We originally found this French restaurant through an article that listed the top 10 beef tartars in Toronto, and as lovers of that dish, since Côte de Bœuf was in the top 3, we were very excited to go and try it out. We knew ahead of time they did not take reservations and that they were a very busy place, so we went early and walked around the area before returning 25 minutes later to get our table. The restaurant was cozy but sadly they did not have any tables available so we ended up sitting at the bar that fit 4 people.
Unfortunately, the seating at the bar was very cramped with limited counter space and nowhere for us to put our bags or jackets. That wasn't all, the bartender ended up throwing a few pieces of ice in the process of taking drinks out of the giant ice bucket in front of us that held alcoholic drinks and didn't seem to notice. Luckily none of it landed in our food, but not like he would have noticed. By the end of the night our area was so wet, we had to ask for napkins to dry it up a couple of times. With all this going wrong so fast, we were hoping the food would be better, but that was also quite disappointing. We ordered our food first and for some reason, the couple next to us ended up getting all of theirs before we got our food. We waited almost 45 - 50 minutes for our steak and the couple beside us ended up getting theirs and finishing it before ours arrived. We ended up packing it up since we had waited so long that we had lost our appetite. Were hoping this was just an off night, but give it a try and let us know how it was for you.
⭐Escargots au beurre ($14)⭐
Snails with butter, garlic, lemon & parsley
The Escargots were pretty good! The best of the night for sure.
Usually, they come with 6 pieces but this one came with double that! Each slot had at least 2 pieces which paired well with the bread.
I wish they used a different bread though, the one they served seemed like a baguette you buy at NoFrills
“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” - Ruth Reichl
Tartare de bœuf au couteau ($25)
Steak tartare with egg yolk and toast
We have tasted many beef tartars in the past but this one was sadly disappointing. It's not that it was bad but just underperformed with the expectation that it was one of the top 3 best in Toronto.
Prime dry-aged ribeye (12oz) - $(65)
Duck fat potatoes, seasonal veg, black truffle butter
A bit tough, and seemed under-seasoned on its own.
Paired well with the potatoes and truffle butter, but wasn't worth it for the price we paid. Would recommend getting a different main on the menu.
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