Brunch at Cluny today
My Croque Madame. This was pretty good. I still prefer the Swiss Train Ride version at Union. This is a good version.
My friend’s smoked salmon on a hash brown
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I’ve only had baguette sandwiches and croissants at Cluny, but they were very good. Your brunch looks lovely.
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A concert at Trinity-St. Paul’s led to trying Parquet on Harbord. Overall, it is a capable neighbourhood French bistro, a comfortable place that people living nearby will frequent, but not necessarily worth seeking out from afar. The food was generally quite good, sticking close to tradition for the most part. Service was a little haphazard, including serving a wine by-the-glass that did not match what was listed on the menu and not informing us until we inquired later.
We started with one cocktail: Sacré Bleuet (pisco, dry sherry, lime, blueberry cordial, egg white) - loved this, quite floral.
We then had two glasses of wine:
- 2022, Boyer de Bar ‘Les Peyrarols’, Chardonnay, Languedoc, France - light and very pleasant.
- 2021, Stephane Aviron, Gamay, Beaujolais, France - fairly light, good but it was not what we thought we were getting on the wine list (2022 AOC Morgon Leyre-Loup).
We ordered the pain au lait, beautiful moist buns, and added an order of the chicken liver mouse, with a sherry gelee and cracked black pepper. The mousse was smooth and rich.
Leek croquettes were crisp and not oily, filled with bechamel and lemon, covered with comté, and accompanied by pickled shishito peppers.
The bone-in short rib wasn’t as fall-apart and melty as a short rib should be, but had a nice red wine glaze, sunchoke chips, mustard, and pickled chayote.
Duck confit was more successful, with crisp skin and moist meat, served with braised wheat berry, raisins, celery, compressed (pickled) apple, and swiss chard.
Neither came with much of a starch, so we ordered a side of frites, which were fine but were just regular medium-thick fries. They came with a lemony garlic aioli.
For dessert we split a profiterole, filled with a not-too-sweet dark chocolate ganache, and dressed with toasted pistachios and chocolate sauce. Good, not remarkable.
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A good French bistro that serves it’s neighbourhood is a rare treasure. It’s what romance is made of. Now you’ve made me long for the return of Constance Guitard (again).
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I was just saying to a friend how Toronto doesn’t have as many neighbourhood bistros as it once did.
I still need to visit Maison T in the Annex.
I also haven’t gotten around to trying Batifole in Chinatown East yet.
West of Yonge, I like Le Baratin on Dundas W.
Milou on Dundas W seems to be aiming at under 40s. The chef who was at Milou recently left Milou for Martine’s Wine Bar.
Union is a type of Bistro, as is Côte de Boeuf. There’s a 3rd sister resto owned by the same people that will open in the old By The Way Café space this year. I am glad that stretch of Bloor will have a good upper midrange option, again.
Since Country Style Hungarian closed, Bloor between Spadina and Bathurst has become a Cheap Resto Belt aimed at undergrads trying to fill up, as far as I can tell. I like Wild Hearts coffee shop and Simit-Chi but that is about it for establishments I revisit in the Annex right now.
Janelle’s Kitchen is a small breakfast and lunch café on College run by a French woman. I have only had the breakfast sandwich. It’s a tiny, rustic, eclectic neighbourhood spot.
I still have not tried Taverne Bernhardt on Dovercourt.
I haven’t been to Le Paradis or Le Select since 2018. I would return to Le Select, if I had a reason to eat downtown.
Cluny is okay. I probably wouldn’t choose to eat their on my own. It is a nice space, the servers are friendly. It is a good option for the Distillery District. I find the prices high for what is delivered, but that goes with the touristic territory.
I miss Jacques’ Bistro du Parc.
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We have Batifole just a couple of blocks away, so that is our usual bistro fix.
I too miss Jacques. Those omelettes were great comfort food, especially the chicken liver one.
Taverne Bernhardt is great, but is not a traditional bistro.
Taverne Tamblyn was pretty good and we’re sad it closed.
I haven’t been to Le Paradis or Le Select in years, but liked them both at the time.
Maison Selby was decent, but we haven’t been in several years.
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I am sad there aren’t more places serving several types of omelettes and crêpes at lunch.
Often, if an omelette is offered, there is only one type of daily omelette available.
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What I would do for a Crepes St Jacques!
Hubby and I were semi-regular at Batifole when we lived in the bluffs area. It was a must-do at Christmas, not just for the food, but to feel like we were in A Christmas Story.
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Batifole occasionally has an omelette on the menu, usually as a special. I had one with black truffles that was great awhile ago.
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Le Beau Patisserie on Cherry St just east of the Distillery District had Crêpes Suzettes available this past weekend. Unfortunately, the space is small and there are only a few 2 top tables which are usually taken.
I didn’t try the Crêpes. I almost took a photo. I didn’t see them on 2 previous visits so I think they are probably a limited time offer or a weekend special.
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Le Paradis hasn’t changed on my last 2 visits. Le select unfortunately has for the worse IMO. I would also throw in cafe boulud in the mix? Their quenelle in lobster sauce was very memorable, now on and off part of the set menu. Their desserts are immaculate as ever IMO
I tend not to go due to unacceptable service dinner experience
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Its the savoury crepes I crave. The kind that goes well with a glass of Chablis at dinner.
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I like those, too. Hard to find these days.
There is Verlan in Hamilton which I hope to try some day.
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Most of the current crêpe spots in Toronto are run by non-French Europeans, and the savoury ones they sell just don’t take care of my craving.
I do enjoy savoury Hungarian Palacsinta and Blintzes but those are an entirely different animal than a savoury French crêpe
