My party of four visited during Taste of Oakville, and in hindsight, the evening foreshadowed…read moreitself early -- the restaurant's website was down with a 404 error, and we kept finding two different addresses (one apparently their old location). We eventually found it. Upon arrival, the door swung open and struck a seated guest -- a sign of just how small the space is. The restaurant was full except for one four-top (clearly ours), and we stood awkwardly in the entrance -- which is essentially inside the dining room -- waiting to be acknowledged. When greeted, we were asked if we had a reservation. We said yes. "Table for eight?" we were asked, which felt impossible given the size of the room. We clarified four, and were pointed to the only open table. No name was requested; we realistically could have just walked in and taken it. The space is starkly lit with aggressive bright white lighting that feels more clinical than cozy. The artwork is interesting and gives a gallery-like feel -- it seems the restaurant is aiming for a downtown Toronto wine bar aesthetic, but it doesn't quite land. Our table was missing water glasses, and the stemware was mismatched -- not in an intentional, charming way, but more in a "we ran out" way. Once seated, we weren't acknowledged or offered water for nearly 20 minutes. Not rushing guests is one thing; leaving them feeling forgotten is another. When our server finally arrived, the service set the tone for the evening. One glass of water was poured before he realized another was missing. He disappeared, returned with a glass, inspected it mid-pour, then walked away again (dirty glass). After several more trips and long gaps, everyone eventually received water -- about 15 minutes later. He was polite and friendly, just clearly untrained. He shared that the owner is also the sommelier, cook, and server, and that he liked working there because he wasn't expected to know much about wine -- an interesting admission for a wine bar. The owner greeted us warmly but asked only one guest about wine preferences -- ironically the only non-wine drinker at the table. The concept appeared to be sommelier-led, though this was never explained. If that is the intention, engaging the entire table is essential. That said, the wines themselves were enjoyable; the service surrounding them was not. The Taste of Oakville menu promised three curated 3-oz pours paired with a charcuterie board for two. The pours arrived unevenly and slowly, with little explanation of the pairings. The charcuterie boards were plain and inconsistent between tables despite containing similar items -- basic fruit, crostini, simple cured meats, small portions of brie, and two slices of truffle cheese. No crackers, spreads, or thoughtful touches elevated the experience, and presentation varied noticeably. Our second wine pour didn't arrive until our mains, and service moved so slowly we requested a wine list to order a bottle. We were told there is no wine list -- "we're not that kind of restaurant." Instead, all reds are $80 and all whites $70, and the owner selects the bottle for you after asking only red or white. The concept might work if explained upfront; without context, it was confusing. At one point, noticing my empty glass, our server poured me a random red -- which turned out to be the same wine as our first pour -- and then left without serving anyone else. We had to remind staff we were still waiting for our second curated pour. Nothing about the experience felt curated. The most surprising moment of the night came when our mains arrived. As we lifted our appetizer plates -- still holding olive pits, fruit rinds, and crumbs -- the servers told us not to worry about clearing them and proceeded to place our main dishes directly on top of the used plates. I'm still shocked. I wouldn't do that at home, let alone expect it at a Lakeshore, or quite frankly, any restaurant. Two of us ordered the tagliatelle, which was tasty but contained only two small pieces of short rib -- and was difficult to enjoy while staring at discarded rinds beneath the plate. The other two ordered brisket sliders: two sliders, no sides. They tasted good but left diners hungry. One guest joked they kept thinking the fruit rinds were fries -- unfortunately accurate. We tried to make the best of the evening, but it never delivered the cozy wine-and-charcuterie experience we had anticipated -- dim lighting, thoughtful pairings, something special. After finishing our meal, we requested our bills and reminded staff we were still waiting for the third curated pour. We were told "five minutes." Those five minutes never came. Eventually, wanting simply to leave, we paid a single combined bill and sorted it out ourselves. Dinner for four totaled $460. This was not the boutique Lakeshore dining experience we expected, and ultimately, it was deeply disappointing.

As an Oenophile, I was excited to check out The Wine Bar in my neighbourhood. The door was open, In…read morewalked in at 4:55 to be "Greeted" by the Owner, "We don't open till 5 o'clock".......Attitude from the get go. I looked at the menu, interesting but very pricey for the offering. I looked at a row of wine bottle partially open and simply corked, no nitrogen or air extraction.....no telling how long the wine had been "Breathing"....Days? I am puzzled by the discrepancy 5 Star vs 1 Star reviews. I have no confidence in the 5 star reviews....Friends?...Self reviewed? No serious wine enthusiast would visit this establishment...bad attitude, poor value, insufficient wine care and presentation.

Food 5/5 Service 5/5…read moreAmbiance 5/5 Food: I ordered the Tagliatette alla bolognese & hubby had a charcuterie board. For dessert we had the nutella pizza. I also ordered some take out: a funghi pizza, bruschetta & papardelle al boscaiola. Everything was so delicious! Sip is one of our favourite restaurants because the food is always good & it's not overpriced. The Tagliatelle was perfectly cooked and the bolognese sauce so yummy. Hubby enjoyed the charcuterie board. And the nutella pizza is a little messy but still delicious. At home I shared the bruschetta with hubby. I don't know how they get the pizza crust so thin. However they make their pizza I still think it's the best pizza I've ever had in Toronto. Service: We had a lovely lady serviing us. She has always been there when we have come in the past. She is so efficient & graceful too. The dishes came out quickly and we were soon eating. We came on Valentine's Day for lunch & it wasn't busy. Ambiance: The restaurant was decorated for Valentine's Day with red balloons. It was pretty but if you're going to the bathroom (which is downstairs) I had to duck so the ribbons didn't get in my hair. The restaurant has a cozy & comfortable vibe. But at the same time it's classy. The lower level can be used as a private room. I've seen families holding celebrations down there.The washrooms are clean & well maintained. I would definitely come back here again for a meal. It's too bad it's on a side street. It would probably get more attention. I think the food at Sip is better than Grazie actually, which is also nearby.

Quiet environment and the staffs are nice. Price is a bit expensive. I ordered prosciutto which is…read moreok. In general, no surprise

Second time visiting Chez Nous. Tried all 4 red wines (3 of which were new vs last year) and loved…read moreall 4. My wife loved the two more robust ones. Service was prompt & friendly. The inside is very relaxing and was pretty quiet (we came early) so easy for mellow conversation.

This place was perfect for girls night! We wanted something more lowkey and quiet and we were…read moreseated right away. The place is so cozy and nice lighting it was perfect for a catch up with my girlfriends. The prices are very reasonable and they often have good deals on bottles of wine. I had the French 75 and it was so so good. There was only one server/bartender the night we were there but he was incredibly attentive to all patrons and was super friendly and nice. At one point I spilled my drink and he immediately and graciously cleaned it up and gave me a replacement for free which is very kind. I very highly recommend for slightly more upscale-feeling drinks at reasonable prices.

Service was abysmal and rude. The owner should really reevaluate their staffing choices…read more Unknowledgeable about the wines they serve or either too rude to provide any detail also incredibly slow when not even busy! Bartender was also flat out rude. Pretty embarrassing, can't believe this place is rated so highly.

The Daughter is a gem! When you step down from Bayview you feel like you've found a secret…read more Candlelight illuminates fresh blooms and vintages on display. A few tables, the buzz of fellow diners, knowledgeable staff. A focussed menu with breadth of choices as well as creative daily specials. We ordered from both menus. Everything was fresh and flavourful. The presentation was lovely. Hayden offered wine pairings perfectly suited to our food choices and personal tastes. (One of us went red and the other white!) I can't wait to come back. * PS. If you are looking for a fresh spot with great ambience and no pretension - ask about The Daughter about their lounge space.

This must be the place!…read more Our first trip to Toronto and boy did we have fun. From delicious food to sipping wine, and everything in between, Toronto was a city to explore. Ladybug Wine Bar is a cute but also sophisticated wine bar located on King Street, steps away from shopping and restaurants. We stopped in here on a snowy Sunday before our flight home. They also serve Sunday Brunch. We grabbed a few open seats at the comfy bar. They do not offer wine flights, which made this experience pretty darn expensive but SOOOO worth it. We had such a fun time and the people working were so nice, we honeslty did not want to leave. They were willing to help with our selections. We actually ordered all their Reds by the glass. I know, but there were only about 6 and we had to try them all. I like to say "go big or go home" LOL! We loved almost all except for maybe a few. We ended up also ordering a charcuterie while we sip. And of course I brought a bottle home with me. If you are ever in Toronto, please check out Ladybug wine bar, it is fantastic, you won't want to leave. Cheers!

A Hidden Gem for Brunch!!…read more I came here with 3 of my girlies that love brunch. Everything we ordered was fresh, light, and absolutely delicious. We started with some drinks which were super affordable compared to other brunch places. The espresso martinis weren't too sweet and had the perfect balance. As for the dishes the standout for me was the smoked salmon toast. The combination of the eggs, fresh dill, and sliced salmon on top of toast was so yummy. Service was nice and the place was cozy/bright. Highly recommend this spot for a girls' brunch or casual date.

Grape Witches located inside the Waterworks Food Hall is their second location in the city (their…read morefirst location is located along Dundas St. W.!). This bottle shop has a unique variety of natural, organic, and biodynamic wines that may rotate depending on the season. The space also has a wine bar where you can try different wines by the glass or treat yourself in a wine flight or a whole bottle. The by the glass menu changes weekly where you get to have a chance to try new and exciting wines from different regions. I've been to Grape Witches several times but I was able to sit down at their wine bar this time and enjoy a wine flight (three 1oz pours featuring wines from Germany) and a glass of wine. Having the wine flight, I was able to find a new rose that I really enjoyed that I ended up getting a glass of it afterwards. Staff are extremely friendly, personable, and knowledgeable about wine where they can give you suggestions based on your preferences without being pretentious. You are also able to taste any wines you're interested in on the menu to see if you like them as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Grape Witches enjoying the delicious selections where I even found new favourites. Overall, a great new wine shop and bar at Waterworks Food Hall. If you love all things wine this is the place to go. They have unique bottles you can purchase and friendly staff to help you with selecting your wines. Will definitely be back to try other glasses of wine in the future!

The wine selection was decent, with a focus on natural wines. The space itself is very cute and has…read morea cozy atmosphere, although we didn't end up spending time there. The experience was a bit of a mixed bag. The staff seemed to be upselling throughout our visit, including recommending bottles that were above the budget we had shared. We also weren't informed about the corkage fee ahead of time, which came as an unwelcome surprise. Overall, it was an okay experience, but I wish there had been a bit more transparency and less sales pressure.

Food was great, don't be afraid to try new things, this place does a good job combining different…read moreflavours from different ingredients you wouldn't expect to pair well. Staff were really great, and my favourite was the atmosphere and ambiance. This is a great place for a date or or small group of friends as the menu is designed for sharing.

Couple dinner, met with a server who when directing to our table mentioned rather curtly our 2 hour…read morelimit - off putting. Server 2 was pleasant and took drink orders, let us know of specials. Server 3 took our order, friendly and courteous. Server 1 delivers food. I had to ask a question after it was delivered and caught their attention (politely I thought). they responded to my question and in leaving, curtly advised that they were not our server! Server 4 (!) subsequently took care of the rest or our service in a friendly and professional manner. My partner was livid with Server 1, and the overall experience was greatly diminished as a result. The good news was that food was great. Tasty, generous portions, nicely prepared and presented, and reasonably priced. Highlights were the fennell encrusted pork chop with rhubarb and the bumbleberry crumble Not going to return any time soon.

A cozy and very romantic lifestyle Tapas and wine little restaurant. It's operated by a lovely…read morecouple and the business first opened in the beginning of pandemic. Most of the very pretty and cozy decorations are made by the owner. He is also the chef. The wifey Robyn is the nicest host giving us a friendly, comfortable and welcoming service. We ordered various favours of gin and tonic. They are good with very nice presentation. We ordered the Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus, Mushroom Medley on Toasts and Lamb Sliders. They are all cooked with passion. I highly recommend this place when you are in Fergus!!