Daphne — Restaurant in Toronto

Daphne occupies a great location and has a beautiful dining room, but their hosting operations needs improvement. They seem to seat people upon arrival, rather than pre-planning arrangements based on reservations, which is how we were sat beside the drafty door despite booking a month in advance.

The menu isn’t overly exciting but offers a safe selection so there will be options for all. A light spread of nibbles started our meal:

Olives ($8) – a variety of olives in a light citrus za’atar oil.

Bread and butter ($8) – a sizeable basket containing different breads like focaccia, sesame baguette, and whole wheat. They were all soft and fresh and went with nicely with the whipped cultured butter. It would have been even better if the bread was warmed.

Little gem salad ($20) – your typical salad that resembled a lightly dressed Ceasar. If it had more of the garlic parmesan dressing it would stand out better but did go with the other bites and kept things light.

If you want to visit Flavour Town, hop on the black truffle pizza ($36) train. While the price may take you aback, the pie does contain slices of the fungi, you’ll find them scattered amongst the thinly sliced potatoes. The soft puffy crust was a tad soggy in the centre, but it wasn’t surprising given the egg that oozes over the pie adding a lovely creaminess. The dish was delicious with the addition of taleggio cheese, potato crema, and herbs.

The duck mafalda ($35) was equally flavourful with the crimped pasta pulling in so much of the shredded duck and spicy sauce into its crevices. Although the dish isn’t the prettiest, I loved the powerful punch of the sauce, which has a pesto-feel but still the freshness of a red sauce.

For those abstaining from red meat, the tuna ribeye ($65) offers a 16oz hunk of protein that’s great for sharing. We’re warned the chimichurri is spicy, so we asked for the condiment on the side. In reality, there’s not a lick of heat but was heavy on the citrus and was really needed to season the tuna, which otherwise is merely sitting in a muted truffle ponzu.

The fish paired well with the sunchokes ($16), the root vegetables well roasted and tossed with sunflower tahini, brown butter, and caramelized honey that created a tasty crust. These would even work well with the little gem salad.

I can see why the cauliflower ($32) is considered a main. An entire head of the vegetable arrives covered with sauces so there’s a heartiness even without protein. Elements like the basil herb sauce gave it a freshness while the roasted grapes some sweetness. Still, it’s a lot for one person so is best shared with a large group.

I would not save room for dessert. If I liked chocolate, the Daphne bar ($16) was tasty, like a tuxedo cake in bar form with its dark chocolate mousse and caramel wrapped in a soft chocolate ganache. Alas, chocolate and I have a difficult relationship.

We had high hopes for the coconut cream pie ($17), but it resembled a white chocolate mousse rather than pie as the dessert lacked the salty crust element. The passionfruit gel was also too tropical and took away from richness I expected from a cream pie. If anything, it’s pretty to look at.

Strawberry shortcake ($18) is usually one of my favourite desserts, but Daphne’s was terrible… give me a supermarket version any day. The makrut lime cream was overpowering giving the cake a lemongrass flavour and the black sesame adding an earthy nuttiness that didn’t compliment the...

During my recent visit from Arizona, I had the pleasure of dining here twice in one week—and each night was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment I stepped through the doors, the warmth and attentiveness of the staff set the tone for what would become one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had.

A truly remarkable dining experience often begins long before you take your first bite, and in this case, it began with Amani. It takes a special kind of confidence to not only recommend but personally invite guests to your own workplace, knowing they have an endless array of dining choices in a city like Toronto. Amani’s boldness and vulnerability in extending this invitation were rooted in an unwavering belief in the excellence of Daphne, and I now understand why. It speaks volumes when someone trusts their workplace enough to share it as a personal recommendation, and I am immensely grateful that Daphne was chosen for us.

An Unparalleled Culinary Journey: The highlight of my meals was the market fish—a dish so exquisitely prepared that it transcended beyond a simple meal into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Every bite was a masterclass in flavor, freshness, and expert preparation. The selection of starters was equally remarkable, setting the perfect stage for what followed. To complement our meals, we indulged in an impeccably curated wine selection that elevated the entire experience and was served in a spectacular wine decanter that looked like a Riedel Eve.

Exceptional Service and a Team in Great Spirits: On my first night, John provided service that was both gracious and engaging, ensuring every detail was attended to with warmth and precision. I thought nothing could top that experience—until my second visit, where Ethan somehow managed to elevate what was already perfection. But what stood out even more was how the entire team—from the servers to the hosts to the restaurant manager—exuded pure joy and passion for their work.

It was evident from the many servers and hosts who came by throughout the evening to exchange pleasantries and share a warm hello that everyone was in great spirits, even with both nights being exceptionally busy. Their ability to take the time to connect with guests in such a genuine and heartfelt way made the experience even more unforgettable. It’s rare to find a restaurant where the entire team radiates warmth, but Daphne embodies this effortlessly.

Dining at Daphne Restaurant became the highlight of my trip to Toronto, leaving an impression so profound that I now plan to return every time I visit the city. Every aspect—from the ambiance to the culinary craftsmanship to the world-class service and joy-filled atmosphere—makes this restaurant worth every penny.

If you are in Toronto and looking for an unforgettable dining experience, Daphne Restaurant is an absolute must. Highly...

EDIT: I would like to change my rating to a 5 from a 2. We were absolutely surprised after returning to Daphne after 2 years. Everything we were served was great, from the bolognese to the salmon. The Brussels sprouts were delicious, but the shishito peppers could do with a bit more charring.

The service was incredible, way better than before. We were served slightly late, but the waitress, Yara, more than made up for it with perfect service, asking us about our dietary needs, and checking up on how we were doing often. She was great at upselling without making it pushy, and introduced us to menu items we wouldn’t have known otherwise. She also had the heat cut off as our son was feeling too hot, even though she had to ask the other tables before doing so.

The extensive wine selection is also delicious, with something for everyone. We will definitely be back!

OLD REVIEW: Me and my wife were walking past Daphne on a weekday past 6PM, and saw that it wasn’t busy so we got a seat in the patio as the ambiance and decor was attractive. Unfortunately this is the only positive I can say about this restaurant.

After being seated at our table, it took quite a while for our server to come to our table and take our orders. They were friendly, but that’s about it. We ordered 2 beers, the Daphne Burger with Fries (in photo), Spaghetti Ubriachi, and the asparagus.

It took a very long time for our beers to arrive, and even longer for the food although it was not a busy day. The only good part of our meal was unfortunately the beers.

The server did not ask how I would like my burger, so it just came medium rare. I don’t mind it, but I’m sure some people might. Once the burger arrived, it was cold and wet due to either it’s construction or the fact that it took a while for it to arrive. The patty was barely seasoned, and the relish was overpowering and made the bottom bun very soggy. The fries were also very underwhelming, which was surprising.

The pasta my wife got lacked in flavour, was over cooked, and over salted. It was too salty for her to enjoy, and could not even finish it, but was able to down some thanks to the beer.

The best part of the meal was the asparagus, which was just plane grilled asparagus, nothing special about it either unfortunately. They had some hazelnuts on it, which didn’t add anything to the dish. Also they were barely crumbled, and most were just whole plane hazelnuts. The sorrel and citrus barely did anything for the dish.

All of this cost us well over $100.00 after tax and tip, and the bill arrived very late as well.

All in all, a poor dining experience, and the only redeeming factor was the ambiance/decor.

Wouldn’t recommend it for dining, but perhaps for a brunch or night out for cocktails (though we haven’t ordered any)...