My party of four visited during Taste of Oakville, and in hindsight, the evening foreshadowed…read moreitself early -- the restaurant's website was down with a 404 error, and we kept finding two different addresses (one apparently their old location). We eventually found it. Upon arrival, the door swung open and struck a seated guest -- a sign of just how small the space is. The restaurant was full except for one four-top (clearly ours), and we stood awkwardly in the entrance -- which is essentially inside the dining room -- waiting to be acknowledged. When greeted, we were asked if we had a reservation. We said yes. "Table for eight?" we were asked, which felt impossible given the size of the room. We clarified four, and were pointed to the only open table. No name was requested; we realistically could have just walked in and taken it. The space is starkly lit with aggressive bright white lighting that feels more clinical than cozy. The artwork is interesting and gives a gallery-like feel -- it seems the restaurant is aiming for a downtown Toronto wine bar aesthetic, but it doesn't quite land. Our table was missing water glasses, and the stemware was mismatched -- not in an intentional, charming way, but more in a "we ran out" way. Once seated, we weren't acknowledged or offered water for nearly 20 minutes. Not rushing guests is one thing; leaving them feeling forgotten is another. When our server finally arrived, the service set the tone for the evening. One glass of water was poured before he realized another was missing. He disappeared, returned with a glass, inspected it mid-pour, then walked away again (dirty glass). After several more trips and long gaps, everyone eventually received water -- about 15 minutes later. He was polite and friendly, just clearly untrained. He shared that the owner is also the sommelier, cook, and server, and that he liked working there because he wasn't expected to know much about wine -- an interesting admission for a wine bar. The owner greeted us warmly but asked only one guest about wine preferences -- ironically the only non-wine drinker at the table. The concept appeared to be sommelier-led, though this was never explained. If that is the intention, engaging the entire table is essential. That said, the wines themselves were enjoyable; the service surrounding them was not. The Taste of Oakville menu promised three curated 3-oz pours paired with a charcuterie board for two. The pours arrived unevenly and slowly, with little explanation of the pairings. The charcuterie boards were plain and inconsistent between tables despite containing similar items -- basic fruit, crostini, simple cured meats, small portions of brie, and two slices of truffle cheese. No crackers, spreads, or thoughtful touches elevated the experience, and presentation varied noticeably. Our second wine pour didn't arrive until our mains, and service moved so slowly we requested a wine list to order a bottle. We were told there is no wine list -- "we're not that kind of restaurant." Instead, all reds are $80 and all whites $70, and the owner selects the bottle for you after asking only red or white. The concept might work if explained upfront; without context, it was confusing. At one point, noticing my empty glass, our server poured me a random red -- which turned out to be the same wine as our first pour -- and then left without serving anyone else. We had to remind staff we were still waiting for our second curated pour. Nothing about the experience felt curated. The most surprising moment of the night came when our mains arrived. As we lifted our appetizer plates -- still holding olive pits, fruit rinds, and crumbs -- the servers told us not to worry about clearing them and proceeded to place our main dishes directly on top of the used plates. I'm still shocked. I wouldn't do that at home, let alone expect it at a Lakeshore, or quite frankly, any restaurant. Two of us ordered the tagliatelle, which was tasty but contained only two small pieces of short rib -- and was difficult to enjoy while staring at discarded rinds beneath the plate. The other two ordered brisket sliders: two sliders, no sides. They tasted good but left diners hungry. One guest joked they kept thinking the fruit rinds were fries -- unfortunately accurate. We tried to make the best of the evening, but it never delivered the cozy wine-and-charcuterie experience we had anticipated -- dim lighting, thoughtful pairings, something special. After finishing our meal, we requested our bills and reminded staff we were still waiting for the third curated pour. We were told "five minutes." Those five minutes never came. Eventually, wanting simply to leave, we paid a single combined bill and sorted it out ourselves. Dinner for four totaled $460. This was not the boutique Lakeshore dining experience we expected, and ultimately, it was deeply disappointing.

As an Oenophile, I was excited to check out The Wine Bar in my neighbourhood. The door was open, In…read morewalked in at 4:55 to be "Greeted" by the Owner, "We don't open till 5 o'clock".......Attitude from the get go. I looked at the menu, interesting but very pricey for the offering. I looked at a row of wine bottle partially open and simply corked, no nitrogen or air extraction.....no telling how long the wine had been "Breathing"....Days? I am puzzled by the discrepancy 5 Star vs 1 Star reviews. I have no confidence in the 5 star reviews....Friends?...Self reviewed? No serious wine enthusiast would visit this establishment...bad attitude, poor value, insufficient wine care and presentation.

Nice quiet spot for some Spanish tapas. Food was good although it may not seem like it at first…read more Owner was very nice and cooked with a lot of love. Atmosphere was nice but on the quieter side

Staff was lovely and we were greeted and sat quickly. Was…read morehoping it'd be great but we were disappointed. We ordered one of the pre selected tapas menus, as the variety was huge. Food, was ok. Portion size was what you'd expect for tapas but far too greasy and underwhelming.

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!

This must be the place!…read more Our first trip to Toronto and boy did we have fun. From delicious food to sipping wine, and everything in between, Toronto was a city to explore. Ladybug Wine Bar is a cute but also sophisticated wine bar located on King Street, steps away from shopping and restaurants. We stopped in here on a snowy Sunday before our flight home. They also serve Sunday Brunch. We grabbed a few open seats at the comfy bar. They do not offer wine flights, which made this experience pretty darn expensive but SOOOO worth it. We had such a fun time and the people working were so nice, we honeslty did not want to leave. They were willing to help with our selections. We actually ordered all their Reds by the glass. I know, but there were only about 6 and we had to try them all. I like to say "go big or go home" LOL! We loved almost all except for maybe a few. We ended up also ordering a charcuterie while we sip. And of course I brought a bottle home with me. If you are ever in Toronto, please check out Ladybug wine bar, it is fantastic, you won't want to leave. Cheers!

A Hidden Gem for Brunch!!…read more I came here with 3 of my girlies that love brunch. Everything we ordered was fresh, light, and absolutely delicious. We started with some drinks which were super affordable compared to other brunch places. The espresso martinis weren't too sweet and had the perfect balance. As for the dishes the standout for me was the smoked salmon toast. The combination of the eggs, fresh dill, and sliced salmon on top of toast was so yummy. Service was nice and the place was cozy/bright. Highly recommend this spot for a girls' brunch or casual date.

Cute wine bar!…read more Extensive list of wine by the glass available and bottles for purchase. The staff was super helpful and knowledgeable in their recommendations. The space is laid back and unpretentious. A glass will run around $17 but good opportunity to try wines you usually can't get from LCBO. More space available in the patio (heated and slightly insulated in a tent.

Cute wine bar with patio in the back. $20 corkage fee. It's a bar only service and you seat…read moreyourself. Will definitely be coming back here.

Cool neighbourhood spot. 15 dollar cocktails, good menu, paper planes, negroni's, old fashions,…read moreespresso martinis, all the core ones every good cocktail bar should have. I think it's also a cafe during the day. They had a live DJ playing some Berlin type music not too loud which was a nice touch. There is some seating space in front of the patio, and next to the building to hang out. Tall beer cans and cocktails are 7-8 bucks which is a good deal. They have some non-alcoholic beers too which is nice. Inside has that cool vintage hipster Berlin feel to it. No cover, no lineups, just a nice local neighbourhood bar near the bridge and a bunch of other autoshops. Was walking back from an art gallery and we just literally stumbled upon it and sat down for a catch up drink. I feel like Toronto needs more places like this. Quiet neighborhood bars with a nice selection of music, quality cocktails, not too expensive, no lines ups. Nice slightly mature place for people to catch up and have a drink without having to venture heavily into the Dundas West bar scene where it's way more hectic. Probably fits like 20 people so it's nice and intimate. Kind of reminds me of some of the bottle shops in Montreal where you can either drink it there and vibe or take it to the park right next to it. Place has some character to it. Would like to see it have a good solid run in Toronto's independent bar scene and be supported by the neighborhood. Next time I'm back I'll try out the cocktail menu and see if that's fire too. Can selection was interesting. I got a fruit punch vodka seltzer with 2 grams of sugar which was good. LBGTQ+ friendly but open to anybody really. Still has that cool Dundas West OG grunge premium dive bar feel all the hipsters like me enjoy. Keep up the great work Tommy!

We were walking past it and decided to take a look. Turns out it was wine bar with some unique…read morecollections not available in LCBO. We tried a cocktail and white wine. I asked for something on the sweeter side and the server was very helpful in recommending an option. We both enjoyed our drinks sitting on bench outside while taking a break during our evening stroll. Cute, chill place - a hidden gem.

My favourite local spot on Main Street to hangout. This gem is truly one of a kind - I love the…read moreself serve wine concept. It gives you the opportunity to be introduced to new, different wines. They have happy hour menu during the week - their charcuterie boards are phenomenal. I'll try their sandwiches next! Owners are welcoming and friendly.

Not so much a wine bar as basecamp for a journey…read more The highlight of this hidden gem is its unique self-serve system, where you can try a variety of wines by the glass, portion or sip. This allows you to experiment and discover new favourites without committing to a full bottle. You may not like everything you try, but it's always INTERESTING. The selection of wines at Wine on Main is always rotating and expertly curated, offering a range of styles and regions that wonderfully move you out of your comfort zone. The owners, a knowledgeable and curious couple, are passionate about exploring different wines and sharing their discoveries with their guests. Their passion is contagious and you can't help but be swept up in their excitement. The best shop of it's kind in York Region.

Bar Niro is a hidden gem on Dundas! A warm, welcoming embrace amidst the busy life in Toronto…read more Stepping into Bar Niro feels like a Roman getaway straight to l'ora d'aperitivo. "A ritual centered around gathering over small bites and pre-meal drinks," is how they describe themselves. I discovered them on their 1-year anniversary. Live jazz music from a 3-piece band greeted me upon arrival. The bartenders were warm and congenial, and welcomed me with a celebratory glass of Moet in honor of the occasion. I ordered a perfectly chilled gin martini with olives. Expertly mixed and perfectly poured, the lead bartender (MJ) surprised me halfway through my drink when he swapped my glass for a fresh ice-cold replacement. Truly top notch, I've never experienced this before. The small bites included freshly-baked focaccia served with imported Italian olive oil, thinly sliced prosciutto (sliced in house) & Castelvetrano olives. The Ubriaco al Prosecco from Veneto & Manchego from Spain were standouts. Finally, my Negroni nightcap was superbly bitter and expertly balanced. I loved my experience so much, I returned the next night and discovered another live jazz band warming up when I entered. I ended up losing track of time amidst the good energy and superb cocktails. It genuinely felt like I was back in Italy. Tell all your friends, Bar Niro is the local Italian home away from home. I cannot wait to return with friends & family!

We have chosen this restaurant as our mom-daughter date night for Winterlicious. It's priced at the…read moretop tier ($75/ person) for Winterlicious, we had quite an expectation prior to the evening. Here's what we tried: I ordered the French Kiss cocktail before the food, and it was such a treat--fruity, refreshing, and balanced without being too sweet. I was sipping it throughout and honestly, it's a palate cleanser between each dish. Lobster Crab Cake- the perfect start to the meal. Crispy on the outside, soft and full of flavour on the inside, and the tangy sauce paired well with the flavour profile of the dish. Not too heavy to start off the meal. Tuna Tataki- the tuna was seared to perfection and still had a little chew to every bite. The light sweet dressing brought everything together without overpowering the natural flavours of the tuna. At first, I thought the sauce was a bit too sweet, but if I had the tuna together with the guacamole in each bite, it actually brought out the flavours of the tuna. For the main, my mom picked the duck leg confit. The duck was so tender it practically fell off the bone! The skin was perfectly crispy, and it came with fettuccine tossed in a rich truffle oil sauce and some mushrooms, you could smell the truffle from a mile away! It felt like pure comfort food with a touch of elegance. As for myself, I picked the Cast-Iron Steak Frites. This steak was was cooked to a perfect medium rare, with a beautiful crust from the cast iron and a juicy, tender center. The fries were freshly fried to golden, and crispy. Though the menu said the fries were tossed with rosemary, we couldn't taste anything except plain golden crsipy fries. But that garlic mayo on the side? Totally made up for that- with real garlic in the mayo, it was creamy, flavourful, and the perfect dip for those fries. For the dessert, we picked the tiramisu and creme brulee. The tiramisu was creamy, not too sweet, and with just the right hit of espresso. It was such a comforting and indulgent way to end the meal. Though it could definitely worked on the appearance. It looked like as if it was scooped out from a giant spoon and the chef just plop it on the plate. The vanilla crème brûlée had that perfect crackly caramelized top, and the custard underneath was silky smooth and full of vanilla flavour. Simple, classic, and what a satisfying way to wrap up the meal. And you don't have to worry about the parking situation, Palace Pier offers complimentary valet parking for those who dine at the restaurant, and it was such a thoughtful touch that made the night even more special. If you are looking for a great date night spot, I can't recommend Velouté Bistro enough with great food, cozy vibes, and amazing service. We'll definitely be back!

Veloute seems to be more of an amenity for the residents of the condo which was where it was…read morelocated in. There is parking there, but finding the restaurant itself was a bit challenging as you need to through a bunch of hallways and elevator to get there. Luckily the concierge in the lobby was very helpful in guiding you there. The restaurant looked very dated and comprised of a few separate dining areas. I sat in the main dining area towards the back which had a 70's solarium feel, but it was comfortable, too bad it wasn't high enough to enjoy the lake views. My friend and I had the lobster & crab tien which was good and nicely plated. I had the baked salmon in parchment paper which was extremely disappointing. The menu was very descriptive, but what I was served was an over cooked salmon with small side of veggies and a dollop of mashed potatoes. It reminded me of banquet food and the presentation was disappointing, it was nothing special and definitely not worth half of what they were charging. Someone at the next table ordered the same thing and asked the waiter to open and remove the parchment paper for him. My friend ordered the chicken Rossini, which was also resembled banquet food and was nothing special. It was overly described on the menu and there was nothing that resembled or tasted of foie gras parfait (seems like this is a problem they have been having for years based on the reviews here). Definitely nowhere near the $38 they were charging. For dessert I had the lemon meringue cake which was nothing to talk about while my friend had the no-bake blueberry cheesecake which was exactly how it sounds, though it was decent it was not memorable. The guests there seem to be mostly residents of the condo so it seems like they cater to them, more like a glorified cantina. The waiter was pushing the steaks which looked really good and a better value but neither of us eat red meat, unfortunately. The service throughout my meal was excellent, which I give an extra star for. I wouldn't really consider Veloute a fine dining restaurant and there are many other restaurants with excellent food at a better value out there.

A group of us came here for lunch during a weekend trip to Grimsby. It's around the time of peach…read moreharvest so the restaurant is offering special peachy menu currently. The restaurant had really nice renovations and service was attentive. For lunch, I tried Caesar salad, baked mushroom and mushroom pizza. The salad and mushroom were okay. Not wowing but with okay quality. The mushroom pizza had a sweet teriyaki like sauce and blue cheese toppings. The flavour was on the heavier side, but I enjoyed it very well. Expect $35+ per person for lunch here.

Leanne was amazing. She runs an incredible restaurant. The space is very comfortable. We sat…read moreoutside and she turned the heaters for us. We only had an app, cowboy caviar which was great & a drink each but Leanne couldn't have been more gracious. On a busy Friday evening she spent time speaking with us. The drinks were tasty, prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend giving this place a try!