While the restaurant is lovely inside and has extremely friendly and attentive staff, the food is a different story. Don't get me wrong, it's reasonably tasty food, but the portions are minuscule. I recognize we had the "neighbourhood option" (which is two of the seven possible courses and a glass of wine for $30), but four fiddle heads in a gigantic bowl with a couple tablespoons of oily broth is not an acceptable value for money. The mackerel was also small and unsatisfactory. Asking for bread for the table was an additional amount of money - though the bread was amazing with whey butter. With the bill, they gave us toffee-like sweets that were topped with "green lichen that was hand picked by the chef himself on a recent hike". It was disgusting, weird and all kinds of wrong. At least the wine glass was full - it helped numb my senses and made us all laugh about this place (though the wine had a vague smell of something more acidic). Don't waste your money. read more

Actinolite is not for everyone. It is both unusual and rather expensive. You can opt for a $60 or $90 tasting menu on a stretch of Ossington that is definitely not restaurant row. Without breaking down every bite, here is what to expect... 1. Local or hyper-local ingredients in season. 2. Those ingredients may be moss, leaves, or something you or I never saw on the Swiss Chalet menu. And.... it works. 3. Surprise! The food is delicious. It manages to be healthy and tasty. If you are looking for granny's Thanksgiving meal pig out, you won't find it. However, you will leave full. More than that, you will have a meal that is uniquely different from every other place in town. Actinolite is distinctive. 4. I agree with reviewer Jay in that I wish the wine list were more elaborate. I also wish they had a couple of beers on draft. All things considered, this is simply a warm, unique experience. Toronto's restaurant scene is much better with Actinolite. read more

AMUSE BOUCHE: Onion tart type thing with duck confit inside. Took me on a one-way train to flavour-town but I do wish the fried outer layer adhered to what was inside - the whole thing came out during the first bite. There was some sort of sauce under it too... maybe something buttermilk-y, which was underwhelming and unnecessary. BEET: Char-roasted beet halves were accompanied by a plum sorbet. Nasturtium leaves added a little extra somethin'. Very pretty. Not the best dish on the menu, but very good. Almost wished there was something savoury to cut the sweetness, but my dining partner disagreed. OYSTER: The oyster itself was fantastic -smoky and rich and decently sized. The slaw on top which I believe was fermented apple and turnip was nearly flavourless and lacked any sort of crunch. Whomp. FOIE GRAS: Best dish, hands down. Rutabaga was served three ways: chopped into wands dusted in some sort of tasty coating, then thinly sliced, folded around roasted chestnuts, and finally as a foam, which sat as a crowning achievement atop the assemblage. The foie gras portion was appropriate, and surprisingly smoky. KOHLRABI: My dining partner considered that the whitefish roe broth would make a fantastic broth for a matzo-ball soup. JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE: The cheddar sauce was one of the strongest elements we'd had all night. This was a bold, punchy flavour. The artichoke itself was perfectly cooked, and the pine mushrooms were a nice touch. Great dish, overall. QUAIL: Each serving contained about half a quail, including the breast and a leg (claw still attached - a heads-up for those who might be squeamish). Served in an almond-milk sauce with a cozy pile of grains and seeds underneath. The breast may have been cooked sous-vide and was just the right amount of pink in the middle. JUNIPER: I usually don't like anything which tastes like a tree. Exceptions can be made, however, and this dish was definitely the exception. I almost wish it had been served either in a deeper dish, or piled higher, so that the chocolate sheets were easier to access and the flavours more blended. I understand the idea behind deconstruction, but I did find it a little tedious. The service could have been a bit more attentive and on top of things. A chef promised more bread which never arrived. Additionally, I think for this type of restaurant and price point, plating could have been a little more differentiated. Not saying a restaurant needs to have custom plates for each dish, or anything, but the creativity in dishware could have been amped up. read more

Dined here with a group of friends and didn't receive the friendliest of service. I don't think they knew how to service a large group. The waitress kept bumping into my friend during service. She did not ask us whether the bill would all be on one or separated according to guests. Seeming annoyed, after separating the bill, she messed up one of the guest's bills, and was very rude about it. Also, she did not give a couple of my guests their change... Gratuity is already 20%. When one of our guests asked for change, the waitress asked how much change she wanted back... and forgot how much our friend had given her. Too bad about the service because the food overall was half okay! Dishes are changed frequently, which is nice variation. Portion size is very small so if you have a large appetite, you'll still be hungry after. One of my friends didn't like her dish and voiced it. The waitress tried her best to remedy the situation, which was much appreciated. Good job on that one! Nonetheless, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone just because of how they treated all my guests. It left a sour note in my mouth. I feel this is not a good restaurant to bring people to because I fear they would also be treated badly. I had high hopes for this place, and felt they were too stuck up to receive the average joe. Go somewhere else if you want to be treated with respect. read more

I was here for their 7-course dinner with wine pairing and the experience was sublime. Anyone who is familiar with the legendary Noma restaurant would truly appreciate the inventive and progressive cuisine served here. The ingredients are local, seasonal, foraged and sometimes unexpected. Some of the highlights include Raindeer Moss, and mussels in a broth which was both savory and refreshing (highlighted with juniper oil). The presentation is artful but not overdone. I wouldn't go into detail about each dish as their menu changes often and frankly they were all so good and I can't seem to remember all the details of everything I ate. The restaurant itself felt very comfortable, modern, casual and unpretentious. The art and artifacts on the wall describes the small town of Actinolite which the chef is from and has a farm there. The service was very attentive and I highly recommend the wine pairing which featured some unusual varieties and lesser known wineries. If you want to go somewhere on a special occasion or just want to treat yourself, this is the restaurant I would highly recommend. I don't think the food was very expensive given that you can't find dishes like this anywhere else in the city, the food was very fresh and beautifully prepared and presented, and the service was excellent without being stuffy. Going with the 7-course with wine pairing is the way to go for a magical culinary experience -- it's well worth it! Definitely on my list of favorite restaurants. read more

I last wrote a review about this restaurant over two years ago. It is still outstanding. It is also still unique and worthwhile going out of your way to visit. The full tasting menu has gone up from $75 per person to $90 and is still good value. Of the seven items, four were excellent - the summer farm gatherings, essentially raw vegetables with different dips were fun, the green peas with Hyssop were the best peas that we have tasted, the heart was nothing to write home about, the pork was outstanding, and the strawberry/ginger/rose desert was superb. I no longer give it five stars, because the service has deteriorated; now more brusque and indifferent. (The owner, Justin, was not on the premises our evening). The wine list is a bit of a struggle, but we did manage to find a good Oregon Pinot Noir read more

The restaurant is tucked into a residential neighborhood. It's the first floor of the chef's house so it was like we were eating in his living room. We went for the chef's menu and the experience from beginning to end felt very intimate. The chef came out to greet us as our meal started and he explained the philosophy behind Actinolite. The restaurant is named after Actinolite, a community in central Ontario where the chef is from. There was a lot of thought into the menu in terms of the season and where the food was sourced. The menu changes but my highlights were the seafood dishes and dessert. We also asked for a tour of his backyard garden. The chef led us back to the back of the house where he grew some of the herbs that went into our meals. read more

Loved this place. Fresh fresh fresh. Ingredients were in point and service was great. It also has that element of surprise you seek from a tasting menu. The only drawbacks were the chicken courses and the visible chaos in the kitchen. But I would come back 10000% read more

I hate it when restaurants are hyped up, so I'm reluctant to set expectations high, but this meal was the best I've had in a long time. We head here for date night. I am exhausted and cranky due to the new challenges of parenthood. I try to convince my husband to cancel. Nope! Off we went. We arrive at the tiny restaurant and are told our reserved table was still occupied ("you're supposed to HOLD the reservation! Anyone can just take reservations!" -- Seinfeld reference off the top of my head. Probably not verbatim. Sorry, fellow fans). They ask if we would mind waiting at the bar.. Uh oh.. I look at The Husband. He's not happy. We're horribly picky people with obnoxious personalities who get annoyed easily (uhh see my other reviews). Bad start. Ohhhhh wait! What's this? Complimentary champers at the bar (or maybe prosecco or a sparkling wine. whatever! Free!). After a short wait we are seated at our table. Surprise! The Husband wants to order the longer tasting menu. I reluctantly agree. I order a delicious bourbon sour and the meal gets started. Plate after beautiful plate arrives. A few plates in we look at each other in confusion. The plates do not match the menu. The server let's us know that these are surprise plates and the tasting menu hasn't even begun. I'm not going to describe the meal because the menu changes often... Besides, I won't be able to do it justice. I'll just say that the smells and tastes evoke memories from my childhood around Ontario. I loved it. I'm pretty sure I could taste the province in every plate. I'm sure I sound a little nutty but that's the best I can describe it. The icing on the cake was the chef, Justin Cournoyer, coming out with every plate. He also checked in after we were done. I asked him the story behind the name and it turns out it's the small town where he grew up. As someone who also grew up in a small town this tugged at my heart strings. What a lovely place. read more

We had an unreal meal there last night. To be honest I am not up on my forged food but the owner/Chef Justin couldn't have done a better job preparing the food and making us feel at home. The cuisine was very earthly and simple but cooked to perfection and the combinations worked. The ambiance is quite cool as well and very cozy. Justin lives upstairs with his family so the feeling is you are eating in his house. The prices were very reasonable given the quality. If I lived locally this would be one of my go to spots as the food, ambiance and service were all spectacular. read more

I love Actinolite. This restaurant is an experience. If restaurants are to be likened to forms of media, a typical restaurant is a trip to the movie theatre, and Actinolite is to experience fine art in a lovely gallery. The latter may not be everyone's cup of tea, especially if "portion size" and "getting super full" are among your priorities for going to a restaurant. (And if you do, there's nothing wrong with that!) But for those who are looking for an experience; something to challenge their perception of what food is, and what it can be, Actinolite is worth a visit (or five). Actinolite's focus on fresh, local, and high quality ingredients means many of their flavours are evocative of nostalgia and intense Canadiana. I've had many dishes here that have evoked strong memories of my childhood, reminding me of aromas and flavours I haven't experienced in decades. This probably makes me sound crazy, but I've had meals here that have brought me to tears. They are absolutely fantastic with dietary restrictions. I have celiac disease and always do a perfect job of adapting dishes for gluten-free diets and avoiding cross-contamination. The courses are beautiful, the wine is perfectly selected, and if you're looking to have a cozy drink or two, their cocktails are surprisingly unique and among the best in the city. Service is warm and personable on a level I personally didn't expect for a place with such refined, artful food. This is not an inexpensive place to eat, but the experience is worth every penny if you can afford it. I've been several times and plan on returning as much as I can. Actinolite is a special place, and our city is lucky to have it. read more

Actinolite soars above the base mediocrity that is Toronto, and finally offers people from here a legitimate reason to be proud of their city. Having lived in Toronto for the past year, I've found the city to be, at it's most basic level, well...basic. The fourth largest city in North America is one of the continent's least picturesque and lists Drake as it's largest, and perhaps only, contribution to world contemporary culture. The outsider cringes in a mix of pity and revulsion at residents' curious tendency to laud themselves for being "Torontonian" for no other reason than "Home is Toronto." While these fact remain, Actinolite offers a blueprint for making Toronto a city that residents' can legitimately be proud of, that people from the rest of the world want to visit, and that those who do visit actually want to return to. Set on Ossington Avenue, "the Champs-Elysees of dreary streets", the owners have transformed a former storefront into a beautiful, contemporary restaurant that tells a cohesive and compelling story of Southern Ontario. When one enters the restaurant, the sleek interior gives way to an elegant dining room enclosed by warm colored walls and minimalist tables adorned with beautiful, local ceramics. The concept that "Home is Toronto" curiously induces appetite when one is seated at Actinolite. The dining room is stage for a culinary experience that should be featured in a Netflix special. Chef Justin paints agriculture and foraging in Southern Ontario through the brush of cuisine in a way that I have not experienced anywhere else on earth. I have now eaten at this restaurant twice, and enjoyed two "seasons" of locally sourced food in the late spring and fall. I've enjoyed everything from fresh razor clams to delicious enoki mushrooms in a light broth; "forest floor tea"; the freshest squid from Vancouver; various cuts of tender and delicious Enright beef; and finally, some of the most enlightening desserts I've ever enjoyed, which made novel uses of unfamiliar ingredients like the kernels of apricot pits and spent mash from a local brewery to create lightly sweet, savory, and indelibly memorable dishes. The wine pairing is similarly excellent, represented by local champions like Pearl Morissette. Were the Michelin Guide to ever venture off piste into Canada, Actinolite could possibly garner a star and even two. Based on a thorough culinary survey of the city, it is certainly the only restaurant in Toronto worth eating at twice. read more

It's my new favorite restaurant in town! Service was great and the food was excellent. Each course was beautifully presented and the wine pairing was absolutely perfect. This menu was great for the summer, my palate was so refreshed after each course. Great job!!! read more

Actinolite Restaurant - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Everything was delicate and expertly cooked. We had some vegetables I never would have even thought of eating, chrysanthemum leaves for example. The mint cucumber martini was excellent. We had the Chef's Picks, which was a lot of fun. We got 6 courses and for most the chef came out to explain them to us. Some of the items were a bit strange, lots of things cooked in, on, or with hay. Dessert was excellent. It's definitely worth a try if you're looking to spend some money. read more

After watching Actinolite transfer from a (don't even know what it was before) to a restaurant during my morning commute, I had always wanted to try it. Having 2 young kids, means I never get out. FINALLY this weekend we had our opportunity. I was not disappointed!. The food was delicious! They change their food often, but what we had was very very tasty. I had the mussels, mackerel and pork shoulder, while my wife had the beets, potatoes and mackerel. Our favorite by far was the mackerel. The skin was perfectly crisp, the buttermilk added a nice acidic zest to the whole thing. Now my 2 observations. 1) Portion size - I wish they would have served me the whole dam fish it was that tasty. The food was so good, and so tasty, but just not enough! 2) The service - now let me explain, the service was top notch. The waiter was excellent and knew the dishes and truly helped. However, speaking to him (and i guess the whole aura of the establishment) reminded me of a Portlandia sketch, where they go to a restaurant, and wanted the linage of the chicken, to the point where they went to the chicken farm, prior to ordering their meal. I wanted to know who caught my mackerel!. The pride of how they prepare their food bordered between true love of food to douchiness. I will definitely be back (in about 3 years when we can afford a baby sitter again) and as their menu changes constantly I would love to try other options. But next time, I want to know what my fishes name was. I like to know who I am eating:) read more

The whole experience was delightful. We had the 7 course menu which is only available by reservation. Yes, it's expensive but worth every penny. I also get the impression it's expensive because there is so much time and energy that goes into these dishes and not just expensive for the sake of seeming fancy. This place is the real deal, with the chef coming to the table to explain some of the dishes. Professional but unpretentious service. Well done. Will return as the menus change with the season. read more

I was excited when I saw construction happening in the neighborhood...and a good restaurant would have been very welcome...unfortunately we got Actinolite. Probably the best thing about this place is the decor. The wait staff was very confused and really had no idea what they were serving. The wine selection was poor. The worst was the price!!!! I have no problem dropping cash on a good meal but left there feeling out of pocket with no fulfilment. Would never return and strongly hope to see something new and actually good take over that lovely space soon. read more

Actinolite is tucked away in a not-so-foot-heavy-traffic spot on a residential corner. I had read some reviews about it and had been excited to check it out. So I grabbed my partner in dine and we headed over for a Tuesday evening dinner. The place was relatively full for a Tuesday. The vibe reminded me of a rustic, high-end cottage with it's dark green walls and wooden decor. The restaurant is so-named for the chef's hometown. So with that said, an overall homey feeling as opposed to a trendy/hip spot to hang out. As usual, we opted to share several of the dishes. I started with the Leather Jacket, a cocktail composed of Calvados, rum, lemon juice and simple syrup. When I saw the size of the cocktail, I was a little miffed, but when I sipped it I realized that if it were any larger I'd need to call a taxi. This was served with a slice of apple as garnish. My partner in dine had a glass of white wine. I must say that the wine menu is a bit scant (if you're ordering by the glass) and it didn't feature a whole lot of Ontario wines either. I must say that the kitchen was very nice to bring most of the dishes out in separate plates (e.g. they split them for us) so that we didn't have to cut anything thereby ruining the presentation of the dishes. At one point the chef personally came out to speak to us as he saw us snapping photos and took an interest in finding more about where it'd be posted (if at all, this was probably around our 3rd course). Housemade bread was brought out for the table and it was delicious. It was a traditional Italian loaf and a very crusty bread. The earlier you come, the warmer the bread FYI. I devoured the entire bread basket by myself (just to give you an idea as to how good the bread was). To start we had the Chantarelle Mushroom Soup with truffle oil and parsley. This was a very flavourful soup and the truffle oil was definitely the dominant flavour. A great way to start off the meal. Next came the Winter Pear Salad, with winter greens, pear, and oyster mushrooms. The salad was beautifully presented and the pear was very crisp. The third appetizer we opted to share was the Slow Roasted Shrimp + Chicken with smoked pepper sauce. This was probably my favourite dish as it was extremely flavourful. We opted to share the Grilled Ontario Skirt Steak with broccoli + potato leek purée. I must say the cut was not my favourite as it was a tough cut of beef (relatively). The potato leek purée however was rich and creamy. We decided to skip dessert as none of the offerings (Sticky Toffee Pudding, Chocolate Mousse nor Cheese Board) appealed to us. The damage at the end of the day was about $60 each. I didn't leave feeling particularly full but my appetite was satiated because the food was prepared well. I left with a feeling of indifference. I dine out not infrequently as a food blogger and the dishes were not technically flawed, nor off in terms of flavour but there was just nothing that particularly wowed me in terms of creativity. read more

I've been a few times, and not just the menu but also the style of food changes a lot by season, as the chef sources things locally (in winter a lot more pickled, fermented, and preserved things, in summer more fresh veggies). The presentation of the food is spectacular. Beautifully arranged on pieces of slate, rock, wood. The 7 course menu is preceded by a few snacks/amuse bouche. Each new item coming to the table is a surprise, because the ingredients are combined in such unique ways that it's difficult to predict what's coming out based on the menu. Of the various foods and wines we tried last night (did the full menu with pairings) there were one or two items that we didn't love, but we were still impressed enough with the creativity and audacity of the preparation. This is the kind of place to linger over a meal for hours, and to talk about food and wine. The chef tries to come out and introduce himself to each table and chat about his philosophies, and the servers are all very knowledgeable too, so it really is a feast for mind as much as it is for the senses! One of the best restaurants in Toronto by far. The 7-course dinner with wine pairings came to $350 for two people, before tip. So, it isn't a cheap place to eat, but it is definitely fair value for the wonderful experience you get. read more

Amazing cuisine, especially great vegetable creativeness. Very local materials with right choice. Chef's menu,$105 is highly recommendable. I could feel chef owner's passion on all details. Amazing dinner again Thanks chef read more

As a visual person with appreciation for the odd and decadent things in life, eating here was a refreshing experience. I previously read that Justin Cournoyer forages a lot of the ingredients in the wild and enjoys integrating the idea of dirt "butter" into his dishes. To some, off-putting. To me, intriguing and exactly what I seek in my sensual adventures. Ordered Chef's Menu ($90/person), each dish served as a visual masterpiece. It was difficult to cut into such works of art but the appearance and presentation of the dishes aided to the overall idea. The favorites: "Beet" a dish drenched in scarlet perfection, roasted and tangy, a smokey sweetness lingering and "Foie Gras" a dish with simple ingredients transformed. The variety in the preparation of the rutabaga truly made it a stand out against the woodsy foie gras. Atmosphere- cozy and inviting. Service- excellent, not pushy and very informative. Definitely a place to consider and revisit time and time again. read more

Continues to be fabulous!! Delicious food and great service. As good as it gets!!

Actinolite brings to light a question: should one feel awkward asking for a doggie bag at a fancy restaurant? The answer is, I didn't have to, because my lovely boyfriend finished both our plates. Thankfully we live right across the street so he could stumble home. Seriously though, the servings are huge, which is a good thing. Their seasonal drink menu was nice: I liked the drink with the whisky and cinammon and apple. I can't really remember because I got too high off the food, but we had red meat and pork chops and they were awesome. If you are willing to go for a ~$120 meal, it is great food. What others say is true about the wait: Even though we had reservations (which we could only get at 9), we had to wait for about 10-15 minutes to be seated. Take someone you want to impress there, like your dad if he's not paying. read more

DON'T COMPLAIN OR ELSE THE CHEF WILL COME AND BE RUDE TO YOUR ENTIRE TABLE AND RUIN YOUR EXPERIENCE I frequent a lot of great restaurants in Toronto with my wife and our friends and we had a terrible experience at Actinolite this weekend. As locals of the Christie Pits neighborhood we were really hoping that this would be a gem, it wasn't, we are really lucky that we have so many other amazing places around us. We went to Raw Bar the next night on Dundas and it blew Actinolite out of the water in food and in service. This may be a long review, but it is a good story, so hang in there readers. Six of us went out for dinner and we all ordered apps, mains and a few bottles of wine. Three of us ordered steaks and when they came to the table two of them were definitely done medium, when we had asked for them to be done medium rare. There was no pink inside the steaks and my steak was literally half the size of the streak my friend ordered who was sitting in front of me. I wondered if mine was thicker, so i cut a middle piece and compared it and it was exactly the same height. We told our waitress that we had a few issues, she agreed with us and told us she would see what she could do about it. The next thing we know the chef comes out and wonders why there were so many issues with our table. My friends wife said that her steak was medium and he rudely told her that "this is how i do medium rare" (with no pink) and stared her down. Then he asked the table what the other issues were, my friend said that his streak was covered in garlic and that wasn't stated on the menu. The chef said that there wasn't any garlic on the plate, but there was a lot of roasted garlic cloves (which were pretty good if you ask me), then i said that my steak was half the size of my friend's and he looked at me and said "oh, well that's the way i cut it" and then walked away from us. We were all stunned by what happened. We all came to spend $75-$80 a person on dinner and none of the staff in the restaurant seemed to care that the chef completely disrespected us. He acted as though we weren't good enough to eat his food, which is a terrible attitude to have. About 10 minutes later the owner was staring at us, and I waved her over to our table, we told her what happened, but i am sure she already knew as she is married to the chef. She apologized to us and said she didn't know what was wrong with him and nothing was done by her to make us feel better. At the end of dinner the owner came back and apologized again and we asked her what we did to deserve being scolded by the chef. We asked her to go to the chef and ask what we did to upset him and she refused to ask him, saying the kitchen was too busy. We said that there was only one other table there and they were finished their meal, so we didn't see why she couldn't talk to the chef, but she refused and told us they were going to comp us desserts and "we should call it a day". They brought out two desserts for the six of us and actually charged us for them on our bill. We had to get that fixed as well. They think they don't have to serve their locals well and i hope they know that without us they won't survive. They should stick to being food stylists and stay out of my neighborhood. read more

Very creative and memorable meal. My beau and I ate here for my birthday and I have no idea where else to book for my next birthday that would top it. The service was excellent, and they really took to heart my very long list of dislikes. Even the bread and butter was exceptional. For Christ's sake, they gave us lichen to eat. Imagine that! read more

Actinolite was delicious! There is a really nice feel to the restaurant the minute you walk inside. I love the idea of old world inspired food... with a personal touch. We started off with cocktails which were delicious! There is something for everyone. The wine list was exceptionally well thought out with delicious selections. I agree, I was surprised at their offerings despite it being a small restaurant. Everything on the menu was really good. Some of my favorites were the pork shoulder appetizer, the country soup was delicious! Such a unique style of soup to get at a restaurant. All the main courses were so well thought out. You could taste the attention to detail. Our table shared everything Including the mains and the sides. I absolutely crave the blue cheese potato side dish. The main course fish was phenomenal and that veal steak was perfectly seasoned. The grapefruit dessert was so refreshing and the olive oil sponge cake was also tasty. We topped the night off with a couple of Amaro. A perfect end to the perfect meal. I cannot wait to go back! read more

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Ok, here's the deal with Actinolite (in my estimation, anyway, and I eat out a lot). It's a case of the Emperor's New Clothes: everyone is wildly raving about something that just isn't there, namely tasty food. I don't give a hoot if you've foraged on all fours for those berries; they had better taste excellent for the price you're charging. I dined there about a year and half ago and I had the tasting menu with a friend. The server was lovely and the chef was friendly, but that doth not make the food good. Sorry, folks. Let's start with the lowest point: dessert. I spit it out into my napkin. It was chocolate mixed with cepe (a mushroom). Imagine dousing delicious chocolate ice cream with a sauce that tastes like mushrooms? No, really, think of that combination. It was honestly revolting. Nearly liverish. My friend had the same reaction. There's a reason fungus-y shroom isn't a flavour at Baskin-Robbins, ya know? The squid on the twig made me laugh. While the texture of said celphalopod was nice, being forced to eat it pretentiously off a tiny branch instead of with cutlery means that your fingers smell fishy for the next course -- great! Fishy fingers to go with weirdo mushroom dessert. And unlike other reviewers, I did not find the famed carrot dish all that. It's essentially carrot lopped off into different shapes on a plate. Ok-tasting, but pretentious to the max. I was glad I wasn't paying because it was expensive and not good at all. I've heard that not ordering prix fixe is the way to go. Maybe one day, but for now, no thanks. read more

After reading strong positive review from Globe & Mail which touted it as "One of the most essential places to eat in Ontario, if not in Canada" we just can't wait to dine here and had high expectations. One way to describe the food at Actinolite is 'fringe'. The aim is to please and surprise your palate with nothing like anything you've tasted before. This is delivered primarily through the story of the ingredients / how the dish is cooked and that unique combinations (i.e jelly and flower as first dish). Although the experience is certainly unique, the same cannot be said about the food which falls short for restaurant at this price point. One of the starters for instance is a 'Summer gathering' which is basically a plate of raw vegetables from the garden with dipping sauce - other than saying that the vegetable tasted fresh, I'm not sure what else to say, the dipping sauce is nothing to write home about. The last protein, the pork was perfectly cooked (tender and moist) but is particularly very bland and under seasoned. Dishes after dishes, we kept waiting for the 'ace card' but that dish just never came through. After the fifth or sixth dishes that is served in micro platter (or nano), we simply started to get very restless. In the end - Actinolite is a great story teller - the story about fresh tuna from Nova Scotia or the responsibly raised pork or the array of vegetables from their garden or the ingredients they prepared in-house. Those are fascinating stories for sure, but restaurant should be ultimately rated on its food. The execution is nowhere near where it should be at this price point. Those aspects combined with an unforgivably small portion size for each platter definitely leaves your palate a lot to be desired at the end of the nearly 3 hours dining saga at Actinolite. read more

Very expensive. We had the four course tasting menu. I am usually outraged at how much food even high end restaurants serve, but at this restaurants the portions were so tiny that it was ridiculous. Particularly for me because I can't eat gluten and thus bread. The good had little flavor although everybody was deeply earnest and very pleasant. The wine pairing was 2oz precisely for every course but served before the food came and so it was gone before you could pair it. I think the chef needs to rethink. A tiny bit more food would be helpful here. Plus a bit more flavor. If that were changed, the place would be great. read more

I wanted to like this place when it opened in our neighbourhood. However, it's overpriced and...um...sufficient (sure...tasty too). The one thing that completely turned me off was the scallops dish. 2 medium sized scallops for $17. The waitress said they were amazing. I would hope they were the best goddamn scallops I'd ever eaten served with flaked gold. They appear to have removed them from their menu, but look at this: http://actinoliterestaurant.com/menu/ Also, really bloody loud. Pro-tip: bring your own snacks to top up after you've dropped $75 on the smallest portions in the GTA. read more

Quaint and cozy feel - that's the only good thing I can say. We did the 7 course chef's menu (so can't blame this on poor selections) and with the exception of dessert, everything was bland and lacked flavour. Way too many similarities in several of the courses. The idea of using local ingredients is great, but one would expect some flavour! We dropped close to $300 and left totally dissatisfied and even worse, hungry. read more

I dined here recently and had the 7 course tasting menu. The service was attentive and friendly, the space is warm and inviting, but for the price, the food was underwhelming. The dishes were mostly good, but nothing more. Some of the food was under-seasoned and the presentations eventually felt monotonous (grey plates, food on one side). Some of the dishes felt a bit gimmicky, a rather bland squid skewered, but not cooked on a twig comes to mind. The carrot dish and a dish of fish and beets were the highlights of the meal. I found it to be somewhat unclear from the website, but they only have a choice of two tasting menus, which must be ordered for the whole table. Dinner took about 3 hours in total, which considering the mediocre food felt somewhat tedious. Unfortunately, at $75 just for food, I feel you can do much better in this city. I think you can actually spend a quarter of the price and eat better. read more

Tried Actinolite for dinner based on all the very good reviews and came away completely unimpressed. The food, at best, was competent - ok, somewhat mediocre. For the prices charged ($14 for the shrimp appetizer, $26 for a veal chop), you should get food that has alot more flavor and is better than what I can cook myself at home. The veal chop for $26 was bland. The calamari appetizer was similarly tasteless. The white fish entree was the best of the food and even that was on the bland side. None of the food had "oomph" to it nor was memorable in anyway. The so-called bar had hardly any liquor to choose from. It had 1 vodka, 1 scotch and no bourbon. Very surprising given how restaurants earn their biggest margins from drinks. Best part of the meal were the cappuccinos. Service was decent also. All in all, a very disappointing experience and one that won't be repeated. read more

It's not cheap, but it's very very good: great atmosphere (if you like it quiet go early, but even when it filled up it wasn't too loud), great service (lots of it and very friendly), and the food, yes, the food, well that was amazing. We had the full menu and wine parings and it was all heaven from start to finish. Great experience. This kind of thing doesn't come cheap, and nor should it--I'd actually be surprised if you could get the ingredients they used at a low cost, and given the calibre of the staff (kitchen and floor) I wouldn't expect to pay less. And if you do the full menu you will not be hungry. read more

Had the seven course tasting menu. The whole experience was wonderful. Each dish was prepared with such care and artistically beautiful. The favors were fresh and crisp, to savory and rich, to sweet and delicate, depending on the plate. For me, I was satisfied at the end, but given much of the meal was freshly foraged by the staff, my boyfriend would have preferred some of the portions to be larger. Nonetheless, it was perfect for a special occasion. read more

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Incredible evening ! Wonderful 7 course meal paired with incredible wines. Every course was unusual and delicious. Service was top-notch. Chefs bring dishes and explain them. I can't think of a thing to change. read more

So this is actually a 2.5 star review. Demerits for portion size vs. cost. I took my partner and her friend here for my partner's birthday after passing it on my way to work a multitude of times and admiring the beautiful interior and reading about the philosophy of the restaurant and the menu. I was excited prior to going but was definrtely dissapointed with the resulting experience. The food had some technical errors (baby carrots not peeled properly, improper seasoning), but I understood where the chef/kitchen was attempting to go and was appreciative of the attempt. It might have been the chef's day off as it was midweek, but I felt things weren't executed as well as they could have been. Our server was JUST okay. Mildly condescending, but not offensive (I did get smarmily trained on how to cut a skirt steak, unrequested, so as not to have a tough 3 oz steak for 18 dollars... Against the grain? Who knew?) My partner's friend over drank prior to us going to eat and she was pretty vocal about her dissapointment with the portion size. She was actually offended and nearly causing a scene. Our dutiful server was clueless apparantly because during the disturbance that I was trying to keep quiet ('Each pea on my plate costs a dollar') he came over and asked if we would like another bottle of wine. Really? No. I think the biggest gripe I have is that the amount of food I received was not a meal. I weigh 190 on a 5'11" frame, not abnormal, and work in a restaurant so I feel qualified when I say I wasn't served a meal for nearly 50$ pretax'n'tip. I will say again that I saw where they were going, and would have had a better time with my lady without her friend (that day, she's normally fine ;-)) but it would have been willful self-delusion. At the core of everything is that they serve too little food without the proper execution to justify the cost. The service was attempted restrained rudeness (condescending). The dining room is beautiful, and it should be noted that it was full at 8:30 on a Wednesday. Perhaps I'm being too harsh, but I had to go home and bbq chicken wings for us and some late arriving guests because we were still hungry. Bill for three with a bottle of wine was well over 200$ and I was cooking wings at 10:30. Won't be going back. Not impressive, and I have so many options. I'll finish with the best quote ever, from our server: 'Oh, our chef doesn't want anyone to leave feeling overfull'. Mission accomplished. read more

Created a yelp account just to publicly say this had to be the best dining experience I have ever had. Really enjoyed the food and loved the concept read more

Amazing dishes, put together very nicely. Service was top notch, I almost felt like we were friends by the time I finished. It is expense, so go with the intention of spending. read more

Absolutely Fantastic Meal and Experience. My recent trip to Actinolite was hands down one the best dinners I have had in Toronto for a long while. Every course on the tasting menu was phenomenal and complimented each other tremendously. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, this should be the top of your list. read more