Aera — Restaurant in Toronto

Horrible experience here and maybe one of the worst I’ve ever had in Toronto (and I’m born and raised here). I don’t normally do reviews but this one is a must- to start we called them to let them know we would be a few minutes late and they picked up the phone and immediately hung up which we heard so clearly. We had to call multiple times and when the lady answered there was no greeting or outro (see you soon, etc) she just said what she had to say and hung up not even a goodbye. When we got there we were blown away because there were 3 ladies working the front and none of them even acknowledged us. I counted and it took more than a full minute of standing there before they even said hello (which they didn’t say they just said “yes- reservation?”). I don’t know what they were doing as they were talking to each other but regardless if a guest walks up to you you stop what you’re doing and say hello at the least even to say one moment please if you’re doing something. They only acknowledged us when I made a comment about no one talking to us. As they were checking us in all I could see was tons of girls some dressed almost half naked taking pictures along the CN tower view (it’s a great view but get over it this is supposed to be a classy reataurant). There were people bringing special lights to have photo shoots and some of these people weren’t even guests at the restaurants they just came in to take pictures and leave and in doing so they blocked the actual paying guests from being able to enter the restaurant. If you want to allow inappropriately dressed people to take pictures at your restaurant at least make an area at the back not right up front where we are blocked from entering. We waited about 15 minutes before we were finally seated and when I went to the washroom there were ladies walking into the washroom with their drinks it felt like a frat party. My girlfriend shared they also were clogging up the washroom taking selfies and pictures inside making it hard for restaurant guests to get to the toilet. Once seated we didn’t get an actual waiter until we were already done our meals. The person that seated us said the waiter had an allergic reaction and they were getting us another waiter but that never happened they made due with who was there. The people that helped us were nice but they also didn’t even ask us for allergies which we had. Funny as I mentioned before their own employee had an allergic reaction so that should be top of mind but seems maybe they don’t care as much about allergies. That’s basic restaurant 101 not even at a place that claims to be high end. As a beer drinker they only have Sapporo on draft and everything else is can or bottles which was surprising to see! The food was good but we had a clear view of the kitchen and it looked very disorganized- there were individuals talking to each other and laughing, some of them going on their phones, when fries dropped on the table they were picking it up with their bare hands and putting it back. We even asked if there was a head chef and were told “he’s not in he’s at one of our other establishments”. This explained a lot because there was no clear lead in the kitchen. Eventually one of the cooks saw us looking and decided to finally put gloves on as he was handling food with his bare hands before. I’m surprised that this group is linked to canoe because we commented as well that the other places seemed much more classy then this one- it seems like a place people go to just take TikTok/ instagram pictures and videos in the front and leave. I’ve been to more classy fast food restaurants then this one. Pick one- you’re a restaurant or you’re a photo studio for inappropriately dressed woman. Could tell any appropriately dressed person or group had the same reaction- what in the world are we walking into? Will never go again and will be sure to tell everyone I know not to either. Almost bought a condo in this building but chose sky tower instead and thank god I didn’t buy one if this is the circus that...

My recent visit to Aera left me with a mix of impressions, and I believe there are areas where the restaurant could refine its approach to provide a more fulfilling experience.

The reservation process left some ambiguity regarding seating options. Despite booking well in advance, only the lounge and bar areas were available. We were seated in the lounge, where the coffee table setup didn't offer the most comfortable dining experience. Transitioning some of these setups into traditional dining tables could greatly enhance guest comfort.

While Aera boasts stunning panoramic views and a visually appealing ambiance, the constant photography by guests occasionally intruded upon the dining atmosphere. Additionally, the service felt somewhat disjointed and lacked cohesion. Identifying our server amidst the bustling staff proved challenging, and there were lapses in attention to detail, such as delayed table maintenance and cutlery provision.

There was also a persistent issue with the sound and lighting throughout the night. The lighting was frequently adjusted without any apparent reason, and the volume of music was raised and lowered intermittently. When music was playing, it was excessively loud, making it difficult for guests to converse without raising their voices.

The menu, described as "American fare," included a sushi section that seemed out of place and led to some confusion. There were also inconsistencies in pricing, with some items appearing overpriced. Unfortunately, several dishes failed to meet expectations in taste and presentation, particularly the shrimp scampi and tuna tartare, which lacked freshness and quality.

When we brought concerns about the food and service to the attention of management, the response was somewhat disappointing. There seemed to be a lack of proactive measures to address our issues, and the dismissive attitude towards customer feedback was disheartening.

After expressing concerns about the quality of certain dishes, those items were promptly removed from our table. However, no alternative dishes were offered, nor were we provided with a menu to place additional orders. As a result, two of our four guests were left without entrees.

Additionally, when we mentioned that the beer served was not a Sapporo, the server, who was also the bartender, initially insisted we were mistaken. It was later discovered that the wrong keg had been tapped, and a different beer had been served to patrons under the label of Sapporo. The explanation provided was that the bartender was more familiar with wine than beer.

Upon leaving to retrieve our coats from coat check, a staff member asked how our evening had been. When we expressed our disappointment, she identified herself as the manager and asked for more details. However, throughout our conversation, she was preoccupied with checking coats and assisting other patrons, which came across as quite unprofessional. Her demeanor was casual and dismissive, more akin to a brief chat in line for coffee than addressing customer concerns.

Overall, while there were aspects of Aera that showed promise, the shortcomings in both service and food quality overshadowed any potential positives. I hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend Aera at this time and don't foresee a return visit...

We recently visited Aera Restaurant to celebrate my daughter’s 16th birthday and unfortunately, the entire experience was a huge disappointment from start to finish.

Upon arrival, we were seated at one of the first tables just past the counter seating. While we didn’t think much of it initially, the location quickly proved to be a problem. Constant foot traffic to the washrooms, selfie-seekers with bright lights flashing past us, and shockingly a group of six guests allowed to stand right next to our table (so close we could smell their overpowering perfume) made for an uncomfortable and disruptive dining experience.

We came to Aera expecting an upscale environment, after all the pricing and view suggest a premium experience. But while some patrons were dressed nicely, others looked like they came straight from a beach day: grubby shorts, flip flops, wrinkled T-shirts. The lack of any visible dress code enforcement brought down the atmosphere significantly.

The food? Sadly, it didn’t make up for any of the above. Appetizers were the highlight especially the molasses bread, which was delicious. But the beet & burrata salad featured burrata that was so hard on the outside making it difficult to eat, and the $36 octopus consisted of just two small tentacles drowning in oily “brown butter.”

The mains were even more disappointing. My daughter ordered the 10oz AAA beef tenderloin and my son the 10oz Canadian Prime Striploin. Both steaks came out with one sad, charred green onion, no sides, no garnish, no finesse. At nearly $100 a plate, the presentation and quality were shocking. Neither steak wowed in flavour or texture.

My wife and I shared the whole sea bream, which looked nice on arrival but was laughably small for a dish marked “for two,” and my half was full of bones. I understand the occasional pin bone, but I had nearly the entire spine in my portion. It was inedible and eventually comped, which we appreciated, though it was still frustrating.

Dessert was another letdown, not because of the taste (we never got that far), but because my kids were so turned off by the meal that they didn’t even want any (and this has NEVER happened). While the restaurant did bring out a plate with “Happy 16th Birthday” written on it, they didn’t comp the dessert (which might have been due to the fish comp) but even then, for a milestone celebration, it felt like the bare minimum. To top it all off, the espresso was the bitterest I’ve ever had, even adding milk only made it worse.

The only redeeming quality of the night was the attentiveness and professionalism of the staff. They did their best and were polite and responsive throughout. But unfortunately, that simply wasn't enough to save what was an underwhelming, overpriced, and poorly curated dining experience.

I would not return to Aera Restaurant, nor would I recommend it especially not for a special occasion. Beautiful view, but that’s where the...