Came here for my boyfriend's birthday and had to book the reservation exactly 30 days in advance at 12am on the dot. I would recommend doing so just in case if you want a specific date and don't want to sit at the bar counter. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food and everything was very delicious, just VERY rich. At points the flavours all together felt very heavy but everything was still amazing. Would definitely recommend to try if you've never been before although I don't think I would come a second time. Pork secreto al pastor and the tres leches cake were standouts for sure. read more

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Had an amazing experience at Quetzal. We got the curated menu so we got to try a lot of different things. For the two of us, in total we got between 8-10 different dishes to try plus 2 desserts. This is what we got: 1. 1 oyster each (phenomenal) 2. bluefin tuna tiradito - amazing, goes so well with the strawberries. My husband doesn't like strawberries but he loved this dish 3. scallop ceviche - a little disappointing, I specifically requested this because of others recommendations but it was just okay, the scallop was overwhelmed by the sauce 4. empanada oaxaquena - so good! love it with the sauce it comes with 5. tomato and cucumer salad- tasty and refreshing 6. scallop in green garlic butter (1 each) and bone marrow / shrimp. This comes with 4 tortillas so you can make tacos. This was my favourite dish! 7. fish (i think this is off menu) - but it was very juicy and this was my husband's favourite dish 8. pork secreto al pastor - came with 6 tortillas so you can make tacos. delicious 9. coal roasted sweet potato - this was just okay, probably our least favourite dish Dessert (both good): 1. Tres leches cake 2. Spiced mexican chocolate read more

We weren't able to get reservations online but read on their website that they had daily walk-ins so we lined up early before they opened. It seems their walk-in availability is limited to one table. We gave them our number and went to get a drink somewhere else. I got the call that a party of three had canceled so we hurried back from a bar around the corner. They stuck the four of us in the far back corner at a table meant for three very close to the very hot oven. We did not realize and it was not made clear to use that everything on the menu was meant to be family styled. We ordered drinks and they took a really long time so they gave us each a glass of complimentary champagne which was nice. The food itself was delicious and we enjoyed everything. I would just note that this is a place meant to be family styled and make reservations beforehand or show up an hour early if you want a guaranteed walk in spot. read more

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Wow this was top tier amazing both times I've been! Tasting menu is around $125/person, book really early (3 weeks out) for an ideal time. You can pick certain a la carte items to include, which is a nice touch. Chef counter was smoky lol but worth it. Service and vibes are always incredible. Favorite dishes: pork secreto al pastor, scallops, beef tartare, sablefish, scallop ceviche, oysters, coconut nicuatole. Overall really yummy spot, def wanna go again. read more

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Quetzal delivered an exceptional Michelin-star dining experience from start to finish. We opted for the tasting menu, and every course showcased incredible technique while allowing the ingredients to shine. The bluefin tuna was pristine, buttery, and incredibly fresh, while the char-grilled octopus was perfectly tender with a beautiful smoky depth of flavor. The ensalada verde was bright, crisp, and refreshing, offering a perfect contrast between courses. The standout for me was the hanger steak, cooked beautifully and paired with a rich peppercorn sauce that elevated every bite. Beyond the outstanding food, the service was impeccable--attentive, knowledgeable, and perfectly paced without ever feeling intrusive. Quetzal is a Michelin star experience that lives up to the acclaim, delivering bold flavors, refined execution, and genuine hospitality. An unforgettable meal and a restaurant I would gladly return to. read more

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Quetzal is my absolute favorite restaurant on the planet (not that I'm a major world traveler by any means, of course). My wife and I just recently completed our 4th visit to this Michelin-starred masterpiece. We did make the mistake this time of sitting at the Chef's Counter in the middle of summer with the fire grills going, but it's such an amazing experience to watch them all be pros at what they do that it makes you forget about the sweat. Sitting at the bar is also equally fun with the engaging bartenders. The service and the ambiance of the long, corridor-like place is just incredible. The darker lit atmosphere gives it a really intimate but welcoming feel. And every server or bartender or chef we've talked to there has been equally friendly, knowledgeable, and down to earth. We also absolutely love the fact that virtually everything is naturally gluten free (perfect for those with celiac!). This time around, we got the mushroom and shishito peppers (I don't even like mushrooms with the firm texture but these ones were insanely tender I would happily eat them whenever), tuna tiradito, empanada, and bone marrow and shrimp (not sure we've ever had bone marrow before or that we'd get it again, but it was definitely an interesting flavor and not a disappointment in the least). We also had a solo regular sit next to us who happily gave us a piece of his tlayuda which was maybe the best of what we got the entire night. Dessert was the coconut nicuatole, which was the perfect cherry (or pineapple) on top of another perfect dinner. In the past, we've also heavily enjoyed the scallop ceviche and coal roasted sweet potato and our friend also raved about the whole seabream. Their cocktails are also on point and the tasting menu with drink pairing is also hugely fun but come ready to leave stuffed because it's a LOT. Best restaurant ever and I can't wait to go back again! read more

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My boyfriend and I came here for dinner while we were visiting from Detroit and let me just say this was one of the best dinners we have EVER had. Our server Will went above and beyond to make the overall experience outstanding and I can surely say we are already planning our next trip to Toronto to experience Quetzal again. We were seated at the bar which was a bit warm but the front row view of the busy kitchen was a very unique experience and we would do it again. Now to talk about the food... WOW. For context my boyfriend was born and raised his whole life in Mexico, so he is always hesitant to try Mexican food outside of MX, but he said this was hands down the best mexican food/ dinner he has ever had! We got the pastor and duck as our main (love that they offered smaller portion sizes so we could try both, thanks Will!) and omg they were SO tender and flavorful. The duck came with an amazing mole sauce and the pineapple that came with the pastor was a wonderful addition. Their corn tortillas have great flavor and are so fresh (i mean you can literally see them being pressed and made throughout the night) but wow they were amazing. We also ordered the shishito peppers and mushrooms which were charred to perfection and delicious. To finish the night we had the tres leches cake and avocado ice cream... WOW both were amazing. The tres leches was light and literally felt like it melted in your mouth... the ice cream as well was amazing, light yet flavorful and refreshing in a way that i have never experienced before with ice cream. We clearly had an amazing night at Quetzal and I could probably go on and on about the food, ambiance, service, quality, and so much more. This place is definitely worth your time if you are in Toronto and tbh its worth a trip just to try! Te amamos Quetzal read more

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I've been wanting to try Quetzal for years because my brother has raved about it nonstop, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. We got lucky and they were able to squeeze us into seats at the bar area, which ended up being the best possible spot because we had a front-row view of the live fire cooking the entire night. The ambiance was lively and hip, with a great energy that made the whole experience feel exciting. This was my first time watching each main courses get cooked over live fire in real time, which added to our amazement given that all the dishes came out cooked to the right doneness. Every bite of meat and seafood was perfectly kissed with flame -- the char, the subtle smoke, the texture. Beyond the fire element, you can really taste how fresh everything is. Nothing felt heavy or muddled. Each dish was well thought out with balanced flavors, but the ingredients and that fire/smoke magic were always the main event. Service was also superb. All the staff were attentive and high-energy. Different servers checked up on us throughout the meal, our water was always kept full, and dishes were cleared in a timely manner. Only drawback: the heat. Sitting by the fire is incredible for the show, but it definitely started to feel like a sauna at times. Still, I'd do it again and choose to sit at the bar without hesitation. If you're in Toronto and you love a tasting menu, this is a must. Just make sure you book at least a month in advance - it's popular for a reason. read more

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Came back after 3 years since the last time I dined here, and my thoughts and reviews are still a solid 5/5! Can confidently say this is my favourite restaurant in Toronto by far - and the bonus is that it's a Michelin star. Reservations open about 3 weeks in advance at midnight - so make sure to snag your spot early! Everything about this restaurant deserves the 5/5 star rating for me. From the service, the ambiance, down to the food - everything was amazing. The service is top notch, with servers being very attentive and always watching for what we need and when the table needs clearing. The food here is impeccable with flavours and textures. I think the only miss for me are the cocktails, but that's a personal preference and I didn't love the mix of flavours in their drinks. We got the tasting menu and price is now $150 per person, but imo worth all the hype and costs because it's that good! Here's what we got: Oysters - Great item to start with. Fresh, and delicious with the green oil topping. Scallop Ceviche - MY FAVOURITE starter at Quetzal. It's the textures and freshness of the scallop paired with the crispy leek and black sauce. Everything about this dish is amazing. Tuna Tiradito - Citrusy and fresh and plated beautifully Mushroom & Shishito - Perfect char to the mushrooms that tastes so good. A variety of different mushrooms for lots of different textures. Cookstown Beet - Not my favourite vegetable dish, since I don't like beets. But the rest of my party enjoyed this. Empanada Oaxaquena - Looks like a big taco and perfect for sharing split in two. So delicious with their flavours. One of my favourites as well. Newfoundland Scallops - Comes with a green garlic butter, popcorn, and tajin. Each person gets 2 of these scallops for their tasting menu. Whole Seabream - Whole, deboned, charred to perfection. Comes with salsa roja and salsa cruda. Ribeye Wagyu - So fatty, melt in your mouth, and a must get! Desserts - We got 3 desserts, the coconut nicuatole, tres leches cake, and spiced Mexican chocolate. I thought desserts were okay and not my favourite. But of the three definitely liked the coconut nicuatole the best. Overall, I love love love this restaurant and can't wait to go back to dine here again! Definitely worth checking out and highly recommend! read more

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Pricy but totally worth it. $145/person curated menu, but you can request certain items from the menu if you'd like it included. Quetzal was recommend by our server when we were dining at a Vancouver Michelin restaurant (Barbara), as our server was originally from Ontario. So of course we saved it on our list for when we visited Toronto. Very very accommodating staff and attentive. All the tables next to us seemed to really enjoy their meals as well. Every dish was amazingly flavoured and presentation was on point. Atmosphere was lovely too, laid back but chic. Comfortable yet elevated. Highlight was the scallops, we asked for it to be included on our set menu, and they delivered. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Beautiful minimalistic space and next time I would definitely like to sit at the chefs counter. But since we were 3 and were celebrating a birthday, we decided to get a table instead. Service was good but not exceptional, especially for the price point. The food was good and I'd go back to try other dishes, but might've missed the mark on some basic dishes like the aguachile. We ordered about 9 dishes overall - dry aged hiramasa aguachile, scallop ceviche, tuna tiradito, mushroom & shishito, coal roasted sweet potato, empanada oaxaquena, tlayuda (veggie option), whole sea bream, and for dessert the coconut nicuatole (with berries instead of the mezcal pineapple). Our favorite dishes were the scallop ceviche, mushroom & shishito, tlayuda, the sea bream, and of course the dessert. read more

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Winner meal of our Toronto trip. Being from California, didn't think of having Mexican food in Canada, but glad the Michelin star lured me in. I left a super fan. Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Cost to worth it rating: 4 ($US 150 for a good amount of food and drinks at this caliber is a steal) Opentableable: yes but not later Return worthiness: yes Eve award: best fine dining Mexican pizza, best service I've had ever, best trio of meats I've had Highlights: - Mexican pizza (aka tlayuda toloqueña): phenomenal invention and best thing I ate the whole trip. Fresh crispy tortillas combination of so many ingredients and melded well together from green chorizo to dollops of white bean to slices of carrot. 5 stars - Pork (pork secreto al pastor): most tender pork ever! Brined then sous vide and finished grilled. Surprise onion compote was wonderful plus slices of grilled pineapple. 5 stars - Duck (dry aged Hudson Valley duck breast) : I've had HV duck many times before but this is one of the most standout duck breast I have had. Tender not gamey at all and in a lovely sauce. I love duck and cannot comprehend why this blew y mind, but I'm happy it did. 5 stars - Hanger steak (prime hanger): cooked perfectly medium rare with a creamy au poivre like sauce on top. My friend would have preferred to be asked how it was cooked and she had to stick to the end pieces to be less pink--but I loved it the way it was. 4.75 stars (wonderful but I had to separate it from the others) - Chocolate mousse (spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate): light and airy but deep in chocolate flavor with a sponge cake made with honey that mimicked honeycombs. Another surprise hit. 5 stars - Scallop ceviche (Hokkaido scallop ceviche in a leche negra sauce): tender bits of scallops with avocado in what I equate to a black taco seasoned sauce made with ground up ingredients. 4.25 stars - Sweet potato (coal roasted sweet potato): large tender pieces with char and greens around. 3.5 stars - Atmosphere: open fire everywhere with the kitchen right out there, high energy in the low almost cave - like white stone dining room which was very unique - Wine: great - Abraham: delightful, fun, and well educated waiter who answered my dorky questions about the food - Utensils for each course: loved it so there was no mystery of what you were supposed to use to keep you out of any Pretty Woman situation - Service overall: outside of the waiter, every single person was amazing. From the people presenting our dishes, to the ones constantly wiping our tables, to the individual who chatted with us as we were waiting for our friends before we left. I dine out a lot and this was top notch impeccable some of the best service I have ever had at any restaurant anywhere. I can only think of Alinea that could top it. Midlights: - Cocktails: majority are mezcal which is understandable with the cuisine and smokey theme, but I'm not a mezcal person so options were minimal Lowlights: - Creepy dark basement bathroom read more

Quetzal was fantastic the first time I came here and ordered the set menu. the second time I came back unfortunately the kitchen was closing and I think that impacted the quality of the food that came out. Atmosphere is great for anniversary or a date. read more

This place is sexy and modern and cozy all at once! Got the tasting menu which they make for each table individually to your likes and preferences. The food just kept getting better and better. Very popular and busy on a Thursday night. Please do yourself a favor and go. read more

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Quetzal tasting menu Very filling if you plan to do this alone. Don't really have a stand out dish ..maybe the al pastor but would like to revisit and get the meats. Lots of reviews about the scallops but did not love the popcorn topping. It was hard like when you reach the bottom of the popcorn bag and get the kernels. Only got one dessert and wasn't anything unique. Redditors might've hyped it too much for me. read more

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We weren't impressed with any of the restaurants we dined at when we visited Toronto until we ate at Quetzal on our last night in Toronto. The experience and food blew us away! We chose to order a la carte style since we read another review that the tasting menu was not worth it and we're so glad that we did! The dishes came out at a reasonable pace (not too long/short) and each dish tasted phenomenal. Surprisingly the only item that wasn't up to par for us was the dessert. We ordered the spiced mexican chocolate...and it tasted exactly like spiced mexican chocolate. The dessert tasted spicy, peppery and bitter. It wasn't to our liking and we would not recommend this dessert. Overall, our experience was superior! read more

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Lovely experience at Quetzal. We opted for the curated menu and left our fate in the hands of the server. Standout dishes: mushroom & shishito, Newfoundland scallops, bone marrow & wild Argentinian shrimp, pork secreto al pastor and coconut nicuatole. The dishes that stayed backstage: tlayuda toloquena, cookstown beet, and the spiced Mexican chocolate. There was one off menu item that incorporated veal but the texture was off-putting. Service was prompt and well-coordinated. Our plates were regularly changed and our water was refilled constantly. Our reservations were at 9:15pm but we left around 12:15am. read more

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This restaurant was an amazing experience the food was something I absolutely cannot rave enough about. Everything tasted delicious. The desert was so unique and delicious. The octopus was cooked to perfection. The service was excellent as well our server was prompt and nice. The vibes of these place were off the charts. From the smokey aroma in the restaurant to the decor and design...everything is very well thought and put together. They are well deserving of their Michelin star read more

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Incredible food, truly worthy of its Michelin star. Dry Aged Hiramasa Aguachile (9/10): An amazing starter. The textures and flavors of each bite are so well-balanced. I loved the foam. The amberjack was so tender and delicious. Scallop Ceviche (9/10): DELICIOUS scallops. Truly amazing sauce and the freshest scallops. The only nitpick I have is that the fried leeks aren't the best texture to go along with the scallops. I understand the flavor complexity they add to the dish, though Empanada Oaxaquena (10/10): The lamb barbacoa is impossibly tender. It literally just melts in your mouth. The shell is amazing. And the salsa is also amazing. They said it's medium spicy level, but I didn't think it had much heat at all. Newfoundland Scallop (9/10): Great dish - reminds me of escargot. Very tender. Nicely seared, and the butter is amazing. Pork Secreto Al Pastor (9/10): The pork is cooked perfectly. Definitely get the tortillas with this. Coconut Nicuatole (8/10): Solid dessert, but not a must-order. Probably the least memorable part of our meal, but that's more of a testament to how amazing the other courses were Service was pretty good. Servers checked up on us pretty frequently, and explained each dish in detail. As for ambiance, it was WAY too smoky in there. My clothes came out all smelling heavily of smoke. They really need some better ventilation, as that can't be healthy read more

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After many years of waiting, I finally got to try Quetzal! This was a company celebration, so although I didn't personally pay out of pocket, I didn't feel that this restaurant was worth it at its price point. We got the tasting menu plus the non-alcoholic beverage pairing (a whopping extra $80!!). While the food was flavourful with some standout favourites, portions were tiny and a few of us went home hungry. We started with some appetizers - some tuna with a strawberry reduction and a beef tartare with crunchy, delicious deep-fried tostadas. Immediately this set the dinner off on a vibrant and bright note. Then, a light refreshing ensalada verde and a tortilla "pizza" with beans were served. The salad balanced out the richness of the flatbread pizza. We also ordered some scallops, so these arrived shortly after. Our mains came after - seabream with salsa roja, wagyu striploin, another fish, a pork chop, maitake mushrooms with shishito, and coal roasted sweet potato topped with peanuts and spicy salsa. All were pretty decent - but I candidly preferred the appetizers more. In particular, the tartare, salad, and the tortilla. As many members of our dinner party were not yet full, we added a ceviche and another raw fish dish... but again, super small dishes. At this point, we were getting hurried out so we were served dessert - a spiced Mexican chocolate (basically soft chocolate mousse with very spicy passionfruit toppings) and another sorbet that reminded me of cactus leaf. Drink pairing was a wide range of non-alcoholic champagne (tasted like sparkling apple cider), some healthy-tasting cucumber lemon green juice, a fake spicy margarita, and a sweet horchata - among 1-2 more. Overall, was a decent and tasty meal - but pretty overpriced and not worth the price tag. read more

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Visited this place on June 28th (Saturday) to treat my partner and her brother for their birthday and it was one of the best dining experience! It was also our first Michelin star experience here in Canada. From start to finish, the service has been on point and the experience has been quite the adventure. We've got their tasting menu, and asked weeks prior if we could get the Carne Cruda, as my partner's brother and I are a huge fan of it and I've heard great things about the one from Quetzal. The day of, they also accommodated his request for Pork Secreto Al Pastor. We also shared a wine pairing. Neither one of us know our wine, or drink much wine but the guy serving it was very enthusiastic and knowledgable and were really glad for the experience. Despite not knowing anything, we thoroughly enjoyed the pairing and it went REALLY well with the dish served. Some of the wine they served us (such as the Sherry), did not taste good on it's own but we were very surprised how it elevated the dish and the drink when paired together. It was fantastic. My personal highlight was the Carne Cruda and the wine pairing. The Carne Cruda/beef tartare has been one of the best I've had in the city. We were left stuffed and a bit tipsy (despite sharing the wine pairing lol). My partner and her brother was thoroughly impressed, and I would love to come back here again! read more

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Food is very unique and amazing! I came here two times ready and try something new every single time. Some flavour combination is definitely unique and one of a kind but still taste amazing. Service is quick and efficient too. The ambiance is down to earth and I highly recommend to reserve a spot at the chef's table where they cook in front of you. The price is a little higher than the average, but I highly recommend coming here for a special night out. read more

Mexican cuisine is one of my favourites, and while I love tacos, I have always wanted to try Mexican fine dining. Quetzal made that wish come true and far exceeded my expectations. My partner and I made a reservation through Open Table for our anniversary. We sat at the chef's table, which was like bar seating across from where the chef's cook on the wood stove. It was such a unique experience getting to watch the process. They had a nice cocktail and mocktail menu. I opted for the Sorry Heather mocktail. It was so refreshing and made with house made juice. I highly recommend going with the curated menu! We were pleased to hear that it's not a set menu; the server takes into consideration any allergies, things we really want to try and/or things we don't care for. We were really happy with every dish our server choose as it was impossible to pick our favourite at the end! Everything was so delicious and had layers of flavour and texture. The service was impeccable with the great recommendations from our server, the explanations of the dishes as they came out, and the staff clearing the dishes and cleaning the table after every course. You could tell they all work as a team. Chef Steven was even so kind to chat with us a couple of times. I wish we didn't wait so long to come here, because we will certainly be back to try more of the dishes. It was one of the best dining experiences we've ever had. read more

My partner and I came for a birthday dinner and opted for the curated menu ($145 pp). I would honestly not recommend the curated menu, as it's not like a traditional tasting menu... they ask you if there are any dishes in particular that you would want to try and just fill in the blanks for the rest. I think the most bang for your buck is to just choose all of the dishes that you're interested in, which would probably equate to less or equal to what you would be paying for the curated. The pro of the curated menu is that it does introduce you to yummy dishes that you might not have opted to get in the first place. Some highlights: tuna tiradito, scallop ceviche, mushroom & shisito, newfoundland scallop, TRES LECHES CAKE (!!!), coconut nicuatole Some dishes I would definitely not recommend: memela Service was great throughout the night, and the vibes are great for a date night :) read more

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Best food I've had in Canada hands down! Came here on a Thursday night with a 6pm reservation and was seated immediately. We got the scallop ceviche, the aguachile, the empanada, 2 newfoundland scallops, and the pork secreto al pastor. The scallop ceviche was delicious, and The hiramasa aguchile was perfectly refreshing. The spicy aguachile foam was unique and made the flavors more complex. The empanada was delicious, and tasted like the best taco i've ever had in my life. The shel was crispy and fragrant, and the meat was so tender without any gaminess at all. The newfoundland scallops melted in our mouths, and the garlic butter sauce left me craving for more. These were my favorites of the night- I'd get on a flight back to Toronto for just these two dishes. The pork secreto was also super delicious. The meat was so tender I couldn't tell where the meat ended and the fat began, every bite was so incredibly flavorful and the roasted pineapples added a nice, fun fruity dimension to the meat. Every course was a 10/10 hit, and we regret not having bigger stomachs to fit more of this delicious food. The service was also top notch and the staff were attentive and helpful with recommendations. read more

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Off the charts awesome! Get the sweet potato with corn tortillas. Order a glass of champagne. Incredible vibe. Great service.

We made a reservation at Chef's Table (which in my modest opinion is the best seating option as you're facing the footlong wooden oven and can witness the efforts made to prepare your delicious meal). Also reservations at least 2 weeks in advance is strongly recommended. They have 2 rounds of 2-hour seating per night. The staff are friendly and accommodating and the restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere. You can choose from Curated menu (Chef's choice) and also go with either alcoholic/non-alcoholic paring. Or, you can go with à la carte menu and choose from Entradas, Vegetales, Masa, Mariscos and Carnes. We started from Mexican cocktails: "No Heather, It's Heathers Turn" and "Moras De Fuego"; both beautiful and tasty. Then, we ordered "Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche" from Entradas and it was a the perfect combination of avocado, scallops and crispy leek. From Masa, we ordered "Empanada Oaxaqueña" and "Tlayuda Toluqueña". They were both delicious and perfectly seasoned. We also ordered "Bone Marrow & Wild Argentinian Shrimp" and "Pork Secreto Al Pastor" from Mariscos which ended up bringing the highlight of our meal. The combination of spices and the perfect cooking time had created a masterpiece. Both are strongly recommended. From desserts menu, we ordered "Spiced Mexican Chocolate" and "Tres Leches Cakes". Both were tasty and right amount of sweetness. read more

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We recently visited Beso and had an overall enjoyable experience, with a few standout dishes and some that didn't quite land. Service was excellent from beginning to end. The staff were friendly, attentive, and very knowledgeable, offering helpful recommendations and making the experience feel welcoming throughout the meal. To start, the wrapped dates were sweet, savoury, and absolutely delicious, with the portion being perfect to share. The pan con tomate was simple but very flavourful and a great way to begin the meal. The beet salad was a standout, beautifully balanced with goat cheese and texture, and unexpectedly one of our favourite dishes of the night. For mains, the branzino was the clear showstopper. The fish was tender, well cooked, and full of flavour. The short rib skewer was very tender, but the sauces felt heavy and unnecessary, with both being spicy and overpowering the dish. The bravas were good and enjoyable, though not particularly memorable. Dessert was solid overall. The churros were good, with the dulce de leche being the preferred dipping sauce, and the chocolate mousse was rich and indulgent. The scallops were beautifully plated, but the sauce lacked depth and didn't leave a lasting impression, making it a dish we wouldn't order again. Overall, Beso offers a thoughtfully plated menu with a few excellent dishes, particularly the branzino and beet salad. With some refinement on sauces and balance, the experience could be even stronger. read more

Wonderful restaurant. As you enter you smell this beautiful smoky aroma and then your eyes go to the bar and the open kitchen and you are drawn inside. The servers are helpful and the food is excellent. We took their curated menu and really enjoyed the dishes. Like my wife commented, "I know why they are Michelin star. I've had al pastor so many times but I've never had al pastor like this". It was her birthday and they also gave us a nice birthday ice cream. The only consideration to keep in mind is it can be a bit noisy so you have to strain to hear the servers describing the tasting menu items. But hey with the amazing food and the quantity, I'm not complaining. Highly recommended. read more

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michelin 1 star, came for my birthday last year. the grilled octopus was a miss for being overcooked, but otherwise every dish was super yummy and well crafted. the scallops are a must get!! also don't skip dessert here, they gave me a complimentary one to celebrate which was super nice. ambiance is elevated but not like fancy formal michelin, the entire restaurant is built around a grill concept which was really innovative and warm in the winter haha be prepared to be a bit hot read more

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A worthy Michelin starred restaurant, Quetzal is a lively and cozy place to dine and enjoy the warmth of company. First timers should go for their prix fixe curated menu where you tell your server your food preferences and items from the menu will be chosen for you based on those preferences and the size of your party. The items roughly add up to the same cost as ordering a la carte. The big benefit of the curated menu is that it takes the guesswork out of things and you get surprised with off menu items as well. It helps to have a larger party as well to try more variety of dishes. All of the dishes were flavourful and unique. Whether it was seabream and scallops from the sea or the giant 14oz Tajima Wagyu from the land, each bite leaves you wanting more. We got sweetbreads that were off menu and it was my first time ever having that. It was like pate and was enjoyable. This was the 3rd Michelin starred restaurant I've been lucky enough to try over the past few years and it's the best one so far. I would not hesitate to return for a special occasion to relive the favourites and to try some new dishes. read more

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My first Michelin star restaurant in Canada. Thankfully, it lived up to my expectations. Service was absolutely exceptional. The staff were attentive, quick, and very accommodating. The interior was nice, although it felt a bit claustrophobic and cramped. The food was amazing. We opted for ordering a la carte since it allowed us to try more of the menu. Dry Aged Amberjack Aguachile: Visually, probably the best dish of the night. I loved the look of the foam with the carrots and cucumbers adding a pop of color. The amberjack was wonderful. Slightly sweet with a wonderful firmness. However, I found the accompaniments a bit lacking. They didn't hurt the dish, but they didn't enhance it in any meaningful way. Scallop Ceviche: My favorite dish of the evening. A sea of citrus, interrupted by tart apples, sweet cherries, and melt-in-your-mouth scallops. Absolutely wonderful. My one complaint is that the leaks weren't as crisp as I expected. So they felt a bit thorny, rather than providing a crisp texture. Memela: A take on mexican street food. I really enjoyed the experience of this dish. First you get a taste of the crisp chicharron and juicy shiitake, then you get rich cheese and salsa, finally finished with the smoky corn flavor of the tortilla. My one complaint is that its still a bit simple for what you're paying. Mushroom & Shishito A bit disappointed by this one. The mushrooms are delicious, and the crema is exceptional. But, the mushrooms weren't bursting with juice like the ones on the memela. Pork Secreto Al Pastor: It was juicy and flavorful. But the pork was a tad overcooked. Still very good though, and the onion salsa was unique and delicious! Tres Leches Cake: I really loved this cake. The horchata cream was so light and airy it was almost like a foam. The sea buckthorn syrup provided a tropical flavor without being overwhelmingly sweet. The rice tuile topped it all off with some much-needed texture. Also, the coffee paired perfectly with this dish. read more

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Quetzal is honestly worth the hype. Had a fantastic time with the curated menu, a surprising number of dishes. Everything was done so perfectly. Salt, fat, acid, heat. You get it all. Service was phenomenal as well, super attentive to us all night. All in all - food, service, vibes, price - best meal in the city. read more

Quetzal - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Quetzal is an exemplary culinary experience. From start to finish they impress you with their chefs cooking in front of you on open flames, attentive service, and creative dishes with plenty of bite. We started out sitting at the chefs counter and then we realized how hot and smoky it really was, so we moved to a table which was still nice and much more temperable. The cocktails were decent, nothing mind blowing for me but simple and refreshing. The food itself was excellent, with every new dish impressing more than the last. My favourite bites were the seafood, particularly the scallops grilled with and herby garlic butter. We opted for the wagyu upgrade but next time I'd opt to give the bone marrow a try. Finally, they made our birthday celebration special with a tres leches cake that was pretty solid. Overall it was an excellent meal and I look forward to returning! read more

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I had an absolutely wonderful experience at Quetzal! The food was bursting with flavor, and every dish was beautifully presented. The service was attentive and friendly without being intrusive, and the overall vibe of the place made it so comfortable and enjoyable. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional meal in Kensington Market. read more

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As soon as I entered the restaurant, since I had no idea that entire kitchen operates only on open fire(no gas), I thought they had smokey aromatic diffusers set up in the dining room. Once I got close to the kitchen & seated at the chef's table, I finally realized that where aroma was coming from. It is like sitting at the campfire & loved it. What a nice surprise. Started with smokey mezcal flight tasting. Bar manager brought 3 choices of mezcal along with the bottles and explained the history and pinpointed tasing notes which was very helpful. Smokey mezcal went great with each dishes cooked on open fire. We opted for curated tasting courses($135) and they served 9 dishes from the existing menu and 1 dish from off menu. We mentioned that we loved seafood and we were served with 5 seafood dishes( 2 scallop dishes, 1 amberjack, 1 sable fish and 1 octopus), 1 meat, 1 memela, 1 veg dish and 2 dessert dishes. 1. Dry aged Amberjack Aguachile; Def. can see Chef Steven Molnar 's Japanese heritage into this dish. Very refreshing, well balanced. 2. Scallop Ceviche w/ Leche Negra; Hokkaido scallops, Leche Negra(Assuming Yucatan "recado negro" that was heavily toasted chilli & spice to make dark colour then blended with tortilla & coconut milk), avocado, ground Cherry, garnished with crispy leeks. Leche Negra was dominant & I did not understand this large amount of fried leeks on top of this ceviche. Was neither doing anything to enhance the flavour nor texture was not great. It stood out to look like a bird nest for sure.  3. Memela; Learnt about this tortilla dish variation called Memela, thick blue corn masa tortilla w/ formed edges to hold cheese. Excellent Mexican pizza with smokey shiitake & purple mizuna. Nice crunchy chicharron underneath the mizuna! 4. Newfoundland Scallop. Such a fresh bite w/ green garlic butter, popcorn crumble(?) & a hint of tajin. 5. Octopus. "salsa mocha" made from dried chill, nuts, corn, miso was incredibly smokey that it showed the character of Quetzal. Charred Napa cabbage & kohlrabi was crunchy. Octopus was cooked perfectly. 6. B.C. Gindara Sablefish w/ parsnip hazelnut puree & brussels sprouts. Sablefish, brushed with salsa verde was delicious and went well with sweet parsnip puree. Brussel sprouts were nicely charred and again crunchy. 7. Opal Valley Lamb with incredible black garlic mole negro. Wide leaves covering lamb were Hoja Santa( sacred leaves) gave beyond just minty flavour to compliment lamb.  8. Brassica: on top of bright green mole( assuming "Pipiane Verde" made from pumpkin seeds and greens), there were charred broccolini, chicken skin & pickled ramps. Enjoyed every single vegetables they served. 8.1. They served plenty of tortillas to go with fish, lamb and veggie dishes. This house ground, pressed and cooked tortillas were excellent. One tortilla has two different colours of heirloom corns which was Tuxpeño Amarillo from Chiapas (Yellow) & Conico Azul from Oaxaca(Blue) I learnt new word called "nixtmalized" today. Tortillas were really tasty & they were great on their own. 9.Coconut Nicuatole made with masa & coconut cream served with pineapple, hibiscus meringue, a hint of mezcal & mint. This Nicuatole was very creamy and smooth, almost like ice cream. 10. Spiced Mexican Chocolate served with sponge toffee( Loved it. It's like Korea dalgona), passion fruit & tonka bean. They incorporated a touch of Japanese such as umeboshi, miso & mizuna into traditional Mexican dishes. All the seafood, meat & vegetables were prepared really well. Especially enjoyed how vegetables were charred and dressed. Was also great to try all the different salsa & mole such as Leche Negra, salsa mocha, black garlic mole negro and green mole. Here was the part that I hated. There were many things going on in each dish they served and I was anxious to learn. When my servers explained the dishes, it sounded like they were just memorizing  and reciting a narratives like a robot in a fast pace. So at the end I was like did he say miso & cauliflower... where? While we were eating there was a number of times we had to get attention from servers to ask questions about the dishes. Where is the fish coming from? What is this puree again? There was one time that a server explained something and did not make sense, one of the cook jumped in to explain clearly. Thank you. There was a reason I picked "curated tasting menu" - to have a culinary journey & experience Quetzal. At least my servers ruined it. I feel like they needed to work on speaking clearly & slowly, highlighting what makes the dish excellent(show some pride), connecting with the patrons more. There are more important things than folding my napkins every time I go to the washroom imo. When making a reservation, mentioned on Opentable that it was for my birthday, candle was not shown on my dessert as well. It was first time that happened to me when I dined out for special occasion. read more

Exceptional Mexican that is very different from your typical fare. Staff very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and offers kind recommendations read more

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We got 6 dishes + 1 dessert, we really liked the 2 scallop dishes- Hokkaido scallop ceviche and Nova Scotia scallops in the shell. The lamb masa was very tasty, the mushrooms and the chocolate dessert were outstanding. The pork jowl and octopus were good but didn't stand out. I prea fresher, light flavor preparation for octopus. So many other dishes that we'd love to return and try. read more

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Upon entering the restaurant, you are welcomed with a smokey sensation that is their wood fired grills. They have some massive vents likely to push away the vents and the smell eventually fades as the body gets used to the smell. I word of caution, as I suffer from eczema, my skin was not happy the next couple days after the dinner. Service here was great, we got our suggestions and then ordered the tasting menu (for 3) and a drink pairing to share with my partner. Watching other tables with drink parings, I can say that there are slight difference between pairings, likely reflected by the food that we receive. There is a global selection of wines and includes sake and mezcal. The somm was knowledgeable and comedic. Tasting menu was super fun and tasty. There was a good play of taste and texture on the cold aspect of the restaurant. The grilled items were a bit of a disappointment to me. Especially the bone marrow, not seasoned to my liking. In fact most grilled items didn't come with a good fire grilled flavour, maybe due to my senses already saturated with that smell. We did have a grilled fish which was top. The taco shells were a good addition to mop up the juices. The desserts were super magical! Wouled highly recommend especially with more people for more variety. But with so many choices to dine in Toronto, hard to come back to this one. read more

Quetzal - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We were excited to try this place given that it is the only Mexican restaurant in town that has a Michelin Star. We did not do the curated menu due to allergy issues. We gave it a 5/5 but here is the individual ratings for each component: foods, services, drinks, desserts, and ambiance. Foods: 4/5 My boyfriend and I shared empanada oaxaquena. It was not really an empanada but more like a taco. They made their own corn tortillas here. That was a plus for me cause I love homemade corn tortillas. The lamb was super tender but tasted a bit gamey to me. However, the gamey taste did not turn me off. I really enjoyed this dish. The sauce that went with it helped elevate the flavor of the dish. Highly recommend everyone to get this dish. For entrees, my boyfriend got pork secreto al pastor. It was not my thing. I compared this dish to my favorite Mexican restaurant in a little town called Columbus, OH. Quetzal's al pastor was missing some traditional Mexican flavors, although they had better quality meat than my favorite Mexican taco place. It was not bad but just different. It was a nice touch to have grilled pineapples with the al pastor. It helped cut the fatness. I liked that they had a bit of fat in the meat to make more moist and tender. Also, we got some homemade corn tortillas for the al pastor. I loved their corn tortillas, so fresh. They also added caramelized onion sauce to the dish. That was a nice touch. Even though this was not my thing, my boyfriend loved the dish. For me, I decided to get the whole seabream. The fish was grilled perfectly. I don't know how they did it but everything they grilled was not dry at all. They just knew when was the right time to take the foods out from the open fire. The fish was so tender. I wished they added more salsa roja to the fish to make it more pop. The salsa cruda was nice but a bit too citrusy for me. Again, there was a bit of fatness to the fish rhat made it tasty. I love that they tried to balance out all flavors with salt, fat and acid. Desserts 7/5 My boyfriend and I think this restaurant made the best desserts ever. He got nicuatole which contained masa and coconut cream. On top was a bunch of hibiscus meringue and some mints. They also added mezcal + pineapple jelly. This dessert was so well balanced. It was so rich, creamy and not overly sweet. It was a masterpiece. The hibiscus meringue was so delicious. Meanwhile, I picked a more traditional Mexican dessert. I got the tres leches cake. It was so rich, creamy and moist. That was the best treat leches cake I've have. Drinks 5/5 I have a sweet tooth when it comes to drink. Our waiter suggested something off the cocktail menu. He said he could make the non-alcoholic drink the neighborhood ice alcoholic for me. I chose mezcal as the base and it was sweet and delicious. My boyfriend got an old fashioned and a Manhattan as drinks and he liked it. Service 5/5 All the waiters and waitresses here were all so nice and informative. They were very attentive. I liked the fact that they explained each dish to us. I can see why this is a Michelin Star restaurant. Ambiance 5/5 The ambiance is intimate. Great for date night. It was nice to see the kitchen. They had wood fire stove so that was pretty cool to see. Overall, we understand why they got their star. Definitely would come back to try out different dishes. read more

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