Such a good find! Operated by the same team behind Mamakas across the street, this has an equally good menu. Their food is delicious: we tried the mixed plate for two (more like for three!) and the crispy eggplant (truly the best eggplant dish ever). The Filipino staff members made our night! We just wish that they'd put rice or orzo on the menu to balance out the meat platter; that would take it over the top. I look forward to coming back here for brunch! read more

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Bar Koukla is a stylish, modern spot on Ossington that takes its inspiration from Athenian snack bars. The space is cozy but lively, with a warm glow, a long bar, and a relaxed vibe that makes it easy to settle in for a drink or a light meal. It's the kind of place where people drop in for a glass of wine, stay for a few small plates, and end up lingering longer than planned. The menu focuses on Greek mezes and seafood, with dishes meant for sharing and pairing with their cocktails or curated wine list. Everything is simple, fresh, and flavour‑forward, which fits the casual, social feel of the restaurant. We visited here for a Sunday brunch and enjoyed our brunch, cozy vibes and friendly service. We ordered "Spanakopita Florentine" and "Baklava Pancakes" and paired them with Cappuccino and Flat White. Our food was fresh, delicious and beautifully served. read more

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Ordered the Spanakopita Florentine and shared the Baklava Pancakes with my friend. Price for the first dish was $22 and the latter dish was $16. The egg benedict and the hollandaise sauce were so good. The crispiness also added to the whole dish. There were also hints of orange as well, and as you got to the centre of the dish, it became more sweeter. The pancakes on the other hand were good but didn't really live up to the hype it has online. The ambiance was really nice and cozy, we got seated at the bar where we could see the chefs make the dishes. If you want to sit at the tables, I would recommend placing a reservation. Our waiter was also really friendly and polite. read more

Bar Koukla - Spanakopita Florentine - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We went to Bar Koukla for after work drinks. The inside is beautifully decorated with a Mediterranean feel, with a small patio outside. I have mixed feelings about the service; one waitress was really accommodating when we asked if we could move to the patio. However, our waitress on the patio was quite short with us; it felt like we were inconveniencing her with our orders. The food portion sizes are small for what you're paying for. read more

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Stumbled into Bar Koukla on a random Sunday and had a great time drinking cocktails and enjoying small bits. Awesome atmosphere with a sleek almost European feel. Everyone in the group enjoyed their drinks. The servers and bartenders were also friendly and knowledgeable on the menu. read more

Bar Koukla - Logo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I like the atmosphere in this establishment. We sat at the bar for dinner rather than sitting out on the patio. This gave us a big opportunity to speak with the bartender who was a maestro behind the bar. As I like cocktails on the sweet side he recommended the Circe. Not only was it pleasing to the eye but it got my stamp of approval for taste. To follow it up I had a Roz Sour also excellently put together. Presentation on both drinks was flawless. He was an artist behind the bar. For appetizers we had the Moschári which was a beef tartare and Koulouri which was a sesame bread with honey butter. Both were good and both had sesame bread. I would stick with the former since I don't need two sesame bread appetizers although both were fine. For the main entree we split the Mixed Grill. There were a few items that came with this. The Souvlaki was just alright but I really enjoyed the lamb ribs the most followed by the meatballs. The lamb and meatballs had really good flavor....something I hadn't tasted like this before. This is a great place for a date night. The bartender kindly let us go upstairs to the room they had for special events. It was really nice up there with a bar too. I'm sure it's not cheap but seems like a great area for that very special occasion. Put this place on your list for Greek inspired food. read more

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I've now been to Koukla three times and the food remains excellent. Our server was not only friendly and at times hilarious, she really knew the menu and helped the 3 of us navigate the perfect sharing plates. My favourite dishes by a longshot are the lamb, sesame bread and phyllo triangle. Mushroom dish was our least favourite as it was gritty. And the Mezcal cocktail knocked my socks off (photo attached). Although it was quite loud, I will continue to go back! read more

Bar Koukla - Mezcal cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We loved the small shareable foods here. The food was all super flavourful and delicious. The feta and the bread was a must. The cocktails were all perfectly done and well balanced. They had happy hour until 7:30 - half priced bottles of wine and sour cocktails. read more

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Came for a weekend brunch and the truffle eggs were delicious. The egg is perfectly fluffy and not overcooked. The truffle was a nice touch and just elevated the dish. Wish there was some component of acid, maybe something on the side, to round out the dish. Portions are quite small too, would recommend getting several things if you're feeling hungry! Ambience was great and the servers were very friendly and helpful. read more

Bar Koukla - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Overall really great spot on Ossington! The vibes are great for someone who wants to go solo or as a group of 2-4 for dinner or drinks. But I'd definitely recommend both! We tried the grilled lamb, eggplants and the octopus on sourdough bread, and it was all so well prepared! The lamb and eggplant were especially delicious. The lamb slid right off the bone and with the eggplant you could taste its natural flavor! Definitely recommend! read more

Bar Koukla - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We made a reservation here on a weekend evening, but there was plenty of space so we switched from bar seating to table. Very kind servers who refilled our water every single time. The interior here is nicely decorated, and clean. There is a large bar, and a few tables for dining. We got the sesame bread with honey butter, lamb ribs, and gnocchi. The sesame bread was served warm, the honey butter was sweet and salty. The Lamb ribs were firm and well cooked and seasoned. The gnocchi dish was very small, but they use high quality olive oil that I could taste. For two people, this was not enough food (unless you have a small appetite). Prices are high for the portion size. Washrooms are downstairs, inaccessible. read more

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Bar Koukla came recommended by our hotel concierge. She suggested we go early, even on a Tuesday. The interior was chik and the service we received was top notch. Our server suggested 2-3 plates per person and after doing the math we opted for the pre fix option. After 7, courses we left fully satisfied. Each dish and was delicious and unique. The cocktails were also delicious. Definitely a top/memorable meal. read more

The hype for this place is real. This has been on our social media platforms for a while now so I made sure to try out their famous brunch when I was in Toronto. The place inside is very small and they have tiny tables and low chairs. Nevertheless the place is always packed! The service is nice, however very slow and our server kept forgetting things we had ordered. We didn't mind as she was very nice. The brunch menu is limited but sounds delicious. The server insisted that everything is shareables and encouraged us to order multiple items to share. Instead we all got a savoury item for ourselves and the pancakes to share. The food took its time to arrive and I'm pretty sure our neighbours who arrived after us got theirs before us. Once we got our food, everything looked instagram perfect. The taste however lacked big time. The pancakes were very sweet and I'm glad we had one savoury item to balance the sweetness. The truffle eggs had absolutely no seasoning. No salt. No pepper. We requested the server to bring us some hot sauce and seasoning however we never saw it come to our table. The coffee however was amazing. Definitely come for the coffee to go. I'd pass on the rest. read more

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The restaurant has changed a lot since I last visited. The menu is very limited now, and unfortunately, the food was both poor in quality and overpriced for what we got. It felt like there might be new management, but the whole experience was quite disappointing. They offered a brunch menu with very few options, and it seems they no longer serve lunch at all. I was there two years ago for a birthday and had such a wonderful experience back then--sadly, this time was the complete opposite. Also, I was surprised that they asked for a credit card just to book a table. That wasn't something I expected from the level of service we received. read more

This place is always to busy so I always wondered what the hype is all about. Other than a beautiful atmosphere and a romantic feel there really wasn't anything special about it. We just came for drinks so I'll have to try to food to give it a more accurate review, but based on the menu it really doesn't feel authentic Greek like its neighbour next door. I ordered the drink with the baklava on top. It was way too strong, it was also 5% drink 95% ice for a $20 cocktail. It was so ridiculously overpriced for frozen water and a piece of the baklava on top (which by the way was just a sheet of the pastry no filling with powdered sugar on top). read more

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This was a planned outing so I had made reservation ahead. I am fan of their original restaurant across the street and recommend it for Greek food most times. The place is open and I recall another spot here a while ago. The interior is nice and inviting however I didn't appreciate the chair without the back rest as it was quite uncomfortable a while. There are plenty of options to meet most dietary restrictions. I went with the Haloomi sandwich sans the bacon. Decent attempt IMO however the portion is small for what you are paying to the extent I ended up sharing a Bakhlava Pancake. The pancake took a while to arrive as apparently its baked fresh (could be in between batches). Hmmm not my idea of a pancake as the filling threw my taste buds off quite a bit. The service is great so kudos for that. I would say 2.5 stars for what one pays. read more

Bar Koukla - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Waited for 40 mins after being seated to realize that they have lost our order. Server kindly ask if we would like coffee or drink on the house. However, does not boost the experience at all. Within the 40 mins of waiting, no one checked on us or checked on whether or why the food is taking so long. At the end of meal, no one checked on how we are doing or apologized further for their mistake. read more

Bar Koukla's been around for a few years now and yet I've only recently checked the place out for myself, despite the fact that it's been on my radar ever since I'd been to the neighboring Mamakas a few years ago and found the food very impressive. We showed up around 11:15 on a recent Sunday and managed to snag a small but comfortable-enough table by the door, despite the fact that we didn't have a reservation. Everything on the brunch menu looked delicious, but I couldn't resist the Spanakopita Florentine ("fennel cress, scallions, spinach, feta, phyllo pastry, hollandaise, poached egg"). We were a party of three and we each ordered separate plates, but for some reason the restaurant brings out the dishes as they're ready. This meant that my dish came out first, and by the time I was finished eating, one of my dining companion's food hadn't even arrived yet! It was awkward and a little frustrating. Fortunately, she really enjoyed her dish. And I enjoyed mine a lot, too. It's essentially a really top-notch spanakopita that's topped with tasty hollandaise and a poached egg. There's also a sweet element that I found pretty delicious, and eaten all together, it was a dish I could easily see myself ordering again. It's just too bad about the service. read more

3.5 It's a trendy spot on the Ossington strip. I came for brunch and unfortunately didn't have a reservation and was told the wait time was an hour (I saw plenty of empty tables both inside and out). My friend asked if we could sit outside on the patio and the server said she would check - they initially assumed I wanted to be seated inside). Anyways I was seated outside with my friends in a half shaded spot. Lots of inventive brunch options - very tasty and great flavours. Loved the spinach phyllo with poached egg and hollandaise on top - definitely a star. The dishes were very photogenic as well. Water was filled up frequently. In line with pricing for other brunch places. read more

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Been dying to try @barkoukla for their mediterranian brunch menu which is only available on weekends. Surprisingly we were able to snag a table around peak time with no wait! We ordered: Lachanika: This was a feta dip and trout roe served with pita and even though it was quite messy (DIY), it was a tasty combination! Truffle Koulouri and Eggs: This reminded me of an open faced egg bagel except the "bagel" was less dense and more fluffy. The soft scrambled eggs with black truffle was creamy and the truffle aroma was fragrant. Pretty simple dish but good Patates Arnaki: This was a pulled lamb with potatoes, there wasn't too many "meaty" options aside from this one. It was okay, I didn't feel like any of the flavors really stood out to me Halloumi BLT: This was surprisingly good. The sandwich itself was slightly crispy and even better with a thick piece of halloumi cheese Kapsoura Martini: I was a little taken aback by the flavors of this as it was very pungent and heavy on the onion but I sent it back for the Rodakino Spritz which was fruity and floral and actually very nice for a warm summer day Overall it's a cute place to grab a small bite with friends but its important to note that the brunch menu is quite limited. read more

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The food here was delicious. We walked in to Koukla for lunch after realizing their sister restaurant across the street, Mamakas Taverna, was closed for a special occasion. What a lovely surprise! We ordered the dakos toast, lamb ribs, and tuna crudo. It was the perfect amount of food. The dakos toast was my favorite - smokey from the grilled eggplant spread and generous layer of stracciatella cheese - I immediately wanted another order! My next favorite was the lamb ribs! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I'm not normally a fan of lamb at all and reluctantly got this because my boyfriend wanted it - it was the best lamb dish I've ever had! The tuna crudo was good but basic. I also loved the ambiance of the place. We went on a beautiful sunny day and the vibes was perfect. Highly recommend stopping by this spot! Overall I was impressed by Koukla - the bf and I agreed this is the one of the best places we've dined at in Toronto! read more

Bar Koukla - Lamb Ribs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We leashed up our pups and ventured out in search of a nice patio for dinner that was pet friendly! It was about 8pm and I was excited when I saw a few tables available at Koukla, the hostess confirmed they were dog friendly on the patio (they even have bowls at the front you can bring to your table for your pup) and we for sat immediately. The pineapple mimosas were DELICIOUS!! Seemed like a small pour but definitely delicious- we shared the halloumi, grilled gem salad, tuna and ribs. I really enjoyed the gem salad and tuna, the halloumi was delicious but can't really expect less from friend cheese. My partner found the ribs to be quite fatty- so he didn't love them but we were able to treat the pups with some leaner pieces of meat. Kitchen was closing so we didn't stay for dessert but it was a lovely evening and always better when the pups can come with! read more

I was looking forward to coming here but was disappointed by the experience. They sat us right outside of the door during brunch when there were plenty of seats available. People are coming/going and one of us could've been hit by the patrons. They ended up moving us in the very back right by the bathrooms. I ordered the tomato salata thinking that I'd get a decently-sized salad. Wrong! That dish was tiny. They could've sorted their brunch menu by type (like appetizers and mains). Our server could've told us whether the salad was good enough for a full meal. But no! They ripped me off with this tiny tapas-sized dish with a bunch of tomatoes and peaches. For $17. Meanwhile we also got the truffle koulouri and eggs, which was also pretty small compared to your average brunch portions. We quickly finished our dishes and went straight to Mandy's. The only positive about this whole experience was the decor. That was it. read more

Bar Koukla - Portions were abysmal. This was $17. For tomatoes and peaches. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Not sure why people have rated this place so low! My friends and I went here for my birthday dinner and we had an amazing experience. We decided to do the 60$ tasting menu in order to try everything and to our surprise it was 50% off bottles of wines. It was such a great value. The food was delicious. The sesame bread was warm and perfectly paired with the unique honey butter. The calamari was perfectly crispy and fresh. I enjoyed the crunchy pomegranate seeds, it was a nice sweet and tarte addition to the salad and feta phyllo. My favourite dish would definitely be the steak, it melted in your mouth. Everything was so flavourful and we enjoyed every dish. The ambiance and the interior of the restaurant was beautiful. The waitress was also very friendly, knowledgable of the food and made great recommendations. So all in all it had great food, service and ambiance. Would definitely recommend. read more

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This is my time trying Greek style brunch at Bar Koukla. Amazing experience with great quality food. We ordered a Baklava pancakes, and the most popular Spanakopita Florintine. Both are wonderfully presented and taste good. The yogurt cream with the crispy pancake is a beautiful combination. The poached egg on the stinging nettles are an interested combination. I strongly recommend this spot for brunch. Only down side is a bit tough to find parking spot. read more

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Came back in November for one of my birthday dinners with 2 friends. , 1 of them was a pescatarian so we didn't try any meat dishes. We ordered: Espresso Martinis Scallop Crudo Kalamari Manitaria Fish Sandwich The scallop in calamari was good but were smaller portions than we thought. The other two dishes were nothing special. I've always wanted to come for brunch as the menu looks great so hopefully will get to do that soon! read more

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This is a restaurant and a fun west end area. It has a really interesting atmosphere with interesting broke details on the wall and a large bar with friendly staff. If it doesn't seem very overpriced at the $15-$20 mark, but I found the menu items to be poorly described. For example, one item might say a word in greek, and say braised lamb shoulder. You would expect there to be pieces of meat. The dish that came was roasted potatoes with shredded meat and lots of sauce. I was told that this item had feta cheese, So is expecting this to be sprinkled on top of that. I was actually just something that was in the sauce. I found it a little bit misleading, based on what the server and the menu told me. I would still come back, but for the price of the food it'll definitely leave you hungry and feeling like I need to buy more food after (elsewhere if you're on a budget) read more

We saw this place recommended on Instagram and since brunch is always a good idea -- we made last minute reservations for their Aegean inspired brunch. Quick note: our reservations were for 230pm + we were told that the kitchen stops taking orders at 245pm, we had already explored the menu -- but something to be mindful of otherwise, super rushed. We wished we had known that piece but all worked anyways. Service was GREAT. Attentive and available but not hovering or ever made us feel rushed. Food was good. Definitely gorgeous in their visual aesthetics. We were happy we had picked a few dishes to share because of being able to try more than one thing but also that one, two bites was perfect. The atmosphere was great and the cocktails were really good (especially the tzatziki one!) They're definitely an experience. Not quite what I recall from being in the Aegean Sea earlier this year but the inspiration is clear. read more

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Guys if you are willing to put up with the worst service of Ossington, come here. Great drinks but food takes forever and a day to come and some of the wait staff seem to be having issues with others internally. Great Music, great drinks. Poor service read more

We made a Valentine's Day reservation for Bar Koukla, the newest from the team behind Mamakas Taverna. The restaurant was offering a 6-course menu for $45 (wine-tasting for an additional $35) that night. Honestly, we were both super pumped to try this new place - the mezze plates advertised on Instagram looked so delectable! Unfortunately, most of the dishes (often those not featured on their regular menu) weren't too memorable. OYSTERS This was the first course; a half dozen raw oysters from east coast Canada (I believe it was New Brunswick and PEI) were served on a bed of ice. Some horseradish served as garnish, along with a lemon wedge, some hot sauce, and a refreshing cucumber vinaigrette. The two types of oysters were quite fresh (though my date happened upon a not so good one), and I liked the brinyness. OCTAPODI* Slivers of pickled octopus were served with red onions and celery, and topped with some fresh dill. The octopus was tender and moist, and the sour tangyness helped whet my appetite for future courses. However, I found the overall flavours a little dull and unexciting. This was a good dish, but wasn't particularly impressive in delivery. PATZARIA SALATA* This was one of the best dishes of the night. Roasted beets were served atop whipped feta, with some candied pistachio pieces adding a nice crunch. I adored the juxtaposition in textures (the crunch of the nuts along with the lightness of the feta) and flavours (the sweetness of the beets and beet juice contrasted with the tangy and savoury feta). The whipped feta was strikingly similar to Greek yogurt, though my date says there's an additional grittiness to it. While simple and modest in concept, the execution was so good and interesting! We both loved this dish. MIDIA This mussel dish was, frankly, bland and mediocre - definitely my least favourite of the night. Salt spring mussels and creamy gigantes (massive beans) were served in a light tomato broth with cilantro. Two slices of pita were given to help sop up the sauce. However, the broth was super watered down, and there was a slightly bitter aftertaste to the dish. I can't put my finger on what caused it, but it was a lacklustre dish. VODINO The beef striploin was grilled to a perfect medium rare, and precut into easily consumable pieces. The mousto balsamic added a nice touch of acidity to cut through the richness, and the salt flakes helped to accentuate the flavour. The grated graviera cheese was almost nonexistent - I barely noticed it was there. This mezze was yummy, but objectively speaking, it was quite similar to many of the steaks you get at other establishments. CREME CARAMEL FLAN I'm not typically a flan fan but holy, this dish blew me away. The thick salt flakes really helped to both balance and enhance the sweetness. The flan was also perfectly set, and the lightly burnt caramel sauce made the dessert not dissimilar from a creme brulee. We both raved about this dish, rating it as the top of our list of the night. Overall, Bar Koukla is an intimate establishment. It's really well designed and is a great date spot. Our Valentine's Day menu was a little lacklustre, but I'd nevertheless come again for their normal menu! Our waiter raved about the Greek yogurt cheesecake, so I can't wait to try that! read more

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Bar Koukla is a newly opened restaurant located at Ossington and Humbert serving wine + cocktails with mezes/small snacks. The bar is owned by the Mamakas team with their sister restaurant right across the street. There is a focus on small plates meant to be shared with an extensive beverage list full of Greek wines and unique cocktails. The space is small yet intimate, fitting about 35-40 people with a mixture of tables and bar space. There is an open concept kitchen where you're able to view all your food being cooked for you while you sip on your wine. Currently, the restaurant is first come first served. I dined at Bar Koukla on a Wed night after passing by this restaurant many times during the day. My party and I arrived at around 6pm where only a few tables were occupied. Staff were attentive and answered any questions we had re: the menu, especially with recommending a wine. For a party of 2, it was recommended to share 5-6 dishes if you were hungry, 3-4 dishes if you were looking to snack on something with your drinks. My party and I shared the following items: - Calamari: Can't go wrong with fried calamari - Oysters: There is a buck a shuck deal everyday from 4:30-6:30pm! Definitely had to take advantage of the deal to order half a dozen. We were given 2 varieties of oysters. - Eggplant salad: Great creamy dish; chips and the salad "dip" all worked well together. - Fish sandwich: Great for sharing with 2 people. The fish batter was light and airy - a bit oily in my opinion, but you rarely see trout fried like this. The bread of crispy and the lettuce and sauce tied the sandwich together. I would recommend trying this! - Tigania (pork belly, potato, mustard): Pork belly and potatoes were cube sized. Pork belly was tender and fatty. Overall, Bar Koukla is a casual, intimate bar serving Greek mezes/sharing plates with an extensive beverage menu. Definitely a unique restaurant concept where Greek food is elevated. Would return back for more! read more

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Great busy and wonderful food! Modern spin on classic taverna cooking. The lamb chops (paidakia) is outstanding, as are the octopus, patates, koulouri. Will definitely go back. read more

The brunch was excellent. The dishes are very well done with high quality ingredients. The staff is attentive, helpful and genuinely excited about sharing their food and food knowledge. We enjoyed both classic Mediterranean brunch dishes and Mediterranean takes on traditional brunch dishes and all were excellent. Recommend pairing with the orange wine. read more

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Well my review has to do with the service. Drinks were decent but didn't expect a drink to spill all over me with just one "sorry" from the waitress. Seriously, my whole Jacket, pants and phone were soaking wet. No apologies at the end and nothing discounted. Waitress even asked me to add up the bill at the end. I'm trying to support the restaurant industry during these hard time while sitting at the patio in 10 degrees. Truly disappointed and COLD! read more

Bar Koukla - It was a great at the beginning with TZATZIKI cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Their Koulouri bread with honey butter is the most AMAZING treat... warm soft bread crusted with sesame, and rich sweet spread. What is even better though is how amazingly kind and caring the staff are here. We asked for extra honey butter and wrote that we were "going through something" somewhat humorously... the staff gave us a beautiful bouquet of flowers and attached the sweetest note... the staff are seriously so sweet and thoughtful. This place has such a warm spot in my heart. read more

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Overpriced but great quality and delicious food! We started with the KOULOURI (sesame bread - honey butter - bee pollen), this was amazing and the honey butter they give you way too much for the bread portion :D Then we had the KALAMÁRI (fried calamari - fava flour - lemon aioli) which was a TINY portion but it was so fresh I would say it was worth it. Also tried the FETA (phyllo - sesame - fennel pollen - wild ontario blueberry) after seeing so many pictures of it online. Def expensive for $18 but it was so unique because I've never had feta like that before. Probably wouldn't get it again but was fun to try. Lastly had the souvla (east coast lobster, shrimp, green apple, fennel, celery) and this would make me want to come back again. Fresh seafood and the flavour combo was just so amazing with the fresh pita! I would recommend you to come here if you want to have quality greek tapas. read more

Bar Koukla - zucchini flowers, myzithra, blue crab, orange - so good! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Ingredients are not fresh. Sure the ambience is cute, the plating pretty, and the wine is quality. But underneath all the frills the shrimp had freezer burn and the lamb was gamey (and I love lamb!). Sauces and surrounding trying to cover up for poor quality ingredients. read more

Great service & location. Food was delicious. Loved the fried halloumi, the feta gnocchi, lamb ribs and steak: Drinks were amazing - esp the Kefi No. 3. read more

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The food is excellent. The service is not. The drinks are good. The bartender is not. Make sure you have a lot of time if you're going there because you're going to be waiting for everything. Also don't arrive early for your reservation, especially if it's winter because they make you wait outside. I highly suggest the lamb. It's the best thing there. read more

The calamari & lamb ribs are literally out of this world. Yes the price is high for the portion size, but the interior is really nice, a great environment. And the food genuinely is made so well. read more