gem of a Resturant! Great service and quality food. The onwer operates the kitchen and every piece food that comes out of the kitchen is inspected and garnished. Make time for having a nice dinner, as food comes out slower due to their perfection mentality. It's priced on the more expensive side but you get what you pay for. Looking forward to going back again!

Amazing food, great ambience and great service. We went once and then right back again. The food is different and served family style. A lovely dinner and experience.

Anytime you're in Toronto- you must have this restaurant!! The food and drinks were amazing.

Food is very regular that you can find anywhere in Toronto and it's overpriced definitely for this kind of dishes. When I introduced myself to manager and asked his name, the manager did not tell me his name and was really rude and unpleasant in conversation with me. Though the rest of the personnel was very nice. Never again in this place.

Food was very regular that you can find anywhere in Toronto and it's overpriced definitely for this kind of dishes. When I introduced myself to manager and asked his name, the manager did not tell me his name and was really rude and unpleasant in conversation with me. Though the rest of the personnel was very nice. Never again in this place.