Batifole — Restaurant in Toronto

Overpriced, over-salted, and under-delivered. Michelin star prices for tourist trap quality. This was the worst meal I have eaten in recent memory. Spending $500 on a dinner for two left me feeling robbed.

I have always been skeptical of event-based set menus but decided to give Batifole the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately my instincts were correct as the menu disappointed on almost every level.

My partner and I arrived at Batifole last night with excitement and high expectations. We were greeted immediately by the host and promptly seated. The first thing we noticed were the place-mats on our table. They were wilted, old and cheap.

The set menu ($150 per person) started with a truffle fois gras crème brûlée which was clearly premade and an interesting choice for an amuse bouche. The caramelized sugar was cold and the fois gras was bland and had absolutely no trace of truffles. The appetizer was worse. We both chose the seabass tartare which was almost inedible. The fish was slimy and over-salted. The tomato "mousse" was creamy, heavy and slimy. We thought the bread would make it more enjoyable but it was cold.

Going into the main courses, my partner and I were ready to go home. We both had the baked sole fillet. When it arrived, there was no filet to be found. The fish was in a cylindrical shape and covered in sauce. It appeared to be a fish loaf; not as advertised. I powered through it but my partner could not. She asked for it to be packed away. Not even a question from the staff.

Two more courses to go. At this point it was laughable and we bonded with guests at the table next to us on our shared displeasure with the experience. I took bathroom break to work myself up to finish what I had started. The bathroom was dingy, dim, cold and smelled of stale cigarettes. The pre-dessert dish was fourme d’ambert millefeuille which consisted of runny blue cheese between sheets of filo pastry. It wasn't bad but there was a strange, sweet cream on the side that none of us knew what to do with.

Finally, dessert. I ordered the macaron and my partner the chocolate cake. This was the worst macaron I had ever tasted. It was extremely hard. I could barely cut it with my knife, as the photo suggests. It tasted like stale fruit loops. I told the waitress and received a blank stare. The chocolate cake was nice but not enough to save the disaster we endured.

At the price point, Batifole should be ashamed of what they served. What was supposed to be a nice night out turned into a regrettable experience. If you know food, don't take the other reviews seriously. I hope the chef improves and treats his customers better in the future. One star...

We arrived a few minutes before our reservation time and were seated immediately by a friendly young man. After a few minutes our server came along and asked about sparkling or plain water. My companion said we'd like sparkling water with ice and limes (because he knows that's how I like it). Shortly after, the server brought him a large stein filled with ice, limes and a straw and filled his glass. For me he poured the water into the small, iceless, limeless, strawless glass already on the table. I asked about the fish of the day and was told it was cod. I ordered that and my companion ordered the sweetbreads and duck confit. Not long after I was told they don't have any cod and he offered me another fish which comes with "fish soup". Hmmm... fish and fish soup? Ok, fine. Shortly after, my companion's sweetbreads were served and I think he enjoyed them, though he didn't say. In the meantime, both our server and the chef had come to our table at different times to ask how everything was but at that point, I had no idea because I didn't have anything. A little over AN HOUR LATER, I received my fish. It was roughly 2 X 4 inches long, excluding the tail and it was stuffed with some kind of light green paste-like filling so there was really not much fish there for $38 and none of it was particularly flavourful. I didn't finish it. There was some sauce on the plate and I'm assuming that was my "fish soup" since I didn't receive anything else with my fish. I asked my companion how he liked his duck confit and he said it was good but lacked the crispy texture he was used to. As we were about to leave and while I was sitting at the front, waiting for my companion, the server came along and asked, "Was the food great?" Odd phrasing. I told him unfortunately I was not crazy about the fish. He said if we waited a few minutes he could get us something to drink. I felt for him because he seemed very sincere but we said thanks but no thanks. Disappointing food. Slow service....

Follow @bredgyeats for yummy food pictures! We indulged in the Foie Gras au Torchon, Duck Confit, Cassoulet and Chocolate Souffle this time.

Like savory ice cream, this Foie Gras au Torchon has a creamy, buttery richness that's ultra indulgent when the burst of umami melts in your mouth. The grapefruit jelly balances each bite with a tart sweetness, while the candied orange peel provides a citrusy, bittersweet complexity. Slather all that on top of the airy and crisp brioche bun for a wonderful start to the night that'll get even better.

The highlight of the night was the duck confit, fried expertly for a decadent smooth and tender texture, with a deep umami flavour that is magnified by the addictingly crispy charred potato galette, the caramelized sweetness of the apple sauce and the fresh sweetness of the cooked apples. To top it all off are slices of equally delicious duck breast that don't lack moisture at all.

I'm glad my first time trying cassoulet was here. This dish is hearty yet so yummy that I had no trouble finishing it. The base is creamy white beans that can absorb the tangy tomato sauce and pork fat, topped with breadcrumbs and baked for a crispy contrast. Included inside is another piece of duck confit, juicy pork sausage, and a smoky, fatty piece of pork belly.

One of the most memorable desserts comes in a freshly baked soufflé, that's so light and fluffy it's like placing a chocolate cloud in your mouth, with a more crisp texture on the exterior that creates a harmonious combination of textures that you can chew on or let dissolve in your mouth, oozing a decadent chocolate and boozy taste. The roasted aroma of the hazelnuts doesn't let your nose rest, and the coconut sauce is unbelievably addicting, that there wasn't anything to wash off when...