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Tutti Matti Restaurant

3.7 (116 reviews)
Closed Closed

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TUTTI MATTI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Tutti Matti Restaurant

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Reviews With Photos - Tutti Matti Restaurant

two pizzas and a drink
Vincent S.

It was rated on Google as 4.8/5 stars, so I went in with quite high expectations. There were a few things I liked and did not like at this location and overall, that would give it a mediocre rating for Italian food Some things I did like included the very friendly staff and the accommodating service. It was easy to make a reservation on short notice. The pizza is made in some oven and is a good consistency with a good baked flavour. I found that all the pizzas that they offered were a little bit on the basic side, but the ingredients made it really tasty. The duck Ragu was also very generous in the amount of meat that was provided. Pasta was all cooked al dente, and was an excellent texture. The Ragu had a nice flavour profile with wine, however, the meat was not very tender was a bit try. It was more of a shredded consistency. Things I do not like included that the restaurant is closing quite early around 930 on a Saturday night, so do not expect to spend a lot of time here if you are trying to go on a date. The price was also pretty high, given the dining experience and the food quality. The drinks were a little bit mediocre, and many people I feel like would not want to order a second drink

a plate of food on a table
Praveen P.

The eggplant meatballs were the highlight here for me unfortunately. We had a lamb ragú as well which was just average. I did however love the aperol spritz, this might be an apps and drinks kind of place and I have no qualms with that as I did enjoy the service and the general ambiance of the place.

Pappardelle
Stella J.

We had a nice patio dinner here and enjoyed Italian cuisine. There's a main patio area that's in an alleyway next to the restaurant and then 2 small tables in front of the restaurant next to Adelaide St W. We sat next to the road and it wasn't as bad as we expected for the cars going past us. Food came out very quick and was hot when it arrived (tho it cooled down due to the wind outside). The pappardelle was very good, you can tell the pasta was very fresh and the braised beef ragu was also tasty. Pizza was also very good but we hoped for a little bit more toppings as we could only taste the olives. Overall a nice restaurant with good food and service.

Pasta
Ellie H.

Second time visit, not as good pasta as the fist time. The flavor was too mild, while the first time I came the homemade pasta has a good balance of "Al Dente" with light yet flavorful sauce. This time it's a bit below expectation. Fish is really good! Highly recommend. The service wasn't though, they seem pretty unpleasant for us being there waiting for another person and constantly come checking. Hinted us to leave when we finish- there wasn't even people waiting. Not great service experience.

Porchetta Crostone
Andrea L.

Was able to find a table easily via their online reservation system. Service was excellent (the owner and servers checked on us regularly) and they had a nice patio area set up in the alleyway next to the restaurant. However, the food was hit and miss. Perhaps the kitchen staff needs to get back into the groove of things. By the end of the meal we were all full but not satisfied. For the price we expected much more. Unsure if I'll come back. Here's what we had: * Polpetta Finti - absolutely delicious! I could have just had this for dinner and would have been completely happy. * Porchetta Crostone - also very delicious! They flavours and textures were great! * Pappardelle (braised brisket) - the pasta was cooked perfectly but the dish itself was bland. If was difficult to even taste what the brisket was supposed be. Also we found the sauce very thin and runny. Not sure if that's what the chef was going for. * Costole di Manzo (braised short rib, dark beer, honey, orange, rosemary) - unfortunately another bland dish. You could barely taste any of the dark beer, orange or rosemary. You could however? taste the honey as the dish itself was quite sweet. * Alto Adige Pizza - nice pizza and the taleggio was flavourful. * Porchetta Pizza - another one of the tables favourites. Very tasty. Had we only ordered appetizers and this pizza, and we would have been happy. * Mascarpone Crema Pavlova and Ontario Berries - the berries were nice and the meringue was good, if you like very sweet meringue.

The braised short rib and a pasta dish

This is a Toronto "must" if you ask us. The food was authentic Toscana and the atmosphere perfect. We ate the braised short rib and some of the pastas - all of which were flavorful! The staff and owner all interacted with us and were simply delightful.

Pappardelle w/ beef brisket & gluten free pasta

Service here was amazing! Sat outside in the alley way with some friends. The waitress went out of her way to confirm multiple requests with the chef to accommodate my digestion sensitivities. They usually do not have gluten free pasta, but luckily for me, the chef had said they got 1 box in & were willing to give it to me! I ate the Pappardelle w/ beef brisket, but obviously it wasn't pappardelle pasta, seeing as I requested the GF. The chef even personally came to our table to ask if I would be ok with my pasta being boiled in the same water as other pastas! Very thoughtful. The pasta itself tasted delicious! My bf finished his meal & started munching off mine too.

Edward J.

One would think being the only paying diners at the restaurant on a Friday evening would garner better service, but that was the exact opposite. The staff was preoccupied with a staff meeting during the restaurant opening hours; albeit, we were there at 5:30pm for dinner, but one would think a staff meeting would be held during the hours when the restaurant was closed. Our server was scarce, and the only (and I'm using this generously) service we got was who appears to be the owner who was preoccupied with changing the halogen bulb over the bar and updating something on the computer. May be my experience was an anomaly, but I will find it difficult to return on my own volition. The food portion was definitely on the lean side, but I completely understand why some restaurants choose to do this, but the display or presentation was lacking; however, the food was above average. Unfortunately, the terrible service took away from the overall experience. Did I mention that our server was difficult to locate and was eventually found to be in a staff meeting? I really didn't appreciate having to walk over to the "owner" to request the bill. Then I had to walk over to request the charge card machine. This is completely unacceptable! [ As an aside, maybe this was why there was a 1,000 point giveaway via OpenTable for this restaurant. I got what I paid for I guess :( ]

Adam P.

In doing some research prior to coming here, I noticed that this place is only open from 6-10:30 Monday-Saturday, which I found a little odd. I got there at 6 and so the place was empty, a few minutes later another couple came in but we were the only 2 couples in there. There were a bunch of reserved tables but nobody else came while we were there. There are more tables in this restaurant than I expected (looks small from the outside) and they have a nice front part where the doors can open up and let a nice breeze through the place. I wasn't sure what Tuscan cuisine was (I thought Italian was Italian), so I was looking for a nice place of pasta and tomato sauce. Turns out they don't have that there. Tuscan cuisine is more stews and sauces that have nothing to do with alfredo or tomato sauce. I was mildly disappointed but it turns out I thoroughly enjoyed this place anyways. My wife had the antipasti special with some random stuff on it but it was really good. There was some cheese that you eat with tomatoes and basil (like bocconoci or however you spell it) but it was much more flavourful. I had the carpaccio drizzled with olive oil and some leafy greens. Very good. For dinner it was also very good. We both had a pasta dish, my wife with had some tortelli stuffed with cheese and asparagus in a butter sage sauce, and I had some pasta with beef brisket. The noodles were home made and man were they delicious. They don't taste like anything you get out of the grocery store. For desert my wife had this banana gelato with a lava cake and some bananas creme bruleed. Again, really good. Of course, the only complaint I have about this place is that I think it is a tad expensive and maybe the portions could be a little bigger. But all the foods I believe taste this good with this kind of quality and flavour cost about this much, so maybe I should stop complaining about it because I'm not going to find cheaper. I appreciate the fact that the place uses in season local ingredients to make their foods. I had no problem with the service as well. The guy was very polite, attentive and made you felt appreciated that you were there. If people want to try some not so stereotypical Italian food, give this place a try.

Cindy W.

I came here for summerlicious dinner on a Friday and got a really nice table in front of the open window. The ambiance of the restaurant is more upscale casual, but the food did not exactly reflect that. Starting with the chicken pate which was average, then we got the steak and the pork chops, both of which were also average. We were not asked how we wanted our steaks cooked which was odd, and they came out cut in strips with each strip cooked a different temperature. The vegetables that came with the steak were cooked in some kind of vinaigrette and it all just tasted very sour. For dessert we all chose the panna cotta which I kind of enjoyed, but was in a very tiny jar. Aside from that we shared the prochetta appetizer from the main menu which tasted like a deconstructed pork banh mi. I would not come back here to eat from the regular menu as the prices really aren't justifiable.

Brioche on the left, some unidentified animal parts in the middle + a tablespoon of pate (w/ capers on top) on the right. $18.
Rahul R.

Meh. This place is pretty good, but not on the value scale. The entrees were pretty solid, but our appetizer was pathetic. $18 for a tablespoon of pate? Poor form. And when we shared our feedback, we were clearly told that this wasn't the first time they'd heard such comments, and yet nothing has changed - for me or the general portion size. They only offered a defense of how special it is. This ain't my first pate rodeo. The portion size is absurdly small. And when faced with a dissatisfied customer, it goes a long way to attempt to make it right - but they didn't. All in all, I'm not opposed to Tutti Matti, but hope they become more customer centric and responsive to feedback to improve their 3 star rating from me and overall 3.5/5 star rating for the masses. It would've led to a willingness to try more courses, extend our evening and spend more money.

Fagottini - Courtesy of Foodies Inked
Viviana M.

Dining Experience: Lunch Specialty: Italian Tuscan cuisine Menu items: Fagottini, Duck Pappardelle & Warm Bacio and Banana Lava Cake I'm matti about Tutti Matti and everybody's crazy about it too. A cute and somewhat hidden Tuscan inspired restaurant located in the Fashion district, has created a name for itself by offering some unique and exquisite Tuscan dishes. In addition to having a rather unique name, that as you may have already caught onto translates to English as "Everybody's Crazy", it welcomes the downtown crowds with fresh home-made pastas, breads and daily dessert menus that will make you go matti. Fagottini is the dish we decided on to kick-off our work week lunch. Traditionally, Fagottini is an Italian pasta shaped in squares and filled with vegetables, steamed carrots, green beans, ricotta, onion and olive oil. However, Tutti Matti decided to spin this tradition by making a phyllo style pastry using chickpea flower and stuffing it with apples, pears, leeks, three kinds of cheese, hazelnuts, radicchio and truffle honey. Although Tutti Matti deviated from the traditional way of making Fagottini, they did stick to the region's use of truffles making this dish a delicacy and a must. Tuscany is know for growing unique truffles that are used in most pasta and risotto dishes. Skipping primi and going straight into secondi, we ventured off with the Duck Pappardelle. Pappardelle is a flat homemade noodle that is often served with rich sauces such as hare, wild boar or duck and can be found on most menus in the Tuscan region. The Duck Pappardelle was a daily special that we just had to try and it did not disappoint. The fact that Tutti Matti makes its pasta right on the premises speaks volumes, not only of the restaurant, but also of the taste of the pasta itself. It was fresh, eggy, full of taste and al dente, just how I like my pasta. The rest were just toppings. Ok, the duck was good too, but I am sticking to the noodles on this review. My absolute favourite. My dolci does not need an intro. All I have to say its that you have to try Tutti Matti's daily dessert offerings. I had their warm Bacio Chocolate and Banana Lava Cake, topped with glazed bananas and accompanied by a home-made banana ice-cream. The perfect way to end my meal. And if that was not enough, a spoon into the cake had me drooling yet again. The interior was not only soft, warm and sweet, but it also had little pieces of banana that made it ooey-gooey delicious. Until next time Foodies! Buen Provecho, Viviana.

Cocktail idea

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Grape Witches

Grape Witches

4.0
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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!

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Piccolo Caffe E Vino

Piccolo Caffe E Vino

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Went here for dinner on a Saturday night / great location and cute spot! I love the branding and…read morethe inside + feels very trendy. This is a wine bar - the house lager was bad (maybe my own bad decision) and the red I got was fine ... nothing to write home about. However place fell apart with the food - the shrimp came with 5 medium sized shrimp with the tails, legs and shells on and were under seasoned. The artichokes were mediocre (loved the sauce they came with). Worst of all was the "Ontario peaches" with the burrata were totally canned peaches - could've even been dole brand! This place has amazing potential with the location and vibe - but the food just was not it. Small portions and the price didn't match what was served. The service was friendly but nothing too crazy. Go here for the drinks, but maybe not for the dinner!

Went with a friend on a Saturday night and it was pretty easy to get a seat, but they do take…read morereservations. Our server was great at helping us pick our wine, he mentioned that their wines are all on the dry side which is perfect for me, I'm not one for sweet wines. We also had two of their small plates the mussels and the burrata. The mussels tasted great with the sauce, a little garlicky which I prefer. The combination of the peach and mint went really well with the burrata. Light and easy to eat. The patio at night is one of the highlights. The only small complaint was it did take a while to get our wine after we ordered it and a little while to get our check. Otherwise cute spot.

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Smoked salmon bagel
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Beso by Patria

Beso by Patria

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I had such a great experience at Beso by Patria. The space has a really warm, slightly upscale vibe…read morewithout feeling too formal, which I loved right away. We ordered a mix of dishes to share, and everything came out beautifully presented. The flavors felt very balanced--nothing overly heavy, just really well thought out. The seafood was especially fresh, and the tapas-style plates made it fun to try a bit of everything. Service was attentive without being intrusive, and the pacing of the meal felt just right. It's the kind of place you can come for a relaxed evening but still feel like you're treating yourself a little. Definitely a spot I'd come back to, especially with friends so we can order more and share.

We had high hopes for this spot, especially since the ambience was beautiful--perfect for a lovely…read moredate night. We ended up ordering quite a few items from the menu. Our favourites were the oxtail pintxo, bravas, wagyu, churros, and flan--each of these really stood out and delivered on flavour. That said, I was especially excited for the paella, and it unfortunately fell short. I've had better paella from a food truck, and for much cheaper. Between the chicken and striploin, we preferred the chicken as it had a more cohesive flavour. The striploin was cooked closer to rare when we asked for medium rare, making it tough to eat, and the rice itself was quite bland. On a positive note, the service was lovely--attentive, warm, and accommodating throughout the night. Our server checked in often without being intrusive and made the experience feel polished and welcoming. Overall, while the ambience and service made for a great evening, the food didn't quite justify the price for me. Not sure I'd return, but still a nice spot if you're looking for a good atmosphere.

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Sommelier Factory

Sommelier Factory

4.3
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Debated long and hard between a 4 and 5 star, and wanted to give a 4.5... unfortunately, Yelp…read moredoesn't do half stars, and I didn't feel that the mains justified a 5 star rating (they were good, but didn't blow me away nor wow me), so I settled on a 4 star. Overall, Grand Cru Deli serves fantastic food (the apps and desserts were out of this world!) and the place is super cute. A friend mentioned that the colour and decor resembles something from a Wes Anderson film, and he was right - I could see the Grand Budapest reflected in the interior design! We came here for the Winterlicious menu, and since we had three people, we decided to try the entire menu. Brace yourselves for a long and lengthy review! I've organized everything from most to least favourite within each category. Appetizers Broccoli Falafel Salad This was a nice and fresh app, and my favourite of the bunch. You can taste the broccoli bits in the falafel, but it's a lovely flavour. I never thought it could work together like this! The sunflower tahini and smoked labneh were a pleasant and nice touch, and I loved the microplaned / spiralized cucumbers. Seasonal Country Pate This was definitely bang for your buck! A hefty chunk of pate was served on a plate with baguette and crusty bread pieces. Since it's pate, the app was on the heavier side, but still an enjoyable light bite. Matzah Ball Soup This was my first time having matzah, and it was quite interesting! To be honest, this was my least favourite... the schmaltz / chicken fat with dough highly resembled a Chinese fatty fish ball of sorts. The chicken broth was lightly flavoured, filled with celery and carrot pieces. Mains Trout Amandine This trout was so buttery and flaky, tender and moist! Topped with thin slices of almond slivers, there was a nice juxtaposition with the juicy filet and the crunchy bits. As the fish was lightly seasoned, the fried capers added a great punch of salty flavour. The pomme puree (mashed potatoes) was also very hearty and rich; it was a nice consistency and felt so comforting. We unanimously voted this to be the best main. Eggplant Parmesan I was pleasantly surprised at this dish; despite being vegetarian, it had such a rich flavour! It was likely attributed to the mozzarella and the arugula pesto - when eaten together, the entire dish tasted like a lighter lasagna. The side of arugula helped balance the flavours. Braised Beef Short Rib While good, this dish was quite standard. The braised beef was melt-in-your-mouth-tender, but wasn't very seasoned. I found the creamed spinach a little heavy, and the white beans a little bland. Dessert Chocolate Chip Cookie This chocolate chip and miso cookie with salted caramel served in a hot, petite cast iron and topped with vanilla ice cream was the perfect contrast of all that you can think of. Sweet and salty, hot and cold, crunchy and soft, hard and runny, etc. It was such a hearty and comforting dessert! We all raved at this dish. Creme Brulee I'm not typically a fan of creme brulee as I find them to be a little too rich. However, the light, floral taste of the earl grey really stood out and made this dish! I kept scooping bite after bite. Very well executed, and not too sweet at all! Chess Pie This cornmeal-based dessert was my least favourite, although I must say that it had a fantastic and crunchy crust. The custard filling was nice, but I found it too sweet - in fact, the fino sherry cream made it even more sweet. Overall, I really liked Grand Cru Deli. The food was very well executed, and I was pleasantly surprised at the calibre and taste of the dishes. I'd definitely come again to try their regular menu, and have a glass of wine or two!

Wine and Deli Sandwich is great for a light lunch…read more Bagel and Lox ($14) Ketchup Curly Fried ($9) Chicken Liver Mousse ($15) Their bread baked in house tasted fresh. I love the bagels! The liver mousse was smooth and velvety. Thanks for the wine recommendation. It is nice to have restaurant owners that are passionate and knowledgeable about their wine lists. Eating here does feel like I packed a nice picnic basket and have a nice casual lunch in the park. There are 3 "hot" entrée items which are available for dinner only. IMHO which is quite limit in choices. A high end deli sandwich bar might be a hard sell especially at this price point. Maybe some lunch special feature offering and additional items for the dinner menu might brings in more business?!

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This was delicious
This was delicious
Cheese and Charcuterie platters.
Cheese and Charcuterie platters.
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Cozy window table
Same Same

Same Same

4.3
(10 reviews)
0.3 km

Same Same serves contemporary, modern, and fusion Thai and Lao dishes in Toronto's entertainment…read moredistrict (on King West). The location was ideal for theatre-goers, as it was right across from the TIFF building and a stone's throw away from a lot of theatres in the area. The interior was spacious and modern, with a lot of tables and seatings extending to the back of the restaurant. It was quite empty when we went on a weekend afternoon, so service was prompt. The food was excellent!! They put creative spins on classic Thai dishes that turned out very well. Review of the dishes: 1) Raw Oysters (fresh raw BC oysters with roasted chili jam, fried shallots, and house nam jim seafood sauce) - They were like raw oysters in typical Western seafood restaurants, but with a Thai twist. "House Nam Jim Seafood" is a Thai dipping sauce commonly used for steamed or grilled seafood, made of garlic, chilies, lime juice, fish sauce, and cilantro. This sauce, in addition to the roasted chili jam, created a mouthful burst of flavour when the oyster was eaten in one go. The roasted chili jam created a heat effect in the throat, which made it warming. The fried shallots added a nice crunch, in contrast to the smooth raw oyster. This was definitely a unique spin to the plain raw oysters. 2) Larb Crispy Brussels Sprouts (fried Brussels sprouts with lemongrass, cilantro, lime juice, chili flakes, toasted rice powder, fried shallots, and coriander) - I was excited to see a vegetarian version of larb on the menu! Larb is a Lao dish typically made with minced meat, fresh herbs, lime juice, fish sauce, and toasted ground rice. Instead of using meat, they subbed it with crispy Brussels sprouts. I liked the crunch of the Brussels sprouts, but found the dish to be too salty. 3) Eggplant Salad (fried eggplant with black tiger prawns, mint, shallots, Thai chili-garlic lime dressing, and sliced medium soft-boiled egg) - This reminded me of the Filipino dish of tortang talong, except the egg was served on the side instead of being pan-fried and coating the eggplant. The eggplant in this dish was fried and quite sweet & spicy, which I didn't really like. I liked the pieces of black tiger prawns, shallots, and sliced medium soft-boiled egg surrounding it though. The egg especially was perfectly soft with a bit of a gooey egg yolk. What surprised me was the presence of pomegranates in the Eggplant Salad. I always see pomegranates as a common ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, but never in Thai dishes. It was a pleasant surprise, and it showed that the creative fusion of Thai, Filipino, and Middle Eastern / Mediterranean elements and ingredients worked well here. 4) SS Egg Fried Rice (jasmine riceberry stir-fried with eggs, green onion, and garlic) + jumbo lump crab meat add-on - This was the dish that made me come to Same Same, and it did not disappoint! I thought the fried rice tasted unique compared to the fried rice I've had at other Thai and Chinese restaurants. It had a strong wok-char look and flavour, and they used jasmine riceberry, which made it taste more chewy and nutty. They did not skimp on the jumbo lump crab meat, and there were "jumbo" pieces of real crab. It seems rare to get real crab (and a lot of it) in fried rice in Thai and Chinese restaurants, so this fried rice was a winner for me. 5) SS Pad Thai (fresh rice noodles, tofu, eggs, peanuts, tamarind, chives, bean sprouts, banana blossom, lime) + black tiger prawns add-on - The tofu and bean sprouts were the stars in this dish. Although the black tiger prawns that we chose as an add-on were really big, for some reason I really liked the tofu in this pad thai more (more flavourful). They used fresh instead of dry rice noodles, which we could tell because the noodles clumped together quickly as soon as it cooled down. 6) Wok Vegetables (stir-fried yu choy sum and green beans) - As simple as this "side dish" was, this was my favourite. We asked for it to be cooked without any sauce because that's how I like my veggies (not a fan of vegetables doused in so much oyster sauce / any thick sauce). They were able to accommodate our customization request, and the dish came out perfect. The green veggies (yu choy sum and green beans) were also still quite crisp and not overcooked, which earned them extra points.

Was so excited to try Same Same and their Samemer-delicious menu for July!…read more Came today with my plus one and we ordered: Appetizers: - deep fried wingette with ma kwen jeaw sauce: I felt the sauce was a bit too sour and salty yet addicting! I kept coming back to it. It came with 10 wings and it was deep fried really nicely, didn't feel too oily. - shrimp toast: house made brioche with cucumber relish and added the peanut sauce espuma. I love bread at baseline and this brioche was so nice and crispy. The cucumber relish was refreshing and slightly sweet. Mains - same same pad thai (vegetarian): now that I'm reading the menu it looks like they use fresh rice noodle but I found that the noodles were SUPER chewy, more chewy than other thai places I had. I appreciate the freshness of the noodles but would also liked if it were a bit easier to chew. Would also have liked if there was more veg in the meal. - ngowpochana chicken cashew: this came with crispy chicken thigh stir fried with (really SPICY) dried chilis and cashew nuts with a side of mixed purple? rice. The rice was tasty and the chicken was really crispy! Came out in small pieces and it was good but was not blown away. Desserts - mango sticky rice: so so good, love how they put butterfly pea in the sticky rice. Mango was ripe and soft, coconut cream was strong, and the jasmine riceberry puff added a great crunch to the dessert. - pandanas kaya toasted brioche: I would return for this dessert. My partner and I LOVED this dessert and how carmelized the toast was, it was divine. Final thoughts We loved the desserts and appetizers but felt the mains weren't super special. Staff were friendly. It did take us a while to get our food- appetizers came quick but took more than half an hour for our mains to come and waited more for our dessert. It was pretty busy but maybe they're still getting their groove as the Samemer delicious promotion brought in an influx of customers.

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Same Same
Same Same
Same Same

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Boxcar Social

Boxcar Social

4.7
(3 reviews)
0.4 km

This was my first visit to Boxcar Social inside Waterworks Food Hall and I got a delicious soy milk…read morelatte with honey. They didn't have any vanilla which I usually get at other coffee shops but it still tasted good with honey. Great service by Rebecca and loved the leaf design she did on the foam! It's usually difficult to do with soy milk so I was impressed! I also liked the warm ambiance of the place that had stools for people to sit and work.

I always loved Boxcar when it was on the corner of the waterworks building, the room with the loft…read more Sadly that location closed up and was taken over by Sobr Market the non-alcohol drink specialists, who previously only had the loft space in that location. Now, I'm reviewing the new spot for Boxcar, who is inside the Waterworks food court. Same deal for coffee with the choice of beans, one for straight and one for mixing. On the opposite side of the coffee counter is the Boxcar bar with full selections and signature cocktails, quite different than in the old location with a couple cocktails on the menu but no actual bar. Missing are several things. Firstly, the bar stools at the order counter, with separate tables as the option if you want to sit. Sure, there's the bar attached which would be nice later in the day, but they lost the food options. The avocado sandwich was super popular. In fact there are no breakfast options in the entire food court so far. Even the baking selection has been slimmed. Nice to have them back, regardless, and being adjacent to one of downtowns best off-leash parks really convenient. Espresso $3.85.

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Coffee bar
Coffee bar
Boxcar Social
Boxcar Social

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Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens

4.3
(154 reviews)
0.9 km
$$$

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

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

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Dining room.
Dining room.
Apple
Apple
Lamb shoulder with za'atar, charred escarole and eggplants

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Lamb shoulder with za'atar, charred escarole and eggplants

Tutti Matti Restaurant - italian - Updated July 2026

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