Avelo Restaurant — Restaurant in Toronto

🦋Wow. The small street this townhouse restaurant is located on is BEAUTIFUL. It’s quiet, quaint, and has trees which were lush. In the front is a little garden which they grow herbs in and use in their dishes.

So cool!

When we walked inside, we were greeted by Bellen who guided us mid-way through the house where we passed a dining area, the kitchen, and finally brought upstairs to an area that had a BEAUTIFUL bar with only 3 dining tables. When we sat down we already felt warm and comfortable.

The restaurant is an internationally inspired, plant-based restaurant. We chose the 5-course tasting menu which ended up being roughly 7-8 since there were a few courses that were split in two.

We won’t talk about the individual courses but each dish was unique and the timing was superb, leaving us hungry and ready for each course.

We will say: each course was delicious and we even changed reservations to another restaurant for Father’s Day to this one!

The wine selection was selective but it was all that was needed. The Sauvignon bland from New Zealand was a great choice 😎, it was crisp, yet subtle.

And of course, going back to our main server: Bellen. She was fantastic and made great conversation with us leaving our happiness tickled and comfort blanketed.

At the end, we even went down to meet the chef Fernando who was a really nice guy. We knew exactly why the food was delicious and the environment/experience was superb - everyone who works there puts their TLC (Tender Loving Care) into everything they did.

Thanks Bellen, Fernando, the staff and Avelo for making everything perfect.

🦋Avelo - 2nd Review

This time, I had taken my dad for a Father’s Day dinner. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and completely explains how my dad loves food as much as I do.

All throughout the week I could feel a little skepticism from him as I told him I had booked a plant-based, 8-course tasting menu. Maybe the skepticism was from me but I’d find out after the dinner that he had been secretly thinking that.

When we first rolled up in our Uber, he saw the trees scattered around. They were lush and green and immediately set the tone for the small townhouses on the street, with one of them housing the restaurant. As we got out of the car, I mentioned the small garden out front where they grew their fresh herbs. Immediately he was interested and went over to the garden to look at the herbs and smell each one.

We walked up the steps and opened the door where two servers/hostesses were standing. I had a big smile on my face and they both remembered me from a couple of weeks ago when Sackeria and I had come. They asked if this was my dad I was with since we had booked the reservation for my dad and I - great memory! Sackeria and I had given them two little inspirational cards the last time we were there and they showed me how they still had both of them on their hostess table - so cool and definitely satisfying.

We walked upstairs and instantly it reminded my dad of an older European home with its crown moulding ceilings. He now lives in Amsterdam and it made him feel like home.

He decided to get a glass of wine and went with a red Bordeaux - he loves wine and talked about the low sugar content in French wines. When it came, his face lit up and he was so delighted with its taste. He was thoroughly happy and pleased with it.

I won’t go into each specific dish that we ate but I will sum it up nice and easy - we loved every course we ate 🤤🤤!! He loved the thorough explanations of what was in the dish. He had questions for almost each one and they were quick to answer. If they didn’t know the answer (only one time) the girl walked back downstairs to ask the chef directly - a true dining experience at a small, cozy restaurant.

Even though it was 8 courses and our reservation was at 8:15pm, we stayed for 2.5 hours with no fuss at all, always looking forward to the next dish or glass of wine.

Each server was happy and super knowledgeable about what was in the dish. They al

This is our experience....

This is avelo restaurant. A vegan experience in midtown Toronto (Bloor and St. Nicholas Street). The restaurant is fully plant based and the atmosphere is cozy with a house converted to a restaurant. Excellent for dates and nights out.

I only saw tables and chairs - formal setting.

They had the prefixe menu 5 course or 8 course menu. The portions are good and you will be full by the time you are done. We did the 5 course menu.

From an accessibility point of view this place is not barrier free friendly. The entrance is by stairs and the bathroom is upstairs. The bathroom was clean.

Now let’s talk about the food. The options are surprisingly filling, likely due to the common presence of various local oils and fats in each dish. The food was really good, and the service was great.

We started with the sourdough coca Really nice. Does not taste like pesto on sourdough but it is very tasty.

The second corse was the cucumber tofu. It tasted like sour cream and cucumber. Just needed that pita bread. Seriously this was good. The tofu did not taste like tofu. It was creamy and more cream cheese than tofu. I wish it was served with toast or bread. It was so good.

Then there was the in between cauliflower, saffron and Serrano pepper mouse. It has the texture of a breaded refried beans that’s hot. Great taste bud orgasm.

The third course is the Lion mane with some crazy pansies that was out of this world. Leaves you wanting more of this. Ode to the mushroom should be ode to the panisse (chickpea paste).

Then there was the in between purple cabbage and shayu mouse. It was unmistakably cabbage tasting. Very nice.

The forth course was Beluga Lentil and this is a culinary explosion in your mouth. I wanted more. For me this dish was the bomb.

Then we rolled into the desert Mignardise which was a lollipop with creamy pistachio.

The desert was basically tart or cake. I was not crazy about the desert and I can honestly say that the savoury food in my opinion is the bomb in comparison. Was not bad, but I would not be craving desert.

Overall, if you are vegan, this the perfect date night, fine dining experience, and you won’t leave hungry. Our servers were extremely friendly and happy to explain what exactly you are eating. Yeh service pace was really good. You did not wait long for the service and things flowed nicely. I hate waiting twenty minutes for the next dish and this is not an issue here.

I know what you are thinking: is this place perfect? No. They did not have martini glasses and they served the drink in cocktail glass. The horror!!!!

In summary, I love this place and highly recommend it, you have to try this place out and you want regret it. You don’t need to be vegan to...

Avelo reminded me of "Unreasonable Hospitality" by Will Guidara, a recent favorite book that celebrated the transformation of Eleven Madison Park into the best restaurant in the world. Just like Guidara's exceptional journey, Avelo has taken vegan cuisine to unprecedented heights, surprising and converting even the most skeptical palates.

Entering Avelo, our party of four consisted of individuals with diverse dietary preferences. Only one among us was a committed vegan, while the rest approached the vegan dining experience with curiosity and open minds. Little did we know that by the end of the evening, each and every one of us would become devoted converts to Avelo's plant-based wonders.

What sets Avelo apart is their remarkable ability to create vegan dishes bursting with flavor, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail. The astonishing array of flavors presented on each plate challenged any preconceived notions we had about vegan cuisine. Bite after bite, we found ourselves enthralled by the complexity and sheer pleasure that these thoughtfully crafted dishes provided.

Our host, David, added an extra layer of depth to our dining experience. With passion and expertise, he provided intricate explanations for each dish, allowing us to appreciate the stories and inspirations behind the culinary creations. David's engaging presence and knowledge transformed the meal into a true journey of discovery, enhancing our newfound appreciation for vegan cuisine.

The ambiance at Avelo was nothing short of enchanting. Housed in the historic Hazel cottage, the restaurant exuded a cozy and intimate atmosphere. As David shared intriguing tales of the cottage's rich history, including its alleged connection to the crew who built the renowned CN Tower, we couldn't help but feel captivated by the sense of place and heritage surrounding us.

Avelo's commitment to sourcing the finest local ingredients, including those from their own garden and collaborations with foragers, was evident in every bite. The freshness and quality of the produce elevated the dining experience, showcasing the restaurant's dedication to sustainable practices and flavors that were nothing short of exceptional.

It was also the first time in my experience when the restaurant refused to accept tips. This philosophy reflects the deep respect and care they have for their staff, ensuring that everyone is fairly compensated for their hard work. This refusal to adhere to traditional tipping customs is a bold statement, emphasizing their commitment to fostering a positive work environment and elevating the culinary...