Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Enigma

    3.9 (43 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Enigma Photos

    Business Info

    ENIGMA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Enigma

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tiffany M.

    Very delicious tasting menu. Each dish highlighted something special and clearly was thoroughly designed. We enjoyed the special meal, as well as the quiet intimate space.

    Sophia Y.

    Chef came by a few times to say hello! the non alcoholic pairing was impressive! not just your "fake wine" but there were pretty impressive concoctions that paired well with the food. lots of thought put into it. currently 1 michelin star but felt like 3 michelin star level. Go before their prices go up and they get their 3 stars! though they did forget to offer tea/coffee WITH the dessert (I like the coffee tea WITH dessert in case I want to water down the sugar)

    Scallops with caviar
    Sharona W.

    I really appreciate the care they put into every detail. We did the tasting menu. I do wish there were more hot dishes. Many of them were cold but honestly it was a perfect experience and I'll be back.

    Erin T.

    We were inspired by the show Bear to try a Michelin star restaurant. Enigma caught my eye because of the variety of cuisines their menu said to encompass. Plus the US dollar is a bit stronger so it felt like a steal. This was such an amazing experience. I'll admit I haven't been to any so maybe the level of service is expected for a place like this. I loved the 'team effort' mentality with all the staff, different people can all serve and describe what you're eating. My water cup was always full and the minute you're done eating someone comes around to clean up. You leave for the bathroom and someone folds your napkin and opens the door for you. It's a smaller, more intimate setting so you feel almost important vs being a statistic in a big noisy restaurant. The food was fantastic. Interesting textures/ flavors all in 1-2 bite morsels was such a fun way to eat. The appetizer and the beef were probably my favorite, but the mushroom with the dash gelee was a close third. We did the non alcoholic pairing (this was a baby moon trip after all) and was surprised and how tasty all the juices/teas were. Nothing was overly sweet which I appreciated. Hands down would come again and it really just inspired me to try other places. I definitely feel like the value is there. Also was really impressed they had a waiter who could translate everything for Chinese customers.

    David G.

    Enigma deserves their Michelin Star! Service, food, and ambiance are superb. It ain't cheap but you get an amazing assortment of beautiful and wonderful dishes. Even the vegetarian diner in our party loved everything created. My only quibble would be wine pairings which were good but not commensurate with the food. Would I come back....just ask me....I'll be on the next flight back.

    Ravioli, flavour explosion

    We had an interesting evening dining here. Food and drinks are pretty good but a few things you need to know before booking. I was expecting to get more than only one dish topped up with truffles for the ad-on of 150 plus tax (each) but it was only for the steak so that didn't really worth it, drinks are cool but Im not really sure why they didn't work though lol And surprisingly, the head chef was occasionally brining dishes himself and having a friendly chat while explaining the dishes but he decided to skip us for whatever reason. Maybe they're not used to younger crowd Favourite dish: the mushroom one, caviar soup and ravioli Was it fun? Yes we both enjoyed, 1500 dollars fun? No, not even close Repeat? Probably not. Recommend? Hmm, yes. if number doesn't bother you. Its a cool experience

    Samantha C.

    This makes the list of our top 5 restaurant experiences in Toronto. We came here to celebrate our recent marriage and loved every moment of our experience here. We did the regular tasting menu and each dish was very tasty and carefully curated. They even made a point to make sure our experience was special because we were celebrating something. We came for 6:30pm on a Wednesday and we were the first ones there. At around 7-7:30pm it started getting busier and by the end of the night, almost all the tables were filled. The restaurant isn't large, but just the right size to have an intimate dinner with someone. The interior is nicely decorated with the beautiful mosaic ceilings and gold accents. The dishes were paced very nicely and was explained to us by one of the servers. We thought it was nice that we had different servers throughout the night alternating serving, cleaning, giving new cutlery, etc. It seemed very cohesive. Each dish was delicious, but our favourite was a perfectly crispy and buttery roll with lobster. Dipped in the sauce was perfection. We had about 8-9 courses and were absolutely full and satisfied by the end of it. They even gave us cute takeaway bags with breakfast items for the next day. So thoughtful! Is it pricey? Yes. However, we reserved this restaurant before they got a Michelin star, and after coming here we think they definitely deserve it. Worth it for a special occasion.

    Steve L.

    I am not sure I ever left a restaurant more stuffed. Service, food, and ambiance were all on point. We sat at the chef's counter and that automatically comes with some additions to the menu as well as a drink pairing. I got the cocktail pairing while my girlfriend got the nonalcoholic pairing. You get one small drink per dish compared to other places where you may get a drink for every 1 or 2 dishes. We were so full that we couldn't finish the dessert plate but we were able to get it packed away along with our little goodie bag for breakfast tomorrow. It was not a cheap experience but worth it for a special occasion.

    Jenn W.

    Enigma's 8-course tasting menu is priced smartly: at $230, it's not an eat-here-every-week affair, yet it isn't so costly as to become seemingly prohibitive unless phrases like my yacht also escapes your lips (Sushi Masaki Saito, this is directed to you). It's a place to visit if you are celebrating an occasion or to really unwind, which is where I found myself a couple of days before Christmas. Another year of work was in the rearview mirror and the holidays were about to begin - why not get it started with a bang? I wanted to give my brain a rest... no more decisions, just feed my body with provisions and provide a few hours of blissful conversation to melt away the stress. It seemed to start in that vein as a warm shot of Enigma's immune booster was presented at the table. Yet, before we could cheers to good health, a host of decisions had to be made: did we want a juice ($75), cocktail ($130) or wine pairing to go with the meal? Did the occasion need some extra indulgence because we could get a spoon of sturgeon caviar ($80) added into the lobster chawanmushi or have an extra alba truffle dish? Please... just let the table have the lovely warm ginger citrus shot before inundating us with pesky decisions. Luckily, once the pairing and supplementary questions were out of the way, we didn't need to decide on anything else, other than what steak knife to use - more on that later. Instead, we were treated to two delicious snacks: a wonderful corn tartlet made from an impossibly thin crispy shell holding a buttery sweet corn espuma studded with popped kernels and other crunchy nutty bits that made me moan; and a chicken skin sandwich piped with a lovely miso-butter mousse. Yum! What looks like a salad comes next, baked leaves of black cabbage, kale and spinach piled around squash and a smoked foie gras centre. Each bite is rich and oily... much too oily for my taste. Check out Gastroworld for the rest of the review as this is a long one!

    Richmond O.

    Great dinning experience from beginning to end. Service was highly at tentative. Great option for wine pairing/non-alcohol drink pairing for the food(did not opt in for). Every course was delicious and the highlight would have been the Iberico Pork and the apple at the very end. Great goodie bag at the end of the evening to continue to remember the experience for the following morning!

    Angela Y.

    Not a surprise this place snagged a Michelin Star! We were welcomed with a rose and lemon tea (?) which was sweet and refreshing. And had a few snacks before our 9 courses began. I really loved the crispy chicken skin sandwich. The skin was crispy and fragrant and the ginger and sesame elevated the flavors! My favorites: - Scallop, Squid Ink: This was delicious and beautifully plated - PEl Lobster: This was perfectly cooked and tender and had so many complementary flavors - Cornish Hen: This was actually one of my favorite dishes of the night. The hen was tender with a crispy skin and there was this second piece that was so flavorful and tender (SO GOOD) Peach & Tarragon: This is the IG worthy dessert that we always see, and its just as tasty as it is beautiful Least favorites: - Fresh Cheese: This was one of the only dishes I felt were just okay. I didn't love the combination of cheese, peas and mint - P.E.I Beef, Maitake: We added freshly shaved truffle which honestly didn't do too much for the dish because the Maitake mushroom was so pungent, the steak was tender and tasty but I felt the Maitake took away from it Petit Four: These were just okay, I felt like it was almost dessert overload from all the sweets We opted for the premium wine pairing, which I think could be improved. The amount of wine was a bit light, it was virtually 1-2 slips per glass (8 glasses) for I believe $250, and I was barely buzzed. In comparison at Alo, we could barely walk out after lol. Overall, loved the food and will come back and just order wine by the bottle. Definitely recommend for a date night or special occasion

    From the outside
    Sel Z.

    The experience at Enigma is exactly what you'd expect at a high-end fine-dining restaurant in Yorkville, especially at a restaurant that has coveted 1 Michelin star. Top-notch and very attentive service, super high attention to every single detail (placement of napkins and utensils on the table, etc.), and high-quality food with fresh local ingredients. Here is the breakdown of my review: // THE SERVICE It meets expectation for a high-end fine-dining tasting restaurant, and a Michelin restaurant. The ratio of staff-to-tables was high, and all the staff worked together to serve all tables (instead of each server being assigned to certain tables). All the servers were knowledgeable in explaining each dish and the long list of ingredients. Great friendly and helpful service with personalized attention. // INTERIOR The interior décor is beautiful, classy, and modern with a lot of attention to detail (just like their service and everything else). Blue and gold seem to be their theme of colours. // THE RESTAURANT & BLIND TASTING EXPERIENCE The restaurant is fairly new and has only been opened for about one year, yet it has coveted 1 Michelin star (one of the first in all of Canada)! They only offer blind tasting experience, meaning there is no a la carte menu and the chefs decide on what to cook and serve you. They rotate their tasting menu / dishes every season, and they use local ingredients that are in season (big salute to this). The pacing of when each course comes to the table and empty plates get taken away is very on point. There is no long wait in between courses at all. As soon as you're seated at your table, you're presented with a welcome warm towels (with pinewood essence that smelled like the forest), cold sweet tea (elderflower, chamomile, lemon verbena), and water to start. Then two small amuse-bouche dishes came (crispy tarts with corn mousse, and thin crispy mushroom slices with mushroom mousse in between the crispy layers), which were both really good (especially the corn tarts). // THE FOOD We had the no-meat, pescetarian option. Every dish was presented very nicely and like a work of art, and the server explained each dish in great detail, including a long list of ingredients. The first few dishes (the appetizers) were quite sweet and incorporated a lot of fruits, caramel, and jellies (which tasted more like desserts). Even the scallops dish was quite sweet as it was covered in some fruity jelly, and the fresh cheese (that had the texture and taste of a soft silky tofu) dish had some caramel drizzle on top, which was not to my liking. But then the good savoury dishes came (grilled or poached salmon with salmon roe, lobster, and sablefish with eggplant that was out of this world). Those 3 pescetarian dishes were my favourites. The sauces that came with the fish and lobster dishes were really good. The lobster came with a side of garlic bread (which was more like a sticky spiral brioche bun) and green herbs butter. The vegetarian dish consisted of a cauliflower steak (which had a smoky flavour), some Asian pear bits, a square made of pear, and other items on the plate with ingredients that I could not remember. It was a mix of different textures and flavours (soft, crunchy, salty, sweet, a bit of umami). There were 2 desserts. The first dessert was crispy funnel cakes (which were lighter than the regular funnel cakes you'd get anywhere else) with fresh and dehydrated strawberries & creme fraiche. For us, the dish with the most artistic presentation was the last dish / course which was the "Peach & Tarragon" - a giant custom-made tree with 2 frozen peach "balls" made of frozen outer peach layer, with soft white chocolate & actual peach chunks inside. Then there were shorter "tree stumps" as small plates for the other mini desserts (meringue with a citrus layer in the middle, matcha layer cake, dark chocolate truffle ball). Overall, all the dishes were very creative, inventive, and artistic in plating and presentation. It was amazing how the chefs were able to come up with such unique combinations of flavours and textures in every dish, using seemingly simple local ingredients. // RESERVATIONS & PRICE POINTS You need to make a reservation online (good luck getting one... you might need to keep checking as reservations fill up VERY quickly, especially since the word got out that they're one of the very few restaurants in the city that got Michelin star award). There is a strict no-cancellation policy (cancellation fee is $100 per person). Price for an 8-course tasting menu (as of Summer / Fall 2022) is $230 person, before tax, drinks (you can choose a juice or wine pairing menu, or order wine from an a la carte drinks menu), and add-ons (you can opt to add add-ons such as Sturgeon caviar and white or black truffle shavings on some of your dishes). If you have any dietary restrictions or food preferences (such as vegetarian, vegan, or pescetarian), you should let them know ahead of time.

    Mehr N.

    Went there last Saturday with another couple. Walking in it's a warm and welcoming room which was not too quiet. I definitely loved the atmosphere and was excited for the food. We went with the wine pairing for 150 more. Alright we are all in. Food was good. I did not think it was unbelievable or better than just good. The plating was incredible and some stand out dishes. The lobster dish was for me the best savoury and both deserts were great. Ok so this may sound like a weird criticism but holy moly we couldn't speak for 5 minutes without someone coming to explain something about something. I totally get this may be a place where there needs to be some explanation but lol I don't know it seemed excessive. Do not go there if you have to talk about something important. Lol. Wine pairing was great. We finished dinner got coffee and night caps. And then got the bill. 2k for the 4 of us. Very expensive place. But hey we knew it was pricey going in. Here is the surprising part...and granted we were the last people in the restaurant. But we were asked to leave. Swear pinky swear the manager came up after we paid 2k for 4 people and said hey it's late. It was 12 o clock. I've never ever been asked to leave a restaurant. Let alone after paying that amount of money. We didn't need the whole staff there. Maybe just send everyone home and wait 5 mins. It really did sour the night. Also please for the love of anything and everything do not charge 30 dollars for vallet when the restaurant is this expensive.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David G.
    225
    1043
    6698

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mehr N.
    17
    11
    5

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Terry T.
    93
    38
    50

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T L.
    0
    7
    29

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeannie Y.
    40
    765
    4951

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David F.
    250
    65
    84

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Modern European 1,911 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Grape Witches

    Grape Witches

    (1 review)

    Grape Witches located inside the Waterworks Food Hall is their second location in the city (their…read morefirst location is located along Dundas St. W.!). This bottle shop has a unique variety of natural, organic, and biodynamic wines that may rotate depending on the season. The space also has a wine bar where you can try different wines by the glass or treat yourself in a wine flight or a whole bottle. The by the glass menu changes weekly where you get to have a chance to try new and exciting wines from different regions. I've been to Grape Witches several times but I was able to sit down at their wine bar this time and enjoy a wine flight (three 1oz pours featuring wines from Germany) and a glass of wine. Having the wine flight, I was able to find a new rose that I really enjoyed that I ended up getting a glass of it afterwards. Staff are extremely friendly, personable, and knowledgeable about wine where they can give you suggestions based on your preferences without being pretentious. You are also able to taste any wines you're interested in on the menu to see if you like them as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Grape Witches enjoying the delicious selections where I even found new favourites. Overall, a great new wine shop and bar at Waterworks Food Hall. If you love all things wine this is the place to go. They have unique bottles you can purchase and friendly staff to help you with selecting your wines. Will definitely be back to try other glasses of wine in the future!

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Frittata

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino

    (19 reviews)

    $$

    Entertainment District, Downtown Core

    Went here for dinner on a Saturday night / great location and cute spot! I love the branding and…read morethe inside + feels very trendy. This is a wine bar - the house lager was bad (maybe my own bad decision) and the red I got was fine ... nothing to write home about. However place fell apart with the food - the shrimp came with 5 medium sized shrimp with the tails, legs and shells on and were under seasoned. The artichokes were mediocre (loved the sauce they came with). Worst of all was the "Ontario peaches" with the burrata were totally canned peaches - could've even been dole brand! This place has amazing potential with the location and vibe - but the food just was not it. Small portions and the price didn't match what was served. The service was friendly but nothing too crazy. Go here for the drinks, but maybe not for the dinner!

    Went with a friend on a Saturday night and it was pretty easy to get a seat, but they do take…read morereservations. Our server was great at helping us pick our wine, he mentioned that their wines are all on the dry side which is perfect for me, I'm not one for sweet wines. We also had two of their small plates the mussels and the burrata. The mussels tasted great with the sauce, a little garlicky which I prefer. The combination of the peach and mint went really well with the burrata. Light and easy to eat. The patio at night is one of the highlights. The only small complaint was it did take a while to get our wine after we ordered it and a little while to get our check. Otherwise cute spot.

    Beso by Patria - Paella Patria

    Beso by Patria

    (570 reviews)

    $$$$

    Beso by Patria offers a really enjoyable Spanish dining experience…read more The Paella Patria was fragrant and flavorful, with fresh Argentinian shrimp and purple mussels. The saffron-infused rice soaked up the rich seafood broth perfectly. You can ask the staff to remove the shells if you want to eat more elegantly. The Spanish Octopus was tender and meaty--so fresh, I could have eaten more! I also tried the 36-month aged Joselito Iberico ham. Even though it's not my usual favorite, it was rich, flavorful, and paired nicely with the optional little crisp toasts. The baked white asparagus was a highlight, fresh and flavorful with a touch of minced meat that elevated the dish. The 16oz beef rib steak was cooked well done but still tender and juicy, and the accompanying little peppers added a subtle kick without being overwhelming. The restaurant's atmosphere is dim and cozy, perfect for dates or small gatherings. The staff were enthusiastic, checking in frequently, and even the management stopped by to make sure everything was going smoothly. Overall, a very satisfying meal with a good mix of flavors and textures.

    This place had been on my list for a while, and it definitely lived up to the hype…read more The interior is stunning--very upscale, with gold accents and a bit of that "John Wick" vibe. The atmosphere feels elegant yet lively, perfect for a night out or a special occasion. We came mainly for the paella, and it did not disappoint. There are a few topping options, and it takes about 45 minutes to prepare, so I'd recommend ordering it early. The seafood was the highlight--shrimp were tender and bouncy, with mussels, clams, and even green beans. The flavors together with the rice were perfectly balanced. The Iberico pork shoulder was tender and flavorful, with a sauce that had a subtle savory depth--absolutely delicious. The fried eggplant was a bit on the salty side, and surprisingly didn't taste much like eggplant (more like fried potato slices), but still enjoyable. Overall, every dish had its highlights, and the dining experience was very satisfying. With the combination of great food, attentive service, and stunning ambiance, I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes.

    Sommelier Factory - Avocado toast - vegetarian and vegan option.

    Sommelier Factory

    (12 reviews)

    Entertainment District, Downtown Core

    Debated long and hard between a 4 and 5 star, and wanted to give a 4.5... unfortunately, Yelp…read moredoesn't do half stars, and I didn't feel that the mains justified a 5 star rating (they were good, but didn't blow me away nor wow me), so I settled on a 4 star. Overall, Grand Cru Deli serves fantastic food (the apps and desserts were out of this world!) and the place is super cute. A friend mentioned that the colour and decor resembles something from a Wes Anderson film, and he was right - I could see the Grand Budapest reflected in the interior design! We came here for the Winterlicious menu, and since we had three people, we decided to try the entire menu. Brace yourselves for a long and lengthy review! I've organized everything from most to least favourite within each category. Appetizers Broccoli Falafel Salad This was a nice and fresh app, and my favourite of the bunch. You can taste the broccoli bits in the falafel, but it's a lovely flavour. I never thought it could work together like this! The sunflower tahini and smoked labneh were a pleasant and nice touch, and I loved the microplaned / spiralized cucumbers. Seasonal Country Pate This was definitely bang for your buck! A hefty chunk of pate was served on a plate with baguette and crusty bread pieces. Since it's pate, the app was on the heavier side, but still an enjoyable light bite. Matzah Ball Soup This was my first time having matzah, and it was quite interesting! To be honest, this was my least favourite... the schmaltz / chicken fat with dough highly resembled a Chinese fatty fish ball of sorts. The chicken broth was lightly flavoured, filled with celery and carrot pieces. Mains Trout Amandine This trout was so buttery and flaky, tender and moist! Topped with thin slices of almond slivers, there was a nice juxtaposition with the juicy filet and the crunchy bits. As the fish was lightly seasoned, the fried capers added a great punch of salty flavour. The pomme puree (mashed potatoes) was also very hearty and rich; it was a nice consistency and felt so comforting. We unanimously voted this to be the best main. Eggplant Parmesan I was pleasantly surprised at this dish; despite being vegetarian, it had such a rich flavour! It was likely attributed to the mozzarella and the arugula pesto - when eaten together, the entire dish tasted like a lighter lasagna. The side of arugula helped balance the flavours. Braised Beef Short Rib While good, this dish was quite standard. The braised beef was melt-in-your-mouth-tender, but wasn't very seasoned. I found the creamed spinach a little heavy, and the white beans a little bland. Dessert Chocolate Chip Cookie This chocolate chip and miso cookie with salted caramel served in a hot, petite cast iron and topped with vanilla ice cream was the perfect contrast of all that you can think of. Sweet and salty, hot and cold, crunchy and soft, hard and runny, etc. It was such a hearty and comforting dessert! We all raved at this dish. Creme Brulee I'm not typically a fan of creme brulee as I find them to be a little too rich. However, the light, floral taste of the earl grey really stood out and made this dish! I kept scooping bite after bite. Very well executed, and not too sweet at all! Chess Pie This cornmeal-based dessert was my least favourite, although I must say that it had a fantastic and crunchy crust. The custard filling was nice, but I found it too sweet - in fact, the fino sherry cream made it even more sweet. Overall, I really liked Grand Cru Deli. The food was very well executed, and I was pleasantly surprised at the calibre and taste of the dishes. I'd definitely come again to try their regular menu, and have a glass of wine or two!

    Wine and Deli Sandwich is great for a light lunch…read more Bagel and Lox ($14) Ketchup Curly Fried ($9) Chicken Liver Mousse ($15) Their bread baked in house tasted fresh. I love the bagels! The liver mousse was smooth and velvety. Thanks for the wine recommendation. It is nice to have restaurant owners that are passionate and knowledgeable about their wine lists. Eating here does feel like I packed a nice picnic basket and have a nice casual lunch in the park. There are 3 "hot" entrée items which are available for dinner only. IMHO which is quite limit in choices. A high end deli sandwich bar might be a hard sell especially at this price point. Maybe some lunch special feature offering and additional items for the dinner menu might brings in more business?!

    Same Same

    Same Same

    (10 reviews)

    Entertainment District, Downtown Core

    Same Same serves contemporary, modern, and fusion Thai and Lao dishes in Toronto's entertainment…read moredistrict (on King West). The location was ideal for theatre-goers, as it was right across from the TIFF building and a stone's throw away from a lot of theatres in the area. The interior was spacious and modern, with a lot of tables and seatings extending to the back of the restaurant. It was quite empty when we went on a weekend afternoon, so service was prompt. The food was excellent!! They put creative spins on classic Thai dishes that turned out very well. Review of the dishes: 1) Raw Oysters (fresh raw BC oysters with roasted chili jam, fried shallots, and house nam jim seafood sauce) - They were like raw oysters in typical Western seafood restaurants, but with a Thai twist. "House Nam Jim Seafood" is a Thai dipping sauce commonly used for steamed or grilled seafood, made of garlic, chilies, lime juice, fish sauce, and cilantro. This sauce, in addition to the roasted chili jam, created a mouthful burst of flavour when the oyster was eaten in one go. The roasted chili jam created a heat effect in the throat, which made it warming. The fried shallots added a nice crunch, in contrast to the smooth raw oyster. This was definitely a unique spin to the plain raw oysters. 2) Larb Crispy Brussels Sprouts (fried Brussels sprouts with lemongrass, cilantro, lime juice, chili flakes, toasted rice powder, fried shallots, and coriander) - I was excited to see a vegetarian version of larb on the menu! Larb is a Lao dish typically made with minced meat, fresh herbs, lime juice, fish sauce, and toasted ground rice. Instead of using meat, they subbed it with crispy Brussels sprouts. I liked the crunch of the Brussels sprouts, but found the dish to be too salty. 3) Eggplant Salad (fried eggplant with black tiger prawns, mint, shallots, Thai chili-garlic lime dressing, and sliced medium soft-boiled egg) - This reminded me of the Filipino dish of tortang talong, except the egg was served on the side instead of being pan-fried and coating the eggplant. The eggplant in this dish was fried and quite sweet & spicy, which I didn't really like. I liked the pieces of black tiger prawns, shallots, and sliced medium soft-boiled egg surrounding it though. The egg especially was perfectly soft with a bit of a gooey egg yolk. What surprised me was the presence of pomegranates in the Eggplant Salad. I always see pomegranates as a common ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, but never in Thai dishes. It was a pleasant surprise, and it showed that the creative fusion of Thai, Filipino, and Middle Eastern / Mediterranean elements and ingredients worked well here. 4) SS Egg Fried Rice (jasmine riceberry stir-fried with eggs, green onion, and garlic) + jumbo lump crab meat add-on - This was the dish that made me come to Same Same, and it did not disappoint! I thought the fried rice tasted unique compared to the fried rice I've had at other Thai and Chinese restaurants. It had a strong wok-char look and flavour, and they used jasmine riceberry, which made it taste more chewy and nutty. They did not skimp on the jumbo lump crab meat, and there were "jumbo" pieces of real crab. It seems rare to get real crab (and a lot of it) in fried rice in Thai and Chinese restaurants, so this fried rice was a winner for me. 5) SS Pad Thai (fresh rice noodles, tofu, eggs, peanuts, tamarind, chives, bean sprouts, banana blossom, lime) + black tiger prawns add-on - The tofu and bean sprouts were the stars in this dish. Although the black tiger prawns that we chose as an add-on were really big, for some reason I really liked the tofu in this pad thai more (more flavourful). They used fresh instead of dry rice noodles, which we could tell because the noodles clumped together quickly as soon as it cooled down. 6) Wok Vegetables (stir-fried yu choy sum and green beans) - As simple as this "side dish" was, this was my favourite. We asked for it to be cooked without any sauce because that's how I like my veggies (not a fan of vegetables doused in so much oyster sauce / any thick sauce). They were able to accommodate our customization request, and the dish came out perfect. The green veggies (yu choy sum and green beans) were also still quite crisp and not overcooked, which earned them extra points.

    Was so excited to try Same Same and their Samemer-delicious menu for July!…read more Came today with my plus one and we ordered: Appetizers: - deep fried wingette with ma kwen jeaw sauce: I felt the sauce was a bit too sour and salty yet addicting! I kept coming back to it. It came with 10 wings and it was deep fried really nicely, didn't feel too oily. - shrimp toast: house made brioche with cucumber relish and added the peanut sauce espuma. I love bread at baseline and this brioche was so nice and crispy. The cucumber relish was refreshing and slightly sweet. Mains - same same pad thai (vegetarian): now that I'm reading the menu it looks like they use fresh rice noodle but I found that the noodles were SUPER chewy, more chewy than other thai places I had. I appreciate the freshness of the noodles but would also liked if it were a bit easier to chew. Would also have liked if there was more veg in the meal. - ngowpochana chicken cashew: this came with crispy chicken thigh stir fried with (really SPICY) dried chilis and cashew nuts with a side of mixed purple? rice. The rice was tasty and the chicken was really crispy! Came out in small pieces and it was good but was not blown away. Desserts - mango sticky rice: so so good, love how they put butterfly pea in the sticky rice. Mango was ripe and soft, coconut cream was strong, and the jasmine riceberry puff added a great crunch to the dessert. - pandanas kaya toasted brioche: I would return for this dessert. My partner and I LOVED this dessert and how carmelized the toast was, it was divine. Final thoughts We loved the desserts and appetizers but felt the mains weren't super special. Staff were friendly. It did take us a while to get our food- appetizers came quick but took more than half an hour for our mains to come and waited more for our dessert. It was pretty busy but maybe they're still getting their groove as the Samemer delicious promotion brought in an influx of customers.

    Grey Gardens - Scallop crudo with white kimchi, cucumber and green onions

    Grey Gardens

    (154 reviews)

    $$$

    Kensington Market

    We were group of 6 dining for a special occasion. When we made our reservation, the staff offered…read moreus the semi-private table by the window. It was nice to have a more secluded spot, but the seating was quite drafty/chilly and dark, so didn't quite capture the warm ambiance of the rest of the restaurant. We were also offered a wonderful family style tasting menu for $90 per person. Overall, the food was fantastic, especially the seafood options. The dishes were innovative and fresh. Stand-out dishes: - Smoked Fish - chips n' dip - Scallop (raw) - chicken fat, green strawberry, serrano pepper - Tomato - feta, green olive, red onion - Sea Bream - peas, cumin, scallion - soooo good I would re-order all of the above in a heartbeat. So delicious. The following dishes were good but not amazing: - Bread - cultured butter - Ravioli - cheese curd, potato, leek - Crumb Cake - coffee, pumpkin - Quince - foie gras, sponge toffee And the following dishes had some flaws (though still enjoyable): - Spaghetti - chorizo, peppers, stracciateila (way too salty) - Half Chicken - truffle, green bean, gravy (chicken was quite dry) The portion sizes were sufficient. And the service was really attentive and quick. I wish they had more non-alcoholic drink options.

    Everything we ordered at Grey Gardens was well done. The meal was perfectly paced and permitted…read moreconversation between dishes. The menu has a number of options that have good variety and still pair well no matter what you decide to order. My personal favourite was the smoked fish. We made a last minute reservation, and we were meant to head out by a certain time, but the host told us that she was able to make some adjustments for us to keep the table for longer. The interior is cohesive and is a surprising change from the Kensington neighbourhood outside.

    Enigma - modern_european - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...