Brownes Bistro — Restaurant in Toronto

I sent them the following note about 3 weeks ago. They didn't even reply to me to apologize. So here is our experience.

"Hello there, this note is to give you our review after we had a terrible experience at your location. (since I could not reach you from your facebook account, your reservation email address was my only chance to send you this note. So I hope it will find the owners).

On the 16th of March at 7:45 pm, we had a reservation for 8 people in your restaurant. It was a special gathering to celebrate one of our friend’s birthdays. Some of us had been there before, but for most of us, it was the very first visit to your location.

As usual, our waitress gave us the menu and presented us with the specialties of that day. We then gave our orders: 3 salads to be shared and 8 main dishes, including 3 striped basses which was the special of that day.

When ready, the waitress served our main dishes and some of us even started to take their first bites. Suddenly, one of our friends called the waitress and asked him whether the fish he served was really a striped bass or not. He then started to complain and accused the kitchen staff not telling him that the bass is sold out and he apologised for not telling us in advance, adding that he can change those 3 dishes…. Well, should we wait for another 15-20 minutes to get a new dish while others have already started to eat? We said, that’s okay but we were really upset about not being told in advance; even not at the time of serving but only after we questioned it. He must have thought that we won’t be wise enough to realise what we were eating, huh? What a rude misconception?

He then put 3 glasses of white wine in the middle of the table; saying that those are the courtesy of the restaurant. But that was another mistake, because we were all drinking red wine, not white.

We finished the main courses and asked 3 different desserts to share. We also told him that he can give those 3 desserts as a courtesy instead of those 3 glasses of white wine which were still standing in the middle of the table. What he said was another disaster: “you sure you did not take any sip from them, yes?”

Finally, he brought the bill. The desserts were really free of charge but at the bottom of the bill, there was a gratitude (tip) of %20, included with a hand-writing. Well, well, well, trying to secure his tip, knowing that we would never ever give him that since he did not deserve it at all.

To cut it short, we were angry but said nothing to him, so as not to spoil our friend’s birthday happiness.

The next day in our WhatsApp group, we were not only sharing our photos taken that night, but also the terrible experience we had in your location as well.

I’m not writing to you this note for asking anything, no we really don’t ask anything from you. Because that bitter taste is something that we really don’t want to remember. I know that you’re serving there for many years, hope you’ll continue to do so. But for that, you have to choose your staff and educate them well enough to be able to continue...

We are a family of four that just moved to the Rosedale area... We decided to try our luck on Canada day to try the local food offerings...and stumbled upon Brownes Bistro without a reservation. Although it was busy, A tall gentleman named Conran? (which is what we believe he said his name was) greeted us immediately and let us know he could have a table ready for us, if we could be patient for a few minutes while he prepared one for us. We thought this gesture was extremely kind and accommodating...especially because we could see it was a busy night. Now, let us just say... Everything about our first experience here was incredible. Starting with all of the Food we ordered...which was just fantastic! However, what really stood out for us (above everything else) was the EXCEPTIONAL service we received from Conran his knowledge & recommendations on every dish (including dessert) Every cocktail & wine pairing that we ended up ordering was SPOT ON! We've never come across a server that took such pride, care & kindness in providing true service which extended to our entire family including our children (whom he entertained, and made laugh repeatedly throughout the meal) This kind of service does not exist anymore.... we loved him (and the food he recommended) .... Needless to say, we were very impressed.. so much so, that we can't wait to come back! Remember the name Lilly! Thank you again to both Brownes Bistro & Conran for making our first experience...

Embarking on a gastronomic escapade at Brownes Bistro is like discovering the culinary unicorn of Rosedale. Picture this: a cozy den adorned with wood paneling and a kitchen that's more open than your friend's oversharing on social media – it sets the vibe for a journey back to the days when good food wasn't just a hashtag.

After three rendezvous with my taste buds, I can't keep this culinary secret to myself. The rack of lamb variation is like a rock star on the menu, hitting all the right flavor notes – move over, mainstream dishes! And the angel hair portion? It's not just for two; it's a covert mission in not-so-secret indulgence. Warning: you might not want to share, but hey, that's what the dessert menu is for, right?

Brownes Bistro is the cool kid on the block, constantly shaking things up with a special menu that's like the VIP section of flavors. The mussels in their curry broth are like the influencers of the seafood world – unapologetically delicious and leaving you wondering how you lived without them.

And for those who like a side of woah with their calamari, the grilled calamari is the punchline you didn't know you needed. Brownes Bistro: where good food meets good times, and the only thing skimpy is the chance of leaving...