BACK TO THE CLASSICS In a world full of fancy and new,…read moresometimes you start looking for the classics. This week, my mother-in-law would have been 80 and my sister-in-law hit 50, so we decided to celebrate the only logical way: we went back to a family classic: Merlot. Merlot is obviously French. Not Paris French. Etobicoke French. That neighbourhood on the perimeter of what we call Toronto. Although this remains up for debate... is Etobicoke actually Toronto, or is it a suburb that Toronto adopted? I'll let you guys fight that one out. For me, Merlot has always felt fancy. I started going there with my wife's family when I was in my teens. And I remember ordering appetizers. An appetizer. Then a meal. I had never really experienced this concept before. I was used to Chinese buffets, grab-and-go, and basically anything where the objective was: get food, eat food, repeat. But here you were expected to have an appetizer, then a main, then dessert, maybe some bubbly water, a glass of wine... or two... and perhaps even a digestif. Wowsa. This was serious business. And I know some people think I'm joking when I say this, but I'm not. I'm still genuinely amazed that I get to experience places like this. The funny thing is, I still feel a little bit like that 20-year-old kid. I'm still impressed by people who are genuinely nice to me. I still get excited when food is really, really good. And I still want to be silly. Actually.... I probably want to be sillier. And that brings me to something I've been thinking about. I don't think restaurants should be quiet libraries where everyone is terrified of using the wrong fork. You're there to have fun! Give me kids laughing, a little music, people telling jokes, glasses clinking, and the occasional broken plate. That's a night out. Somehow, I think we've become a little too serious in North America about restaurant etiquette and what is "appropriate." I'll take a little chaos with my dinner, thank you very much. And Merlot has that vibe. Okay... I've officially spent way too much time exploring my own mind in a restaurant review. BACK TO THE FOOD. Merlot just does the classics really, really well. I had the French onion soup ' what a fabulous broth. We had steak tartare, and the escargot , which came already shelled and swimming in a cream sauce. Not exactly the most traditional presentation, but damn, they are good. Most of the table went with the steak frites or beef bourguignon. And of course...Crème brûlée. Because apparently we were going all the way. And honestly, that's the perfect French meal to me. Loud enough that everyone can talk freely and tell stupid jokes. Quiet enough that you still feel a little sophisticated. And food that's delicious without leaving you feeling like you've eaten an entire cow. Just enough to fill the belly. Merlot is one of those restaurants we've probably been to 50 times with my wife's family, and I'm sure we'll be back another 50. That's what makes a restaurant special.Not necessarily the newest menu.Not the coolest room.Not the latest Instagram sensation. Sometimes it's just a place where your family has been laughing, eating and making memories for years. And Etobicoke actually has some great gems along Bloor. A few of my favourites: Vibo, of course. Harry's, a great addition that somehow feels like it's been there forever. And Bonimi, a family-run Serbian classic with the kind of old-school food and atmosphere that reminds me of Polonez. So there you go. Back to the classics. Good food. Good people. Family. A little wine. A few laughs. And maybe a broken plate. Not Greek styles, that's pushing it ;)... hehe Have a great weekend and happy eating!

Recently had a lovely meal at Merlot restaurant with friends…read more It's located steps away from Royal York TTC station, so handy to get to. Lovely ambiance, and for the holidays they had Christmas trees in both the front and back so very festive. (it also was not too dark inside which was great. I really like to see my food. That's part of the enjoyment, and not a fan of these restaurants where it's so darn dark you can hardly see your own hand.) As it happens, we all decide we were gonna have the steak frites which turned out to be a winning choice. The steak was flavorful and tender, and the fruits were nice and hot and crispy, which is just the way they should be. Service was attentive without being overbearing. We ended up having our water jug, replaced multiple times and the server stopping by periodically to see if we need anything else. Couldn't resist having something to finish. The chocolate mousse was excellent, and my friend who had the lemon tart said it was really wonderful as well. It was even quite lively on a Monday night, which we were surprised at, but happy to see. Obviously a local favorite. Highly recommend.

I happen to discover Maison T while scrolling Instagram. A local favourite, this place is run by a…read morehusband and wife team with years of restaurant experience. The husband is from Japan so his dishes are a Japanese-French fusion. Their steak frites is one of their classic dishes that is a must try. They have specials and have a wide range of drinks. Their desserts are also very delicious. Going back to the owners, the wife serves as host, but is also knowledgeable in wine. She circulate the restaurant and seems really keen to get to know the customers. I have already been here twice and can't wait to return. Reservations are a must! Good for: dinner, drinks, French cuisine

AMAZING, the price is a little bit more elevated, but for the extravagances and the beauty of the…read morefood, it is most definitely worth it. The ambience is definitely something to long after the music is wonderful and the service is extremely well. Done with the food is incredibly precise and the definition of beautiful. What's so amazing about this restaurant is that everything is so in sync the head chef seems to treat all of his kitchen staff with utmost respect and does not hesitate to teach them what they might not know he is the opposite of what we would think stereotypical harsh chef would be. The chef's wife is in charge of the dine in. She is a warm and bubbly character. That makes sure everything is up to the high expectation we all have once we go there for dinner. Once again, yes, the prices are a little bit elevated, but for a gourmet restaurant, it is absolutely worth it his magnificent little restaurant and everybody there is extremely kind and the food is nothing less than delicious.

My husband and I arrived to Le Baratin on a Saturday evening with a reservation. Unbeknownst to my…read morehusband, he selected "inside or outside". We were disappointed to be sat outside by rushing traffic, but our server (perhaps also the owner) looked like he could tell our disappointment and said he would try to help. I mentioned this wasn't the vibe for our Anniversary dinner I was hoping. One move inside to bar stools, two glasses of champagne on the house and another move to a table later, we finally got the cozy dinner vibe we had anticipated. We selected the 3 course dinner and were not disappointed. After a questionable decision to not eat lunch but have snacks, we weee understandably starving. The tomato tart and salad were delicious. The duck was rich, flavorful and came with a decadent sauce. My husband was also impressed with his steak frites followed by chocolate mousse. I enjoyed my cheesecake back at our hotel. In all, this was a great dinner and a great save by our server, you can tell he just really wanted to make sure we have a nice dinner for our anniversary. It is quite a small restaurant so I know they were absolutely doing the best they could. Cheers!

COZY FRENCH BISTRO w/ PRIX FIXE MENU…read more Le Baratin is a cozy bistro with limited seating, thus advance reservation is a MUST. The atmosphere is quite warm and casual, and is ideal for date nights and special occasions. They offer a Prix Fixe menu and can choose between 2-course and 3-course meal. Service is amazing and our server is very kind to answer our MANY questions about the menu. He also gave us a few recommendations, which was greatly appreciated. Food is excellent! For appetizers, the mussels were HUGE and very fresh. For entrees, duck breast was our favorite - meat was very tender, perfectly cooked, and went well with the carrot puree. In addition, the sauce is very flavorful which really elevates the dish! Overall rating for our experience was a solid 4.5-star, and I ended up giving them a 4 (on the Yelp scale) probably related to the desserts. The desserts were awesome, but it lacks the "wow" factor I found from their appetizers and entrees. I'd definitely visit again, and I look forward to changing to a 5-star rating next time!

Great atmosphere and service at Azarias, located on bloor street west near royal York station. The…read morefood was also good and we would order a few things again which include the Kung Pao Chicken which was spicy and tangy and the grilled salmon tacos which was simple yet tasty. The flavour of the fried cod taco was amazing but there was very little of the fish and mainly consisted of the fried dough. The Thai lemongrass and coconut broth mussels were pretty good as well. Overall, Azarias was a pleasant dining experience and we're glad we were able to try it!

Definitely a must try venue. Our friends took us here and I've always loved tapas. Great place to…read moreshare a few dishes with friends over Prosecco, beer or wine! It's a fusion, international concept. Definitely not a jack of all trade, master of none. Master on quite a number of dishes! The Indian fried chicken sliders were marinated so well, so flavourful and still moist in the inside! The smoked meat slider was absolutely delicious. Both of them were so tasty that you would like to eat it full size and not share! The Malpeque oysters were so fresh and delicious! We ordered the Lobster and shrimp gnocchi and they were so nice that they portion it into four small portion for us to try! Excellent service, nice casual relaxing dining experience. Definitely worth checking out.

My husband and I come here for coffee and baked goods when my son is at music lessons. On the…read moreweekend, this place gets very busy. Seating might be hard to find should you opt to dine in. Understandable as service is good and everything tastes good. I noticed that they sell wine as well. They also have potato chips from France and pantry items for sale. You can't go wrong with any of their pastries - they're all fluffy with buttery goodness. I'm a fan of the raison bread. Good for: coffee, tea, baked goods

Love this place. It used to be called Cafe Jules. I found this place by accident one day. Since…read moreI've been back on a semi regular basis whenever I'm in the area. Great espresso. Great foods. Enjoyable wine

Stopped by for brunch and thought overall it was pretty good…read more - Marinated Mussels: Strong marinade, ok plumpness. - Pate en Croute: Richly decadent, yet not overwhelmingly so. - French Onion Soup: Star dish of the meal with its strong broth. Would have liked a bit more of that lovely gruyere cheese. - Steak and Frites: A bit disappointing, as I would have liked it a bit more tender and flavourful. Fries were fairly standard. - Smoked Trout Benedict: Liked how smoky the trout was. Vibe is friendly and casual vibe. Kitchen was really slow. Prices are on the higher end for brunch, but you pay up for the atmosphere. Overall, a pretty good spot to visit.

I've been to Chantecler twice now and both times the service was A+. They are attentive,…read moreaccommodating, and always giving solid recs. It's probably one of my favourite French restaurants in Toronto right now. We always end up ordering the same things because... why mess with a good thing: oysters, scallop crudo, steak tartare, the half duck, dry-aged ribeye, fish (usually cod or salmon), and whatever seasonal veggies they're offering. I won't pretend I'm an expert on French cuisine, but flavour-wise, Chantecler did great. Their steak tartare is easily in my top 5 at the moment. The half duck is also my favorite here, with dry-aged duck breast + duck confit leg and both cooked beautifully. The jus adds a little tangy note that cuts through the richness of the duck so well. And when I find myself randomly craving their tartare and duck dish... yeah, that's my cue to go back again, probably soon.

I'm waiting for the perfect night to head back over to Milou. It's a fabulous place with very cool,…read morevery hip wait staff. They're polite and easy with their smiles. I went around 5pm on a weekday. Had a $10 martini (HH price), half dozen oysters, endive salad, French onion soup, and their crème brûlée... ate everything. Would have licked the plates. 1) it was a strong martini. Lovely 2) BEAUTIFUL oysters and I eat a lot of oysters 3) sweet and nutty endive salad. Crunchy from the nuts, crispy from the endives, sweet dressing with some chili flakes to wrap it all together. Didn't lick my plate, but I did lick my fork all the way to my fingers 4) hearty French onion soup. Wasn't too salty. Good amount of bread and cheese. Fabulous. Comforting 5) ended it all with crème brûlée. Not the smoothest, but they had vanilla bean in it and a nice crust on top, so I'm not complaining.

After years of having this place on my radar, a friend and I finally came here for breakfast and we…read morewere not disappointed. We arrived shortly after they opened, the aesthetic is eclectic and simple. The seating arrangements are comfortable and available indoors and outdoors. We both got their classic breakfast with double smoked bacon; I opted for a beer ginger drink and my friend ordered a chai latte with oat milk. She really enjoyed her drink, and it was a decent size. Whereas my beer and ginger juice was delicious yet on the small side, especially since ice cubes took up a lot of space. As for the meal itself, the eggs with crème fraîche was out of this world! They were the most delicious eggs I've ever eaten. I wish the portion was slightly bigger. The double smoked bacon was perfectly cooked and not greasy. It was thick and not overly salty. They fill up the rest of the plate with 3-4 slices of sourdough and I appreciated that they butters the toast and offered us jam. Overall the plate was fresh and delicious. I' savoured each bite. The service was good, attentive and friendly. Towards the end of our meal, it was getting busy and the noise volume increased, so just a heads up to anyone who doesn't like loud spaces. The music was on point though and I can imagine on a warmer day, the patio would also be a cool vibe to experience. One note I feel is needed to mention is the bathroom. I almost missed the steps descending down to the bathroom because the area is poorly lit. This is a safety issue. Secondly, if you're tall like me, the stalls are very tight and claustrophobic. I barely had any room in the stall and it was very uncomfortable; be careful if you're bringing your purse/phone cause there's no space and I could easily see how things can drop in the toilet. I would highly recommend the business investing into this a little more.

We came to FK for our fifth wedding anniversary during Snowmageddon 2026! Making a reservation is…read morevery easy, and actually involves speaking to Shawn, Frank's wife to confirm. Shawn still uses a reservation book and personally handles all reservations from booking to walking them out the door at the end of the night. We made our reservation 1 week in advance for Friday night, and there were still a few prime time seating's to be booked. We arrived, excited for a night of beautiful wine, interesting cocktails, and mouth-watering food. All of that happened along with great service and wonderful conversation. We each started with a scallop and some delicious homemade sourdough bread! Any restaurant of this caliber nails the opening bread, and I never feel confident enough to ask for me - next time I will because FK's was fantastic. We then shared the oxtail fagottini and enjoyed the rich filling and deep savory broth it came with. I had the Ontario Lamb Rack & Loin, which was actually lamb 4 ways, including a lamb head croquette. My husband had the striploin and frites. Both meals were spectacular and cooked to our temperature preferences, but mine takes the cake for presentation! For dessert, I had a wonderful key lime dessert with a coconut cake, and savored every last crumb. Our server paired my lamb with a beautiful glass of red wine, and was extremely personable. We would absolutely return again, for all the reasons above. FK deserves all the accolades they've won and then some!

I don't usually write reviews.. But I had such a wonderful experience at FK Restaurant. From the…read moreappetizers all the way through dessert, I genuinely enjoyed every single dish. The menu beautifully blends French cuisine with subtle Asian inspiration. The flavors complemented each other in a way that felt refined yet comforting. Each course felt carefully composed, with great attention to flavor, texture, and presentation. It's rare to leave a restaurant feeling impressed by every dish, but FK really delivered from start to finish. I'll definitely be back. We ordered the tasting menu which was around $220 per person. ( prepaid required )

I have both ate at this establishment and have ordered takeout many times as it is local for me…read more My friend and I decided to bike down to the lake for breakfast and we chose Canadiana. My friend ordered eggs with pea meal bacon and a side of fresh fruit. The fruit itself was almost a meal! I had the toasted western that I have had before. Everything was perfectly cooked and the service was excellent. This place resembles a diner and is clean with large windows. Great neighborhood spot with a comfy home cooked food vibe that lends itself to an earlier era.

Great food, good prices, and excellent service. This is a diner style restaurant that serves…read morebreakfast all day. Private parking lot, and plenty of menu selections to choose from. I would definitely return!

I'm here right now and this food is amazing. Salmon tartare, oyster and scallops- delicious…read more Drink are unique and wonderful. Nice atmosphere and great friendly service. Highly recommend.