Our dining experience lived up to expectation of Canada's #1 restaurant. We arrived 15 minutes prior to our reservation. There is a booth on the first floor for check in, the lady took our umbrellas for safe keeping and ushered us into the elevator to go up to the 3rd floor. Upon exiting the elevator, our coats were taken and we were directed to our table. We were then seated and I was given a hook to hang my purse at the table. We were given options to choose our napkins and then the waitress explained the tasting menu experience. We did not decide to do the wine pairing , however chose to do two upgrades to the wagyu beef. Tasting menu consisted of 9 dishes, with 2 extra "free" dishes. The first few dishes consisted more of sashimi or raw seafood from japan, followed by the heavier proteins-duck breast, tenderloin, wagyu and then dessert. Each dish had its own distinct flavor and texture and it was always surprising to see what would be presented next. The wagyu beef upgrade is a must try; the beef melted in our mouths with the perfect smokiness and flavor. there was a lot of attention to detail; napkins were folded anytime someone left the table, utensils changed and table cleaned between courses. Overall a wonderful experience and we will definitely be back in the future. Quite expensive, however for the quality and experience, definitely a must try especially for a special occasion ! read more

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This is rated the #1 restaurant in Canada. I am not sure why. First off, our bill came out to over $500 for 2 people. When you pay that kind of money for a meal, you expect to be blown away. I was not. Food is good, the bread is exceptional. The first course was amazing. Some of the desserts were really good, but I've had better meals elsewhere. I do agree that the service was impeccable, and very attentive. We sat overlooking the kitchen, and I could see the amount of painstaking detail that goes into each plate. They even wipe down the dishes, the kitchen is immaculate. The restaurant itself is nice looking, but wasn't blown away by the design. I guess I had high expectations given its rating, and was slightly let down. I think Canoe was better- for the food and you are made to feel like a celebrity. Frank's Kitchen in Toronto was also better. Overall, It is good, but is not a mind blowing experience. read more

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Deserts tastes like plastic it's over priced it's 30 dollars for a couple pastries the service is horrible they jugged me because the way I look. read more

The level of service at Alo exceeded our expectations. The team of wait staff worked seamlessly together. They were very attentive, offering my pregnant wife a back cushion after observing she was not very comfortable. The presentation of the food was excellent, since my wife was pregnant, several of her dishes were substituted. My wife wasn't happy with the substations since they replaced most of the uncooked dishes with vegetarian options. My favourite were the duck dish and the wagyu steak. Overall a great experience, service and food wise. Would definitely return. read more

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I was able to visit after checking Opentable right at midnight and making a reservation two months in advance. I believe they have now changed their reservation policy to releasing dates once a month. One member of our party chose the tasting menu with wine pairings, while the rest of us just got the tasting menu and bought a drink separately. All courses were presented nicely and tasted really good. The service was excellent as well, and I can understand why this is being rated as the #1 restaurant in Canada! I ordered a cocktail and did not really like the taste at all and just left it at my table. After awhile, our waiter noticed I hadn't been drinking it and inquired. I explained that it was a bit too strong and they gladly offered to replace it with a different drink of my choice!! read more

Alo Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Best restaurant I have ever been nothing to complain with any thing .. wroth for experience once in your life read more

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The best food I've ever ate in my entire life! The food was complex; however, very balanced as each ingredient complimented the other. The food was simply perfect! That said, I can't forget the service as it too was amazing. The staff was very attentive to our every need and there was no hiccup or mistake at all. This was the food and service experience I've ever received! read more

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Fantastic dining experience. The one star missing is for the difficulty of booking and limitation of seating when booking, a mix up of stilled and sparkling water between refills, and a slight inconsistency of the knowledge level in the wait staff. Every dish comes out with delicate details, the order of each course placement among the diners, the direction of the plates, the explanation of the dish... The ingredients used, the combined complexity of the flavors of the meats and the veggies and the purees, and the creativity of every single plate, everything reflects the Canada's No. 1 reputation and efforts. Worth mentioning is the cocktail. Not too fancy, without too many frills, but definitely solid and profound drinks, all of them. read more

Alo tasting menu - $115 as of November 2017. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Alo. Upon stepping out of the elevator onto the 3rd floor, I immediately felt like I had stepped into another world. Part uneasy, part excited. There is the bar on one side, a very dark space, followed by the kitchen and the dining area - small and intimate. Service was excellent. The room was quite cold near the end. Be prepared for a 3 hour meal - the dishes come out fairly slowly. Food-wise, there were some hits and misses, depending on personal preference. My favorites were: - Canapes - foie gras cubes (one with some puffed rice, one with caramel) and gougères - a pastry cheese ball - Amuse Bouche - venison tartare - Oyster on potato puree - I loved the creamy potato puree but the oyster was fishy - Homemade pasta with fontina cheese, chestnut, squash - Hokkaido scallop - can see the technique from the thinly sliced green tomatoes and grapes on top Not a fan of the mains: - Pork belly - wasn't particularly soft, didn't like the pairing with coriander sauce - Rib eye - parts were overcooked and not a fan of the sweet sauce There was a pre-dessert (lemon and cucumber puree sorbet - very refreshing), and 2 desserts - an apple based and a white chocolate based. Both were similar in that they included some sort of icecream/cream, meringue/chocolate and had a modern presentation. Recommended for a fine-dining experience for date-night/special occasion! read more

A group of us checked out the tasting menu. 11 courses in total, including 8 mains, pre-dessert, and two main desserts. Personal favourite part is the dessert, but each main course has its own flavour, very exotic. The service is simply amazing. The whole experience definitely worth the two month wait, and the $$$ ;) read more

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Alo gets 5 stars as it really is an end to end culinary experience. You can read the other reviews for what you get, but the menu will change and tends to be driven by Japanese ingredients. We had a pregnant guest and they were able to make suitable substitutions for the raw ingredients. The service is impeccable and this is an understatement - easily setting it apart from other restaurants. The sommelier was also fantastic, telling us how to drink the wine with the meal. Bottom line: If it's a special occasion and you have money, AND you were mindful enough to get a reservation 2 months ahead of time, it's worth it. Full wine pairing and tasting will run you ~$550 for 2. read more

Let's start off with the service. The service is superb. This is the reason for the 5/5. The servers are friendly and very personable. We were lucky enough to sit at the counter in front of the kitchen (chef's table) which allowed us to see the food being prepared. We were able to talk to many of the staff and the manager. Absolutely no attitude here. They were here to make your dining experience the best. This food here is very good but I would not say excellent (4.5/5). At the counter, we had to have a 10 course meal vs. the 7 course in the dining room so we got to try more. Plus we had 4 desserts. The mushrooms, pork and bread (yes bread) were excellent. Everything else was just very good. The wine guy, Christopher, was great. I didn't have the wine pairing because it was mostly white wine which I don't like while the others I was with did. So, I had red wine and each time my friends got their wine, I also got a new red wine. The people I was with didn't like their wines but the reds I got were great. Christopher explained each wine in detail. I also had the vodka fix cocktail. That was yummy. read more

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The hype is real. Yes, you will spend copious money...close to $500 plus tax and tip for 2 people if you choose to go with tasting menus and wine pairings. And I HIGHLY recommend that you do, at least once. For a special occasion. Or even if it's just a regular night, a tasting menu with wine pairings at Alo IS a special occasion. I visited in early February on a Thursday night with a date and there was not a single misstep. A greeter professionally meets you on the ground floor before you get on the elevator. A hostess takes your coats and greets you on the 2nd floor. We are a bit early and we are shown a seat near the bar. And because our table ends up being a few minutes late, we are offered complimentary drinks. They are lovely. Once the menu starts everything is done to high-dining perfection. We never have to ask for water, the table is always cleared. Cutlery is always clean and set as needed. The wait between courses is the perfect amount of time to enjoy the previous course and wine without rushing or going hungry. The waiters and waitresses are dressed elegantly, are polite, professional and knowledgeable. Of particular note was the sommelier; his love and knowledge of wine was astound. And the food - divine, complex, inventive, exciting. Each course was different and there was no disappointments. The wines were paired perfectly and the variety was impressive. I had a veg tasting menu and my date had the vegan option and we were both impressed. No fake or imitation meats, no boring salads. And all worthy of a special night out, meat-eater or not you will not be disappointed. And the perfect last touch to the evening is a cute card in an 'Alo' sealed envelope with your menu and wine pairings for you to dream about. Make it a point to visit Alo at least once. read more

Came here for the tasting menus and it was absolutely amazing. One of us had the vegetarian menus and it turned out to be stellar! The other two of us had the regular menu and it was gourmet too. Service is too notch too. No wonder is ranked No.1 in Canada! read more

Alo Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Food was delicious, we went for the wine pairings which complemented to food well. Staff we excellent, attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. One thing stopped is giving 5 stars was the decor and physical space needs an update. read more

Food is complex with a depth and variety of flavors and textures. Quality and tastes are exactly what you would expect from a Michelin caliber restaurant. This is on par with 3 Michelin starred Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas, but without the theatrics and financial punishment. It is quite difficult to secure a reservation given the size of the restaurant and the small number of tables, but this is why Service was so personal and outstanding. Every member of the staff flows reminiscent of a choreographed ballet. It really is quite something to watch in itself. read more

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Absolutely amazing! Definitely an experience one must try, even at the $200+ per person price point. The fine dining service was exceptional, a standout even amongst others in Toronto. Word of advice: order the optional cheese dish when they offer it, you won't regret it, ever. read more

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This is the only time I have given a 5 star to a restaurant for this level. Reservations were a definite pain in the ass because they fill up so fast and time slots are sparse. You must book in advance or use their waiting list and be at the mercy of Lady Luck. We were coming here for my SO's bday celebration and it was impeccable service from start to finish. As we were in the dining room, we had to do the tasting menu. The savoury courses were all amazing and delicately prepared. The dishes were all prepared with visual presentation and balance in mind. If there was a defect, the dessert wasnt as varied and too similar. The service was the best I ever had. The moment my water was almost done, it would be filled. If i needed to go to the washroom, they also folded my napkin and were there to get my chair when i was back. When they took our coats, it was already ready for us to pick up on the way out. Great food, great atmosphere and amazing service. read more

Another stunning meal, in its own class in Canada. Impeccable service and amazing food. A must visit in Toronto. The price is very reasonable given the ingredients and the wonderful experience. read more

Did the tasting menu - $105 for 10 courses and 2 cannapes. So worth the price for the quality of food and exceptional service! Food is very creative and has a lot of high end ingredients like foie gras, black truffle, uni, and more. Service is like dining at 3-Michelin star restaurant with water being refilled without asking, table being cleaned each course, staff pulling your chair for you when you leave and come back. Really recommend this place. Lighting is dim unless you eat at Chef's Table. read more

Memorable first time experience at Alo tonight for their tasting menu after a patient 3 month wait booked through Amex. Tbh it was not a super "wow!!" experience like I was expecting, but think my expectations have grown too unrealistic over time with so much lead up time and hype surrounding Alo. Since I'm not a professional food critic or come even close to resembling one, just wanted to make a few comments about the overall experience- 1. Impeccable service. Why is it sooo expensive here ($105/person for the tasting menu)? Because you'll be spoiled rotten all night by all the staff constantly refilling your water, opening doors, replacing your cutlery after every course etc. I mentioned that I was cold to my partner and next thing I knew a staff had brought me a shawl! The staff also knew all the dishes by heart and knew of our dietary restrictions (lacto vegetarian, pescatarian who doesn't eat dairy), which were super well accommodated without any eye rolls or judgement. 2. Despite probably being more known for their meat and seafood options, the vegetarian and vegan options on the tasting menu are also fantastic!!! Vegans- call Alo at least a day in advance and they will tailor your menu to suit your needs! 3. Booking through Amex will get you special perks such as champagne to start. 4. Remember that you are here for the EXPERIENCE, so slow down your bites (eat like the Europeans lol), savor each course, ask about the ingredients, look around you, enjoy your dinner company etc. The tasting menu offers very tiny portions, all intricately prepared and individualized for you, which is a food experience that you might never come across again, so cherish the time you spend here. Alo reminds us all that eating is to satisfy not just physiological needs, but also something more spiritual. 5. Every menu is unique, every day. My partner and I were both vegetarian basically, yet our vegetarian menu items differed. 6. We were here for almost 4 hours, so plan accordingly! Contrary to what you may have read in other reviews, the time between each course is not that long. Food does come fairly quickly (within 5-6 minutes between each course). 7. Yes, we were both still hungry at the end of our gastronomy journey. So smart foodies, do eat something before coming. Portions are, again, super small. 3 words to sum up tonight's experience? Meticulous, indulgent, anticipation. read more

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Fantastic experience! Food was great. Service was amazing. If you have a hired time eating late and then sleeping, try to get an earlier reservation. read more

Best dining experience! From the greeting to the send off. They do care about the art of hospitality. Outstanding dishes filled with so many layers of flavour and texture. A lot of thought goes into this place and you can tell. I think the fact that the tasting menu doesn't change for a few weeks is what makes the staff calm (even in the kitchen - can see them) and allows them to perfect dishes and increases quality and consistency. Out of the 8-9 courses there were a lot of favorites! Only dish that was not my fav was the steak. Cut was a bit chewy which made it tough, though the meat was tender, good flavor though. I feel like I am at a loss of words to describe, you just have to experience it for yourself. Friendly attentive staff that go above and beyond and welcome you in an unpretentious manner. As my bf said, they were like a well choreographed dance. Explanation of the dishes and suggestions for wine were great. Even their sommelier was attentive to our expressions after tasting the wine. A sweet little bday treat as well. If you really want to treat someone take them here! read more

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Incredible dining experience. We had seats at the kitchen counter so not only did we get to eat the great food we also watched it being prepared. It took 3+ hours to get through the tasting menu of something like 18 courses! The staff were incredible and the whole experience was a clockwork process in which we felt valued and well pampered. Only regret is we missed seeing Gordon Ramsay by one evening. However we did get to speak to Head Chef Kris's and got a picture with him. read more

Alo Restaurant - It's a very careful process to put these kinds of meals together! - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

So glad to have been able to get this reservation from a friend of mine who couldn't make it last minute! The food was delicious - from presentation to creativity, and taste - so good! My partner got the wine-pairing option and he enjoyed the pairing and the full descriptions of each wine that was paired with each dish. The service was also excellent - from the moment you step foot in the door, you are well taken care of. read more

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Booked the kitchen table. Highly recommended at the other tasting menu might not fill you up. The kitchen table has a 14 dish tasting menu for $155. Worth every cent! My favourite was the soufflé! The best I've ever tasted. The other dishes were very original and inspired. This restaurant definitely should be a Michelin rated restaurant. read more

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I'd been waiting over a year to find out what all the hype was about. Now I know why many call it the best restaurant in the city - it didn't just live up to its billing, it blew my expectations out of the water. I want to be careful not to spoil the experience, so won't get into specifics, but first and foremost I have to mention the service. It's outstanding. They will make you feel like royalty from the moment you arrive, to the moment they have your coat ready when you leave. Everyone is friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and there to ensure your visit is nothing short of incredible. The food. Oh my goodness, the food. The tasting menu is ever-changing, but some of the most unique, inventive combinations of flavour, texture and even presentation I've seen. It was like a party was in my mouth, and everyone was invited. One last thing - DO. THE. WINE. PAIRINGS. The sommelier was amazing - knowledgeable, and making the experience an adventure in its own right. The way the wines selected complimented the dishes was, as you might expect, perfect. If only I were made of money - I would be here every week. read more

So far one of the best food I ever experiences, their dishes served very presented and elegant, the price is very reasonable for having the best experience read more

A wonderful restaurant... If you are a man. Alo has an excellent and reasonably priced tasting menu, with very attentive service. It's got a central location and a chef that personally stays out on the floor to oversee service all evening. However, I will no longer be recommending this restaurant to others. During the three visits I have made with my fiancée, the reservations have been under my name, and I have paid. Despite this, The staff treats me as a pretty ornament, smiled at but not spoken to, while Mark gets chatted up, by the sommelier, the chef, accosted by the bartender on his way to the washroom. The effect is somewhat like an Old Boys Club. I get enough of this elsewhere... I'll pass, thanks. read more

I lucked out that we were able to get a reservation for Valentines Day. I had been trying to eat at Alo since last summer. If you're keen to get a reservation for a specific day, either go on Open Table at the stroke of midnight 60 days before your desired reservation date or I have also heard that enlisting the help of a concierge service can be an effective way of getting a reservation. Let's talk about the calibre of this restaurant. They call you a few days before your scheduled reservation to confirm and to inquire about food allergies or intolerances. I was afraid that requesting a gluten reduced and dairy reduced menu would be restrictive and reduce the quality of the meal. It did not. I was advised however that if I could tolerate a bit of gluten that the bread course was "to die for", and I gratefully obliged. They have staff who are extremely attentive and it all seemed like a carefully orchestrated symphony they way utensils were changed with every course and water glasses refilled frequently. This was the best $105 hubby and I spent per person on a tasting menu, which included everything from seafood to duck breast to lamb to foie gras. They worked with my dietary restrictions and presented me with a customized meal that in no way suffered from a taste perspective. The highlights of my meal included the mushroom course (which replaced the mussels course with hollandaise sauce my husband was partaking in), and the duck breast and the lamb which were masterfully prepared and incredibly flavourful and tender. All of the components of the dishes were thoughtfully plated and married well from a flavour standpoint. The desserts were decadent. Even the palate cleanser was delicious and creative. Each dish surpassed the next and left you wanting more, yet at the end of the meal, we were left quite satiated. My husband's only regret was that there was only one delicious bread roll served as part of the bread course and we each could have easily eaten 2 or 3 of those with the house-churned butter. Would I eat here again? In a heartbeat! 4.5 stars 6/100 (2017) read more

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It's not an expensive restaurant, it's a cheap plane ticket. You're whisked away to the land of stars and sophistication. Just awesome. Sure, I'd heard the hype around this restaurant. About the world-class preparations, beautiful decor and warm attentive service. About how it takes months to get a reservation. But to be honest, the hype actually wasn't enough. Toronto has never had a restaurant of this style and sophistication. Not even close. It's very much the kind of thing that you experience at higher end restaurants in Paris, Chicago or New York. A completely flawless, almost effortless experience. Perfect in every way. The devil is in the details. From the matching brown shoes on all the serving staff, to the way that the staff walk you to the hidden washrooms instead of merely pointing the way. At first I thought that having your choice in napkin style was just to mask some detriment or oversight, but I ended up being wrong. It was just a part of the fantastic culinary theatrics. Every single movement appears to be choreographed to precision. But not in a stuffy or silly way. It's comfortable. It's classy. It's human. How do they keep this up? No pressure, right? It takes a phenomenal amount of work on many levels to get all of this so right. Much respect has to go to the front-of-house, who exist really on the same level as the superb kitchen. Perhaps the best part of our evening circled around our repeated conversations with the sommelier, Christopher. It truly wowed me how he was able to provide outstanding guidance that led us in some truly interesting directions without making us feel stupid or out-of-place whatsoever. Wines were expertly paired and eloquently explained. It's probably a good thing that it's so difficult to book a table. Otherwise I'd have no reservations wanting to go here for every night out. Spectacular. read more

A DISASTER, THE worst restaurant experience of my life and Im in my fifties! Rude, ignorant, nasty and surly and neglectful service .... with mediocre food! yes it's food and NOT cuisine! First in Canada???? its pathetic!??????!!!!! Do yourself a favor...grab a pizza and a bottle of wine and sit in front of the tv! You will have a better culinary experience than going here! #1 IN Canada...? I don't think so!! McDonald's has better staff! read more

This place is all the good things people review about. Despite making reservations 2 months ago, we finally sat down last night and enjoyed the 5 course tasting menu plus the 3 dessert dishes. Despite the recommends, I didn't do the wine pairing. The server indicated it was predominately whites, which included ice wines and some glasses of ports. Unfortunately I prefer my reds so I made my own choices. The detail they put into this meal as well as the service overall are top notch. The city just doesn't do it like that anymore. I got up twice within the 3 hours we were there and every time I was approaching the table there was someone there to pull my chair out and tuck me in. We had dinner reservations at 6:15 and we left there by 9. Prepare to dine and relax. And it's worth every single second! read more

I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but Alo fully deserves a 5-star rating. I've been excited about this restaurant since its inception, and after two visits (with a third pending in November for the "extended tasting menu" at the Chef's table), I highly recommend that you visit ASAP. (You will probably still have difficulty booking several weeks in advance.) While fine dining in Toronto seemed to go the way of the dinosaur over the past few years, Alo brings it back to the foreground with a vengeance. However, what scares many off from such experiences - namely, highly prices and pretension - Alo manages to avoid. While some may say that $89 per person is steep for the regular tasting menu, the overall experience (excellently executed dishes, top-notch service, and a gorgeous ambience) is actually a better deal than most restaurants of this calibre. Sure, the plates are on the "delicate" side, but add in the cheese, dessert and wine pairings, and even this hungry foodie left extremely satisfied. While Toronto often has a tendency to get swept up into "new restaurant hype" (which is not always justified) - this time it is. I'm counting down the days to November! read more

Reservations need to be made two months in advance and prepare to take a very late sitting at 10 pm!! Also, the air conditioning is way too cold and need to dial it down. They were attentive enough to give me a scarf that another guest probably left behind. The food and service was incredible and would come back in a heart beat. I even have set up an Alo fund where I save up every month just to splurge here read more

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Where have you been Alo all my life. Boyfriend took me her for my birthday, and we were so impressed. We already know where we're coming for anniversaries ;). Albeit on the pricier side (save this for a special occasion), the food was mouthwatering and very unique. Restaurant catered to our allergies which was really nice. I highly recommend doing the wine pairing. Every wine they brought out paired very well with the dishes. If you're lucky, try booking a seat at the chef's table. Space is limited. Only complaint- why do you have to reserve 2 months in advance?!?! read more

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We were totally blown by our experience here. We were traveling to visit and got waitlisted with no calls that weekend. We were shopping and on a whim tried for the bar. They had space and were non-plussed at our casual dress. We asked for a wine and food pairing at the bar and they didn't bat an eye. The opposite- they actually seemed excited to show off what they could do. Staff were down to earth and knew what they were doing-- the best combo-- and delivered big in skill, creativity, and curiosity. In one instance, the kitchen brought out a fat, juicy, crisped veal chop and put it in front of us. The bartender took one look at it and reached under the bar for a bottle and poured what tasted like an entire thicket of earthy blackberries in our wine glasses and left us with no more than a giddy grin and a cheery, "you'll see". He was right. We would be repeatedly spoiled like that the entire evening, which included a mind-boggling warmly-spiced vermouth on the rocks served with a frigid hibiscus ice cream and some kind of bitter crunchy praline (?!!) The service was special and is worth mentioning. The staff took care not to serve us too much food or wine. The bartender had an awesome eye for pacing the meal and poured more and less wine based on our comments. Several different staff came from the kitchen to deliver plates and share more about them. There was an almost intangible attention to detail here that is truly rare to find. It was comprehensively a fantastic evening and the best way to spend our last night in TO. I read several articles saying that this was the place not to miss if visiting. They were all correct about this absolute gem. read more

It would be hard to rate Alo anything less than five stars. It's definitely the priciest meal we've had in the city, but between the amazing attention to detail on every front from the reservations to the amazing service and often weep-worthy food and wine pairings, Alo has earned a reputation in Toronto as the place to dine for a special occasion. This reputation is well earned. For my birthday a few days ago, we made a reservation in early April and the only room they had was at the chef's table with the extended menu. This was actually perfect for my foodie soul. I'm generally not comfortable sitting on barstools, but I had no issue throughout our 3 hour meal. The wine pairings are esoteric and whimsical but this only adds to the element of surprise and delight that this restaurant excels at. The menu is billed as 10 courses, but there are several intermezzos and palate cleansers. Service never missed a beat and the staff were far from stiff or canned in their demeanour. It was nice to go for a fabulous meal and feel that the people serving you were actual people who enjoy their jobs and have personality as opposed to following some corporate script. This is not to suggest that they are not knowledgeable, because they know their stuff. On to the food... Simply amazing. The portions are small, but within are such thoughtful meetings of texture and flavour. This is the sort of food that touches your mind as well as your body and to me, there is nothing sexier. Meaty chanterelles in a luxurious cream bath; stuffed morels; dungeness crab with hearts of palm; raw and seared waygu beef; silky hokkaido scallop-- all of these items were prepared with such subtle expertise and care and the context of the wine pairings allowed for an even more sensual journey. Alo is a very special place and I would highly recommend it to foodies who are celebrating a special occasion or the adventurous patron who wants to wow an out of town guest. The bar looked nice and it would be a great place for a couple of impressive cocktails and snacks. If you splurge on one restaurant in the city right now, make sure it's Alo. read more

Situated on what I refer to as "Burger Corner", Alo is more than just a welcome addition to this part of the neighbourhood: It's one of the finest restaurants in the entire city, joining a short list which in my opinion includes The Black Hoof, George, Splendido and Edulis. The staff who are delightful and professional in their own right are all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed one week into being open, and our server declared it an honour to be working under Patrick Kriss (formerly of Acadia, at which I had also eaten but with which I was not as impressed). The ambiance is unpretentious, simply decorated and dimly lit. While they could use a painting or two in a couple areas (if you're an owner/manager and you're reading this, I'd be happy to create custom work for you: http://www.sarimichellerichter.com/), it's incredibly refined and comfortable. The five-course prix fixe meal offered two options for most courses, so naturally, my dining partner and I chose opposites so we could try every dish. The flavours were incredible despite very modestly sized portions. There was a great balance of sour, sweet, spice and richness. Worth mentioning in particular is the pain au lait with fleur de sel and house butter, the B.C. Dungeness Crab with black rice and pea shoots, and Yorkshire Pork with chard, grapes, ramps and mustard, as standouts. Fun amuse bouches and palate cleansers popped up between nearly every course, with the asparagus sorbet being the most innovative and exciting. We asked our server about the bar menu and he brought it over for us to see -- if you were to order all the dishes between two people it just might constitute a meal. He stated it's still under development. We also inquired as to when the menu will be switched up and he said it will be a pretty constant evolution. read more

Unfortunately you have to get a reservation 3 months in advance. Would love to try their chef menu. Oh well so came for bar food since it is cooked in the same kitchen. Food was good and well presented. The scallops were good just barely got any, they figured out a way to take a half of a scallop and make it a fancy dish but left wanting a lot more as it was expensive for what you get. Had the duck and that was good didn't like having to make lettuce tacos out of the ingredients as it was tough to put together and eat. Still good food and good drinks and great service. The dessert was the best to me. It was some banana gnocchi i think. Whatever it was it was delightful! I will definitely try to do a reservation as i want to experience the real menu. read more