I've been here twice- once for dinner and once at the bar. Service is amazing. Drinks are unique and if you aren't really digging something, they will make it right- I will come back again and again! English chips are so good! read more

I was invited to General Public for a client dinner and was excited to finally try it, especially after seeing it named a top finalist on Air Canada's Best New Restaurant list. Happy to say it lived up to the hype. The interior is beautiful, chic, warm, and very inviting without feeling pretentious. Service was excellent throughout the night. We did the prix fixe set menu, which included the chicory salad, shrimp cocktail, ham plate, chicken wings, G.P. wedge, black cod, roast chicken, English chips, charred broccolini, and finished with crème caramel and a seasonal English pudding. Everything was really well done, and I especially appreciated how many vegetable-forward dishes were included. It didn't feel like the usual carb-and-protein-heavy set menu. The charred broccolini, black cod, ham plate, and G.P. wedge were definite standouts. All simple dishes on paper, but packed with bold, rich flavours. Portion sizes were also great. I've been to a few nicer client dinners where I still leave a little hungry, but that wasn't the case here at all. They also had several non-alcoholic drink options, which was nice to see and thoughtfully done. Overall, General Public delivered on food, service, and atmosphere. It felt polished but still approachable, and I can easily see why it's getting so much attention. A great spot for a client dinner and somewhere I'd happily return on my own too. read more

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The food was delicious. Especially the fries. The music was the perfect genre mix of oldies and millennial era. No loud bass or raving music. The staff were attentive and if you're sitting at the top, the view is great and the seating is cozy and comfortable. On a Saturday night it was a bit loud but we managed. They close late which is a plus. However the prices are ridiculous. $160 for two people for four plates of food and two glasses of wine and two teas. Should be at least $100. read more

It's not exactly the place you'd think to start the meal with a bubbles and a bump ($15), essentially a 2g spoon of caviar chased with 1oz of champagne. While a bit ostentatious, it's believed that by placing the caviar on the crook of your hand (essentially were you sprinkle salt to chase a tequila shot), your body will gradually warm the caviar to the right temperature. Did it work? Honestly, hard to tell with such a tiny portion. While I enjoyed the dish, the protein could have been anything in bluefin carpaccio ($29). The strong flavours from the pickled onion and cheddar cheese crisps ended up covering the tuna. Not the greatest if you want to taste the bluefin, but ideal for those who are squeamish about eating raw fish. Every table seemed to order the chicken wings ($21) given the description of being brined in a Guiness and tossed with a Worcestershire honey butter sauce... now this is different! It tasted like General Tao to me, which isn't bad but not overly exciting either. At least they were crispy, juicy, and hot, three important components to a good wing. The black cod ($47) was poached to perfection and covered in an herb bread crumb crust giving the silky fish some crunch. What really made it shine was the buttery parsley sauce that tasted like a creamy bisque. Why the dish isn't served with toasted bread to allow diners to wipe up every drop of this sauce is a mystery. We made our own "fish and chips" by pairing the cod with English chips ($13). These were so crispy and the potato nice and fluffy. I just need to tone down the salt. Often an after thought at pubs, the desserts at General Public stole the show. The banoffee pie ($16) incorporates a thick ganache base in a lovely graham crust, so much chocolate that it could have been described as a chocolate tart. Layered with banana, caramel, and whipped cream this is a rich dessert that must be shared. Consequently, it went perfectly with the lemon posset ($15). I wasn't going to order this but after Corey, our server, described it as the best lemon dessert he's had for a person who doesn't like lemon desserts, I knew I had to try it. read more

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I wanted to come here for a long time but did not have chance due to its location. Sooo wanted to try their well reputed food and cocktails. Having worked in downtown east and now in the Beaches, and living in Durham region - coming here has been challenging. After-work, driving, battling rush hr/riding on TTC (I love cocktails) were not my option. Going home from there would be another pain. So, my only option is to come here weekend for lunch (with a non-drinker), and today was the day! I am so happy to be here finally! Finding parking was not a problem, there are plenty of street parking on Geary st. I was very impressed by their beer selections, which included my favourite micro breweries' - such as Godspeed, Mascot. Since we were here at lunch time, the menu was understandably limited. But I think we ordered nice ones. We ordered: # CHICKEN CLUB TARTINE $21 with ENGLISH CHIPS on the side $13 # BUBBLES AND A BUMP $15, 2g spoon of caviar, 1oz of Champagne # CURRIED LAMB TARTARE $25 with poppadom Drinks # General Public Lager # Juicy J IPA (from Mascot) # Merwolf (cocktail) # CHICKEN CLUB TARTINE $21 with ENGLISH CHIPS on the side for$13 People spoke highly about their chips. But it was a bit soggy and we were disappointed. The open sandwich was amazing. Bread (sourdough) brushed with smoky BBQ sauce, perfectly cooked tender chicken breast (plenty) with Herby greens like Italian parsley - delicious. The only thing was that all the toppings (esp smokey BBQ sauce) overpowered sourdough itself. But nonetheless, it was unique, carefully prepared, with nice presentation and delicious. # BUBBLES AND A BUMP $15 Hahaha... see the pic. Recommend to order while you are still deciding on what to eat. It comes with a shot of champagne and a tiny bump of caviar. # CURRIED LAMB TARTARE $25 It was enjoyable. Liked the South Asian twist. The menu says it comes with kashmiri mayo which came in yellow color, dashed across the Lamb tartar, and tasted like medium strength curry. The tartar also had Green coloured mayo dotted on top of the tartar - which tasted Green mint chutney. Liked both sauce. Even without these "Mayos" the meat tasted delicately seasoned with caper and onion, and accompanying crispy papadam making sense of this whole dish. # Merwolf (cocktail) Delicious! Passion-fruit forward, but boozy & well balanced with hint of cumin, allspice, lemon... refreshing especially after enjoying the Curried Lamb Tartare. Felt kind of continuum. Nice finish. :) :) :) read more

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General Public located along Geary near Dufferin is Jenn Agg's latest restaurant that opened last year. It's located along an industrial street that's not as convenient to get to by public transportation. I've heard great things about this place and finally made my way to try the food on a weekday for lunch. Most dishes are inspired by traditional English pub fare and American brasserie with a vibe of a steakhouse. I arrived on a Wed around 11:30am for brunch. The place was quiet and I was actually their first customer for the day. I decided to check out the place as I had a day off and wanted to do a little solo lunch treat. Upon entering, the interior grabs your attention. You notice that the bar is adorned with cute milk-glass table lamps and the ground floor lighting as well as booths gives the space a warm inviting vibe. Washrooms are located on the second floor and the interior on the 2nd floor and washrooms are also quite different where there's pastel pink everywhere. I decided to sit at a booth since it's wasn't busy at all. Service was great throughout the meal. Staff were friendly and attentive, my water was always refilled and the service was spot on. Staff came by to check up on me from time to time but also gave me space to enjoy my food. They made it a great dining experience even though I was dining alone. Food wise, I ordered the following items: - Bubbles and a bump (2g of caviar, 1oz of Champagne) - $15 - Breakfast sandwich (ham, silky egg, hashbrown, red leicester queso) - $16 - English chips (malt vinegar, beef fat mayo) - $13 Not much to say about the bubbles and a bump...it's caviar and Champagne after all! A cute cheeky little idea if you ever wanted to try an individual portion of having it together. The breakfast sandwich was great, loved the thin hashbrown in the sandwich as well as the delicate silky egg. That sandwich may look small but it is mighty heavy with all the melted cheese! Lastly, do not miss out on the English chips!!! They were amazing - the perfect crispiness and saltiness. The malt vinegar really brings out a different flavour and the beef fat mayo was the perfect dipping condiment for the chips. Definitely do not forget to order the English chips. Overall, a fantastic meal here! I left feeling so full! The service was great and the space is beautiful. Definitely would come back to try dinner sometime! read more

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A great spot for date night or a catch up date! The ambiance is aesthetic and welcoming. I sat at the upstairs area which was very pink and girly. Server was attentive and helpful with reccos. Some of the dishes were hit and misses but overall, loved the entire dining experience here. Here's what I got: Eton Fizz 5/5 - This cocktail came with gin, tonka bean, eton cordial, cream, lemon, and egg white. It was refreshing, sweet and creamy. So good that I got a second round of this drink! Bluefin Carpaccio 4/5 - A nice thin layer of raw bluefin tuna, topped with pickled onions, malt vinegar, and cheddar crisps. The textural difference between the soft buttery bluefin tuna and cheddar crisp is what made this dish so delicious. Was a tad too pickled/ sour for me though. Smoked Cod Rosti 5/5 - My favourite item we ordered. It was a fried smoked cod topped with creme fraiche, the salty salmon roe and dill. The salty cod roe really complimented the cod rosti well. Half Rack of Lamb 3.5/5 - This was good but nothing too special in my opinion. It came with a thick, creamy mint sauce that was good but wasn't exploding with flavour. English Chips 5/5 - It's not just frites, it's tossed in malt vinegar and served with beef fat mayo. Crispy exterior with a hint of vinegar, and a super fluffy interior. Overall, I thought this was a great dining experience. Food was good but nothing too over the top. I would come back again to try more things, however, location wise it's quite out of the way. read more

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Many people have raved about this place, so I'm in the minority here in thinking it was just ok. Not sure if it was the heightened expectations or personal tastes, but was left a bit disappointed. Stopped by for dinner and got: - Bread Basket: Good variety, came in warm. - GP Burger: Was expecting a more elevated taste on the burger patty given the bone marrow. The cheese blend was drool-worthy good. The bun was nicely springy. - Rainbow Trout Tartare: Fresh, liked all the nuts, and loved how strong the butter undertone was. - Popcorn Clams and Mussels: Too much batter and too deep fried for me to appreciate the clams or mussels. - Black Cod: Delicately cooked, though a tad on the bland side. - Malt Chips: I'm not joking or being snide when I say this was my favourite dish of the meal. The chips were thick, perfectly crisped on the outside and milky on the inside. The beef fat mayo was an indulgently perfect dipping sauce. - Charred Broccolini: Overly salty for my tastes. - Banoffee Pie: Great whipped cream, like how the caramel wasn't overpowering, would have liked just a smidge more banana. - Negroni: Smooth and refreshing. Service was attentive, friendly and efficient. Kitchen was relatively quick. We sat on the second floor counter area overlooking the main dining area, giving it almost a theatrical feel. The entire place is casually beautiful and has a great-night-out vibe. While not for me, can see why the general public love this place. read more

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It really pains me to write anything less than a glowing review of a Jen Agg restaurant. We're huge fans of her various joints around the city, and I legitimately think that Le Swan might be my favorite restaurant in all of Toronto. So expectations were high for our trip to General Public. We arrived right on time for our 5:30 reservation and were shown to a nice table on the second floor. I had specifically requested the upstairs area because the '80s decor is right up our alley and it certainly did not disappoint. It was easily the highlight of our visit. After perusing the menu for a few minutes, we placed our order at around 5:40. (The reason I'm mentioning the time will be clear shortly.) The first dish to come out was the Shrimp Cocktail ("cocktail sauce") at 5:44. The presentation was very disappointing, as the dish consists of five pieces of shrimp on a plate alongside a lemon wedge and a small dish of cocktail sauce. My first bite was not promising, as it contained a fairly large piece of shell. But once i got past that i was very impressed, as it was the most tender shrimp I think I've ever eaten. And that cocktail sauce is much, much better than the usual sauce of that type. Up next was the G.P. Wedge ("horseradish cream, green goddess, shropshire blue, buckwheat") at 5:52. It's a tiny portion but I can't argue with the taste. That dressing is something I'd like to just drink out of the bottle. Very tasty stuff. Next up was my Tongue and Tail Pie ("mushrooms, onion, stout") at 5:53. This dish was a big miss for me, unfortunately. My issue with it was the proportion of crust to filling, as it seemed to be about 70% crust and 30% filling. Both elements were good, don't get me wrong, but the balance was way off. I didn't even end up eating all of my crust. My cocktail, the Werewolf ("bourbon, peanut, passionfruit, cumin, allspice, lemon"), finally arrived at 5:55. It's a decent concoction. All the flavors work well together, but it's lacking in the boldness I might've expected based on that roster of components. Also at 5:55 our Potato Roulade ("veg gravy, fried rosemary") arrived. I had seen some pictures of this before we arrived, so I was pretty excited to try it. It was a little disappointing, ultimately. The potatoes were lacking any kind of crisp, and the gravy was a little on the bland side. No bold flavors here, unfortunately. So as you can see, we received all our dishes within the space of 15 minutes. There was no thought to breathing room or enjoying each course individually. It truly felt like we were being rushed out. It was very disappointing (and infuriating). We did stay for another hour because we wanted to soak in that ambiance, though. And we finished the meal with the Banoffee Pie, which was probably the highlight. It's delicious. I'm sure we'll be retuning to General Public if only for that delicious '80s vibe, but considering the bill came out to almost $300, I can't say we really felt like we got our money's worth. read more

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Came here with 2 friends for lunch. Everything was just okay, nothing was wow. Things we enjoyed: - Beautiful space, great interior design and pretty bathroom. - my werewolf cocktail with the peanut butter rinse was complex and delicious. - fish and chips was nicely fried - mushroom, escargot toast was decent but heavy. Things we didn't enjoy: - Popcorn clams and muscles (fishy and quite boring. - lamb tartar was okay, it had a nice Indian twist to it. - big salad was the biggest let down. It was mushy, bland and just outright boring. Service was okay but lacked personality and fun. Overall, probably won't go back when there are so many other great restaurants nearby. read more

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Part of a longer review... In an age where menus are either too concise or maddeningly voluminous, General Public strikes a balance that feels measured, like a perfectly timed cadence. The restaurant itself is an ode to what Agg does best: crafting spaces that are at once cerebral and sensual, places where people can see and be seen, but where the food never plays second fiddle. As you enter the two-story space, the ode-to-the-80s décor immediately signals a lack of pretense--a statement, perhaps, that here, it's all about the essence. Downstairs, the cozy warmth of custom millwork and intimate booths evokes a modern pub, softened by white oak and geometric angles. read more

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We came here on a Saturday night. Service was good, but the food left me sad. The chicken wings were the most decent. Endive salad was fresh but nothing interesting. The tongue and tail pie was good- the crust was nice but as someone else had said, the proportions were just off and it didn't have a wholeness to the dish. Too much crust. The worst part was the NY striploin which was soooooooo salty. It was such a disappointment when I was so looking forward to a steak. I don't recommend it at all. Good service and beautiful interior, but a pass for me. Very trendy- I tend to prefer just good food. read more

Almost unbearably good. Such a cool atmosphere. Exquisite food. The whole experience feels curated, authentic, but with a light touch, no hint of affectation. I got the seafood platter with martinis. Would do it every week if I could afford it :) read more

BOTTOM LINE: Quintessential Jen Agg! In the ~10-year since Blood Brothers opened on Geary Avenue, this strip has slowly become one of the not-so-hidden gems of the city for dining. General Public's interior is the definition of understated elegance, and maximizes the space's verticality with the additional mezzanine dining level. The menu is relatively restrained with - for now - an emphasis on seafood (though there's lots of meat selection). If you're with a group, I would highly recommend the SEAFOOD TOWER with a generous offerings of scallops, clams, mussels, oysters, king crab legs, and lobster tails. The CHICKEN WINGS are a greater starter, and is balanced with the ENDIVE SALAD. The PORK CHOPS were juicy, though I thought the CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE and HERITAGE ROAST CHICKEN were "just okay". The service was attentive to our group, and the sommelier was helpful in narrowing down a bottle to our liking. There was a fairly healthy selection of wines that mostly ranged from $75-150, and some interesting cocktails to try. Although General Public's only recently opened, it looks like they've hit the ground running, and I'm excited to see how things progress out over the next little bit. read more

The newest addition to the hip Geary street neighborhood is General Public. This resto is a take on a sexy French bistro. We went there only two weeks after opening and the place was already packed so make sure you make a reso in advance if you want to ensure you get a table. We started our meal with the wedge salad, endive salad and shrimp cocktail parfait. Both salads were highlighted perfectly with accompanying garnishes. The shrimp cocktail parfait was a layered dish of horseradish cream, cocktail sauce and shrimp and served with saltine crackers and endive leaves for dipping. This dish was a totally unique take on the classic shrimp cocktail and absolutely delicious. We then had the chicken dish and potato roulade side dish. The chicken was cooked to perfection with a crispy exterior and soft tender interior and the potato was the perfect accompaniment. We agreed that the potato dish was the best thing we ate. It was a thin slice of potato rolled into a rosette and then fried. The dish was then adorned with a rich chicken gravy. The textures and flavours of this dish were memorable and something I would return for. General public has become a hot spot among locals and for good reason. I look forward to seeing what new creations they add to the menu in the near future. read more

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There's a reason I love every Jen Agg spot. Actually lots of reasons: delectable food, top notch cocktails, thoughtful wine list, flawless service, interesting decor with creative, vintagey elements, the right lighting, a sense of warmth, great playlists, and stellar vibe overall. My favourite remains Le Swan, but I love the others too, e.g. Grey Gardens, Vendetta. When you dine at a Jen Agg spot, you know what you're in for. See second paragraph. So enter General Public. It's the biggest place she has (I think)...there's seating on two levels. So it does lack the intimacy of the others. But GP is its own beast, and as predicted, it's amazing. Take note of all the cool design touches, they're everywhere. Everything is just so Jen. Except here, the mascot is a guinea pig (?) and the menu seems more Black Hoofy than the others...fried pigs head terrine, anyone? How about a slice of tongue and tail pie? While I haven't had the pleasure of trying those two yet, I have visited twice already and tried these: New York strip steak, English chips with beef fat mayo, herb-crusted halibut, popcorn clams and mussels (a la KFC styles), tuna carpaccio with pickled onion and malt vinegar, wedge salad, and Worcestershire honey butter chicken wings. Oh, and a caramel flan. YUP! Yup yup yuppity yup. The food, the cocktails, the wine, you get the idea...all fabulous. Jen Agg strikes again!! read more

Restaurant was stunningly beautiful. The service was very friendly and helpful. The menu was curated and very inventive. We tried the champagne and bump of cavier, the pig head tarrine, crudo, tartar, tongue and tail pie, and banana dessert. Everything was excellent. The flavours were on point. We also tried their gin cocktails which were also fabulous. Highly recommend. read more

General Public - Bar. - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We have been here 2 x this year for dinner. Both meals stellar. Had both the fish and meat dishes. But their rib eye is standout !!! Service is impeccable. Next time we wanna go for their lunch/burger happy hour. read more

General Public - Rib eye with bordelaise sauce made with bone marrow. - Seafood Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The food was delicious, but the execution was a fell short. My wife ordered the shrimp cocktail and curried lamb tartare, while I the halibut and fries, plus the wedge salad to share and a bottle of Kew brut. Despite their website stating it wasn't a tapas restaurant, food delivery was exactly that. I don't eat shrimp, so I waited as my wife ate that. Then the salad arrived and I had half. Next it was her tartare and she waited for my fish and chips. An hour fifteen into service and 2/3rds of the wine poured, I was served. At that point I was hangry and tipsy And my wife lost her appetite waiting. Food was great, but I just wanted to eat and leave. $13 for a handful of fries at that point left a sour taste and a disappointing anniversary experience. gorgeous place. read more

Excellent food, fantastic drinks, and stellar service. The booths are on the small side, but they have tables if you're feeling cramped. Great experience overall. The Geary strip keeps getting better! read more

Running along the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks just north of Dupont lies Geary Avenue, a short stretch of industrial units in an area that smacks of a DIY, entrepreneurial, not-afraid-to-get-your-hands-dirty work ethic. Which makes it a truly fitting spot for Jen Agg to set up shop. General Public's interior is pure visual poetry. All green and woodworky when you enter, and more coral '80s the higher up you go. The best part? Jen Agg has mastered the art of creating the kind of lighting that makes everyone look effortlessly good. Even an ugly mug like me. I've had dinner and lunch at GP so far. Both menus are creative and accessible; grounded in the familiar but done in exceptional ways. Everything was delicious The lion's mane schnitzel was incredible. The wedge salad was creamy with pops of salty, sharp blue cheese. The dressing on the endive salad was moreish. I can't even fathom how much work went into the potato roulade, but it was worth every second. And theirs rivals the Gold Standard for the best breakfast sandwich in the city. (I had it without ham.) The beer selection is well curated. The General Public lager is a crowd-pleaser with its pleasant bready malt balanced with crisp noble hops. Burdock never disappoints. The Blood Brothers Sunny Ra is a wild ale that rivals Petrus or anything I have had from Jolly Pumpkin. I didn't catch the name of the Blood Brothers pale ale they served on nitro, but it felt perfect for the space--very reminiscent of English cask ale. They also serve wine. Switching gears a bit. This is more about reviews I have seen elsewhere than anything here, but I only review here, so... this is a sort of subtweet, if you will. And if you won't, stop reading now. To people who price or portion-size bash I say: I get perceived value, it's a thing, but if what you're after is a giant plate of food for not a lot of money, maybe Mandarin is more for you? (Nothing wrong with Mandarin, mind you. Just saying. Pick a business model that works for you and you'll be all the happier for it.) And to people who see a price on a menu, order the thing at the price they saw, and then complain about the price...knock it off. As consumers we seem completely separated from the way things are made and what is involved in making them. Karl Marx called this the commodity fetish. The idea that we tend to see the things we buy as only finished objects--the end product--without understanding all of the labour and other factors involved in the production of said things. Because of this basic dynamic of capitalism, many people can guilelessly complain that a dish that was tirelessly constructed by many dedicated hands was overpriced. It sucks when so much of people's hard work is diminished and devalued by someone price-bashing. Anyway. Jen. Jake. David. Aurora. Meg. James. Jess. Kaythi. Zane. And anyone else there whose name I don't know, thank you so much for your hard work and for helping to make spending time at GP so great. read more

Beyond the tasty food, stunning ambiance, perfect drink menu, curated playlist and cute bathrooms, can we talk about what makes General Public truly wonderful? The cornerstone of Jen Agg's brilliance as a restaurateur, lies in her innate ability to build strong teams. And her team at General Public is not only strong (in the sense of being efficient and overall pleasant) but they have a unique sense of hospitality. This is a rare find, and truly this young team exudes all the principles of genuine hospitality. I felt cared for and special as a guest here and this is something which I find to be the quintessential spark which sets Jen's businesses apart. So thank you for making the exception with the chips, and for charging my phone so I could call an Uber home, and for being such a pleasure to chat with, and for everything! I will be back for the burger and the dessert next time soon. Huge congrats on this new gem! -Didi read more