Canoe — Restaurant in Toronto

Honestly, I wish I could give this place zero stars since they deeply ruined my birthday and I left in tears.

I don’t typically celebrate my birthday in Toronto, so it’s been a while. I now consider this city my home, and I wanted to choose a restaurant with a view to make my birthday celebration meaningful. I made a reservation and left a note requesting seating by the window. I even called ahead to confirm the seating arrangement, as the host mentioned it wouldn't be busy on a Monday.

When I arrived last night, I was taken to the corner of the bar, which was the complete opposite of the dining area I had requested. I expressed my concern and was told that they were at capacity and had no room for me where I had originally asked to be seated. The host then claimed that the seat I was given was still by a window, or they could move me to the main dining area, which was closer to the view.

I followed her to the new seating, but it was a tiny table across from the window, where the only thing I could see were people and a large pillar right in front of me—absolutely no view.

I was devastated at this point and asked the server if I could move later. Her response and attitude were shocking and made me question whether coming here was a mistake.

Emily, the server, said to me: "All the people sitting by the window are here for special occasions. If you look closely, you’ll see cards on their tables. Our policy is first come, first served. 90% of our customers request window seating, but we can’t guarantee it unless you're the first reservation of the day. Also, it would be unfair to the other customers to move you."

First of all, I checked all the Canoe web pages, including the reservation page, and NONE of them mention this "policy."

Second, I called ahead to confirm the window seating and received the green light. That’s why I made the effort to arrive quickly.

Third, why wasn’t I informed that seating was at capacity and that they were unable to accommodate my request at the time? Why wasn’t I notified ahead of time, especially when I specifically mentioned it was for a birthday dinner? While I understand I came alone, that doesn’t mean I should be stuck in the corner.

I was extremely upset by this interaction and asked to speak to the manager. Fifteen minutes later, the assistant manager, Johan, came over and apologized sincerely for not accommodating my seating request. He repeated the same policy and then OFFERED me the window seat I had initially requested.

At that point, I realized this situation was a result of poor management. So, essentially, you have the window seating, but I had to BEG for it. I was humiliated and disrespected on my birthday. I left in tears because I felt like I was being treated as insignificant, the server’s attitude also implied I was just another "cheaper" customer because I was alone, as if I should stay quiet and spend money without complaint.

This issue has clearly been ongoing, but NO ONE in management has taken it seriously, allowing customers to continue feeling disappointed. As the assistant manager mentioned, this is a "special occasion" fine dining restaurant, but the service and management were nowhere near the standard I expected.

As someone who has dined at fine restaurants around the world, including in Toronto, I have never had such a disgusting experience at a fine dining establishment—especially at one that’s part of the Oliver & Bonacini group.

I later went to Maison Shelby, and they truly saved the night. It was hard to believe they were part of the same group, as their service was impeccable. Perhaps Canoe needs better training in fine dining management.

It’s a shame that such a renowned establishment can leave a customer feeling so devalued and disrespected, especially on a day that was meant to be celebrated.

I sincerely hope this feedback will be taken seriously to improve both the customer service and the overall experience at Canoe for...

Canoe has been on my list for a while and recently had the opportunity to visit.

We enjoyed the tasting menu and sat at the chef's rail, where you can look into the inner workings of the kitchen. This was quite intriguing as you can see the dishes being prepared and plated and how the kitchen works during service. The view out of the 54th floor is also great and you can see the CN tower close by and views of the city.

Our service was friendly and professional and definitely made the experience better. The food was very tasty and we enjoyed exploring unique ingredients and different flavor profiles from all over.

You can read on if you want a more detailed information on the food we ate but overall, Canoe was very enjoyable and would definitely recommend for a special night out (as it is more on the expensive side).

One thing that did disappoint was the limited interaction on the chef's rail from the chef/kitchen staff - would have appreciated a bit more on this account on top of the view into the kitchen - the desert chef nailed it though on this account (more below).This would definitely enhance the "chef's rail" experience for those interested in learning more about the food they are eating. Alternatively, a clearer explanation on the website/reservation will temper expectations.

1. The oyster and cured bison was a tasty start to the meal - they came in an ornate presentation (which probably could have been simplified, but this was the only dish where there were inedible presentation on the plate).
2. Venison tartare and game tea was unique and I definitely enjoyed it . The chef explained the process and nuances of the dish himself. The game tea specifically (made of venison heart) was unique as it was like a consommé but with fruity undertones so it plays with your expectations a bit (my partner did not enjoy it as much).
3. The XO veloute surrounding the scallop raviolo was very umami and I even scraped the last bits with the bread after the raviolo was done. Definitely a highlight.
4. The lobster tail was good. My partner enjoyed it a lot, but I thought it was a little springy and overall tasted a little bitter with the green (kale?).
5. The filet dish with crispy tendons, foie gras, burnt baguette and perigold puree was delicious. It was an interesting play on the meal components and I enjoyed all of it - although probably could have been two dishes as it was too much richness at the same time.
6. Desert was also amazing. The desert chef took the time to explain all of the components and served us the three dishes himself. We enjoyed a little chat and definitely proved a summary ending to our meal (expected more of the meal to have a similar component).
7. Tarragon variations was a revelation! I enjoyed the sweet ice cream and the tart vinegar and overall really savored how the different components came together.
8. The chocolate cremeux was a mixture of a few different things but the taste was balanced and I thoroughly enjoyed each bit. My partner did not enjoy it as much - she also pointed out that the honeycombs stick to your teeth and make the meal a little messy (food for thought).
9. Two of the three petit fours at the end were amazing. The third one with spice tasted a bit of liquorice and was probably my least favorite, but overall the experience was great.

Definitely a very enjoyable experience and all the dishes tasted great. I did not leave feeling hungry and experienced unique flavors that all delivered. Had a...

I used to enjoy dining at Canoe for its great view and decent food. I’ve always gone during regular times and ordered from the à la carte menu, and overall had good impressions. So when I saw Canoe was participating in Summerlicious this year, I thought it would be a great opportunity to bring my wife and mother-in-law for their first visit.

We arrived early to avoid traffic, and the front desk staff was very polite and seated us shortly after. However, the experience quickly turned disappointing. A white male server came over with water and menus, but we noticed there was no Summerlicious menu. When I asked, he told us—rather bluntly—that the Summerlicious menu is only available after 8:30 PM and not during our booked time. I was surprised, since we specifically booked for the Summerlicious menu through their official site.

Instead of helping us find a solution, the server seemed more interested in showing attitude than offering hospitality. He made no effort to explain or accommodate—just stood there impatiently with a visible scowl, as if we were wasting his precious time. When I politely said we needed a moment to discuss what to do, he responded, “There are other guests waiting for this table.” That comment felt unnecessarily dismissive and unprofessional.

I normally wouldn’t jump to conclusions, but given how abrupt and unwelcoming his tone was from the very beginning—especially toward a table of Asian guests—I couldn’t help but wonder if we would’ve been treated the same had we looked different. I truly hope that wasn’t the case, but the experience left us feeling uncomfortable and unfairly rushed. For a restaurant known for its service and atmosphere, that kind of behavior is disappointing and hard to overlook.

Feeling frustrated, we left the table and explained the situation to the front desk. They were very understanding, and the manager came over to sincerely apologize and kindly offered to have the kitchen prepare the Summerlicious menu immediately. We didn’t want to make things complicated or feel like we were getting special treatment. My wife still wanted to try Canoe, so we decided to come back at 8:30 PM and specifically requested a different server.

When we returned, we were seated again and served by a fantastic Asian female server who was warm, professional, and attentive—everything the first one wasn’t. The view was beautiful as always, but the food felt less impressive than my past visits—perhaps due to the Summerlicious menu, or maybe just an off night.

All in all, the evening was saved by the excellent service from the front desk, the manager, and our second server. But that initial interaction with the first server really soured the experience, especially since it was my wife and mother-in-law’s first time at Canoe. I hope the restaurant addresses this inconsistency—because no guest should have to feel unwelcome or disrespected at a...