Dropped in on a Saturday at around 11. We were walking along queen Street looking for a restaurant. Many were not open yet. The decor is quite eclectic. The open kitchen is at the front of the restaurant. There were freshly baked biscuits and croissants on the counter as we walked in to be seated. I ordered the eggs Benedict which was delicious. My friend doesn't eat meat so asked them to make an omelette with vegetables and cheese which he said was very good. We also ordered a croissant which was crispy and flaky outside and soft inside. The coffee was also very good. We learned the buy locally from a roastery in kensington market. This place was real find albeit by accident. We definitely will be back. read more

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Food is 4.5 stars! But I think this place is seriously understaff. Only one waitress was running around the whole time I was there. I was there on a Saturday around 1:30 for brunch. Ordered eggs Benedict, it was very good!! Especially the fries! And I quite like the biscuit underneath the bacon and egg. I waited long time to order, and a water wasn't refilled quickly. Also it took a while to settle the bill. read more

La Palette - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Had an extremely terrible experience at this restaurant. Went here for dinner and the first thing upon walking in that I noticed was that the cook in the open kitchen area had a very long beard and wasn't wearing a hair net. We later watched as the cook and the bus boy prepared our plates and then saw the bus boy LICK HIS FINGERS in front of us and DIDN'T WASH HIS HANDS after. I brought this up to our waitress and she mentioned it to the cook but neither one brought up our concerns to the bus boy. The bus boy then proceed to walk around the open kitchen area eating the leftover fries with his hands and putting away plates and pans. As someone who has worked in the food industry this is unacceptable and frankly a health hazard. I will definitely not be returning to this restaurant. read more

Found this place wandering around on our first day in Toronto. Started our day drinking here. Very chill place. The owner and staff were very friendly and chatted with us while we enjoyed our drinks. Had a Canadian cider. It was pretty good. This is a great place to hang out during the day or even for nightlife. Highly recommended. read more

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We had a Friday night date night and went to La Palette for a wonderful dinner. La Palette serves high quality French cuisine and provides a great atmosphere to eat. The restaurant is not too large and they decorate it with drapes and curtains at the entrance and use dim lighting to create a cozy, romantic ambiance. La Palette offered a prix fixe combo with an appetizer, a main and a dessert so after debating on various adventurous options (many reviews kindly point out they serve horse meat and other interesting items) on their menu, we decided to go with the combo to try more varieties. My love she ordered the 'Moules du jour' (mussels), chicken main course and creme brule. I ordered escargot (snails), duck main course and chocolate mousse. After a short wait, our appetizers came, along with some bread on the house. I liked the escargot but found it slightly slimy (yeah snails are slimy). I really like the mussels (moules du jour) they were delicious and the sauce was excellent. The duck main dish was was also very good. I got a nice large piece and it came in a thick, savoury sauce. I also tried some chicken and it was also tasty. Finally. The desserts came and they were both amazing. I liked the creme brule a little bit more but both the creme brule and chocolate mousse were excellent. Overall. Excellent food, great atmosphere and very good service. La Palette is a high end restaurant that delivers on quality. 4.7 / 5.0 read more

Disappointing experience and food. The steak was over cooked, the trout was raw in the middle and the fries were stale/overcooked. Portions were small and over priced. The experience itself was also poor. I asked the waiter if the restaurant had a cocktail menu. His response was that "people should grow up and learn to drink wine with their food". I regret staying at the restaurant after his comment, waisting my money on the tiny portions and leaving hungry. My bill was $63 w/o alcohol. Do yourself a favour and try one of the many great restaurants on Queen W instead of this place. read more

The chefs at La Palette craft each meal with great attention to detail. The Poisson was cooked to perfection and the flavor radiated ever so decadently from the dish. The waiters were friendly, provided great direction, and our water glasses were always full. I suggest finishing your meal with an americano with dessert. Both the mousse and the zesty lemon tart are good options. The portions are small and the plates a bit expensive, but you're paying for the TLC that goes into both the food and service. It's obvious those at La Palette know about quality food service. It's definitely a dinner worth your $$. read more

La Palette - Poisson - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Cool place, really good wine and friendly staff. Duck confit was nice and crisp and tender but i felt it was just slightly dry and the salad didnt pair too well but the pork chops were amazing. Beef tartare was very good too, they added some peas to it which was interesting. To finish, we had a banana desert which was surprisingly so delicious! read more

Superb. The braised bison short ribs with bay scallops, toasted barley, cherry tomatoes, shallots - a masterpiece of comfort food. The horse tartar and oysters - fantastic start. Some of the best service in the city - great attention to making you feel like a very welcome guest. From ownership to host to waiter - they make the difference. Live music after sealed the deal - our favourite French in the city. The band Rambunctious play from time to time - unmissable experience! read more

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I am French. I was raised in France and this restaurant brings back all the comfort of my culinary experiences while growing up. Unlike most restaurants, la palette understands how to use fresh herbs and spices, while not over salting the dishes. I recommend any soup they offer. The best tartare is elk (elk is delicious and savory whether cooked or raw). Wild boar is a satisfying comfort food. The hot chocolate cake is good but maybe a little too sweet. Excellent palette cleansers: house made 'not too sweet' sorbets: pear, lemongrass, Clementine, etc... read more

La Palette - Outdoor sidewalk table just for us, so we could enjoy a warm green tea by candlelit. Very cool! - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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So I popped my French cuisine cherry and what better way than to eat at La Palette. I expected a very fancy, uptight place but once I walked in it felt very comfortable and casual, just the way I like things. We ordered: Mussels with lardon - the broth was buttery and delicious! Trio of meats: Boar, Horse, Venison -melt in your mouth meats accompanied by risotto oh baby! Foie Gras - like solidified butter amazing Horse Tartare - fantastic and smooth i would get this again Homemadei Ice Cream - SOOOOO GOOOOD Even the espresso I ordered after my meal was one of the best I have ever had and I have had the best made by Nonna :) This is a must go if you haven't been or haven't tried French cuisine like me. The flavours were rich and creamy but not overly powering. I see why my sister tells me French cuisine is her favourite. read more

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La Palette was more than a restaurant, it was a fun evening: - The owner was behind the bar and talked to us before we sat down, even showing us some of the dishes as the headed from the kitchen to the customers. - Stephanie, our waitress, was super nice. - The food was very good. My colleague had venison ribs. I had two small steaks -- one horse, the other elk. Both came accompanied by assorted vegetables appropriate for the season. - Except for me, the crowd was pretty cool. Lots of funky clothes. That said, three well-heeled couples in suits and ties and stylish dresses came and fit right in. A couple of things to watch out for: - Noise. This is a noisy locale. - Personal space. The tables are pretty darn close together. - Smokey. The kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant. The advantage is that you can watch the chefs cook. The downside if that the smoke overwhelmed the exhaust fan the night we were there and the restaurant smelled a bit smokey. I had a great time at La Palette. Unusual but good food in an unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere. read more

Oh wow, yum. We came for a Valentine's date last night. I had asked AT to book it weeks in advance, they called at least twice to confirm. I guess it was that much in demand. It was a set menu priced at $60 per person. Wine was extra. The atmosphere in here is definitely Bohemian. It's not the posh bistro that you would find on champ elysses, nor does the food in the menu reflect that. Tons of appetizers to choose from - escargot, salad, lobster bisque, pan sear foie gras for an extra $10. I got the roasted sweetbread that came with a bunch of side fixings. It was the best part of the meal. AT got the doie liver pate. Good, but not as worth the money as my sweetbread. For the entree, he ordered the Wild Boar that came with some sweet potato veggie concoction. It tasted a lot like chicken breast. We confirmed it with her, but I guess that's how boar tastes. Not flavourful except for the outside. (I don't like chicken's breasts...) My bison rib eye was delicious. Cooked medium rare, thinly, with the burnt edges that I like. It was gamey and flavourful and came with fries and a dip made out of bone marrow and something else. Delicious. For dessert, they had creme brulee (vanilla, darjeeling, and absinthe). Absinthe!? I had to get it. It tasted like a regular creme brulee, but with a definite kick. I was also mighty happy after this. AT got the Clafouti, and he loved it. It was a basically a custard baked pie. The service was great, and after about 2 hours, they gracefully kicked us out by giving us the bill. And everyone got homemade chocolate truffles to take home. Yum. Would come back especially for a special occasion. It's dim in here, and super romantic (not sure why romantic = dim) read more

La Palette - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Loved the food, atmosphere and service at La Palette! The seafood terrine was very refreshing, it was light and was cooked differently from what I thought it would be - pleasantly surprised :) We've ordered the more exotic foods at the restaurant as well - definitely worth a try for the adventurous ones! read more

La Palette is not as it used to be. My sister snd I decided to treat our relatives in HK out for dinner - French food - not something different. Although I enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant with the open kitchen taking centre stage, I can't help but raise an eyebrow to their tacky tablecloths and chairs. The servers are all relatively young. The nice thing is that La Palette is not too hard on your wallet with its Prix Fixe menu ringing in at $33. All items on the menu marked with a star are available on the PF menu. We ordered the Escargot, Roasted Red Pepper Soup and Pàté de Compagne to start. The escargot was not prepared in it's traditional drenched in butter fashion and was served atop a bed of spinach topped with croutons. It was disappointing and rather bland. The pâté was quite yummy though it came with no crackers or even a slice of bread until we asked for our bread basket to be replenished. For mains we ordered duck confit, soufflé and steak frites. The duck confit was rather tender and flavourful though the skin was lacking crispness. It was served atop a bed of a corn & peas spaëtzle mixture. The soufflé was a ricotta soufflé served with ratatouille and a side salad. The soufflé was creamy but the outer layer wS too sponge-y for me. The ratatouille was rather flavorless and the side salad was nothing special. The steak was rather disappointing as it was 1) cold 2) tough and 3) a tiny piece of steak. I will vouch though that it was seared to a perfect medium rare and I will also vouch for their yummy yummy frites! One of the best frites I've had! Desserts consisted of crême brûlée, clafouti, flourless almond and chocolate cake, and a lemon tart. The crême brûlée was so small the spoon barely fit. The lemon tart was too sour. The flourless cake was dry as a dessert and the clafouti was meh. All in all, the place was a miss for me. If you're looking for good French food. Look elsewhere. read more

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- Ambiance (4/5) La Palette seems like it's going for the casual French vibe, as you're using paper napkins and checkered table cloth, but then some of the design elements make you think it might be upscale. Added all together, and you have a restaurant with a bit of an identity crisis; nonetheless, it's still warm and cozy-- certainly a great place to bring a date or have a quiet business discussion. - Service (3/5) Service needed to be both faster and slower. It took almost 20 minutes to place our order, water refills were slow, and by the time we got our entrees, we were more than an hour into the meal. At the same time, the servers' movements needed to be more deliberate. I was whacked in the head and shoulder a couple times by a flailing arm, and wine pouring turned into a noisy affair. Our waitress was also a little reluctant to give us seconds on the bread basket-- not sure why. - Bread (4/5) Homemade sourdough is soft and dense. Great bread. I just wish we had some truffle butter or something creamy to go with it other than plain olive oil. - Prix Fixe, $35 (see rated elements below) - Escargot (3/5) The escargots should have been the star of the plate, but instead, the wilted baby spinach was. The hints of hen-of-the-woods mushrooms were great, but the escargot were kind of lost in the plate. Visually too-- the escargot came hiding under the spinach. The lemon dill beurre blanc tied everything together nicely, but I wasn't really sure what I was eating since the escargot were somewhat lost. Also, I thought the menu said it had asparagus, but there was none on my plate. - Duck Cassoulet (4/5) The duck leg meat was cooked perfectly, though I think more flavor could have been imparted. The lardons were also a nice touch-- the chef was able to use it as a complementary ingredient, yet mute it enough that it didn't take over. The rest of the veggies were great as well, but the duck broth it what elevates the dish. Rich and delicious. - Clafoutis (3/5) There wasn't anything terribly wrong with this dessert, though there was an overabundance of whipped cream. It just tasted... very ordinary. - Value (5/5) A $35 prix fixe meal is really good. Although the meal wasn't the most spectacular meal I've had, it was good, and at $35, I'd consider it a steal. At any other restaurant, this combination could have easily costed $45. - Final Word Service mistakes were noticeable but didn't really cost La Palette. They did however contribute to the overall lackluster feel. While the place is a great deal and offers more than adequate ambiance, there's something missing in the food that just doesn't make it very memorable. read more

I feel like I am giving a good amount of 5 star reviews lately, however, I have been so impressed with the food in Toronto and this place is A MUST. It was one of the better experiences I have had in a long time. Sure, I had great company with me, but in addition, the ambiance and the cuisine was fantastic. We started with the escargot. I can't say I loved the way it was served, meaning, the escargot was still inside the shell and you simply had to pull it out. Regardless, the taste and garlic butter sauce was perfect. So here is the thing. I spent time in Buenos Aires, Argentina where you would never put a sauce on a steak so I understand if some people don't believe this is the way a steak should be served. That being said, the steak I had at "La Palette" with its sweet (not to sweet) and perfectly detailed sauce, was one of the best steaks I have ever had in my life. I have joked with my friend that I will fly back to Toronto, just for that steak. I LOVED this place! read more

La Palette - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I would come here all the time if I lived in Toronto. I've been to tons of restaurants all over the U.S. and France, and this is up there with the top of them. - Great atmosphere. Small and comfortable, without feeling as pretentious as some French places can sometimes be. - Wonderful service. Prompt, friendly, and really helpful with making food choices or selecting the right wine pairing. - Fantastic food. Everything we got from the appetizer and entree menu was delicious. I had the horse tenderloin -- and if you like beef and just want something a tiny bit gamier -- I highly recommend it. read more

One of my very favourite restaurants in the city right now. Consistently spectacular food - very nice french based wine list, knowledgeable staff and did I mention the spectacular food? The menu is very meat heavy and I'm a vegetarian but I do eat fish and they always have a lovely local fish special that is delicious. All of my meat eating friends agree its delicious, well cooked and decent portions. I highly recommend getting the creme brulee trio for dessert! I've also had the risotto, tuna, escargot, oysters, and my friend can't stop talking about the wild boar. Everything is here top notch. They also do a beautiful breakfast/brunch. Coffee is delicious and decor is warm and welcoming. While i haven't stayed for this I have seen the transformation from dinner to live band which looks fun for a Friday/Saturday night outing. read more

Great service. Great food. I really like this place and have walked by many times and always wanted to give it a try. The staff here were super accommodating and really nice. I had the poulet - cooked perfectly and paired w the most delicious bread pudding I've ever had. I crave just that side dish. I would have preferred the chicken to be all white meat, (it came w/ a thigh - I don't eat dark meat but did try some of it). My fiance had the steak frites. We started w/ the fried cheese which was rich and creamy and really good. All in all, I'm not sure we'd come back as there are a lot of adventurous items on the menu that we do not eat. But I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a yummy french restaurant downtown. read more

La Palette - fried camembert cheese - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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On Friday night, I saw. On Sunday morning I went. I waited til Tuesday to review and missed my FTR! Alas, I have been to La Palette for brunch and will return for dinner this week. I've only been to the old location for dinner because who needs to walk more than a block for weekend brunch? Now with the new location, I get to experience the exquisite brunch that was put together in the old Taro Grill locale. With the same open kitchen and long bar with seating at the front and a group of small tables at the back, La Palette will be an even more entertaining experience. To watch the chefs strut their stuff out in the open will be so exciting! The staff remain super friendly and the beer selection is coming together nicely with McAuslan on tap. We're going back for the bison and Talouti. Any surprises and I'll let you know. read more

La Palette - The sign pre-first day opening - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I got the Prix Fixe menu and the Confit de Canard was VERY good. A few bites in though, it started getting pretty salty and had to get many refills of water. Overall it was very good still (might be better and less salty if you get wine with it). We also had the escargot (I ate some before taking the picture) which was also VERY good and the sauce was very nice with the complimentary bread. For dessert, we had the apple crumble which was a bit weird because it was like a piece of pound cake and too sweet for my liking. My boyfriend got the Quack 'n' Track which he really enjoyed as well! Overall the food VERY good! A bit too salty/sweet at times but the flavours superior. Also there's like 2 waiters for the whole area running around so service isn't amazing but the food is! read more

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Service was great and the food was even better! The horse tenderloin melts in your mouth (and surprisely has no after taste the way goat or lamb normally does) and the duck confit just rips apart! Both dishes are definitely a must try read more

Bordering 2.5-3*. Just no 'wow' factor for me. Not great, but not rotten either. I was really looking forward to dining at La Palette for my bday. However, reading a coupla trusted Yelper reviews, I had the suspicion that this place was BETTER before. Restaurant was only a little over 1/4 full on a Sunday night for dinner service, so I think you're safe without reservations. Don't quote me though! Highlights: - fried Camembert app - $10 - Dark & Stormy drink with Thomas Lavers ginger beer...but it was like $12 - there is a prixe fixe for $35 (on select apps/mains/desserts), but the portions are smaller - still fair size though! Lowlights: - staff wasn't busy enough/too many waitresses. As per another review, they were too present. For example: were asked for our order many times without enough time in between, waitresses tried to take away my bf's salad TWICE, was asked what I thought of the food less than a minute after it was put on table - décor is dated, tres '90s/French grandmere's masion, blech - prices are on the higher-end (at least $25-40 for a main), but staff/decor does not match the price. Dined at l'Express last Spring in Montreal and experience was waaay more upscale, white table cloths, garcons in uniforms, with lower prices - Darjeeling Creme Brulee - ok, but just tasted like custard. No darjeeling taste. Maybe pick something more distinct like Earl Grey? Maybe I'm just not meant to dine at these "fancier" places, but I thought the food was waaay too rich and not balanced. I ordered the cou de Canard - basically a duck sausage - and waitress warned me that it came with the head. (I'm Chinese, that's fine.) However, when it arrived, she said that the entire head was edible 'cept for one bone (don't remember)...which it wasn't 'cause I was spitting out the skull and felt like puking after I ripped the jaw off to see what meat was there. I just left it 'cause it was just unappetising for me. Dish was not balanced and it was literally like eating an entire dish of sliced sausages. The same type of sausage. Wild rice was IN the actually sausage, but dish needed something else aside from a few French string beans and 2-3 pieces of artichoke. Dish was also different temps. Sausage was room temp while duck head was just out of the deep fryer. Not enjoyable. Dish also smelt a bit 'off' when it first arrived, but I'm not sure if that was the cheese (parmesan?) or not as I'm not a reg cheese eater. Maybe if they revamped their menu, made it more casual, and lowered their prices they would find more success. read more

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Great bar/restaurant we sat at the bar on a sunny afternoon drinking pale ale from Quebec and talking to the friendly barman Tom (from Dublin). This place has a very chilled atmosphere serving locals (a guy named trout) and tourists , it made the afternoon a great experience! Give it a try...., read more

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We had raw horse meat. Very good. And rare horse sirloin. Very good as well. The desserts were good. But it is a little bit expensive for what it is. Plus the wood chair was VERY uncomfortable ! The waiters were nice. read more

I just love that place! Food is great, staff is amazing, great energy...and fabulous soundtrack. Summer / winter, best place for a lunch or brunch! Never tried dinner but I am sure it is fantastic:-) Try it !! ;-) read more

Came here for dinner to celebrate and couldn't be happier! The atmosphere was quite cozy and intimate. Our server was patient and knowledgeable! I had the prix fixe which was a great value ($37 for pâté, duck confit, and a dessert). Servings were large and everything was of good quality. Can't wait to try the mussels next time! read more

La Palette - Horse (top) and duck (bottom) - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Ordered the bison and got a much bigger portion than anticipated. Quite yummy, but being that it was my first time trying bison outside of a burger, I don't have much to compare. Got the pate to start, but was not what I expected...I thought I was getting that soft, mushy, spreadable kind of pate with a lot of flavour. This one reminded me a bit of softened ham. Meh! S'alright! The winner was my friend's dish, which he let me try. Steak Frites topped with Fois Gras (an extra $25 but worth every penny). Simply amazing. The kind you close your eyes and chew slowly and wonder how you've gone so long without. Next time, I'll be wise and get that one! read more

Stopped in while shopping the eclectic area known as Queen St West in Toronto. Was not disappointed! Awesome ambiance. Great drinks - I had the Elvis Juice and St. Ambroise and neither disappointed. My partner recommends the Radeberger Pilsner, it's like a fancy Coors Light. We wanted to share a light lunch or app, so we ordered the sandwich of the day: grilled croissant with goat cheese, bacon, and spinach. It was delicious, like a French BLT Croque Monsieur. The fries were crispy and were served with a yummy aioli. Highly recommend!! read more

La Palette - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

If you want to drink really good wines at reasonable prices then this is one of the places to come. The owner is extremely knowledgeable, willing to discuss your tastes and allow you to try some alternatives before choosing a bottle. He has a comprehensive and eclectic collection that for the most part cannot be found elsewhere. On top of that the food is also good! We started with a pâté which was a large piece of coarse pâté and fairly standard, the bread that came with it was a disappointment. The salad we chose was also fine but nothing to write home about. We had the chicken which came as two pieces, one crispy and tasty the other was also good with mushrooms although the mushrooms were cold. Our steak was perfectly done, quite big enough to share between two and accompanied by very good fries. We drank two excellent Burgundies well priced. read more

Great atmosphere, great food but it's the little things that makes this place great. I'm no French cuisine expert but if you want to feel like you've taken a trip to Paris, you can't go wrong with La Palette read more

La Palette - French Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My baby daddy and I love a good French date night. Unfortunately, the realities of work, a toddler and the daily grind have made this luxury an impossibility lately. I spotted a hole in both of our calendars this week, so I jumped at the chance for us to have a childless lunch date. We wandered down Queen W and La Palette popped out at both of us. We snuggled up at one of their cute, colourful tables and got down to delicious business: Sparkling water, (a little) rosé, fromage fondante (deep fried cheese, yes) and steak frites. It was all perfection. Oui will be back. Often. read more

Very cute location near downtown. Had performers singing and dancing at the bar while we had our dinner there. The foie gras pared with chocolate was very delicious. However I did not like the escargot as the vinegar taste is too strong, and the flesh tasted rubbery, which made me doubt the freshness, but over all it was a pretty good dining experience. read more

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I really liked this place! Everything on the menu was delicious but beef tartare definitely was my favourite. They also have horse tartare if you're feeling adventurous:) Steaks were great too. They have a pretty good wine and liquor selection as well, and you can sit at the bar,if you just popped in for a drink. My only complaint would be that some tables are uncomfortably close to each other, so it makes it less intimate. However I understand that they were trying to do what they could as the place is pretty small. read more

We really enjoyed this French restaurant! The food is very authentic to French cuisine and the ambience of the restaurant is very cozy and fun. I recommend getting the pix fixe, it's totally worth it and there are lots of choices. We had the pate to start, mussels and fries, the chicken, and creme brûlée and sorbet. This is a great spot if you want to impress someone or go for a nice evening out. read more

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Great location. Great venue. Great staff. Great cocktails. Great vibe. Good food (to be fair only tried one item) Home runs 5 outta 6 not bad!! read more

I came here the other day with a friend for brunch. I had the eggs benedict with bacon. Surprisingly, it was served with spinach as well as bacon. I like spinach, I was just surprised and I don't think spinach and bacon are the best pairing. The bacon was delicious. I asked for a soft poach on my eggs and one egg was perfect, but the other had a not quite set white, which is kind of icky. Also, my eggs were pretty cool. I think they poached my eggs too soon before the rest of the food was done so that's why they were so cool in temp. The fries and salad on the side were fine. Service wasn't the best. The guy forgot milk for my friend's tea and had to be reminded a couple times. read more

This place's atmosphere is really great for a fancy, cozy and intimate meal. Their wine selection is really special, and they have all their wine's by the glass, which is super nice. The duck was good and we decided to go with the horse...it was really nicely done - the outer layer was crispy and so well seasoned. Overall, a really special place when you're willing to pay for upscale french cuisine. read more

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Fresh, seasonal ingredients (wild boar, horse, and more!), both traditional and inventive preparations, and tasteful presentation. Delectable desserts. A strong bottle menu for beers. Patio seating in warmer weather. Comfortable seating in colder weather. Casual fine dining at its best. read more