A Very Disappointing Michelin-Starred Experience at Alo 😔
Last week was Mr. Bear’s birthday, so I went all out and booked two Michelin-starred spots in Toronto to celebrate. Alo had been on my must-try list for ages, but sadly… the higher the expectations, the harder the fall. 🍽 The Experience (Where It Went Wrong) We ordered the standard tasting menu and mentioned upfront that we wanted wine pairing. But here’s the first hiccup: The server never asked if we wanted the premium or regular pairing—confusing! They then offered us champagne or cocktails to celebrate, so we each got a cocktail. Those were actually great! 🍹 Starters? Solid. The lounge-style appetizers were tasty, especially the lobster dish—no complaints here! Mains? A salty disaster. 🧂💣 1️⃣ First main: Duck My plate = delicious. Mr. Bear’s plate = inedibly salty. We sent both plates back, and the server handled it professionally. Michelin-level service, at least. 2️⃣ Second main: Lamb chops Again, mine = good. Mr. Bear’s = crust was a salt bomb. They replaced it… but the new one was STILL too salty! How does the same dish vary so much between plates? Unacceptable for a Michelin-starred kitchen. Desserts? Meh. The canelé was excellent, but the rest were forgettable. The "apology": Since the mains were a mess, they comped our cocktails. Final bill? ~$950 for two. 💸 🍷 Wine Pairing? Also Underwhelming. The wines alone were nice, but as pairings? Only one glass actually complemented the food. Montreal’s Toqué! (see my other post) does it way better. ⭐ Final Verdict ✅ Ambience & service = Michelin-worthy. ❌ Food consistency = shockingly bad for a star. Would I return? Not for that price. 📍 Alo 163 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5V 2L6 #TorontoFineDining #MichelinLetdown #AloReview
