Visited Canoe recently for the Summerlicious festival for the $33 lunch (which is a 3 course meal). Overall: Food: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 2.5/5 The food was amazing as always. I got the smoked salmon appetizer, yellowfin tuna, and the panna cotta dessert. All were great choices. One thing to keep in mind is that the portions are small but quality is unbeatable. The view and ambiance at the restaurant is beautiful. Great view of the CN tour and love the open concept kitchen. This was my third time at Canoe and first time disappointed at the quality of service we received. Being one of the top o&b restaurants I was surpised!! Although food came out on time, our server was mediocre. Not once did they smile, show that they went above and beyond for us in anyway, make conversation or anything that made our experience special. They simple did their job to take our order and bring the food but didn't give us that five star experience I have normally gotten at the restaurant. Dissapointed with the service but will return for the quality of food in hopes for good service. read more

Canoe - Smoked Salmon - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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No tldr on this one. Read it. Haha. One of the best tasting menus I've had in Toronto, and with the best view so far. I went for a birthday date and they did not fail to impress. They seated us right by a corner window with the CN Tower right behind us. I heard once that we feast with the eyes before we eat with the mouth, but that related to Japanese food and how beautiful it generally is. This got us started us down the gastronomic journey before we even had our first drink. Sitting at the bar was a great way to wait till our table was ready. I called in early to make sure they'd have a birthday surprise as well. They were very accommodating the entire time. It's also a plus that I didn't have to wait 2 months for my reservation, like other places that shall not be named. Now the meal, it was a while ago but still fresh in my memory. The mains were game meat but didn't have a gamey taste at all. Everything tasted refined and well planned out. There were some innovative dishes and some simple but great dishes. The portions and pacing were also wonderful. If anything was lacking it's probably the dessert. It was good but definitely not up to the level of the rest of the meal. Kind of a sad way to finish it. But hey, they change it up all the time apparently. The most creativity was at the start of the menu, and the main was simple and fulfilling. The result was like a book with a great catch at the start, a satisfying climax, and moderate denouement. Kind of reminds me of the "his dark materials" trilogy. Read it if you have time. :P The company was also great so that probably makes my review a little skewed. For now this one and people's eatery are some of my favourite tastings in Toronto. Enjoy! read more

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Visited this restaurant a while ago. Book reservations a head for a window seat. The restaurant was pretty empty on a Friday night. When you first enter there's coat check. The hostess and staffs were really friendly. We ordered the foie gras, seafood platter and some steak dish. The foie gras was pretty good. The steak was ok. The seafood platter was decent. Although the oysters were provided by oyster boys. They weren't the best ones. The dessert we order was some chocolate cake. The cake was really dry and hard. They ice cream was good though. Service is great, They let you test both wines before you order. The food is honestly not that great. It was expensive, your pretty much paying for service and the view. We went around sunset so you can see the whole view of the city and the sunset. You can see the cn tower too. They validate parking for you. read more

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This review is very long overdue. I had come here for a friends birthday, making this my second visit here. The venue itself is just awesome. When you get off the elevator and first go to your seat you can't help but be in awe of the view of Toronto. I highly suggest coming here in the evening as on a clear night, all the lights of Toronto dance in the night. You can easily spend a lot of time here just chit chatting and enjoying the food and the view. At no point in time did I ever feel "rushed". It's hard to describe, but some restaurants you sorta get that feeling that they want you out. Like when they keep on hovering around your table and after every sip of water they refill it. Or every two minutes they come to ask you if everything is ok. I dont deny that the meal here is on the pricier side but there are a few things to keep in mind. The cost also includes the view, service and the food which is always consistently good. What sets this place apart is the service never seems to fail me. There are some newer "trendy" restaurants, that are also on the pricier side but totally can fail you on service. With canoe, if there are any misgivings whatsoever I dont hesitate to politely bring it up, and I trust that everything is then made right. There's a reason canoe has been around this long, because they really do know the word "consistency". Coming in here you know your getting what you pay for. The newer restaurants are trying to go on bulk, and sadly can be a bit hit and miss. Not with canoe though. If you want a fancy date night, I would definitely recommend you consider Canoe. Any place where people can get married in has to have good quality right? Yup, a lot of people have weddings here! read more

Came here on a scattered storm night and bf was able to see the lightening with the most amazing view. The food and service was exceptional. Had a reservation last minute and they were able to accommodate us even after we changed the timing twice. Had the aged pork and was surprised with a side of blood pudding. I've always wanted to try it since Andrew Zimmern is my best friend (he just doesn't know it yet.) It was perfectly balanced with a hint of spice notes such as clove or cinnamon I believe. The pork was perfectly cooked. If I could eat the bone, I would. Bf had the fish (forgot the name and type) and was extremely pleased. I took a nibble and it immediately melted in my mouth. We were both super pleased with our choices. Over all-- Modern, clean, great view, delicious food and lovely wine. What more could a girl ask for? read more

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I was very excited to try this restaurant after reading many reviews from other yelpers. I was a little underwhelmed by the service my family received. Our waiter awkwardly greeted us by coming to our table, looking at us and then after 20s said hi. I'm not sure if he was disappointed in seeing an oriental family because of stereotypes and thought we weren't going to order a lot or not tip him the standard? We had questions about the raw bar and he gave off the impression that we were just going to order 1 for six people, because he seemed surprised when we continued to order the entrees. Throughout the service our waiter did not seem to want to engage with us. The gentleman that came out with the raw bar blanked out a few times describing the different components to us. Even when you go to lower-scale restaurants they have everything practiced to perfection. The female waitress who offered us more bread seemed a little judgemental when we said yes, which made it uncomfortable. I'm not sure if they had bad experiences with oriental families in the past but I don't think we should've received a borderline discriminatory service because of that. Aside from the wait service, the hostesses, the atmosphere and food are top notch. It's a very spacious restaurant for the small space they have, and almost every table there has a view of the city at night. The raw bar is a MUST try! All the different items are incredibly tasty and fresh. The popcorn is also a great palette cleanser. As for entrees we ordered the duck breast, rib eye, lamb, salmon and were all very impressed with them. I do think my favourite item is their warm bread with chickpea spread though. The desserts are alright, order the panna cotta for a unique experience. read more

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Went here for my 10th anniversary with my husband and it was AMAZING. The service , the food, the ambiance and the view were beyond 5 stars!!!! read more

2017 Winterlicious Lunch Menu Review Ordered: 1. Appetizer - Heirloom Squash Soup: Amazing Starter. Pumpkin season is over but hey, here's one fall delight that you can get to warm up on a chilly day. 2. Main - BC Keta Salmon (Lunch menu only): The Labrador tea cream is an impeccable feature in this dish. And is it just me or did you not feel like it has a bit of lychee taste to it? For all foodie lovers, slow down and savour this sauce while it dances harmoniously with the smoky wild fish in your mouth. Mmm, mmm, yum. 3. Dessert - Chocolate Fondant: All the chocolatey goodness come together in this dessert. It is less sweet relative to the Sticky Pudding option but is still better off to be enjoyed with a cup of java. C'mon, you prob will need that extra boost of caffeine to avoid hitting food-itis at work afterward. Service: Meh, could be better and I didn't expect much. You're getting a discounted 3-course meal at a fancy restaurant in Toronto's financial district. If you want better service, come during their regular times and order from their regular menu. Each course is served only when all patrons have finished the prior one. So chop chop, don't leave your mate(s) waiting! (Yeah, eating fast can be a struggle for a foodie) Price: Stressful early booking (took two of us to get the table on the first day the reservation opened) and maybe a couple gym workouts for those trying to stay fit. Kidding, just enjoy meal. You're on the 66th floor with an epic lake view! read more

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Every plate on our prix fix came out room temperature except for the soup. The funky mix of ingredients on each plate was too overwhelming and everything tasted average. Every plate was 90% decor and 10% food. Not very appetizing to eat on a plate with (inedible) rocks and shrubs! For the record I had the pescatarian prix fix. Good place to come to for the ambience and some drinks but it's a miss otherwise. read more

Waiter hardly served us and left us feeling judged . In the past I've had terrific experiences here but yesterday was quite upsetting. At canoe I'm normally asked if I would like to have my coat checked so I felt a bit uncomfortable to have my winter jacket with me especially while other guests clearly did not have to sit stuffy with their coats behind them. The waiter came 20 minutes from when my partner and I were seated and asked if we were ready to order when in fact we were never offered a menu or even water to begin with. Note my partner and I are in our early 20s, POC, and in my opinion dressed and behaved respectively for the setting. The majority of guests there consisted of white collar, middle aged, people. We came just after lunch rush and there were plenty of servers relative to guests. We ordered drinks because I couldn't bother to stay for the duration of a meal. Our server never checked on us and we had to go up to the bar to pay our bill. The server handed the machine over to me and turned around. He didn't bother to face me while I finish my transaction or ask if I would like a receipt. The service we received was beyond unacceptable. Besides that the caramel latte I got was more of a macchiato than a latte and the Negroni my partner ordered tasted more like vodka than gin. It lacked vermouth or a sweet aspect to it and would've been more authentic with a single large ice cube than several small ones. I expected more from a higher end restaurant like Canoe. read more

Always detailed, always classic, I really appreciate the consistency of what you're getting at Canoe. It's as close to perfect food and perfect service we'll find in Toronto. The view of course tips the restaurant into a home run with a perfect setting. The only place I see room for improvement is how stiff the place can sometimes be both in terms of service, and in terms of creativity on the menu. read more

Had an incredible experience here eating at a table overlooking the kitchen. Start to finish was perfect. I chose to have the tasting menu, which was amazing. I would highly recommend eating overlooking the kitchen as this was a highlight for me read more

Canoe - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

There's no question that this place has an absolutely spectacular view. It's a perfect spot for a date, or a special dinner with friends or family. The service is incredibly friendly and professional. They really know how to treat you well. One of my friend's meals came right when he left to have a cigarette. Originally they put a top on it to keep it warm, but since it took awhile, they brought it back to the kitchen and made him a new plate on a rush basis. It was completely unnecessary but so kind of them to over that. They have an incredible list of wines that pair well with the food. The waiters/waitresses are well educated on which wines go well with what dishes. The food is also incredible. The presentation, the flavour combinations, the textures...all delicious. A great place for upscale Canadian food. read more

If you're ballin' on a budget, this is not the place to be! If you really want to go, better come with a GENEROUS friend with a six-figure salary otherwise it could be an awkward moment when the bill comes! They have an extensive wine selection from different areas (ie. Napa, Ontario, France, Italy, etc.). Surprisingly we got a really good Chardonnay from the Ontario area, recommended by the sommelier, AND it was reasonably priced. Canoe has a breathtaking view of Toronto because its nestled atop the TD Bank Tower. As expected, service was top notch and the food lived up to the hype. We ordered several dishes and shared it family style. Everything we had was magnificent but the dish that stuck out the most was the Steak Tartar and Foie Gras! You MUST order this! Definitely wouldn't mind coming back for dinner to see the view of Toronto at night! Money well spent! read more

Located on the 54th floor of the Toronto Domnion Tower (TD Tower). I went into the TD Bank Tower, and was pretty confused because I didn't see the 54th floor. Turns out when I asked the receptionist, I'm not the only one who makes this mistake. Heading up the elevator, Canoe was easy to find, we made a reception and were seating right away. The waitress asked if we were celebrating anything special, I'm pretty sure if we were there to celebrate they would bring out a cute little celebratory dish decorated with fancy words. The atmosphere was definitely a business casual type of setting. We did not go during Winterlicious or Summerlicious, so we had the regular menu. We were served with warm bread with delicious oil. In addition, we were asked if we wanted more bread after. We ordered some coastal half dozen oysters, which were delicious. They were well cleaned, I didn't taste any sand in them. In between the appetizer and the main course, we were given a special small dish to cleanse our taste buds. It was really refreshing! For the mains, I got the Canadian barley risotto. It was definitely a small portion, but I enjoyed EVERY bite of it. The risotto was so smooth and lightly chewy. The complimentary herbs and sauces mixed really well together. We decided to eat dessert elsewhere, and even though we did not want any dessert, they gave us a complimentary bite sized cake which was also great quality food. Canoe is one fine Oliver and Bonacini restaurant with delicious food and a marvelous view. read more

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Holy view, Batman! My partner took me here for my birthday. It has always been on our list of places to go, but let's be honest - this place is expensive, so you need a good reason to go. For most people, it needs to be a special occasion. Fun fact - my ears popped when I stepped off the elevator. We were greeted by two hostesses who knew it was my birthday and wished me a happy one. Then we were seated right by the window with a view facing West of the CN Tower and the rest of the city (RBC building is beautiful at night). Everything was as expected. The service was impeccable and the food even better. I had a Pimm's Cup and my partner had a very nice glass of red wine. For starters we had goats curd and steak tar-tare. Both were delicious and beautifully presented. Then for mains we had the duck breast and Alberta lamb. Both out of this world - especially the veggies. I think they may coat their vegetables in crack. At the end of the meal we ordered caramel lattes which were also delicious (they can do no wrong apparently.) Then they brought out a small dessert with a candle melted to the plate that said Happy Birthday in chocolate sauce. Very nice touch. The only negative I can really give Canoe is the bathrooms - they are very office building feeling (yes, it's actually in an office building) but I feel they could have a more luxurious vibe for the amount you are paying. Wonderful experience and we will definitely be back to try more food. read more

Canoe - Goat curds - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I came with 2 other friends and had a really great time. I think the most impressive part of the whole experience was the service and the artistic plating. Also, finding many unique ingredients that you rarely see gathered on one plate. In general, the lighting is dim but the atmosphere is lively, even late at night, probably because of Winterlicious. Among the 3 of us, we tried almost all of the items in the Winterlicious menu. Among the ones we tried, the salt cod and crab rillettes for starter, the tenderloin for main, and sticky toffee pudding for dessert were the best. The others were delicious as well but these just suited my taste buds the most. I also tried the spiced ice which was an iced tea with a slight kick. All 3 of us were suckers for fresh warm bread, and the servers kept us happy by bringing more baskets and indulged our request for balsamic vinegar along with their spread. This place is very fancy and great for that special occasion you'd want to remember for a long time. read more

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You'll be paying a lot of dough to eat at Canoe but at least they give you free bread. We reserved a table requesting a window seat for a birthday. The host knew we were celebrating a birthday, the waiter gave us a free two bite dessert, and the host said happy birthday when we left. Our waiter was very friendly and encourages us to get up and take a view of the city. The food was simply amazing. I remember biting down on a piece of bok choy and thinking "how did they make this taste so good?!?!" Finally, you're paying for the view which is second only to the CN Tower revolving restaurant. Canoe however offers a view of the CN T so you can't go wrong with either. Will come back when I make more money or if I win the lottery. read more

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High rise dining is where it's at. 5-stars for my 500th review! My boyfriend treated me to a spectacular evening at Canoe to ring in the new year (a day early). If you're in search of a special occasion dinner, this is it! The view overlooking the city is spectacular - the city a-glow along the lake. The menu is simple, but robust offering an array of meat dishes and well thought out prairie tasting dishes available a la carte or as a prix fixe 5-course dinner ($100 per person). The space is beautiful, subtle attention to detail - let's talk about those velvet chairs! The staff was as attentive as they come and well versed in the menu details, pairing options - a fine dining experience through and through. On our menu for the evening: - Martinis: Hendricks gin, with a twist and olives. Perfection and also paired nicely with the oysters - Oysters: among the freshest I've had and mega briny - Prairie tasting - trout with pierogi and cabbage in broth: a rustic dish that just needed a touch of salt to bring out the flavor. The cabbage was an unusual standout. The broth added a wonderful element to the trio of items on the plate. - Matsutake risotto: like a warm blanket of love. I savored every last bite of the dish. The earthiness of the mushrooms with the velvety texture of the rice made this a complete meal and a worthy dinner entree. - Dessert: chocolate cake with banana butter. Oh my, that banana butter was the shining star of that dessert. So light and fluffy! Like whipped bananas. This is a place you want to hunker down and savor the evening for a few hours. And be prepared to throw down some $$$. Live a little. read more

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Came in March and had the tasting menu I believe it was (108 per person). This place is definitely quality over quantity. You do get small portions but the taste is phenomenal. The rabbit here was the best I every had, the oysters were interesting I never had them with foam before so it was the first and it was delicious gave it a different texture on the palate. The palate cleanser was a bit strong for me and I wasn't able to finish. Overall the experience was great! The service is always attentive and nice, love the environment and overall feel of this restaurant! The only downside is that I couldn't get the a window table when booking 2 weeks in advance, book earlier to ensure a spot! read more

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Situated high atop the TD Tower the journey from the underground parking to the 54th floor was definitely worth it. Thankfully they had many signs making parking and locating the restaurant easy. We arrived on time for our 8pm reservation. FYI if you want a window side table inform the hostess when booking your reservation to ensure you get one. Our table wasn't quite ready yet but the hostess offered us another table in the center of the dining room however she said the couple occupying our table would most likely be another 10 minutes as they had paid there bill already. Thankfully it was a short wait and the hostess kindly led us to our window side table. All three walls bordering the restaurant were floor to ceiling glass windows creating a breath taking view of the night sky and the lit up city below. We started off the evening with two glasses of deliciously bubbly prosecco Followed by the house bread which was smoked pancetta potato bread severed with a butternut squash and garlic puree We absolutely loved the bread crunchy exterior, soft chewy interior, & nice smoky flavour from the crunchy bits of pancetta and the butternut squash spread was a delightful alternative to the standard butter. Needless to say we devoured the entire loaf. After one glance over the menu I knew exactly what I wanted Alberta Wagyu Beef Tri-Tip - Tree Glazed Short Rib, Raclette Potato Croquette Rapini & Birch Onion Marmalade The entree was beautifully plated like a work of art show casing the main attraction of three perfectly cooked medium rare hearty portions of beef. The beef was juicy and tender & well seasoned but that short rib knocked it out of the ball park. Loved the sweet glaze on it. The potato croquettte was like a gourmet tator tot extra crispy crunchy exterior enclosing a contrasting creamy smooth potato puree and the onion marmalade is my new favourite flavour of marmalade We also got a side of the Pan Roasted Northern Woods Mushrooms which were served in a cute little cast iron pot. The mushrooms had a wonderful earthy nutty flavour, some of the best shrooms I've ever had! Finally for dessert Red Velvet Cake - Salted Chocolate Ganache, Sweetened Cream Cheese, Smoked Marshmallow Again beautiful plating, the cake was a good sized portion unfortunately I did find it a bit dry, thankfully it was sitting on a pool of cream cheese which gave it some much needed moisture. I also loved the salted ganache which was a nice play on the sweet and salty combo. However the best feature on the plate was the smoked marshmallow ice cream - the flavours were spot on! I could of been satisfied with the ice cream alone it was that good! Overall I have to say Canoe definitely stands out as a world class restaurant from the spectacular ambiance and breath taking views, professional and courteous service, to the illustrated plating and innovative & creative cuisine it just hits all the marks. Definitely an experience worth checking out! FYI If you park underground in the TD Tower parking lot, obtain a parking voucher from the hostess to redeem for free parking read more

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Being probably the most well known fine dining experience in Toronto, as a visitor, I made a mandatory visit and was left disappointed. The food itself is quite delicious and accents rare Canadian produce and flavours in expectedly small portions. The food is not the problem as the trout I ordered was cooked perfect. The duck breast was very tender and not overly salted, the Alberta lamb saddle also melted in your mouth. Finally, the beef tenderloin was again, cooked great with a lighter sauce making it a great entree. We also shared two appetizers beings first the venison tartar which was my first time trying game meat and I was pleasantly surprised. It was an interesting texture and wasn't too wild tasting if that makes sense. We also tried the baby gem lettuce salad and although very very small, it was refreshing and exotic with the egg. The desserts ordered were the butter pecan tart which I adored for a smaller but maple filled taste and pecans. Their crumble bits were also great. Also tried the date trifle and i didn't really get it but interesting with many little details. The main reason for such a poor rating is not the food or even the high prices but the service. Our server was not only absent most of the night. He didn't seem to care about our table at all. When he came to give us dessert menus he just placed it in front of us, not a word spoken. The bills is what irked me the most because instead of asking my dad to pay, he came by with a machine, stuck his hand out and waited, again not a word spoken and did the transaction with no emotion, questions or thanks. In my opinion, food defines a restaurant more than service but for this kind of fine dining experience, he made the entire night kind of a hassle trying to find him to order, get water or anything else. I wouldn't recommend coming at all because yes, it's expensive and in no way does the service live up to their expectations. read more

Came here for summerlicious and it definitely lived up to the hype! I went for lunch because dinner times were booked up within 2 hours of reservations opening. It was well worth the $33 price tag for the 3 courses. I've been to other places for summerlicious where I'll leave hungry after my meal, but the portions here were pretty sizeable and I left feeling full. I can't speak for their regular menu but I wholeheartedly recommend Canoe for summerlicious! Just make sure you book your table early! read more

Canoe is an amazing dining experience, easily five stars on an absolute scale. But, Canoe is also about as expensive as it gets - the tasting menu with wine is $150, and my friends and I spent about $200 each total, so relative to other restaurants in that price range, I have to bump it down to four stars. View was beautiful, ambiance was very nice (classy, a bit romantic). Service was impeccable, albeit a bit pretentious. Our server was nice enough to offer us a personal tour of the kitchen, which was a unique experience. Be sure to make reservations and explicitly request a table by the window. I didn't enjoy the Beef Tartar, but that's not to say it wasn't well done. I personally found it to have too much pickled taste and too much horseradish. For mains, we shared an "oatmeal" venison and dry-aged ribeye; both cuts of meat were good, but not what I expected, but the 'dressing' and presentation was spectacular. Dessert was the best part! The sticky toffee date pudding was truly spectacular, easily five stars, and the only t hing our stubborn waiter would actually recommend. We also had the strawberry pave with almond foam (it's in this season, it seems) which was very light and a perfect way to end the night. Ate with @Jess C. so check out her review as well. She's a bit harder to please than I am tho. I'd definitely be back! read more

Beautiful location, great views. Get here for some great food!

I love going to canoe because of the quality of food and service they offer. Today was no different. I came here for their Winterlicious lunch with four friends. Initially there was only four of us but we had a last minute addition and they were accommodating. For starters I had the Maple Mustard Pork Rillette (local) Kozlik's Mustard, Hen's Egg & Gherkin. I've been having rillettes everywhere this Winterlicious (smoked salmon, duck). So far this one edged out all the others. The hens egg was a REALLY nice touch!! For the main I had the Ontario Strip Loin with Northern Woods Mushrooms, Layered Potato & Birch Onion Marmalade. Although it was nicely cooked I wasn't a big fan of the strip loin. But everything else was exceptional. The mushrooms were amazing! I need to learn how to make the onion marmalade because it was so damn good. Everything together was like a symphony. For dessert I had the Heirloom Carrot Cake (vegetarian) with Cream Cheese Mousse & Red Bean Orange Sauce. The carrot cake was soft and moist. Just the way I like it. I couldn't get enough of the cream cheese mousse. The red bean orange sauce felt like it was overpowered by everything else which was unexpected since I thought it would be the most intense flavor on the plate. Overall the plate was really good and not too sweet. I also had the wine tasting and our server was more than glad to make substitutions. The timing was impeccable. As soon as we finished one course the next course arrived within minutes. Although it's quite hard to get reservations around this time I HIGHLY recommend going here. read more

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Great, great, great...I mean, great experience. Yes!-Tha Yelp Daddy gets around!!! This restaurant towers downtown Toronto and the lights of the city brings this elegant restaurant to life. Canoe means romance to couples on a loving date, anniversary or a birthday. Canoe means style to those who are looking to unwind after a day or week of hard work. Canoe means socialize to those business people who are looking to expand their social communities for better networking opportunities throughout the city. For me, Canoe meant "the grand taste of Toronto." Listen, after your ears pop from shooting 54 stories in a fast elevator, you will enter the dimly lit ambiance of a high-toned restaurant. So, the location, yes...kinda confusing if you are using a GPA, so-MEN- you might have to ask somebody for better directions. The decor-classy. The city view- AMAZING!!!!-so take it all in. The service-outstanding, professional, kind and neighborly. The food-fully of rich flavors and incredible. The drinks-creative with unique twists. And the desserts-extravagant!! The price-It's worth the experience. **Note:Great place to take your spouse to for a special occasion...Men-great place to propose to your girl-of course, if she is truly worth it. But if you are someone who's still trying to figure out what life is all about then this place might not suit you or agree with your cashflow. So, check it...I ordered the b a b y g e m l e t t u c e, which was really tasty. I also ordered the Tea Smoked Duck, which was really flavorful and I got the toffee for dessert-so, very good. This place is excellent-Tha Yelp Daddy approves!!! read more

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I went to Canoe for lunch and tried their Winterlicious lunch menu (2014). This is what I thought: Appetizers: Soup--too sweet and you could not taste the ginger. It needed a touch of citrus, or the ginger for that matter. The croutons were nice and crispy though. The pickle dish (too lazy to look up the name)--really small portion. But it was tasty. Mains: My friend and I both got the steak. It was perfectly cooked (medium rare) and I loved the pea puree. The mushrooms were also delicious. My friend did not want the potato, so they substituted it for an array of vegetables. They were incredibly accommodating. Desserts: I have never been a fan of the desserts at Canoe. They always taste so pedestrian. But they do look nice. I had the carrot cake and it was plain ol' carrot cake. It was on the dry side too. My friend had the rice pudding and it was too bland. Not sweet at all, and I am not even a fan of desserts that are sweet. The rice was also a little hard. Unless you like your rice "al dente," you may not like this dish. Overall, the main alone would have me coming back for more. And you can't beat the service. The staff was excellent! read more

Canoe is a Toronto institution. The views at Canoe are gorgeous. You can enjoy great views of the CN Tower, the city and the islands during your mean. The open kitchen allows you to watch the symphony of energy that goes into preparing your meal and adds to the atmosphere. The menu plays homage to some of the finest ingredients found in various regions in Canada. The dishes (appetizers, entree and dessert) were all well prepared. The dishes were well thought out and flavourful. However, given the price and the other options in Toronto, I did not give Canoe full points. The service was attentive. It is the service that you would expect of such a ritzy restaurant. read more

Canoe - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I can't say that my exotic meat was a 5-star experience in terms of entrees, however the foie gras was certainly good. Overall, food wise I would probably have to give this place a 3-star. It didn't impress me much and it was fairly pricey. That being said, the view is absolutely amazing. Come during sunset, you will not believe some of the photos I was able to capture! The height of this restaurant along with its sort of 360ish view really gives you this amazing experience of seeing the smaller Toronto city airport, and all the high rises and the amazing colors during a sunset. I think presentation was good, the wine was also pretty spot on ... but my entree was just disappointing. The game meat was tough, and the flavors were just not there. I may have had a better time if I ordered ... fish or something. Who knows, definitely a great date spot though! read more

Winterlicious Lunch Review The Booking process needs to be improved. I tried to call a number of times as soon as the Reservation window opened. I was not able to get through for a few days. It was a hassle. If the Reservation staff can not keep up with the surged demand during the Winterlicious period, perhaps they should consider allowing reservations via Opentable (as they do for the remainder of the year). I'm sure the choice to have people call in was made for business reasons, but as I said it was quite annoying. Nevertheless, apart from the Reservation process, it was a great experience. We were lucky enough to get a table by the window with a great view. -My smoked salmon started was okay. My wife got the sheeps curd, which was really good. Quite a gamey taste (like goat's cheese). -We each ordered the brisket for the main course. It tasted fine... could have been cooked a little more to make it softer I'd say. This was probably my least favorite course... it wasn't very inventive (in composition or presentation) -We shared our deserts (panacotta and caramel/ chocolate pastry dish).., both were tasty I'll probably return for the normal period for a nice meal. read more

Just an update. Had another opportunity to visit Canoe for dinner during Winterlicious 2012. My experience was great, from the time I called in to make reservation to the time I left (and of course the time in between). The staff were very accommodating and suggest I make a reservation for an inconvenient hour and then call to change later, as they do have last minute cancellations. The service was superb as were both our meals. The view would've been better in the afternoon, but you're allowed to walk closer to a window and enjoy the view (or at least nobody said anything to us). There was something good on every plate! The starting bread was interesting but nothing greatly appealing. The cauliflower foam on the mushroom rillette (although the plate was missing the gribiche, I think) was delicious. My date's salmon was "alright" but many of the sauces adorning the plate were quite remarkable. Both our plates of duo of beef were fantastic, but lost a few "points" with salty parts. The brisket and flank were phenomenal and cooked to perfection, which is medium rare. Lastly, we got to try all three desserts thanks to our waiter! The cheeses were fantastic (but not worth it when you have the other options). My date loved his pana cotta, I found it meh. I loved my birch syrup cake but I think the bacon caramel might've been a tad too burnt, my date found it meh. Wine pairing was a bargain. Total date was $160 (including drinks and a generous tip), what a freaking deal! Sorry no pictures this time :( read more

[late-post] Finally had the chance to visit Canoe, one of the most highly sought out places for summerlicious and winterlicious (the only times i can afford coming here tbh)! You have to make your reservations the day reservations are opened because it is otherwise impossible to get the times and days you want! I think i was already late when I booked since reservations opened the day before and when I went on the canoe booking page it said it was booked 300 times in just one day! Ive heard many stories of how you should book for the first week of summerlicious because they tend to run out of everything by the second! A lot of people said the summerlicious menu was not too good last year but in my opinion i was pretty amazed by this year's menu! For the appetizer, I got the salmon. You can definitely taste all the levels of detail and flavours inside this well prepared dish. It was just the perfect amount to get you hungry and excited for the upcoming entree! I got the beef as my entree and it completely blew me away. It was braised so well that my knife just slid right into the meat without any effort. Flavoured and cooked to perfection even though the kitchen was super busy in cooking for a full house! The dessert I chose was the panna cotta and it was the perfect way to end the meal. It was so light and fresh, and not too sweet. Overall, I was impressed by the food quality as I was expecting it to be not as up to standards during summerlicious while the dining room is always full. The only reason for the 4/5 stars was for the service and attitude I received at the front desk when I arrived. The two ladies that worked there were not welcoming at all and you could tell they were being very selective on who they wanted to greet and smile at. Other than that, the food definitely did not disappoint and plus, the view overlooking toronto was just beautiful. read more

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Say it's your anniversary. Be surprised with a lovely table facing Toronto Downtown skyline. On the 54th floor. First of all, their cocktails are great. Experimental, in the intuitive Bon Appetit magazine kind of way, not weird. Think combinations like: sage & pear & vanilla or berries and mint. The tasting menu was good - lots of layers of flavor, and very well thought out. Five dishes, a palate cleanser and cute apple bites for the end. The mushroom course stands out most in my mind. Literally, the server came over and told me to take a moment to observe & appreciate what was on my plate. I'm glad he did it, I'm sure it took more than a hot minute to assemble it. There were 4-5 different kinds of mushrooms, cooked in different ways. A thick creamy foam was poured on top. I don't even remember if there was a pasta or some kind of protein with these mushrooms. The only potentially odd thing was that I felt very much like I was eating a mossy, mushroom-y forest. Some people like that, some people don't. My boyfriend, for example, did not. But I think the intentionality behind their dishes is what really counts. Plus, The fried maple leaf was awesome! In general, a great place for seasonal fare, and if you don't forget the anniversary lie/tip, it'll be worth it. read more

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I've been to Canoe twice. Service is excellent, views are excellent, and I find offering an open kitchen for anyone to watch is such a vote of confidence in the calibre of their staff. I came with a friend and we ordered the Raw Bar and two mains between us. We were pretty impressed by the Raw Bar- It came with oysters, at least 3 different ceviches, lobster rolls, and shrimp, just to name what I remember off the top of my head. Everything tasted divine and I thought it was priced incredibly fairly. I ordered the pheasant on their current menu. The pheasant itself was delicious, but I wasn't a fan of how the foie gras tasted and it was used quite liberally. The dish was quite rich and I would've preferred a lighter take on serving this meat. We were too full for dessert, which is a shame, because last time I was at Canoe I felt the dessert was the most artistic part of the meal. read more

Came here for my staff Xmas dinner. Was really looking forward to coming here and was disappointed witht the food. The place is a bit inconvenient to get to, the underground parking tries to trick and force u to do valet, even thought they offer validated parking. So be careful when entering. Service was great but expected for a high end restaurant like this. View was spectacular, but request a window seat. I'm not going to get into the food since I didn't find it oustanding for such a renowned place. I will posts my pics other than that I don't feel like wasting my time detailing the food, taste and description of it all read more

Canoe - Crispy pork and kimchi - Canadian (New) Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Super fancy restaurant, with the price tag to go with it, and a spectacular view of Toronto. This place is filled with business dinners and couples celebrating a special occasion, and then there was me with my coworker trying to use our per diem to cover half of what this meal would cost. They have a tasting menu for $100 per person, but you only get 3-4 courses, which is not that great of a deal; I've eaten at restaurants in the Bay Area that are Michelin starred for just about that, but with more food. I suppose you're paying for the magnificent view and ambiance. My coworker and decided to get 2 appetizers, an entree each, and dessert. I think this was the better way to go, since the 2 appetizers that we got to pick off the menu were the highlights of the meal and you'd be amiss to not get these. They started us off with 2 different types of warm bread, and a chickpea spread that was really good. Beef Tenderloin Tartare ($24) - One of the best beef tartares that I've had - it was fresh, well seasoned and the pretzel toast (like a very thin bagel chip) was good. There were only 3 pieces of this pretzel toast, so make sure to ration it properly. Pricey, but worth it if you're here. I would get this again. Pan Seared Quebec Fois Gras ($28) - This is the best foie gras I've ever had -- not that I'm an expert in foie gras, but this was delicious. Don't think about what it is, or how bad it is for you and just get this dish - it's amazing. My coworker and I were both raving about it. Great flavor, and a great pairing with the fruit, peanut sauce & roasted peanuts. Expensive, but I'd get this again and recommend it to everyone. Walleye ($38) - The fish was just good, it almost tasted like a fancier fish and chips - the outside was crispy, and it was sitting in some tartar sauce with little pieces of potato gnocchi. Don't get me wrong, it was good - but not mind-blowing, especially at that price. Flourless Chocolate Cake ($12) - If you love chocolate (like I do), you'll love this dessert. It had a praline mousse about the width of a poker chip, and some weird praline bread that was tasteless. The chocolate cake was dense and rich, and paired well with the sauces drizzled on a plate, and hazelnuts. The meal was about $120 per person (my co-worker got two drinks and I got one drink), so it was pretty expensive. I thought the best things were definitely the beef tartare, foie gras, and the view. Not sure if I would come back here again or recommend it unless you were on an expense budget or you were taking a client out. I think there are better places to eat in Toronto for less, but this is certainly an experience or good for a special occasion. They will validate your parking in the lot right next door to the restaurant - FYI! read more

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I had a lovely birthday dinner at Canoe. My boyfriend had mentioned it was my birthday when making the reservation and we had a fantastic table looking our over the lake. The servers and the manager all said happy birthday to me, which was also a nice touch. I really liked the ambiance of the restaurant - upscale but very comfortable, and fairly quiet so good for conversation. I felt more relaxed as soon as I sat down. The food ranged from good to amazing. The salad we had to start (green bean with pea shoots and watercress) was one of the best salads I've had in a restaurant. The combination of ingredients and flavours was very unique, and it was perfectly dressed. We also shared the smoked arctic char which I thought was just okay (not a ton of flavour, and a tiny portion). Our mains were excellent - I had pickerel and my boyfriend had pork. My dish had a large piece of fish and the sides were well-chosen, made for a good combination of flavours and textures. We also shared a side of broccoli rabe and japanese asparagus which was decent. For dessert we shared the butter tart which was delicious (and happy birthday was written on the plate in chocolate, another nice touch). Overall, we had a great meal and good service. I'm leaving off a star only because at the price point of the restaurant, I was hoping to be blown away by every dish which wasn't quite the case. Regardless, I would definitely recommend Canoe for a special occasion and would love to go back some day! read more

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My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The view was gorgeous and the food was excellent. We went for lunch and ordered the foie gras parfait and beef tartare apps, lamb shoulder and halibut for mains, honey and hay for dessert to share, along with a few drinks. The food was very creative and well prepared, and the drinks were on point. Definitely worth every minute and dollar spent. And oh we had a baby in a stroller with us and they were super accommodating and thoughtful with everything from the seating arrangements to the sharing plate (baby enjoyed the halibut too!). All around a very pleasant experience. One protip might be to wear sunscreen on a nice day if you are there for lunch. My wife and I had such a good time that we stayed for a few more drinks that planned! read more

This is a review of their Summerlicious menu. I found the overall experience lacking. I've been to Canoe for regular dinner service, and it shouldn't come as a surprise that the service was infinitely more attentive and warm. I'm not saying that subpar service is right at any time, but it's the unfortunate reality I've observed during Summerlicious/Winterlicious at various restaurants in the city. I was just expecting better from a restaurant that's touted as one of the best in the city. There should be some consistency across the board. I had the Ontario bufala mozzarella, which was perfectly sharp and full of flavour. It was a good start to the meal. The Alberta beef strip loin was less impressive. It was bland and forgettable. The Valrhona chocolate ganache cake was redeeming. I haven't had a bad dessert at Canoe yet. To be honest, I don't recommend coming here during Summerlicious or Winterlicious. Save it for a special occasion and hopefully they'll step up to the plate. read more

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