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The prime rib steak came with some kind of puff bread (empty inside) that just not my taste, the steak also doesn't taste that great (a bit better if you add salt and pepper). The complimentary bread, lobster pasta and homemade cheesecake are pretty good. Overall disappointed with the steak considering the price too
Ok, here it is. Several people told me this is a good place for drinks and steak. Well, I was shocked that the food was not what I expected. My first impression as I walked into my table, I said Wow, what a view, what satisfaction, see pics. The service is excellent, no complaints there, but the food, in terms of taste, was disappointing; no flavors at all I may try again, but I don't think my taste buds will change their mind
The service was excellent! The occasion was to celebrate wedding anniversary with my partner and we figured to bring our toddler along. We called several fancy steakhouses and they refused small kids under age of 5. Until we called David Duncan and the receptionist even asked if we want highchair! When we got there, hostess and servers were all so friendly and welcoming us with the toddler! The steaks were amazing! The lettuce from their table side salad was so fresh! side dishes were just at the right flavor. I ordered filet mignon and my partner ordered the ny steak; both were cooked at the fine medium rare as requested! We will definitely come back here!!
Came here for the first time. Personally our favourite menu items was the ribeye, Caesar salad, and the vegetables. Unfortunately the lamb was overcooked and the other meats were just okay. The cocktails were good. Service was just okay.
Full disclosure I don't normally dine at fancy places or steakhouses in general, so I don't have much to compare to. As I came for a family gathering, this restaurant is a great spot for a special occasion, as it goes beyond just a meal and includes a full experience. The restaurant itself is located in a huge mansion, pretty secluded from anything else. The interior is very classy with the multiple chandeliers and stairwells. It was nice that for our big party of 8, we were seated in a round table so we could all see eachother and converse as a group. We started with the seafood tower which was so fresh... I really enjoyed everything I tried from this. We then got the table-side Caesar salad which was such an experience getting to watch the server make the dressing from scratch. The salad itself was one of the best I've had... nice and garlicky, with all the ratios being on point. For main, I ordered a medium-rare 12oz prime rib. The meat was good, though I felt at times it did get a bit chewy. This place is pretty pricey, though I can't really speak to it comparatively because again, I seldom go to steakhouses. The service was attentive, and the setting is amazing. Definitely a celebratory spot if you're open to dropping more money for a special occasion. Their menu is conveniently posted on their website.
Disaster of a evening. I was so looking forward to this meal. A disaster would be putting it gently. We got seated in a beautiful corner which we thought would be a little more intimate. Staff came by yo take our drink orders on time. They told us there would be a few team members serving us. After 20 min they took our order. Almost 30 more minutes go by before they started the table side Caesar salad. About an hour later we received our main dishes delivered by the kitchen staff. Our meals were cold for sitting so long. My steak was over cooked sitting under a heat lamp. Onion rings were soggy. Veg was cold. No one even came by for over 30 min. An hour later our plates were still sitting I had to pile it up to embarrass them to come and get it. We were seated before lots of other guests and were we were not even ask for coffee or cleaned our table in over 1 hr. Didnt even entertain the complimentary coffee the staff offered me as an insult for the lack of consideration. Manager didnt even come by to apologize or anything. The staff knew they screwed up. Offering me a free coffee was a joke. I paid my bill and left. Peter and Pauls should be embarrassed for the lack of service and unprofessional experience I had. The Keg already does a better job.
It has been several years since my last visit to this restaurant. I returned to commemorate my birthday. Given my love of oysters, I placed an order for half a dozen, which were indeed delectable. The steak was also of an acceptable standard. The service was adequate; the server was consistently attentive and ensured that all aspects of our experience were satisfactory. In honor of my birthday, I was presented with a cake, which, while delicious, was somewhat excessively sweet for my palate. The atmosphere was perfect; we could enjoy a decent conversation with one another. The pricing structure is commensurate with the extent of one's order, but it is generally reasonable.
I came here for a Spring Mingle and I was amazed by the quality of food and service we received. There's plenty of parking spots available at the back. Unfortunately, the patio wasn't opened up yet when we came here; but, both inside and patio are great for gatherings, dine-in, anniversaries and weddings. The house is spreading to 5 floors, with the bar located on 3rd floor (the same as entrance) and private rooms on floor 3, 4 and 5. Bartenders are very creative and nice. Our dinner came with a three course prix- fixe menu. I had Calamari Fritti for appetizer; calamari was crispy and cooked perfectly. For entrée, I tried their Chicken Supreme; so tender and juicy with the side of veggies and baked potatoes. And Chocolate Torte with Coffee was an amazing finale of our night. Our servers were also very nice, friendly and helpful, which made our night perfect.
My gf took me here for a celebratory dinner. It's located right near the Don Mills and York Mills Rd intersection and sits next to the Ontario Association of Architects building. It's got ample parking and the house doesn't look that big from the outside but it's actually massive inside. In addition, they have a huge patio as well. We arrived for a 6:30pm res and were seated promptly by the hostess. Having gone on the resto's official website, going through the virtual tour and then experiencing the decor first hand was really cool. I think there's 3 levels to the resto. We were sat on the lower level. 8oz bacon wrapped filet mignon: My gf said her entree was cooked perfectly and the peppercorn sauce that it came with was nice and creamy. She's not the biggest fan of veggies but she was appreciative of the fact that the meal came w/ broccolini and not broccoli lol. It also came w/ some onion rings. Her filet was extremely tender and juicy. 16oz ribeye steak: My entree came w/ the same default sides and it was also cooked to a perfect medium rare. I do wish from a sides perspective there would've been more choice/options provided given that it is a steakhouse. Bananas foster (for 2): For dessert my gf and I indulged in some bananas foster. The older, portly gentleman who cooked the bananas and flambéed the rum for us was pretty funny. The liquor didn't catch fire the first time so he added an extra shot to get it to catch LOL. That was a nice show and hilarious. Service as a whole was quite good. Our server for the night did have a drier sense of humour but that could've just been nerves. When it comes to fine dining, the closest comparison I have to this resto is Peter's in Markham. The Duncan House itself is way nicer than Peter's (super luxurious washrooms I might add). There's a lot more seating, the decor is modern and the lighting is great. The bananas foster was better in comparison. The resto is also much more affordable than Peter's! Aside from these things, Peter's still sits on the throne for me when it comes to service and food. A good dining experience overall!
Beautiful place for a special occasion! Art Nouveau ceiling and other decorative details make it cozy and sophisticated. Food is delicious - we had Branzino fish and vegetarian pasta, and shared Kale and Brussel Sprout salad, everything was delicious. It is a bit pricey, but still affordable and quite worth it. Service is attentive. Highly recommend.
Notes from my recent visit: House bread with sea salt good Caesar salad was saucy or can choose table side service for two portions Oysters were east coast ones and very clean tasting Prime rib medium rare was pretty good Ribeye medium rare was tasty Strawberry mocktail was refreshing Malbec wine from Argentina as recommended by our server was delicious! Overall service was attentive, ambience and vibes were romantic and cozy, food was good and prices were reasonable. Perfect for special occasions.
Came here for my friend's birthday. The staff was nice and accommodating and service was fast. For the price, I would say it was decent and comparable to other steakhouses and the meat was cooked well. Flavour-wise, it's not anything special and I've had better steaks at other places. The house fries were good though.
This is my second time here for a work event, the food is amazing every time. Service was a little rocky today, seemed like they were training new servers on how to place the proper dishes in front of the correct guests as there were 20+ people in my group. The ambiance is nice, comfortable chairs that fit well into the design of the refurbished home. I would love to have an anniversary dinner or birthday here because the seating is comfortable and food is memorable. Shrimp tagliatelle has an amazing lemon sauce, and pieces of shredded asparagus that just elevate the flavour
2 months ago
We celebrated 2 birthdays this month at The David Duncan House :) It is one of Toronto's fine dining steakhouses, located inside a Victorian residences from 1865. Our server was knowledgeable, and made us feel welcome. * There is a $25 cake cutting fee for the table if you bring in a cake. I love the complimentary focaccia bread with the sea salt on top. The seared scallops and jumbo shrimps for appetizers were also delicious. The tableside Caesar Salad was a bit too spicy for my liking, but my friends liked the spicy kick lol. One order of salad was actually good for the entire able for 6 people. I really enjoyed my medium rare prime rib. I also had a bite of the veal and it was juicy! We also get to see some of the private rooms in the mansion. There is no minimum spending for the rooms; you can book it for any special occasions as per our server. read more
Came here for a birthday dinner on a Friday night and it was busy. This was my first time dining here, the restaurant is inside an unique house and has multiple levels. The space was cool! The service was average, a little slow here and there. The server did not tell us daily specials until mid way through ordering. When I asked for suggestions between a few mains he just told me to go with the more expensive one with no further explanations. We also wanted the seafood tower and the table-side banana dessert but both were sold out for the night. We started with the table-side salad. We were a group of four but the portions for two were perfect for sharing. The table-side was a fun experience they make the dressing in front of you with multiple ingredients (similar to Hy's). The salad was flavourful, fresh and topped with these chunky maple bacon. This was the highlight of the night. I got the pan seared halibut and it was beyond well done and so dry. The fish did not seem very fresh or flaky. It had a nice sauce with it but I would not recommend this at all. The other mains were fine but nothing stood out enough for us wanting to come back. They also gave a complimentary piece of cake with candle for celebrating a birthday. Overall, it was just okay. Aside from the unique ambiance and the table-side salad, there wasn't much that would make me want to come back. read more
Super disappointed as this place was highly recommended to me by a few people. First off, the service was not the greatest. I asked the server for some recommendations and he sounded so annoyed and unenthusiastic and simply just recommended me the most expensive items on the menu. He didn't care to explain the dish to me or why he thought they were great choices. It simply just made him the most tip, that's all it was. They also didn't have half the items we wanted to order as they were sold out. The server also forgot to set my plate and I couldn't get a hold of him for a while as he was completely missing. Everyone was already starting with the apps as I was just sitting there waiting for a plate. Now come the mains: Halibut: I figured it would be a mistake ordering fish at steakhouse but my wife doesn't like meat and I thought it couldn't be that bad??? Well I was wrong. Never ever in my life have I had such overcooked and dry halibut. Didn't even think it was possible. McDonald's frozen fillet o fish patties are better than this. Pasta: Mediocre, nothing special Prime rib: was cooked alright, but no real flavor at all. Just salty as hell Lamb: the lamb was probably the best main, but still wasn't anything amazing The absolute best thing we had was the table side Caesar salad. I will give this to them, that was a great Caesar salad. If I ever go back there (which I won't unless it's free), I would just get the salad and call it a day. Do not recommend. They charge way too much for bad service and mediocre food. There are a ton of restaurants in Toronto that are leagues above this place in terms of both food and service and costs the same or less. read more
3 months ago
The prime rib steak came with some kind of puff bread (empty inside) that just not my taste, the steak also doesn't taste that great (a bit better if you add salt and pepper). The complimentary bread, lobster pasta and homemade cheesecake are pretty good. Overall disappointed with the steak considering the price too read more
1 year ago
Ok, here it is. Several people told me this is a good place for drinks and steak. Well, I was shocked that the food was not what I expected. My first impression as I walked into my table, I said Wow, what a view, what satisfaction, see pics. The service is excellent, no complaints there, but the food, in terms of taste, was disappointing; no flavors at all I may try again, but I don't think my taste buds will change their mind read more
1 year ago
The service was excellent! The occasion was to celebrate wedding anniversary with my partner and we figured to bring our toddler along. We called several fancy steakhouses and they refused small kids under age of 5. Until we called David Duncan and the receptionist even asked if we want highchair! When we got there, hostess and servers were all so friendly and welcoming us with the toddler! The steaks were amazing! The lettuce from their table side salad was so fresh! side dishes were just at the right flavor. I ordered filet mignon and my partner ordered the ny steak; both were cooked at the fine medium rare as requested! We will definitely come back here!! read more
8 months ago
Came here for the first time. Personally our favourite menu items was the ribeye, Caesar salad, and the vegetables. Unfortunately the lamb was overcooked and the other meats were just okay. The cocktails were good. Service was just okay. read more
Full disclosure I don't normally dine at fancy places or steakhouses in general, so I don't have much to compare to. As I came for a family gathering, this restaurant is a great spot for a special occasion, as it goes beyond just a meal and includes a full experience. The restaurant itself is located in a huge mansion, pretty secluded from anything else. The interior is very classy with the multiple chandeliers and stairwells. It was nice that for our big party of 8, we were seated in a round table so we could all see eachother and converse as a group. We started with the seafood tower which was so fresh... I really enjoyed everything I tried from this. We then got the table-side Caesar salad which was such an experience getting to watch the server make the dressing from scratch. The salad itself was one of the best I've had... nice and garlicky, with all the ratios being on point. For main, I ordered a medium-rare 12oz prime rib. The meat was good, though I felt at times it did get a bit chewy. This place is pretty pricey, though I can't really speak to it comparatively because again, I seldom go to steakhouses. The service was attentive, and the setting is amazing. Definitely a celebratory spot if you're open to dropping more money for a special occasion. Their menu is conveniently posted on their website. read more
Disaster of a evening. I was so looking forward to this meal. A disaster would be putting it gently. We got seated in a beautiful corner which we thought would be a little more intimate. Staff came by yo take our drink orders on time. They told us there would be a few team members serving us. After 20 min they took our order. Almost 30 more minutes go by before they started the table side Caesar salad. About an hour later we received our main dishes delivered by the kitchen staff. Our meals were cold for sitting so long. My steak was over cooked sitting under a heat lamp. Onion rings were soggy. Veg was cold. No one even came by for over 30 min. An hour later our plates were still sitting I had to pile it up to embarrass them to come and get it. We were seated before lots of other guests and were we were not even ask for coffee or cleaned our table in over 1 hr. Didnt even entertain the complimentary coffee the staff offered me as an insult for the lack of consideration. Manager didnt even come by to apologize or anything. The staff knew they screwed up. Offering me a free coffee was a joke. I paid my bill and left. Peter and Pauls should be embarrassed for the lack of service and unprofessional experience I had. The Keg already does a better job. read more
4 months ago
It has been several years since my last visit to this restaurant. I returned to commemorate my birthday. Given my love of oysters, I placed an order for half a dozen, which were indeed delectable. The steak was also of an acceptable standard. The service was adequate; the server was consistently attentive and ensured that all aspects of our experience were satisfactory. In honor of my birthday, I was presented with a cake, which, while delicious, was somewhat excessively sweet for my palate. The atmosphere was perfect; we could enjoy a decent conversation with one another. The pricing structure is commensurate with the extent of one's order, but it is generally reasonable. read more
I came here for a Spring Mingle and I was amazed by the quality of food and service we received. There's plenty of parking spots available at the back. Unfortunately, the patio wasn't opened up yet when we came here; but, both inside and patio are great for gatherings, dine-in, anniversaries and weddings. The house is spreading to 5 floors, with the bar located on 3rd floor (the same as entrance) and private rooms on floor 3, 4 and 5. Bartenders are very creative and nice. Our dinner came with a three course prix- fixe menu. I had Calamari Fritti for appetizer; calamari was crispy and cooked perfectly. For entrée, I tried their Chicken Supreme; so tender and juicy with the side of veggies and baked potatoes. And Chocolate Torte with Coffee was an amazing finale of our night. Our servers were also very nice, friendly and helpful, which made our night perfect. read more
My gf took me here for a celebratory dinner. It's located right near the Don Mills and York Mills Rd intersection and sits next to the Ontario Association of Architects building. It's got ample parking and the house doesn't look that big from the outside but it's actually massive inside. In addition, they have a huge patio as well. We arrived for a 6:30pm res and were seated promptly by the hostess. Having gone on the resto's official website, going through the virtual tour and then experiencing the decor first hand was really cool. I think there's 3 levels to the resto. We were sat on the lower level. 8oz bacon wrapped filet mignon: My gf said her entree was cooked perfectly and the peppercorn sauce that it came with was nice and creamy. She's not the biggest fan of veggies but she was appreciative of the fact that the meal came w/ broccolini and not broccoli lol. It also came w/ some onion rings. Her filet was extremely tender and juicy. 16oz ribeye steak: My entree came w/ the same default sides and it was also cooked to a perfect medium rare. I do wish from a sides perspective there would've been more choice/options provided given that it is a steakhouse. Bananas foster (for 2): For dessert my gf and I indulged in some bananas foster. The older, portly gentleman who cooked the bananas and flambéed the rum for us was pretty funny. The liquor didn't catch fire the first time so he added an extra shot to get it to catch LOL. That was a nice show and hilarious. Service as a whole was quite good. Our server for the night did have a drier sense of humour but that could've just been nerves. When it comes to fine dining, the closest comparison I have to this resto is Peter's in Markham. The Duncan House itself is way nicer than Peter's (super luxurious washrooms I might add). There's a lot more seating, the decor is modern and the lighting is great. The bananas foster was better in comparison. The resto is also much more affordable than Peter's! Aside from these things, Peter's still sits on the throne for me when it comes to service and food. A good dining experience overall! read more
11 months ago
Beautiful place for a special occasion! Art Nouveau ceiling and other decorative details make it cozy and sophisticated. Food is delicious - we had Branzino fish and vegetarian pasta, and shared Kale and Brussel Sprout salad, everything was delicious. It is a bit pricey, but still affordable and quite worth it. Service is attentive. Highly recommend. read more
Notes from my recent visit: House bread with sea salt good Caesar salad was saucy or can choose table side service for two portions Oysters were east coast ones and very clean tasting Prime rib medium rare was pretty good Ribeye medium rare was tasty Strawberry mocktail was refreshing Malbec wine from Argentina as recommended by our server was delicious! Overall service was attentive, ambience and vibes were romantic and cozy, food was good and prices were reasonable. Perfect for special occasions. read more
4 years ago
Came here for my friend's birthday. The staff was nice and accommodating and service was fast. For the price, I would say it was decent and comparable to other steakhouses and the meat was cooked well. Flavour-wise, it's not anything special and I've had better steaks at other places. The house fries were good though. read more
This is my second time here for a work event, the food is amazing every time. Service was a little rocky today, seemed like they were training new servers on how to place the proper dishes in front of the correct guests as there were 20+ people in my group. The ambiance is nice, comfortable chairs that fit well into the design of the refurbished home. I would love to have an anniversary dinner or birthday here because the seating is comfortable and food is memorable. Shrimp tagliatelle has an amazing lemon sauce, and pieces of shredded asparagus that just elevate the flavour read more
Amazing place. It was a restaurant converted from an old residence. Elegant interior, it kept the classic residence interior while transforming into an intimate dining place. They served fresh garlic bread with olive oil and vinegar, which set the tone of a decent dinner. The Oysters were fresh, and the Seared Scallops were amazing- fresh and clean, simple yet well seasoned, literally melted in my mouth. The Salmon was incredible. Skin was crispy and the entire piece was juicy and well cooked. Actually, it was the sides that really elevated the dish - sauteed mushroom, purees, and green beans. I checked back the menu online and they were unique ingredients - parsnip puree, french green beans, sautéed oyster mushroom, champagne beurre blanc. Would love to reorder this dish just for its sides. Ambience was great (of course). Both wine and dish waiters were friendly, knowledgeable and thoughtful. Needless to say, they got great wine selections. To further add, they offered us an umbrella since it started pouring at the time we were leaving. Overall it was an amazing dining experience. Highly recommend it. Food (quality, presentation) - 5/5 Drinks (quality, variety) - 5/5 Ambience (interior, cleanness) - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Value - 5/5 read more
Recently came back to the David Duncan House after a long time. They've made some changes to the around the decor, staff, and some of the food items since when I used to come as a kid. I have to say the changes have been great. The food is once again back up to the high standards they once had with a few updates. The tableside Caesar salad, Prime Rib, and tableside Banana Foster are my favourites. read more
Two of my friends and I came here to enjoy our first proper meal as the province opened dine-in without any sort of restrictions. So you guessed it, we were hungry & prepared to come to the David Duncan House to feast. It seems that the estate is still going through some renovation outside, in addition to the fact that it's not located at any major intersection/road, so it's not very noticeable. However, upon entering the building, the history of the 1865-built David Duncan House flashed in front of my eyes with the immaculate chandeliers, scrumptious redwood structures, and Mucha's paintings all over the wall. The building itself is a great place for dates & special occasions. Food-wise - I ordered the Ribeye Steak (CAD 68) medium-rare. My friends shared a 16 oz Roast Prime Rib Au Jus steak (CAD 58), calamari (CAD 21), lobster tail (Seasonal), and a french onion soup (CAD 16). Originally we ordered the Lobster Pasta (CAD 42), but the waiter informed us that he had the order mixed up. We accepted the substitution to the lobster tail instead. Personally, I think my ribeye steak is the best item on the menu. The steak is cooked to perfection. The charred, crispy and caramelized outskin trapped all the aromatic juice and flavour inside. The meat is incredibly tender - this is exactly the kind of steak I expect from an established steakhouse. I'm not a big fan of the roasted prime rib as it doesn't have the grilled flavour to the ribeye steak, and the meat is a bit too soft - not precisely the kind of steak I'm looking for. However, the portion was incredibly huge, and my friends were stuffed. The calamari was delicious as well. I also like how they kept the lemon in a small cloth, so you don't get the lemon juice all over you. That said, the lobster tail was disappointing as it was overly seasoned. The tail was extremely salty, and we were not sure if it was worth the 42 dollars we paid. In addition, I was slightly disappointed by the host as we waited quite a while for our table (we were on time for our reservation). I understand this is not necessarily controllable, but I felt slightly neglected. To conclude - will I come back? Yes - mainly because I really enjoyed the atmosphere AND the ribeye steak. However, there are a couple of things to improve for sure (e.g., the lobster tail, the customer services, e.g., mixing up our order & the experience interacting with the host(s)). read more
4 years ago
Thousand percent recommend! This restaurant reminds me of a way bigger version of Peter's fine dining in Markham, has the revamped old historical home vibe with a ton of free parking. The staff are super friendly, fun and kind. James attended us and he was AWESOME. We were there to celebrate and friends birthday and stayed past closing by accident and they were so nice about it and did not rush us one bit. Every dish we ordered was amazing, except the cauliflower appetizer which was a little undercooked and too battered for my liking. The table bread was a warm fresh garlic focaccia, so good we ordered seconds. The prime rib was done to perfection, and the lobster pasta was delicious, and actually had an abundance of lobster chunks. My husband doesn't usually like al dente pasta, but he loved it! We brought our own cake, and the cake fee was $25 for the table vs. Other places that charge per person which can add up quickly. They also gave us a slice of their in house cake for the birthday boy as well. Would definitely go back soon to try other dishes! read more
3 years ago
Food: 8.5 Service : 8.3 Ambience 8.6 매우 큰 규모의스테이크 하우스 테이블 샐러드 주문해서 먹어볼만 하다 캐쥬얼한 분위기이지만 기념일에 올만한 스테이크 하우스 read more
3 years ago
The reception service was bad for a so called expensive restaurant. The receptionist would not even take you to the table and just pointed you upstairs! Onto the food. This steak was very very tough and unchewable. I would give it a F grade. The brocollini was very hard and they only gave 4 onion rings when cost of onions are pennies. High class price with low class food. Would not go back. read more
What a nice hidden steak house! I enjoyed the beautiful inside and table setting... but the sever she was not happy to serve us at all my party and O almost asked for another server, but after she realized we were ordering more than just drinks and appetizers I guess she decided to be more attentive and nice. The food was great! All the appetizers were good as well as the meal. read more
2 years ago
David Duncan House is a classic steakhouse located in North York. The interior decor is elegant and we were sit at the upper deck. Ordered seared scallop for app to share, lobster pasta and filet mignon for main, and finished up with baklava cheesecake for dessert. The scallop is fresh and cook perfectly. Lobster pasta has over 8 big chunk of lobster pieces, which could be a surprise. Also, the pasta portion is large compare to other fine dining locations. The 8oz mignon is a bit small in term of size. We ordered medium rare, and end up with medium. However, the quality of the mignon itself is good, so even with medium cooking, it is still a good plate. We finish up with baklava cheesecake that recommends by our waiter, and now i recommend to other yelpers. read more
This is definitely one of my favourite steak house in the city. Love the atmosphere, very test fully decorated with classic antique vibe. Service always been top notch! Servers are already friendly and frequently checks up on you even when it's busy. Their steaks are excellent and always cooked to perfection! And their crème brûlée is probably one of the best I ever had! Not to mention their prices are cheaper than those high-end steaks houses in downtown. read more
Came to celebrate a special occasion and they did not disappoint. First off, the decor is elegant and it set a nice mood for our date! The food was all amazing, from the bread they start us with to our dessert. We ordered a calamari fritti and the portion was actually much bigger than it looks, I felt like I ate so much but there was still some left! For mains, we ordered 2 steaks. The New York strip was tender and probably one of the better steaks I've ever had. Prime rib was full of flavor but it was very fatty. They were out of Yorkshire pudding that night, which was fine, but when I went to ask about it, my server made me feel bad for even asking. I don't blame him though as I know it's very tough and tiring to work though a pandemic. Although we were so full, we got tempted by the baklava cheesecake. Our waiter suggested to get it with ice cream which we did and wow was it good! So glad we took his advice. I could probably eat another 3 by myself because it was so good. At the end of the night, I got some good food in my belly and some nice pictures so I'm very much satisfied. read more
Came back after a long hiatus from this institution . Having read many mixed reviews I was unsure what to expect. Was greeted by the front desk and promptly brought to our table overlooking the main dining area. James our initial server was top notch in getting our drinks promptly and courteously. Then came the head server tOntake our order and he must have been the backup actor to grumpy old men as he was plenty grumpy and not very helpful with the menu. Placed our orders and the bread came out... Day old focaccia bread. It was not warm nor very flavourful. Utilized the provided olive oil/ balsamic to hopefullY brighten things up but to no avail. Lacked taste. Our soup (cream of mushroom) and calamari came out. These were the only items today that came out piping hot like how a fine establishment should present their food. The soup was not bad, calamari was freshly made but lacked the fresh sweetness and crunch assocciated with this. It was not fishy but chewy and again lacked taste even with the squirt of fresh lemon juice. The mains came 20 minutes later, the Chicken supreme and Roast Beef... meh and bleh! The chicken was plated for instagramming but that's about it, the roast was an afterthoughtt. Like many fellow Yelpers who enjoy their beef medium rare, we were presented this grey matter with a thick layer of Au jus (their super salty gravy) smothered ontop. This beef was definitely way over cooked and upon informing the waiter they looked at me like "Boy, is it your first time out eating? What's wrong with this..." look. He reluctantly took it back to the kitchen to come back with a much smaller slice, and was informed " this is the rarest they have", it was still smothered with gravy and was informed proper roast beef will be cooked on the outside with a medium rare centre. I just gave up and took it. Both the chicken and roast were over cooked and dry (even with the gravy provided) The beef I sliced and placed between the bRead to make a roast beef sandwich. Giving up on the entrees, the desert round came to be and the tiramisu was decent but sweet and could have had more coffee flavour to cut through. The baklava cheesecake was interesting with the phyllo wrapped cheesecake with some traditional nuts encased inside the package. For an establishment of this nature, the food is definitely piss poor. Even if they are cutting corners for Winter/ Summerlicious, the marketing team is doing it all wrong with inferior food quality and service. The shining moments of today's meal were James' service and the water presented, everything else has me dreading of even mentioning the restaurant. Do yourself a favour and enjoy a chicken or roast beef sandwich from the shop across the street as the service, quality and taste profiles are much superior to this overhyped embarrassment to the Toronto food scene read more
2 years ago
I was dazzled when I first arrived to the restaurant. A huge historic looking house with extravagant Victorian interior and decor. I'd say this is the place to impress a girl. Friendly staffs helped us with our coats at the counter and then led us to a table near the fireplace. So far, the experience was good until we ordered our food. I ordered a medium rare prime rib for my entree which came with a choice of a soup or a salad. I got a little bit frustrated after repeatedly asking our server if we could pay the price difference to substitute the soup in our meal with a French Onion Soup. Instead, we found out that we had to pay the full price for a supposedly 'substitute' instead. So, in the end, we had to order the soup on its own and settled with the extra salad in our meal. At this time, my meter bar had slightly gone down. As starters, we were served a platter of olives, dill pickles and cottage cheese with a refillable basket of garlic bread. We kept munching on the garlic bread because we liked to soak our bread into the soup. Though, I wished the bread were fresh from the oven. They weren't warm at all. Our French Onion Soup was great and rich in flavour. When my prime rib arrived, I was disappointed. It was not cooked medium rare like what I asked for. It was all cooked in the center. They replaced my prime rib and it came out perfect the second time. However, the meat was not as tender as I hoped it to be. It wasn't really juicy either. Their dessert menu was also on the safer side. There wasn't a huge selection to choose from. Again, I was disappointed at first sight. It did not look like classic tiramisu but looked more like a giant piece of sponge cake. Then when I had a bite of it, I realized I was wrong. The tiramisu tasted heavenly and super smooth. We also ordered the Spanish Coffee that was prepared at our table. It had Brandy, Tia Maria and whipped cream in it. Quite entertaining to see how the coffee was put together and tossed into flames! read more
4 years ago
The combination of food and ambiance was perfect. The food is reasonably priced and frankly I'm shocked they aren't more popular. I will definitely go back, the prices are within range of quality food. The service was good and the place is beautiful. Great date night or celebratory meal. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The only uncomfortable situation was one of the bussers made me feel super uncomfortable with the constant attention and compliments. Besides that, it was all good! read more
6 years ago
Thank you for making my birthday dinner a memorable one. My sister, cousins & I enjoyed your signature cocktails, great food and we were well looked after by your staff yesterday. Can't wait to share our experience with our friends and family. Thank You. read more
4 years ago
The atmosphere, service and presentation was great for fine dining. The quality of the food is really good. I wish the drink menu had local craft beers or local alcohol, but it was just generic pub drinks. So that's the only reason why I put 4 stars instead of 5. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I use to come here for over 10-15 years when it was owned by the original owners. I also knew one of the chefs in the kitchen he was an asian guy. But ever since the restaurant got switched to new owners I really feel the food went down hill. Today the restaurant is owned by the chain Peter&Paul's. There are many things I must say to explain why I only have a low star rating and many mixed feelings about this place ever since new ownership came abouts. Before it switched owners the restaurant use to be white-glove service and very attentive. Today we couldnt even find our waiter on a Monday night dinner. It wasnt even that packed except for the top floor where I think someone was hosting a dinner party. I dont blame our waiter because he was trying his best and was very nice ... our table was on the lower floor and we were literally THE ONLY table around. The restaurant was dead. But he had to also go upstairs to waiter the party above. Why? I dont know because there must be other waiters around to help serve I would assume. Let me start off at ... THE BREAD -- the original owners use to serve the garlic butter bread perfectly with a tray of sliced pickles, olives and cottage cheese. Today that is all gone and taken off the service. They just serve focaccia bread and that's it. THE STEAK CHOICES -- The tomahawk was not available (What? For reals?) which we usually order and the steak for Two on the menu was the only other choice. I was not impressed. Cook style and texture isnt the greatest. We also ordered the asparagus which tasted a bit sour tonight and the mashed potatoes was less then mediocre. Felt a bit hard when your trying to scoop it out. They use to be served soft and fluffy. The New York steak came well done when ordered medium-rare, the seafood platter that we ordered to share tasted a bit fishy (yes seafood is fishy but it shouldn't have that fishiness tank smell if fresh) and not as fresh and just everything put together was just not how it use to be. I'm so sad because I think they lost me as a customer and as a foodie review writer. Overall I wish they kept the same service and food choices. Perhaps their chefs all left after the new owner took over. I'm not one to complain ... I came here 2x to give it a chance ... but since the new management took over I dont think there will be a third time for me. PRO -- The restroom sign was funny though. read more
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The David Duncan House - newcanadian - Updated November 2026
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