Le Baratin — Restaurant in Toronto

Dinner for two at Le Baratin on Dundas came to $190, including drinks. The restaurant offers a prix fixe menu at $55++ for appetizer and main, or $65++ with dessert. While the space aims for cozy French bistro charm, several aspects of the experience made it feel more cramped than charming.

We were seated quickly without a reservation but then waited over 10 minutes just to receive menus. Service was eventually friendly, but also slow and a bit absent—we found ourselves looking around for attention more often than not.

Chairs were hard and uncomfortable. Tables were packed too close together—zero privacy. We could hear every word from nearby diners, and they could definitely hear us. Not ideal if you're hoping for a relaxed or intimate night out.

For appetizers, I had the escargots in a cream sauce with a tiny slice of puff pastry—rich and tasty. He had the pâté de campagne, served with mustard, cornichons, and some bread. Unfortunately, the $6++ addition of sourdough bread came with a strange, inconsistent texture—full of unexpected seeds and oats. A bit distracting from the classic pairing.

For mains, I had the saddle of lamb Provençal, served medium rare with nicely crisp vegetables. His lamb tagine was a letdown—thin, watery gravy and the exact same vegetables as mine. The tagine lacked any distinctly Moroccan flavours. Even the tomato-based sauce on mine didn’t have enough seasoning to qualify as Provençal.

The cocktail I ordered, a La Louisiane ($17 for a 3 oz pour), should be a spirit-forward, velvety New Orleans classic—stirred and strained into a coupe with a cherry. Instead, it arrived in a tumbler, full of ice, with a lemon twist. Not incorrect, but far from ideal. At that price point, a cocktail shouldn't be taking on water like a sinking ship. Diluted is less fun.

Also worth noting: the server didn’t mention that the pâté already came with bread when we ordered the extra sourdough. And a single can of soda was $6++, which felt excessive.

The food was overall okay—nothing was inedible, but nothing really stood out. For nearly $200, the atmosphere, pacing, and execution didn’t come together to make it feel worthwhile.

Pros:

Prix fixe structure ($55–65++) offers some value

Tasty escargots

French bistro-inspired menu

Appealing wine list

Interior has some visual charm

Cons:

Waited 10+ minutes just to get menus

Service was slow and inattentive (though friendly when around)

Hard chairs

Tables far too close—no conversational privacy

Open kitchen led to lingering odours

Poorly executed La Louisiane cocktail: wrong glass, wrong garnish, too much ice

Lamb tagine lacked Moroccan flavour; veggie sides repeated across dishes

Sourdough bread ($6++) was oddly seeded and not well-textured

Soda was $6++ for a can

High total cost didn’t reflect the experience

Wouldn’t return. Not a disaster, but Toronto has far better options at this...

My new found hidden gem... I hate to tell everyone else because I want to keep my table here but it's too good to not share! If you love great food and so well priced without pretentious service, this is the place to be. I came here for brunch and blown away at the flavours. This is a place to enjoy a good coffee and a wonderful meal with friends in a rustic and warm atmosphere.

The location is a bit out of the ways and the only signage is on the window but it's not too hard to find. It is a smaller restaurant... maybe only 20 tables at most and the environment has that quaint and rustic charm. I love how they sell their sauces in their Epicerie off to the side... they even have their own espresso blend! You know you're in for a good meal when they even pay attention to the coffee.

Service here is a touch relaxed but still personable. Think of France where you linger over a great meal and conversation as you indulge in a great coffee on a beautiful Sunday. There are two partners for Le Baratin and it is the chef and the front house manager. The lovely manager was interacting with everyone and serving food.

Atlantic Farcous - So we ordered the Atlantic Farcous (a wonderful and incredibly flavourful gluten free vegetable 'pancake' with in house made salmon gravlax) with a wonderful side salad and some crispy potatoes. 5/5

Croissant French Toast - We also got the BEST FRENCH TOAST... yes its needs the all caps! they used croissants and cream to create the most wonderful custardy interior and then they sear the outside to a wonderful caramelized crisp. Honestly, it is so decadent and I rarely use that word. It has the best flavour and texture I've had in Toronto. 5+/5

Apple Tarte Tatin - We decided to end our brunch with the apple tarte tatin which was wonderful. Buttery caramel enveloping the apples and soaking into the flakey buttery pastry base. Just a wonderful! 5/5

The best part of this... this is all at French Bistro prices. You get wonderfully made food and it will not make you feel like you just spent too much. All you will feel is a happy smile on our face from eating a...

Made an online reservation for a 10 pm seating on a Friday night. We were called at around 8pm to come earlier at 930. Perplexed why they asked us to do this. Arriving to the restaurant at 945 we were seated but rushed to put in our food order.

Ordered the escargot, duck rillete plate, steak frites, and "bouillabaisse" (described as similar to bouillabaisse, but it was the fish special). The sauce on the escargot overpowered the protein and could've easily been used as beef stroganoff. Rillete platter was there, nothing wow and nothing horrible (jarred mustard seeds and jarred cornichon) except it was country style chunky and dry, same with the terrine. Fish special came as a cop out as it was a melange of seafood in a stew instead of a well cooked filet of fish, and barely reminiscent of a standard bouillabaisse. Steak was ordered medium and came as desired, frites were undercooked and hard in the centre and soured (too much vinegar in the blanching?). Could not get anything rectified as our courses were being asked to rush and the servers were unavailable for any feedback and they wanted to finish their shift. We were the last ones in the restaurant but felt uncomfortable to order anything else (ie dessert).

They had a communal coat rack for our bulky winter coats but nothing around to place your purse except precariously hanging on the back of your chair.

Overall, over promised and under delivered.

For the response that I've received for this review, I hope you are taking feedback from your guests and making adjustments accordingly. Your servers had absolutely described it as a bouillabaisse so please don't gaslight saying it doesn't happen as whoever you are was not present at this situation. And the apology that your philosophy is not to rush us must be followed through with intention. I do not feel like you are taking accountability for anything and simply putting the blame on me for having a personal opinion with my experience at your establishment, no malicious...