My friends and I have been meaning to try Inspire out for awhile, and we finally were able to do so. I ordered chicken and waffles for main and their pokē salmon bowl for appetizer. Since the pokē bowl was only an appetizer, it was expected that it would be small, but for $13 I do not know if I'll do it again, because I have had better pokē bowls elsewhere. None the less, it was still fairly well made. As for the chicken waffles, I will more than likely go back just for that. IT. WAS. SO. GOOD. Something about the spicy berry compote with the ginger maple and the waffles made me want to lick the plate. I definitely recommend this place for their chicken and waffles, my friends also got the INSP burger which looked and tasted really good too - so if I do ever come back I'll probably try different things on their menus. If it's one thing you have to keep in mind before going it would be making reservations especially if you're a big group because it's not a huge restaurant. read more

Inspire Restaurant - Chicken waffles - the waffles were a bit soggy after all the photo taking but it was still good! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Oh finally and awesome brunch place in Markham! Everything here is uniquely made and has a fusion/creative touch to it! The service is very friendly the two times I've been here and food is excellent. The pulled pork frites are a must try and the chicken and waffles are a must as well! Everything else that I've had there has been very tasty as well. Their INSP burger was a bit on the oily side but I'm very picky about how my bun is after the meat touches it and I personally found it a bit too oily and soggy for my liking. However, everything has been absolutely delicious. I definitely want to come back here to try dinner at some point. read more

came back here with my boyfriend for dinner and was slightly disappointed. Panko EggScobar ($10) Mashed devil egg topped with chopped pork, bacon, and tobiko mixed in Soy mayo. The chef accidentally mixed it in mayo instead of Soy Mayo so they took this item off our bill which was nice and I appreciate their honesty as I personally wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between Soy mayo and normal mayo. The toppings didn't have much flavor, or at least the flavors didn't blend well - nothing special. Essentially the egg was like a fried boiled egg with bread crumbs on the outside - i would have expected the yolk to be mashed but not fully formed so that was disappointing. Overpriced considering the whole dish really is just one egg, $10 for a boil egg...? Double Bacon Cheesecake Burger ($20 + $4 for Duck Confit Fries) They had me at cheesecake. Quite innovative and interesting for them to add a layer of matcha cheesecake into their prime beef burger, topped with bacon bringing in a sweet and savory taste. However, don't think it translated too well. Not sure if it was because it was a matcha flavored cheesecake, it wasn't too sweet and you could rarely taste the cheesecake flavor in each bite. The fries were disappointing. I remember last time I came the fries were amazing, but this time it lacked flavor. Not to mention the sauce on the top was just a tiny drizzle. This dish definitely sounded better than it tasted. Cry me a River ($35) This was probably the best dish of the night. It was like a large bowl of seafood stew flavored in butter ginger coconut. The flavor of the stew was really good - really rich in flavor and quite sweet because of the coconut. Tasting the soup alone is a bit much, so having bread on the side to dip it in was nice. Lots of fresh seafood including shrimps, mussels, octopus, salmon, baby scallops and raw uni. Quite generous on their portions which made it more worth the price. read more

More like a 4.5. Inspire is a the type of restaurant that I would see downtown and wish that it existed in the GTA. Well Inspire was my dream come true offering excellent and creative asian fusion dishes at reasonable prices given their prime location at Markham main street. I came with a group for lunch and I ordered the far east burger and upgraded to duck confit fries. The burger was cooked to medium (waitress was kind enough to let me know in case I didn't like my meat pink) and came with pineapple mango mayo. I always loved the combo of sweet and salty and this burger was not exception. I did wish that the mango in the mayo would stick out more though. Also duck confit fries leaned a bit on the salty side but was good nonetheless. I also mooched off of my mom's chicken and waffles and it was delicious! Chicken was crispy on the outside and super moist and juicy on the inside. Waffle was well made and the ginger maple just brought the whole dish together. Glad to have found a good chicken and waffles joint up in the burbs. Will definitely return for lunch and possibly dinner too if I feel like treating myself to a great meal! read more

Perfect spot for brunch! Took awhile to get our food but service was great otherwise and food was delicious

The food is still pretty good, but it feels a bit like they are struggling to keep up with their capacity (it isn't that big inside). There was at least a 30-45 minute wait between when our party of three sat down and when we got our first dish. They cut a few corners, like removing the dried/fried (I have no idea what it is) bananas that used to be on top of the banana bread french toast. It's a shame because that's what made the dish look awesome. It still tastes really good, but it looks very plain. They've since updated their menu and got rid of the ambiguous "After Lunch" and "Before Dinner" categories, which is great news because what were they even thinking. The food is still really great though and that's the most important part. read more

Summary: Inspire Restaurant is Asian fusion done right. The menu is extremely creative. The food delivers the fusion promise. It's innovative, creative, yet simple. One of the most palatable experiences available on the Northeast end. Value: 3/5 Quality of Food: 5/5 Cleanliness/Atmosphere: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Innovation: 5/5 Overall: 4.3 Value: There's not much to be said of value. The price range is fair, but it's not cheap nor expensive. The servings sizes are fair but not large nor small. There aren't a lot of special deals available. Quality of Food: The most impressive thing about Inspire is the dishes the chefs have created. The INSP burger, the Chicken & Waffle, and the pulled pork Frite just to name a few, have left a big impression on me. Cleanliness/Atmosphere: Despite being small, the dining experience rarely feels crowded, but borders cozy. The place is very clean and well lit. Decorations are modern. A flat screen TV hangs above the bar showing loops of a fireplace. It is a pleasant experience. Service: Service here is excellent. Waiters and waitresses are flexible to seating requests. Despite not having reservations one time, the waitress was very accommodating and offered us alternatives to simply waiting. Innovation: Being a fusion restaurant, innovation is a huge factor. In the case of Inspire Restaurant, it is a huge positive factor. What i'm most impressed by their dishes is always the simplicity. The idea behind fusion food is of course, the combination of two worlds. The purpose is to create new from the old. This means at least double the possibilities. Yet in the mist of all those choices, Inspire manages to keep things simple, and easy to appreciate, all the while demonstrating utmost creativity. read more

First time at this location. Dam it was amazing! my number one western food by far. INSP burger was fantastic! full of surprise! will be back next week, bring some friends! read more

I signed up right now just to write this review, because this is very poor service. Let me state that we had reserved the spot at 8:30pm. We came a bit early and waited which was fine. We didn't mind. It was my friends' birthday and came here to treat him based on the reviews. The main reason we came here was for chicken waffles. They gave us the menu and we ordered beer. Started drinking. 10 minutes later they asked if we were ready to order. We said yes and then before we were about to order, she mentioned after we started drinking beer that they ran out of chicken waffles and fish and chips..... We came here for chicken and waffles. They could've told us this before we started to buy our beer. Or even we were waiting outside in the cold weather. They could avoided this by letting customers know when they walk in. Or put up signs. This is ridiculous. We had to pay for beer. Did not apologize or compensate us for inconvenience they have caused. I would never come back here again. This is the worse experience I ever had at a restaurant. If I can give no stars, I would. Jeez. read more

First to start off the place is really small. I wanted to try this place for a long time so finally I came. I had the inspire burger with duck Confit fries. The burger was so crispy with a spicy kind of sauce and it was seasoned perfectly. The fries were probably one of the best fries I ever had in my life. They actually had duck meat in them. It is bit on the pricey side but the food was absolutely delicious. I like the fusion kind of concept definetly make reservations if you will go to this place. read more

Inspire was recommended to me by a few locals who live in Markham. The restaurant is located on a cute street that has a very date like vibe that you can walk along and enjoy the weather! On the weekends there are free street parking so it is really nice. The service was really good! They greeted us right away and showed us to a table of 6 that we reserved. The restaurant is very small and has mainly tables for 2 so we were told we should make reservations. The menu is small and has just the perfect amount of selections so we are not so overwhelmed. Each of us got a different dish and everyone was super pleased! I got the vietnamese beef salad and it was a generous portion. It was fresh and light and the sauce was delicious! Others got the salmon burger, loco moco (amazing), chicken and waffles (one of their signature dishes), udon carbonara and the INSP burger. ALL DELICIOUS! read more

We came here after church for a nice brunch after hearing good things about it online. Inspire serves amazing fusion food - with inspiration from both the east and the west. The location on Markham Main Street is perfect because it's convenient to walk in and then walk out and around after a good eat. Because we came around 1pm on a Sunday, it wasn't very busy - there were two other families in the restaurant besides us. There were four of us and we were able to order from the brunch menu which is only available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 to 3pm. We ordered two starters - the Sweet & Sour Pork (sapporo pork tips, tamarind glaze, apples, and togarashi) and the Pulled Pork Frites (braised pulled pork and sweet shallot aioli on hand cut yukon gold fries). The sweet and sour pork was really good - unlike your typical Chinese takeout. Cripsy, juicy and tangy - a tad bit salty but good nonetheless. The pulled pork frites were an instant favourite among our group - and we all have different tastes. Their fries are the perfect blend of crispy and soft and the flavour was amazing - the pulled pork, the light drizzle of sauce and the crunch and textures made it really good. We ordered one item from the "Think Inside the Bun" section (sandwiches). We got the Korean - grade prime rib steak, kim-chi slaw, and pickled cucumber on a French Baguette. When you order it, it comes with either fries or a salad. We got the fries. The fries are the same kind you'll find in the pulled pork frites but they come drizzled in a sort of kimchi-mayo sauce. The sandwich was very hearty - you can really taste the quality of the meat and the veggies and the baguette made it a well-rounded order. All our other orders came from the Brunch menu. We got the Eggs Bennies, Korean Beef & Eggs, and the "Peking" Corn Pancakes. The Eggs Bennies is: soft poached eggs, butter croissant, honey glazed pork belly, chili hollandaise and bacon hash potatoes. It was really good - hearty flavours that combine for a filling brunch dish. The Korean Beef & Eggs - grade prime beef, sunny side up eggs, and bacon hash potatoes was also really filling with great flavours. I had the "Peking" Corn Pancakes - maple glazed charred jalapenos-filled pancakes, spiced pork belly, and aged cheddar. What drew me to them was the idea of a spicy and sweet combination. The pancakes were really good but I wish they had a side of maple syrup because it got a bit dry. They were also thicker than your average pancake - reminded me of cornbread. I loved this dish - the sweet and spicy flavours went really well together, it was another food experience, and added to that was the aged cheddar and the spiced pork belly making this brunch dish quite the delicacy. I would definitely come here again and I hope that people passing by on Markham Main Street step in to give it a try. The food, its presentation, the atmosphere and the service is amazing. Fusion food at Inspire is a definite must try - classy, fresh, innovative, and, of course, delicious. read more

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WOW! Is all I can say about our experience at Inspire. I've been meaning to try this place for a while and finally found some time to go. From the get go, our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some good suggestions. We ordered everything she told us to. We got the duck fat fries as an appetizer and it was really good. The kimchi aioli really went well with the fries. It set the bar for the rest of dinner. We also got the chicken and waffles as it was highly suggested and the smoked ribs with fried cheese. We didn't know what to expect of the chicken and waffles and were pleasantly surprised with how well the berry compote complimented the well, chicken and waffles. Sweet and savoury done perfectly in one plate. My one complaint is that there were chunks of star anise scattered all over the food and I wasn't a huge fan of getting a bite with some of it. The smoked ribs and fried cheese dish was also superb. The ribs, although not saucy, were super juicy and flavourful. The fried cheese was made in house and super yummy too. Can't wait to bring our friends here and try the rest of the menu :) read more

I've been waiting to come to this location for a while. I finally got in and was Very underwhelmed. Pros: Friendly staff. They're straight up if they can't seat you. None of that come back in an hour stuff. Cons: The location is small. Like very narrow. I tried the Chicken and waffles. I hated it BUT if you like dark meat pieces try it. If I go back(probably won't) I'm going to try the burger, I heard it was good. read more

Super duper impressed with this restaurant. Came here with a group of 7, we had a reservation, they kept it and we didn't have to wait (this doesn't happen as often anymore). Great service, both ladies were super friendly, took our photos happily when asked and we always had our water filled. I ordered the INSP burger, which was DELICIOUS. It was cooked medium (just the way I like) and was super flavorful. I'm a huge fan of having an egg in the burger and I'm glad it came with it. The fries were also very flavourful and they give a HUGE portion. If you haven't been, go make a reso and head on over! read more

Inspire Restaurant - Insp burger - Asian Fusion Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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|| Must Try: Chicken and Waffles, INSP Burger, Udon Carbonara, Pork Carnita Tacos, Duck Taco, Pulled Pork Frites || Rating: (10/10) Food (10/10) Service (9/10) Value (9/10) Ambience (10/10) Presentation ( 10/10) Cleanliness || My Experience: Each experience has somehow managed to best the previous outing to Inspire. What is great about this restaurant is it's continual desire to innovate and improve. Keep some key staples in the menu (outlined above), the restaurant steers away from daily specials, option to have the menu rotates frequently. For brunch, the fusion Eggs Bennie (with Pork Belly and chili hollandaise sauce) and Peking Corn Pancakes are my two favourites. The menu is a tad smaller, but manages to find something right for everyone in the table. For dinner, Chicken and Waffles, INSP Burger and Udon Carbonara are the de facto staples of this establishment, with the tacos and pulled pork frites rounding off the menu. At the time of writing this review, I would recommend the Salmon Poke Puchka and Flower Octopus as appetizers. For the Burgers I would suggest the Pork Belly, Korean or Far East Burgers, as they are a twist on the traditional burger dishes. Aside from the delicious consistent dishes, another standout part of Inspire is the service. Extremely attentive, friendly and helpful, I would rate their servers as one of the best I've ever had. Authentic and hard working, they're the real heroes that easily add an extra star to my rating. With amazing food and quality service, there's no wonder why Inspire is almost always a packed house. Plan ahead and make those reservations or you'll be disappointed! read more

Okay I didn't love this place. Cool vibes, interesting concept but I didn't love the food. Like it was trying to do too much maybe? The mix of flavours didn't appeal to me. Granted I wasn't feeling great to begin with when I came here so when I ordered the chicken and waffles and the chicken came doused in something, it was too much for me and I don't think I had more than a bite. Great for drinks, however if I recall correctly they were quite pricey. Good spot if you're tired of the same old and want to try something new but if you're a traditionalist when it comes to your food, I don't recommend this place. read more

Inspire Restaurant - Asian Fusion Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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Love this place! Good is extremely unique and flavourful! You won't even imagine what kind of spice or sauce they use to make such an authentic, empowering flavor. The chef is extremely creative and top notch. This is a great place for people who are not afraid to try new things and explore their palette. The food is a very healthy option too. Only thing is that it is hard to get a table. You need to reserve in advance as the place is quite small too. read more

In a league of its own. During your orgasmic meal, you feel like you've left the dread of Markham & been transported to somewhere cool. . Trendy interiors matched with its outstanding service, but the real star is the food! Fusion cuisine at its finest...We had the duck tacos, pulled pork poutine & chicken/waffles. All 5 star dishes! This place is EPIC read more

Apparently everyone has been here already time for me to try this place first of all parking was great there's a side lot with lots of spots the restaurant is small but very nice and cozy the server was really nice and friendly always checking on us. We started with duck confit fries very big portion and very good also enjoyed the short ribs for good food definitly worth a try read more

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3.5 star rating here. Came here for lunch with a large group to celebrate two friends' birthdays. I should prefix this review by saying that reservations are strongly recommended at least a few days in advance (more like 2 weeks for our party of 16). The hubby and I attempted one Friday night last autumn to get a table by walking in but were turned away due to the restaurant being fully booked for the night. My first impressions were that the restaurant has a cozy intimate feel. The menu is limited to about 20 items total. I ordered the chicken and waffles with ginger spiced syrup. The chicken pieces (dark meat) were moist but covered in a nicely battered crunchy coating with a bit of heat. The waffles were fairly standard but elevated with the blackberry (?) preserves that were served with with them. If you don't like your chicken too sweet, you can ask for the syrup on the side. While the chicken and waffles were good, I personally prefer the more classic flavour profile of chicken and waffles from places like Dirty Bird in Kensington Market. Despite the fact that I was not wowed with my own meal, I did enjoy the pork sandwich 3 ways that my hubby ordered. The outside of the white sliced bread was toasted in a manner reminiscent of grilled cheese sandwiches, and the pork was flavourful and not dry. This dish came with a choice of fries or salad, or for a small surcharge, you can upgrade to duck confit fries or pulled pork fries. Because of the delicious pork sandwich, my hubby and I agreed that we would like to return here to try some of Inspire's other inspired offerings, like their signature burger and short ribs as is. (11/100) read more

Inspire Restaurant - Chicken & waffles with ginger spiced maple syrup on the side - Asian Fusion Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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I haven't seen a menu this creative and appealing in a long time. This is what fusion cuisine is supposed to look like. You take a traditional dish like fish n chips and add something unexpected like matcha tea. Or you start with spaghetti carbonara as an inspiration and you totally reinvent it using udon instead of pasta. Great job! This place blew me away with their food. But they deliver the whole hip restaurant package complete with cool ambient music, modern artsy decor, pleasant, helpful staff and reasonable prices. Best part is you don't have to drive all the way to downtown Toronto which is where you'd expect to find food like this. read more

Inspire Restaurant - Fish and chips a whole new way. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Hard to get a table, but food is innovative and very good value. The coco raspberry is a must try (cocktail), really good brunch, love the korean beef sandwich. Fries with toppings are good, both the duck and pulled pork. read more

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I really like Inspire's Asian take on comfort food. I had the udon carbonara; the noodles added a different dimension to this classic Italian dish. Chicken and Waffles was also very good, liked the addition of star anise in the syrup! Lastly, we also tried the inspire burger and loved how the patty was very juicy, this also came with fries which were thin and crispy! Reservations recommended! read more

I just ordered the chicken burger from here, and took a big bite, only to realize about 80% of it was completely raw! They were very unaccommodating about making up for this too. Goes without saying, I will never eat from here again, and I warn others to be cautious. Now I have to wait and see if I'm going to be sick... read more

Inspire Restaurant - Raw chicken burger. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Markham, Ontario

SO GOOD! I've tried the chicken and waffles, and the INSP burger a few times. My favourite is the pulled pork fries as a side. The food is very inventive and tasty, plus the restaurant is very pleasant. read more

Fantasy fusion foods, great service and ambiance. Highly recommended. Lettuce Pray, genius.

Came as a group of 5 for lunch. Was definitely impressed. Had the salmon burger and it was good! Would definitely come back to try other dishes on their menu. read more

Inspire Restaurant - Salmon Burger - Asian Fusion Near Me - Markham, Ontario

Wow! Amazing place with amazing food! The servers were nice and the menu had many different things on it. When I say different, I mean things you wouldn't normally see. Squid burgers, duck frites, and a dish with both medium rare steak and fried chicken. Must go guys!!! read more

Inspire Restaurant - Squid burger and duck condit fries - Asian Fusion Near Me - Markham, Ontario

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This hidden away restaurant on Main Street in Markham really surprised me! They take reservations as well, which is good because it was packed. The food was an interesting Asian twist to classic comfort foods. I really liked creative and "inspire"d presentation of dishes! We couldn't resist the fried chicken and waffles with ginger maple sauce. The chicken was juicy dark meat served on a fresh and heavy waffle. You could really taste the ginger in the syrup which complimented the salty chicken nicely. The pulled pork poutine was a good choice of appetizer! The pork was fall apart tender with five-spice seasoning. The seafood pasta was a huge portion! There was lots of seafood, mussels, fresh shrimp, salmon, and the pasta was chewy and perfectly cooked. The INSP burger looked impressive. As for dessert, it wasn't bad but I will probably order something else next time. We had the chocolate tulips with pastry, custard, and fresh berries. Overall, the service was attentive, the food was well...inspired. This place is worth a visit if you live in the Markham area! read more

This was my first time here after hearing and seeing all the great things. We started off with the "Extra Butter" coconut shrimp. This was delicious, I would definitely recommend and re-order. I had the Hanoi Chilled Beef Salad. It was very filling and coming from a Vietnamese background, this dish was very similar to the foods that my mother makes. The beef was nice and tender and cooked to perfection ( nice medium rare). My boyfriend had the Japanese Squid Buffalo Burger. This was something different so we wanted to give it a try. This burger is exploding with a lot of bold flavours and finishes off with some lemongrass notes. If you are not a fan of lemongrass, then I would not suggest getting the burger. My boyfriend does not like lemongrass too much but he did not mind the burger. The service was great. Although there were only two servers, they made sure every table was attended to and got what they needed. I am already planning my next visit back here! read more

My family and I were here during the Victoria long weekend. It's a fairly small restaurant about with only 2 larger tables that seat between 6 to 10 ppl). The rest of the tables are either 2 seaters or table for 4 or less. They had a couple of seats by the bar. I would suggest making reservations. The service was good. The server brought water with mint right away and they came back a couple of times to see if we had any questions. They are known for their gourmet burgers and we were not disappointed with the selection and taste. Our boys (ages 8 and 4) shared a plate of regular hamburger which was still a very good size with regular fries on the side. The meat was very juicy and our 8 year old loved it and cannot wait to have another one. The burgers are server on a cutting board with a piece of paper on the bottom. I had The Insp burger and that was definitely one of the best burgers I have tasted in a long time. The burger came with prime beef, seared pork belly, fried egg, american cheddar and tarragon mayo for $17.00. The sauce was to die for.....I added the duck confit fries on the side for extra $4.00. The fries weren't bad. It wasn't hot enough tho (felt like it was sitting at room temperature for a little while) and I find there should probably be more sauce to top off the fries - they were a tad dry. My hubby had the Inspirer Poulet Hamburger for $16 and he thought it was really good. The fried chicken was juicy. His confit fries were not hot enough either and he wanted more sauce on the fries - maybe some type of gravy or something similar. The ambience is casual and the staff is friendly. We will definitely come back the next time we want a great burger!! read more

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Pretty decor and nice music, face towels in bathrooms to dry hands, overall environment is pleasant. Food is average however, below average even. The place is overrated and very overpriced for the food quality - there is nothing special about it. We had duck confit fries and Korean sandwich. The fries were so salty, it was difficult to swallow. The sandwich was just average, don't see what is "fusion" about it. The chicken with waffles may be considered fusion, but many places serve that, for a better price too. Won't be coming back and won't recommend. read more

A bit hard to find if you're not from the area - there's not a huge sign outside and the door isnt really noticeable, BUT there is a public parking lot literally right beside it. Theyre also located right at the lights so be sure to signal and turn quick. Their ac is on the weak side. And in 40 degree weather like these days you'd expect them to crank it up a bit.. lets just say there was more of a breeze outside than the inside. The restaurant was a bit smaller than I'd expected and there is no patio available. It is a decent size though, and for the area they're in its pretty much what you'd expect for most of the restaurants there. Decor feels almost a bit rustic, with lots of wood furnishings around. Ambience is relaxed but not too casual, and staff are friendly. Their lunch menu isnt huge but it offers what the place is good at, which is what really matters if you think about it. Tried 2 things today: duck taco and their sig Inspire burger. Both were yum! The duck was tender and juicy, not chewy at all. Comes garnished with fried taro and cilantro or parsley (whichever you wanna call it), which adds some unique flavours to the taco. Flavours were also on point and not overly salty. The burger (with your choice of salad or fries) was the perfect size. With the pork neck, it really gave it an Asian feel, which is something different with fancy burgers these days. Prices arent bad but definitely not what you'd expect at Hero's or Wendy's. Keep note of their hrs too - they close for breaks between lunch and dinner. After your meal, why not try going across the street for some gelato. read more

I let it be known that I was scouring the city for a new dining experience. In came a friend raving about Inspire Restaurant; a relatively new restaurant on historic Main Street Markham that apparently served up exceptional meals. I had to investigate. Though there is group seating, the restaurant is not all that large. If you're going to head to Inspire, get a reservation, because I certainly could not just waltz in. When you enter the restaurant you'll likely have the same trouble that I did trying to categorize its interior. It's somewhat dimly lit, with a mellow colour scheme, and decor that you can't really place your finger on. You might even say "inspiring". (I had to. No shame.) When it came to the food, I kept with my current obsession; Chicken and Waffles. The chicken and waffles at Inspire is listed as including: chicken, homemade waffles, spicy berry compote, ginger maple butter, and berries. Though this is accurate, it does not at all explain the unexpected experience of this dish. The thick waffle is served with 3 pieces of chicken that hit the crispiness sweet spot. Not too giving, not too crackling. The waffle has a slightly green colour inside, that I can't really explain, but regardless, its doughy flavour pairs quite well with the spice of the chicken. Things get weirdly special with the spicy berry compote. Like the decor, I can't quite place my finger on what they were going for. You'll taste the sweet berry flavour that matches the syropy waffle theme, but right along with it you'll get a hit of curry-esq Indian flavour that supports the chicken. It was a welcome addition that I would have loved more of. Though I didn't personally have the Dbl Bacon Cheesecake Burger, my friend did, and he loved it. The menu lists grade prime beef, matcha cheesecake, apple wood smoked bacon, pickled onions, and minced picked ginger aioli. Though we both saw cheesecake listed in the ingredients, we were thinking "OK, so they're going to maybe incorporate some cheesecake sweetness into the bun", or "maybe the cheese itself will be cheesecake inspired". Nope! They actually just toss a slice of cheesecake on top of the burger! His words: "Weird", "It actually works!". Get a reservation. Go to Inspire. Try some inventive takes on food that you think you know. But don't go so often that I won't get a reservation ;) read more

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What we had: the chicken and waffles, the INSP burger with duck confit fries, the banana bread ice-cream sandwich Taste: 7/10 Steven's friend recommended this place to us and we had high expectations, so we weren't too impressed with the food here. The chicken and waffles were decent. The chicken batter was seasoned nicely, and it was crisp. There were two things that totally threw me off from this dish: one was this small pile of berry compote that was suuuuuper sour and did not go with anything, and the other was the licorice flavour they added to the waffles/syrup. I know they're trying to be innovative but these flavours totally don't make sense. Steven liked the egg that they put into his burger. The burger needed some cheese and the meat needed some more seasoning. Decent burger. The fries were OK. Banana bread ice-cream sandwich was yummy and great for for sharing. Ice cream was store bought tub ice-cream. Banana bread was made in a waffle shape which was neat. Value: 6.5/10 Chicken and waffles were $16, burger was $15 (+$4 for the duck confit fries), and banana bread ice-cream sandwich was $12. On the pricey side for what we're getting. **Average cost per diner: $29 after tax and tip Service/Convenience: 7/10 Even though their restaurant faces the street and there's a sign, it looks a little inconspicuous especially at night. We had to travel quite a distance and didn't find the taste here worth the travel time. Our service was polite and efficient. There was one server that loved to chat up other patrons but he was very loud and we overheard his conversations even though we did not want to. (The place was small enough already and his voice projects very far.) Would go back? Too out of our way and we'd rather go to Smash, so probably not. Would recommend to friend? Nah, unless they live in the area, we wouldn't recommend any of our friends to drive the distance. Similar places: Smash kitchen & bar **Disclaimer: Average cost per diner constitutes the amount (per person) we eat to get full without drinks. Total cost is usually divided between 2 diners, one of whom can regularly eat 7 slices of XL pizza read more

Overview: Top notch burger, subpar ribs Came here in a Friday night. They were fully booked but 3 seats at the bar were free. Our Waitress was really nice and told us about the menu when asked. We ended up ordering the inspire burger with the $2 add on of the pulled pork fries and the inspire Luau. I must say their burger and fries were top notch. It was juicy, and flavourful and all around a good burger. The luau platter was good aside from the ribs. I was disappointed with how dry and little they were. No bone which is why they were probably dry. Hence 4 instead of 5 stars. But everything else almost made up for it. The cheese fritters, pork belly, taro mash, and panko duck was really good. The sauce on the side made the dish. I have no idea what it was but it was such a good complement. I think the waitress said it was a fennel cilantro Aioli. Lastly we ordered the green tea chili cheesecake. Again, great choice. The cheesecake wasn't overpowering with a hint of green tea. The chili and candied ginger added a great kick. Overall, I would definitely come here again. And with a changing menu how could I not! read more

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Inspire is such a pleasant surprise! You will find Inspire with a little dark entrance along Main St.which isn't initially eye-catching. There is parking along the street as well as in the back of the little plaza. The restaurant is quite small - probably about 15 tables. A reservation is recommended even for small parties as they can get busy, and particularly if you have a larger party. The restaurant is well decorated with warm colours and very comfortable. Regarding the menu - it's not extensive, but boy, all of them sound very delicious. We had a burger with duck confit fries and coconut curry meatballs on rice. I was hesitant because I normally don't particularly crave for rice, but this was very, very savory. The dish comes pretty compact in a little ball so you don't feel like it's a lot of food, but once you start digging in, it never ends. The sauce is done just right so the rice is neither too dry or too saucy. The meatballs are really juicy, and there are little octopus pieces throughout. Just when I thought it can't get any better, I tried some of the duck confit fries, and it's amazing! It is now one of my favourites in the Markham area and I can't wait to come back and try more of their menu! read more

I check this place out on a whim and man I couldn't have chosen better. The duck tacos were some o the best I have ever had.

Wanted to check out a new place for a late brunch and this place did not disappoint. We ordered the Chicken & Waffle with egg, Korean Beef Sandwich, and the INSP burger with cheese. Chicken & Waffle came with a nice crispy waffle with a generous portion of 3 juicy, crispy large chicken pieces (3 whole boneless thighs?), ginger maple syrup, spicy berry compote (could not taste the spice at all but nice nonetheless and not overly sweet), and a fried egg. I really enjoyed this dish but it felt like something was missing... maybe a little kick in the fried chicken or maybe a little thick gravy to contrast further with the sweet and salty - I'm not sure but I would still recommend that you try this though... the amount of juicy protein in this dish is incredible! INSP burger - prime beef, seared pork belly, fried egg, & tomato mayo. I had a bite of this and the prime beef was perfectly cooked and well seasoned; the pork belly had a nice sear without being dry and the tomato mayo was nice. Decent size with fries on the size. Another dish where a little kick (maybe deep fried jalapeños?) would be welcome but still great on its own. This was the first to disappear from our table - it was fully inhaled within minutes! the Korean - prime rib steak and pickled cucumber on a french baguette with duck confit fries... The duck confit fries was a decent size (small bowl worth) and the French baguette was reasonable even though my companion kept raving about how good it was to where they wanted to order seconds but was too full to move. For dessert, we had the Sweet Toffee Pudding with oreo topping (silky and creamy; not overly sweet, with the oreo crumbs adding texture) and the Capt'n Crunch banana bread... not overly sweet; I don't know what I was expecting but it was pretty good... come check it out! read more