My friends and I chose La Plume for a special dinner, as one of us was visiting from the States and this was her last day in Toronto. Unfortunately, our experience fell extremely short of expectations, and we were thoroughly disappointed and embarrassed.
We began with cocktails, but found half of them to be watered down (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails) and difficult to enjoy. Although we have never before sent back drinks, we apologetically requested replacements, which our server reluctantly provided.
The appetizers were unremarkable: the Belgioioso burrata was unseasoned and bland, the tempura shrimp and vegetables were forgettable and lacked distinction. The only enjoyable appetizer was the beef tartare (the only positive aspect of our experience). However, the main courses were even more disappointing. The steak au poivre consisted of an overbearing, excessive coating of whole peppercorns that took away from the rest of the flavours on the plate, making it difficult to enjoy a single bite (literally MULTIPLE whole peppercorns in every bite of the steak). Additionally, the mashed potatoes were unseasoned and gummy, resembling the consistency of boxed instant mashed potatoes. My friends' spaghetti vongole was excessively salty, gnocchi was unseasoned, and the ocean trout was uninspired and lacked refinement.
Unfortunately, our server did not return to check on us after the entrees arrived, leaving us unable to address these issues. Given the high-end pricing, we anticipated a superior dining experience, but instead found the food and service to be below average.
We had hoped for a memorable dining experience to cap off our friend's trip, but instead it became memorable for all the wrong reasons. There are other French restaurants in Toronto that offer better quality food and service at a comparable price point. While we are more than willing to pay a premium for exceptional dining, this experience did not justify the cost. I have always wanted to try the Oliver & Bonacini restaurants, however this visit has left us with a negative impression. The overall restaurant was gorgeous, especially the bar, however due to the service and quality of food, we will not be returning read more