The food was very well done if you come here I definitely recommend the Truffle fries. The service is very good to hear the people here are very nice congratulations to their 10-year anniversary. The Ambiance is very cozy here I like the low lighting and I like how you can see into the kitchen. read more

Barnsteiner's - truffle Fries - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Carbonara was alright. The pasta was not al dente but I liked the guanciale. Diavolo pizza was my favourite the light spice of the salami was so nice. Barn burger is fully cooked through. My friend added the chipotle mayo to add more sauce but it was very juicy on its own and the gueyere was lovely. Enjoyable dinner. read more

See all

Again, great service - friendly, professional and efficient. Food was perfect - fresh, presented beautifully and tasty! Definitely will be back! read more

Had a lovely dinner with friends over the weekend at this popular neighborhood spot. We the grilled calamari, beef carpaccio and the tuna tartar to share as appetizers. I personally liked the calamari the most as I found the tuna too salty. I had the Kaese Spaetzle for my main but semi-regretted the choice when I saw the Weiner Schnitzel arrive at the table. My spaetzle was good (very filling, plenty of cheese and caramelized onion), but the schnitzel was amazing. It now holds the standard for future schnitzel dishes. Perfectly thin, great texture without being dry and two large plate pieces on each dish. My friend loved her order of Cornish hen, and the waiter mentioned that is usually the weekend special that everyone gets. To end the night, we had the sticky toffee pudding and it was also a crowd pleaser. Our table had an aficionado of the dish, and said it was one of the best she's ever had. Next time, I will get the calamari, the schnitzel and the sticky toffee pudding for the perfect meal. read more

See all

Hubby & I had a meal here before going to Casa Loma. It was raining when we came in so we were able to eat indoors. They showed us to the backroom where there were four tables. The floor has a nice patterned tile running through & the side door to the patio was open. Service was good. Not rushed and not too leisurely. Hubby had the barn burger with fries & I had the salmon with veggies. We also had the brownie for dessert. The salmon was very good though the veggies didn't agree with me. The veggies were edamame & peas with a balsamic glaze. The menu says miso teriyaki but it didn't taste like that to me. It had a very strong balsamic taste. I usually don't eat balsamic & edamame because they don't agree with me. But I took a chance this time & lost the bet. LOL. Hubby had no issues with his burger & really liked it. So despite getting sick (which is on me because I ate things that historically my stomach doesn't like) I would be willing to try eating at this restaurant again. Barnsteiners has a nice outdoor patio. The side patio is covered by umbrellas & partially covered by the building overhang. The front patio looked like it's mostly covered by the building overhang. We saw people eating out there while it was raining. But they also had two seater tables outside of the overhang. read more

See all

Friday night dinner with friends. Great location, walking distance from St. Clair and Yonge subway. Service was great. Reserve ahead. Food was amazing. Had the special of the day which was Cod on a bed of grilled vegetables and butternut squash purée! My friend had the blackened haddock with organic greens, corn, fire-roasted peppers, tomatoes, charred onions, lemon aioli, crisp tortilla which she loved! Dessert was their famous chocolate brownie with raspberry-chocolate fudge purée and pistachio ice cream. It was warm, soft, and a great blend of sweetness from the raspberry and fudge. Would go here again! read more

Barnsteiner's - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Excellent food,Very good atmosphere ,Kind and friendly staff. Perfect place for small parties. read more

Very nice atmosphere and ambience. Great for dinner with friends or a date. Highly recommend the Mezza. Super super good. Seafood pasta was good too. All dishes were prepared well! read more

See all

Average Happy Hour from 3-5PM with $1-2 oysters and small plates. The small plates were pretty disappointing. So-so spaghetti and the calamari was a bit over done. Service a bit slow, despite being relatively quiet on the patio. read more

See all

Visited last night with a couple of my girlfriends for a long overdue girls night. After checking out their feature menu online, I made reservations for Summerlicious about a week in advance via OpenTable. My friend and I arrived about 20 minutes early but were seated right away. Our other friend joined us right at the time our actual reservation was to start. Our waiter wasn't overly friendly or welcoming at first but over the course of the night, he loosened up a bit. We each ordered a couple of glasses of wine throughout the evening, I opted for their dry sparkling rose and it was delightful. While we were sitting catching up, we didn't order for a long time (maybe about 30 minutes or so) but then our waiter seemed to forget about us entirely as the other tables filled in. We weren't in a rush though so this was totally ok, we had lots of time and patience. For my main I chose the snow crab salad and the girls ordered the mushroom soup and peach salad respectively. For my salad, I found there wasn't enough dressing on the leaves and the crab itself more resembled a tuna salad type mixture on top as opposed to sweet chunks of crab. The dish was edible but I certainly wouldn't chose it again if I were to re-order. The girls said they each enjoyed their starters. For my main I chose the halibut as did one of the girls and the other went with the "whole" striploin option. I use the word "whole" in quotation marks as her steak arrived in just a few thin slices - not exactly what one would imagine for a whole piece of meat. My fish however was a nice size and cooked perfectly in my opinion. Although our waiter forgot to bring my lemon, he eventally remembered and I squeezed a whole bunch of it over my meal to brighten things up as it needed a bit of something. My favourite part of the meal was the dessert. Myself and one of the other girls both ordered the chocolate mousse and the other tried the lemon semifreddo. The mousse was amazing - so velvety smooth, super rich and topped with crunchy hazelnuts. The waiter initially brought out two lemon semifreddos by accident and when we informed him we actually had ordered a mousse, he was kind enough to just leave the extra dessert on the table for us to enjoy. While I for sure had a lovely time catching up with my friends, I would not necessarily rush back to this place again in the near future as the food didn't overly wow me. Could also be a Summerlicious menu thing, but just missed the mark a bit for me. read more

Had a great anniversary dinner there last night. My wife had the red snapper special and I had the potato gnocchi with round sausage, preceded by a dozen oysters. As a (free) surprise they gave us this beautiful dessert. Wonderful service and a wonderful meal. read more

Barnsteiner's - Our dessert. - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Came here last week with my sister and mom. The have a decent happy hour selection every Monday-Friday from 3-5pm. The best thing in the menu: 1-2$ oysters are really tasty. They also offer a smattering of tacos, fries and other small plates. The drinks are ok but a bit pricey for happy hour but I think that is more location then anything. Would comeback when k have my next oyster craving. read more

Super impressed with this European bistro. The buzzy atmosphere was on point, the food was delicious. On the recommendation of an acquaintance, I ordered the schnitzel, but instead of the potato salad it comes with, I asked for a side of spaetzle (German-style dumpling noodles) and a side of tomato sauce (in which to dip the schnitzel). Hot damn, that was one delightful entrée. I'm a huge schnitzel fan and this one was done to perfection. The spaetzle was also addictively good, and the thick tomato sauce (certainly not a traditional dipping sauce for schnitzel) was actually a terrific addition. Husband loved the special of the day - short rib risotto. And the beet / goat cheese salad was also quite nice. Of note, we sat beside an acquaintance, who's a well-known caterer in the city. She and her husband clearly come here often, which I think says a lot. Overall, loved my first experience at this midtown restaurant. read more

Came here for summerlicious lunch. I got the tuna sashimi for appetizer. The sauce they used was more sour than I like. Portion size was small. For main, I got the Mediterranean Seabass in tomato soup. The fish was good with a nice crispy skin. The tomato soup was underwhelming. For dessert I got the passion fruit semifreddo. This was also more sour than I would like. Not familiar with semifreddo ; the texture was similar to a sorbet. Overall it was an average experience. read more

See all

It's a beautiful, trendy spot. Perfect for date nights, celebrating a special occasion with loved ones. Very nice location. I went with the special of the evening - Cajun risotto with pulled chicken and shrimp. It was flavorful but no spice (disappointing). Still - a very good meal. My friend highly recommends the seafood stew. read more

Barnsteiner's - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Barnsteiner's is a frequent participant in Toronto's Winterlicious and Summerlicious events. I'm guessing this is one of the reasons why their ratings are so much lower than they deserve to be. My experience, entirely outside of these two events, couldn't be more different. I've been to Barnsteiner's several times due to its proximity from my place of work, and I've received nothing but excellent food and spectacular service. The interior is tastefully decorated and very much in line with the upper-class, Yonge/St. Clair neighbourhood. The wait staff is attentive and very friendly, which is a great change of pace from their counterparts from similar, upscale restaurants in the area. I've tried the Bavarian Mac-and-Cheese as well as the Potato Gnocchi and both are phenomenal. I've heard great things about the Mushroom Risotto, and that's probably what I'll be trying the next time I'm around. Don't let the Winterlicious crowd skew your expectations. Barnsteiner's is a gem. read more

Barnsteiner's was our first date out since COViD. This restaurant has opened their patio and street side seating in congruence with phase 2 of the reopening of Toronto. This restaurant is taking very strict measures to ensure the safety of its customers. There is hand sanitizer on several tables throughout the restaurant, they give you a mask when you enter the restaurant and enforce that you wear a mask unless you are sitting at your table. For dinner we decided to share several dishes. To start we had the roasted Brussel sprouts and the beet salad. The Brussel sprouts were roasted with pecans, apple and bacon. The dish is very hearty and the flavours are balanced well and remind me of a thanksgiving side dish. The beet salad was delicious and comes atop a goat cheese whip. For main dishes we had the scallops and gluten free mushroom pizza drizzled with maple syrup. The scallops were seared perfectly and came atop roasted cauliflower and a purée. The soft scallops and purée are perfectly paired with the contrastingly crispy cauliflower. The gluten free pizza crust was certainly nothing special. It was crispy, cracker-like and clearly store bought. Regardless of the disappointing crust, the toppings on the pizza were special. The hearty roasted mushrooms were a great match to the sweet maple flavour. Overall this restaurant does farm to table food well. The food came to the table piping hot and was clearly fresh and made with love. read more

Barnsteiner's - Roasted Brussels - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is a review for the restaurant Summerlicious 2017 dinner. After 3 for 3 successful Summerlicious 2017 outings, my 4th one was a total fail at Barnsteiner's. I guess my luck ran out. I heard a lot of wonderful things about this restaurant. The Chef and owner has worked for Jump and these are the same owners that were behind Corner House. I tried to organise a meetup event for a meetup group I run but there was no interest. Maybe I should have taken that as a sign. Since I still wanted to give a try, I organised a small dinner with my girlfriends for four. My friend was the first to arrive before me. The restaurant had led her to sit inside a hot stocky sunroom? with no AC and just a fan running to keep the air flowing. (It was hot that day). Had I been there first, I would not have accepted that table nor room. It was totally unbearable. thank goodness I could take some of my clothes to feel better and try to substain from the heat. There were still seats still available outside the patio and inside the air conditioned room. I don't quite understand why we were put in that room. Is it because I made a reservation on open table? Funny thing that there was a table for two, which they set next to our table and was put against a wall, resulting in a very uncomfortable position. Three times they try to sit people there and each time, the patrons asked to sit elsewhere as it was so stuffy. Then there is the food. Every dish I had that evening fell short and were inconsistent. Each plate of food came out looking very different even though some of us had ordered the same items. My main beef entree was just plain and it was missing a key veggie. My appetizer came out falling apart already before it was set on the table. My dessert had no sauce. When I inquired how come my dessert looked so completely different from my friend's, our waiter's explanation was because my friend's dessert had too much sauce?!? You would think the waiter would have noticed the inconsistency when bringing out all the dishes at once to our table but the waiter was pretty much rushing (even though the resto was not that busy). I felt the kitchen was just churning out dishes at a factory speed without giving a thought on taste and quality. Our waiter might have been consistent in taking orders and bringing out the dishes (maybe too fast which lead to my appetizer falling apart) but other than that.. that was it. He lacked charism and personality. I felt so bad for my girlfriends and I kept apologizing for such a disappointing dinner since I was the one who suggested this restaurant. They knew it wasn't my fault. I avoided another restaurant for years after a failed licious dinner and Barnsteiner's is no exception. This will be on my list to avoid for years to come. read more

OUR RETURN to BARNSTEINER'S My husband and I returned to Barnsteiner's last night for Winterlicious. How special to be acknowledged by the wonderful and professional staff. The selection of food was AMAZING . We loved everything,,, sea bass cooked to perfection and the appetizers were delicious. Thanks again Michelle, Donovan , Omar and the entire team for another memorable evening. We can't wait to return... With gratitude, Rosemarie and Stephen Taylor read more

I have been to Barnsteiners several times and find the food good. However the husband and wife owners are arrogant and plain rude. They were already bitchy and they had just opened for dinner. If I am there for take out, I do not appreciate being asked to "tip the kitchen." Tip the kitchen for making preparing a basic order for me to take home? read more

Ended up here because the original place we sought was closed for good! Think about that! Coming in, critical of course as a fall back option and then realized why this was the spot and not the original. Through and through a great place for this type of European dining. Great mix of modern North American culture built in to boot. Get the schnitzel! read more

See all

Top notch european/ German cuisine. Blackened swordfish amazing. Pizzas are good. Service is slow but professional. Overall recommend read more

We enjoyed our 2017 Valentine's dinner here with a prix fixe menu; waiter's service was very warm and professional. The restaurant decor was welcoming and rustic. For wine, we had a Classico (Lovatti), very rich, smooth and hints of berries flavors. App: 1. Duck 3 ways - arugula salad with walnuts, squash and duck-3-ways was very seasoned, juicy and fresh; the different duck textures were outstanding from each other 2. Tuna Tartar - fresh, refreshing and well-seasoned; a recommend Main: 1. Lamb Rack- 3-piece lamb rack cooked medium well; very tender and juicy but a little blander than preferred. Overall display was pleasing 2. Tenderloin with vegetables - medium-cooked tenderloin was cooked on-point; the mushrooms was very flavorful! Also a little blander than preferred Dessert-for-two: Chocolate mousse, chocolate strawberry and edible petal; the mousse we enjoyed very, very much! It was smooth, rich, chocolate-y but not that sweet - the perfect blend! Display was very aesthetically pleasing! Had a great night with the girlfriend read more

See all

Party of 3 for the winterlicious menu $38.I choose the wild mushroom soup as appetizer and the salmon as main. As for dessert I got the panna cotta. The mushroom soup was very flavourful with bits of mushroom. However if it was a tad bit hotter it would be perfect. I love hot soup. The salmon I requested medium done. It was cooked to my asking and the skin was very crispy. The sauce I wasn't too keen on as it tasted a bit sour to me. My friend had the hen, I tried a bit and it was delicious. Would recommend the hen. On to dessert. The panna cotta tasted amazing. The texture was very creamy and nice. It was bought out in a mason jar. As for service I would give it a 5 stars. Our server made sure we had our hot water and was very attentive. The restaurant itself was nicely decorated but it was a bit dark. Would go back to eat lunch next time! read more

See all

We have been to Barnsteiner's several times since it first opened, and most recently for their patio dining during the pandemic. The staff is consistently friendly, conscientious, and efficient. There is a wide selection of continental cuisine options, weighing heavier on the Italian side, but with some more unique German options, reflecting the chef's heritage and expertise. The braised short rib is the superstar of the menu. It is perfectly tender without being fatty, and comes with smooth whipped potatoes and very well seasoned vegetables. We've taken several friends there with us for dinner and everyone has been pleased with the experience. The staff is particularly careful about dietary restrictions and allergies, and inspire confidence with their knowledge and caution. Barnsteiner's is a fantastic option for midtown dining. read more

Very good spot if you want a Pan-European cuisine, especially if you want to try German and Swiss dishes. I had the Bavarian Mac and Cheese and my girlfriend had the Zuercher dish. My dish had great flavour and was very filling. My girlfriend loved her dish as well. The service was slow though our server did acknowledge that they are still getting up to speed on things. read more

My friend and I visited Barnsteiner's for Winterliciouis lunch. The minute we walked in we were greeted with the warm scent of cinnamon and apple, and friendly smiles from the staff. Their open kitchen concept is beautiful, and the rustic feel is nice and cozy. The owner Michelle sat us at a high table next to funky 'knobs' on the wall that could be used to hang our coats and bags - so cute! We were served crusty bread with hummus as a starter, which was a nice touch. We barely touched the hummus since our apps came soon after, but it tasted pretty good, but nothing too special. However, hummus with bread was a nice unique starter that definitely set it apart from most restaurants. My friend ordered the Garlic and Chili Grill Shrimps with crusty bread and salsa verde, and I had the Ginger Spice Carrot Soup with toasted almonds and whipped mascarpone. The shrimps were delicious and buttery. My soup had such great flavour. The ginger and carrot went very well together, it had a nice texture, and was a great dip for my crusty bread! 10/10 for the appetizers. I had the Crackling Roasted Cornish Hen with candied apples, root vegetables, spinach and pan jus. I LOVED this dish! The meat was so tender and moist, and the candied apples and veggies soaked in the pan jus made this a great balance of flavours that never got boring; I was always looking forward to the next bite. The pan jus? Yum! 10/10! Dessert was probably my favourite part... EXCEPT, they really looked like piles of crap on our plates. It looked so ugly that I didn't even want to take a picture of it! The only time I was not impressed. I had ordered the Orange Spiced Warm Chocolate Cake while my friend had the Spy Apple and Cranberry Crumble. WOW! Dessert was SO delicious. The chocolate cake went very very well with the orange spice and bits of candied ginger. The outside was nice and crispy, while the inside was moist, luscious and warm. As for the crumble, it had the perfect amount of sweetness. I suggest to maybe have the crumble served in a ramekin with mint to garnish? Or a mason jar? Everyone loves mason jars. And perhaps have the cake served in a fancier dish or something of that sort.. Nevertheless, I recommend a visit to Barnsteiner's. The food is too delicious to pass up! read more

Barnsteiner's - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

-- My First Impression -- My bestie and I were here for Summerlicious dinner. Barnsteiner's was around 3 minutes walk from St. Clair Station. We made a reservation for window seats for a party of 2. I didn't understand why the hostess put us in a table for 6 which wasn't a window seat (and later she assigned two other customers to our table). We didn't enjoy sharing a table and found it awkward that a Modern European Restaurant had this type of arrangement. There were service discrepancies between Summerlicious and regular menu customers. I was looking over at the customers next to us who ordered from the regular menu and noticed the server showed more attention to them and constantly refill their water, whereas ours had been empty for a while and the server just simply ignored us. When we were working on our entree, the restaurant suddenly turned off all the lights. We ended up eating in the dark and they didn't put a candle on our table (They put candles on other tables). If I didn't bring my DSLR, I don't think I could have take any proper food pictures given there was no light in the restaurant. -- Food and Drink -- (I didn't try my friend's dishes, everything was based on her comments) We ordered the following items: 1. Tuna Tartare (ginger, jalapeno, white soy, sourdough crisps) - This appetizer was very fresh and flavorful! The tuna tartare had a strong miso taste (I guess because of the white soy and ginger marinate). Tuna was fresh! I loved how they added their house-made sourdough crisps in it which added extra texture to this lovely appetizer! The jalapeño in the tartare successfully removed the fishy taste in it! I would definitely reorder this dish if I revisited Barnsteiner's in the future! 2. Whole Roasted Striploin (smashed new potatoes, beans, mushrooms, veal jus) - I love their cut a lot! I usually have bad luck with striploin where they always overcook my steak. I was so happy to see the medium rare pink! The Striploin was so tender! I am not a bean person but it was seasoned perfectly! The only thing to complain about was that the potato was kinda bland. 3. Brick Roasted Boneless Chicken (white bean, asparagus, chorizo, watercress (local)) - My friend loved this chicken! It was seared perfectly and they used fresh corn for the dish! 4. Local Marinated Strawberries (vanilla bean ice cream) - My friend liked the dessert, but she wasn't a fan of the little cookie. 5. Lemon Semifreddo (coconut, sunflower seed, oat crunch, blueberries) - This semi-frozen lemon dessert tasted like ice-cream! The lemon taste was so strong and the tangy taste was lingering in my mouth! Perfect way to end your meal! :) 6. Michelle's Fav Cocktail - I loved this Cocktail A LOT! The grapefruit juice base was perfect for summer! 7. Good Friend Cocktail - She loved her drink as well! :) -- Overall -- Their food was great! I love their cocktail a lot! I wasn't impressed with their service (below par). I hope the owner will spend some time reading all the negative comments on their service and work on it. If not, even if you serve good food, customers won't go back if they don't receive good service. read more

See all

We had a nice time at this restaurant, the ambiance was cozy and the food was not bad. Came here on a Sunday night and it wasn't too busy. The restaurant is cozy and warm, the decor is trendy and romantic. This would be a good spot for a date or an intimate party. The menu has a lot of options but not too many options that it's overwhelming. I think there would be something for everyone. We started with some complimentary bread which came with some hummus. The bread tasted fresh and I really enjoyed the hummus. I ordered a salad that had pears and candied pecans, I substituted the Gorgonzola with goats cheese as I'm not a fan of Gorgonzola and they were happy to do that. The salad was large and had lots of pecans and pear pieces. It was just one type of green, I think there could have been a bit more colour or varying types of greens but it was still pretty good. For my main I ordered the haddock which was served on a bed of greens and other veggies. It was basically a salad with a grilled piece of fish on top. The fish was good, I really liked the seasoning and it was cooked alright, I think it was a tad overdone for my liking, I found it almost had a chicken texture and there were some harder bits. I like the tortilla bits but found the greens to be a cheaper variety, it was like a garden salad, tomato pieces and romaine, I think they could have used some more creative greens and veggies for the dish. Someone else in the party had the schnitzel and they enjoyed it. Some pictures I've seen showed a big piece of schnitzel but we got two smaller pieces of schnitzel which they enjoyed but found to be a smaller portion. They were also underwhelmed with the cucumber/potato salad. For dessert we had the chocolate brownie. It was warm and gooey and had a hard crust on the top, I wasn't crazy about the crust but I enjoyed the richness of the brownie. We had the sauce on the side because my partner isn't a fan of raspberry and chocolate but it was good, it also came with pistachio ice cream which was a bit icy but it had good flavour. The service wasn't bad, we had a serious seafood allergy at the table and he was attentive but wasn't sure of the ingredients in everything and was saying "no, I don't think so" if we asked if there was seafood in particular dishes which made us a bit uneasy. Water glasses were filled regularly and the server was nice. We stayed for almost two hours and no one made us feel like we needed to rush out which was great. Overall I think it was a decent place, I'm not sure I'll run back anytime soon but it was overall pleasant. I think for the prices you could go to Union Social or a Milestones and get the same quality food for a smaller bill, but it's worth trying for something different. read more

My wife's family have been using Barnsteiner's numerous times during this pandemic and loving it. So we thought we would too. The upshot: very impressed. The lasagna was tasty and filled with meat and sauce. And I loved the goulash soup - thick and strong My wife's schnitzel was good quality, tender. Portions were generous. Last evening Barnsteiner's came through for us when a resto failed to deliver an order placed 2 days earlier. We'll be using them more in the future. And it's worth noting that my wife found it enjoyable ordering over the phone. read more

Great service. Pan fried Anova Scotia haddock with southwest salad is memorable. With the time

I had a terrible experience my first visit. Along the lines of unacceptable. The owner discussed the issue with me and I took from the conversation that really, bad stuff can happen to anyone. So i disregarded it. I went back only to have another bad experience. I'm definitely done with this place. Really sad, their previous restaurant was one of my favorites. The issue here is the service staff. read more

There's lots of promising aspects to Barnsteiner's, and I'm being very generous with my rating given the limited experience I've had with them so far. I came in on a Thursday night late reservation to catch up with old friends and sample their Summerlicious menu. I was surprised to see a pretty large crowd both on the patio and inside! Décor is European with a hint of vintage, but still tastefully done with some modern aspects. For example, the multi-patterned tiles screamed Eastern Europe from last century, but the teal walls gave it a bright refresh. Layout also gave a bar/café kind of feel, not overly crowded, not too loud, and service navigated smoothly and quietly throughout the shop. The Summerlicious menu had sufficient diversity and a good number of choices for appetizers and mains. They also kindly indicated the normal price for each item for those looking for the best bang for their $43. I went with the wild mushroom soup, seabass, and passionfruit semifreddo. The soup was very nice - lots of mushroom flavour and served hot. The seabass was grilled and very flavourful - look out for small bones under the crisp skin! The passionfruit semifreddo was flavourful but the seeds get stuck everywhere which is annoying. Overall, you're paying lots for the ambiance but the food is not bad - I venture the à la carte has many options that will let you suit your palate better than the Summerlicious menu. read more

Service was great ... but we got really sick after the fish tacos ! I don't know if they care about the freshness of there food during happy hours meals ! read more

The bomb. Pure and simple. Service, food, oysters, good wine selection. Go here!!!!!!!!

My first visit here was for a winterlicious dinner a few weeks back with some friends. The exterior was inviting and inside was dimly lit, and the warm and cozy atmosphere was the perfect place to spend a cold January night. We are a very easy-going, good mannered, and friendly group. However, our server wanted nothing to do with that and although not rude, was cold and unfriendly and was straight down to business. Without cracking a smile he efficiently took our order and was gone immediately after. We shrugged it off and continued on with our night. The food came without much of a wait which was nice. The majority of us ordered a Brussels sprout Caesar salad for the appetizer. It was delicious! Who would have thought to add grilled brussels sprouts to a Caesar but it complimented the dish perfectly and added some bulk and texture. The salad was lightly dressed but had great taste. Only con was the proportion of sprouts per salad. While some of us had 8/9 sprouts, my two friends only got 2 in their dish - something the kitchen needs to work on, and in retrospect, something we should have brought up to our server, but seeing his previous attitude wasn't something we wanted to get into. The majority of the table had the steak for their mains and all said it was really good. The plating was a disaster though and looked like leftovers, with the heaps of meat sloshing around the plate of jus, some with many veggies, and again, some with barely any. I had the mushroom ravioli which was really good and plated nicely. Portion was pretty small, and they could have afforded another 2/3 raviolis but aside from that I would order again. Dessert was forgettable - I had some sort of berry cobble which was eaten but nothing special and could have done without. The end to our night was as cold as the beginning when server came with one bill for the table before we asked for it. We nicely asked if he could actually split for us (some of us had a drinks) and he loudly sighed and snarkily and angrily replied that maybe in the future we could ask him beforehand since it is really hard for him to do after the fact and now how can he remember what each of us ordered... and went off in a huff. He was clearly rather fussed about this and I feel that 1) you should never speak to a customer like that, even if you are having a bad night - customer service is what sets you apart from your competitors! 2) if it is so hard to split bills why didn't he ask the table our preference before he brought it out? he brought the bill before requested and before we even had a chance to ask for separate bills 3) this rarely seems to be an issue at other restaurants. If Barnsteiners has outdated technology, that is not the fault of the customer. It is 2017. People frequently split bills. Anyhow, left a sour taste in my mouth and although the food was good, the attitude wasn't and doesn't leave me any reason to return. read more

Came for dinner during winterlicious, did the Prix fixe menu. For app we had the flat bread with arugula salad and pear with I believe was goat cheese. The pear with goat cheese was really good the flat bread was okay. For the main we order the trout and venison, they were both amazing. For dessert we had the orange semifreddo and chocolate cake they were both good. As with most restaurant midtown on Yonge Street you have to find parking. The service was okay, We did make a reservation a week in advance, however they put us at the worst table possible right by the entrance and the restaurant was half full. Beside that everything is good. read more

See all

This is a great restaurant. I decided to try it for lunch with a friend after a long walk and it definitely hit the spot. We ordered the lemon sole, a daily special, and the gnocchi. The fish was crisp and extremely fresh over perfectly cooked fingerling potatoes and caramelized vegetables. The gnocchi was tender with an extremely flavourful sauce. The only downside to the experience was having to ask for water after two different servers had both come by to say they would get us some. Overall, that did not dampen the mood as the servers were extremely friendly and the food was amazing. I will definitely be going back. read more

Barnsteiner's - Lemon sole and gnocchi. - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My first time here, the place looks impressive. I ordered duck and I liked it, but the side that came wasn't tasty. I wasn't impressed with service at all. And the prices are pretty high. I might go back once, but not soon.... read more

I've passed by this place many many times but never really gave much thought to it. This time my husband surprised me with a lunch and we ended up here. First impression was good. Staff is friendly and greet you as soon as you walk through the door. They wanted to seat us at a high chair table but I asked for a lower table and that was not a problem. For starter we both ordered the wild mushroom soup, which was served on a hot plate. It had chunks of mushroom and was seasoned nicely. With this we got bread and paprika hummus on the house. The hummus was very delicious! For main we went for the blackened haddock and the roasted cornish hen. Both of these mains were amazing! So flavourful and perfectly cooked! I can't say enough to to describe how good this was and how well all the items on the plate worked together. The cornish hen had crispy skin and was soft and moist on the inside. The haddock was nicely charred and had a delicious flavour on its own. The side that was served with it complemented the flavour perfectly! For dessert we had apple cranberry crumble pie with vanilla ice cream and lemon mousse. The desserts were very tasty but the stars of the meal were definitely the two mains. 5 stars out of 5 possible, for obvious reasons! read more

See all