came in for lunch on a weekday and experienced great service and had good food. The spring pea salad was delicious with a buttermilk dressing and the fries, of course, were so so so good. artichokes were very interesting, and olive oil cake was a highlight We felt very well taken care of and attended to buy our server, but we were also one of the only tables there so can imagine that the restaurant may get chaotic when it's a little bit more busy. But for what it's worth, when we went, we had a great experience, the art inside the restaurant was really nice, and the location next to the AGO can't be beat as we left the museum and went right back in. there's a lot out there in Toronto, but definitely really glad I got to try this spot read more

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The food was surprising pretty good for a venue within a museum. I generally have low expectations for restaurants within these type of attractions. The prices were also extremely fair as well! I had their cauliflower soup, salmon main, and their lemon live cake. The soup was extremely refreshing and filling! The veggies served with the salmon main dish were cooked to perfection! They also served a very generous size of salmon as well! The cake was my least favourite, I thought it was too sweat. Overall, I loved the dinning experience! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place for any type of occasion! read more

AGO Bistro - Salmon main dish - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Had brunch at the AGO the past weekend. Couple of notes: - they have a pre fixe for $39 which is choice of an app and a main plus coffee or tea. I asked if it could be a main and dessert instead and got told no. Didn't get that as desserts cost less than apps but c'est la vie. - teas are Sloane tea (which is excellent) and you get a nice big pot. - recommend reservations on busy days. - the brunch is mostly breakfast type options in the mains with the exception of the burger. - those that had the coffee never got a refill and the cups were not very full. My friends had the pre fixe but I just had the burger which is very good btw. Ambiance is medium quiet. The appetizers are a reasonable size. My friend had the sausage with egg and caponata. Both she and I thought it was odd there was only 1 egg on that plate. That is absolutely not typical with sausage or bacon type breakfast meals. (FYI to the restaurant). All were agreed that the food was tasty. Apparently there were a number of new items. But some minor tweaks as mentioned above would make it better. read more

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Needed a place for a client meet and greet in the area. I haven't been here for many years. The review is for 3pm drinks. We didn't have any food (they just came from lunch). Was waiting for the hostess and another staff greeted me. Told him I'm just coming in for drinks. He actually asked me if I'm going to the museum since there's a cute cafe inside. Told him I'm not and just meeting clients out here. Guess he didn't want my business?? Why would you want someone to spend less for drinks when I was fine to spend more than just a coffee? Hostess was accommodating as there was a possibility the extended family might join us and gave us a flex table that could seat more than 4 people if needed. First round of hello was quick from the wait staff. Clients came, we needed time to decide on our mocktails on a hot day. Unfortunately it took quite a while before their staff came back to take our orders. Luckily there was water on the table from when they seated. Unfortunately the drinks weren't great but the space was primarily why we were there. Nobody to rush us out. Quiet enough. Will consider to fone back for food. Not mocktails read more

Question and sad to have come to the AGO for my 60th birthday. We have dined here many times and will never again. Reserved dinner for myself and husband to to celebrate at the AGO. Was noted on the reservation, mentioned st the host desk upon arrival and even mentioned to our server . Food was amazing even ordered a piece of cake for dessert with the hopes of at least a dollar store candle and ..... nothing not even a happy birthday. Mentioned to manager who just stood there and said he will pass or along. Well I'm passing it along and will pass along the experience to others. Shame on the AGO and how your service and consumers experiences have declined. read more

Stopped by spontaneously. Really enjoyed the food and drinks. Pancakes and cocktails were delicious! The waitress was very friendly. read more

AGO Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I stopped in after the Weston Family free event with a friend and definitely a first time to visit the Bistro. The location has a Starbucks vibe but was nice and bright. The location is known for the fixe price menu for brunch, lunch and dinner and drinks. We picked up a latte and Americano (thanks Thomas S.) Members at the AGO get 10% off, so bring along your under 25 year old patron. I found the machine coffee the same as the free TD Infinite lounge. read more

I went for lunch with my aunt and mother before seeing the Making Her Mark exhibition. My aunt got a middle eastern inspired dish which she loved, my mother got the seafood dish which she sent back as she said it was overcooked, and I got the AGO burger and the peach mock tail and both were wonderful. The fries tho were very salty. The waitress was wonderful and friendly. read more

AGO Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Made a reservation here based on reviews for 6 out of towners for a business dinner. Was really impressed by the food quality and attentive service! Several members of the party are foodies and one eats a vegetarian diet. All had multiple selections to choose from. Also, the half price wine and free museum admission (pre-registration required) on Wednesday can't be beat. read more

The weekend brunch is a $30, 2-course prix fixe menu with a limited selection. It includes one cup of brewed coffee or tea. I started with the chicken liver pâté... nicely presented with crostini (which I did not try) and a pickled accompaniment. Very tasty and a decent portion. I had the Benny (two poached eggs, smoked salmon, arugula, bernaise, fries or salad) with salad. The eggs were perfectly poached but the bernaise and salmon were flat and bland. There was no salt and pepper on the table, and as the mains took much longer than expected to be served, I did not ask for any. The salad was fresh and perfectly dressed with a light tasting vinaigrette. My partner started with the grapefruit salad which was outstanding (ruby grapefruit, shaved fennel, mint, pickled finger chili, olive oil) and beautifully presented. He too had the Benny but with frites which were very good and served with aioli for bonus points. The upper area, where we were seated, was flooded with natural light due to the large windows facing Dundas but the Frank Gehry designed space otherwise felt sparse and cold. The tables were well spaced but, unfortunately, the noise bounced around the room, because of all the hard surfaces, especially with small children allowed to run around the dining room as if it were McDonalds. I would very much like to return to the restaurant during the week to sample offerings from the lunch menu. I will ask to be seated in the main dining room which looks to be much more inviting. Bottom line: $80, all in, for brunch for 2 in downtown Toronto, no alcohol. read more

AGO Bistro - Grapefruit Salad - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Good not great. The food we actually got (AGO Bistro Burger and the Cornish Hen Chasseur) were pretty good, cooked properly and came somewhat fast. The reason I say good not great; it was due to the service level. There were many seats available when we came for lunch but it took awhile to be seated and to have our orders taken. If you're on a time limit for lunch, this combined with the speed of service might not make this a choice spot to eat. After being given the menus we were told the pasta of the day was a papardelle, and the special was steak frites. We both wanted and ordered the steak frites; waitress comes back and announces they are sold out (it happens). We ordered the bistro burger and the paparadelle; guess what? Now out of the pasta of the day! I ordered the Cornish Hen and that was in stock, so we ended up with our 2nd and 3rd choices. read more

AGO Bistro - AGO Bistro Burger with Garden Salad - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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My friends and I were running late for our reservation, so we called in to let them know and they automatically updated our dinner reservation on OpenTable accordingly! We arrived and they immediately offered coat check and prompt seating. They adjusted our table when they noticed that the sun was shining at our faces without even being asked! Throughout our dinner, our server and multiple managers came to ensure that they followed all of our dietary restrictions and preferences and that we were all fully satisfied. Best service ever! I have had plenty of quality customer service this past week at a number of fine dining restaurants, but staff at AGO Bistro really impressed me individually and as a team!! Just wow! Our dishes took longer than expected, so they apologized and served us each a free garden salad as we all waited for our mains. When the food came, the presentation of every plate was immaculate and all the ingredients were fresh, local, healthy and delicious!! Little to no carb, added sugar, they made our dinner keto friendly for my best friend, pescegan for me and scrumptious for my beau's beef cheek!! We all loved our dinner so much that we ordered more apps and desserts as well! Money was not an issue when the food and service were both outstanding!! Then we even asked for a tour and their group business card, because I am thinking of having my future engagement party here!! Fine dining with beautiful artworks and excellent service! Everything was reasonably priced and I felt full in the end. They got all of my instructions, right and they even went above and beyond!! If you have the time and money, I definitely recommend you to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario on Wednesday after 6pm for FREE and then come here for a meal before or after your visit!! You surely will not regret coming here! read more

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Winterlicous!! Hot spot for mixed French and Italian cuisine. 28$/person Prix Fixe menu this 2019 Winterlicous special had solid options. Let's get to it! What I had: 1. Duck Confit 2. Cassoulet 3. Spiced Dark Chocolate Ganache What She Had: 1. Citrus & Fennel Salad 2. Frisée Salad 3. Blueberry Compot Sorbet The duck confit came with a fresh pear on the side. In fact, both starters had fresh fruit. Great texture and aroma. Mixture of crispy and tender duck, perfectly savoury, and fried onions for some crunch. A great combo and very satisfying palate appetizer. 5/5 To compare, our vegan citrus & fennel salad was a tangy lemon delight. Each ingredient from the fresh cut fennel and the orange wedges added a unique flavour. Light and refreshing overall, but being neither fans of fennel or purple cabbage this one lost points. The lemon vinaigrette was the saving grace! 4/5 The cassoulet was the heavier of our two mains. Very reminiscent of home cooked meals but the plating was exceptional. With bacon bits and local game sausage cooked in delicious saucy white beans it felt like the right amount of comfort food. I could have done without the carrots but picking them out was no hassle. 4/5 While we were freezing from the ice pellet storm, the frisée salad warmed our hearts with a cute sous vide egg top. Great texture balance! The crispy chicken skin offset the smoked chicken chunks. The frisée in mustard vinaigrette with its freshness cut through the thick egg yolk. 5/5 To round out our meal we enjoyed two quite different sweets. The spiced dark chocolate ganache reminded me of a fancy s'more. Plated beautifully topped with powdered chocolate on delectable whip cream, however it was not a win. Did not feel like a satisfying conclusion to our meal and would recommend other options. 3/5 On the otherhand, this sorbet! My, oh my, was it good. Exceeded expectations because it isn't particularly extravagant, but worked well with our light optioned overall meal. The blueberry sauce was the right tart to the sweet berries and sorbet. Would eat by the bucket...5/5 Overall thoughts include expectedly exceptional service, ambiance and aesthetic. Great double feature recommendation is to eat and art! The Winterlicous menu was well designed with light, heavy and vegan meal options. Next time we would choose less salads! Overall a 4.3/5. Thanks AGO Bistro chefs and staff for a great lunch! See y'all next time. read more

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I was surprised with a trip to the AGO a few days ago, and part of the outing included brunch at the AGO Bistro. I feel like I might've eaten here a long time ago when it was still called Frank, but I have no memory of the food or the experience. Anyway, the menu offers a lot of interesting-sounding (and rather expensive) items but I decided to go with the Sweet Potato Hash ("game sausage, two poached eggs, corn-mustard seed relish, grilled baguette"). It arrived a short time later and the presentation was definitely on point. If nothing else, this was one of the more impressive-looking dishes I'd eaten in a while. Fortunately, the taste was equally noteworthy. Though it wasn't exactly what I expected, the potato hash itself, which contains both regular and sweet potatoes, is cooked really well and enhanced by the corn-mustard seed relish. The game sausage is super flavorful and tasty, while the two poached eggs, though slightly overcooked, does an effective job of tying the whole thing together. read more

Loved the Happy Hour at the bar here! I visited the bistro before the Yayoi Exhibition and was impressed how they changed their bar menu to Japanese appetizers and cocktails. I ordered the pork belly that was slow cooked with the right balance of meat and fat, full of flavour, and served with pickled veggies. The chicken karaage was amazing with the yuzu miso aioli! The AGO Bistro's Japanese fusion was delicious and I wish I could try more on their menu. read more

AGO Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Stopped in here before the Infinity Mirrors show at the AGO. Been here before when it was Franks, so wasn't sure what to expect. The place is the same, drink menu looks very similar, menu was different but very interesting. we went for a could of the Bistro small dish specials for $8.99 each. Both were great Stop in if your are at the AGO read more

Bae and I visited for a quiet brunch after enjoying a private viewing of the Guillermo Del Toro exhibit (side note, if you can catch the exhibition I would recommend checking it out - very cool/creepy!) and enjoyed our experience. Service was attentive and the food was delicious. I enjoyed the eggs benny florentine and bae had the lamb shaskuka. Our waitress was kind enough to offer us brewed coffee refills at no charge after we finished our Americanos. She also allowed us to enjoy the "starter" of bae's prix fix at the end of our meal, which was a dutch baby. For those who don't know, this is a thin, crispy, slightly sweet pancake. Ours was served with whipped cream, powdered sugar, and fresh berries - oh so good! The restaurant itself is very beautiful, with a nice chill atmosphere and a few art pieces throughout. Would like to return to try lunch/dinner soon! read more

I came in here twice for Summerlicious lunch and more recently for their actual dinner menu. Both summerlicious experiences were on pary with most other summerlicious lunches I've been to over the years, good food but always leaves you craving for more. So it was with excitement I showed up for their dinner menu. But before I get in to food stuff, the actual restaurant seems to fill in every possible corner that the AGO could afford to give it, resulting in a very unusual and unnatural sense of space. They have a maître d that stands out because he has a mean handlebar moustache all gel'd up and ready to go, and everyone else in the staff showed great personality and service on both my summerlicious and "non-licious" dining experiences. I had a grilled octopus appetizer followed by my first ever go at scallops as an entrée, and the octopus was delicious in all it's dressing and had an almost poultry texture and the scallops were very "fish ball" in taste which I enjoyed and definitely did not regret my decision. My dessert was an apple tart if I remember right and was a great finish. My only negative about the experience was their drinks menu, it was very expensive for drinks that look great on a menu but come out extra strong (elite event-like) and don't go great with a meal. But at least they don't cheap out on the alcohol ounces. Add all that up and you're looking at around $100/person for a full meal, so go in expect to dish out some dough, but it is easy to spend only $50 here and leave feeling satisfied and sober. And the fact that you can wander in to the AGO (hours of operation permitting) as an after meal destination is a minor plus too since the AGO shop has some neat stuff you get to play with. read more

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I went to Frank's for a late night dessert and I was really disappointed. I thought that it would be good, from positive online reviews and the fact that the AGO Cafe's treats also get positive feedback. I've also heard lovely things about their brunch. Unfortunately, the desserts were not fresh at all - way overpriced for what we got. Is it worth returning for a meal? Summer Berry Pudding Raspberries, strawberries, red currants, and vanilla whipped cream While tasty, I think that this would've been better topped on top of a cake rather than being served as a messy slab of pudding. It was more mushy than pudding-y. Coffee and Donut Chocolate espresso pot de creme with dulce de leche whipped cream and cinnamon sugared mini donut Cute presentation - chilled pot de creme had a nice chocolate-espresso flavour, but I wish it was a bit stronger or denser or had bits of chocolate in it. The donut was quite disappointing. Despite being made in-house, both the twist and the donut were stale and lacked flavour. I would have been happier with a Timbit from Tim Hortons - for 16 cents! read more

AGO Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Frankly, I do give a damn about the food and drink at the AGO's fine food shoppe. They serve local-ish foods and certainly seasonlly-inspired dishes. I actually went for brunch on my birthday. I had a lovely time eating and then taking a little trip through my AGO. The salads are heavenly and pair really well with sparkling wines. The heavier dishes like steaks and eggs also looked pretty delicious. Local wine list is a highlight. Even if you just pop in after the gallery for a drink, I would suggest coming here. Open kitchen allows you to view all the precision of the master chef. read more

AGO Bistro - Steak and eggs - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Before we decided to wander through the AGO yesterday morning, we stopped into Frank for brunch. The server was awkward, stiff and extremely formal (in a way that seemed unnatural), but overall very attentive and helpful, so I wont hold her attempts at trying too hard against her. Frank has a vegan dish on their brunch menu, the roasted shiitake mushrooms with heirloom squash, which was nice to see. The server suggested a slightly more substantial dish the chef could make for us with braised lentils and eggplant (also with heirloom squash and tat soi salad). It was phenominal. Beautiful presentation, and absolutely delicious. But, with phenominal food, comes a phenominal price tag, so that part was an unpleasant surprise. read more

AGO Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Was at Frank for Winterlicious lunch and was impressed by the food, even by non-Winterlicious standards. I thought maybe because the Winterlicious dishes were produced en masse it wouldn't be as good quality, but if that is the case, then I can only imagine what it's like during normal operations. I had the calamari salad to start, quinoa risotto as a main, and bread pudding for dessert. All three dishes were great, and I was really impressed that they could make quinoa taste so good. My tastebuds weren't exactly fooled into thinking it was risotto, but it was still really tasty, and I felt good about making the healthy choice for lunch. The service was also very well done, not overly obtrusive but there with everything that we needed at the right times. The demographic of the other diners was definitely a lot older and umm...how do I say it..less ethnic? Think stereotypically art gallery type. =) read more

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Same restaurant space with a new name and a new menu. I'm happy to say AGO Bistro is just as wonderful as FRANK was. And those were big shoes to fill. The new restaurant opened back in August of 2017 but this was my first time here since the change. It was nice to see they kept the same relaxed feel. It's the perfect place to grab a bite before or after seeing one of the many great exhibits at this wonderful gallery. 10% discount for members. We had two dishes. One was the Okonomi Fries which were, in fact, very nommi fries. Sprinkled on top were bonito flakes and togarashi spice which was not only a surprisingly delicious flavour combination-think Poutine with a Japanese twist- but it was also visually engaging with the shimmering silvery flakes of dried fish moving like little waves on top of the hot fries. Mesmerizing! Our second dish was the special which was, in fact, pretty special. Ok. I'll cut that out. But seriously, it was one of those perfect shareable snacks. Perfectly seared tender cubes of beef on a nest of crispy noodles. And the cocktails are superb. I was so happy to se the saketini was still being offered complete with a happy little marigold blossom floating on the top. I should also mention out waitress was great. So friendly and nice. I can't wait to go back again. read more

AGO Bistro - The drinks are spectacular! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Doing TIFF film tonight so decided to try Frank. Ordered a couple of cocktails (graffiti and the daiquiri), Californian salad, and duck and bison striploin for mains. The salad was delicious. A perfect blend of greens with strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes, grapes, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, and avocado. I would never put that combination together myself but will now definitely try it at home! Duck and bison were delicious and perfectly cooked with a nice accompaniment of veggies and starches. Dessert was sublime. The pineapple corn bread was soooo good. It came with a popcorn accompaniment and matcha creme. I could eat that again and again. The spelt molasses cookie crumble with ginger ice and a delicious chocolate enrobed treat was also delish. Service was friendly and attentive. I accidentally dropped a roasted tomato into my partner's cocktail and our server brought us a complementary replacement beverage. It is a hidden gem, especially on a Saturday night in TO and definitely worth a trip back. read more

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My 1 year anniversary just happen to fall on mothers' day. Looking for a place for brunch was not easy, all the popular spots are fully booked. After extensive yelp search for brunch, FRANK was one of the spot that keep popping up for brunch. why not! It's part of AGO! What can go wrong? right? It was perfect. :-) I love the decor at FRANK. Modern. Very AGO. The service was great. Very attentive staffs. The food was great. Beautifully present. The place was not overly crowded. We were seated in a corner. It was a nice "intimate" brunch experience. Food: -fruit gazpacho: It's like a fruit smoothie. -valencia orange salad: Arugula salad with light citrusy vinaigrette -poached eggs parisienne: amazing amazing fresh croissant. -churros: it's good. But to be honest, you can probably get the same at Kensington market for 1/3 the price. tarta de santiago: delicious. I wish I had a bigger stomach to enjoy it. read more

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This is a review only for the cocktails at the bar. Outstanding service, gorgeous setting. Their cocktail menu, just like their food menu, synchronizes with featured exhibition at the AGO. We went there during the Mystic Landscape exhibit. I loved both the Emily (Carr) and Van Gogh. Drinks are very beautiful, and the bartend had a heavy hand (Thank you Lord). He also went out of his way to inform us of the purveyor the wildflowers they use in their cocktails when we inquired of the source. The bar at Frank has outstanding staff - and they all genuinely look like they enjoy their job posts there. This will be a regular for us from now on. read more

AGO Bistro - Van Gogh's Starry Night - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My experience for this spot was for a brunch before going for an exhibit. They have a brunch menu on line which was sadly not up to do date so I was left to make a new choice from what I had planned already as the menu is very limited and doesn't cover a wide range. My choice was the following item Ahi Tuna Tartar Burger Poached Pear with a cappuccino The beer selection is not available on line but is actually quite good. 3 big bottle Italian beers (750 ml) along with an interesting mix of small sized offerings (Blanche de Chambley would be my choice for those) We were a somewhat larger group of 6 so people took our time in ordering. Service was prompt at this time. Since no one else ordered an appetizer my tuna tartar was first to arrive. Visually appealing this was the best dish for my meal. Nice crispy won ton with yuzu and sesame provided a nice tang. The edamame wasabi hummus was surprisingly bland and didn't have any kick associated with wasabi. The side of salad was decent. Then the wait began and the server disappeared for a bit and the main took their time in arriving. The burger didn't look appetizing as the patties was just overwhelmed the dry over sized bun. Poor meat to bun ratio IMO and the condiments didn't help much either. Fries were just run of the mill and spicy apple ketchup was forgetful. I couldn't finish the whole burger even and left most of the bun untouched. Others in the group had a similar opinion of the place as well. Then came time for dessert the portion isn't what one expects for starters. The poached pear was half decent. The rhubarb pie and pineapple cake went well the crowd. All said and done one can do a lot better for the amount you would spend here. 2.5 stars. read more

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Upon entering, we wondered where the art was. The restaurant felt a bit like an airport waiting area, with its grey ambiance, muted music and stark walls. Why so glum, chums? You're part of the AGO! You literally have creativity bleeding from the walls around you. No excuses for staid interiors, am I right? Okay, now let's talk Winterlicious food. For appetizers, the mussel soup was tangy and smooth and was even poured right at our table. Although it was lukewarm, the balance of flavours was still very, very good. For our entree, the sea bream was our top pick. The crispy fish skin was the best part. The only thing was that the official menu promised grits, but on the day we went, I believe they served celeriac puree in its place. Although celeriac puree sounds like a diseased dish for decaying retirement homes, it was delicious, and honestly, I'm still thinking about it. Dessert was where everything fell apart-- literally. "Rassembleu" meant that they served a deconstructed pear dessert, and oh, it was a sad, sad thing to behold. It was like a bland, plain cookie crumbled underneath a cold, almost-raw pear. There were some token crumbles of blue cheese hiding among the cookie rubble. What's with Toronto and this deconstruction trend? Some of the Neanderthals among us still prefer our tarts intact. Lastly, the service was perfect-- there was none of that snobby "Oh, you're here because it's a prix-fixe menu" vibe that you get at other restaurants. I appreciate that. Winterlicious is about exploring new territory-- in food, in experiences, in the city-- and overall, I'm glad that we tried Frank. read more

I've been here twice and both times I have had awful food. Not sure what's up with this place. Even after giving Frank/AGO Bistro a second chance I was left with a bad taste in my mouth, literally. The first time I was there I had the Sturgeon and it was un-chewable. I tried sending it back but was told 'that is the nature of this type of fish'. Un-chewable and un-cuttable with a knife? Something seems wrong there. I was also not offered anything in replacement of my uneaten meal, which struck me as odd. At the next visit I tried the Beef Cheek, which I'd had before and loved, but this one was pure fat -- but not in a good way that Beef Cheek is supposed to be. In a weird way like the fat wasn't properly rendered tender - it was shoe leather. Another disappointment. This place tries to be fancy and serve weird/cool food items, but take my advice - if you're ordering anything other than grilled cheese or fries, you're going to be disappointed. Sorry Frank, the 3rd time won't be the charm, I won't be back and I don't recommend this place. There are so many great places nearby the AGO, so skip this one. read more

I wouldn't call this a Canadian restaurant of the same level as Canoe or Boralia. But the food is good and the location (next to AGO) can't be beat: you can look at art and after enjoy a nice glass of wine and a meal. For my visit, the service was impeccable. My server was very attentive and everything on the menu could be altered to exclude wheat. He recommended a great wine pairing. The food was good. Not exceptional. I had the streak frites with bone marrow and house made aioli. The steak was cooked exactly as requested but a bit bland. I've eaten a fair bit of bone marrow around the world... this was a bit over cooked. Overall, the 4 rating is a bit misleading. I would rate the restaurant as follows: Service: 5/5 Food: 3.5/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Location: 4/5 Overall: 3.75/5 Price: 3/5 Overall: it's easy to find a table, the food is good but overpriced, and the service fantastic. If you're looking for a place to eat after a night at the gallery, this is a good option. However, I wouldn't make a special trip or go out of my way to eat here with so many other great restaurants in Toronto. read more

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Came here for Valentine's day for a special dinner. They had a Valentine's day prix fixed menu which was delicious! The first was the oyster, as the amuse bouche or something of that sort, I normally greatly dislike oysters but they added some spinach and cheese on it with like a bechamel sauce or something and it really transformed it, it was delicious! Next we had the appetizers, a salad, and a goat cheese creme brulé - the salad was forgettable to be honest, but the goat cheese was sooooo good. The presentation was spot on too, especially when you consider the restaurant is located inside of an art museum. It was beautifully presented, a work of art in itself. Mains were the black cod and the duck breast. Both of which were very tasty and well made. The black cod specifically was fantastic, both my boyfriend and I agree that was probably the highlight of the meal. Lastly the desert, it was a 3 desert combination, a French vanilla ice cream, a chili chocolate cake with chocolate mousse, and a chai cheesecake. They weren't mind blowing, but they were good. I've read some reviews here that the food wasn't up to par, but as my first experience I really enjoyed the food. It's true that it's a bit pricey, but it's nice to treat yourself once in a while. The wait staff were also great. Super friendly and really tries to make your experience enjoyable. The cocktails were also really great, I forgot to mention. There were a few that were inspired by Guillermo del Toro, I'm guessing cause they had his exhibition recently... Not sure exactly where the inspiration came from, but it was pretty tasty. The presentation of the cocktails were impeccable as well! One of them had edible liquid gold! Crazy! The only reason I wouldn't give it a 5 star would be because of price, but if I could I would give it a 4.5 star. read more

AGO Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

HOLY CATS! Why doesn't this place have a higher star rating? We came across this place while touristing around in Toronto. We wanted to go to the museum but wanted food first so we were SOO happy when we saw this place attached to the museum ready for us to eat some brunch. We had to try the Bloody Caesars... spicy of course. They were perfect and refreshing. For food we had the Huevos Rancheros and the Burger with fries. So good and nothing else to say about that. I really wanted something sweet so we ordered this blueberry tart...it was practically the best part..or it was the last thing I remember. It's worth the extra price tag especially if you are visiting from out of town. read more

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First rate in ever sense of the word. The menu ranges wide enough to satisfy most tastes, the food is fantastic, the space is beautiful, the service is excellent - this is a great place to enjoy lunch, and there's no reason to "try" any other place if you're visiting the museum. AGO has a very casual alternative that seems quite popular with the PB&J / pizza / mac & cheese crowd, too. read more

Got the okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake). Personally didn't like the sauce, a little too sweet for me. The rice from sukiyaki (hot pot) tasted a little weird. read more

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Is it weird that the museum restaurant is one of my favorite meals, so far, in Toronto? I had the burger with salad. The salad was simple, fresh, light and perfectly dressed. The burger was stuffed with provolone & topped with a roasted roma tomato. My husband had the roast, which was beef tenderloin with broccoli, asparagus, fingerling potatoes and topped with an egg. The meat was perfectly cooked,and it was a beautifully composed dish. We were impressed with the freshness & the quality of the cooking. We came here by accident, as we were starving when we arrived at the museum, but we would return on purpose. read more

Wonderful restaurant, great food and service. Perfect before or after going into the Art Gallery read more

AGO Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Amazing brunch! My friends and I go for brunch regularly around the city and we all agreed Frank was a stand out. We had the asparagus with poached egg, avocado toast and the pastry board to start and all were delicious. Then we shared 2 eggs Benedict for main and the pain perdu for brunch dessert. All were dishes outstanding. Frank pulled off 5 perfectly poached eggs in one meal which is the real deal. For the quality of dishes $35 prix fixe is a steal as it includes a appetizer and main along with juice and coffee. Service was excellent as well. Frank also takes brunch reservations so what else can I say other than we will be back. read more

Frank has always been a first stop destination for dinner when overnighting or visiting Toronto. Located in the Frank Gehry redesigned AGO, this restaurant has offered great decor, farm to table food and world class cocktails. I have counted it among my top ten restaurants anywhere. In my visit the other night the kitchen delivered delicious and creative food. The cocktails were wonderful and made by the same bartender that's been here for eight years. The service was good as always. The only negative, and it's a big one, was the music they played in the background. It was not only intrusive--fine dining restaurants shouldn't provide a soundtrack to compete with conversation--but inappropriate. it sounded like a lot of Shakira. Whatever person or consultant put the playlist together has done a disservice to Frank's loyal customers. It detracted from and cheapened the pleasure of our dining experience. read more

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I decided to devote a whole day to wandering around the newly reopened AGO, including indulging in lunch at Frank. The restaurant itself seems to be an extension of the Gehry redesign of the gallery. It is as if everything in the restaurant, right down to the colourful iridescent acrylic tabletops is about art. It's sort of a Warhol meets Gehry meet Bauhaus. True to Gehry style though the restaurant is flooded with natural light and on a blustery winter's day it was a perfect oasis to partake in a lunch time repast. To start I had the Risotto Coquettes on a bed of sauteed chanterelle mushrooms. The cakes were crispy, golden and when I cut into them the centres were filled with a Quebec cheese that just oozed out. I made sure to use a piece of Fred's Bread to sop up all the cheese and mushroom goodness. My friend ordered a Chicken, Sage & Apple pot pie that came sided with what is some greens as well as some Apple Sage jelly. The pie was chockful of juicy pieces of white chicken meat. It had a great balance between the savory of the Sage and the tart sweetness of Cortland apples. The salad greens were simply just some greens lightly dressed. Ok, again I'm predictable. I opted for the Steak Frites which is a Cumbrae skirt steak marinated then topped with a beetroot coleslaw and some creme fraiche horseradish. The frites where okay, not great, not as crispy as I like. The steak was cooked perfectly but I begin to work my way through the meal the beet coleslaw bled into the frites and the horseradish turning my plate into a huge pile of pinkness. For the happy endings we order the Ice Cream Triptych which was three perfectly rolled balls of ice cream, one is Seville orange sorbet, one lemon cream and the middle a bittersweet chocolate. Sitting atop the ice cream was a pencil think biscuit that was absolutely stellar. It was almost like a piece of chocolate shortbread. My gripe with Frank is the wine list. Its is strictly Ontario wines. I begrudge paying $13 a glass for a glass of local wine. As well there were no wine flight offerings. Frank is not a quick or cheapie meal spot. Gehry's influence is evident in the plating, the actual plates, the place settings and even the napkin folding encasing the bread and finally in the price tag. I've eaten in both the other city's gallery restaurants (C5 and Jamie's at the Gardiner) and I will say that Frank would be my destination of preference. Hold on to your wallets though, this lunch was $100 (two glasses of wine) before tip. read more

FRANKly, my dear... (I can already feel it; there's a lot of wordplay potential here) ...Frank is an excellent option for a visit pre-, post- (or even mid-) AGO show. Heck, bypass the art gallery entirely...Frank won't mind. I love to slip into a bar stool at Frank for a glass of wine en route home. The surroundings are modern, sleek, and there's something incredibly relaxing about watching the scramble of Dundas Street pass by on the other side of the window while you sit and sip on a carefully chosen somethingboozy. There is impressive choice, so prepare to do some reading when you are passed the wine list. The service here is excellent: super-attentive, unobtrusive (great spot for a business drink) and - even when the dining room has had reservations - I've never had a problem finding space immediately at the bar. Water top-ups seem to be amazingly managed by some ninja waitstaff. I've only ever had bar snacks (meaty olives, frites with lemon aioli) and desserts (dense chocolate cake, every time) so cannot speak to the complete range of food on offer. However, speaking Frankly (here I go again)...I have no reason to think that the full menu wouldn't be as wonderful as the bits and pieces I've tested already. Yelp note: Frank participates in Summerlicious, so if you want to try 3 affordably priced courses at a restaurant you might otherwise bypass...this is the time to go. read more