The School Fine Dining

The NY strip at lunch has a 7oz and 11oz version. Was cooked to what I like which is medium rare. The calamari was very good. My cappuccino coffee was decent but it was slight in the warm side.

For a long time fine dining restaurant, I'm surprised to be disappointed at my dinner visit. The phone reservation conversation didn't feel entirely friendly. Apparently my friend didn't feel welcomed while entering either. Our two servers were sweet and humourous though. The food was mediocre average, definitely not fine dining level. The menu was also not very extensive. Overall, I did not feel that I had eaten at a fine dining restaurant.

Its pretty empty and quite here. There was only 6 tables all night during our visit on a Tuesday. I called to make reservations ahead of time to celebrate a birthday. I asked if i was allowed to bring my own cake and corkage. And i was told there is no corkage. To me, that meant, i can bring my own wine and there is no corkage fees. But apparently they dont allow us to bring wine which was announced to me after we were seated and i passed my server the wine i brought. He said he went to clarify with the manager that there is “no corkage”. Me being so confused at this point…. But whatever. Food was pretty good. Servers weren’t the friendliest. Nothing above and beyond to make my friend feel special celebrating her birthday there. Brought the bill at 9:36pm to tell me they’ve been closed for a while but google maps says they close at 10pm. I honestly would rather spend $800 having dinner somewhere i feel more welcomed.

Excellent Service and atmosphere. smoke salmon is good but Steak is too raw inside.

We have used The School for two family events (approx 70 people) in their private room and both times the experience was fantastic. Peter is wonderful to work with, organized, easy to get a hold of, and had great suggestions. Everything I had requested was set up perfectly and looked amazing. His staff and their service was exceptional. The space was beautiful, private and had lots of natural light. The food was fantastic and cooked to perfection. This is the perfect space for baptisms, showers, small weddings and milestone parties.

We celebrated our wedding at The School this past weekend and it was absolutely perfect. Peter was incredible to work with! He was essential in so many aspects, from the planning beforehand to ensuring things went smoothly the day of. Everything was organized and the private bar was decorated wonderfully. The service Stan and Lucas provided was top notch - very friendly and welcoming. The staff went above and beyond to make our evening special. We’re so happy we chose this venue for our special day and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a great spot with delicious food and excellent service!

Another birthday dinner to a place where we have wanted to try for a long time. The place is glamorous and elegantly designed, which creates the feeling of an upscale fine dining venue, of course appropriate with the dollar value. There are lots of varieties on appetizers, main and desserts. I would recommend the Caesar Salad to start, which is made right in front of you. The taste was spot on. Filet Mignon, lamb, and salmon filet were all good. Lobster Tail was just so so. Well, I have high expectations when we choose this venue, and in the end, it doesn't disappoint you, especially the atmosphere. Recommended for important occasions.

Fine dining with a touch of elegance. Located in a converted old school, the steak and seafood restaurant is the best in Markham. It has a spacious, nicely decorated interior with a quiet, warm ambiance. Delicious, perfectly cooked foods with a good portion size. Price is definitely on the expensive side. Courteous staff, and fast service. There is plenty of parking in a well maintained parking lot. Overall, it is a pride to Markham.

For wedding reception. They were excellent in the helping with the planning of the reception and direction. The staff was excellent and very helpful The food was delicious. Everything was well organized and ran smoothly. Just the wine was a bit slow to start being served with dinner. The bar service was superb. The menu options are diverse and a reasonable price seeing it covers everything. I would highly recommend here for your functions.

We recently attended a wedding at The School and the food was excellent. The main course of Beef Medallions and Grilled Chicken Supreme was done to perfection. Considering that they were preparing 100 meals, the beef was done to a nice medium-rare to medium (I tend to go with medium-rare) and it had the nice seared flavour and was tender. Similarly, the chicken was moist, tender and flavourful. The staff were courteous and attentive. The bar was well stocked and prompt in preparation of drinks. Along with the festivity of the occasion, the food was just the perfect complement to a great day. We have been to The School on several occasions over many years and have never been disappointed with the food. I was too busy having a good time that I did not take pictures of the food and venue.

Its pretty empty and quite here. There was only 6 tables all night during our visit on a Tuesday. I called to make reservations ahead of time to celebrate a birthday. I asked if i was allowed to bring my own cake and corkage. And i was told there is no corkage. To me, that meant, i can bring my own wine and there is no corkage fees. But apparently they dont allow us to bring wine which was announced to me after we were seated and i passed my server the wine i brought. He said he went to clarify with the manager that there is "no corkage". Me being so confused at this point.... But whatever. Food was pretty good. Servers weren't the friendliest. Nothing above and beyond to make my friend feel special celebrating her birthday there. Brought the bill at 9:36pm to tell me they've been closed for a while but google maps says they close at 10pm. I honestly would rather spend $800 having dinner somewhere i feel more welcomed.

Fine dining delicious food in a wonderfully beautiful setting. Our party of six ordered a variety of apps, mains, and desserts with many that wowed. Here's the verdict: -Bourbon flames peppercorn steak (strong flavour and steak so tender. Def recommend if you love peppercorn sauce) -NY striploin cooked really well and tasty veggies and mashed potato -Prime Rib was the daily special and it was so tender and well cooked -Chicken dish was so juicy and flavourful, not dry or boring at all. -French onion soup was so good and definitely recommended -Lobster and crabcakes were pretty tasty -Escargot was alright for us it was a bit too salty so not as enjoyable. -Affagato was good with strong espresso -The chocolate cake was amazing and in my opinion a must order if you like chocolate. It is the perfect place to celebrate special occasions and celebrations. Just be aware prices are fine dining prices but service was on point, and food was stellar so you get a really nice experience to go along with it.

It was a great experience. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The environment was very nice.

Gathered here to commemorate the life of a dear friend. The restaurant was reserved for an intimate dining experience. Food was top notch, from appetizers to the main. Assorted cheeses, hors d'oeuvres, shrimp and a flaky salmon fillet were on the menu. Wait staff were kind and accommodating. The atmosphere was classy. My first time left a good impression. Fine dining at its finest. No pictures were taken because the occassion didn't call for any.

If you go with a big group, count on your food to be room temperature. Most of our group got the special, which was a prime rib and the only person who got a warm piece got theirs well done. Everyone's 16 oz prime rib also came out all different sizes .... Where's the consistency? Obviously if a majority orders the same meal, you would compare. Waiters were also bumping into us as we were seated. ..just really annoying when you're trying to enjoy your meal. No apology either.

Lambalicious! Lamb me up baby! I don't think lamb is ever a risky item to order. Lamb never disappoints. This was incredible. On top of that, service was LITERALLY perfection. Come here if you want to be served like royalty. I will be coming back for sure! Don't ask me about desert, I didn't think to take a photo. 5/5

I had a wonderful experience here. The food was cooked well and service was great. The manager pays great detail to your needs. I would definitely come back here for another delicious dinner. I had ordered the Gorgonzola with truffle crusted strip loin, it was really flavourful and my steak was cooked to perfection. I had the mashed potatoes and it was nice and creamy. I really enjoyed the pickled vegetables they served as an appetizer to open up your appetite, I'm not sure if they were pickled in house or jarred. Atomosphere was great as well, they even had someone playing the piano there which was really nice as most places nowadays have something playing on the radio or CD player.

Our small company had our Christmas dinner gathering last week. We had great service, food and environment. We are already planning our next year's booking. Thank you all for the wonderful night. Would definitely recommend this place.

77/100 This place is a classic. Old school high end steak house in the same vein as Peter's close by. I've got no complaints, the service is polite, the atmosphere and decor is vintage (maybe a bit dated, but well kept) and it's quiet enough to have a conversation without raising your voice. Most of all, they've got good steak. The bone in ribeye is 24oz and easy to share, the scallops are rather large and cooked pretty well. Dessert wise, their creme brule and their cheesecake are both good. It's simple, elegant, and the kind of place I would go to as a reward for a good job at school or something when I was younger.

Food was outstanding Service was top notch Ambiance was excellent Would highly recommend this place if you are looking for a top notch steak.

The school is not a place that would come to mind for most when they think of fine dining and Markham. I had heard about it for years but not been very interested until it was brought up in a conversation and was told you'd get a great meal out it. That being said, our family decided to go for my fathers' Birthday. The school is as elegant as it is traditional when it comes to fine dining experiences. As you enter the restaurant you are greeted by the Maitre d who collects your jacket for coat check. You are promptly guided towards your table in the dim lit room, renovated over from what I imagine was a 19th century home. When it comes to service they were considerate, helpful, and timely with bringing the orders to the table. However when it comes to fine dine food, I felt that the menu price did not reflect the effort of the dishes. That being said the quality of the food was not poor by any means but I could have had an amazing meal in the city for a similar price point. Maybe they like to stick to tradition of no fooling around food on a plate minimal presentation. Here's what we had: *To being they brought out pickled preserves and bread with oil; nothing out of the ordinary but a nice touch to start* Prosciutto wrapped Mozza (13$) - Three perfectly wrapped mozza prices drizzles with reduced balsamic. It was a delicious Italian rendition of fine ingredients blended together in a scrumptious gathering. Definitely a worth while dish for a small group to share. Lobster bisque with creme and congac (12$) - A simple yet delightful soup that was hearty but not over bearing with richness. Hard to taste the congac flavour but I guess i'll believe it's in there. Seared citrus Salmon fillet (35$) - My dad loves his fish so he went with this. The flavour of the fish was good and it was cooked well with a bit of rawness in the centre but felt that overall the dish sided with rice and a couple vegetables was overly simple. Seafod Linguini (42$) - With flavours of the sea like shrimp, lobster and scallop this dish pulled the ocean into a bowl with fresh pasta tossed in a light aioli sauce. Nothing over the top but the positives were the fish tasted fresh, lacking the fishy taste and served hot with the al dente pasta was a nice combination Veal Osso Bucco (45$) - Probably the most notable dish of the night. Combined with risotto and vegetables assorted, the meat fell right off the thick bone. The jus sauce was light and savoury and gave extra flavour to the meat and the risotto. The School is not a place I would go to often or consider again, my preferred experience would be something with a little more flare if I'm putting out that much money. Overall a fair meal but not something I would jump back to.

Lovely aristocratic interior and great service but their steak was a huge disappointment. I ordered the filet mignon and it came looking like a home cooked meal... On my plate had the steak, a plain baked potato, and ONE of each of a strip of pepper, carrot and bok choy. Please refer to my picture. For "fine dining" I just can't believe that is what came out of the kitchen. The sear was a bit too strong and it was not really medium rare as asked for, and I saw another person's steak they asked for medium and it looked more rare than mine etc.. I also had the lobster bisque which was nice how it came with big lobster chunks but I think their soup base is mixed with tomato cream soup a bit too much. Creme brûlée cheesecake was quite neat though.

Great service and beautiful ambience. If you're looking to celebrate a special occasion or impress business partners in Markham, the School Fine Dining is a great place. What I've had: - Creamy lobster bisque w/ cognac - Bacon wrapped filet mignon - Peppercorn steak Highly recommend the bisque and peppercorn steak. The Peppercorn steak is flamed with cognac and they sear the steak right next to your table. So hey, you get a bit of a show going on. Couldn't get enough of the steak sauce! Some more comments: - Appetizers are yummy. Love the pickled assortment with mushrooms. - We were given a free Chocolate cake for my bf's birthday. So sweet of them. Cake was perfect.

After YEARS of talking about coming to try out this place one day... we finally made it! I called for reservations on the same day for the evening, and also dropped off a birthday cake hours in advance of the reservation to make it a surprise for my mom's birthday! I must say, from the start point of making reservations, to being sat down at the table, during our meal, and even the end when they served our cake for dessert, service from ALL the staff was just memorable and fantastic. Their menu portions are fair, and the prices aren't as high as I imagined, safe to say the steak size and prices are comparable to The Keg. Safe to say we are looking forward to visiting The School Fine Dining again!

Ambience: From the exterior, the restaurant looks like a cozy and intimate spot. As I entered, I noticed the décor is dated but that may be the vibe that they want to deliver. The dining room is dimly lit contributing to a romantic ambience. Service: Our server was attentive and friendly. The level of service is what you would expect from an upscale restaurant. Food: This is an upscale restaurant in Markham but the food was not what I expected from an upscale restaurant. I ordered a steak and it was very underwhelming. My steak was very average and I can get the same quality steak elsewhere at much lower prices. Overall: I ended the meal on a mediocre note. The food was extremely disappointing given the prices here.

My partner and I went to The School for Valentine's and the food was amazing. We ordered the calamari to start and the batter is unlike any other. Followed by a lobster bisque which was thick and creamy and escargot. We both got steaks- filet mignon for me which instantly melted in my mouth and he got the special which was prime ribs. As we were leaving, we were curious to know if they did weddings and the maître d' was super nice and showed us the hall for a quick second even though it was a busy night. Very considerate! Will definitely return to try more things on the menu.

Old school building turned steakhouse! Very cute interior decor. Fairly good menu selection (more than other steakhouses in the area) although quite traditional. The food was good quality and the service fantastic. The wait staff also put on a nice show if you order certain menu items such as their Caesar Salad or Specialty Dessert Coffees.

I have always heard good things about The School but I still have never tried this place (not even today lol). I was researching about wedding venues, and came across The School. There were minimal info on their website about wedding events, so we've decided to drop by and inquire. It is located on 14th Avenue (Between Kennedy/Warden) in Markham. The restaurant is like shaped like a mansion on the outside! It must look beautiful during the summer, I thought :) We were greeted by a lady at coat check area when we walked in. She then went to get Chris, I believe would be the restaurant manager. Chris was courteous and helpful. Unfortunately, we found out that their venue can only accommodate up to max 140 people, and we were aiming for 250-300. I guess it would make a great place for a small engagement party or a cozy wedding reception! Bummer. I'm always a fan of top notch food combined with old school styled service. I thought this would be the perfect wedding venue! And so, the search continues on. 3 stars for now (mid-point). I'll definitely be back to try this restaurant very soon. Gotta take my brother here for his bday dinner... and I will update my rating for this place!

This is a fine dining restaurant so don't expect to spend anything less than $50 -$100/person. We ordered a bottle of white wine which was $40, calamari and escargot to start and proceeded with entrees and dessert with coffee to finish. The appetizers were quite good; the calimari was lightly breaded had a great cripsy texture and the squid itself was perfectly cooked. The escargot was cooked in garlic and butter; was an okay dish nothing special. For mains my mom had the seafood platter which was $75 and came with a perfectly cooked lobster tail, prawns, scallops, as well as a variety of other seafood. My dad had the prime rib ($35) which came with veggies and baked potato as well as a bun, and horseradish. My sister had the top sirloin and I had the seafood linguine. I thought the seafood linguine was a bit on the salty side but it came with two large scallops, prawns, squid and more. For dessert we had the creme Brule, cheesecake and tiramisu ($8-9 each). The creme brule was delicious, by far our favourite of the three, the cheesecake was typical and the tiramisu was subpar. Overall we had a good experience here some pros and cons. It was pricey but it made mothers day extra special. The service was top notch and our server was absolutely great.

Reservations recommended for Saturday night. Garlic bread - quite oily and inconsistently baked (some pieces were burnt). Some pieces were quite good though. Lamb chops - tender, soft, and flavourful. It was really well prepared. Steak - average, was quite tender but a bit plain. Pianist playing to compliment your fine dining.

Had their seafood pasta linguini and absolutely loved it! Great in taste and had plenty of fresh seafood served with it. Steak was also cooked to perfection and was seasoned really nicely. Service was very accommodating and it was a very nice place to have had my birthday dinner or a future romantic date!

We booked a graduation party of 60 people, the service and food were top-tier! Gave all the graduates a memorable experience. I had the pasta and it was delicious. Big thank you to Peter for making this night even better than we could have expected !

Excellent steaks and chops in an old schoolhouse at very high prices. The service is elegant and professional, the meat is cooked just right, but your wallet will emerge much lighter. Fine meat, but mediocre value.

Nice environment and reasonable price. I have sea bass paired with a glass of white wine. The fish is good. There is a pianist to perform the classic English songs, I like it! The only discount is the garlic bread a bit thick and not crispy enough.

The ultimate in fine dining. The food is fantastic and the service is impeccable. Our go to place for special occasions.

My dad has always wanted to dine here so we finally got the chance for his birthday and it exceeded our expectations ! Our fine dining experience started with beef carpaccio and tuna sashimi (great flavours for both) as appetizers. We had the seafood casserole (shrimps, scallops etc.) and steak with sweet potato fries and onion rings as sides. Everything was cooked perfectly and the service was also great! It was a delightful treat and I'm looking forward to returning soon.

Excellent ambience and the live piano is a great touch. The service in the private dining hall was good, not great. The appetizer portions are small and mainly limited to seafood options. However, taste was great. The menu is good, though overpriced for many items. Had the salmon which was certainly delicious. I would return as the place is a good setting to host a larger sized party but with the fairly uninspired menu there are likely better options. Wasn't a bad experience but they want to call themselves fine dining so in terms of that category, 3 out of 5 stars.

Same old, boring, bland, limited menu for decades. Desserts sit uncovered at room temperature. The garlic bread however is one thing to look forward to. The live piano, decor and ambience also make up for some of the shortfall. Obviously not my choice to keep returning over the years and fortunately I've seen the last of the place. Not recommended for large groups due to its appeal to only limited audiences. Doesn't hurt to try once if you enjoy steak, some seafood and nothing else. I will however consider returning once the name, management and menu are all replaced.

I have always heard so many great things about this place. Mostly that it is high-end, fancy, expensive, and bring your girl there for a special occasion. Well, they were right about one thing, IT'S EXPENSIVE. They serve higher end quality products, not a single one was cooked close to perfection. Their menu is very classic, flavours were dull and plain, textures were off, meats not aged properly, plating lacked creativity and colour, ingredient pairing for dishes were horrible. If you're into living in the past, and have a shitload of money to spend, you may want to come check this place out. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and don't eat here. Your taste buds will thank me, your wallet will thank me. Service-wise, we were served by an older gentleman who's hands were shaky. Every time he would bring a dish over, it felt like he was about to drop it. You can tell from his attitude that he didn't like his job at all. We never really talked to him much, seeing his negative attitude. But if your staff aren't even proud to be working here, how can your customers trust the food coming out of the kitchen.

The ambiance is great and the decor takes you away from the ordinary restaurants. The server is very polite and the dining experience is elaborated. The menu has a great variety of fine dining and the tuna I asked lived to the expectations. It is a good place to go for an especial occasion or a business meeting.

Nick has created a one of a kind restaurant. Beautiful decor , matched by professional and friendly staff, only to be surpassed by superb food . We had the Caesar salad made at the table- Best of my Life! Garlic bread and Calimari were sensational! Steak was delicious and perfectly cooked. Dessert choices came right to the table and we tried the chocolate cake and sheer cake- both perfectly decadent. Delicious coffee to finish the evening. I'll be back soon. Take your family or make it a date night- you won't be disappointed

We ordered take out today. The School was able to accommodate our special request. Food was ready on time, still hot when we got home and what a fantastic meal it was. Salad and dessert buffered too stay cool as well. Cooked to perfection.

Team Xmas dinner Salad appetizers pear and arugula (partner), as well as my beet, mixed greens and goat cheese were delicious. The multiple portions of toasted garlic bread was devoured and was almost the star of the show, served along with small bowls of pickled olives, gerkhins and button mushrooms. I had the special 12 oz bone in filet with veg and baked potato. Cooked to med rare properly. Although delicious it did not achieve the level of excellence that my wife enjoyed having ordered the rack of lamb. Cooked and spiced to perfection, plenty to eat. Desserts delicious I had the pecan pie. Caeser salad prepared from scratch table side, don't see that very often. The best part of the entire evening was the attentive service by our waiters who did not miss anything. Would definitely recommend to those looking for that genuine steak and seafood fine dining experience. Even the mens room was well appointed and clean.

We came here for our Christmas work lunch. Reservations need to be made for the Christmas season at least a month in advance, as all the tables were completely full. The decor was very lovely and classy. We ordered a bunch of appetizers. Grilled calamari was good, but not that much quantity-wise. Fried calamari was great, probably my favourite appetizer. The escargot was so-so, but not really worth it, as there were only about 10 pieces and it didn't really stand out. The crab cakes were great, even though there were only 2 crab cakes. Lobster bisque soup was good, but a little too salty and a little too thick. The smoked salmon was as you would expect it, nothing special. I had the filet mignon and it was cooked perfectly to medium rare. I was a little disappointed at how small it was, especially when I saw that my coworkers filet mignon was noticeably bigger than mine. It came with a baked potato and a few pieces of veggies on the side. I also tried some of the yellow fin tuna, which was also delicious. For dessert, I had a carrot cake and it was delicious but very heavy.

Their creme brûlée cheesecake is awesome! It doesn't taste too cheesy and the texture is just right. Its mixed with vanilla and you can see the vanilla as black little dots in the dessert. Also it's the type of cake that doesn't come with the biscuit crumbs in side. Would come back again just for this!

Another "fine dining" steakhouse that is located in some old-architecture building with old waiters dressed in penguin suits. Can never differentiate these places amongst the David Duncans and Octagons, but my time here was great. Nothing really to complain about. I came here with a group of 15 - family from out of town came to visit and I decided to take all of them out here to try something new. You get your steaks, fish, freshly prepared table-side Ceasar salad. All quite delicious. The building itself is quite interesting - as the name of the restaurant suggests, it used to be a school. Wouldn't come out of my way to eat here, but it is pretty neat to eat at an old school, so if you're ever feeling like a different ambiance, I would recommend this place.

Came here for lunch. Ordered the calamari to start ($13). The pieces were big but the batter was terrible bc I could taste the flour. For the main I had the rare yellowfin tuna ($25). It was not fresh and had my stomach in knots after. :( A few people at the other table ordered the French onion soup which looked deelish and I wish I got that instead. I came here twice in the past and I feel like it went from an A to a B to now a C minus. It is called the school after all.

Upscale fine dining that one of a kind in Markham. The last time I came here was more than a decade ago, and much of which hasn't really changed. Serving the finest dishes that are carefully prepared with quality with top class service The School has always preserved it's fine dining rapport. It's Victorian inspired interior, dimmed lights and spacious interior gives off not only a classy, but feeling of warmth and comfort. With its spacious dining room, this venue also has a separate bar room where you can host a small party without disrupting dining patrons. Their prices are, to no surprise is.....well..no surprise but again it's the quality and experience that's truly one of a kind.

Service is excellent and the setting is a refreshing change from the abundance of strip mall so called restaurants in the 905. But be warned, their name should be 'Old School' like their cuisine. Food is good quality but serving size is large and heavy in substance. I ordered Yellowfin Tuna and it was sliced an inch thick! A lighter meal option would of been nice to see on their menu. Wouldn't rush back-more for the 50 + age group

No complaints. Simple but nice decor, great service. Steak was perfect.

We returned to the School to celebrate a special anniversary (we had our first official date at this restaurant!) and I was not disappointed. Although not especially hungry, the food was on point. The escargot is always a treat and love their Caesar salad. I also had the grilled calamari - I had not had it like that before and It was the perfect amount for a main for me. My hubby to be had a beautifully prepared strip steak cooked to a delicate medium rare. I splurged and had carrot cake - not my usual choice but no crème brulee on the menu.

Excellent food for good fine dining prices. Came here for lunch and the service was professional and friendly; atmosphere was elegant and easy. Steaks were beautifully done and the lobster bisque was delicious. An excellent fine dining choice in Markham.

Very good lobster bisque... The garlic bread is quite delicious too! The price is quite pricey as the main entrees yet nothing too special. As for the dessert...just regular cheesecakes....would be better if they had their own special

Nick, Thanks for the idea of a "Takeout" Easter dinner during these crazy times. Meal was excellent and very generous portions. Will do it again but hopefully IN the restaurant next time!

The School never fails to deliver an outstanding dining experience. Seafood and steaks are delicious. Service is old world, formal and friendly. The atmosphere is perfect. A great place to impress an important person.

We came here for a business dinner as was hosting some prospective clients. The building is historical and beautiful which was the primary reason for is selecting this restaurant. The staff are extremely attentive and service was excellent. It's a bit pricey here and that's ok however did not see the value. The steak was good however a Keg steak is much better for better value. One of our guests had the seafood linguine which she thoroughly enjoyed. The Garlic bread served warm on the table is addictive along with their pickled vegetables. A great looking restaurant however not sure if it is worth the premium.

Whenever our family is in the mood for non-Asian food in the North Scarborough/Markham/Richmond Hill area, we often end up at the School Fine Dining. Located in a great venue...I guess it might have been an old school house, but more likely just a grand old residence, it has the regular meat and seafood dishes presented in an up scale manner. Fine old school dining at the School Fine Dining!