Café Boulud - Toronto

Having never tried the brunch at Café Boulud, I remedied that on a blustery March afternoon. After a brisk walk, the warm welcome and familiar ambience were restorative. I consulted the prix-fize menu. The challenge was arriving at a decision among so many possibilities. A flute of champagne helped me in my deliberations. I started with the onion tart. It was presented under a layer of a creamy sauce that did not disguise the onion or the savoury lardons that were hidden underneath. The pastry was light and made a good textural counterpoint to the rich sauce. For the next dish, I selected the omelette. Plated quite simply, it was a minimalist presentation that let the ingredients shine. Light and fluffy egg and sauteed spinach are the essence of the dish. A refreshing green salad accompanied the omelette. It was lightly dressed, allowing the greens and thin slices of radish to reveal their taste. The crème brûlée had a pineapple component that balanced the richness of the dessert with tart fruity notes. The dessert was nested in a bird's nest of very light pastry that combined with the creamy interior of the dish to produce an effect on the palate of much more than a simple crème brûlée. Service was attentive, despite the seasonal time change. Staff were in fine form.

Service was outstanding and the ambience was wonderful. A great place to go for a special occasion. From the dishes we ordered, we loved the salads, the desserts, the steak and the cod. The caramel ice cream and profiteroles was remarkable, and the whiskey ice cream was amazing. They obviously have a very talented pastry chef! Our least favorite dishes included the pasta with the lamb ragu which had too much tomato paste in the sauce, the octopus which was overcooked and rubbery, and the foie gras which tasted like butter with a hint of liver. Although there were few moderately priced wines on the menu, the sommelier was excellent at recommending decent, moderately priced options. Enjoy!

I enjoy having dinner at Boulud's Toronto restaurant whenever I visit. This time was no exception to my experience. I opted for the well curated tasting menu, as it offered a solution to a situation where choosing from so many enticing dishes was a challenge From the amuse-bouche to the tender brioche that served as a prelude to the tasting menu, I was delighted by the prawns, terrine, scallops, beef and tarte tatin that were just enough to appreciate the dish, but not too much to be considered excessive. The wine pairings were suitable and well presented by the server and the sommelière. I found only one wine that, while good, would not have been my choice for the dish in question. While the tasting menu is not the most frugal choice at Boulud, it is worth the investment in time and treasure to experience the talented kitchen and serving staff at their best. I have to mention my delight at the way the restaurant maintains data on customer preferences. I visit Toronto several times a year. Each time I dine at Boulud, I am impressed that they consult their data to know my preferred cocktail, table, and mineral water. It's all in my digital information, but the welcome is impressive in a world that seems to live only in the moment. Kudos to the staff at Cafe Boulud.

We were early for our reservation and were still seated right away. Shea provided excellent attentive service. The pheasant en croute was a little disappointing, but the rest of our entrees, including the duck and cod, were delicious and perfectly prepared. It was quiet for a Saturday evening, which was nice for the four of us as we were able to linger for a while after our dinner. Looking forward to our next meal at Cafe Boulud.

Came here for the Sunday brunch set at noon on Sunday. The set menu was okay, but the service was not good. The restaurant was full and there were obviously not enough waiters, making the whole place feel noisy.