Came here for Summerlicious and while the food didn't blow me away the way I'd expect from such a revered restaurant, it was still a good experience. We were seated along the bench along the windows and had a clear view outside. It does feel a little weird to eat in an area that feels like it's meant for the bar, but the view was good and it was private enough. We ordered the strip loin and Alberta lamb, both of which were good. If I were picky and compared presentation to taste, I think presentation wins easily. However, all of the dishes were good at worst. My desert was easily my favourite. The atmosphere was subdued and private. I liked the lowkey energy and maybe this is because I wasn't in the main dining area, but there wasn't the snooty vibe I'd expect from a place like this. I would probably come back for Summerlicious or Winterlicious. Based on what I experienced, it's a dependable restaurant. I have no doubt that their regular menu's prices feature more of the "this is a famous restaurant" and "look at the view!" premiums, so I'm not sure I'd come on a regular day. But for a special occasion, I can see why this place is a hit. read more

See all

I travel to the Toronto area around once or twice a year, and this time I decided I wanted a bit of a splurge for dinner. Having considered many other higher-end places, I I figure I can go to good French and Italian restaurants in the bay area, so decided on Canoe due to its "Regional Canadian" cuisine. My coworkers and I got in a bit early for our reservation, so we went to the bar area, which had a really good view of the city. We had a bit of a wait and was seated after our reservation time, but the service once we were seated was very good. We considered the tasting menu, but decided that we can get a bit more variety if we just ordered a la carte and tried each other's food. To start, we got the oysters, appetizer sampler, and sweetbreads. The oysters were fresh and really good, as good I've gotten at other places, and the appetizer platter was also good. However, the sweetbreads were fantastic! For my entree, I got the suckling pig, which was good, though I was slightly disappointed that the 3 preparations did not include pork belly. I had a small taste of my coworkers' entrees and the poultry dish (squab or quail?) was the best. The highlight of the meal for me was the fabulous cheese platter...they have an all-Canadian cheese menu and I got 7 different cheeses! My favorites were the unpasteurized goat's milk cheeses from Quebec, I guess the lack of pasteurization really does makes a difference. Since these type of cheeses are illegal in the States I'm really glad to be able to try them. The portions were plentiful, and they provided a lot of bread, nuts, fruit spread and honey to go with the cheeses, so I had enough leftover to eat the next day. The cheeses were just so good that I didn't even want to try the desserts my coworkers ordered. For wine, I had a glass of a Canadian rose bubbly at the bar, followed by a Canadian reisling for appetizers, Argentinian malbec for my entree, and Australian tawny port-style wine for dessert (good thing I wasn't driving!). They were all decent and reasonably priced, and went well with the food. The service was overall good and well-paced. Sure, it was a bit pricey, but I thought this place was worth the experience (I would have paid for the cheese platter alone!) I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a splurge meal in Toronto. read more

Surprisingly good. Generally places that are expensive are at a distinct disadvantage because your expectations are so overinflated (in both extremes) based on the high emotional investment that people place on their experiences there. There's also generally a great deal of buzz surrounding these restaurants from foodies and social climbers. Canoe's no exception. I arrived not knowing really what to make of the place. Half my friends telling me that it was "a once in a lifetime place" and that I'd love it while the other half say that it "wasn't that good" or "not worth it". Strong and polarized viewpoints to say the least. So, I decided to do a weekday lunch there. The crowd alone was worth the price of admission. It was like a Harry Rosen store where all the mannequins were animatronic. Very much a boys club... but sprinkled with a few beautiful women along the way. The service was absolutely outstanding. Top notch all along. Friendly and prompt without seeming in-your-face or annoying. The food. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised. The steak tartare appetizer was particularly stellar. Presentation and flavor was tops. Definitely worth a drop in. read more

Full review in blog, highlights below: Our first round of food arrived with my friend receiving the "Mushroom Soup - no creme, no butter" and myself the Paillotte de Chevre with Walnut and Honey. Tasting only a bite of the Mushroom soup but listening to Heather ooh and ah about it with each bite we inquired how exactly this porridge-esque concoction was made and we were told that it was essentially a mushroom stock that they use for some of their other sauces with a puree of marinated pan seared mushrooms blended in. Thick, succulent - the very essence of the mushroom. My option was certainly a more heavy choice and featured thick round of ashy yet unctuous cheese similar to Humboldt Fog atop a crispy piece of cracker crust and topped with a single almond and lavender honey. Served warm and slightly melting the flavors of this dish melded flawlessly while the addition of the frisee, beets, and flowers served to add a vegetal component to the dish. Arriving next our next course consisted of Applewood Smoked Duck Breast with Lingonberries, Salsify, and Spiced Walnuts for my friend and the Foie Gras with Sunflower Root, Pumpkin Muffin, and Walnut Pickle for myself. Taking only a single bite of my friend's duck and salsify I will say that the rare meat was delicious and she very much enjoyed the dish. On my side, the foie was a beautifully cleaned piece-albeit small for the price-and the accompanying components were interesting to say the least. Crisp and woodsy the Sunflower Root was a nice balance in texture while the balsamic pickled walnut was the very definition of savory. Small and sweet the a small piece of baked sweet potato and a pumpkin-pumpkin seed muffin graced the left side of the plate and the whole plate showed a unique progression in flavors from sweet and soft to unctuous and creamy to crunchy and savory. Our third courses were decided on late but turned out to be our favorites of the afternoon - for my friend the Steak Tartare with Potato Chips and Pepper, Onion, and Yolk and for myself Yarmouth Lobster with Yukon Gnocchi, Crispy Sweetbreads, Creme Fraiche, and Preserved Lemon. As I don't eat beef flesh I skipped the tartare but was told it was "amazing." As for my dish -without exaggerating this is probably in my top ten dishes of the year. Flawless potato dumplings with a firm exterior yielding a creamy melt-in-your-mouth center were absolutely laden with fresh butter poached lobster and crispy pan seared sweetbreads while the whole dish was then topped with a creamy sauce of sweetened lemon and tangy crème fraiche. Half expecting the characteristic flavor of the thymus to overwhelm the delicate lobster I actually found that the lemon/crème/chives admixture served to mellow the sweetbreads while drawing forward the lobster's sweetness. A wonderful take on "surf and turf" featuring two ingredients I'd have never thought to pair - the bite I spared to my friend led her to a resolution to return for a full plate of her own in the future. After such a sublime meal and great service, Greg's suggestion to "tempt" us with dessert really didn't require much effort - we ended up ordering two. Starting first with the Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake with Sour Cherry Compote, Chantilly and Pistachio Ice Cream. A dark chocolate ganache well tempered in its decadence by the sour poached cherries and creamy Chantilly crème plus a dollop of smooth ice cream that tasted very much like salty Pistachios atop a pistachio cookie crumble - plenty of textures, temperatures, flavors, and nuance. Our second dessert - again a contender for top 10 of the year, this time in the sweets category. Sticky Date Pudding, Whisky Sauce, Cherries and Apples, Bacon Toffee Brittle, and Creme Fraiche arrived in a large bowl and really didn't "look" to be anything special - at first bite however, looks didn't matter one bit - looking up at Heather I realized she agreed. Steamed through and appearing to be somewhere between a custard and a bread pudding in texture the date flavors simply melted in the mouth while the whisky sauce ascended to the palate creating a flawless blend of spice and heat with the sweetness. Further enhancing the experience were diced pink lady apples and sweetened cherries smoothed out by the crème fraiche. Finally, adding texture was the Toffee - a creamy butterscotch with potent top notes of salt and pork that paired beautifully with the whisky sauce and the pudding both - to call the mélange of flavors well thought out would be the understatement of the year. I have to say I definitely "get" the appeal of Canoe and despite the fact that some may consider it to be a bit too "businessy" I personally found every aspect of the execution to be calculated, refined, and full of finesse - if I lived in Toronto this would definitely be my destination to impress out of town guests and on my next visit I fully intend to return for the nightly tasting menu. read more

I love Canoe, mainly for the view, but also the food is incredible and the service is down to earth and personable. You are really made to feel special when you go to this restaurant. The venue is incredible. The wine pairings are always top notch too. It's a great experience! read more

Out of 4 times that I have been to this restaurant only one have been really good, the rest are easily outshined by much cheaper places in town. For one, the cuisine is a hit and miss, no steady reliability. Last time I only enjoyed an appetizer but wasn't impressed by either main or dessert. Add to that a server showing up at every inappropriate moment like during a toast, an embrace or while my mouth is still full with food and I can't really answer his question unless I swallow everything without chewing it first. Another time service was so slow that birthday girl was all ready to leave before the birthday dessert arrived, no apologies followed the awkwardness of the moment. Personally I'd go somewhere else where your money is better appreciated. read more

I am impressed by the starters, northern woods mushroom soup. The reason is the serving style is quite different, with the cook serves the soup with the kettle. Of course, the soup itself taste really good~ read more

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

See all

Canoe is one of the most coveted "licious" venues, so I was very glad to have been able to get a lunch reservation for Winterlicious of 2011. Now I realise that a lot of people say this is not worth the hype, and that might be true if you lay down a lot of money and not end up with a seat next to a window etc. While my group did not get a window table, our meal was still very nicely done with very attentive and friendly service. Even though this is a 3 star review, I was not unhappy with my overall dining experience, the food however was not as amazing as I expected. My heart was broken a little when my rabbit entrée came out looking very "rabbit-leg" like and matters were not made better when it didn't have a lot of flavour in it either, served with a rather measly portion of veggies. But my appetizer and dessert dishes were very well done. Unfortunately the weather was not being nice to us and all we could see out the window were low hanging clouds and the occasional glimpse of neighbouring buildings. My sense of direction was totally blown when the side I thought was North turned out a view of the City Centre Airport during a break in the clouds. Would very much like to return on a nice clear day. Our server was friendly and did not at all give us a rushed feeling despite it being the peak lunch time. Depending on what's on the menu I would most definitely give Canoe a return visit! read more

All that is good has already been said about Canoe. The food was excellent (Steak Tartare app, Lamb loin for dinner) and the serve was certainly attentive. You are paying some for the name and location. Dinner for two, with a half-bottle and tip was close to $300. And it wasn't twice as good as the average place you can eat for $150. The view was great and I'm glad we went, but it's certainly not a place I think I'd be going to on a regular basis. The mix of dress was interesting too, three piece suits all the way down to jeans. Still have yet to find a place in Toronto that enforces a dress code. read more

Yes it was really five star good! We came here for the Summerlicious menu not knowing how truly popular the restaurant is (hey we're from Chicago) and were lucky enough to snag a table. We had walked around the financial district for about half an hour before we found the restaurant, and by the time we arrived we were all hot, sweaty and a bit out of sorts.For some reason we thought the restaurant was going to be ground level. A nice Torontonian finally clued us into the fact that it was in an office building on the 54th floor. We shot up a bank of elevators and into a dimly lit hallway ready for the Canoe experience. Imagine our chagrin when the hostess, all smiles, asked for our reservations. Thankfully some poor soul had canceled their table and within minutes we were ushered into a beautiful mossy green and chocolate brown dining room surrounded by windows overlooking the lake and Toronto. As soon as were seated our drink order was taken and we were soon enjoying a very light and refreshing sangria with green apple. We were given a small bread plate with a dish of fresh hummus. I'm used to having a spicier hummus, so to me it tasted bland and I would have much preferred a bit of olive oil or a knob of butter. For the appetizer my friend and I ordered the Holland Marsh Leek & Potato soup with marinated baby shellfish and chive oil. It was a cold preparation, extremely creamy, smooth and utterly delicious. The chive oil delivered an important depth -- but the shellfish was the star. (As I'm writing this, my mouth is literally drooling.) I definitely won the appetizer wars, as my husband ordered the New Farm Green salad with Nam Prik cucumbers, toasted sesame seeds and avocado dressing, and although it was very tasty, it could not compare. I think the bread stick in his salad was the star. We each chose a different entree and each was truly scrumptious. My Wellington County Flatiron steak with smashed Cookstown fingerling potatoes garnished with corn and wild leek aioli, was beautifully presented and again -- delicious. The meat was extremely tender and so flavorful. My friend ordered the potato gnocchi which was also amazing, and my husband the Lake Walleye with crisp skin. There was no talking at the table as we were too busy eating, Our water glasses were always being refilled, and our server was unobtrusive but vigilant. We all ordered the Bitter Sweet Chocolate Terrine with vanilla marshmallow and strawberries for the last course and it did not disappoint. Seriously, if I could have picked up the plate and licked it, I would have. We savored our dessert, sipped our tea and coffee, and watched the fog roll in over the lake. Truly a spectacular meal and all for $25.00 each (not including drinks or tip) -- could you ask for anything more? Our server saw us perusing a map after coffee and was kind enough to give us directions to the subway (which is conveniently located in the lower bowels of the building itself) to our next destination. read more

Canoe is a beautiful restaurant, with amazing service. The view from the restaurant is absolutely incredible. The service is impeccable - attentive and informative, but the servers are careful not to rush you. My mom and I came for a late lunch during a weekday, and our server did not pressure us to leave once the lunch rush cleared out. We were the only people left for quite some time, and we didn't feel awkward or as though we should leave although they were closed after lunch service. I've been here twice - once for a special lunch and once for dinner. The last time I was there I had a soft cheese appetizer, and for my main I had a delicious fish dish. For dessert, we had Canoe's version of a butter tart, which was honestly one of the most amazing desserts I've ever had. I was upset that I shared it with my husband! All of our guests were extremely happy with their food. When we came for lunch, I had a mushroom soup to start and the lunch special, which was a fancy meatloaf. My mom had the very popular lobster clubhouse, which neither of us were overly impressed by. I thought it was pretty bland. Canoe has great food, and is the perfect place for a special occasion. read more

Went here last Tuesday based on a friend's recommendation and during summerlicous. First got here late but was seated without any problems. The food was alright, wasn't expecting great wow factor but non the less ok. The wait staff was busy the whole night but did not check up on us but its ok when you are serving with lots of guests you tend to check up on us once in awhile. One of the food items that i ordered the pork belly is generally the same as the Chinese Pork piece so I was thrown off at that when i saw it. As it was just for summerlicious may not come here again for the food but for the wonderful scenery as it was from the 54th floor of a busy downtown establishment. read more

DO NOT EXPECT MUCH BUT THE VIEW! Horrible experience recently! Their welcoming staff is friendly, but SOME SERVERS are NOT! We have received such an attitude from the guy who served us. He seemed so unhappy with the orders we made and the time we "took" waiting for our friends! (He shouldn't care at this point at all!) What was up with him we have no idea, but it shouldn't worry us at all... Giving me a hard a time with desserts by saying that i ordered it too early and why haven't i got a main course. And it wasn't in a friendly way of talking to me for sure! Anyways, i can go ahead with all the details, but place like this one MUST have at least friendly and caring servers.... Especially for the prices they charge, Bad,bad,bad experience.... read more

I was so excited to come here for summerlicious lunch after what I heard from friend, yelp, angels (not actually). This place is actually just as great, or even better than what they all say. This place just pops when you first get to the top floor of the TD Tower, or maybe it's just still your eyes from the elevator that took you there. Either way, as soon as you step out the elevator; you can tell that the restaurant will meet and exceed your expectations. The hostess are extremely friendly and welcoming. As I got seated, someone came and placed the napkin on my lap for me. I mean who even does that?! I felt so pampered and it's not even been 5 minutes. LUNCH: My friends eventually came and for lunch I got: 1. Potted Rainbow Trout Radishes, Tender Shoots & Pumpernickel Very unique. Loved it. 2. Canadian Bouillabaisse Coast to Coast Seafood, Chimichurri & Profiteroles It was basically clams.. honestly I wasn't too impressed. But don't worry, there's definitely a reason why I still put canoe as 5/5. 3. Sablé Breton (vegetarian/local) Vanilla Roasted Plums & Caramelized Osprey Bluffs Honey BEST. DESSERT. EVER. Although Canoe doesn't have the largest portion, i felt like this was just the perfect sized. The plums were sweet and was covered in a nice plum sauce as well. The bluff was perfect; kind of like a cheesecake, covered in pistachio cream. It was heavenly. 5/5 (but really 10/5). Overall it was quite a nice experience. The view was stills spectacular even though it was raining outside. It looked like we were dining inside a cloud. I expected a little bit more though, a but more spark and magic from the restaurant. My friend highly suggested that dinner is much better and my boyfriend really wanted to come to Canoe so I snagged a reso the next night with him. DINNER My friend had also suggested to request a window seat for the reservation. As me and my boyfriend arrived at the restaurant, the hostess sat us in the smaller, more intimate room right by the window. It was the corner too so it was quite enough for us to have a conversation; probably the best seat in my opinion (:D). I can't even begin with the view, it was around 8:30pm with no cloud in the cloud, but a pink background with an almost-full moon. The view was like from a movie. The only thing that was terrible was that I forgot my phone to take pictures... But it was the first time my boyfriend didn't feel embarrassed that I used his phone to take pictures. 1. Arnold Tipsy (13). ;Dillon's Gin, Limoncella ; Lime & Pink Jasmine Iced Tea Gotta say, this actually did get me tipsy. Even before our appetizers came. It hits you when you drink it, but it's nice, summery, and refreshing. 2. Aurora Chicken Terrine (local); Holland Marsh Leeks, Scrunchions & Wild Gribiche The chicken was soft with bits of herb inside. It was so beautifully plated with small bits of veggies on the plate. I'm not too much a fan of pickled vegetables which seems to be what I've been getting at a lot of the summerlicious meals. But at Canoe I would eat it over and over again. 3. Bison Bavette & Short Rib (local); Heirloom Tomato, Watercress & Crushed Alliston Potatoes This dish. Oh. My. This. Thing. I can't. Just get it. Meat. Gah. Mmmm. The meat just falls off the bone. The sauce. Dat sauce. 4. Sablé Breton (vegetarian/local); Vanilla Roasted Plums, Pistachio Mousseline & Caramelized Osprey Bluffs Honey Yeah I got this for dessert. Again. Like I said, it was heavenly. It wasn't even because I didn't want to try the other desserts (my friends at lunch got the other two), but I just had to taste this one again. it was plated a bi differently, but still magnificent. The taste was of course, magnificent as well, or more because of the beautiful view... or the alcohol. All in all, my summerlicious experience at Canoe was one of the best experiences I've had at any restaurant. Everything was perfect at the right moment and the dishes were inexplicably amazing. Of course it's pricey, but I'm already excited for my next trip here whenever that might be. read more

The service was incredible, the hostess and waiter were so welcoming and kind. Besides that the view is breathtaking! I'd love to have dinner here during sunset or in the evening it must be even nicer then. Now, onto the food! I came during winterlicious for lunch. For appetizers I tried the foie gras parfait. It was hands down the highlight of the meal for me. It was wonderfully rich and silky, the mouth feel was just dreamy. The sweet and tart jam and the salty buttery pastry along with the grapes offered wonderful contrast from the foie gras. The fogo island cod rilette was interesting. It's a very tart, tangy dish. The plating is striking. The fish is very soft and topped with pickles and cauliflower. The pickles are very sour. It's quite refreshing. For the main course I tried the salmon and the beef. The beef is amazing. It was melt in your mouth tender and just dreamy to eat. The plating was beautiful with the bright orange puree and vegetables contrasting from the dark shiny beef. The salmon was interesting. It was a tad dry when I got it but the skin was delightfully crispy. The contrast between the lentils, fish and skin was quite nice. Dessert was wonderful. The flourless chocolate cake is incredible rich and silky. It's delicious! The yogurt verine is lovely as well. The yogurt is silky and has a rich mouth feel. And the tangy sea buck thorn berries offer a lovely tangy burst of sunny flavour that contrasts nicely with the mild and creamy yogurt. Overall I'd recommend the restaurant to a friend and definitely want to go back. The plating here is definitely among the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, that I've seen. read more

See all

I don't want to write this review because I don't want to be reminded of how delicious that Atlantic fluke ceviche was and I don't want to crave it like how I've been thinking about it non-stop for the past two days. Canoe: you've all already heard it, so I'll try to keep this one short and informative. It was my birthday and they gave us a city view, which was beautiful. The customer service was professional and genuine. They were all nice people, except for our main server. I don't want to name any names but you know who you are, Rick. I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and say it was because of our age. Standing at 22 years each, my boyfriend and I were the youngest table that night. Food was delicious. Some people may say it's overrated but they have a reputation for a reason. Boyfriend got the lamb (recommend), I got the tea-smoked duck breast (recommend) with the shared ceviche as a starter (10/10 WOULD RECOMMEND). Not that we expected it or wanted it, nothing was brought out to commemorate the birthday, despite the insistence from my boyfriend that he told them a million times in the reservation. Maybe it's because we didn't order dessert? That's okay, I had a great time with great food and better company! Note: having left a fairly generous tip, I'm hoping it didn't all go to Rick (but rather shared among the other servers as well) because he was kind of a word that rhymes with his name. Perhaps he was having a bad night. read more

Flawless service. However the signature duck dish is overrated. The venison tartar however was incredibly delectable. read more

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

This is for a visit from a few months ago. They had a special on a fish that was cooked by smoking it in a special log housing. It all looked really cool, but tasted incredibly bland. It cost around $45 for that dish and I feel like it was not worth the money. The scenery and service is amazing, but I was extremely disappointed with the food. read more

I LOVE CANOE! Went here last week for Winterlicious 2011 - worth every penny! We sat at the Kitchen Rail and it is seriously, the best seat in the house. You catch all the action in the kitchen, plus the views from out the windows, and you can even score a free appetizer on the house like we did when we were there (HAHAHA - ok, I can't guarantee everyone will score a free app, but we did). Started out with a beautiful arugula salad, followed by the pate parfait deliciousness. Then came our entree of the lamb ragu pasta which has big chunks of chestnuts and toasted croutons. Dessert was this heavenly chocolate tart with caramel underneath - it was all just magnificent. Service was top notch - completely down to earth. Chef John runs the kitchen like a bad ass. Mr. Oliver himself sat at the kitchen rail and had his meal 2 seats away - it was pretty darn cool. Last thing I'll say about Canoe is that next time, I'm getting the lobster club. That is clearly the #1 thing flying out of their non-Winterlicious menu and it looks amazing! We'll be baaack!!! read more

See all

They forgot the petit fours (how do you forget?!). Canoe isn't open on weekends. Or at least that's what the concierge told us, so we had a reservation for late Monday night. Nabbed a seat with a spectacular view of the CN tower. Good food but not spectacular, but really great view and good service. There is an open view of the kitchen in the back. And the chairs are fuzzy. Had the tasting menu paired with cocktails (I don't think I've seen a pairing with cocktails before). Started off with ham for the amuse bouche with a rather mild but good nama nama sake. The cold poached hen was okay, but I'm not the biggest fan of that style of cooking. The fire roasted lobster was surprisingly sweet from the corn accompaniment, and I can't say I've ever eaten cattail before. I questioned the waiter where the lobsters were sourced from, but neither he nor anyone else in the kitchen was able to answer. The pickerel was decent, and I really liked the mustard sauce. The dessert was rather underwhelming -- too much marshmallow! Like I mentioned before, the waiter forgot to bring us the petit fours. I'd probably return if I were in the area, but the view accounts for a good chunk of that decision. read more

I love this place! My boyfriend took me here for an anniversary dinner and Canoe didn't disappoint. I'm always weary of upscale restaurants serving just mediocre food but it's very much worth the price here. We got the raw bar which was phenomenal - my boyfriend and I still talk about it. I had the steak and it was the best steak I've ever eaten at a restaurant. The service was also friendly and attentive. I'll admit, I felt a little intimidated as we are a younger couple but they treated us very well and with respect. Highly recommend. read more

Usually when I'm visiting a city I'm not familiar with, I like to check out which restaurants are the most booked or fit for foodies on OpenTable.com. I remember Canoe coming up and stating that it was Canadian fare. After looking at the menu I knew this was the place I was searching for. When you first get to the top of the building, you feel like you are part of an exclusive club, the space is very welcoming, airy yet intimate at the same time. There aren't as many tables as I had expected but that's usually a plus. We started off with a nice bottle of wine and the Seafood appetizer that came in huge clam. Everything on that clam was delicious and fresh. The shrimp, lobster and oyster tasted as they had just come out of the water 1 minute ago. I ordered the bison steak which was delicious and my dining companion ordered the rack of lamb. Nothing in this place was average. You could tell there was a lot of attention in the preparation of all the dishes that were served to us. Canoe is one of those places that you pay top dollar for but you leave with a big smile knowing you paid for what you got. This was a fantastic dining experience and any foodie that's in Toronto must try this place out. * I think they change their menu seasonally read more

Can't believe I've been in TO for the longest time and still haven't been to canoe. Finally I'm here, maybe it's for the best. At the end I kinda know why this make so many people's favorite restaurant. The vibe is great, love the environment, it's clean. Have dinner here with my wife and in-laws, the chocolate foie gras was just explosion in my mouth, leaving me wanting more, I mean I order two plates to share, but that's appetizer isn't helping me improving my in-laws' impression of me. The steak was cook to perfection, lastly noted the dessert was really good... leaving me wanting even more... I will come back again... to pig it out... at least this time will be without watching eyes of in laws. read more

See all

I wanted to give them a better rating so i took couple weeks to really think about this place... but..... my conclusion...is this.. canoe was good i don't think it lives up to it's hype tho service was excellent, martini was good, food was good.. nothing to complain, but nothing really stood out i don't think.... i wasn't doing back flips nor having crazy desire to go back .. The view was good, but i think the view from my condo in vancouver is far more breath taking... i wouldn't make this a regular spot.. read more

I went to Canoe for Summerlicious last year, it's expensive, so this is probably the cheapest way to go for the experience. Food was decent, portions were better than I expected. Friendly service, and great view. I originally thought it'd be a bit of a stuck up place, but it felt more like a cafe, which at least I found comfortable. However, I went in the day time, so maybe the night experience is a little different. Considering how many tall buildings there are in Toronto, it's surprising there are not more of these types of restaurants. read more

I had read about this restaurant and was thrilled to have gotten a last minute reservation for a Saturday night. The first thing you notice when you are shown your table is the view- Hello Toronto! We were on vacation and decided to get ourselves something with bubbles in it. Low and behold there was local sparkling wine. Yes please. And that's rather the gist of Canoe- local, local, local. I should probably add delicious. The only problem I found was that everything on the menu sounded like you needed to order it...even the bread they start you out with was darned delish. We did try the mushroom soup and I found it to be a little salty. The salmon starter made me fall in love with salmon all over again. I had the strip loin- plate could have been reused I polished that sucker. My sister had the Sturgeon and beef cheeks. I'm a sucker for any kind of cheeks and these were gorgeous. I should note too that service was really outstanding. It was a little slow getting our server to the table but once he could concentrate on us he didn't disappoint. He even went to far as to get us addresses of other bakeries and restaurants that we could enjoy more local delights. Such a great experience. read more

It doesn't get much better than Canoe. I've eaten here twice, and both meals were top-notch. The stand-out for me was the beef. It was SO tender that I was able to cut it with a butter knife. I remember that everything else on the plate was delicious, too... but, the beef...the beef!! I've also had the salmon, which was fantastic. I continue to be impressed with the care that goes into Canoe's food, both in taste and presentation. Be sure to try the butter tart for dessert. In addition to the great food, Canoe boasts one of the nicest bars in the city. Grab a drink and enjoy the Toronto skyline (go in the evening to check out the sunset!) read more

Booked a reservation for January 25th for the first day of Winterlicious 2019 and it was amazing as always! On the 54th floor of the TD building in downtown, the views were absolutely stunning. After we checked in, the hostess took our coats and brought us to our table where our server Fred introduced himself and took us through the promotions. The winterlicious lunch was $33 per person for a 3 course meal and absolutely worth it! Our party of 4 ordered almost every option on the menu to try them all. They gave us delicious bread to start and when each of our dishes arrived, the servers explained what was in front of us which was very helpful and added to the experience. For drinks, we tried the sangria (which was warm and delicious), the daiquiri (which tasted delicious like pineapple juice) and the beer (for a chance to win a trip to Spain!). For appetizers, the best was definitely the cured salmon wrapped in cabbage which was absolutely phenomenal. The roast beef start are was also great but not everyone's cup of tea. The green bean salad was pretty basic but still tasty. For entrees, I would recommend the Alberta braised beef which was spectacular as well as the albacore tuna. The chicken also had great flavour and was perfectly juicy. Finally, for the desserts, Fred put a candle on my red velvet cake for my birthday which was so sweet. The chocolate cake had an interesting (?) medicine taste at first before it melted into chocolatey deliciousness. But my recommendation is the apple cheesecake which was perfection. All in all, the service, the view, the atmosphere and most importantly, the food was absolute perfection and I highly recommend trying Canoe out especially during Winterlicious! read more

See all

Canoe was good, but not great-excellent... which is what I was expecting. I've often thought there is a correlation between a restaurant's height - like, how high up it is from the ground and the quality of the food. Far too often, the taller the restaurant, the view seems always better then what is on my plate. Having said that, the view from Canoe is awesome. It was dusk on a Thursday evening. And granted, my wife and I ordered from the Winterlicious menu. So while I begrudgingly accept that the "cheap" menu may not have the same flair and pizazz as the full menu - it just wasn't very good - and because of that, I'll be hard press to return when I'm next ready top drop a few hundred bucks on dinner. Also, when looking around, our plates didn't seem like they were lacking in quality or size from the regular fare. A completely forget-able bean spread and bread was served to start. Even the dash of truffle oil couldn't pull it into the win column. Our starters - One was a goat cheese souffle, the other a lobster/seafood soup. The texture of the souffle was great - light and fluffy, mixed with some micro greens. But the soup was just plain bad. Too bad - but this is Canoe we said - the mains will be awesome. One of them was quite good - a forest mushroom (probably my favorite ingredient... mushrooms) ravioli in a cream sauce. The flavor was great, but the sauce was a bit salty. The other main was a sea bass - which combined an Asian flavor with a fairly heavy, almost gravy like sauce. I saw where they were going with this, and I liked the idea very much but the dish just plain missed the mark. Dessert was a sticky pudding and apple crumble, and these were both quite yummy. The crumble featured a candied rosemary which was nice. Wines were paired very nicely with each dish - I mean to write them down, but I never do. In summary, I expected more from Canoe. I expected to be challenged and impressed. I ended up looking for the salt. The view was beautiful... read more

Did the taste of maritimes for a friends birthday a few days ago and the cod and lobster tail tasted mediocre at best. The atmosphere, view and servers were amazing and that's why this over priced restaurant gets a three star. On food alone, it would have been a two star. Go here if u have money to blow and don't care what u eat. I much prefer small dinky looking restaurant with fresh and flavourful food compare to this restaurant. I'm disappointed because I expected more read more

Definitely worth the experience! It's a really upscale restaurant that I think any fine dining restaurant trying to step up their game should follow. Canoe showcases some of the most delicious, interesting meals, excellent high-class service and a one of a kind view. The restaurant is located on the 54th floor of a TD building in downtown Toronto. You're already higher than most buildings within the view so you could see the go train station and even the ACC depending on where you sit in Canoe. Canoe is located at the corner of the building so the corner area is the most popular for the view because you'll be surrounded by beautiful cityscape. You could also see into the kitchen at the many chefs at work, it's awesome to see. The service was great there is a lot of staff around, even when you get off the elevator whom are offering to take your jackets and direct you to the restaurant. They took care of us pretty well, always asking if we needed anything or answer questions about the menu, etc. They were super polite and really respectful, even though we were probably the youngest ones in the restaurant. It's just great when you're young but you're treated the same as everybody else. Finally, the food was super delicious, most of it had rich flavour that in the moment the only think you could think about is the fantastic meal you're indulging yourself in. read more

The difference of going for lunch vs. going for dinner is night and day, literally. The only reason we were able to get a table is because others cancelled. Seems to be fully booked on weekends. The view is amazing, especially at night. The duck was about a 4-star dish. I tried foie gras for the first time because it came with the duck and that was the dish I wanted, and if all foie gras tastes like this I'm never eating it again. I thought it was supposed to be this amazing stuff that was worth torturing ducks for. Not so much. Their sweet cherry bourbon cocktail was AMAZING. I had three. I could've drank that all night non-stop. It was delicious! Fresh house-made sour mix (with fresh lemon and lime), simple syrup, cherry bourbon... It was perfect in every way. The salmon appetizer was also very delicious. The chocolate dessert also was amazing. So delicious. This restaurant is really great for dinner. It's a very romantic setting. The view is amazing. Service is professional, attentive but somewhat robotic. A couple of times I had to ask for my drink or more water but usually they were great. Overall, awesome experience. Great place. I'm glad I gave it another try. read more

Among one of Canada's most sought after restaurants, Canoe is located in the heart of the financial district on the 54th floor. Its reputation, location, view, and menu is the reason why so many flock to try Canoe. At times you have to book well in advance, in my case with Winterlicious I'd booked a reso for 2 with myself and the bestie Ilona Ioanna G......2 Weeks ago!! Well worth the wait! the staff were extremely polite, and had sound knowledge of the menu, and its ingredients...which in my opion is KEY!! For starters we both order french Chateau du Trignon Gigondas Rhone 2007 which was a light medium body which in tune, complimented our meal. Our appetizer was a 5/5 as their Pressed Maple Braised pork (like a pate) was deliciously prepared dressed with mustard, heirloom beans on the side, topped with puffed wlid rice! The mains!! we both ordered their Ontario Strip Loin medium rare, but more on the rare side, served with short ribs and cheesy Alliston potatoes!! just delightful!! In the end I ordered their three milk cake..aka Tres Leche! beautifully presented with caramel creme and vanilla mousse. HOWEVER the special lady had a bland dessert, which I agreed. Their Wild Rice pudding was bland, and the appricot didn't do justice to offset the blandness. however our waiter was able to compliment her with a lovely glass of dessert wine...compliments of the restaurant!! Going above and beyond the customer's need to set the expectations of this notable place was exhibited! Im impressed!! Probably the best O&B restaurant besides Auberge du Pommier. read more

See all

I had the prix fixe $100 and was kind of disappointed. I went around November when they still had a thanksgiving-y theme going and picked the turkey (over the duck) as my main. I know turkey is generally lean and can be dry, but I expected more from Canoe, and immediately had "Orderer's Remorse" and wish I had the duck. Personally, this is the worst reaction I can have during a dinner - especially a relatively pricier one. Everything up to the main dish was really good, so it's a shame that my main overshadowed the rest of what was otherwise a 4/5 rating dinner. My favourite of the meal were the chicken soup and the scotch egg. The scotch egg came with a pate like dish, which I thought was very underwhelming but the scotch egg was delicious. Dessert was fun and creative but the dry turkey dish really ruined the meal for me. As with all the other reviews here, yes the atmosphere and service is amazing, but I cannot fairly give a 4 or 5 star rating based on amazing service. There is a previous reviewer that mentioned Canoe's inconsistent quality. We went on an extremely busy night so I understand that "shi* happens" - but I don't foresee myself giving them another chance any time soon, considering how many other great restaurants there are in Toronto. read more

Great view! Canoe is on the 54th floor in the TD Tower, and It made our already delicious food even better. The menu is really interesting, and is executed very well. I forgot what I had, it was a fish I had never had before, and it was great. The rice and brussel sprouts were tasty too. For dessert, we had a salted chocolate concoction filled with a caramel sauce that was to die for. The drink list is good, and the wines we had were delicious. The service was really great - nice, professional, courteous, friendly - just really good. When dinner was over, our server, who knew we were from the US, offered us "ice wine," which he said is a local after dinner custom. I'm all for trying to live like the locals, so I had a glass. Whoa, holy sweetness! Apparently, ice wine is made by freezing the grapes on the vines, and then crushing them into wine. Something to do with the sugars and frozen water end up making the wine very, very sweet. So, when in Ontario, try the ice wine. I won't be ordering it again any time soon, but I appreciate that learned something about you, Ontario. read more

Just okay...very pricey and showy but felt the food could have been better. I think it's more of a tourist destination so people go for the view. read more

Service is great. The salmon starter ( I forget the whole name of the course...)‍ is awesome. read more

See all

I do not even know what to say. Yes. This was the most expensive dinner I have had in years. Dinner for two was $350.00 with tax and tip, modest bottles of wine and one dessert. That being said, it was an outstanding dining experience and worth the price of admission. My only complaint about the restaurant is the noise level. Canoe is very loud. My wife and I split the Canoe plate as a first course. The Foie Gras was good, and easily the least successful part of our dinner. The Lobster Salad, Salmon Tartare and Filet were beyond reproach. My Caribou saddle was easily the richest, most tender steak I have ever eaten, my wife's Lamb loin was quite flavorful in a way that cuts of Lamb in restaurants often are not. The fig and date pudding, which we ordered on the advice of our terrific server in lieu of cheese (which he also loved) was an outstanding dessert. I was wowed by the quality of Canadian wines we had with our meal. Truly an experience to remember. read more

I've worked downtown toronto on and off since 2006 and finally got to go to Canoe and it was very good. I went for lunch. While its an extremely business crowd, the view makes up for it. You get a great view of toronto and a sure way to impress the people you're with. Had the foie starter, which was very good and the lobster club sandwich, which was okay, but nothing special. They have great service and had a great meal here. read more

We went there yesterday evening for drinks before heading out for dinner. Yes, 38 $C for two glasses of wine is more then average, but the ambience is priceless. No need to say that their reds are good ones. The waiters were more than helpful in getting us a seat with views over the skyline as well as with dinner recommendations. read more