Came here for my partners and I anniversary. Very intimate spot and was welcome with bubbles. They changed their menu to when we went earlier this month though I was excited to try their winter menu. We tried the hamachi crudo and it was really good. The crunch on the pickled celery was really unique and fresh. We shared the duck breast (would've like if the broccolini wasn't chopped up) and the steak & frites is a classic and both dishes were delicious For the dessert, we got the strawberry Mille feuille and it was good. The little bird cocktail was good. Staffs and service were great! read more

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Parquet located at Harbord Village is an intimate French bistro serving French classics. The space is welcoming and inviting with dark wooden features throughout and warm lighting. There is table seating as well as bar seating. Some of the tables in the dining area are banquette seating. The washrooms are not accessible as they are located downstairs. Food wise, the menu is divided into bread and snacks, smaller plates, larger plates, and sides. They also have a weekday prix fixe menu from Tues to Thurs for $50 per person. Beverage wise, they have wines by the glass, beers, cocktails, zero-proof mocktails, and a decent bottle list. There is also a small dessert menu consisting of panna cotta, lemon tart, profiteroles and sorbets. We dined at Parquet on a Friday night where I made reservations ahead of time. There is a 15 min grace period if you are late for your reservation. For a party of 2, there is a dining time of 1 hour and 45 min, which is enforced throughout the evening. We didn't have an issue with the dining time but I know that the table beside us were warned several times that their time there was almost up as their table had another reservation afterwards. When we arrived we were led to our table by the hostess. The restaurant wasn't full but that was okay because the noise level wasn't too noisy and the service was great throughout our meal. I did notice that there was a huge party after we left. The pace of the entire meal didn't feel rushed for us and our food came at the right time. Our waiter was friendly and also made sure to change our plates/cutlery after each course as well as wiped down the table for us. He also quickly folded our napkins every time one of us left to use the washroom. Our waters were also promptly refilled every time by staff. We ordered the following items from the menu to share: - Pain au lait + chicken liver mousse (sherry gelee, cracked black pepper) - $7 for the pain au lait and $9 for the chicken liver mousse - Leek croquettes (leek, bechamel, lemon, comte, and shishito peppers) - $16 - Triangoli pistou (ricotta stuffed pasta, basil, parmesan, charred tomato, hazelnut) - $36 - Steak frites (8oz hanger steak, demi-glaze, cafe de paris butter) - $47 - Glass of Sauvignon Blanc from France - $17 - House lager (Sonnen Hill x Parquet) - $9 All the dishes were well executed and delicious but that house made pain au lait stole the show! Warm fluffy bread with a hint of salt and a side of butter. It was truly heavenly. We added a side of the chicken liver mouse which was smooth and tasty with the sherry gelee. The croquettes were a heavy dish as well but the shishito peppers cut the richness of the filling of the croquettes. The filling was also gooey and smooth. The pasta dish was surprisingly light and refreshing despite the description. There were about 10 pieces of the triangoli in the dish. Lastly, the steak frites was had a huge portion of fries and the steak was cooked perfectly (we had asked for medium rare). We were too full afterwards to have dessert but the desserts looked good as well. Overall, a pleasant and intimate French bistro serving up some well-executed dishes. The pain au lait was definitely a favourite! Service was also great as well. Worth a visit if you are ever in the Harbord Village area (reservations are recommended!). read more

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A Michelin guide restaurant serving French bistro food. Came with a reservation on a weeknight and the spot wasn't too busy at all. Indoor ambiance was nice and quiet, great for dining with some girlfriends. Food was good overall and drinks were even better. Here's what we got: House made pain au lait with chicken liver mousse 3/5 - The chicken liver mousse was okay. It's paired with sherry gelee and cracked pepper. The house made bread however, was fresh and tasty. Steak tartare 3/5 - Didn't quite enjoy this as much as I thought I would. It came with a garlic aioli, pickled shallot and baguette. Good for sharing though. Hamachi crudo 4/5 - Can never say no to a crudo. Served with pickled kohlrabi, radish, red onions and blood orange. A refreshing start to the meal. Grilled shrimp 3.5/5 - This is listed under the smaller plates but definitely a larger portion than expected. It came served on a bed of rice and lobster butter. Grilled broccolini 4/5 - Served with an anchovy compound butter and herb bread crumbs. Definitely a must get. Steak frites 5/5 - Always a classic and must get. It's an 8oz hanger steak served with frites and garlic aioli. Really good for sharing with the table. Mushroom linguine 4/5 - Creamy, mushroomy pasta that had a hint of truffle and herbs. Overall a great dish. The spot was a good dining experience, although some of the dishes weren't particularly my favourite, some were definitely hits. read more

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Parquet's oysters are a tad pricy at $24 for six, but there's something about oysters and champagne that made for an ideal starter. Flown from the East Coast, the oysters were fresh and cleanly presented, but what really impressed was the mignonette - made with aged vinegar, it was mellow and added tanginess without the sting. We could still taste the oyster's natural brininess, just enhanced with a sweeter finish. The salt cod beignets ($17 for 3; additional $4 for extra piece) were crispy but not airy enough. Nonetheless, there was adequate amounts of salt cod used in the batter so that it was evident, giving the fritters a savouriness without being too salty. Watch out for your tongue during the first bite of sablefish ($38), mine arrived scorching hot - the way I like it. Being well roasted, it had the look of a miso black cod, so much so that I expected a sweet taste. Yet, the sauce Americane, a buttery bell pepper and vegetable concoction, has a much fresher and savoury flavour that goes nicely with the cod. The sablefish built the foundation of a good dish if the sides weren't so bland and forgettable: dry roasted gai lan leaves (where is the actual stalk, which would have at least added some sweet crispiness?) and boiled turnips. I guess it's Parquet's way of making diners add on a $20 side dish, except these were also all mainly more vegetables. It wouldn't be a French restaurant without steak frites ($52 for the striploin) and Parquet's was good, cooked to the ideal medium rare with a caramelized crust. The silky red wine au jus was a great addition (and you really did need it to give the beef flavour), the dish just needed way more of it for the fries as the parsley aioli was too liquorice heavy for my liking. read more

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Part of a longer review... Most of Parquet's dishes emphasize accessibility over inventiveness--from the Digby scallop cru ($24) to the cassoulet ($42). My eyes zero in on a few items pour partager: Robinson's sourdough with salted butter ($9), the tartine ($19), and the radicchio blanco salad ($19). I can say with certainty that the sourdough is well worth its modest $9 price tag-bubbly and slightly chewy on the inside with a slight tanginess. With a culinary resume like Dennis's there is no way the food could be bad. But it is. For a menu this concise, weak points are commonplace. The tartine resembles a garlic cheese toast and is far too salty to enjoy. One bite confirms that it has been sitting at the pass for far too long. The toasted bread has soaked up the gruyere Mornay sauce, rendering it the kind of soggy mess you don't want to pay $19 for. The salad, while I give credit to its presentation, is lacking in taste. Crisp leaves of radicchio mingle with zesty grapefruit and sweet brioche. It sounds delightful, but I wouldn't have wanted more due to its overwhelmingly acidic dressing. There are, however, some redeeming qualities with the entrees. While Parquet didn't strike a chord with me (and I tried really hard), it drew a lively crowd patrons and achieved an ambiance and level of consistent service that any diner would long for. read more

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Great environment to have friends/family gatherings. We order small plates and large plates and they were all delicious! Our servers were friendly introduced different foods and tastes. Highly recommend! Good patio to sit during summer time. read more

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Given that this restaurant is on the Michelin guide, I was probably expecting too much. But this place is ok/solid. But nothing jumped out at me. Service was good. Waitress was well versed in the menu and nuances of it. Decor is traditional French bistro and it was beautiful. We shared the following: Digby scallop cru - fresh and delicious. Was a favourite among the table Tartare - excellent. My favourite Smashed beets - very interesting take and delicious Sablefish- good portion but mediocre to me. My brother loved it though Lamb shoulder - unctuous and heavy. This dish is seriously hearty. Cassoulet- my favourite main. Duck was delicious as was pork belly Dry aged ribeye - mediocre. Sauce and steak were pedestrian. read more

Everything was delicious and perfect at my first experience at Parquet. We started with the endive that looked like it could have been eggplant- carmelized to perfection. We also had the cassoulet and Mai take glazed with Calvados. It was so delicious. Calvados is def. a star on the menu as we also ate ice cream drenched in the fine liquor. Service was fast and very attentive- my napkin was folded every time I left the table. I appreciated that everything was so comfortable. Very nice choice of furniture and finishings. They also have a nice wine list- our wine was only available for the night. I would definitely be back to this place! Love the attention to detail and thoughtfulness of their choices. read more

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AVOID. AVOID. AVOID. Even the food cannot save you from the rudeness of the male waiter. Gives the impression of believing women are meant to be seen and not heard. Pathetic middle ages throwback experience in customer treatment. Dinner there left alot of food for thought, as in run as far from it as possible!! read more

Great food and great service. IMHO, they should add some entry level wine bottles in the $60 or less range. Just know that you are paying ~3x to enjoy a bottle. read more