If you gave a bad review here you were in a bad mood. Fortunate to sit at chefs table and experience everything - what a treat. Food was perfect on tasting. Everything else totally slapped too. Ambiance, service, communication. This was an experience 10/10. I just found myself totally lost in the moment and ready willing and able to take on any course put forth. Truly grateful for the experience and hospitality. Remarkable. read more

[strong 3.5/5 or weak 4/5] Came here for dinner on their street side / side walk patio with my boyfriend. We opted for the tasting menu and told them we were moderately hungry (because basically every time we've done a tasting menu we're stuffed and we end up with too much food) and adventurous. By the end of it I was definitely full but my boyfriend wasn't. The hostess and servers were knowledgeable, friendly, and polite. We opted for the patio seating because of covid. We made reservations online a few days before hand on Resy. If you wanted to use the washrooms you would need to put your mask on - standard. They kept a bottle of dillon's distillery hand sanitizer bottled spray on every table on the patio - a sign of the times. Food was great. Everything was well balanced and cooked to perfection. But there was no one dish that I was head over heels with. However the full tasting menu experience was well put together. Only complaint would be the wait times between each course. We found it a bit slow. I don't know if it's because we ate too fast but most tasting menus we've done the courses started to overlap midway. My favourite dish of the night was definitely the main course sea bream. That fish skin was so crispy and the meat was cooked super tender and moist. The mushrooms in the poblano purée was so smokey and buttery and delicious at the same time! Another shoutout would be the scallop ceviche with the pomegranates and cantaloupe. Both ceviches we had were really fresh and perfect for the summer. But the scallop one was in a coconut leche and I love coconut. Speaking of coconut, the dessert was very tasty as well and basically tasted a deconstructed pinacolada. I was underwhelmed with the masa dish (corn tortilla). I didn't care much for the watermelon radish slaw and the only thing that really made it flavourful was the sauce that came with a creeping heat. In conclusion, it was a beautiful dining experience, everything was well prepared and yummy but nothing blew my mind. read more

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A restaurant that is definitely deserving of its Michelin star! We made reservations the day of for later that night and were seated within 10 minutes. The interior and bar aesthetic were sleek and modern. We did the chef's tasting menu which consisted of a total of 10 dishes, all ranging from their sharable appetizers to entrees to dessert. For the price point, it was definitely worth the experience and quality of dishes. All of the dishes were amazing, and it was interesting to see elevated Mexican food and the various flavor profiles. Standouts included the scallop ceviche, newfound scallops with garlic butter, and bone marrow and wild Argentinian shrimp. We also got drinks, the godspeed yuzu ​, the sorry heather, and the neighborhood ice. The staff was super friendly and cleared and cleaned our table immediately after each round of food. I would definitely recommend trying this place! read more

We're no strangers to special dining experiences -- unfortunately, I have the waistline to prove it -- and even still, Quetzal delivered one of our most memorable meals in years. When we mentioned to the hotel concierge that we had a reservation here, just to gauge if we should consider somewhere else instead, her face lit up and she told us OMG, go! And I liked that our journey there took us out of the Bloor-Yorkville area we were staying, lovely and polished though it is, and into the cool Kensington Market neighborhood of Toronto. We fell in love with the scallop ceviche -- needed two orders just to make sure it was as good as we initially thought -- and my husband got the pork secreto al pastor while I got the Ontario flat iron. Mine was very good... his was phenomenal. I like that the cuisine was infused with Canadian influences (the tres leches has Saskatoon berries on the site... never heard of 'em before... delicious!) Service was stellar, decor was very cool, margaritas were delicious, the clientele reflected the multiculturalism of this wonderful city. We'd come back to Toronto for Quetzal alone! read more

We went to Quetzal for dinner with my parents a couple weekends ago. Seeing the restaurant from the street, you wouldn't expect it to be very spacious but it went really far back and almost looked like the inside of an airplane. Various grills and cooking stations made up the majority of the left side of the restaurant, while dining tables made up the majority of the the right side. There was also a dinning section at the front of restaurant and another ten tables or so outside on the patio. The ventilation system throughout the restaurant was excellent but worth noting, your clothes are going to smell like charcoal for the rest of the night. We ordered several dishes to share - corn & tomato, two orders of 2 piece blue corn masa cakes, stuffed triangular thin corn masa, coal roasted sweet potatoes, green salad, sweet breads, grilled whole sea bream and spiced Mexican chocolate sorbet for dessert. I was not a big fan of the sweet breads - I found them to be pretty bland, dry and not worth the price. The mole negro they were served with was very good, but it's intense flavour completely overpowered the sweet breads and when mixed together, the mole was the only thing you could even taste. The 2 piece blue corn masa cakes and the whole sea bream were the best dishes we ordered - the sea bream with salsa rojas and salsa verde was grilled to perfection - the skin was crispy, the fish was extremely tender and the homemade salsa verde just went so well with it - we all agreed it was the best dish of the night, it was absolutely incredible. Our dessert was really tasty and had a great balance of spiciness from the chocolate sorbet, sweetness from the sponge toffee and sourness from the sea buckthorn berry. In summary - the service was solid, the interior was cool and overall the food was very good. I would definitely go back again. Four stars. read more

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Dinner was as you'd expect and I'm not going to comment on the actual evening as it was fine. The problem was that I live in the UK and purchased a gift card for my brother in law's 60th birthday. It was a fair amount of work to do this but on the night, the restaurant charged them despite this. They said they applied the wrong amount of credit to the bill and were not aware of a problem. When I highlighted the error it took a series of email before they suggested they would refund the credit card (which should have been their first response). Anyway, I won't recommend based on my experience and their seeming disinterest with making good on the error. read more

Great experience. One of the best Mexican spots I have tried in Toronto. The scallops blew my mind so I highly recommend that dish. The masa dishes also excellent. The service was great and the place is pretty. I sat at the chefs counter which had a great atmosphere and you feel the heat from the wood burning fire. read more

Quetzal - Scallops. Must order - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I was very excited about trying Quetzal. Upon arrival the ambiance was great, with candlelit tables and a curved ceiling, like being inside of a ship. The bar seating was inviting and the drinks menu was inventive and cocktails were superior with great notes for sipping. For the food we did the tasting menu, since there were many unique dishes that we wanted to try. The sea bream and scallop ceviche was underwhelming, with the scallops being were quite small and not fresh tasting. The other sushi grade fish - the kanpchi tiradito - was good in comparison. The thin crispy Masa round was similar to a taco pizza, and a fun app to share. Next up, the kale salad was tasty and served with the full stems. The bone marrow came with two large bones but didn't seem to have enough flavour cooked into it. Lastly, the skirt steak and 18oz rib eye were served. We were never asked how we liked it cooked when ordering, but we received medium rare which worked out to our tastes. Overall, great value for a lot of food and high quality ingredient based dishes, but nothing stood out at the end of the night. I was hoping for a little more bite. It's a beautiful restaurant otherwise, and maybe I'm just not the right fit for palette. read more

Quetzal - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Every dish I ate here, I had a genuine mmmm. Such interesting flavours, pretty presentation and attentive service. So good! One of the dishes had peanuts which wasn't listed on the menu (...) BUT they were able to replace it right away due to an allergy. We came here on a Friday night and was able to grab a sit fairly easily. Dishes range between $15-30 and are meant to be shared. I would go back! But maybe for special occasions only. read more

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Who knew Mexican food wasn't just tacos and tequila This is the first time I've had runner beans and they were so good! Great flavour and texture! The roasted bone marrow was also good but didn't have as much marrow as I like. The taste was a bit Asian similar to a black bean sauce. The whole Cornish hen was supposedly a popular dish and it didn't disappoint, though the color makes it look charred it wasn't at all! It was grilled and seasoned to perfection. The scallops were buttery, but I think it had a bit too much oil for my liking. To end off, the desert was "Nicuatole de coco con piña" which is a gelatinous desert made of maize and sugar with grilled pineapple! So delicious! Definitely would recommend for not-so-typical Mexican food 8.5/10 read more

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I had high expectations but it just wasn't that great. Portions were good but taste wise expected more from a Michelin restaurant. Felt slightly unwell after the meal as well. read more

Went on a Sunday, early evening, walked in and ate at the bar. My friend and I were impressed with the bartender who was great at describing the food menu and great with suggestions. We thought he had better service than Alo bar at Yorkville. We also had Alo / Aloette staff sitting beside us. They, of course, had industry treatment, super friendly to each other. Food was good. Ordered the Masa with the mushrooms with it, enjoyed the salsas with it. The Lamb melts in your mouth, very fatty so you really need the right salsa / acid to go with it. The mushroom was solid as most reviewers had said. The broth was very flavourful but there is something gritty and slightly bitter at the end on the bottom of the bowl. We ordered two desserts, one was a chocolate and pear sauce pairing. Not heavy nor too sweet. The second one was a daily special, they call it a Nutella bread with hot chocolate. This hot chocolate is NOT thick, but had a the right spice like in a chai that balances the bread that is a bit on the dry side but the homemade nutella inside was divine! The atmosphere is fun. The decor is amazing. The staff was really good. read more

So creative! Their staff Matthew suggested the tasting menu and I'm so glad we went with that. We got to sample amazing dishes. Drinks were delicious as well. Usually when I ask for a mocktail, it's nothing fancy but Queztal bar served up some flavourful contoction. Great evening after a while. Too bad things are going to close again but we hope to return soon!! read more

Loved loved everything! I loved how they serve smaller portion so I could try more dishes. Sweetbread is a must try! It is a veal dish with black garlic sauce. It just melted in my mouth. This dish was my fav the grilled runner bean was amazing too. It tasted so good with sweetbread. I would definitely go back to try other dishes. read more

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We went for a birthday meal with some friends and shared the food. The atmosphere was intimate and lively. The food was absolutely delicious! They servers were accommodating to our allergies and were attentive. We were stuffed by the end read more

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The interior of the restaurant is really nice. The ceiling architecture is very unique, the lines and lights are unlike anything I've seen before. Worth checking out just for the interior. You can smell the live fire kitchen when you walk through the dining room but I didn't feel like it was intrusive at all during the meal. The food at Quetzal was all really good. We got: Scallop ceviche - refreshing, tart, sweet, great way to start the meal. The combination of halibut scallop apple all paired nicely together. Also first time having sea asparagus! Tetela masa - this was like an upscale super tasty pizza pocket. At least that's what I thought of hope the chef doesn't take offense bc it was freakin tasty. The black bean sauce was super smoooooth. Ash roasted beets - the beets rhubarb and avocado puree went well together. Well executed but didn't really find anything particular unique about this. Bavette steak - this was an umami bomb. Porcini rub on the steak and the anchovy caper salsa all contributed to super umami flavours. The charred onion offered a nice break. It was suggested to eat the steak with the black bean sauce from the tetela. This added another creamy dimension to the dish. I thought it made taste even better. Quetzal comes highly recommended. Everything was really tasty, well cooked and well balanced. read more

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Quetzal is interesting. There's this big huge space that goes for miles with a glimpse into kitchen. At the front, there's a huge table with natural light, and the bar is impeccably stocked and gorgeous. We sat at the bar, and it was fun conversing with our server who was full of quips and stories. His drinks were equally interesting. The food though, for Mexican just wasn't as great as the rest of the restaurant itself. Things were plated prettily (maybe a bit oddly), but nothing popped our taste buds as Mexican flavours should. It was just an okay meal. We left a bit hungry and wanting more. read more

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It's hard for most to imagine Mexican cuisine without defaulting to tacos, nachos, and burritos. Come to Quetzal to see that it is so much more. The low sloping ceiling creates a cozy atmosphere that makes you forget you're on busy College Street. The entire staff was warm, inviting, and knowledgeable. If you're in a party if 2-3 and want to try a variety of dishes, they offer smaller sizes of most dishes. If you're unsure what to order, simply tell them any dietary restrictions and your budget, and they will gladly curate a tasting menu for you. We ordered 6 items, 3 of which were adjusted to smaller portions. Favourite dishes were the grilled scallops and grilled skirt steak. For a good time, dip that steak in the scallops' butter sauce. read more

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Long story short: Beautiful ambiance, delicious but expensive. Worth a try. Long story long: The food was delicious. That scallop ceviche people keep talking about was as great as they say and surprisingly a good portion. I got a half order, because my friend was only willing to try it, and she liked it despite her being a bit on the picky side. My main was the bone marrow and shrimp. Delicious, flavourful, filling and a bit of work. I particularly like the warm and fresh house-made tortillas that came on the side. I only wish they provided me with the right tools to eat the dish properly. It's essentially a DIY taco, very hands-on - you need to peel the shells off the shrimp, for example. It's just a little effort, which I don't mind, however, I ended up with two staff hunting down a small enough spoon/fork to be able to get the marrow out, making things a bit more of a First World problem. It didn't really make sense to me that they didn't see that coming. It was nice that they provided a hot towel to clean up, though it came before we started eating, so they were cold by the time we needed to use them. My friend ordered the empanada oxaqueña (lamb), which she said was good and filling. But I think she didn't get much of a 'wow' factor. The staff were all very kind and knowledgeable about each dish. The decor was very chic and looked high-end. It's a good place to try at least once. I just know there are better places for the same price point around the city. read more

Service was amazing. Our server, Petra, went above and beyond our expectations. The food was also really good. I would say the highlight of my meal was the scallop ceviche. The dish I would avoid would be the "empanadas" was like a tortilla would some meat. read more

While we are Mexican cuisine aficionados, our experience with the food hasn't strayed far from the quotidian comforts of Chipotle and Taco Bell. The concept of haute Mexican cuisine was entirely foreign to us. We were seated at the bar, which which is at the front of this incredibly beautiful restaurant. The restaurant features low ceilings and incredibly soft lighting that gave it a very romantic feel. This place is seriously Instagram-friendly. Mixto ceviche: 3/5 This was the biggest disappointment of the night. I love a good ceviche, and I was so excited to try this after seeing pics on other bloggers' feeds about the Mixto. When it arrived, the dishes didn't match: there was less than half the amount of scallops as the blog post I referenced from a year ago. The dish itself was pretty good - it was halibut + scallops in a sour, acidic bath. Citrus salad 4/5 We really enjoyed this salad, and the simplicity in ingredients really surprised us. It featured grapefruit, navel oranges, and a green salsa. Atop the oranges were sous vide chayote slices to give it a light crunch. Blue corn masa cakes 5/5 This dish was the highlight of our night. The consistency of the cakes was absolutely amazing - it was crispy yet soft at the same time. It's hard to believe that this was a vegetarian dish; the mushrooms were extremely juicy and worked perfectly with the cheese. We could've eaten 5 of these each. Sweet potato 3/5 This dish was highly recommended on yelp, but it wasn't fantastic. The yam was good, but tasted boiled - the smoke didn't really get through. The sauce was good - it resembled Lao Gan Ma closely - a Chinese black bean peanut paste. Overall, things didn't really mix together. If you do get this though, make sure to order a batch of tortillas to make sweet potato tacos! To sum up our critique of this place, we think it's fallen to the classic trap that fancy establishments fall prey to when trying to modernize a classic cuisine: losing the integrity of the flavours. Everything felt too refined, not punchy enough. While we understand the value of restraint and nuance, we can't help but think that the fieriness that defines Mexican cuisine was overly diluted. Quetzal ranked 23 out of Canada's best 100 restaurants. While it was a tasty meal, we wouldn't put it in our top 50. Also there's only 1 washroom. This means long lines. Don't hold it in. read more

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This place is a hidden gem. From outside it's really unassuming. You walk in and the architecture alone is magnificent. I was absolutely blown away with the incredible flavors in every single dish we tried. It was a special occasion and everyone at our table was impressed with not only the food but the drinks and the service! Stand out dishes were definitely the scallop ceviche appetizer and the scallop entrée. The bone marrow dish with the Argentinian crabs were also a hit. My friend got the steak and said it was cooked to perfection. I highly recommend this place if you're in the mood to splurge for an incredible dining experience. read more

Mr.H and I were here for a celebratory dinner, right when you walk in this place has a modern and minimalist ambiance, very different from most other mexican restaurants. Like really... I did not see one decorative skull. Lol I tried two cocktails, the Primaverde and a special for the day called Breakfast in Mexico. Both were amazing! For food we tried the below: Tuna Tostada - yummy... the sesame and spice on this really makes it unique. Seafood cocktail - Mr.H loved it but this was my least favorite dish. I thought it was too tart to enjoy. Lamb Masa - One of my favorite from the night, the lamb was so beautifully cooked, extremely delicious. A must try if you love lamb. Beets - This was ordered from the greens section of the menu and was surprisingly very tasty. The creamy base and seasoning made it a perfect pairing with the grill pork. Grill Pork - OMG! Served with roasted pineapple and a caramelized onion sauce it was what you'd call "melts-in-your-mouth" deliciousness!!! I'd heard their meats are amazing so I'm excited to try this place again and maybe have the beef next time. The service was perfect and I've certainly added this place to my list of must trys in Toronto. read more

Part of a longer review... "Let me assure you: the indulgent ceviche dishes were well worth the price tag. And they have a taste that necessitates eating them immediately. The Ceviche Verde Mixto ($26) was mon plat préféré. The gleaming, pearly flesh of the scallops and halibut was highlighted with a vibrant green backdrop and were topped with delicate and salty sea asparagus. I equally enjoyed the Aguachile de Camaron ($24), with black radish, jicama, orange, habanero and the most perfectly sliced avocado. The shrimp had been doused with just the right amount of lime juice to transform its flesh to the slightest pink hue. Like many other dishes, the sense of placement in the raw dishes was well-honed. But, beyond its pristine appearance, the taste was superb and it's now my ceviche of choice in the city." read more

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This restaurant fills two gaps in Toronto: 1) a modern take on Mexican cuisine 2) a casual fine dining restaurant with an interesting take on both meat and seafood This restaurant also has some of the most knowledgeable and service oriented wait staff I have ever encountered. I recommend not reading the menu at all and let the staff and chef curates tasting menu for you (at $65-75 per person plus tax). I have done that 3 times and every time they come up with a sequence of very thoughtful dishes that take the guests dietary reactions in consideration, with great variations that changes according to season. The latest hit for me is their special lobster appetizer. Where they grill the whole lobster with spice and matcha. The right amount of heat balanced with the fresh taste of the lobster. Never saw lobster handled this way. Bravo! This is a spot suitable for dates and groups of 4-8. Very nice atmosphere. read more

I think most of the yelp reviews are quite fair and appropriate - you can believe the hype on this place. :) Ordered: Green Salad - this was a bit boring, i would choose something more interesting on the next run Coal Roasted Sweet Potato - a huge surprise, this was delicious - totally threw me off-guard Whole Cornish Hen - very tasty and a good size portion Calamari - I will be ordering this (and the sweet potato) the next time I visit Added a couple of cocktails and the dinner came to just over $100 before tip - which is about average these days.. If you can get a chance, sit at the chef's table and check out all their menu first hand. Next visit I plan to try the seabream and the steak & leeks... read more

have been wanting to visit but plans took longer since the pandemic. it felt very safe indoors and the ambiance was lovely. food was great. read more

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So, so bad. We ordered the tasting menu and every course that came out we waited for it to get better but it only got worse. Service was terrible - we were forgotten many times. My friend is in bed sick to her stomach because the octopus tasted off and the rest of us are ordering a pizza because we barely ate. As someone who frequents Michelin star restaurants, this was a huge disappointment. read more

We had an amazing time here ! Sat in the back at the chefs table which was so fun to watch the action. It was also nice to chat with the chefs. Some people mentioned it was quite warm - they did have some serious fans going on back there but it is warmer than usual. Keep that in mind if you're sensitive to heat but I was very comfortable. I think these reservations go fast so book early if you wish! We ordered five dishes: two masa (chicken and mushroom), roasted sun chokes, octopus and chorizo. The real stand out was the octopus, this was incredible. Served with pineapple and squash and a spicy sauce. Chorizo and sun chokes were also absolutely delicious. Both masas were a little more on the plain side and my least favourite of the dishes but still quite tasty. Each dish had absolutely bomb cremas, salsas, and sauces which added more depth. Lastly, the service was on point. A little slow at times but it was actually nice because there were so many choices on the menu. What stood out to me was our server pointed out we had ordered quite a lot of food and offered to give us a half portion of the sunchokes. I have never been told I ordered too much at a small plates restaurant so this really impressed me. We opted for no dessert but it was my birthday so the server bought us out dessert anyway which was also a very kind gesture. The dessert was a chocolate sorbet with passion fruit which was quite interesting. I highly recommend this place and I will definitely return to try more dishes. read more

My partner (who was visiting from out of town for our anniversary) and I were extremely excited to try this place. Myself, being half latino, I was ecstatic when I heard about a new restaurant opening up with what seemed to be an interesting take on Mexican cuisine. I'll start off with saying our server was extremely cold and downright rude towards us throughout the entire night. Maybe because we look a lot younger than we actually are and she was also helping a loud table next to us and giving them far better service than we received. Regardless, that's not how customer service works. We started off with a cocktail each, I can't remember what I ordered but it was fine, nothing to write home about. My partner got the Crystal Visions which was absolutely horrible. It tasted like pure celery and fennel :\. We wanted to send it back but we were a bit too timid because our server was so cold. Ceviche Verde Mixto: comes served with tortillas. When it was brought out to us the tortillas didn't come with it to which we had to ask a support staff to grab for us since our server was nowhere to be found. Was really great, quite acidic but it didn't bother us at all. The scallops were amazing and had a perfect buttery texture. The only downside to this dish was the tortillas. I'm not sure if we got a bad batch or this is how Quetzal serves them all the time but they tasted almost stale? They were very very hard to the point I had to jab them with my fork/knife to break them apart. I mean, if you're serving a $26 ceviche the least you can do is provide a half decent tortilla. After that we had 3 salsas, again I can't remember which ones because honestly, they were nothing special, 2 of 3 were pretty bland. Loved having to eat these bland salsas with stale tortillas!!! Around this time we were done our cocktails and wanted to get some wine. We asked our server to recommend one to us, an Australian wine, which was her "favourite". I would have rather her pick out something from Central or South America which I think would have been more suiting/accompanying. Let's just say that will probably be the last time either of us ever have Australian wine again. For the vegetables we had the sweet potato which we both really liked. Coal roasted with a nice smokey flavour and walnuts. A very homey feeling and tasting dish which we'd recommend. Tetela Masa: This was actually my favourite dish which I'm not really sure if that is a good thing for this restaurant. Mollejas (sweetbreads): These were very very good and if I ever go back I'd definitely order them again. Although the ones from Bar Isabel I Prefer. Overall, we both really really wanted to like Quetzal but it was one thing after another so it was hard for us. I think they definitely have a lot of kinks they need to work out and can hopefully do so in the near future. I'd go back but probably not on my own dollar to be honest. Let's hope they stop serving stale tortillas with $26 side dishes! read more

This meal blew us away We came here for a celebratory dinner and were glad that we made reservations - the place was packed on a Saturday evening. What immediately struck me was the beautiful interior design - the sloping white ceiling, open fires, and intricate wall sconces make it an intimate and cozy environment, transporting you into a different space altogether. But you probably want to know about the food What to try? A bit of everything! The waiter suggested that we order one dish from each section and that was the perfect amount of food. We started with the Verde Mixto Ceviche, which was fantastic in how the flavours and textures played off each other. Try the flame charred tortillas by themselves, too. We ordered three salsas as well that brought their own unique flavour profiles and were a great interlude in our meal. There's one with ants in it that I want to go back and try! Next we had one of their Masa (corn dough) dishes - the Tlacoyo - that was a squash based tortilla wrapped around a goat cheese-esque cheese, paired with a flavourful salsa with flame grilled mushrooms, onions, and squash that was just delicious! Next we had one of their daily special dishes from the Verduras (vegetable) section. This for me was one of the highlights of the meal - a perfectly roasted squash that was crispy on the outside but firm and rich on the inside, paired with a mole sauce and brussel sprouts with sunflower seeds mixed in. What an experience! Our meal finished with the bavette steak that was cooked perfectly medium rare, was seasoned to perfection, and paired with a delectable salsa and roasted cauliflower. We did notice that the steak was a bit tougher to chew, but all in all was great. At the very end, we ordered their Cremoso for Vanilla for dessert, which was such a unique mix of different flavours and textures with meringue, cream, sugared almonds, and citrus presented beautifully in an orange earthenware bowl. No meal like this is complete without drinks! My partner got the Como Paulo which she really enjoyed - it is a cocktail with a lightness that belies its complexity, bringing together guava liqueur, cinnamon, lemon, and pink bubbles. I prefer spirit forward drinks and got the Second Set, which was an off the beaten path take on a Manhattan - the coffee and cacao notes really come out in the aftertaste after the initial spirit and sweetness fades away. The restaurant also offered me half of two mezcals as a way to try two - the lighter Mexicano (fruity, with smokiness afterwards) and the heavier Bosscal (petroleum, smoke, burnt rubber) - and they came with the most excellent pickles as well! The hospitality was also incredible with attention to the smallest details. One of the waiters took the time to walk us through the entire menu and give us recommendations. We also noted that the washrooms have Simple Human garbage cans, which was a nice touch (lol, the things that matter right?). All in all this was an unforgettable meal! If you're looking for a nice date night, to celebrate an occasion, or just for a meal to treat yoself, definitely check this place out. read more

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Sitting in front of the grill was super fun, and super hot after a while. If you are on a first date, sit somewhere else, unless you are testing for his/her true colour. My husband was soaked (still very happy) in front of the heat, I may have been slightly grumpy after he misted water on my face... Mist bottle and water provided by the restaurant. Cocktail - Animal Spirit is a must try, well balanced, goes great with the dishes. Ceviche - perfectly put together with a variety of seafood and other ingredients, each spoon was a lovely surprise. Hen - "respect" to the grill master; his hands were pretty much IN the fire without batting an eye... I wanted a selfie with him, but of course didn't ask... The hen was very nicely cooked - the meat was so juicy it was exploding flavour while carrying that crunchiness on the skin from the grill. Dessert - I learned all desserts are made in house, the chocolate ones are surreal! And they made the best Americano I have had at restaurants. I found out over the long weekend that Quetzal is temporarily closed as the brilliant couple-chefs have left. Follow them (Julio Guajardo and Kate Chomyshyn), I am sure great food will return somewhere soon, hopefully in Toronto. read more

After a recent trip to the Yucatan and experiencing authentic Mexican wood-fired cuisine, I have been on a mission to find similar flavours in the city of Toronto. From the moment you walk into the restaurant, Hands down quetzals interior design is beautiful. The sloped ceiling creates an inviting appearance to the dining room and the open fires at the back, fill the space with a smell that instantly indicated that I was in the right place. We ordered many tastes from the menu. We started with several veggie dishes including the grilled asparagus, green salad and grilled runner beans. The favourite from the veggie dishes were the runner beans. They have a similar bite to cactus without the slimey texture. The addition of coconut and cotija cheese added unique flavours and textures to the earthy veggies. The restaurant makes its own masa based dishes and we opted for the Mamelas and the empanada. Both dishes were gluten free and delicious. The mamelas were a flavour bomb with trumpet mushrooms and a cheese sauce. For meat, we had the chorizo, steak and sweet breads. To be honest, the steak was a bit chewy and not a favourite of the group. The sweet breads however, were unreal. I have never had sweet breads before and the way that they were prepared at quetzal proved just how delicious a organ meat can be. For dessert we had the avocado ice cream with GRASSHOPPERS and a passion fruit mousse. I never thought I would enjoy grasshoppers but they truly added the most unique texture in contrast to the smooth creamy ice cream. All in all, quetzal puts an elegant spin on true traditional Mexican fare...this place is worth a visit and the hefty bill. read more

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The tasting menu was pretty good, minus the raw stuff (fish & ceviche) but that's just not my preference. Those that do like it, really enjoyed it. My favs were the scallops, shrimp, wagu steak & veggies. The service was amazing & our server was very charming & knowledgeable. The ambiance was ok, it didn't give me michelin star vibes but that's ok, the food & service made up for it. read more

Finally a Mexican restaurant in Toronto that is moving the cuisine scene from $10 of poor quality, to high quality/high value dining. They seem to have the formula down right here in terms of the atmosphere, the service, and the quality. The space is narrow and beautifully designed to maximize the diner experience, without overcrowding. Service is impeccable and comfortable - there's a genuineness to lengths the servers will go to ensure you're happy. In terms of quality of food - all I can say is excellent. You've got lots of authenticity here, and some creativity that does't disrespect the cuisine or bastardize it. A must visit. The hype is worth it. read more

Excellent up scale Mexican affair. Unique and original flavors which makes this place very appealing. Excellent plating and service - well deserved Michelin star read more

So long story short I love it! Like really really really great experience. The food is obvs amazing. I love how their menu is set up, and the selection is fantastic. Their twist on some of the traditional Mexcian dishes is very superb. Service was impeccable. Our server was extremely knowledgeable fo all the menu items and food preparation. Cocktails are amazing as well. 100% Taste was great. Although a bit too pricy. The wine is overpriced too, which I guess it's typical for this type of restaurant. But that's where you lost the fifth star - overpriced alcohol. read more

Say at the chef bar and that gave us a real appreciation for how much everyone really cared. Everything was wood fire cooked, it authentic and absolutely packed with flavour. The architecture of the restaurant is immaculate and a must see. I'd recommend this for a professional night out or a date. read more

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I loved this place and will come back every time im in toronto. We had the asparagus dish, sweet potato with peanuts and pea shoots, triangular corn masa, white bean dip, skirt steak, sunchokes. EVERYTHING was awesome. The drinks were also good. Every accomopanying sauce made each dish exponentially better. I wanted to lick the sauce clean off of the plates. You have to try it. read more

Quetzal - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Really delicious food that takes a twist on traditional Mexican cuisine. Tried the mixto ceviche, sweet potato, salad, octopus and wagyu beef steak. Beautiful interior, not too dark, not too loud. 4 stars given due to prices but food is 5/5! read more

Quetzal - Mixto ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario