1 Kitchen — Restaurant in Toronto

Date of Visit: Saturday, July 1st, 2023, at 7:00 PM

I recently had a deeply disappointing experience at 1 Kitchen Toronto restaurant that left me feeling discriminated against and unwelcome. Despite our anticipation for a delightful evening out, my friends and I were shockingly refused entry simply because one person in our group was wearing formal summer shorts and formal shoes, which apparently violated their dress code policy. However, what truly exacerbated our frustration was witnessing several other female patrons wearing shorts being allowed inside without any issue. The double standard was palpable, and it was evident that the staff's actions were driven by prejudice rather than adhering to a fair dress code policy.

Upon bringing this inconsistency to the attention of the staff, the situation only deteriorated further. Instead of addressing our concerns and rectifying the situation, the manager dismissively intervened and claimed that the dress code was not an issue. It became abundantly clear that the restaurant's true motive was not a matter of dress code violations or lack of available space, but rather a deliberate decision to exclude our group for reasons unknown to us. This blatant act of discrimination left us feeling not only unwelcome but also deeply disheartened by the lack of empathy demonstrated by the establishment's staff.

As patrons, we expect to be treated fairly and without bias, irrespective of our race, gender, or personal style choices. Unfortunately, this restaurant failed to meet even the most basic standards of hospitality. The discriminatory treatment we encountered is not only morally reprehensible but also completely unacceptable in a diverse and inclusive society.

It is disheartening to witness such incidents in this day and age, where equality and respect for individual differences should be championed. Discrimination of any kind should not be tolerated, and businesses, particularly those in the service industry, should be held accountable for fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patrons.

It is my hope that this review serves as a reminder to both the management and staff of this establishment, as well as potential future patrons, that discrimination in any form should not be tolerated. We must actively challenge such injustices and choose to support establishments that prioritize inclusivity and treat all guests with respect and fairness.

In light of my experience, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this restaurant to others. Until they take appropriate action to rectify their discriminatory practices and foster an inclusive atmosphere, I believe it is essential to consider alternative dining options that uphold the values of equality and acceptance.

Let us all strive for a society where everyone is welcomed and treated with the dignity they deserve, regardless of their appearance or...

Terrible service from our server Adrian. From the moment we sat down until we left it was very clear that Adrian had zero interest in serving our table. He reluctantly took our drink order, and then had to be flagged down by an (awesome) hostess for us to order food. He didn't ask ONCE how anything was or check if we needed anything throughout our dining. Pretty well full water glasses from other tables were being refilled while ours were left the same throughout. How much nicer he was to his other tables immediately upon them being seated was very apparent. Only difference between us and some of these other tables was our skin colour.

Another girl who dined alone next to us trashed her drink on the table after leaving.. she was also served by Adrian and surprise.. a person of colour. I'm not sure what was going on with Adrian but we're in Toronto which is incredibly diverse. If Adrian can't comprehend that, perhaps the service industry isn't for him.

On a higher note, the restaurant is BEAUTIFUL. The greenery and decor is perfect. Oh and our hostess was very sweet and accommodating. We believe a manager also brought our food and even took our coffee order.

The food was very good. We loved the mix of different potatoes in the homefries that was an unexpected surprise.. the hollandaise sauce for the Benedict's is superb.

Overall we enjoyed our food and the vibe of the restaurant. However, having also worked in the food industry for a good portion of my career, I know that service creates an impact on your overall dining experience. 1 Kitchen missed the mark here...

Probably my new favourite restaurant in the city. Everything I’ve ordered has been fresh and delicious. So far I’ve come here for lunch and brunch. For lunch, I got the charcuterie board, shishito peppers, the fish and chips (I normally don’t like fish & chips and their version I absolutely loved because it was so light and tastefully done), and the burger was flavourful. The side of fries was also very well done and I couldn’t stop eating it. For brunch we tried the croque madame & the sweet potato waffle with chicken. The croque madame was a grilled gruyère cheese sandwich with pemeal bacon & a sunny side up egg on top. But my favourite from the two was definitely the chicken and waffles. The waffle was so light and airy with a crispy exterior. It was like slicing into a cloud. The chicken was flavourful and juicy on the inside, and crispy/crunchy on the outside. Usually I shy away from chicken and waffles because it’s just heavy or the chicken is dry. 100% not the case here. For dessert I had the strawberry lemon cheesecake and it’s decent.

Drinks: hazelnut latte with whipped creams and sprinkle of hazelnut was delicious! Their macchiato with a shot of salted caramel is one that I continue to crave. Their drip coffee is bottomless. I’ve also tried their lychee + rose elixir which is non-alcoholic cocktail that is both pretty and yummy.

I can’t wait to try their dinner menu and come back in general because so far, everything I’ve ordered has...