We were group of 6 dining for a special occasion. When we made our reservation, the staff offered us the semi-private table by the window. It was nice to have a more secluded spot, but the seating was quite drafty/chilly and dark, so didn't quite capture the warm ambiance of the rest of the restaurant. We were also offered a wonderful family style tasting menu for $90 per person. Overall, the food was fantastic, especially the seafood options. The dishes were innovative and fresh. Stand-out dishes: - Smoked Fish - chips n' dip - Scallop (raw) - chicken fat, green strawberry, serrano pepper - Tomato - feta, green olive, red onion - Sea Bream - peas, cumin, scallion - soooo good I would re-order all of the above in a heartbeat. So delicious. The following dishes were good but not amazing: - Bread - cultured butter - Ravioli - cheese curd, potato, leek - Crumb Cake - coffee, pumpkin - Quince - foie gras, sponge toffee And the following dishes had some flaws (though still enjoyable): - Spaghetti - chorizo, peppers, stracciateila (way too salty) - Half Chicken - truffle, green bean, gravy (chicken was quite dry) The portion sizes were sufficient. And the service was really attentive and quick. I wish they had more non-alcoholic drink options. read more

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Everything we ordered at Grey Gardens was well done. The meal was perfectly paced and permitted conversation between dishes. The menu has a number of options that have good variety and still pair well no matter what you decide to order. My personal favourite was the smoked fish. We made a last minute reservation, and we were meant to head out by a certain time, but the host told us that she was able to make some adjustments for us to keep the table for longer. The interior is cohesive and is a surprising change from the Kensington neighbourhood outside. read more

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Grey Gardens is Jen Agg's masterpiece. Beautifully decorated with dark, romantic date night vibes and plenty of planty decor, the ambiance was great. Service was excellent from start to finish and the servers were so helpful with the wine menu and the tasting notes on the food menu. The food was excellent. We started with the fish dip and chips which was herby and crunchy and a delicious snack. Next was the bluefin tuna with leek oil and wasabi leaf which was my favourite bite of the night. Then came the leeks, which were solid but needed either a balsamic vinaigrette or maybe even a light mustard vinaigrette. Crab pasta was next up which had a delicious calabrian chili sauce. Finally was the smoked trout with which the sauce was excellent. For dessert we got the apricot brioche, which I didn't love, but actually went really nicely with the amaro montenegro which they kindly gave us a free shot of for my birthday. Overall, it was such a lovely experience and I can't wait to go back!! read more

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Discreetly nested in Kensington market, I visited Grey Gardens earlier for a 5:45pm dinner. We opted for "grey Mondays" which was a prix fix menu once a month, along with the wine pairing. Right off the bat the hostess and servers were kind and sincere, and wished us a happy anniversary. Throughout the meal they were attentive and provided insight into each bite they served. My favourite was the Albacore, it was so balanced and packed full of flavour. Each dish was unique and seasonal, and the wine pairings were well thought out. Highly recommend for a nice date night or special occasion! read more

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"There are some nice people in the world, you know, I just don't happen to be related to any of them." -Little Edie, Grey Gardens, 1975 Came to Grey Gardens for my birthday dinner on a recent trip to Toronto where my boyfriend lives. We both love seafood & were excited to try their inventive small plates. We had: SNACKS Smoked Fish ~ chips n' dip Oysters & Shrimp Cocktail CRUDO Hamachi ~ jalapeño, dill, pomelo VEGETABLES Bean Salad ~ feta, yogurt, curry oil MEDIUM Skate ~ matsutake, broccoli, black garlic Everything was very good: light, fresh & flavourful. They also brought out a lovely dessert with a candle and birthday message at the end. Ambience was relaxed and casual but it was quite full on this Fiday night. Since it was my birthday dinner, my boyfriend & I had decided to dress up. We definitely looked out of place & quite a few people stared ("Take a picture! It'll last longer) although it made it fun! We tend to overdress in Miami all the time. Would absolutely return but maybe leave the chandelier earrings, strapless cocktail dress & stilettos at home next time... orrrrrr maybe not! read more

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Grey Gardens is tucked away in an unsuspecting spot so it feels like a hidden gem. The dining room is cozy and it's spectacular to sit at the bar and watch the work being done in the open kitchen. Feels intimate not just in size, but in the service of the staff that are all friendly and attentive. Overall we really enjoyed our dinner and drinks. I love a small, well organized menu. It shows intention and here you can expect every single dish you order to be made to near perfection. We enjoyed them all but the standouts for me were the bean salad and the chicken. The smoked fish dip was great and tasted like a much more elevated French onion dip. The hamachi was beautiful and citrusy. The bean salad had a great yogurt sauce. I could eat whatever sauce was served under the chicken with a spoon! It was creamy and delicious and the chicken was cooked perfectly tender with a crisp skin. I had a glass of Chenin Blanc and the citrus spritz while my partner tried two different beers. We enjoyed them all. The service was incredible and what you would expect at most fine dining restaurants. Despite how busy it was - I never had an empty glass of water or a dirty plate in front of me. Our server was also very patient and walked through what would be gluten free/gluten friendly on the menu. So happy they were able to make an accommodation for us to reserve a spot for dinner last minute. Would love to come back read more

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More than 2 years have passed since my last review of GG -- time for an update. Yup. Still brilliant. The food here, in a word: exquisite. The wines -- superb. We're basically regulars now. We always sit at the rear bar where you can watch the chefs at work. The menu changes from time to time but always has a choice of crudo, pasta and proteins, among others. Everything we've ever tried here has been mouthwateringly good. And we're always given great guidance on wine -- we're slowly making our way through the list lol. Also, the vibe and music here are always on point. This is basically a sure bet for a special dinner. read more

Grey Gardens effortlessly balances charm with sophistication - with decor blending antique warmth with a modern touch that gives the space so much personality. The open kitchen adds an intimate touch, and massages my brain the same way as when I watch Tiktoks with Subway Surfer in the background (minus the brain rot). And with its ambient lighting, its the perfect spot for a romantic date night or a cozy, refined dinner with friends. We ordered the Mandilli, Pickerel, Endive, and Crudo, and our favourite was easily the Mandilli. Long, wide pasta draped in crab, Calabrian chilli, and Parmesan - an absolute must-order! I also really loved the Crudo - and if you're as into raw fish, crudo, or sashimi as I am, you'll really appreciate the delicate yet punchy flavors. Overall, I highly recommend Grey Gardens! Given their carefully thought out menu, welcoming service, and cozy ambiance - I'll definitely be back! read more

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I had a solo reservation at Grey Gardens for my birthday dinner, I'm a huge fan of Le swan (also by Jen Agg) and I heard that Grey Gardens does half portions. Great experience! I love the ambiance with the candles and grey vintage theme. The hostess and my server were both very attentive. There is an open kitchen so if you want to sit at the bar you can watch the cooks prepare the food. They have an extensive wine and drinks menu but I stuck with water. I ordered oysters, a half portion of steak tartare, a half portion of the ravioli and a half portion of the gnocchi. The oysters were well shucked, fresh, and sweet and were served with fresh horseradish. The letdown of the night was the steak tartare, it was sooo salty, and there was no egg yolk to balance that (not sure if it's because I got the half portion). Thank you to the server who refilled my water at least 5 times. The gnocchi was pillowy and the sauce was simple but comforting. The ravioli was amazing as well, the caramelized onion filling had a sweetness which complimented the saltiness of the duck sausage. They also kindly served me some complimentary cinnamon ice cream to end the night. Prices here are reasonable, I was very full at the end of my meal. The washrooms are clean and on the same floor. Highly recommend this restaurant for a date night, great vibes and food! Their menu is updated regularly so there is always something new to try. I will be back to try more of their seafood! read more

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I've been longing to try Grey Gardens and I'm happy I finally did! While the menu is small, it's jam packed with a variety of unique dishes and flavours. The mushroom dish, brimming with umami, is probably the best I've ever had. The Arctic char crudo was flavorful and well balanced. And the lamb pasta was good and unique. Didn't love the pesto ravioli - a bit too earthy for my liking. read more

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A spot that's been on my list for a while! Tucked away in kensington market, its unassuming on the outside, but has a nice romantic ambiance on the inside. However, the tables are quite close together and I did wish we had a little more space to maneuver. We had 5 dishes, smoked fish dip, beef tartare, cauliflower, tagliatelle, and pork chop. The smoked fish is a classic and must-have. It felt creamy and was delicious. The beef tartare was quite good, but they came with small herbaceous baked breads? I think I prefer a crusty sourdough or crostini to complement beef tartare. The cauliflower had a mushroom mixture which was delicious and a side sauce that was VERY lemony, almost too much so. The tagliatelle was cooked perfectly, the pasta having a great bite, and the sauce and duck sausage was fantastic. Probably the favourite dish was the giant smoked pork chop was cooked perfectly, was very filling, and had us picking at the bone. Also came with a great sauce and some Brussels. read more

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Hidden gem in Kensington Market. Unassuming from the exterior with a pleasant interior with three seating styles: bar seating, tables and kitchen bar seating. The menu is limited but has a good variety fo choices. We had the 7 layer dip (good but pricey; I would probably try the smoked fish dip next time for a more economical starter). The Celery Root and Scallop dishes were amazing. Pretty plating and a perfect balance of flavours. The Tagliatelle was a bit underwhelming compared to the other dishes; it's decent but nothing special. I would try the Hand Torn Noodles next time. The Skate on the other hand was amazing - it looked and tasted almost like a brisket and was served in a buttery foam with lots of sauce. Would definitely recommend and would come back again! read more

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I have now been to Grey Gardens, three or four times and I love it. The ambiance is lovely. It is a tight squeeze, but the acoustics are such that it's not too loud that you can't hear the person you're with. I shared the leak appetizer and had a delicious crab pasta. On the drinks front I started with a Negroni and then a lovely glass of Chardonnay. Although the food was quite slow for our main, the person serving us said that she would be happy to provide us with a complementary dessert, and although we didn't think it was necessary, we happily accepted. I'm so pleased this little gem is thriving! read more

Grey Gardens - A delicious signature spritz cocktail. - Wine Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

If you ever wondered where the upwardly-mobile foodie hipsters dine, this is the place! The food is fantastic, the ambiance is casual, yet elegant, and the service is down to earth. Great meal experience overall. This place gets high accolades (it also appears on the Michelin guide honourable mentions), and it did not disappoint. Food: 5/5 ======== The food is most delicious. Each dish was well-thought-out. You can tell that they are serious about their food, as they have a big open gallery kitchen that is teaming with activity. Here's what we got: Smoked fish appetizer - $16. Most delicious spread. Very smokey. Was served with super thin potato chips. At first I thought it was weird to have a chip instead of a cracker, but it actually worked beautifully. Must try dish. Kampachi - $22 - delicious crudo. Must try. Celery root salad - $18 - very nice. Cauliflower - $18 - very nice. Skate - $35 - very delicious. Was very rich, like a braised beef. Five Spice Cake - $12. Yum! I LOVE five spice, and the cake did the spice mix justice. One complaint I had was that the cocktail list was basically non-existent. The one cocktail I tried (Bitter Spritz 18$) was not great (diluted, sweet and no bitters). The wine options were very expensive. I opted for the Saison beer (Burdock Tuesday $9), and I was not disappointed. Service: 4/5 ========= The service was mostly friendly, but a little lukewarm. The server knew the dishes very well, and was able to remember the options by heart. Very casual style of service overall (complete with hipster scruffy outfits), which is somewhat nice, and at the same time leaves you wanting a little more warmth and elegance. Ambiance: 5/5 ============ The ambiance overall is very nice. Let's start with the fact that the restaurant is located in hipster-central: Kensington Market. At the same time, it's definitely elevated for the neighbourhood. The place is very casual, but not without elegance. The decor is grungy, but not without style. The lights are nice and dim. It's definitely warm and rather romantic. You could definitely come here on a first date. The playlist was amazing. I kept wanting to Shazam the songs. Value: 3/5 ======== The small plates are rather expensive. You won't leave here stuffed. At the same time, you feel like you are getting rewarded with great tasting plates. Keep up the good work, Grey Gardens. read more

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Quaint French restaurant that has a unique rotating menu. Their drinks were a bit lacking in flavor, I got the Citrus Spritz and my boyfriend got an Old Fashioned. The spritz was a bit flat. The star of the night was the ravioli - the potato and cheese filling was utterly delicious. Each bite was a perfect cheesy morsel. My boyfriend got the lamb shoulder (not pictured) that was a bit tough? Normally you'd expect the meat to melt in your mouth more but it was a bit hard to chew, not to mention the flavor was just ok. The best part of the lamb dish were the veggies on top. Service was good, we booked a reservation the week before and were seated promptly. Overall a decent experience. read more

Grey Gardens - Citrus Spritz & Old Fashioned - Wine Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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SO and I were in town and found this place on a whim via Yelp.  The outside was unassuming and a little non-descript, but who cares when there's good food indoors.  There were tables along the wall and seating at the kitchen bar...we sat at the nearest corner of the bar with a line of sight to all the staff moving and cooking with intention and care.  We asked for suggestions and ordered pretty much what was recommended by the knowledgeable staff. The 7 layer dip came out 1st and we were feeling full just after this...it's comprised of different layers of goodness like guacomole and topped with a good amount of trout roe with chips being in abundance...very decadent! A small dish, delicate slices of fluke, came next...seasoned with some oil, lemon and salt along with some greens on top...a perfect, light appetizer. We also tried the tomato salad, which was hearty and nicely dressed and seasoned. The last dish, cod, was fresh and perfectly cooked...not overly seasoned or sauced, accompanied by broccolini...just delicious! Bottom line, the service was attentive and the food was above average and reasonably priced.  There's plenty of value here and we'll definitely return on our next trip back to Toronto. read more

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We made reservations to Grey Gardens for a table for two a month prior. Between us, we ordered the smoked fish chip and dip, scallop crudo, crown, smoked leeks, apple galette, and panna cotta. They had an extensive wine selection and some non-alcoholic options. Service was terrific, and we loved the ambiance. The food was delicious and paced well - we stayed for almost three hours. My favourite dishes were the scallop crudo and both dessert options. Accessibility: washrooms have an automatic door opener button. read more

Cute spot in Kensington. Food was fantastic but portions are pretty small. I recommend the smoked fish dip as started. Skip the bread as nothing special. They have a wide selection of wine, I got the orange wine and it was delicious read more

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Grey Gardens is an intimate restaurant in Kensington Market with an open kitchen concept. Whether you sit at a table or sit at the bar, you'll be able to see all the work that goes into each dish here. Bright and airy during the day, or dim and ambient at night, you'll find the perfect environment that you're looking for. The menu rotates frequently so you'll always find something new to try. We tried the: Smoked fish chip n' dip ($15) Campanelle: morels, fava beans, black garlic ($26) Salmon: spinach, dashi, turnip ($35) I was surprised with it's beautiful interior and upscale food considering the neighbourhood it's in! With that in mind, it's more of a splurge compared to it's nearby restaurants in the neighbourhood for this reason. read more

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went there on a snowy day, we didn't get to make reservations early enough so we got seated at the bar. I have never heard about this place before until my friend told me about it, and we both came with high expectations. what we ordered: 1. Red Tail Bread ~ butter: this 6 dollar dish is my absolutely fav of the night, i honest prob could just order 5 of them and be very happy and satisfied, it is so soft, and the butter is so airy too, if cloud has a form and is edible, that must be how it tastes like 2. Cod: it was 38 dollars, and it is a small piece of cod which is flaky, the sauce tho, it was amazing , i have to say i would be much happier if i can have more fish with more of that sauce with that price. but this just makes me hungry by looking at it. 3. Sweet Potato Cake: it is indeed very good as all the other reviews say, i enjoyed it a lot. some areas where I think can be improved: 1. i think the sign needs to change, in the dark there is absolutely no way to tell the name since its grey on grey without any lights. i know it is aesthetic, but it is not friendly to anyone's eyes 2. the bathroom situation is extremely weird, they have a big area downstairs where there are events /group dinners held, but there are also several bathrooms downstairs, while upstairs there is 1, and where there is any event, eveyrone else upstairs need to wait on the one together and trust me it was not a pleasant line. i had to wait and wait and wait until it was my turn, if your upstairs is already that busy, and there is no way to open another bathroom, why even use the downstairs as a private event place? read more

Grey Gardens - Wine Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We were here Thurs., April 20th (2023) btwn the hours 6:30-8:00 pm. Of all the fine dining restaurants we've been to in Toronto, this is the only place that has wow-ed us from beginning to end. The restaurant was dimly lit, & the ambiance quite romantic. And while the food was phenomenal, the service was even more outstanding. Great recommendations for food & wine, and many thanks to the male waiter for providing us with a more detailed explanation on the dishes we especially liked. Would 100% recommend (& have actually already done so -- my friends were wow-ed too!). Truly deserving of their bib gourmand. The menu rotates, but I would highly recommend the red tail bread & butter (I believe this is a permanent menu item), the ox tail ravioli, & the semifreddo if these are on the menu when you go!! ((: read more

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Good for a date night, as long as you're not stuck at the bar. Fortunately, we were sitting indoors, but if you're in the patio, the preferred seat is facing the restaurant, as long as you don't mind looking into the park of homelessness across the street. I'm sure you won't be harassed for pocket change as the restaurant has been there long enough for the vagrants to be respectful. I would recommend that your server write down your order if you have more than 3-4 items. We were offered a complimentary dessert for a forgotten dish and a overly savoury dish. Good gesture. If I was with a boring date, I would have had to spend another 30-45 gruelling minutes before I can politely dismiss my date. However, with the right date, this is more time with your sweetheart. Overall, food satisfaction is just a touch above average, but the table seating inside makes up for quite a bite. Somewhat attentive staff, but I do find a little repulsive the reuse of the same damp table rag for wiping down table surfaces for all tables for as long as we were there. One would think a rinse after each use would be warranted. Oh, if you have a bladder problem, be warned, the wait for the single washroom could be annoying. Good excuse to disappear for a while should you expect the check to arrive read more

Grey Gardens - Wine Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

What a wonderful gem discovered first by Michelin reviewers who awarded a Michelin Bib to this amazing restaurant! My scallops crudo had a very delicate and balanced flavor. My husband's raviolis with duck sausage had a right amount of meat, were not too heavy on gluten and had very flavorful sauce. The absolutely best part of the meal was my trout. Melting in the mouth, it was accompanied by the freshest green peas that I ever tried. It was one of the best preparations of the trout that I have tasted lately! The finale of our epic dinner was a strawberry dessert which exceeded our expectations. The service was very attentive and not overwhelming. The cozy ambiance added to our very pleasant experience. I cannot wait to be back! read more

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This restaurant is a hidden behind Chinatown. The wine bar is super elegant with a bright and vibrant atmosphere. We enjoyed our time here, as the music wasn't too loud and the restaurant wasn't too busy. The menu is small, but is always changing, and we found the plates are catered towards family styling sharing. It ranges from snacks, raw foods, noodles to mains and desserts. Smoked Fish This was a chips and dip style plate, and was surprisingly super tasty! The chips were the perfect amount of light and salty, and complimented the dip well. Lettuce Wraps This dish came with many components, lettuce, rice, snow crab, ginger scallion sauce, and toppings - cucumber, cilantro, etc. We enjoyed making the wraps to our preferences, and found it super filling. The snow crab had a sweet taste, and paired well with everything else. Fluke A crudo dish that was paired with shellfish oil, saffron and chervil. We enjoyed the spread and colour of flavours. One thing we would change is to have consistent sizing of the fluke, as some pieces were very small. Spaghetti This pasta dish was recommend by our server, and it was paired with yuzu kosho, mussels, and furikake. We found the flavour to be mild, and the portion a bit small. Cornish Hen Super tender, this dish was paired with grits, and collards greens. We found the chicken juicy and the skin crispy. As for drinks, we tried one of the featured spirts. The Citrus Spirtz was not too strong and just the right amount of sweetness. It had a good balance of yuzu citrus and lemon, which we enjoyed. We found a lot of their dishes asian inspired using common flavours such as yuzu. The food was enjoyable, and we would definitely return. read more

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Small cozy place that's good for date night. I like the open kitchen concept and staff were friendly. Ordered some oysters, the 7 layer dip with caviar, braised cabbage, canestri, and trout. The 7 layer dip was delicious and there was a generous heaping of caviar. Canestri pasta was al-dente and perfectly cooked. However, some of the dishes were made quite salty which made it less enjoyable. I would come back to enjoy their 7 layer dip but I would avoid their braised cabbage and canestri as they were way too salty. read more

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Such a beautiful cute hidden restaurant behind Chinatown. Might be a little bit hard to find from the outside as the entrance is a bit faint. But when you walk in it is refreshing beautiful and elegant interior. The food is very fresh, not very heavy and gorgeously platted. very wide selection of vegetarian and seafood dishes. The staff is also very attentive and kind. The number one thing I would recommend is the smoked swordfish. The flavor profile is very unique and the fish itself was very fresh. Would highly recommend a spot to go with friends or date or a business meal. read more

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Grey Gardens is simply perfection! They served family style for our party of 6 so we each tasted everything. They brought special vegetarian versions of several dishes for one member of our party, which was above and beyond expectations. Service was stellar. Food was the best we've ever had. The outside of the building is not particularly noteworthy, but do not let that stop you. You must try this restaurant!! read more

Great service. Cute decor and soot with a nice patio. Located in Kensington, so its pretty busy. Had live music play right beside the restaurant during our dinner. Service was great. The citrus cocktail was refreshing and not very sweet which is how i like it. Overall food was delicious! Mom enjoyed the hamachi the most. I thought their pasta was so good, fresh, al dente. I think they are known for their pork dish - it was decent but im not a fan of grits that came as a dipping sauce and i enjoyed the end pieces with more fat and tenderness. read more

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We were supposed to check out Grey Gardens last year, but then a pandemic put the kibosh on those plans. We finally managed to snag a reservation for one of their scant outdoor tables this past weekend, and it also just so happens that this is my 800th review, so the timing worked out well. We showed up about 15 minutes before our reservation, and with a bit of quick rejiggering on the staff's part, we were temporarily seated at a table near the front. (We eventually moved to our actual table, which was much more comfortable, but I definitely appreciated that they went out of their way to seat us early.) We tried a bunch of stuff from the menu, but these were the highlights: Grilled Flatbread ("black olive oil, tomato vinegar") and Oysters: The bread arrived to the table piping hot, and was pretty much addictive. Chewy and flavorful, I could've eaten much more of this (and we tried to order more later, but they'd run out!) The Oysters were definitely a cut above others I've had; they were small but delicious, and the various accoutrements were a perfect accompaniment. Side Stripe Shrimp ("buttermilk, celery, chives") and Hamachi ("pickled ramps, kohlrabi, tomato water"): These two crudo dishes basically blew me away. They seem so simple, but everything was prepared so perfectly and the levels of flavor here ensure that every bite is just a little different. Amazing. Smoked Fish ("chips n' dip"): Oh man, this dish knocked my socks off. The plentiful dip has a strong yet not overwhelming smoky, fishy flavor that I found irresistible, and the homemade chips were a perfect complement. I wish I could've bought a tub of that stuff to take home. Ricotta Gnudi ("truffle butter, cremini mushrooms"): Speaking of knocking my socks off, this is undoubtedly the best version of gnudi I've ever eaten. They were pillowy and delicious, and accompanied by a sauce that I could've slurped up by the gallon. Dry Aged Pork ("grits, preserved tomatoes"): Our final dish of the night was quite a showstopper. I've never had pork prepared this well. It was just so tender and perfectly cooked, and the accompanying grits were an ideal side dish. (We also tried the Little Gem Wedge Salad ("crispy fish, green goddess") and for me, this was the one misfire of the evening. It was well made and beautifully plated, but the flavors just weren't there, ultimately.) I also want to single out our server, who was completely charming and endlessly helpful. I don't think it's a stretch to call Grey Gardens one of the best restaurants in the city. I can't wait to return. read more

Grey Gardens has been on my list for a while, so I finally decide to take a chance waking in with no reservation. Luckily they had a no show and we got a spot! (People! Cancel your resos if you are not going to show!) If there's one way I can describe the menu - fresh and light! I had the yuzu spritz, which is the perfect summer drink. Plus, the fish dip + hamachi. Sometimes I am a little sceptical about raw fish, but everything was so fresh! The service was friendly, and quick. We were just looking for a small bite... but I'll definitely go back for their winter menu. Hopefully we can sit inside, as patios at Kensington can get quite chaotic. read more

Great food in an intimate setting with hipster vibes. Service: Waitress was very friendly and attentive, couldn't ask for more! Food: The smoked fish and chips was delicious, new take on a classic and nice balance between soft and crunchy. The pasta with oxtail was delicious, cooked al dente and couldn't get enough of it (definitely a must-try)! The duck was interesting, could taste the asian influence but the skin wasn't as crispy as I had hoped. Overall, food was delicious and the open kitchen concept is very neat. Overall: Great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Perfect for smaller groups or for dates. read more

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I'm writing this review with a BIG caveat that all my colleagues adored and loved the place - I am the odd one out in that I didn't find the flavours appealing. That said, the service was phenomenal - Jing was a lovely help in securing the reservation, and our glasses were always filled with water/wine. The restaurant was also amazing at accommodating our vegan guest with her own plates. The ambiance was also very quaint and intimate; however, near the end of the night, our table near the windows was freezing! We felt a cold wintry draft, and my toes were chilled to the bone cold. We received a set menu for $85, but due to a smaller group, Grey Gardens chose to drop one of the pasta plates. Though I was slightly disappointed (I wanted to try that dish and didn't find it fair to be charged the same price for one dish less), it was the right decision as we were so stuffed by the end! Don't be fooled - although the plates are small, they keep coming. Pace yourself! Smoked Fish - Chips 'n' Dip This was my favourite starter! The chips were perfectly crispy and light; the waffle pattern did absorb some oil, but I wouldn't call them greasy. They were amazing and addicting to eat alone, but also complemented the smoked fish dip very well! The fish dip was creamy, smokey, and salty. I kept coming back for more! Bread - Butter & Schmaltz I personally found the bread very greasy, but that's to be expected with the schmaltz. The herb butter was fragrant and delicious! My colleagues ate lots of the bread. Foie Gras & Duck Terrine Again, this dish was on the heavy side. It wasn't very popular with the ladies. Broccoli ~ Nori, Dried Tuna, Crispy Fish My favourite dish of the night! The grilled broccoli had an amazing char and sear, and matched perfectly with the umami of the dried tuna and nori. It was reminiscent of bonito flakes, and had a distinctly Japanese spin to it. My only nitpicky complaint would be that the mayo dressing was slightly overwhelming, but reminded me of takoyaki. Hamachi ~ Rye, Grape, Kombu This dish had more delicate flavours; the hamachi is a very subtle fish, and so the small sweet bites of grape highlighted it very well. Octopus ~ Chickpea, Pepper, Olive I really like octopus, so obviously, I really liked this dish. My only complaint would be that the octopus-chickpea ratio was a little low! The hummus was quite overpowering as a result. I also would have preferred more octopus tips; I had one piece, and the sear was delicious. However, most was from the upper leg, which didn't have as great a texture. Cavatelli ~ Matsutake, White Bolognese, Coriander I was expecting a stronger mushroom taste, but received instead a pleasant, lightly earthy taste from the coriander and white bolognese. This was my favourite pasta dish of the night - I loved the chewiness of the tiny cavatelli pieces. I do wish, however, that the matsutake was cooked, rather than plated raw. I believe it would have advanced the umami mushroom taste. Agnolotti ~ Kabocha, Mushroom, Thyme This pasta was a flavour explosion - my colleagues raved about this dish, but I found it a tad overwhelming. The sweetness of the kabocha was muted/overpowered by the mushroom and thyme. Actually, all I could really taste was the thyme... Cod ~ Leek, Chanterelle, Corn Miso The cod had a beautiful buttery, flaky texture - and I'm fairly sure that every bite was gushing with butter. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the dish! Since cod is such a mild fish, it relied strongly on the flavours of the dressing. Interestingly, I wasn't able to pick up any miso flavours - only butter. Scallop ~ Black XO, Sunchoke, Parsley Root The presentation was beautiful, but the flavours fell flat for me. The scallops had a gorgeous sear, but I found them very... bland. It could have benefited from a little salt. I also found the surrounding tangy mayo mixture to be too overpowering. While it did help mellow the heavy fried sunchokes and roots, it smothered the natural sweetness of the scallop. Pork Chop ~ Red Cabbage, Turnip I did not enjoy this protein whatsoever; I had a small piece, and promptly stopped eating. My piece had a nasty, very strong porky flavour. In fact, the pork chop was just cooked through - it still had a faint, raw pink tinge in the centre. The fried turnip at the bottom was slightly burnt, but the pickled red cabbage did provide an acidic relief to the otherwise heavy dish. Grape Meringue Pie ~ Black Sesame This was a very interesting concept. I adored the black sesame and grape meringue filling independently; together, it just didn't work. The pie crust also had a burnt flavour that was very off-putting. Butter Tart ~ Black Walnut, Pecan, Roasted Apple The tart was delicious; buttery, sweet, crispy, soft, decadent. Unfortunately, it suffered from being paired with a weak, unflattering frozen yogurt. Vanilla ice would have been a better choice. Overall, a classy expensive meal! May give it a second chance, as some dishes were lovely. read more

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Beautiful restaurant, lovely atmosphere, perfect service and really interesting menu. We tried a bunch of different things. 5 dishes total and each got two cocktails. Our bill came to 79 each so it is rather pricey. I'm glad I went and everything was very well made with so many different interesting flavours but for the price I'd rather go to La Palma. Their smoked fish and chips dip was really interesting. Nice and Smokey as the name suggests and the chips were homemade in hour. Their cocktails were perfectly balanced. I was worried the ones with cabs would be too sweet but come on, Jen Egg owns the place, the cocktails are going to be on point (GO TO COCKTAIL BAR. You will thank me) The scallops were raw and came with yuzu which was tangy and compliments the scallops perfectly. The venison carpaccio came along with mushrooms, balsamic and a few other seasonings to make it delicious but there were a good amount of chewy bits which wasn't for me. The pasta was homemade so the noodles were kind blowing. The oxtail and mushroom sauce was yummy with a little kick but I'm not going to fantasize about it all week. Dessert was really interesting. Banana, molasses and sesame were the main flavours and they went soooo well together. It was a great experience and I'd recommend trying it but I'm not going to be fantasizing about it next week read more

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Went with family of 3 for dinner. Smoked fish with chips tasted really like fish, so you do have to like fish before you consider ordering, reflecting the honor of ingredients. Venison carpaccio is quite a big portion as appy and drizzle with flavors. We ordered 2 pasta: Mandilli with crab on the spicy side and Cavatelli with oxtail on the savory meaty side; both are al dente with different flavors. The Trout entree has 2 big pieces which is good for sharing and chargrilled to perfection. There are only 2 options for desserts: Honey toast with peach and Tom Cruise cake. Honey toast taste good and crunchy, but I barely taste peach except the extract drizzled on the top; and Tom Cruise cake is too sweet inside out, not sure if Tom really like super sweet dessert. Ordered the Citrus Spritz which looks and taste ordinary, but the price at $16 is also ordinary. If there is one to complain, it would be the lack of vegetables on the menu with only Leek and endives with tomatoes; technically leeks is more of garnish like green onions, wish there are more leafy greens or beets, etc. Seating is comfortable and cozy with good distance to carry on your own conversation. read more

Wow. Michelin rated level restaurant without the bullshit. Across the board excellent.

Amazing. Just Amazing. I've been a big fan of Jen Agg's restaurants ever since I tried Black Hoof for the first time on its closing night (what a shame) and I have made it a mission of mine to try all of her restaurants in Toronto. Jen Agg's restaurants always have the coziest decor and nicest servers, Grey Gardens was no exception. I decided to take my partner to Grey Gardens for his birthday this year, and we enjoyed ourselves very much. We started with the smoked fish chip and dip. I ordered the hand-torn pasta, whereas my partner ordered the duck (not pictured here as my hand shook in the dim light and the picture was blurry, not to worry though, it gives me a good excuse to come visit again.) Everything we ordered was amazing. Especially the duck. It was without a doubt the best duck I've ever had, it was tender and seemed to melt in my mouth. The hand torn pasta (do i detect wheat flour at work here?) smelled so good and was equally as delicious. The smoked fish chip and dip came with homemade chips that were crunchy but not overly fried. The staff wished my partner a happy birthday throughout the dinner and even brought out a candle on a dish in the end. They sure know how to make you warm and cozy on the inside. I must say, Grey Gardens has become my favorite Jen Agg establishment and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to impress their significant other, their boss, or anyone important. I can't wait to go back and try everything else! read more

Grey Gardens - Smoked fish chip and dip - Wine Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Overall really solid experience from the service to the drinks to the food. Great atmosphere and love that menu changes over consistently. Got the summer salad and cavatelli lobster pasta. Both were unique but on point. Service was really great throughout and given the location of the place, was really easy to walk in on a Tuesday night. read more

This is more of a share plate/ family style place with a large drink menu. We came here for dinner and here is the breakdown: Smoked Fish (chips'n'dip) - 5/5 - great taste and the chips was lovely. The chip to dip ratio was low but it was still very good. Red Tail Bread - 5/5 - lovey airy bread served with butter Stripped Bass (Raw) - 3/5 - it was a nice tangy dish of raw fish topped with lemons and olive oil and an abundance of pickles and drizzled with mayonnaise. The dish was a touch too salty from the pickles but a touch under salted on the fish in my opinion. Tomato (Small) -3/5 - this dish was raw heirloom tomatoes on a bed of mushed eggplant drizzled with olive oil and topped with a type of crispy black olive. The olive was impressive but overpowered the dish. Campanelle (3/5) - mushrooms pasta. A pretty standard mushroom pasta served with peas and goat cheese. Overall a touch too salty and underwhelming. Lamb Belly (2/5) - we were not a fan of this dish and couldn't finish it. It was way too salty, too fatty, and had a strong lamb taste. read more

I just loveeee this restaurant. The food and service never disappoints me when I come here. The people who work here are extremely friendly and nice. Their dishes are smaller portioned but I'm all about quality over quantity! Their flavours are always unique and delicate. Last night my favourite was the crispy gem wedges, it was the dill sauce for me! I don't think I've ever had a salad with a dill sauce. That was sooo fresh, refreshing and delicious! I'm so confident with the food here that I'd order anything that I'd normally wouldn't order at other restaurants. For one of their mains, a dry aged pork was one of the options and I ordered that although normally I do not gravitate towards pork. It was a thick cut of nicely charred pork that was sooo tender! It came with a side of dip that was like humus with grape tomatoes. I'm not sure it went that well with the pork but I still enjoyed the pork. A lot. I asked for a mocktail and our waitress recommended a rhubarb yuzu lemonade= 10/10! Grey Gardens is such a cute, romantic and aesthetic restaurant that is perfect for a date night. But due to the small portions I find it hard to fill up a group unless you order multiple of each dish. Also we sat in the patio and because GG is in Kensington, there were the occasional drunkards that stumbled in randomly and we sat at the table right at the entrance! Luckily one of the staff was there to "protect" us... that was cute haha read more

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Very small portions and expensive, not very good either. As a party of 5 we were quite squished even at the largest table.