Animl Steakhouse Toronto — Restaurant in Toronto

4.7 / 5 is well deserved. As a professional diner, this was all around a great trifecta experience (service, food, atmosphere) and as great as you can get for not being a Michelin spot.

1. SERVICE - Camila our server was (legit) outstanding. So intuitive and predictive of needs. I.e: our plate positioning was a bit sloppy (steak not front and center, creamed greens far away). Before I could re-adjust she dropped in and aligned everything without a word. That’s what excellence looks like. Never settling. Our water was topped up instantly and drinks wet fast and well made. The other servers wore these nice pink tuxedos. I appreciated the ownership mindset here. I’ve met Charles a few times dining, but met a new partner I didn’t know, Sasha. He checked in on us, and texted me a day later thanking us for dining (system based I presume - but still a great touch).

2. FOOD - good food. Fun place to eat. Menu has a lot. Got East Coast (CAD) oysters (good but small), Rockefeller (good but small). Creamed greens (delicious but Kale heavy) - no photo, but the basil cream sauce I would have drank. It was delicious. A5 Wagyu (when is A5 not great)? But Camilla gave us the option to cut it or keep whole. Came as a 4 oz portion for $98 which is great pricing for the city. It melted and we coupled it with the Shrimp Piccata (to die for). Best investment in shrimp I’ve made. I’d buy all the piccata next time (they have lobster and crab). It was fantastic (lemon, broiled shrimp with a light flour style crusting). Shrimp cocktail (our starter was jumbo 6/8 size or bigger) prawns. I loved them (and I don’t love cold shrimp). Brushed with a nice olive oil flavour (they should mention on the menu it has oil - 90% of the cities shrimp cocktails don’t have oil on them lol). But still huge and gorgeous.

I skipped the potatoes (dying for Dauphine). But they had 3-4 options. Menu is eclectic enough to please almost anyone.

ATMOSPHERE - stunning decor and seating. The chairs have a cute black faux fur backing, and the benches have an amazing feel and pink style (hard to see in the dark). A real professional designed the place. There are mirrors everywhere mimicking walls (but the space is small, so the mirrors give it an expansive and fun experience. They even wrapped a structural pole in mirrors to not minimize. The bathroom ceiling and walkways are all mirrors. The entrance was a bit odd. I would have preferred some direction but we figured it out (up a lane way with no parking and sneaky entrance).

Thank you Camilla, Sasha and Charles and team.

Points to Note: 1) ceilings are low in bathroom (I’m 6’4) and had to duck a bit. The Rockefeller was average - probably wouldn’t order again. Oysters fresh was good but also not memorable. The creamed greens felt like 90% kale (and I love spinach). It was unusual there was a bathroom guide that didn’t clarify the role. The live DJ was amazing - but no one told us. I think it should be mentioned on seating or it’s a lost investment. This is one of my longer reviews. I’ll post more photos on...

I visited Animl to celebrate my husband's birthday. Overall, we had a happy and enjoyable experience at Animl and would love to visit again. Here are a few notes I wanted to share:

The restaurant was a bit chilly that day, likely due to the unusually cold weather. The tables are situated half a floor below the entrance, and it seemed the warm air from the entrance and bar area didn't reach the dining space adequately. It would be great if the heating in the dining area could be improved on cold days.

The porterhouse steak was absolutely delicious, cooked to a perfect medium-rare. I found it even tastier than the buttery steaks from Peter Luger or Royal 35 in New York. However, the steak did cool down quickly due to the somewhat cold indoor air. I personally don't prefer steaks served on hot plates because they continue to cook, so just a warmer dining environment would have been ideal.

The Japanese milk bread had a lovely balance between the mild bread and butter. Overall, I found the balance of flavors in Animl's dishes to be excellent. I saw many positive reviews for the Caesar salad, and I agree with them. The crisp texture of the gem lettuce and the presentation were outstanding, and the thick bacon complemented it perfectly. The seasonal mushrooms would have been better with a more pronounced mushroom aroma.

The dessert was the perfect finishing touch. The creatively designed Gold Bar had a wonderful balance of creamy and tangy flavors, leaving a refreshing taste without being overly sweet. The Black Forest dessert, with its chewy cherry pieces, was also excellent.

The service was impeccable. Despite arriving late due to the aftermath of a snowstorm and the frigid weather in Toronto, the host warmly welcomed us. Our server, Gabriel, was attentive, friendly, and professional. I also appreciated the servers' attire, which matched Animl's unique vibe. However, I was slightly concerned about the host's outfit. She wore a tight leopard print bodysuit, which I felt was unnecessary and potentially objectifying. I believe Animl's concept can be conveyed just as well with less form-fitting attire.

We couldn't enjoy any alcoholic drinks since we had to drive, but next time, I would love to pair the meal with cocktails and wine. I am grateful to all the staff for making our time memorable, and I look forward to...

I went here for my birthday dinner recently and have to say that we received the highest level of service possible. The evening had everything you would expect at an upscale steakhouse: entertainment, drama and a touch of luxury.

The evening felt like an episode of Casino Royale - with our server extraordinaire Gabriel pumping out the finest, well executed experience - setting the stage for an unforgettable evening.

The drink discussion did not take long before my eye caught the Japanese whisky and beef tallow (yes, you heard right) Manhattan - extremely delicious so I had to have a few. My wife had a non-alcoholic yuzu cocktail, and it was very good. The wine list is extensive, and has something for everyone.

The appetizers are a unique blend of standard steakhouse fair, and that is exactly what I am a sucker for: we ordered Japanese bread (must eat), the fresh East Coast oysters and a tomato salad - all executed to perfection, and warmly delivered to our table.

For mains we had a strip loin steak and a side of Onion Rings made with what I believe to be Vidalia onions (the gold standard for steakhouse rings.) The steak was very well executed - stunningly delicious, and onion rings were crisped to perfection.

My wife had the seabass with the side of the gratin - and both disappeared before I could even take a bite. The dishes looked and tasted amazing - with a generous portion of sea bass.

For dessert we ordered the coconut cream desert and the gold bar style desert, - both were done just right - perfectly balanced with exquisite looks.

I highly recommend Animl to anyone looking for a first class dining experience - and look forward to my next...