My wife and I are always in search of good French restaurants. Specially the ones that may open till late so that we may go there after theaters, and movies. This is a really impossible desire in Toronto. We are so fortunate to discover La Palette. Just to add the context, we have previously been to Scaramouche, Didier, Tati, Bistro 990, Loire, and some others. We travel to these establishments from Mississauga. When I called La Palette, to seek a table for 2 at 10 PM. The call was eagerly and most amicably attended, and I was told that we can certainly come at 10. It seems that La Palette is happy to receive customers till late. Upon arrival the reception was amicable and warm. One minor discomfort was that we were offered seats near the coat room, in an area which is very chilly due to some kind of persistent draft from some door. Had to change tables twice, and were lucky that at that time the restaurant did have some available. Everything after that was outstanding. The server gave us the specials menu, and we did not find it as impressive as their main menu. We ordered Escargo La Palette, and Riz de Veau to share as appetizers. Pre appetizer bread and olive oil was delicious, we enjoyed the toasted crust very much. For the main my wife chose the Norwegian Macakarel, and I chose the Duck n Buck. Every single one of the above orders was fantastic. For the desert, despite being too full, we ordered the Cloufati which was very light and great to end our meal. Even the Cafe Americano was quite perfect. Service was very friendly and non intrusive. I would say that we will place La Palette just after Scaramouche and Bistro 990 and equal or very close to Loire. It is only because the first two are in a different class due to their locations and market segment. One thing is certain: We will go to La Palette again and again till they get fed up with us. read more

We walked into this place by chance, and we'll surely be back. The amazing food is distinctively French, the service is excellent in all respects, and the decor is lovely. read more

Incredible! The Parisian ambiance, service, visible kitchen, and most importantly food were phenomenal. It was a perfect dining experience. The dishes were so flavorful and the meats were perfectly cooked. The prix fixe option was a nice choice. The dishes are rich so pace yourself but more importantly enjoy. Bon appetite! read more

I am going to have to go against the grain. I tried to like it, I really did. Especially since my friend was already busting my chops for choosing La Palette instead of another establishment in the area. To begin, we ordered the Pinot Noir. The wine was acceptable, but not very good said my accompanying wine aficionado. I thought it was okay. Next came the bread basket. TWO slivers of toasted old baguette. Not warm, and with a texture reminiscent of crackers. The real kicker was when I asked for more...the server returned with exactly two more shavings of the same stale bread! It could only get better from there. First were the appetizers. I had the Salade Verte which was pretty good, I liked the vinaigrette and the salad was in proper order. My friend had the Escargots La Palette which was rather blah. Not to mention the escargot was too dry and tough. For the entree I had the Mixed Grill with horse and venison, whilst my amiga had the canard de confit. Now, the bright spots of the evening WERE the horse and venison. Both were moist, cooked to medium rare and very tasty! It is too bad they were not warm when they reached the table. The Canard de Confit was another story. I know plenty of yelpers have raved about the duck, but when compared with the equivalent dish at Le Sélect it left a lot to be desired. The skin was not crisp, a touch too much fat was present on the leg and the accompanying noodles were bland and corny. Dessert time! We shared the Tarte au Citrons. Who am I kidding? My friend was not enthused about eating anymore La Palette fare (but she did take my wine), so I was forced to put on a brave face and eat the tart. I did not even finish it. The crust was too doughy and very marginal for the price being paid. That said, the atmosphere was okay and our server tried to be as helpful as possible. Though the owner could use some PR training. read more

Meh.I don't understand the hype of some of the reviews here. I felt that it was mediochre, nothing spectacular. Maybe it was an off night. I'll give it another try. read more

me and my boyfriend popped in here for a drink because it looked really warm and inviting. the bartender was really friendly and tried his best to work with my picky requests (something with tequila but nothing too girly or sweet)- he gave me a tequila sunrise which was alright and then made me another drink using shot of tequila and gingerbeer. it was something ive never tasted before so i liked that he was able to surprise me i would come back to try the food and for a romantic night out -the atmosphere is so nice. read more

What an amazing brunch! I tried the eggs Benedict with wild boar, it was perfect. Wife went with the croissant with halibut, she says she could eat another one so good it was. They also have the amazing Dieu du Ciel! beer, only those are worth the visit. A gem in Toronto fashion district. read more

Everyone who knows how to order french service should try eating here. If you're not familiar, stay away because you'll complain about the price, not knowing that what you're being charged for is true excellence. read more

Excellent place for reveling at the top of the food chain. Delicious meats such as braised bison cheeks, cheval tenderloin, elk, and caribou. No worries though there are options for the vegetarian in your party too! Phenomenal attention to detail and the open kitchen let's you observe the highly skilled chefs in action. read more

Unique options for dinner. Had duck dish and their service is great. Prices on the higher side.

knowing that i've been wanting to try la palette for the longest time, my bf took me here for our anniversary . now that i have been, i have mixed feelings towards it . i went in, wanting to fall in love with it so maybe i went with too much of a high expectation . i absolutely loved the atmosphere . with the cozy decor & the dimmed lights .. but not at ALL pretentious ! even my bf felt comfortable here . i really wish i had the chance to try them out when they were at the kensington location . i heard it was even cozier ! servers were very attentive & everything came out timely . extra star just for the atmosphere & the service . now the food . for app: we ordered the escargot & foie gras (we always order foie gras whenever we can after trying them for the first time at hoof cafe!) . it was my very first time trying escargot and for such exotic food such as this, i expected it would be much more flavorful . foie gras was wonderful but we still prefer hoof cafe's . just a little . for entrees: my bf got the bison steak . it was good but some part of the steak was wayy too salty . perfectly cooked med rare tho . i had the game meat (elk that evening) and it was just okay . the bf liked it a lot more than i did . i LOVE french food so this was a bit of a disappointment . :( dessert: we just ordered what looked like a chocolate brownie . sounded amazing on menu, but nothing spectacular . read more

Service is OK but the food is really good. Try the foie gras, escargots and steak frites. Coming back soon.

Fantastic food and staff. Order meat. And please go for the more exotic types (bison, venison, boar) instead of a plain old cow steak. You might as well go to The Keg otherwise. read more

i have of late despaired of finding a toronto restaurant on Queen with a friendly bar and a nice atmosphere. Thankfully I wandered into La Palette randomly a few weeks ago. Nice bistro setup, and fantastic owner working the bar. Old fashioned friendliness and good service is vastly underrated in this city. I'll be back very soon to try the food because of my positive drinking experience. read more

My first experience at La Palette was the Rogue double IPA, great beer. The friend i was drinking with highly recommended the Burger (Lunch only). When i tried a bite i could see why. I returned a few days later to fully enjoy the experience. A perfectly prepared Burger, the bun is like no other i've tried before, the meat cooked to perfection, the Dijon mustard and caramelised onions add the flavour. I've tried burgers around the world and few match up to this one. read more

Really like the vibe here and was surprised their main vegetarian lentil dish was delicious too! Also the lemon tarte was yummy!

I spied La Palette early one Sunday morning while wandering around Queen West before anything had opened. It looked so beautiful and inviting, and as a French bistro, like exactly that which I love the most. I knew I would have no time to enjoy a meal there as my partner and I only had one non-work dinner night free -- we already had reservations for that night. But, after one long day at work and an unsatisfying dinner my partner and I decided to wander over and see if we could stop in for a dinner and a drink -- and what a lovely time we had. Our bartender, a soft-spoken and lovely man, must have been the owner as he had such joy in talking with us about La Palette's fabulous array of spirits and cordials -- I love unique spirits and after dinnder drinks and La Palette's selection was truly special, less for the volume of selections, but more for their uniqueness and the obvious care with which they were all chosen. My partner started off with an aged Calvados, of which there were several from which to choose, and I started with an apricot eau-de-vie (Apricot!), and followed it with a quite remarkable chamomile grappa, mellow, pollen-y, and yellow like a late summer sun. We also ordered some desserts, Tarte au Citron, and the trio of creme brulee. Both were excellent, though the greatest joy was the pleasant atmosphere and great conversation we had with the staff and other patrons who all seemed to having as pleasant an evening as we were. It was a refuge that we greatly enjoyed, read more

La Palette - The Wonderful Wall of Booze. - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This was a great bistro experience! Meats were perfectly cooked, venison tartar was well seasoned. Veggies were perfect. And atmosphere was lively. The seating was a little tight.- a drunk group on the corner in combination with being so close to other tables just made it hard to have a private conversation. The service felt rushed- pleasant enough but our server kept trying to clear our table and fill our wine glasses too often- she could have slowed it down a bit. Very sold with a menu that had several daily specials so you could return often and never get bored with it. read more

We came to this restaurant for dinner. We didn't have a reservation (highly recommended as his place gets busy quickly) but we were seated almost immediately. The restaurant was very romantic and cozy with a Parisian feel to it. The food and oysters were exceptional and the service phenomenal. Our server was amazing she really took her time to make us feel welcome and explained everything with passion- some of the very best heartfelt service I've ever received in Toronto! read more

Really cool atmosphere and decorations. Lots of interesting paintings, drink menu in old book, and nice staff. I went straight for the horse tenderloin with duck thigh. the duck was extremely tender and rich. I had never had horse before and it tasted like a good cut of beef to me. They serve it rare without asking which is how it should be done. Overall great experience. read more

Great staff, delicious food. I brought my wife here to introduce her to French cuisine and they did not dissapoint.

Went here for my birthday dinner with my hubby and parents on a Sunday night. The service was excellent from the very start, the food was incredible. I got the steak which was cooked as requested (something that happens so rarely), my husband got a sablefish which was also cooked perfectly. Overall - it's a great place with excellent food. read more

Good food The fondant and calamari were delicious. Bread and oil was very tasty. fiancé had the escargot and duck leg. I had the risotto with duck leg. Both were good though the king oyester mushrooms were myeast favorite part. For dessert we had the sorbet (awful) ice cream, flourless torte which was delish and the tiny creme bulee Service was good and attentive Points lost for freezing cold corner for seating and small dessert portions. read more

Nice old-fashioned place in French style. I I liked the atmosphere, this place is ideal for romantic dates (what you can't say about every bistro/restaurant!). The food is delicious but it's mouthwatering desserts what's really worth trying! read more

I loved this place. The service, ambiance and food were fantastic. The portion sizes are huge. We did the price fixe menu and it worked out perfectly. read more

Went here on a not busy Thursday evening. Ordered the pate and escargots to start - fine, but nothing to write home about. Duck confit and steak frites for our mains. Duck confit sat on a bed of tepid vegetables, and was extremely fatty in places, and very dry. My dining partner's steak was also mediocre. Service was stilted and awkward - get some servers with personality. We ordered the prix fixe - but dessert was taking too long to come and we had movie plans, so we had to get it to go. Over $100 for a very sub-par dining experience. As much as chain restaurants get a bad rap, when we walked by Milestone's later that evening - we both wished we had eaten there. read more

I very much enjoyed the absinthe. They have three varieties. But unfortunately they were very rude to myself and my friend afterwards. While I don't live here, my friend is a regular here, and neither of us shall be returning. read more

Great little restaurant! Discovered them yesterday for a late lunch on recommendation from a friend and went back for dinner today. We all had different items, and we all lived then so I can't imagine anything on the menu not being terrific! Service was great too :-) Thanks for a great time! read more

We had a great night... oysters, bone marrow and pate follow by venison, steak and horse with frites... topped off with creme brûlée and cheese. We asked the owner to choose the wines... and apart from having a bit of fun we were not let down. The whole night was a wonderful success due to the care and attention of our waitress Heather... she was outstanding! Every need attended too and she had a fantastic manner... thank you all for a lovely night! read more

I have been there on several trips to Toronto, always wonderful . I was there last weekend with friends who had not been, they liked lunch there so well that they insisted that we do brunch there the next day. read more

So disappointing! We hadn't been since the move to Queen St., and what a turn for the worst. Everyone in our party of 4 took a hit. 1 was insulted by the maitre d': (quote) "no matter how clear I am in the menu, someone still doesn't get it." A waitress spilled hot mussel broth on my friend's dress. No apology, just a half glass of soda water and a paper napkin--which suggests this is a routine occurrence. Steak frites = a tiny sliver of steak (obviously a steak cut in 2) and some overcooked scraps of potato: only 1 "legit" frite on the plate. Slow service: no time for dessert, for which they still charged full price (along with the spilled mussels and puny steak). Then, while tossing our coats rudely to 3 of us, they dropped mine into a plant and I had to go hunt for it. Said my friend with the ruined dress: "They obviously don't like us." The place was fairly empty for a Friday night. We only went because we couldn't get a table at Fressen. Note to self: make pre-theatre dinner reservations at Fressen from now on... and don't ever, ever go to La Palette again. (It's also dark, dusty and full of crumbs. You feel dirty leaving the place.) read more

Went there for brunch: Lovely and casual atmosphere, Excellent food (really yummy), one of the best coffees I have ever had with brunch, very friendly server... Note that the menu in their website is outdated and the real menu is completely different and kind of pricier! read more

After searching and researching for a French restaurant open on a Tuesday in the city, which happened to be my birthday two weeks ago, I decided to make a reservation with La Palette. I wanted some typically French menu options at reasonable prices and was not interested in any type of Nouveau or Fusion creations, and I was certainly pleased with everything La Palette had to offer. The place was packed when we arrived so I was glad to have a reservation. We were greeted and taken to our table swiftly and our drink orders were taken very shortly after. Their website lists all sorts of beers, so I went to the bar to see what they had in stock and ordered a Barbar - fantastic! My boyfriend is a basic lager kind of guy and they had something for him too. We didn't look at the wine list because we don't tend to drink vino when we dine out, and I personally love to sample any different imported brew I can get my juicy little paws on... of which they had a surplus! For our apps we ordered the fromage fondant and charcuterie platter. The camembert was sublime! The moment you cut into it, it oozed all over the plate which was adorned with braised cabbage and candied walnuts, with crostinis on the side. Heaven! Each bite of the charcuterie was all equally as mouth watering as the last. It had an array of wild boar and duck cured meats, rillettes and pâté. Spectacular. For our mains my boyfriend ordered the duck breast and I had the duck & buck. I can't remember what his was accompanied with but mine was served overtop of a bed of barley risotto with juniper berries and veg. Honestly and truthfully, after each bite of food we took we both uttered 'mmmmmm'. I kid you not. It was impossible not to savour and enjoy every morsel! Dessert of course was crême brulée, which was delectable but truth be told it wasn't best I've ever had. My only criticism of the evening would be about the brulée, which as others have mentioned should be served at room temperature. But if that's the biggest oversight of the evening, really, who cares? The overall experience was fantastic! I would highly recommend this place to anyone who loves typical French cuisine sans stuffy attitude. read more

Have been going to la palette for years and thought I'd finally writre a review of the place. I have nothing but good things to say about all my experiences there. Amazing friendly staff, and the owner Shamez (sp?) is great, always friendly. The beer selection on draft is great, as well as in bottle. Have eaten horse numerous times here and it has always been delicious. Their frites are great. Just a very positive vibe offering quality products. Would recommend to anyone! read more

Excellent food in an atmosphere very much like a little french bistro in Paris - that is, loud and crowded. A great choice for a fine bistro meal and bottle of wine. read more

Warm atmosphere, friendly staff and tasty, satisfying fare. My French husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant and will be sure to return when we are in Toronto again. Thank you to the Palette staff for a couple of memorable visits! read more

We went there with my husband's parents for early Mother's day dinner. Before going, we checked their web and menu, and looked very good. However, I didn't really realize that they were not Non-meat eater friendly restaurant. I don't eat meat, period... And my only choice for main was Bouillabaisse or Roasted Vegetable which I ordered Bouillabaisse. It was very good, lots of different kinds of seafood were in it. I loved it. Then, from next time, what can I order???!!! If they can create one or two more non-meat dishes, I'd love to try them!!! My husband and his parents seemed to enjoy their dishes. Mom, the wine lover loved their wine lists and was appreciated to be offered a tasting before ordering. Anyway, their dessert dishes need to be improved. Overall, we had a very nice time. read more

Great french style food, I had some nice snails very aromatic and a great piece of steack with real fresh fries. Smart service, thanks for that dinner experience! read more

AMAZING FOOD, bloody expensive though. Service was great, live music, friendly cosy atmosphere. I got the vegetarian option which was heavenly, hands down some of the best meat free fare I've ever had, my boyfriend had the lamb stew which he said was equally fantastic. Good wine and beer list, creme brule was delicious but minuscule (2 bites?) as it was on a prix fixe option. Expect to spend $140 for two with booze, but it was well worth the expense. read more

Excellent, friendly attentive service. Well thought out menu, featuring local, seasonal items. Fiddle heads, asparagus & lentils as a base for duck breast... yum!! read more