Maple Leaf Tavern — Restaurant in Toronto

I reviewed this place online before deciding to visit for the first time. Had good reviews so I decided to go on my own for a meal after work and definitely had high expectations. The wine list by the glass is small and they did not have a sauv Blanc so I went with something similar that tasted pretty good after trying a sample. When I asked to try a couple of wine samples the bartender seemed to give me a slight bit of attitude but complied. I was considering the wagyu beef but opted for the striploin instead with a side of fries (for $26 they give you the meat only absolutely no sides come with it) fries were $7 and delicious. I asked for my steak to be cooked medium-medium rare and when it arrived to me was completely rare. There was minimal sear on the outside of the steak and the inside was cold and very rare. I found the meat itself had a very odd smell to it as well. The smell alone was enough for me to change my mind about eating it. I felt terrible to send it back so I tried a small piece but could not stomach the rareness. The bartender apologized and brought it back to I guess be cooked more. I found it really peculiar that they cut the steak into pieces when putting it on the plate (not a high end bone in meat so was not necessary to do this), so the first time around they should have noticed it was rare while still in the kitchen. When the steak came back for the second time it was still rare!! I was shocked at how they could mess it up twice. The cook should know how to determine the doneness of the meat and should also know that when the steak is taken off the grill it continues to cook so when you slice into it before it finishes resting you are haulting that final cooking process. When I told the bartender it was still rare, he told me “we don’t cook steaks in between doneness” I asked how he told the kitchen I wanted my steak, and he said “medium”. How I could get a rare steak twice boggles my mind. Someone else came to apologize to me and told me the main award winning chef was not on site that day. I told them I could not eat the steak I was turned off by the rareness and the off putting smell. The restaurant took care of my entire bill including the wine but I did feel bad so ordered another drink and insisted on paying for the drink and tipping what I would have for the entire meal. Other than the worst steak experience I’ve had, the ambience is lovely, the staff are attentive and gracious and I met some cool people at the bar which is why I gave 3 stars. I might be back for drinks only with friends. This place would be perfect for a romantic date night but I would be hesitant on ordering steaks...

We ordered 2 days prior to Christmas their Christmas dinner. The dinner package costed $200 dollars plus tax for 4 people. We ordered from this restaurant from the many reviews that we have seen online. However we were extremely disappointed and felt that we couldn’t say much as it is covid and restaurants are struggling and we didn’t want to seem ungrateful however we really felt taken advantage of. Yes for sure the meal was intended for 4 people in 2 medium sized flat box but the portions felt extremely small. There were only approximately 8-10 small slices of turkey in a clear bag. The salad was small and very basic beet with a basic orange vinaigrette that was bland. The stuffing is super dry and tasteless and hard to stomach. The potatoes had not much flavor and this felt like a basic turkey dinner that the Loblaws hot bar across the street could have easily been better. The only dish that get actually cooked well was the Brussels sprout which was very good. I was really disappointed at almost every dish and felt like the $200 dollars was really ridiculously expensive for the quality of food. The dessert was so dry and bland. Our pallet isn’t particularly high browed, but my 16 year old cousin was the one that raised it in the middle of dinner and said where did we pick this up from and he said this is really not good who doesn’t usually have an opinion as we didn’t want to say anything as the dinner was purchased by my uncle. Since he raised it, everyone couldn’t agree more. It’s hard for me to really write this review as I understand restaurants are struggling but we really felt taken advantage of. The whole dinner was really underwhelming and we felt that for the price of the dinner, we should have gotten something really yummy. The Korean girl at the door who gave us the dinner was really nice. We followed the reheating instructions strictly so it couldn’t have been any issues there. So I am sorry but we r really...

This restaurant is simply exceptional. The food and service are consistently spectacular and each experience there can be unique, which is fun for us regulars. Then menu gets regular additions which respect the bounty and flavours of the seasons. Last night we discovered the charred padron peppers with pickled charred corn and Parmesan emulsion - a magical and unique combination which instantly became the thing I will be craving for a long time to come. We sat at the chef’s rail last night and watched Chef Stephane Renaux orchestrate a perfect brigade and got to experience the sights and smells of every dish being prepared for the restaurant. The stunning wood grill is mesmerizing to watch and the smell is unbeatable. We have also sat at the bar for cocktails and snacks and got to know Michael, the most masterful and incredibly knowledgeable mixologist who creates phenomenal cocktails for us, including some delightfully craveable off menu creations on our anniversary and again last night when we sheepishly asked if he could do that special thing again. And then he topped that by adding seasonal flair with special Indigenous herbs! On most visits we curl up in a comfy corner banquette - whichever one is in Jennifer’s section - because she’s a pure gem. She makes us feel like we’re having a lovely dinner at a friend’s house, complete with the same excitement you get when your friend starts suggesting all the wonderful things they might want to cook for you. She makes us feel just as special when we shlep in tired for a quick burger and fries as when we come in for a lingering multi course meal. The managers also make every experience wonderful with their friendly greetings and check ins. And last but not least, they expertly and kindly accommodate our food allergies, which is no small feat. To the whole crew at Maple Leaf Tavern, thank you for all you do. We feel spoiled and honoured every time we sit...