This cute little cafe is full of eclectic, quirky decor and "gezellig" vibes! You could certainly have a full meal here, but we just stopped in for some beers and a few light bites. The bitterballen are definitely a can't miss item--absolutely delicious! We tried an untraditional pulled pork version that is not normally on the menu. It can get a little busy on a weekend night, so service was a bit slow, but still very friendly! read more

Borrel - War Fries with Peanut Satay sauce & mayonnaise, Krupuk crackers with sambal, Pulled Pork Bitterballen - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

There aren't a lot of Dutch and Indonesian restaurants in Toronto, let alone two combined under the same roof. This place is a gem on the Danforth - small, cozy, intimate, and perfect for small gatherings and private events (they routinely get booked for private events). Once a month, they host rijstaffel ("rice table") which features an elaborate selection of Indonesian dishes for sharing (need to be booked in advance). Booking process is via email. They usually respond within 1-2 business days confirming your reservation. Staff are very friendly and accommodating. There are various Dutch memorabilia decorating the walls and shelves inside the restaurant, making it feel very 'homey'. There is also a full bar with small TV screen. Food is excellent - both the Dutch and Indonesian options are traditional and delicious. They have traditional Dutch dishes such as bitterballen, krokets, borenkool, snert, and poffertjes, as well as Indonesian classics such as nasi goreng (fried rice), bakmi goreng (fried noodles), satay, gado-gado, and krupuk. The best part about this restaurant is that they can make all dishes vegan! They also tend to have specials (usually 1 drink and 1 food special that are not on the menu), so ask the waiter / waitress what the specials are for the day. Dishes that we tried: DUTCH 1) Boerenkool (Holland's most traditional dish - stewed kale and potato mash with vegan smoked sausage and gravy) - Very hearty. The vegan smoked sausage was slightly crispy on the outside. 2) Vegan Snert (Dutch pea soup with king oyster mushrooms and vegan smoked sausage, served with dark rye bread) - Perfect for winter. Soup was thick, filling, and flavourful. It was interesting to see the king oyster mushrooms made into pulled pork-like texture. The vegan smoked sausage was a bit salty. 3) Poffertjes (Dutch mini puffed pancakes with icing sugar and butter) - Light and not too heavy for dessert. It would've been better with cheese, yogurt, or berries / fresh fruits instead of butter, in my opinion. INDONESIAN 1) Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice with fried egg, sambal, seroendeng, and pickled cucumber) - Our favourite dish here! It tasted authentically Indonesian with the sweet soy sauce. Loved the fried egg on top with runny yolk, and the toasted coconut and peanuts that added a nice, flavourful crunch to every bite. 2) Gado-Gado (Indonesian salad of seasonal vegetables with tofu, hard-boiled eggs, and peanut satay sauce) - I liked that this was light (the sauce was not overdone) and the vegetables were still crunchy. The vegetables were not really what's in a typical gado-gado, but I still enjoyed it very much, that we ended up ordering 2 of this same dish to get extra veggies! read more

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The atmosphere is very nice, they have pictures of the Netherlands everywhere and it has that "English pub" look. The service was good too. The beer selection was not my favourite, it was a lot of craft beers. Now, the Indonesian food they served was amazing, but the Dutch food was not that great. Bitterballen was average, but the poffertjes weren't bad! read more

Borrel - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Perfectly fine. My wife and I were intrigued by the Dutch-Indonesian combo of Borrel's offering so decided to stop by for a late lunch. And while there wasn't anything bad, there also wasn't anything memorable. We got: - Bitterballen: It's a traditional Dutch bar snack which is kinda like deep fried meatballs if the inside was really creamy beef. Interesting, though don't quite get all the raving reviews about it. I guess I can see how it would have tasted a lot better with a drink, since all that deep fried-ness definitely will help soak up the alcohol. - Frikandel with upgraded War Fries: Deep-fried sausage which was tasty though not anything different and size was small for the price. The "war fries" were basically fries (which were done really well as they almost tasted slightly sweet and the potato-ness really came through) with a side sauce combination of mayo, peanut satay and onions (interesting combo, though the mayo overpowered the other two). - Chicken Satay: The skewers were a good size. A bit overcooked though the tasty peanut sauce saved it. - Nasi Goreng: The rice was cooked well (not overly hard or soft, stuck nicely together, very flavourful), the rest of the dish was nondescript. - Pannenkoeken: Their famous 'thinner than a pancake thicker than a crepe' offering, you can get this sweet or savoury. We chose sweet, and got ours with apples, cinnamon and powdered sugar. It had a good size, though kinda tasted just like a crepe with less filling to me. Service was friendly and efficient. Apparently, Borrel has a seasonal menu (they'll have these rich stews come winter), and used to have a more extensive offering pre-covid. Maybe we'll give it another try months from now, in the hopes that something fine turns into something awesome. read more

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I've been a regular at Borrel since they opened despite not living in the neighbourhood. Justin and Alison are lovely, the atmosphere is cosy, and there is always great music on. read more

Loved it here! What a great vibe and delicious food. Come here to re-live or get a small taste of the Netherlands. The service was great and the staff were ready and open to recommend cocktails based on your taste. If you're a cheese fan like I am, try the Kaassouffles which is deep fried cheese. Yum! read more

I really enjoyed my experience here. It's seems like the kind of restaurant where the waiters know your name. My waitress was super friendly and knowledgeable about what accommodations could be made for me as a vegan. They have a selection of beers on tap and a varied menu. I definitely want to go back to try some other dishes. read more

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I have had an amazing love affair with Dutch food for many years now. I have even made two trips to The Netherlands because of this. So when I found out the Borrel had a physical location I had to go and see it for my self. I have been a big fan of Borrel, following them on social media to see where they would go next. Now that they have their own physical location I of course went. This location small but cozy, the service is very friendly, and what brings me back every time is the pofferjes! I don't know what it is about these dessert but is has a spell on me. This is my first visit here, I am happy and satisfied with the food and service. I will be back in the near future and hopefully many, many more times. read more

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I have been looking for good Dutch food (reminisced of Amsterdam) since I got back and this place delivered. First off, the cider was great. Not Dutch or anything, just a solid cider. I was happy with it. The bitterballen brought me RIGHT back. There is NO where to get this delicious little ball of fried gravy, and I devoured them. They were perfect. Dutch fries, while not as good as Belgian fries, are amazing, and the ones here delivered. Eat them with mayo or curry ketchup. Just do it. 10/10 recommend. read more

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I was so excited when I found out thus restaurant was opening. Ever since going to Amsterdam a few years ago, I've been missing the Dutch raw herring that was so widely available. I have not been able to find a suitable alternative in Toronto until this restaurant came along!! Borrell is a small restaurant on the Danforth and was packed when we went on a Saturday evening. Service was prompt, herring was awesome, beer selection was good! Only downside (or upside, however you look at it) is they only prepare about 10 orders off herring a day. The fish must be fresh so they are not able to prepare too many of it! They don't have a big menu, but food was pretty good! To end, good service, great food! read more

Borrel - Herring! - Modern European Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Delightful little spot - we'd hear they were good, but I'd never really clocked the place til driving by with my girlfriend, who was instantly intrigued by the idea of 'Dutch-Indonesian' food. The service is super welcoming, the space is cute and the menu has tons of hard-to-pronounce options that were completely new for all of us, despite the table being filled with adventurous eaters. Prices were fair, Dutch-style beers shared space with the standards on tap and the whole experience worked well for a sharing-style meal. They get bonus points for having plenty of veggie / vegan friendly options, and stylish bathrooms. I don't give a lot of five-star reviews, and these guys came super close - unfortunately a couple of the snacks from the Indonesian portion of the menu were just average. I was driving and didn't sample the cocktails, but I'm stoked to see they have a section dedicated to genever and arrack - super rare spirits in Canada, but well-worth trying. These guys seem quite active in the community, and they are a super-welcome addition. read more

I am obsessed with the Netherlands and Borrel looked too cute and too European for me to resist. I came here with 2 other friends on a Sunday afternoon and the restaurant was completely full. This restaurant is in a 'house'? Their space is VERY limited. The restaurant opened at 2 and we got there at 2:30. When we walked in, EVERY SINGLE PATRON stared at my friends and I because that is how TINY this restaurant is. We ended up waiting for about 1 hour plus before sitting down. The service was a little bit weird. A family came in after us, and they sat down before us.. and we had to wait another 20 minutes for another group to leave... I don't know how my friends and I were so patient to keep waiting. Probably because we were really looking forward to Dutch food. Aside from the questionable service, the food was delicious! I ordered the Maatjesharing (raw herring) and shared it with my friends and it was really good. The herring paired with the onions and pickles was DELICIOUS. I also ordered the Erwtensoep (a.k.a. "Snert", pea soup with ham) for myself and that was really good too. The pea soup was ultra thick and you can taste some tendrils along with the soup. It had a really interesting texture. (Sounds strange, but it was good). My friends ordered the Boerenkool (stewed kale and potato mash served with Dutch smoked sausage, bacon lardons and gravy) and the Frikandel Speciaal (A deep-fried beef, pork and chicken sausage). They said the Boerenkool didn't taste any extra ordinary (yes, two words), but the friend who ordered the deep fried hotdog REALLY liked it. My comfort zone of Toronto is from Bathurst to Church and from Bloor and Front. I always love trying new restaurants outside of this block of comfort. Borrel is delicious and fun, especially if you want to get away from the craziness of the downtown core and have a little taste of Europe. TLDR; Good snack bar, but very tight seating. I'd recommend coming during non-peak hours and trying the Erwtensoep, the Maatjesharing, and the Frikandel Speciaal. read more

I like the way that the owners here support local events. The place is cosy. The food is very good and the service is good. It reminds me of a neighbourhood place that I used to go to in Naarden while visiting friends in The Netherlands. It is a convenient place to eat and drink at with friends! read more

Delicious food, cozy atmosphere & owners that care about community & great service. I also love their inventive cocktails & fun events. A warm place to spend some time with friends & family. read more

Really disappointing and incredibly overpriced-- $14 for a small bowl of soup (though it was tasty) and tiny stale pieces of rye bread. The gabo gabo Indonesian salad was dry and presented in a very unappetizing way. The chicken burger came with a coleslaw that was so dry it was inedible; the burger itself was just OK, as were the fries. For 16.50 this did not make for anything memorable. read more

another place i really wanted to like seeing i'm half dutch. as soon as i heard there was a dutch restaurant in my own neighbourhood i planned my visit. given my food restrictions i realized most dutch food like my beloved croquets would be a no go situation so i studied the menu and made a plan. i started with the herring. a massive letdown. two scrawny 5-6 inch filets an inch or so wide cut into 5-6 pieces each of dryish looking, anemic herring. my bad for being the first diner of the night at 5:00 pm this past thursday as i seemed to have gotten wednesday night's leftover. the kitchen should be ashamed. along with this 'bounty' were 3 nickel sized bread and butter pickle slices and some diced onions. the onions came cradled in a spoon. a spoon so small that my first thought was that i have seen coke spoons in the movies that were bigger. i kid you not. i had to parcel out the 'sides' to make them last with each bite. i mean really cutting a nickel sized pickle into quarters!!! then the soup, a split pea and ham, as traditional as it goes minus the black bread on the side for me, was also a let down. bland. tepid. and a mouth feel i didn't care for. shredded meat along with sausage rounds was odd and sadly near tasteless. i wished there were salt and pepper at the table which oddly there weren't and i was too chuffed to ask. the other dish was a plate of mixed cold meats. nothing outstanding to it at all and the tartare was bizarre. lastly the coffee. please people when someone asks for some more coffee after having finished a cup warn them you don't give refills and its another $4 for a cup. a bitter surprise after a bland meal even though the coffee was the best part of it. read more

I was so pleased to find out about Borrel. I love the Netherlands (eight visits so far) and always enjoy the Dutch food when I'm there. So a real treat to find such a great Dutch restaurant in Toronto. Borrel has a very homey, friendly atmosphere and the service was excellent. We shared an order of bitterballen (a real favourite when I'm in the Netherlands) and that was wonderful. We also shared an order of boerenkool as well as frikandel. Both very good. All that and a pint of Oast House beer and you've got the makings for a great evening. I look forward to my next visit--I'll be working my way through the menu. read more

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Nice quaint feel. Has identity crisis going or doez it want to be a pub or restaurant. Food not great. Everything deep fried and over cooked. Very loud music for 630pm read more

Ok I'm not a regular reviewer but I have to write something about this. First the good things- nice atmosphere great drinks and comfortable to share a drink with friends. Now bad ones. What's the wrong with the food here. I had veggie balls, this comes from someone who loves all things kale, tasted like what- did you do to make it taste this bad. The pulled beef sandwich looks bad and also tastes bad. I was very hungry or I wouldn't have eaten it. It came with 6 chips came from a bag of photo chips. Why?? I had better looking food at McDonald's read more

We had the chance to visit with Oma and when she gives the pea soup a two thumbs up -- you know its good. We ordered a range of Dutch snacks and with my mother-in law and wife born in the Netherlands they could certainly vouch for the authenticity. I can vouch for the flavour. Even though we live out of town - we plan on returning soon. read more

I'm half Dutch and was happy to find this restaurant on the Danforth. After three visits I must say each meal was wonderful and authentic. The thick pea soup (Snert) was as good as my grandmother's and the poffeges were delicious and as good as I have tasted in Amsterdam and Bruges. The atmosphere is comfortable and the cocktails were loved by everyone in our party. Now one of my favorite places to eat in Toronto. read more

Amy Pataki, the food critic from The Toronto Star wrote a positive review on this restaurant a couple of weeks back. She seemed to really enjoy the " Hachee Shepherd's Pie ". I ordered it and thought that it was a reasonable price at $10.00 When the dish came out, I could only stare at it in disbelief. The quaint dutch bowl it came in could not have been 4" in diameter and less than 2" tall. The potato layer was about 1/2" thick. All together, had I eaten it the way a man would eat a meal, it would have been 5 bites maximum. Really?!?! The dish was ok, but REALLY?!?! This was not from the appetizer menu, this was a main dish. Exactly what size person was this portion supposed to satisfy? I look at value for my money. If this had been in some fancy restaurant, I might understand. This restaurant is in a house which is far enough away from the main part of The Danforth that a restaurant goer could think that they would be getting greater bang for their buck. Just not the case. Also, while I was there, a Dutch lady came in and sat herself beside a gentleman that was having a soup. We were the only 3 people in the restaurant at this time. The owner came out and started conversing with this lady, somewhat loudly in Dutch for several minutes. I could see that the gentleman was uncomfortable with this, but did not say anything. He finished up his soup, paid for it, and was out like a flash. Dont think he will ever be coming back and neither will I. read more

We LOVE this restaurant! As East Enders it has become our weekly go-to in the hood. Not only is the service outstanding but the food is so heartily good and warms you up on a cold winter's night. Seating is limited so for sure get there early. read more