Overall this restaurant is 4.5 stars. Definitely worth the Michelin star. We made a reservation through Open Table about 3 weeks in advance and the earliest time I could get was 9:15 pm. When we arrived, we were seated immediately. You could get the curated menu (tasting menu) where they choose items from the menu or off menu for you or you can order your own items from the menu). We were a party of 4 and we decided to go with the curated menu to try a variety of dishes. The food was fantastic and the ambience was great, casual but elegant. Service was excellent as they frequently came by to refill our wine glasses and they described each dish when they arrived and they clean our tables between each course. The first set of appetizers were the yellowtail, scallop ceviche, and the steak tartare. They were delicious. The flavours were fresh and tasty. The steak tartare was off menu and came with toasted homemade corn tortillas. The next set of dishes were the TOMATO & CUCUMBER (fermented anaheim crema, garlic scapes, queso fresco, shisho) and TLAYUDA TOLOQUEÑA (chorizo verde, white coco bean, queso chihuahua, carrot escabeche). The tomato and cucumber was a simple dish but the flavours were good. The Tlayuda was a Mexican pizza and was delicious with the chorizo adding lots of flavour. The next set of dishes were NEWFOUNDLAND SCALLOP (green garlic butter, popcorn, tajin) and the black cod. The black cod was an off Menu item. The scallops were amazing and sooo delicious. The black cod was cooked perfectly and the flavours were perfect. The next set of dishes were PORK SECRETO AL PASTOR (charred pineapple, caramelized onion salsa), 6oz STRIPLOIN (A5 NAGI WAGYU, OKAYAMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN) (pasilla sal), COAL ROASTED SWEET POTATO (salsa de cacahuate, red watercress, mint) and MUSHROOM & SHISHITO (Shogun maitake & Trinity Farms oyster mushroom, shishito, crema poblana). The pork was amazing. We have not had pork that literally melts in your mouth. The Wagyu was perfectly done and was delicious. The sweet potatoes were good as well as the mushrooms. For dessert we had the strawberry gelato, TRES LECHES CAKE (horchata cream, sea buckthorn, rice tuile) and the SPICED MEXICAN CHOCOLATE (Sponge toffee, passionfruit, tonka bean). The gelato was good and very refreshing. The tres leche cake was really good. The chocolate was very rich but not very sweet. Overall an amazing dinner and would definitely recommend. read more

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This Mexican fusion restaurant has stayed on my wishlist to try for a long time and I finally got a chance to try out their dinner for a special celebration event. All I can say is they do deserve that Michelin star! The chef here has very solid cooking fundamentals. Almost every dish was delicious and there was no overuse of heavy spice/salt/sugar that could potentially damage my tongue and stomach. It just made me feel mentally satisfied and physically healthy after dining out here. The restaurant itself was not big and had a very lively ambiance here. We did some research prior to our visit and already knew what we wanted to order. The menu provided varieties of Mexican fusion dishes with Japanese and Spanish influence which fit quite well with our Asian taste. We ordered quite some food and it was a bit tough to pick out my favorite ones coz they were all so delicious. For cold appetizers, we ordered the dry aged amberjack and scallop ceviche. Both were good although I slightly preferred the dry aged fish. Usually I hated any dry aged meat or fish coz I didn't like the fishy taste, but their dry aged fish tasted super fresh and refreshing with the citron. The scallop ceviche was delicious too. I especially liked the crispy leek on top. Very creative idea! Next came the lamb empanada (should call it lamb taco) and the chorizo with veggies. Both were delicious again and the highlight was the strong scent of the corn taco from both dishes! The lamb just melted in my mouth immediately and was seasoned so well. The chorizo dish had a noisy appearance (carrots, eggplant, greens, sausage) but actually everything mingled so well altogether. I liked the chef's creativity of this dish. The pizza like dish (crispy taco as the pizza bread with different meat and veggie toppings) not only made my kid eat a lot of veggie but also made a carrot hater like me enjoy eating the carrots inside. The next three dishes served were the mushroom and shishito, bone marrow and Argentinian shrimp (came with tacos) and pork secreto al pastor. The mushroom dish was with decent portion but was plain comparing to other dishes. The other two dishes were amazing. The shrimp tasted quite smooth already and it was even more smooth when mixed with the bone marrow. The pork was another impressive dish. I usually had super high standard on pork dishes and this dish just met all my standards, from how incredibly soft it was to how perfect the flavouring was. We ended our dinner with a coconut dessert. The waitress reminded us kindly that the alcohol inside can be replaced by strawberries seeing there was a small kid in the group. The dessert was not sweet to hell which was good, although missing a wowing factor. Overall, I really enjoyed my dinner at this restaurant and would recommend it to you if you like Mexican fusion cuisine and don't like heavy seasoning. My favorite dishes were the bone marrow and shrimp, the pork secreto al pastor, the lamb empanada and the dry aged amberjack. I'll definitely revisit in future. read more

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Will, who's from Wales, was fantastic, and the food was absolutely amazing. He made excellent suggestions and took great care of us throughout the meal. Whether you live in Toronto or are just visiting, Quetzal is a must-visit! read more

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Quetzal exceeded all expectations. We booked a table for three on a Sunday night weeks in advance. The culinary journey was a masterpiece - from the delectable amberjack agua chile and scallop ceviche to the flavorful mushroom and shishito, tlayuda masa, octopus, and mouthwatering pork secreto al pastor. Each dish was a flavourful adventure perfectly complemented by an array of well-crafted drinks. The impeccable service added to the overall enjoyment of the evening, making it a memorable experience. We finished with spiced Mexican coffee, coconut nicuatole, and tres leches desserts, which was the perfect conclusion. Quetzal delivers a top-notch dining experience, and I highly recommend for anyone seeking an elevated and authentic Mexican dining experience. Accessibility: No automatic door opener; washrooms are downstairs. read more

A forgettable meal that fell well short of Michelin-starred expectations. Almost all the dishes I tried were well-presented, but perhaps at the cost of flavour as their dishes felt underseasoned and/or imbalanced - with the exception of the octopus dish which was delicious. Unfortunately, there are several better options in Toronto if you're seeking a Mexican or Michelin star dining experience. read more

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Good food and cool experience sitting at the chef's table. Our tasting menu experience included more notably the ceviche, quesadilla, fresh tortilla with lamb & mushrooms, 2 scallop dishes (wish they were bigger), sweetbread, and Tres Leches at the end. For $120pp I wish I got to try something more exciting like the bone marrow, large shrimps, and octopus that I saw the kitchen churning out for the other guests. For a Michelin restaurant, all I can say is their TASTING MENU was good & enjoyable, nothing that truly rocked my socks off though. Perhaps I'll have to try their other regular menu mains in the future ~ TIP: the waiter does ask you at the beginning of your experience if there's anything particular in the menu that you wanted to be apart of your tasting. If there's something you've been eyeing, make sure you mention it!! read more

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Category: Haute cuisine, special occasion, Michelin star, high-end Mexican. OK, so this place is now officially a Michelin Star restaurant. A Mexican Michelin star restaurant in Toronto. Who'd have thunk it?! Only 12 restaurants in Toronto have a Michelin star rating, and this is one of them. This was also the first time I tried a Michelin star restaurant. And I must say, I was not disappointed. Here's my overall rating: Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Value: 3/5 The food was absolutely amazing. Everything was super delicious. We got the tasting (curated) menu at $105 per person. You don't get a lot of food for the price, but you do get enough so that you are just full. It's not a bad option, because the individual dishes are rather pricey, so you actually get a good value with the tasting menu. Here are the dishes we got: 1. SIKIL PAK - pumpkin seed, roasted poblano, cotija, pickled cactus, endive, 22$ This dish was most delicious. The crunchy endive leafs were perfects scoops for the tasty dip. 2. EMPANADA OAXAQUEÑA lamb barbacoa, salsa molcajete, valentine radish, salsa de ajo, 30$ This was a very tasty taco. 3. NEWFOUNDLAND SCALLOPS wagyu asiento, seabuckthorn, morita chili, 39$ These were not bad, but certainly not worth the price. Skippable. 4. 8oz FLAT IRON (AAA HEREFORD, ONTARIO) black garlic mole negro, 60$ Most delicious. 5. PORK SECRETO AL PASTOR charred pineapple, caramelized onion salsa, 46$ Succulent and delicious. 6. COAL ROASTED SWEET POTATO salsa de cacahuate, Ohme Farm herbs, 22$ Very good. 7. COCONUT NICUATOLE masa & coconut cream, pineapple, hibiscus meringue, mezcal, mint, 17$ This was the perfect desert. The best part of the meal, in my opinion. I would come back just for that desert. They have a very nice drink selection at Quetzal. We opted for: a) Mezcal AGUA SANTA, Espadin -- 18$. This was a very nice mezcal indeed, served with some slices of orange and a dash of tajin. b) NO HEATHER, IT'S HEATHER'S TURN -- 22$. Agua Santa Mezcal, pisco, pineapple, green sauce, celry bitters, lime. This was a delicious cocktail. Vey refreshing. The celery bitters were so good. The service was very attentive. Several servers take good care of you. The restaurant is very well managed. There are many cooks manning the wood burning grill, and several other chefs doing the meticulous plating. The ambiance of the restaurant is very nice. Cool vibe. Very inviting, elegant an intimate. Overall, a most excellent dining experience. Would love to come back here. P.S. One word of caution: your cloths will smell from the wood-burning BBQ. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing ;) Just be forewarned. read more

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We had a reservation at 8:45 pm on a Tuesday. The reservation was for the bar, I was hesitant, but that's the only reservation the restaurant had available. We were seated immediately, with the bartender right there, water was poured, menus distributed. My son and I agreed on the curator, tasting menu with the liquor pairing. Usually it's a wine pairing, maybe a sake mixed in. This was a journey of wines from Hungry, Canadian wine, sake, tequila, mezcal. This was by far the most extensive and eclectic collection of pairings. The food. We started with a ceviche, and amberjack dish. The ceviche had a black sauce and the crispy leeks on top added a nice unexpected crunch. The amberjack dish has a beautiful, bright, sauce. Everything on this course made your mouth water for more. Next was a tartare with a sabayon on top, served with tostada rounds. The homemade blue and yellow corn tortillas were really good. The dish was excellent. It was the perfect size. Up next was maybe a tlayuda, or a tostada. Either way it was a crispy blue corn tortilla with cheese, chicharrones, mixed greens on top. This dish had a nice kick of heat, to it. The dish ate like a fried, Mexico City quesadilla. It brought back fond memories. Next was a sablefish dish, with raspberries and bitter greens., I think it was sablefish, I found the fish to be mushy, not my favorite texture but tasty. Our final savory course was roasted mushrooms and shishito. The mushrooms were outstanding. Al pastor with charred pineapple served with warm tortillas. This meat was tender and juicy with a nice smoky char on the meat. Pork usually dries out pretty quickly, not this al pastor. Grilled octopus was the last dish. The octopus was charred but remained tender. The octopus had great flavor and texture. We ended up our meal with a Mexican chocolate mousse, dish and a masa infused custard type dish. Both dishes were good and not overly sweet. The restaurant is loud, sometimes overly loud and it made it hard to hear the description of each dish. That being said what made the night was the bar seating. I was hesitant at first but Marcelo, the bartender, server was really friendly and personable sorry we didn't catch the other bartenders name but was equally as good. Marcelo made it feel like we were at his house for dinner. The entire staff did an amazing job. Come in with an open mind and don't expect chips and salsa to start. You'll have a great time and a great meal. read more

Quetzal - Ceviche with crispy leeks - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Quetzal is a Michelin rated Mexican/Spanish inspired restaurant. The restaurant itself has a trendy decor with some pretty loud music, (at least when we went), but overall the vibe is cool. The food is tapas style, so it might be better going with a group to taste more of the smaller dishes, but all the dishes pack flavor! The wait staff was friendly, asked us a free questions, and helped us decide on drinks and we went with the tasting menu. All in all, the experience was great and broadened my appreciation for Mexican cuisine. read more

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Made a reservation for 7 on a Wednesday night and still had a bit of a wait time.. Our party ordered three scallop ceviches, one memela, two corn & tomato salad, one whole seabream, one duck breast, and one ribeye to share -- all this and we were still hungry by the end of the meal. For drinks, we tried the neighborhood ice (hibiscus and pineapple flavor too weak) and the four coffin (had a nice pear mezcal base). We also had a complimentary birthday slice of tres leches cake, which had the lightest taste of leche (the chocolate cream was overpowering). The waitress brought out two small memelas informing us one large one would not be enough to share which we thought was thoughtful (we were charged for 1.5 orders of memela). With the seabream, duck, and ribeye, we were also given tortillas to make tacos with. When they realized 6 tacos for a group of 7 would not be enough, they offered to bring us more - we questioned if this was an extra charge or another thoughtful gesture. We were told it would not be an extra charge (it was!). Since we did not initially order the tortillas either, and they did not add anything special, we were very disappointed. As a michelin star restaurant, maybe we expected too much. Food was good but nothing special. read more

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One of the hardest to book in Toronto, Michelin Stars 2024, only street parking near Bathrust and College. Yes, Quetzal is the name for famous Mexican food. Atmosphere is loud, table is kinda small, but everyone wants to come and try. We ordered Newfoundland scallops, Bone marrow with Argentina shrimp, pork al pastor, and Tres leches cake. Scallop on half shell with lime tastes wonderful, almost every table ordered. Bone marrow with shrimp comes with 6 tortillas, and I am wondering why not 6 pieces of shrimp. Pork tastes like and looks like Chinese cha siu, but with a touch of spice. Finally the wow factor comes from the dessert. One good thing is that the waiters will change sharing plates for every single course. Good experience, reasonable price, tasty food, well deserve Michelin star!! read more

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Amazing. It has a Michelin star for a reason but it's not a pretentious place. Excellent service. Food is pricey but amazing and good portions. Highlights were the Newfoundland scallops and the asparagus. Worth balling out here! read more

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Reading people's reviews about "I have eaten at Michelin or fine dining restaurants all around the world," yet they have barely any reviews or pictures. That's laughable. Frankly, those are the people that I would avoid listening to. Like the Gen Z would say, pictures or it didn't happen is very true. I was disappointed in my experience at Quetzal. I had eaten at Alo a couple nights prior and had a wonderful experience there. At Quetzal, it's a much louder atmosphere, so it was kind of hard to hear them explaining each dish. We did the curated menu since it's a Michelin star restaurant. When the waitress asked if we had a preference for a specific dish I was a little confused. Usually, at Michelin restaurants there is a pre-fixed curated menu. At Quetzal, all but one dish was already on the a la carte menu and they just tally them up to equal $240. $120 per person. If I had known this, I would have picked out my own dishes and saved some money. There were hits and misses. Service was good but not fantastic. Reservations are recommended and tables are closed to each one. You can hear the entire conversations on both sides. It was a 3 out of 5 for me. I regret not choosing a more memorable Michelin restaurant in Toronto. -dry aged amberjack aquachile 5 - refreshing and robust. Excellent starter. I like the sauce. -carne cruda with tostadas 5 - the tostadas did not break easily. The tartare was well seasoned. -empanada oaxaquena 3 - I love empanadas but this one did not stand out from the regular empanadas at a normal Mexican place. At this type of restaurant I was looking for something that would blow me away. -embered cookstown beet 3 - subjective but this would be good if you like beets. -octopus 4 - octopus was tender and I like the sauce that gives it a more savory taste. -pork secreto al pastor 3 - forgettable and not seasoned enough. It was kind of bland. I would have preferred the fish or the A5 at the other tables next to us. -mushroom and shishito 5 - Mushrooms and shishito were delicious. The sauce pairs well. -spiced Mexican chocolate with sponge toffee and passion fruit 5 - probably one of the highlights of the menu. Very addicting. Little spicy. The whole dish is perfectly balanced. read more

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I'm really torn about Quetzal. My partner and I have both been there twice each and we both think it's just meh. The price tag is high so the expectation is high especially now that it has 1 Michelin star. But it's always just good but not mind blowing. Our server was busy as his whole section was full but the support staff was very good with water and cutlery changes. Wine that was recommended to us was great. I appreciated that they offered different sizes for certain dishes so you can try more food (FYI, small is normally about $7-9 cheaper than regular size). However I think the price is too high for what you get. The bone marrow + 4 shrimp was $52. While the shrimps were expertly cooked, I still don't think it warrants such a high price tag especially when it lacks other components to add into the tortillas (basically just an oily shrimp in the tortilla). One lamb empanada was $21, while it was tasty it should not have costed $21. Tlayuda was good but again shouldn't cost $29 with inexpensive ingredients. Pork was probably our favourite but by then we were too full and had to pack it up. We had 6 dishes total between 2 people and I think it was too much. Luckily, he forgot our scallops but charged us for tortillas instead which he removed promptly. Personally I don't think Quetzal is worth the price for the food you get. Food and service are good but not out of this world. Love the smokey smell of the restaurant but don't love how tight the tables were and how ghetto the washrooms were. We were both hoping to get our minds blown for a dinner that costed $425 but walked away feeling just meh. It was also our anniversary which was noted in the reservation but nothing was done. We weren't expecting free things but just a warm happy anniversary or even just small talk, there were none of that. read more

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We cane here for birthday celebrations, since they open at 6, so we came right at 6 without a reservation, and got seated immediately. The staff were very welcoming and attentive, also provided us useful recommendations as we were the first time here. We ordered cocktails and tasting menu at $100 per person, which have 7 dishes and 1 dessert. Overall, everything tasted excellent, totally changed my impression for Mexican foods. Tacos can taste so different, tortillas can be so interesting and flavorful. I especially like the pork with oysters mushrooms which is phenomenal! Interior decoration is modern and stylish. Highly recommended read more

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Went in with really high expectations but I think the food was good, not amazing or out of this world. Service was great, they were very attentive and helpful for first timers. The restaurant itself is cute and cozy. It's casual with lots of chatter. Carne cruda (8/10) - one of the best carne crudos in my opinion and would have been a 9 but the tortilla chips were extremely salty Hokkaido scallop (8/10) - scallops were perfectly cooked and buttery, however the sauce was a little too sour for my liking Pork al pastor (7.5/10) - pretty average, although the pork was nice and tender. We got the tortillas for $6 extra but honestly wouldn't recommend getting them because they overpowered the pork Brassica (0/10) - this was a terrible dish and I don't recommend getting it. There were a lot of different flavours and textures but they were not good. The broccolini were too smoky and charred, some even tasted a bit odd. The garlic stem was super sour, and not a good type of sour. Chicken skin was ok Coconut nicuatole (8/10) - liked it but it wasn't anything special. Actually tasted like an asian coconut cookie from the grocery store. The cream was very dense but the paired pineapple was a nice touch to cut through that. Overall, it's a nice experience. read more

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Quetzal is a tapas-style, elevated Mexican/Spanish restaurant that was recently gilded one Michelin star. My partner and I came here for our early Valentine's day celebration. Upon entering, we were immediately taken care of and offered coat check. We chose booth seats (there is also bar seating option). The interior was beautiful with an open barbecue kitchen on the right side, and a bar on the left. You can also see people prepping ingredients near the middle. A great visual experience!! The menu is split into appetizers, vegetables, masa, seafood, meats, and desserts. They also have a separate cocktail and wine by the glass menu, or you can order wine by the bottle too. Since we were here for a full Michelin experience, we obviously got the curated menu! It's a 9-course tasting menu that features smaller-sizes of regular menu items, but to my knowledge you're able to cater it to your tastes based on preference or dietary restrictions. I thought it was great that it's so flexible! My boyfriend and I love to eat all sorts of food so we told our waitress to choose a bit of everything. We got the following: - Dry aged amberjack aguachile: This dish was phenomenal to start the tasting menu off. The amberjack was fatty but firm as it was dry aged. It was paired with jicama which offset the fattiness with a nice crispy crunch. It was served in a bath of blood orange, habanero, and scallion oil, which was so flavourful and tangy! 10/10 - Scallop ceviche: The black colour of this put me off a little bit but it was still so delicious once I tasted it! The crispy leeks reminded me of deep fried vermicelli. The combination of the sweet chewy scallops and the crispy leeks made it a great dish. 9/10 - Empanada oaxaquena: An amazing next course. The tortilla was had an amazing crust but was still soft and didn't crack when you cut into it. The lamb was soft and extremely gamey, but in a way that isn't offensive to the palate, it was very fresh! I loved this one and it came with a great spicy sauce. 10/10 - Embered cookstown beet: The presentation of this was super cute, but when I tried it, it was just alright. The first bite was a bit interesting as I'm not a huge fan of pickled vegetables, but it grew on me. The beets were very fresh and juicy. 7/10 - Veal: This wasn't on the menu so I can't give it a name. It was grilled veal with charred brussel sprouts on the side and butternut squash puree. I could see why it's not on the menu, this dish didn't really hit like the others. The meat was fatty and so soft, but didn't tasted like veal at all. I would've thought it was chicken if they didn't tell me straight up that it was veal. Brussel sprouts were okay, maybe would've been better if they didn't pull the leaves apart. Butternut squash puree felt unnecessary and I don't think the sweetness complemented the dish. 6/10 - Mushroom and shishito: The poblana cream was spicy!! The peppers and mushrooms were grilled to perfection - not soggy on the inside, but not dry with the char. However, I think one of the peppers (despite shishitos not being spicy) was actually very spicy and I ate all the seeds too... oops! 7/10 - Octopus: Great value on this, there was a lot to share. The octopus was chewy but not tough. I liked the napa cabbage it came with too. 9/10 - Pork secreto al pastor: This is the wow factor dish. Easily the best pork I've ever had. It was moist, juicy, lean but also had even distribution of fattiness. It melts in your mouth and breaks apart with a bite easily. The mushrooms and shishito, octopus, and this pork dish were served with some masa on the side so you can make your own tacos, almost. This tasted spectacular, especially if you have it with the grilled pineapple chunks on the side. The onion salsa was also a treat. 10/10 - Spiced Mexican ganache: This was like a chocolate mousse. I didn't really find the spice to be very prominent. I also don't usually like honeycomb, but when you crush it and mix it in, it was actually pretty great. 8/10 We went with some cocktails too: - No Heather, it's Heather's turn - Sin moda Mexicana Pretty good cocktails that weren't too strong with the alcohol taste. I loved how colourful the two drinks were (pink and bright green). The rim on these was the winner though: spicy, sour, and salty. 9/10 for both! Overall, this place is awesome and I can would say they deserved their Michelin star. Aside from the veal dish, I'd say the tasting menu was basically perfect. The flexibility of the curated menu, and the fact that multiple dishes were served at the same time was pretty unique. Service was very attentive. However, it may soon be time for them to evolve their restaurant from their current location - as it's a bit small with a low ceiling and the tables are pretty close together, it becomes very loud and I felt that it was the only thing that took away from an intimate dining experience. read more

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Unique, modern, cozy, upscale. Amazing food and service. Great scallops. The al pastor was lovely

We did the tasting menu which was $120pp. Great ambiance. It recently got 1 star Michelin. The service was over the top and everyone was very attentive. Portions are small though I left feeling a bit hungry still. Cocktails are great here so definitely indulge in a few of those. read more

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Hands down recommend visiting this Mexican spot. They recently received a Michelin star and it's very well deserved. The food was authentically Mexican and mixed the right flavor profiles of savory, spicy and citric. We ordered the empanada oaxaqueña and the lamb was well seasoned and juicy. Our fave masa entree was tlayuda. It somewhat reminds me of the Mexican pizza available at Taco Bell in the US, but to such a higher better quality - it has amazing chorizo on it. For main entrees we ordered grilled mushroom, puerco estilo al pastor and octopus with fresh tortillas. It's hard to discern what was my favorite, but the front runner is the pork. So sweet, tangy and delicious. As for drinks all the mezcal based ones were great! They have a wide variety of tequilas and mezcal so recommend trying drinks with that! My favorite was the tequila based espresso martini. On top of it being yummy, the service was impeccable. We never needed to ask for a water refill or flag anyone down for a different cocktail. read more

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Thoroughly enjoyed Quetzal - would be perfect for a nice dinner and drinks. Location: On college, almost right at the corner of College and Bathurst. Street parking is a little hard to find, but circle a few times and it'll be okay. Or take the TTC. Food: Really enjoyed this more upscale Mexican fare. We ordered the octopus, bone marrow & Argentinian shrimp, mushroom, scallop ceviche, amberjack, and ensalda verde. Standouts were definitely the bone marrow, amberjack and the mushroom! The amberjack had a very nice contrast of flavours. Service: service was good! Attentive, and very quick. Atmosphere: definitely on the younger, noisier side. You'll be a little packed in close together, but good energy. read more

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Wow. Just wow. I visited before this place became Michelin star, so I wonder how difficult it may be now to get a reservation. Glad I had the chance to go earlier this year. Not too many things to order here for a halal foodie - that being said the fish on the menu was perfect and I ordered that (plus a mocktail which was really interesting). Desserts were absolutely AMAZING! And the service was on point. All in all a great spot with amazing ambience! read more

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Quetzal is new to their Michelin Star, and they make it shine! The minimalist, modern vibe is matched by the impeccable service and the best-you've-ever-eaten food! Have the sikil pak for your appetizer. Scoop up the pepitas-based dip with fresh endive leaves. Then try the barbacoa empanada, so savory your taste buds tingle! Follow with the flat iron steak and the coal roasted sweet potato. Put a fluff of sweet potato on top of a bite of steak. Groan with delight. Repeat. Decide you're not too full to have a piece of tres leches cake. Realize it's the best cake you've ever eaten and regret you're splitting it with your dining companion. Control yourself and don't lick the plate. read more

Loved the entire visit. Great space, amazing service. Delicious food. Wine list very interesting. Not a single item tried was a disappointment. Will be back. read more

I had such a fantastic experience last night at Quetzal! I reserved this place for my fiancés birthday dinner, and it was our first Michelin start restaurant experience. I have to say, Quetzal really did live up to the hype! To start, we ordered the scallop ceviche. It was super fresh and citrusy tasting, with a lot of different textures. You get a nice creaminess from the avocado and a good crunch from the crispy leeks on top. The scallops were so great and fresh tasting as well! The next thing we ordered was the lamb empanada and I think this was one of my favourite dishes!! It reminded me a lot of a birria taco, and it came with this delicious, slightly spicy salsa on the side. The lamb was also incredibly tender and flavorful inside as well! For vegetables we did half sweet potato and have mushrooms so we could try both dishes. These were actually some of my favorite dishes as well! The sweet potato was coal roasted and had this incredible smoky flavour, and was topped with this chili oil type of salsa! So delicious and creamy! The mushrooms were so good as well, they also had a great smoky flavour, and they were very meaty-tasting. I honestly didn't even feel like I was eating a mushroom! We also tried the Al pastor, which was great as well! We got it with tortillas so we could make tacos out of it! The flavours and textures were good, but to me it didn't stand out the way the other dishes did. We ended with the almond cake which was good, but again not a stand out dish compared to the other things we tried. Overall I had an excellent experience here. Service was amazing and attentive, and I recommend doing the chef's seating for a really cool experience! I really enjoyed watching everything being created in the kitchen! read more

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The service was phenomenal! There probably was more staff than guests, lol. Th ambiance was really great too. But I have to say that it was not full. There was quite a bit of space on a Saturday night. The food was really great, no complaints. I understand this is a Michelin star restaurant and the prices need to reflect that, but I would say that they are a tad bit higher than what Toronto should be at-- which may explain why the restaurant wasn't full on Saturday night. read more

Quetzal - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this renowned Michelin-starred restaurant and was truly captivated by the experience, despite its relatively expensive price of $105 per person. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance set the tone with a cozy and inviting atmosphere, complete with the warm glow of a wood fire burning inside. The menu left us more than satisfied - perfect for two. We indulged in a five-course journey, complete with two items per course, and what really stood out was their personalized touch, letting us tailor the dishes to our liking. The highlights were undoubtedly the Empanada Oaxaqueña and the Coconut Nicuatole. While the highly recommended cocktail No Heather, It's Heather's Turn didn't quite hit the mark, Live Deliciously was a hit. Overall, an impressive dining adventure that fully delivered on flavors and portions. Cocktails NO HEATHER, IT'S HEATHER'S TURN -- 22$ Agua Santa Mezcal, pisco, pineapple, green sauce,celery bitters, lime LIVE DELICIOUSLY -- 21$ Agua Santa Mezcal, Strega, Benedictine, chamomile, orange, tropical vermouth, Peychaud's, Absinthe Tasting Menu 1) DRY AGED AMBERJACK AGUACHILE Rhubarb, Pasilla & chickpea miso, white soy, cucumber, 32$ 2) SCALLOP CEVICHE hokkaido scallop, leche negra, apple, ground cherry, crispy leek, avocado, 31$ 3) CORN & TOMATO poblano kosho, cotija, pickled shallot, trout roe, sesame, shiso, 24$ 4) MUSHROOM & SHISHITO shogun maitake & Trinity Farms oyster mushroom, shishito, crema poblana, ancho, 26$ 5) EMPANADA OAXAQUEÑA lamb barbacoa, salsa molcajete, valentine radish, salsa de ajo, 30$ 6) NEWFOUNDLAND SCALLOPS wagyu asiento, seabuckthorn, morita chili, 39$ 7) OCTOPUS salsa macha & corn miso butter, garlic scape, kohlrabi, sesame, 45$ 8) PORK SECRETO AL PASTOR charred pineapple, caramelized onion salsa, 46$ 9) COCONUT NICUATOLE masa & coconut cream, pineapple, hibiscus meringue, mezcal, mint, 17$ 10) EPAZOTE RASPADO white chocolate ganache, Ontario strawberries, piloncillo corn flakes, 16$ read more

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Been wanting to go here for a while! It's a great date night spot. Intimate atmosphere and I love that everything is grilled or cooked by fire. It's a pricey place but delicious. I loved the empanada the best - it paired well with the sauce given and I love a good handmade corn tortilla. The scallop appetizer and sea bream were yummy. Highly recommend ordered tortillas with the fish to make tacos! The only downside to the evening was that the food took quite a while to come. Each dish came one at a time and there was a long wait in between. read more

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Found in the most unexpected of places, Quetzal highlights the flavours from various regions of Mexico such as Oaxaca, Puebla etc. elevating them and showing why they are deserving of a Michelin star. The architecture of Quetzal is simply breathtaking, with overarching curvatures and distinct geometries. The elongated space is perfectly complemented by the open galley kitchen segmented by the various regional cuisines that Quetzal has to offer. We ordered the DRY AGED AMBERJACK AGUACHILE, NEWFOUNDLAND SCALLOPS, OCTOPUS, 8oz ONTARIO FLAT IRON and Avocado Passion fruit ice cream. Dry aged amberjack agauchile is simply perfection and would be even better on a hot summer's day. Along with it's beautiful presentation, the aguachile was exceptionally refreshing. With every bite, first, you get the hit of watermelon, then you notice the texture of the dry aged amberjack. The extraction of moisture that changes the firmness ever so slightly gives a perfect mouth feel. Then the lingering spiciness that creeps up to remind you: "Hey, I'm still here." Newfoundland scallops comes out on a plate of such beautiful shells and color that you can't help but to say wow. The scallops are super fresh, cooked to perfection with a slightly springness. What brings everything all together is the sourness of the butter and the saltiness of the sea asparagus that is so unique. The octopus and flat iron steak are cooked to perfection. Steak, wall to wall medium rare, no grey bands. Octopus, fresh, perfectly springy yet tender. Unfortunately, these flavours not to say that they're bad are just too unfamiliar to me. The black garlic mole negro is made with 30 ingredients (usualy includes chocolate, chiles, nuts, seeds, etc.), it has a earthy, funky flavour that is very distinct and I would say took me a while to get used to. It reminded me of Samyang sauce from Spicy noodles except with a little more depth and dimension. The octopus flavour reminded me of Portuguese roast chicken, maybe something like Nando's but on Octopus. One thing I didn't like was that I thought the octopus needed a little more acid, however, the acid was found more on the brussel sprout leaves. So if you didn't have any brussel sprout leaves to eat with the octopus, you wouldn't be able to appreciate the flavours to the fullest. I believe their ice cream is home made with fresh passion fruit. The tartness along side the textual element from the passion fruit seeds contrasts nicely with the smooth, sweetness of the avocado ice cream. The coconut sugar tuile is a nice crunchy component which ties everything together making it a perfect palate cleanser. Overall, for a Michelin restaurant, I think service could be a little more elevated as some of the other Michelin restaurants I've been to have faired a bit better. As well as, it would be nice to see more intentionality with the plates to add more artistic value to the plating of the dish. read more

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One of the most amazing and inexpensive Michelin restaurants I've ever been too. It's a must try. Done miss out. It's authentic Mexican food of very high quality. read more

Service: 4/5 The service was attentive throughout the night, from having a coat check option upon arrival to being promply seated at our reservation time. We had initially struggled with booking a table weeks prior for our party of 8 as they refused to seat more than 6 people. After a few discussions through the phone, they agreed to accomodate 8 people (on the day of) if we opted for a prix fixe tasting menu. The waiters were vigilant with replacing our plates and cutlery after each course and the dishes came out in a timely manner. Atmosphere: 4/5 I loved the open kitchen concept and we were seated close enough to catch glimpses of the food as it was being cooked. There is seating at the bar available if you want a more immersive experience and front-row seats to the open flames. The restaurant smells delightful with the different aromas and smokiness. Due to the size and shape of the dining area, there are people constantly walking up and down the aisle beside the tables which can be a little distracting. Food: 3.5/5 Onto the food! As a Michelin-star restaurant, the expectations were set high. We were able to try most of the dishes at the restaurant based on their curated tasting menu, with the chefs allowing us to request anything specific we wanted them to include. For appetizers, the dry-aged amberjack aguachile had a nice taste by itself, but was served with pickled watermlon rind so acidic that it overpowered the fish completely. The Hokkaido scallops had a nice and refreshing flavour. The tlayuda (a fried tortilla topped with choriza, salsa, beans, and other toppings) was unique with different spices and flavours. For the mains, the Newfoundland scallop, whole sea bream, and octopus were tasty, but nothing to write home about. My personal favourite was the bone marrow with Argentinian shrimp, served with tortillas to be eaten as a taco. The fattiness of the bone marrow was amazing with that melt-in-your-mouth feel and complemented the shrimp very well. The shrimps were large and plump with a nice smokey flavour. The Australian wagyu was a good steak, but did not meet the expectations or price tag of wagyu. The duck breast was mediocre and chewy, and without much seasoning on the duck itself, it relied heavily on the sauce it was served with. Overall, although the dishes were delicious, they were either hit or miss and we were left a little underwhelmed. Drinks: 5/5 The cocktails were received well by my group and contained either tequila or mezcal as the base, consistent with the Mexican-inspired food. They also make custom cocktails upon request that are tailored to your preferences. After our bone marrow course, they prompted one person from the table to do a shot off the empty bone, which was a fun little experience for the group. read more

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Amazing food, service was unreal. Food came out at a great pace and it was really welcoming read more

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We went here for a friend's birthday and the food was amazing. The scallops were delicious and you get a little kick of chili which was delightful. The lamb barbacoa empanada was also a favourite. I would have easily had two to my face. The Dulce del leche was top tier, a nice end to the night. The service was kind of awkward, as there were a lot of people passing by and hovering but weren't so attentive at the same time. My friend also requested a candle for our birthday girl when she made our reservation, but it was forgotten. (Another table celebrating a birthday had the same dessert come out with a candle.) For a Michelin star restaurant, that was a bad oversight and that's why I had to deduct a star in my rating. Otherwise, staff were friendly and the food was great! read more

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Quetzal has definitely earned its Michelin Star. We came with a group of five not knowing they recently were awarded a Michelin Star (1 star) and we were blown away by the food. For appetizers, we ordered the dryed aged amberjack aguachile (fish), the empanada oaxaquena (lamb empanada), and the tlayuda. I recommend all three but the aguachile is a must try! While the empanada and tlayuda were fantastic, if you are prioritizing, the aquachile is unique with a mixture of dry aged fish - served with some freshness from the watermelons. For the mains, we got the 14oz wagyu ribeye (steak), the grilled octopus, the pork secreto al pastor, and the bone marrow & wild Argentinian shrimp. Again, all the dishes were fantastic but two stood out. These were the pork secreto al pastor and bone marrow & wild Argentinian shrimp. I have never tasted pork so flavourful and tender and if I had a choice of only one item to order from Quetzal, it would be this. The bone marrowe and shrimp were served on taco wraps and made delicious fillings! Quetzal is a must-try and a repeat for me! read more

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Happy to finally score a reservation at this place. I got a empanada Oaxaquena and we shared the mushroom dish. I was very impressed by both dishes. The mushrooms were perfectly charred and lightly seasoned. There sauce was a bit salty, spicy and refreshing, a great compliment to the mushrooms. The empanada was served with a crunchy heirloom corn tortilla, refreshing radishes and a tangy hot sauce. The lamb itself was tender and had amazing flavour. The restaurant was spacious and had a nice vibe. The waiters and bar tenders were attentive and friendly. read more

Quetzal - Empanada - Mexican Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We came here for dinner as a big group as we heard that it recently got a Michelin star and it definitely lived up to the expectations. When we walked in, we noticed the high quality of the service immediately as we were immediately seated, and the wait staff were attentive to us all night. We ordered a large variety of items such as the scallops, steak, pork, shrimp, bone marrow, and then several desserts at the end. The steak was good but considering the price I think you're better off getting a nice steak at a steakhouse instead. I would recommend instead to try the interesting and creative dishes. My favourite dish of the night was the Al Pastor the pork was very juicy and the pineapple flavour was a really nice touch. If you were to order one dessert, I would highly recommend the coconut Nicuatole. I added a picture of it here (it's the top item in the picture with the three desserts) and it was by far the best dessert of the night. The restaurant is on the on the pricier end, so I would highly recommend coming with a bigger group and ordering many dishes so you can try a bite of everything. Two thumbs up for Quetzal! read more

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My second time here and the ambiance of this place never disappoints! Hints of the grilling is on the nose but not overpowering thanks to great ventilation of the open kitchen. We had two raw dishes, both consisting of seafood (cured amberjack and scallop) - the flavors were good but not memorable. My personal favorite was the pork secreto - general I am not a fan of pork as I find the meat to be dry and a porky flavour. However, this dish was so tender, juicy and flavorful, I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. The other favourite was the whole grilled branzino which was cooked to perfection. While all the flavors were good, I found the seasoning of salt to be a bit heavy handed in the grilled items, so if you want to limit the sodium, consider asking for lighter on the salt. Although the food was generally delicious, the price point was high relative to the quantity and the ingredients. read more

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What a great experience of food, from my first bite to my last. I loved every dish as everything was prepared perfectly. The server was the best. It's been a while since I enjoyed such a fine meal. read more

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By far, the best fancy mexicanish food I've ever had! We ordered so many dishes - I dont think I can post the names of all the things we ordered! Came here for a birthday dinner and turned out great! The cocktails are mindblowing - theres many new kinds of liquers you can try here! The food is amazing! All the food served at quetzal is grilled on Charcoal! Can you imagine the char on that beautiful steak!!!! My mouth waters as I write this review. The menu can be confusing but our server- Brad - so amazing - suggested all the right things! We tried all three desserts on the menu ! I think chocolate one was my least fav! Definitely visiting this place again to try the other things on the menu! read more

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Top notch. Sure the food is great. Sure the service is eerily perfect. Sure the wine offerings are unique and well paired. Sure the name is unpronounceable. But you leave here smelling like fire. And that olfactory sensation makes this a true five sense feast. read more