Recently went to Alobar for a birthday. I have actually been to this restaurant a few times before…read more The restaurant itself is quite comfortable, with an elegant decor and ambiance. My only problem is that they don't have enough lighting, so it tends to get quite dark (hence my lack of good pictures). The wait staff is accommodating, but they have forgotten to bring side dishes on two separate occasions I have visited. Also, on one occasion they started to clear a plate before we were done with it, which was annoying. The food is quite good. I particularly enjoy the bread, prawns, and mille-feuille dessert (has a nostalgic element for me as it tastes like an elevated Passion Flakie which I would have as a child). I had the lamb saddle as a main on my most recent visit which had good flavour, but was a bit too chewy. Overall, Alobar is a good choice for dinner, but has a few flaws which holds it back.

It's gone downhill since it opened. I used to love this spot and it's been a few years since I've…read morebeen and the wobbly table was a good indication it wasn't same as before. Even at aloette they would have tried to fix the table for us. Dinner was fine, but nothing stellar where I would want to come back. They were polite and nice but never took in consideration my friend was having. Scotch and always want to take the glass away without asking him if he is finished. It's dark in there, I get it but just ask instead of reach in and assume he's finished and you can clear the table. He ordered more than 2 of these and a glass of wine. They can be more professional. Oh they were nice to sneak a birthday candle with my dessert when my friend told them it's my bday. Still professional on that note being attentive

Love this place! It's amazing for live entertainment. They do comedy, magic shows & even live band…read morekaraoke here. I haven't been for karaoke but have seen comedy and magic plus a live Michael Jackson impersonator performance. The staff is amazing especially Steve and Khel. I got to meet one of the owners (Dave) yesterday & he is going to do a hypnosis show on December 17th! Can't wait! The only reason why I deducted a star is because they have gotten their organization to a tee yet. We ordered their nachos yesterday & watched it being brought out and back twice as they couldn't figure out which table ordered it so by the time it finally arrived, the cheese was cold and hard & melded everything together so it was difficult to separate (had to literally stab the pile with a fork). I also asked for a separate bill in the beginning as we were 2 couples but that did not happen. I asked for it to be corrected and told her exactly what we had but it still came back incorrect. I just paid for my friend's beer, no biggie. I'm sure they will get better with time and getting used to extremely busy nights which is what I'd like to see. The people (staff) there is the reason why it has easily become my favorite place! Also without having to drive all the way downtown and find/pay for parking.

With its infancy comes growing pains, which stemmed from a malfunctioning printer, so the kitchen…read moreand bar weren't aware they were receiving orders. Ultimately, this resulted in a 20-minute wait for drinks and over an hour wait for food, during a July visit. At first, we didn't mind waiting for food as their martinis ($15 each) were so satisfying. The French martini was dangerously smooth thanks to the sweet Chambord and pineapple juice mixed with the vodka, a lovely summery drink. The Lychee Loves Lips martini was a bit stronger with the addition of lychee liqueur to the vodka. Although, I was a little disappointed to a lemon slice garnishing the drink instead of lychee. Even a canned lychee would really add to the experience. As much as we loved the drinks, after waiting 45 minutes, we finally asked someone to check on the food. It was then they discovered the kitchen hadn't received our order and quick fired a complimentary bruschetta (not offered on their regular menu) to keep us satisfied while our meal was being prepared. We were thankful to have something to tie us over. I imagine they were rushing to send out food as the frito misto ($19) needed better draining to remove the excess oil and create a crispier flour coating. At least they were well seasoned, and the first bites super crispy and wonderfully hot. Being a frito misto, or a mixture of fried seafood, ideally the appetizer should contain more than a few shrimps. Alternatively, Jokers should consider dropping the scant crustacean and relabel this as fried calamari instead. With two simple tweaks, the burger ($19) could shine as it was tasty and incorporated fresh ingredients. Firstly, cook the beef to medium so the thick patty isn't so hard. Otherwise, if pink beef is not in the cards, chefs should form looser patties (so they are less dense) or switch it up and use two thinner patties instead. Secondly, nix the romaine (or at least the rib portion of the lettuce leaf) as the hard and uneven surface area causes the patty to slip and soft brioche bun to break. There's a reason why ice burg is so widely used. At least the fries were hot and crispy. My friend noted her steak was cooked to the requested medium rare but had a burnt taste. We figure it stems from two causes: either the pan/grill wasn't properly cleaned between uses (in this case, make sure they are cleaned) or the black pepper sauce covering the steak was burnt. If it's the later reason, to ensure the steak doesn't cool off or overcook, present the steak at the table first and let the customer know the sauce is being prepared again and will be brought separately. I would much rather wait for the sauce than have burnt tasting steak. Hopefully, as the restaurant matures, they will develop stronger front-of-the-house management or staff will become more cognizant of operations and communicate better. Indeed, businesses are reliant on technology, which causes havoc when there are issues, but seasoned personnel can mitigate or reduce the aftereffects. For example, I'm surprised it took us checking on our food for Jokers to figure out the kitchen wasn't getting orders. When they are approaching a busy dinner period and food isn't being ordered or coming out of the kitchen, shouldn't someone notice - either the kitchen, our server, or management? With the drinks, even after technology issues were resolved, we noticed my friend's second martini sitting at the bar for ~10 minutes before it was finally brought over. Our server was helping serve the Le Petit Chef dinner, but there were other people milling around the bar. Given Jokers operates two venues in one, management needs to be on the lookout for ready-to-serve drinks and food and/or servers need to communicate and ask others to cover when they are serving during Le Petit Chef periods.

The Fifth & Terrace has such a great vibe, especially in the evening. The rooftop setting adds…read moresomething special -- relaxed but still a bit elevated. The food was well presented and flavorful, and the service felt attentive without being over the top. It's one of those places that works just as well for a casual night out as it does for something a little more intentional. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I want good food with a view.

We were supposed to host an event here on April 24, 2020 which I cancelled within 14 days of…read morebooking due to COVID-19. My client is contractually due a refund and has not received it, or any correspondence whatsoever, since Mid-March of 2020. DO NOT book events here. I never received the money, 3.5 years later, and gave up trying.

Came here on Mother's day to celebrate my wife as this was the place chosen. Here is what we…read moreordered: Fried Brussel Sprouts - $18 - There's some shaved sprinkled parmesan, bacon. It was tasty, but I find a bit overpriced Sweet Chili Ribs- $21 (5-6 bones or 1lb) - Nice and tender ribs, can't complain except you hope for more. Short Rib Pappardelle- $34 - Really nice portion and generous amount of short rib boneless meat. Pasta was cooked nicely and coated nicely with the sauce Hunter's Half Boneless Chicken- $27 - It says boneless on the menu, but we found a bone from the drunstick attached to half chicken. Comes with veggies and mashed potato. Chicken was cooked nicely. Ube Cheesecake- $16 - Nice different taste profile from traditional Overall the food portion, quality is there, but pricing on some items are a bit high.

Not a lot of great options in the Pickering area yet for foods, but we stumbled across The Social…read moreBar & Lounge. For those who are familiar, this is very similar to Smash Kitchen vibes. Menu is a tad over priced, but I can't deny it tastes good. Not overly salty or oily as bar food often is, and I actually really enjoyed their pasta. It's definitely a great place to go for a bit of a splurgy night with friends where you're prepared to pay $20-40 per person. I like it for a date night to have some heavier foods that I wouldn't want to try cooking at home. The short rib pappardelle was the best. I love the flavour and it's not too crazy heavy, even though it looks really creamy. It has very beef stew type vibes. The chicken wings were well cooked and still moist. I think it was too much flavour going on though. You LOVE the first and even second wing. But by the third one, I felt like it was getting too heavy. I know though that a lot of people love that and can't get enough of it. I personally don't like too much of any one thing. The brussel sprouts I felt the same. It's really yum for the first few bites but it gets really heavy after a while. I think it's really fun to have the appetizers and share a main with someone. The foods are a bit heavier, more of a flavour bomb, but everything is executed well and the staff are really nice! We've even done take out and the portions were very much the same.

I've been to Cherry's High Dive a handful of times, but each time I've gone it's been a great and…read morememorable experience. The dive bar kind of has more of a rustic, casual vibe, with the crowded hustle and bustle of the servers carrying food. The main walkway used to find indoor seating and bathrooms is a tight squeeze, and it's only really one way traffic to get around the dive bar. The food is great, with moderately quick wait times and fair pricing. The fries are really good, and so are the mozzarella sticks-- the cheese pull is so worth it!! If you're looking for a chill night out with friends, with a homey ambiance and food that's more than worth the price, Cherry's is a great option!

A really cool and unique spot! Love the vibe and perfect place to hang out to watch a game, play…read morepool, and eat. They even had a Photo Booth! Food - 4.1/5 - Smash burger with curly fries - it was a pretty good smash burger. I'd get it again, for sure. The curly fries really hit too. The pizza looked amazing and loved how it was a thin crust - would try that next time! Ambiance - 5/5 - Many screens to watch sports games, high top table booths, a bar area, and just overall a vibe! Perfect vibe for what it's meant for. Service - 5/5 - Friendly and fast service!

Good foods and cozy atmosphere. Good service. A great place to have friend's and family gatherings.read more

This is a fantastic Italian restaurant! Loved the ambiance, comfy chairs and impeccable service…read more Our server was so personable, warm and helpful. The Food: the menu is small but mighty! Shrimp Oreganata App and Caesar salad were delicious. Seafood Risotto was one of the best I've ever tasted. Packed with flavor and topped with a lot of fresh seafood. The chicken piccata was also delectable. Our kids ate every bite of their fresh pastas and the Tiramisu was delightful. Thanks for making my wife's birthday a memorable evening! Next Toronto trip, we will be back!

Phenomenal!!! Hands-down, the best food and experience we had while visiting Toronto. We did the…read morefood tasting in the cave below, and it was worth every penny. All of the courses were perfectly prepared and delicious. My favorite was the short rib course and the strawberry sorbet. The Service was super friendly and efficient. Our waitress was hilarious and down on earth and made us feeling super invited. Everyone was knowledgeable about the courses and wine, and enlightened our experience. The cave is beautiful, and the ambience was very chill. They were also playing some great R&B music which added to the vibe. Pictures do this place no justice.

And/ore below tasting menu was one of the most unique, classy dining experiences I've ever had. The…read morecool, dark cave with ambient low lighting really allowed us to be fully immersed in the food. Our waiter was incredible. So approachable and took the time to explain each dish.

I've been wanting to try LOUIX LOUIS for the longest time, so when the opportunity came up to visit…read moreduring Summerlicious, I knew I had to finally check it out. Located on the 31st floor of the St. Regis Hotel, the restaurant has an incredible atmosphere. The dining room is absolutely stunning with a classy and luxurious feel, but it still feels comfortable and inviting rather than too formal. We started the evening with cocktails before moving into the Summerlicious menu. I ordered the "I Only Drink When I Smoke," which was a great way to start the night. It had a subtle smoky flavour with a touch of sweetness, and the alcohol was not overpowering at all. It was smooth, easy to sip on, and the perfect drink to enjoy while having conversations. For my Summerlicious menu, I started with the Tartare de Boeuf and Caviar. The filet mignon tartare was fresh and really smooth, with a nice balance of rich and savoury flavours. The toasted bread also gave it a nice crunch and paired really well with the tartare. For the main course, I had the Roasted Chateaubriand Filet. When the plate was served, the meat looked really rare as I saw nothing but red on the meat, but it was incredibly tender, making it easy to cut through. It was full of flavour, and the sauce complemented the steak without being too heavy or salty. The vegetables added a nice balance to the dish, and the creamy mashed potatoes were smooth, and definitely one of my favourite parts of the meal. To finish, I had the Mango Passionfruit Cheesecake. It was creamy without feeling too heavy. Though the fruity flavours from the mango passionfruit were a bit tart and sweet for my palate, it still gave an overall refreshing touch. The crust added a nice texture, and it was the perfect ending to the meal. Beyond the food, what really stood out was the service and pacing of the evening. Each course arrived at the right time, allowing us to enjoy every dish without feeling rushed. The price point is definitely on the higher end, so it is not somewhere I would personally visit for a casual dinner on a regular basis. However, for a special occasion, celebration, or a night where you want to enjoy a beautiful dining experience, I think Louix Louis would be a great choice... and for $75/ person for Summerlicious/ Winterlicious, definitely a great value to sample the chefs' artistry. Overall, it was a memorable evening with an elegant atmosphere, thoughtfully prepared dishes, and great service. I can definitely understand why this spot has become such a popular destination, and I would love to come back again for Winterlicious!

Perched high above the bustle of downtown Toronto, LOUIX LOUIS makes a compelling first impression…read more The dining room is genuinely handsome -- a study in polished Art Deco glamour softened by sweeping city views that lend every table a sense of occasion. On a Valentine's Day brunch visit, the atmosphere alone was enough to justify the reservation. The kitchen demonstrates genuine competence: dishes arrive with care, the pacing is unhurried, and the mise en scène -- from tableside presentation to that now-famous thirteen-layer chocolate cake -- reveals an establishment that understands the theatre of fine dining. That towering slice of chocolate cake, in particular, is a masterstroke of marketing and pastry craft in equal measure; it draws the eye, earns its reputation, and very nearly steals the show. Where LOUIX LOUIS gives one pause is in the cuisine's ability to fully match its surroundings. The cooking is accomplished and reliably pleasant, yet seldom rises to the level of genuine distinction one might hope for at this price point. Dishes satisfy without surprising; technique is evident but inspiration, at moments, feels held in reserve. For the corporate traveller or the visitor seeking a polished, geographically convenient showcase of the city's skyline, this represents an entirely sound choice. For those seeking an experience whose flavours linger as long as the view, the kitchen has room yet to grow into its magnificent stage. Service is attentive and well-intentioned, though it can occasionally want for the depth of knowledge that elevates a good meal into a memorable one. LOUIX LOUIS is, in sum, a very good restaurant striving -- not quite yet arriving -- at greatness. The bones are exceptional; one hopes the culinary vision will, in time, catch up with them.