One of the standout dining experiences we've had this year that still comes to mind. We had a wonderful time celebrating a birthday and the service was amazing. We shared the grilled calamari and the chorizo sausage with the table. The chorizo was better than any other I've had in the city. I had the whole grilled fish (with head on) as my main and it was delicious. The skin was crispy but the meat was tender and moist. We couldn't decide on the wine, so our server helped pull one off the wall that was not on the menu but paired perfectly with the rest of the meal. Lovely intimate neighbourhood restaurant for a quiet celebration! read more

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We had a wonderful time celebrating a friends Birthday. Service is impeccable, food is great. Been there many times. Fernando, the owner is always ready to please you. Will definitely return. read more

This restaurant has been in the neighbourhood for so long but it stands inconspicuously that we never noticed. Portuguese fine dining--yummy and really perfect for dates, quiet and great ambiance. Their patio is large but holds a number of seating--great for big groups. This is a white table cloth kind of place with wonderful service. A friend and I had decided to try it after our hockey game--we quickly changed--very casual on a Thursday evening but the service we had was very welcoming. We ordered ginger ale and it was served in wine glasses--so fancy. We were given bread, two types and humus with sesame oil (interesting). On the table was delicious balsamic and olive oil--no complaints here. Food wise we ordered the ahi tuna, side of sautéed vegetables and substituted potatoes with salad and the rack of lambs with sautéed vegetables. The ahi tuna was cooked more than to our liking but still delicious, likewise with the lamb. Would definitely revisit as everything was great! Was it the most amazing meal? No, but it was a wonderful meal with wonderful service. There are a couple parking spots but lots of street parking. Restaurant is located about 6min bus ride north of Dufferin. read more

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From our first step into RUSH HOUR we knew we had arrived! Service was amazing.. served complimentary dip and hot fried dough, it was delicious. Continued to refill when needed. Had the Veal chop which was delicious. The waitress was outstanding. Will definitely return. The place was spotlessly clean! read more

This restaurant is located in a busy street off of Dufferin. They have a great menu selection as well as drinks. We ordered seafood and steak. The seafood was fresh and cooked perfectly as well at the meat. Service here is also good and I definitely recommend this restaurant if your ever in the area! read more

I have this buddy, and when we decide to go have dinner together, we often just hem and haw and aimlessly paw through our Yelp apps. You know, before deciding to go to one of the same two or three places. Well not tonight! Tonight we hit Rush Hour and it was tasty. Oh the pastabilities! My gnocci was a huge bowl of creamy goodness, and my buddy got the chicken parm, sub in a pasta side. It looked awesome. He doesn't really like cheese, so he left his mozza topping (fool), but if you are a cheese lover, this is definitely the dish for you. Lovely street-side patio, cute bright interior covered in wine bottles and really kind servers. read more

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The service was fantastic. Our server (possibly the owner?) had the patio table set up for us as we were getting out of the car. We were sat under a huge umbrella, which shielded us nicely in the rain that came afterwards (is there anything more romantic than dining in the rain? IS THERE?) We began dinner with a complimentary glass of port. Very tasty. I was a bit disappointed by the booze menu. Only Steam Whistle and Flying Monkeys (errggh no thanks) on tap, and only French Cross by the glass. This is the wine I usually buy for cooking, not drinking. The food was delicious and the portions were huge. The calimari appetizer was fantastic and perfectly cooked. For my main I had the grilled whole seabream, which was the daily special. It was a touch overcooked, but otherwise very good. I had no hope in hell of finishing off my plate. The Hubster had a caesar salad and the chicken parmiagiana, which he really enjoyed. What really stuck out at this place was the service. You could tell that everyone there really cares about what they're doing. The only thing that bugged me a bit was that the patio is pretty loud, as it's right on Dufferin street. This spot is pretty close to our house. I'd likely bring the in-laws here if they were ever looking for a fancy spot to dine. read more

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I was very impressed with the restaurant. It's not the biggest place but quiet and romantic. The restaurant does take reservations, and it seemed like they were booked the entire night when we got there with reserved signs on the tables. Service was very attentive and made sure you were well taken care of. It is quite possible this was family-owned, although I'm not sure (which can make quite a difference). They gave us a basket of bread with hummus -- who doesn't love bread?! Ordered the grilled calamari -- Delicious!!! Tender and well-seasoned. Main -- Chicken Parm was HUGE. I could only eat half of it. It was so tender and juicy. Came with a side of veges. Also got the special Steak kabob ft. filet mignon, chorizo sausage and steak. That was also quite filling and delicious. Price was very reasonable, especially with the portion size. We were quite full and couldn't even finish it all, so make sure you're hungry! Drinks were around $5. Pretty cheap as we ordered a fuzzy navel and mill st. beer. Didn't order dessert but they had a good variety: apple beignet, cheesecake, sorbet, etc. Our bill came up to $80 for everything. Not bad at all! Would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone with taste. read more

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Probably my favourite place in the city for a great full meal. From the occasional welcome glass of port or the fresh bread while you food is being prepared the Rush Hour is a clinic on how a restaurant should be run. In summer there is a patio off to the side that is great to spend the afternoon on with a book and beer. When I used to live on Lansdowne it was definitely a twice a month visit and now out in Oakville I am sad that my visits are less frequent. They are closed Monday and usually require a reservation Friday / Saturday but I guarantee it is well worth the visit. read more

Rush Hour - Portuguese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Name does NOT match the restaurant. "Rush Hour" sounds more fitting for a café, sandwich place, other takeout restaurant where you just pick up and go. So when I arrived, I was surprised to find: 1) FREE dedicated parking alongside the restaurant, 2) a patio &, 3) white table cloths with wine glasses on top. I was going to ask the server about the name, but I forgot. Plus, I didn't want to be rude since they were soo nice! They even made me a port tonic - off menu, made sure it was the way I liked it, AND even changed it by adding the ice cubes...very important. Complimentary bread (different kinds)/hummus - Excellent! Calamari - I wished it was a bit more grilled. I know it can get rubbery when cooked more, but I love the grilled taste and that just wasn't that prominent. The pastas were hidden in the "Hot off the pans" portion of the menu. I just read through it and there was no pastas with a rosé/tomato-based sauces. I'm sure they could've accommodated this request, but you'll hafta consult your tastebuds as to whether or not those combos will taste well together. My friend had the steak and it was cooked as per his request. Fries were amazing, golden brown. I hate when restaurants under/overcook fries or they're limp/greasy. We were too stuffed for dessert, but the server brought us complimentary Natas. Yum. Will be back for either an occasion or a treat meal! read more

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I loved the place. The service was awesome and kind. Although they didn't have the Albarinho wine I wanted, they made a good suggestion of a vinho verde. The food was perfectly cooked and in big portions. I would suggest to make reservation because gets busy for dinner. Can't wait to go back for oysters and wine at the patio. read more

Rush Hour - Picanha and tuna!!! - Portuguese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I would pass Rush Hour all the time and always made a mental note to try it, so we made reservations for Valentines day (which I highly recommend even for non-holidays, as it's a small intimate restaurant with about 10 tables.) The service was impeccable, all of the wait staff were super friendly and really made us feel comfortable. The restaurant itself is cozy and upscale, without being pretentious. Along with the amazing service, the food was delicious!!!! We started with the grilled calamari, which was cooked perfectly with a nice char taste. Then we shared the Pichana steak, which came with house fries and side salad. The steak was cooked exactly the way we want, the fries were so good and the salad was well dressed. We also shared the grilled lamb chops - and they were out of this world!!!! Perfectly seasoned! The lamb was so tender. If you like lamb chops, I highly recommend this dish. Even if you dont, try them! It will change your mind on lamb. It came with a side of veggies and mushroom risotto, which was SO good as well. The BF and I made another mental note to order the risotto entree next time! We found the prices so reasonable for the fresh ingredients and portion sizes. Everything from the service to the ambiance, and the phenomenal meal, we will definitely be back soon! read more

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This hidden gem is a small intimate fine dining Portuguese restaurant with excellent value and food so tasty you'll be licking your plate. We came with a large group, and on a quiet Sunday night, we were one of the few in there, with some one or two other couples. The entire place seems to only fit a handful of diners, so make sure to make a reservation! If you're a light eater, I would recommend sharing a plate with your DPs. The portion sizes are large, and be prepared to stuff yourself. We shared a plate of Mussels ($10) and the Pichana Steak (Brazillian seared steak, served with salad, black beans, fried seasoning, and rice). With 2 glasses of wine it was $45 including taxes. Taking advice from other reviews, I knew that there would be 2 steaks. It was so flavourful, and I liked that it was thin. It was perfect to share and still have room for dessert. Other friends ordered the Risotto. It was a really great portion and very filling. Possibly can share this too. There was also a steak and risotto plate which I was surprised one of my guy friends couldn't finish! We also brought our own bday desserts, and they nicely plated them without a fee! Very rare. They were also very friendly, although slow to collect our empty plates (altho we weren't in a rush), and made separate bills upon request. This is definiately somewehre where we'd come again, for a date or bring our parents. Something more unique than typical 'canadian' food, with excellent value. At least, that's what's important to me. I was told that I should rate this badly, so that this place doesn't get too popular, but can't help it, I have to share! read more

This place....the food...I drool! The service I would have to say was on point all night. I went with my boyfriend and another couple and we were able to talk all night without having a waiter every 10 minutes ask us if everything was ok. I enjoy when waiters ask once, maybe twice (as they did) but when it's every 6 minutes OMG let me talk to my friends.... I wish I took some pictures of this place because it is so cute...perfect for a first date. The food was SO good, and the plate was completely filled, and this is a BIG plate. I actually got full 3/4 of the way but I HAD to finish it!! The bread was fantastic, my boyfriend, one of my guy friends and myself were late while my guy friends girlfriend sat there and waited for us. She told me they treated her very nicely while she was there alone and gave her fantastic bread. I had red snapper and I'm telling you it is to DIE FOR! Cost: 4 people, 2 apps, 4 mains, 2 desserts $120. Food quality: 5/5 Food quantity: 5/5 Wine Selection: 3.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Perfect for: First dates, anniversaries, any romantic setting. Would I Go Again: HELL YES! read more

Just a fantastic spot in the least likely of places. Staff was very professional. Little touches and attention to detail in the service. Fantastic bread and hummus on the house plus the best fish I've had in the city. Nothing over done. Just let the ingredients speak for themselves. Fried apple dessert was amazing (I'm not even a big fan of dessert). read more

Rush Hour - Fantastic fresh oysters and grilled shrimp. Awesome fresh bread as well. - Portuguese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The Seafood Penne in Alfredo Sauce seemed to be lacking the strong cheesy flavour that I loved before. The Picanha Steak came slightly over cooked instead of medium. The complimentary bread selection and chickpea hummus were good. The Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake and Pineapple Sorbet (served in half pineapple) were fantastic and refreshing, definitely the highlight of this meal. read more

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First thing's first: I will be going back here. Let's get that out of the way. I enjoyed Rush Hour enough that, despite some niggling problems, I'm sure we'll be back shortly. It has a great little atmosphere, a nice patio, and the food/service overall was excellent. However, there were some problems: 1)I asked for a Margarita and was served some neon green kool-aid grainy/gritty disgusting thing that was probably the worst cocktail I've ever had. 2)My wife's Vodka Penne was good but the pancetta in it was of such low quality, it was all fat, bitter, just left a bad taste in your mouth. Kind of ruined the dish for her. If you're going to use really shitty pancetta and wanna save some money, just use bacon instead. Yeesh. Overall though we had a nice time on the patio. Can't believe how CHEAP this place is, especially for wine, not much of a markup on the bottles. That was nice. We'll be going back for sure, hopefully we'll have better luck on some items. read more

Fine dinning at a very reasonable price. Excellent service and good portion size. There is a wide range of food options such as seafoods, chicken, pasta, risotto etc.. Can accommodate vegetarians. read more

It's been 24 hours and I still can't get over how amazing my meal was at Rush Hour. A group of us went out to celebrate a birthday and we couldn't have picked a better place. Even though it's not officially summer yet, they humoured our request for sangria and put together the best one I've had in the city, full of different kinds of fruit but not too sweet. The service was beyond compare, completely attentive without being intrusive. I also loved the music, a laid back mix of french folk-y sounding music and acoustic rock. All of these wonderful things, and that's not even the best part! The meal itself was fantastic. I ordered the Picanha (Brazilian steak), which was actually 2 steaks (!!) served with salad, fries, rice, and beans. The steak was cooked perfectly to order and it was so flavourful with a nice crisp grilled outside. The prices are very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the food, the portions and the service. They also have a nice patio that I'm planning to visit for more sangria in the near future. This place is a hidden gem! read more

Incredible food and a great restaurant ! All the items on the menu sounded amazing as did the specials. We were a group of 5 celebrating a birthday. They brought complimentary bubbly for us! I had the salmon (so good), the portions are generous and prices are fair! The Caesar salad was delicious as was the browny cheesecake desert. The presentation for each plate was beautiful It's a small restaurant - make sure to make reservations ! read more

Nice little spot in the middle of uptown Toronto. Atmosphere is nice and comfortable. Food was disappointing. I had the "Penne a la vodka" which left me dissatisfied. Bacon was overcooked while the pasta was undercooked. Flavours were bland as well. Cheesecake is amazing! Service started off great. We needed a quick accommodation and it was done quickly. About half way through the evening, our waiter seemed to forget about us completely. From that point on, it was a frustrating experience. Based on reviews, we expected better. Maybe next time. read more

Went to this little, cozy, restaurant with the wife. Quiet, intimate and romantic resto with attentive owner and unpretentious and capable staff. We had crab croquettes, a Caesar salad, I had the salmon (delicious! Crispy on the outside and perfectly flaky on the inside). Desserts: tiramisu for me and my wife had chocolate brownie with ice cream. A very fine and gorgeously tasty meal. read more

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This rustic restaurant with a beautiful summer patio is a must try. The staff are always so welcoming. The food is absolutely delicious, the lobster ravioli & the picanha are my favourite. We come for most Family/Traditional occasions and the service is always amazing. My family & myself love this place! read more

The food I will give it 5 out of 10 Had no sauce The light inside the restaurant was so dull It toke a little more time to save us read more

Brazilian done right! We came here the day Portugal won their World Cup match. Even though outside obnoxious whistling, horn blowing and general noisemaking threatened to annoy the pants off my dining experience, Rush Hour managed to put a smile on my face. Service from attentive waitstaff with great insight into the menu kicked if off, followed by crusty fluffy bread so hot you can see the steam coming off it. I had the privilege of tasting the whole seabream prepared on the grill, with a Brazilian steak and beef short ribs. The fish was infused with plenty of fruity lime flavour, juicy and flaking easily under a crispy skin. Even the bones were tasty! The Brazilian steak came in two large pieces done perfectly medium rare, drippings running down a mound of sizzling thick cut fries. The waiter offered to get us some more meat but unfortunately my belt and I had to turn him down. Huge dinner. The special of the night, the beef short ribs, fell apart at the slightest touch, properly slow cooked for 4 hours. My mom liked the place so much she went back the next day. Didn't get dessert because the plates were so big but already looking forward to my next visit. read more

Wonderful!! What more can i possibly say about this little restaurant. Went for the first time last evening, had a reservation for 7:00, how nice to be seated right away. ( it was empty at the time!) but did fill up quickly. Water was brought ASAP, butter and a hummus type spread, then came the very hot bread 2 little loaves more than enough for the 3 of us. Then to our surprise the server came over to our table with a bottle of Port for a drink, ( I'm not a fan of Port but to those who do appreciate this wine it was nice) We ordered the Tiger shrimp in pernod as an app which was very nice, sauce was sooo good, especially for dipping your bread into! We each ordered a different entree, Fettucine Alfredo with shrimp, Penne a La vodka and the chicken supreme. Wow, the food here is amazing, had I realized that it was a Portuguese restaurant I definitely would have ordered a chicken or fish dish instead of the pasta. The chicken supreme was gorgeous and amazing, the potatoes are sooooo good and both of the pasta dishes were very nice as well. The service,the food and the ambiance were all amazing and for 3 people with a bottle of wine was under 100.00$!!!!! the service was so nice, very efficient and not intrusive. I will also add you aren't crammed in next to your neighbour, lot's of elbow room! I highly recommend this cozy little spot. :) read more

Wow! This is an amazing restaurant. The food and service are excellent. It reminded me of some of my favourite restaurants in Mtl as the atmosphere is sophisticated, but also relaxed, the food is on point and they really know how to treat their customers right. It's a bit expensive, but is definitely worth it especially if you are celebrating a special occasion (like a Friday night!) read more

Love their patio. I had the lamb which was perfectly executed. It was seasoned well and the fat was nicely charred. It was cooked medium rare just as I had requested. The risotto was creamy but not overly so. Service was attentive and friendly. read more

Can't say enough; this family run restaurant is an absolute gem. Food is superb. Service is top notch. Fernando ensures everything is perfect...every time. Even when the main restaurant is closed for private events, the family is attentive to the patio. Will come back again and again. read more

Lovely place - thoroughly enjoyed it! Between the group of us, we had the steak, and two types of fish. All were big portions and the fish was really fresh. We also had the oysters for appetizers and they gave us a huge loaf of bread with hummus to start as well. Will definitely return. Great price too! read more

Rush hour is a nice little gem in the neighborhood. My party and I all got different mains and they were all fantastic! The owner here is super friendly and attentive. The rest of the staff also offered great service. I highly recommend this place if you want to impress your date. I will be coming here often. read more

Rush Hour - Picanha - Portuguese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We had an amazing experience at Rush Hour this evening. I brought my boyrfriend for his birthday dinner. From the start we were impressed with the decor, the ambiance, and the friendliness of the staff. Fernando served us most of the night and was an exquisite host. We went with the specials, the lamb shank and the veal. Both were perfectly cooked. He even brought me another smaller lamb shank since I devoured the entree so quickly, all free of charge; we definitely felt welcome and well taken care of. We finished with the chocolate brownie cheesecake and the apple beignets which were exquisite. We left extremely pleased and will definitely be returning. The food and service was great at this price level especially. read more

excellent food. felt like leaving my plate and get up and go kiss the chef!!! This is my third in the past two years, since I don't live anymore in the area- the visit was worth it! they serve superb, well made food. consistently. service is kind and well timed. in a way im happy that they are not downtown and a bit away from the crowd, make it a perfect hide away restaurant. BRAVO read more

I've come here a couple of times with big groups (one of my friends loves this place so he always invites us here when he wants to celebrate something) and have always had amazing service. The food is great: huge portions and good quality ingredients, and though there's nothing on the menu that's particularly unique, it's all executed well. On my most recent visit, I had the mango salad, which is easily big enough for a meal and is served in a tortilla bowl for extra fillingness. Definitely recommended. read more

This is a Portuguese restaurant, although it came in under the Italian banner when I did the search. It has its own parking and is spacious inside, so conversation is easy. The service is excellent, as with all good restaurants, the owner is on the premises. The menu is full and interesting. We had tasty shrimp, (forget the mango salad), and certainly spicy chorizo salad, (good, but a bad choice on our part). The seafood risotto was honest, having plenty of muscles, shrimp, scallops, salmon, etc, but in our view somewhat bland. The Australian lamb was ample and cooked exactly how we asked. The desert list is standard but we didn't try anything. Including two bottles of excellent Aberino, the bill came in less than $100 per person including everything. They bring a plate of fish to the table and you can have any one that you select cooked in the manner you choose. Maybe this is the thing to do in this restaurant. read more

Great food, priced well with exceptional service. A true neighborhood gem. Fresh fish and seafood, quality meat and farm to table vegetables. Amazing outdoor patio in the good weather. Warm indoor atmosphere rest of the time. Really good quality and good fun. read more

Amazing food and amazing service. We wanted to share their onion soup and they served it in different soup plates which was very thoughtful of them. Got lobster risotto ( I asked to add mushrooms and they were happy to accommodate my request), filet mignon was just perfect ( we asked for medium and it was super tender and juicy) . Highly recommend!! :) read more

My husband and I have come here a handful of times. Everytime we are greeted by the owner and he is just delightful. The food is all made from scratch and the 2 dishes I have tried here really good. I would recommend this restaurant, it's cozy and the price is great for the quality of food. read more

Great location with a large patio. We didn't make reservations for a busy Xmas season but the waiter was able to accommodate and make do. It's a restaurant that is busy but they value business ( not your snobby resto that that has too much business to turn down ppl). Wonderful rustic northern Italian and intimate atmosphere, with a Portuguese flair. Great northern Italian pastas, as well as picania, and Portugese dishes . Well worth the visit read more

Went there on our anniversary and got Brazilian steak and Portuguese steak. Most excellent. The waitress honoured the occasion with some free port. Very cute place - not sure if extension ladder over the bar was meant to be ironic tribute to Portuguese construction worker neighbourhood, but I liked it. We'll definitely try this little place again. read more