Honest Weight — Restaurant in Toronto

While looking for a seafood restaurant for a dinner in Toronto, I came across several recommendations mentioning Honest Weight. Upon learning of the restaurant's wholesale fish market I was convinced, and made a booking for a Sunday evening.

Upon arrival, the space felt comforting and inviting, with a small seating area and a singular fridge showcasing the day's seafood options. The menu is small but with a tantalizing selection and my girlfriend and I selected PEI oysters, seared scallops, a clam chowder and cod cooked with seasonal vegetables and smashed potatoes. The service was very in line with the restaurant's vibe, and we were offered a small sample of three different white wines to aid us in our choice.

First to arrive was a tray of shucked oysters with a house mignonette and hot sauce. I found both varieties of oysters delicious, meaty but not overly fishy (in line with my personal tastes), and both house sauces were good. I enjoyed the succession of dishes and we were then presented with a beautiful dish of seared scallops and a clam chowder. A parsnip puree was the perfect accompaniment to the scallops, very well seared yet the perfect texture in the middle. A pop of sweetness from the pomegranates was well thought out, and on a subsequent visit, I would consider the dish a must order.

The clam chowder was also great, with a slight sweetness from the clams and delicate, well balanced flavours throughout. Despite being cream based, the chowder felt surprisingly light but still warming. Given the quality of Honest Weight's seafood, it's hard to believe how far away the restaurant is from the sea. I enjoyed the subsequent cod dish, but not to the same degree as the first three plates we sampled. The fish was well cooked, and once again the quality was apparent, and smashed potatoes were delightful in their texture, fluffiness and accentuated by a hint of whole grain mustard.

Overall, I would struggle to suggest any better seafood restaurant's I've had the opportunity of trying in Toronto. The quality of the seafood is apparent, and the cooking style is masterful in its celebration of the ingredients. The food, coupled with the restaurant's intimate, neighborhood atmosphere have converted me into an ardent and vocal fan of...

Simply prepared fresh seafood is one of my favourite meals. Sadly with pollution and over harvesting, opportunities to enjoy truly sensational sustainable seafood are decreasing. Hence, when I heard about the rave reviews on Honest Weight and their co-owner John Bil’s commitment to using sustainable seafood, the restaurant made it onto my “must visit” list.

It’s only at a reputable seafood establishment that I get raw shucked oysters ($3 each). Indeed, every table at Honest Weight seemed to have a platter of them. Deliciously clean and salty, they were served with the customary red onion mignonette and shaved horseradish. A bottle of hot sauce is also included for an extra zip, but unnecessary for me.

You even get a taste of the east coast charm at Honest Weight - it’s an intimate environment and our waiter was candid and friendly. Just make a reservation; even on Sunday they were busy with patrons being turned away it they haven’t already secured a table. At least there’s a fish counter attached to the restaurant, worse comes to worse they can purchase something to go. While the dinner did take longer than normal (our waiter advised they were slammed at lunch so didn’t have adequate prep time for dinner), it’s such a tranquil environment that it didn’t matter. Just enjoy the easy breezy...

While vacationing in Toronto, we came in without reservations not realizing what a small place this was. The hostess/server that greeted us was so kind and informed us she thought a dining party was about to leave and it should only be a few minutes, if we wanted to wait. We gladly hung out for about 10 minutes and was seated. We are a family of 3, with a 5 year old. My husband ordered a "pick yer fish" entree and myself and my son shared an order of the calamari special and the mussels. All our food was delicious but the main reason for my review is for what the assumed owner did. As we were finishing our dinner a woman we hadn't seen up to that point came into the dining room asking the tables how their food was. After speaking with us and my son, she offered my son another small bowl of mussels, of which he happily accepted. Soon enough, out came a fresh delicious bowl of mussels for my 5 year old! I can't tell you how nice that was and so unexpected. She said she loves when kids love seafood and it was on thr house. One of the best experiences we have had in a while at a restaurant. Good food and...