I visited Aera at The Well after seeing it all over social media! I heard it was owned by the same people that own Canoe, so I had high expectations. Upon entering I was really impressed by the view, I loved how the entire dining area is surrounded by windows, it feels like you're eating in the sky (you're on the 38th floor!). Note that it's around $20 for a window seat, which is a bit pricey in my opinion. Here's everything we ordered: Aera cornbread: This was the item I was most excited for! I love corn bread and this one was delicious. The inside was soft and pillowy, and the outside was crispy. The aged cheddar and honey butter were a nice touch that really elevated the dish! I could taste the pimento cheese inside as well, which I don't usually like because I don't like the taste of bell peppers, but I still really liked it. Maritime lobster spaghetti: This was rich and delicious! I could really taste the lobster bisque and lobster butter. It also had a decent amount of lobster in it and the portion was huge. I did ask for chilli flakes on the side because I love a kick. Rigatoncini: This one disappointed me a bit. I felt like it was missing something, the sauce tasted quite plain. We paid to add chicken but it was quite flavourless and bland. Amelia cocktail: Very refreshing and citrusy, would definitely get this again. Our waitress was so sweet and brought us free brownies because it was his birthday! You're definitely paying for the view and ambiance but I think it's perfect for a nice dinner. I'd want to come back to try their sushi/sashimi as well as their sticky toffee pudding. read more

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The rooftop at Aera in The Well I went for a friend's birthday and honestly, it impressed me. The lighting is dim and moody--not harsh at all--and the view speaks for itself. You're looking out over the entire Toronto skyline from the top of The Well. It's one of those places that just pulls you in. Usually "pretty food" means you leave hungry, but not here. The four of us were actually full, and the whole night it was just "this is good... wait, this one too." The menu blends Japanese and French influences, which makes it much more suited to an Asian palate--not your typical Western fine dining experience. 1. We ordered the chef's special wagyu steak. It was good, but a bit on the fatty side. A friend who's been twice suggested going with the regular steak instead--better texture and flavor overall. 2. Roasted Brussels sprouts--highly recommend. I usually find them bitter no matter how they're cooked, but here they were crispy with zero bitterness. Surprisingly good. 3. Lobster pasta--5/5, absolutely worth it. It has this slightly nostalgic, almost shrimp-snack kind of flavor, but with real lobster richness. Very unique and memorable. 4. Foie gras--solid dish. Exactly what you'd expect, I'd give it a 4/5. 5. Grilled octopus--also a 4/5. Well executed, nothing to complain about. 6. We got a seafood tower (not sure what they call it exactly). Presentation was beautiful--almost theatrical. Flavor-wise it's what you'd expect: lobster, uni, oysters, mussels, sashimi-style items. Good for sharing with a group. 7. There was a grilled fish dish we tried--it was just okay. Slightly fishy for my taste. Reminded me a bit of mackerel. I'd probably try their black cod next time instead. 8. There was also a salad with a texture and taste similar to yacon--slightly earthy, a bit unexpected. Not bad, just different. read more

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Came here on a Sunday for a brunch party specifically brunch labs. The party itself was amazing. Great time. However the food it's left to be desired. Nothing really stood out. Was displayed nicely definitely Instagram worthy. It's just sad that nothing made me crave it to come back. The client service is great though honestly everyone there is accommodating nice and overall helped to make the experience a great time. Most likely will come back for another brunch party. read more

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Went for brunch for my friend's 50th. It started with our table missing a seat for our party and we had to deal with a guy that turned out to be one of the events people. Ordered 3 drinks from the menu that was not available. We got there at noon so it wasn't like they ran out for the day. Ordered the chicken and waffles, chicken was very good but the waffle was soggy. Presentation was ok but the sauce was dripping off my plate as soon as it got served. My friend's ceasar had to be returned, and it still didn't come back like a ceasar. The service from the server was excellent which kind of made up for the experience. Place was pretty too. I expected a lot more considering it is an O&B restaurant. read more

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Went to Aera for our team spring event during happy hour, and I love this fancy restaurant. The interior is super fancy but also cozy and you can see the CN Tower by the window. The waitress was very patient and friendly. I ordered the AMELIA cocktail and it was perfect, light and refreshing. For food we ordered the truffle fries and the nigiri platter(x2) for sharing. I love the fries, they were crispy. The sushi also tasted really fresh. We also ordered a sharing desserts flight (soba, cheesecake and more) per the waitress recommendation. And all of them were delicious. It's around $80CAD+ per person during happy hour. A little bit pricey but definitely worth it for great atmosphere, food and drinks. read more

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Downtown Toronto looks different when you get above the traffic and rooftops of neighbouring buildings. Aera's location at The Well offers the sweeping city skyline on one side (including a prominently placed CN Tower) and the tranquil Lake Ontario on the other. Direct yourself towards the Lake if you want a spectacular sun set view, although getting a table right by the window will require prepayment first. No one said these views come easy. The views don't come cheap either. Aera's prices are on the higher end of the spectrum, but the dishes are at least solid and a respectable size. The Maritime lobster spaghetti ($52) uses fresh spaghetti to create a chewy pasta that soaks up the buttery tomato and lobster bisque sauce. This was heavenly, and I'd happily have a plate to myself. Just don't go expecting for a ton of the crustacean. Kazi, our waiter, notes Aera's is known for their steak and sushi ... so many of Toronto's new Financial District restaurants say the same (Black + Blue, Blue Bovine, etc.) so we heed his advice and try both. The Canadian prime striploin ($85) was cooked a perfect medium rare with a nicely salted crust. The cut was tender and meaty, everything you'd want in a striploin. Check, Aera's a good steakhouse. Conversely, while we ordered the spicy scallop roll ($28) they must have thought they do the creamy tuna crunch roll ($30) better as that's what arrived. We let it go as it was a close second anyways. The maki had a thick layer of tender tuna and was adequately stuffed with avocado, picked radish, and crispy bits. There rice was just too cold and too stark and brought down the experience. Sushi house they are not. The sticky bourbon toffee pudding ($16) was beautifully presented adorned with a lattice cookie maple leaf that makes you hear "True North strong and free" before the first bite. The scoop of vanilla ice cream covered with crushed walnuts was certainly solid and strong, so difficult to cut through without squishing the soft cakey pudding on the bottom. It's a good dessert but would be even better if the caramel sauce was thinner and less sugary. read more

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Wowowow!! As the sister restaurant of the renowned Canoe - the view at Aera definitely is similar. The inside looks more modern & sultry though, more suitable for a hot date or meal before the clubs. We tried: -Cocktails City Z, Amelia, Strawhat, Espresso martini -CLASSIC MOLASSES BREAD (5/5) SO FRESH and fluffy - absolutely can taste the molasses flavour. Pair it with the truffle appie and it's a tastebud explosion duo -WHIPPED BLACK TRUFFLE PARFAIT (5/5) so creamy, rich, & savoury. Love the presentation -STEAK TARTARE (4.5/5) delicious and love the textures -BROILED SCALLOPS (4/5) can't go wrong with these bacon-wrapped scallops, just wish for the price there were more! -BEET & BURRATA SALAD (4/5) -CANADIAN PRIME STRIPLOIN (4.5/5) -SASHIMI PLATTER (4/5) -WTF SUSHI ROLL (5/5) LOVED every bite, HOWEVER they could've gotten away with using shrimp instead of the lobster tempura since you couldn't taste the lobster with the wagyu dominating most of the flavour anyways. The presentation with the dry ice & bone marrow was cool too read more

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Came here for happy hour with some friends to grab a drink but mainly came for the view. The window seats at the bar area filled up pretty quickly. The servers are very friendly and attentive. We really enjoyed the drinks we got; Amelia and French 75. The truffle fries were delicious as well. Definitely a great place for happy hour. read more

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First of all customer service was not it for me, the wait for the food order was long then the actual food took wayyy too long like definitely over 15mins wait. The yellow tail ceviche was basic I've had better, the broiled octopus almost made be choke because it was soo chewy and rubbery had to turn that back. Signature sushi was decent nothing that wowed me exactly except presentation. The side of carrot was good, maritime lobster spaghetti was quiet al dente for me I like pasta on the softer side, taste was ok nothing remarkable. Prnstar martini was ok didn't come with a side of wine or anything. Overall the restaurant is definitely over rated. Dining time lasted 7pm till about 9:30pm because we kept on waiting for the food or for service for just a table of two. We had to get up to go ask for the bill because that was also taking forever to come by. Ambience is cool, you get good pictures especially if you seat by the windows so you can see the CN tower. Overall was not impressed by this dining experience especially for an upscale restaurant read more

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THE VIEWS were the BEST part of my experience at Aera! It was so breathtaking. I sat at the chef's table with unobstructed views of the CN Tower. The overall ambiance was an upscale, classy and chic vibe. The service was impeccable from the hostess to my waiter. They were pleasant and nice. One hostess even took my picture with the amazing backdrop. The waiter provided excellent recommendations for my meal. Now for the food: Mocktails: 10/10 very refreshing Oysters: 7/10 They were just okay. Spicy Sushi Rolls: 9/10 because they were very filling and delicious. Beef tenderloin: 7/10. I would have liked a bit more flavor. I ordered it medium well, and it was juicy but not not as good as others I have had in elsewhere. Mushroom side dish: 9/10 very good. Overall, my experience at Aera was AMAZING and I would highly recommend it simply because of the stunning VIEWS. read more

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The place was immaculate. Views were probably the best you can get in Downtown Toronto. The food was quite expensive however but it was good for the experience. In my opinion the price is worth it if you're going to have a window seat. read more

Aera - The steak that does not come with sides... the burgers do though - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Such a vibe here! Drinks are boozy and views are great. Service was decent. We came for happy hour. Happy hour cocktails are $15 so still pricey but worth it for the views. Great spot for date night or a night out with friends. Washrooms were pretty cleans. Limited parking and wheelchair accessible read more

Aera - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The view and decor was nice, but I didn't enjoy the 7oz bacon steak. I did ask the waiter if I needed to add a side but was told it's alright without one as there's the onion rings/crisp. Maybe it would be better with sides. 1/4 of the slab was fatty, 1/2 was charred and hard to chew, 1/4 was dry. My drink wasn't that great. Was there catching up with friends and the view. Food wasn't great. read more

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I have been there three times, food, service and ambience is unique combination. The views are impressive! Friendly staff everytime! read more

Aera - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We were here for a large private event and the food was average. We had bunch of hors d'oeuvres which I wish I ate more of as it a lot better than our sit down meal. The sushi was amazing. Now, the dissappointing sit down meal. The starter was a sour prawn and scallop mess. Go with the beet salad instead. No one finished it at our table. It was a bad, upscale take on ceviche perhaps. The mains were steak which some loved and some didn't. Apparently there is a fatty cut with you are meant to eat together with the other piece but everyone left the fatty steak. I got the lobster and cold bosque and it tasted like nothing. Air had more flavor than that. The lobster was chewy. The carrot cake was lovely but nothing to write home about. The saving grace for this place is the views and its staff who were all great! We went around asking everyone how they enjoyed their meal and everyone was deflated "yeah was alright" some "not bad" but when asked "would you have paid for it?" And it was a resounding loud NO read more

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Went for brunch this time. The views are spectacular, less busy than dinner service so it was more relaxed and intimate for catching up with friends. Highly recommended the mushroom vol a vent, the pastry was baked perfectly and the mushrooms complemented the dish very well. We also had the truffle fries and the salmon sushi to share. It was a perfect day to see the city and the amazing service from our waitress was the cherry on top. read more

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I had a really poor experience at this overhyped restaurant / bar. We arrived there for late night drinks and despite lot of tables being available, the hostess made us sit at the bar. Those tables continued to be empty and were later given to other people arriving after us (without reservations). The drinks were average and the host was careless. We had to call them multiple times to get basic service. read more

Aera - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We came for the drinks and spectacular views! The wait staff is super friendly yet professional in this elegant dining establishment. We arrived for happy hour drinks which were all wonderful and the place was getting pretty busy with nicely dressed patrons as we were leaving this increasingly lively atmosphere. The dishes people were ordering look absolutely delicious! This is the place to go for a special event or come early during happy hour for a more casual and quiet atmosphere simply for drinks and amazing views. read more

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The hostess was not that friendly, she asked if I had a reservation, found it, and told me to wait to be taken to the table. I honestly wish they would just let me walk over to my party, because this took a few minutes. The view is absolutely stunning, and the area overall was quite comfortable. We ordered cornbread for our app, and this was incredible, such a texturally pleasant item, sweet and savoury, and the butter was a nice accompaniment. I had the lobster pasta, and this was absolutely delicious, but I think there wasn't enough lobster in the dish, our server let us know there would be one tail and two claws, but this was not the case. However, I really enjoyed the sauce I also tried the steak, it was a good cut and medium rare. The cod was extremely sweet, and the taste of the fish was overwhelmed with this, it honestly tasted like candy, this is one of the few items I would avoid all together. The sticky toffee pudding is one of the best desserts I've ever tasted, the lava cake was incredibly rich and could have used a hearty scoop of vanilla ice cream for that balance that was missing from this plate. read more

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It has a gorgeous view of the Lake Ontario, CN Tower and the city on the 38th floor of The Well. We came here during their happy hour (Sat & Sun 11:30am-6pm) for drinks and a quick bite and sat in lounge area beside the bar. The happy hour cocktail manu is totally worth it and the most suitable for girls day out/brunch or gatherings. The service can be slow during the Happy Hour. We also tried "Sticky Bourbon Toffee Pudding" and "Chocolate Molten Lava" and they were both amazing. I've never tasted desserts like them before. Their dinner menu is okay, a lot of shareable options, and mostly suitable for groups. I would definitely want to come back here for brunch and in warmer seasons to enjoy the view again. read more

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We made a reservation for a table with a CN Tower view, and it was absolutely perfect--you could see the tower clearly from the restaurant. On the other side, there was also a beautiful lake view, making the overall atmosphere and scenery truly amazing. We visited during Winterlicious for lunch, and the price was very reasonable for the quality of food and experience. The dishes were delicious and well-prepared. What stood out the most was the exceptional service--our server was incredibly friendly, attentive, and took care of every request, often noticing our needs before we even asked. It was truly impressive. They also offer a set lunch at a relatively lower price on weekdays, which makes it even more worth visiting. I will definitely be going back sometime! read more

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A beautiful new resto lounge at The Well in Toronto. Of course I had to go check it out. It's on the 38th floor of The Well overlooking the city. You can even see the CN tower. It was foggy when I went so unfortunately couldn't see anything. It was a struggle trying to find the elevator entrance. We were walking around the outdoor mall of The Well trying to find an elevator that would go up to the 38th floor. It's entrance is located inside a lobby looking like it's a condo entrance. The place has an open concept kitchen, is very dark inside and has both a dining area and a lounge area with low top seating. I sat at the lounge area and ordered some drinks and snacks. Food is very mediocre here as nothing was really overly delicious. An example would be something like fries, were not crispy enough and kind of bland. Drinks were good though. Everything here as you can expect is on the pricier side so don't be shocked to spend a pretty penny here. Our server failed to tell us that service charge was already on our bill and therefore we paid tips on top of the entire bill which was a whopping $161 extra. Partially our fault for not looking closely at the bill and only realizing this error after leaving. However, after emailing them they were able to refund us the tip amount in full a month later. Overall, go for the vibes, cocktails and beautiful view. Food items can probably use an updating with flavours. read more

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Food was great ! Ambiance is fantastic and a great view of the city ! Service was also great read more

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The ambiance is everything you'd expect from a restaurant with great views. The service was interesting as I had 3 waitresses greet me separately within a span of 10min yet I did not see anyone come to our table after our food was served to the point that I had to chase a waiter to pay my bill. I would def suggest they stick the same waiter/waitress instead of having a number of ppl assigned to a table. The food was very food but you are definitely paying a premium for the restaurant's views. Things to definitely try: their cocktails, cornbread, the trout, spinach gratin and the dessert Skip the burrata as it was very small! I would definitely go again to try their brunch menu. read more

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Aera is only two weeks old, and it shows. Tldr is this place needs to go through some growing pains before it's worth going to, and the food is subpar. Let's start with the food. We ordered several dishes, though most of them were definitely mediocre. I admired the attempts at creativity, but nothing managed to tickle the palate at all. We tried the caesar salad, shrimp scampi, steak tartare, striploin steak, whipped potato, tuna sushi, and mushroom tempura. The tempura tasted so greasy we couldn't get through more than a few bites. The one bite I enjoyed of the night was their sticky toffee pudding, that was actually a solid dessert I'd have again. Otherwise, the rest of the menu was a dud and overall quite overpriced. $30 for a sushi roll with chipotle mayo on it?! Hard pass. As for the service, it was a bit odd. We requested a table with a view of the CN tower and even though the restaurant is huge, they only have 10 tables with a view of which only half are facing the CN tower. So odds are you might just get a view for dessert, which fortunately we got. Our server was friendly, but what I found tough is he couldn't make any recommendations for the menu which is a big red flag to me. When they brought our sushi, they gave us soy sauce bowls but no soy sauce, and then when they came to clean up the plates they were way too quick with it, coming when we were maybe 2/3 through our course. Overall, this was a hard pass for me. Granted this is a place where you come for a certain vibe and I respect that some people enjoy that. But I go to a restaurant for good food, which Aera unfortunately lacks. read more

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recently dined at Aera and my overall experience was rather underwhelming. The presentation of the food left much to be desired, with the salmon lacking in portion size considering its pricing. The steak tartare, while tasty, could use improvement in plating - rice cracker bits felt out of place; I'd prefer a classic egg yolk. The drinks were enjoyable, albeit overpriced, and Amelia's presentation could be enhanced. The food itself scored a 7/10 for taste, matched by a similar rating for service. The restaurant's ambience on the 38th floor is a plus, but finding it was a challenge due to inadequate signage. However, a major drawback was the oddly long table for two, making conversation difficult. I had to shift seats to maintain a reasonable proximity. Considering the overall experience and the high prices, I find it unlikely that I'll return to Aera. I accidentally overtipped and the server didn't say anything about it and I calculated it after I left the restaurant, which they should've verified with me about the overtip then it could've been corrected. read more

Aera - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Food was not good considering the price. Also, people really only go there for the views and to take cute pictures... BUT you can't take pictures using flash. They pick and choose who to redirect with the flash rule. They said something to me however SEVERAL people were using flash and nobody said anything to them. Drinks are normal but very pricey read more

Came back for a dinner with my partner and it was so good!!! They definitely seemed to have ironed out their little issues- service was super attentive, efficient, friendly. Food arrived at a great pace on a busy Fri night! We tried the composed cauliflower plate and it was SUPERB! The other dishes were all also amazing as it was before! Our server even showed us the rooftop afterwards! read more

Ambiance is very nice with a great view of the city. Great place for photo ops, food was good and pricing expected for Toronto. read more

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I was not a fan of this place at all. First of all, we had reservations, but receded at a low top couch at the bar. When we requested to move, it took forever to find a hostess that gave us a table. I did not think this place was the value for the money, and was pretty disappointed in how expensive it was for mediocre dishes. We ordered the beet salad, the cornbread pasta and shrimp as our food and I had a glass of wine and my friend had a glass of Coke and our bill was well over $190. The view here is nice. However, the way the lighting is you can't get the perfect picture for the gram that you're looking for. Overall, I would not return here, unless forced for a party read more

It was amazing! Food was excellent! We had so much food for great price. We started with the half dozen oysters and it was fresh! We had spicy scallop roll along with hamachi. Our main dish was the lamb and spicy rigatoni. The lamb was tender and had so much flavor! Overall great experience! read more

Aera - Lamb Chops - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I had brunch at Aera with my girlfriends over this past weekend and we loved it! The brunch food was very good and aesthetically pleasing, although I found my dish to be a little oily. But the poached egg was perfectly cooked. The waitress was incredibly productive, sweet, and attentive. I recommend this very modern and chic restaurant with an incredible Toronto skyline view. read more

Aera - 38th Benedict - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

had a really great time here and the food was excellent. if you have visitors, i recommend paying the extra fee to get a seat with a view of the CN tower. there is a lot to choose from on this menu from classic steakhouse dishes to sushi. sides are separate and shareable. it's a tad pricey but worth it for the experience. service was excellent read more

Aera - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This place is the definition of meal with a view (especially if you go at sunset). Try and call ahead and secure a table by the window. The Sashimi Platter was the standout with an amalgamation of flavours combined into a seemingly simple dish. The Prime Rib Steak and Corn Bread paired well together, especially with an Old Fashioned. If you're out on a date, a fun activity to do after dinner is go to Arcadia Earth - an experiential art gallery downstairs. read more

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Aera has stunning views on 38th floor of the Well. We got a table for 4 facing south to City Place and east toward CN Tower. The place was busy at 8 pm as well as when we left at around 11 pm on a Friday night. The layout of the place had a sushi bar, open kitchen, open mid dining area and some more private tables where we were seated. The worse tables were likely the booths when entering the restaurant after passing through the sushi bar. The washrooms were at the entrance and nothing special. In terms of service, it started off well but went downhill from there. We opted not to drink wine or cocktails but instead order 9 dishes ranging from apps to pasta to be shared at the table. The food came quickly from the kitchen with a wide variety. After the dishes were placed, the wait staff were not as attentive to clear the dishes when they were empty as well as limited attention to ask how the food was. The two tables beside us got more attention and we needed to flag down waitstaff to clear the table as they were piling up. Dishes was steak tartare, foie gras, escargots, hamachi crudo, scallop ceviche, tuna tartare, rigatoncini, brussels sprouts and kinoko tempura. The best were the tuna tartare and hamachi crudo out of all of them. We opted not to order sushi or sashimi as it did not appear to be anythign special. At the end, we needed to talk to staff about the special gift as an O&B Insider that we specified in our reservation. They responded that there was a miscommunication with the bar and after 20 min, the waiter came with prosecco for the ladies and a tequila cocktail for the gents. We did not bother to order dessert as service was lackluster especially for opening week and being the latest O&B restaurant. We all expected much more. Not sure if we will ever return. read more

I came with a great friend for dinner on Friday. Our reservation was 7:45 and we were able to catch the sunset from the 38th floor. The view was great. We had a bar seating and it was lovely. The service is pretty good, our waitress was very friendly and have good advice. I wished they were a bit better with refilling water and etc... but for awhile is was pretty busy. I read reviews on what was good or bad. We decided to stay away from all the traditional mains and meats and just had shareables and sushi. The corn bread is AMAZING! And a must have. So sweet with corn bits and the soft butter was awesome we also had the artichoke with mushroom (yum!!!), the hamachi crisp and tuna tartare. We then got the Hamachi sushi, salmon sashimi and spicy scallop rolls. The portions were decent and the cocktails were really great. I also had the sake and it was as a great compliment. read more

Aera - Corbreqd - Steakhouses Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great services and views but food wise, it may not worth the money. I got a tuna tartare for my appetizer. It came with a fried seaweed sheet. it was a perfect combo with the tuna tartare. it was delicious. I would say this is the best dish out of everything I ordered. We ordered a steak, for medium rare, and we got a well done steak. They used the green onion as decoration on the dish, but as you know, once they are wet, they wilted. then they became slimy and hard to cut apart. I don't know who idea is that. The Brussel sprout was over salted. They did apologize for that and did not charge us. (Thats partially why i said their service was awesome) I also got the sable fish, which to me, many places have done the same excellent job as this one. I didn't feel anything special about it. Overall, usually a menu from a restaurant this grand could give me excitement but this one, i didn't get as much. I think i will only come back for the fried seaweed next time. read more

Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Food: 4/5 Amazing view of the city and CN Tower! Service was quite attentive but not overbearing. Oysters were fresh, and the highlight of our meal. The rest of the items we ordered were pretty good, but didn't really stand out. Would probably return to try other items on the menu in the future! read more

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The food, the vibes the view! Amazing The prices were great the staff was amazing it was my boyfriends bday so we had a great time read more

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Food was decent and a bit overpriced for the quality and portion, but the views and ambiance make up for it.