Flame Food+Design/Turkish Restaurant — Restaurant in Toronto

I had wanted to go to this restaurant for about a year. We made a reservation and went there for Valentine's dinner. We were greeted well and sat down. Within the first five-ten minutes, our server came to take our order. We ordered drinks and two appetizers while we were still studying the menu. 20 minutes later someone from the kitchen (not our server) brought one of our two appetizers. We still didn't have our drinks or the second appetizer. Another lady (possibly a manager) stopped by to see how we were doing. This is about half an hour into our arrival. We told her that we were still waiting for our drinks, which was just a half bottle of wine. At that point, they immediately brought our wine. Still no sign of the second appetizer! Our server finally passed by and we told him about the second appetizer. It finally came after 20 minutes. The chef brought it and had a nice chat with us. Very nice older gentleman! At that point, we were totally ready to order our main dish. In fact, we had been ready for a while, but we simply couldn't have a minute with our server. We tried in many different ways to get their attention. They saw us but completely ignored us. They were even not filling our water glasses. At some point, we had to go to the bar to ask for water. Finally, after 20-30 minutes our server came to our table. We were expecting a simple apology and were ready to move on, but what he told us was quite shocking: "I can take your order but you have to be quick because I don't have time. I have so many other things I need to do." We reluctantly placed our order and just wanted to eat and leave at that point. We ate and skipped dessert. When the bill came, we felt that we needed to send a message, and perhaps for the first time ever, we paid no tip. It was our only way to say the service was unacceptable, especially what our server told us after making us wait for so long.

I have read all the positive comments. I can imagine on a less busy night, the experience could have been much much better. They are simply not equipped to deal with a large crowd. We are all used to slow service on busy nights, but this was exceptionally slow and the attitude was simply unbelievable. The food was decent, but we have certainly had better Turkish food.

That restaurant is certainly off our list, but again I can imagine others might go there and have a better experience. Make sure you do not go on a busy...

An Honest Take on Flame Food Design ⭐️⭐️ (2/5 stars)

I recently dined at Flame Food Design, a Turkish restaurant that had intrigued me with its promise of authentic flavors and cooking over coals. While the reviews I read beforehand seemed promising, my experience left much to be desired. We spent close to $400 on a family meal, and while the staff tried to accommodate us with polite smiles, the overall experience fell flat.

Food Quality: The restaurant’s focus on coal grilling initially seemed exciting, but the execution was disappointing. The lamb, Denver steaks, beef cubes, and Turkish delight flat steaks were all overcooked, tough, and lacked any real flavor. The flat steaks, in particular, were extremely chewy and unpalatable. The chicken, however, was a rare bright spot—flavorful and moist.

The dips (hummus, tahini, and a garlicky yogurt-eggplant spread) were genuinely tasty, as were the vegetable sides. However, the rice dish, which resembled couscous, lacked flavor, and the French fries—while plentiful—were uninspired. We even ended up with an unnecessary second order of fries, despite already having more than enough, due to a misunderstanding.

Service: The staff greeted us warmly, but a language barrier made communication challenging. The owner was present, which is usually reassuring, but he spent most of the evening sitting at the bar, drinking and dining with friends. This struck me as unusual for someone overseeing a hands-on restaurant operation.

Ambiance: The decor was rustic, featuring brick walls and wooden benches, but it lacked warmth and felt dated. Small improvements in decor could significantly enhance the atmosphere. The music selection didn’t add much to the ambiance and could use better curation.

Value: For the price we paid, the portions were small, and the quality of the food didn’t justify the cost. The overcooked meats and overall lack of flavor made it difficult to see any value in the meal.

Final Thoughts: While Flame Food Design might appeal to those with a strong affinity for Turkish cuisine, it fell short for me. After living in the area for 15 years, this was my first visit, and I don’t see myself returning. The veggie dishes and chicken showed potential, but the disappointing meats, flavorless sides, and poor value make it hard to recommend.

If you’re looking for authentic and satisfying Turkish food, you may want to explore...

This is the dining experience you’ve been looking for!!

It certainly was for me, my only mistake is meeting one friend here for a catch-up chat….we needed MORE people to sample more of the menu!

I’m a Toronto born south-Asian who knows very little about Turkish food but I asked a local foodie friend where to go and he told me this is the spot.

3 things made this a 10/10 for me (and I’m a frequent business traveler for work so it’s rare a restaurant really knocks me off my feet like this):

1. Straight-up, the food is outstanding. It’s from different regions of Turkey so ask your server questions about it, do not be embarrassed. This is a family business and they are proud to share and guide you through to have a great experience. I love steak and the charcoal fire method here brought us Lamb so tender, succulent and delicious we already planned what we will eat on our next visit (with more friends)

2. The decor, atmosphere and vibe are a rich experience in an area falling prey to mediocre chain after chain after chain. I even stayed after my guest left to just explore some of the unique decor and soak it in. That ceiling!

3. When I sat down the owner introduced themselves and as it was my first visit, shared their vision, how to enjoy my visit by being bold with food choices and honestly the man spoke to me like family. Warm, caring for my enjoyment of his food and although it’s a little more pricey then the chains next door, the food + experience was perhaps underpriced.

I hate that my pictures just can’t do the place, decor and food justice. Was there for a meeting with a friend and I don’t like to take too many pictures when I’m with people but wow, the plating and even the cutlery were of such thoughtful design, I can see them in my mind still, hours later.

Hidden gem, loved their bigger tables for groups and families…the joy, the culture the clear care for every detail.

Will see them again soon, highly recommend.

Tip: It’s steps from Transit and there is a safe/cheaper Green P city parking lot across the street (saving you from sketchy impossible parking on Bloor) across from the TTC station. Perfect location.

Best to call for reservations, they don’t have a great website...