Melrose On Adelaide — Restaurant in Toronto

We went at night so the ambience of the place was dark and romantic. Candles lit on each table and twinkly lights strung up around the place. I love this type of ambience, especially as someone sensitive to bright lights! It’s a bit tight inside with seating so if others are loud it’s a bit hard to hear the person in front of you. This isn’t Melroses fault, just a nudge to mind your volume when sitting right next to another table (the guests beside us were yelling to each other to talk). Loved the music that was playing but it was a bit too loud for 8pm as others mentioned. At night, this is a cute spot for a date for sure!

We personally found the place to be a bit too warm, not sure if the candles added to that but I also saw other guests fanning themselves. A lil more AC would do wonders imo.

I don’t usually order cocktails/go out for cocktails so I’m a bit of a newbie. I don’t know who served us but she had blonde hair in 2 pigtails and wore glasses. I asked what she’d recommend and she tried to cater her recommendations to the things I like. She didn’t disappoint! My first drink (in the wine glass) was really refreshing and lightly sweet. I wish I listened to her other recommendations for my second drink because I chose on a whim and found it to be a bit too sweet (still yummy). She was an excellent server and embodies what I think a server should be!

On this note, the drinks do have bigger pieces of ice in a smaller glass like someone else has mentioned, and for the price, I think I’ll only come during happy hour or on a special occasion (the drink in the wine glass I think was fairly priced but my second one not so much). My partner also ordered a rye and coke and as you can see there wasn’t much coke at all if any.

We ordered the small charcuterie board and it we thought it was a large because they give you a decent portion size! It was well put together, and brought to our table by someone who took the time to describe what’s on the board. It was so delicious, we devoured the entire thing. For two tall people, it was actually quite filling.

All in all a really great experience and I’ll be recommending this place to others. I definitely want to go back to try the other menu items and drinks, but maybe with less layers on and...

I had high hopes for Melrose on Adelaide, but unfortunately, our experience was incredibly disappointing. The service we received tonight was some of the worst I’ve encountered. Our server looked absolutely miserable, making no effort to engage with us or even offer a basic level of hospitality. I understand that everyone has bad days, but in the service industry, there’s an expectation of at least making guests feel welcome.

From the start, we felt like an inconvenience rather than valued patrons. Instead of guiding us to a table, she simply pointed in a general direction, leaving us to choose a spot—only to then tell us we couldn’t sit there because it was reserved, with no smile, no apology, and no effort to rectify the confusion. When she brought out our plates, napkins, and cutlery, she stacked them all together and didn’t bother placing them in front of us. The lack of basic service etiquette was shocking.

The only redeeming interaction we had was with a young man who has been working there for four years. His professionalism and friendly demeanor were the only reasons I’m not writing a full article on how awful the service was.

As for the food—underwhelming, to say the least. The tuna crudo was a mediocre 6/10 at best, and the beef tartare was equally disappointing. I recognize that this is more of a bar than a restaurant, but even in that setting, the experience should be enjoyable. Between a miserable server and subpar food, we ultimately decided to cut our visit short.

And to add insult to injury, when we asked for the bill, the server simply dropped it off and immediately put the payment machine in front of us—without so much as a thank you, a how was your meal, or any sign of basic hospitality. It was pathetic.

At the end of the day, a restaurant or bar isn’t just about the drinks or the ambiance—it’s about the experience. And if the service fails, everything else crumbles with it. Unfortunately, that was the case here. Would...

Review: Melrose on Adelaide – Where Culinary Theater Meets Unscripted Magic

From the moment we were seated at the bar—front and center, where the real drama unfolds—it was clear Melrose on Adelaide wasn’t just serving food; they were staging an experience.

The energy was electric. Bartender Zumi was a force behind the bar, mixing cocktails at a dizzying pace while the kitchen pulsed with controlled chaos. When we casually announced we were ordering 60 oysters, Zumi nearly dropped his shaker. I just smiled: “Don’t worry—we’ll take down 60 in one go.” And we did.

The meal unfolded like a crescendo. After polishing off the oysters, we dove into steak tartare, grilled octopus, and a show-stopping shrimp tartare layered with avocado, red onion, citrus, and topped with sweet shrimp and plum slices—served in a halo of golden sauce dotted with fiery red oil. A dish as artful as it was addictive.

Still hungry, we summoned a warm charcuterie board stacked with grilled steak, sausages, and chicken. It landed like a feast, and we rose to the challenge.

For dessert, we went all in—one of us choosing the “Pie by the Glass,” a layered creation crowned with crisp shards and anchored in silky green richness. Dreamy, delicate, and just mysterious enough to keep you guessing.

The other? Fried s’more cookie dough balls: molten, golden, and unapologetically decadent, dusted in powdered sugar and surrounded by toasted marshmallows and rich chocolate drizzle. If childhood nostalgia ever put on heels and hit the town—it would look like this.

All of it sealed with a bottle of chilled Prosecco.

Melrose on Adelaide isn’t just a dinner spot—it’s where flavors, fire, and finesse collide. We’ll be back. And maybe—just maybe—there’ll be more magic waiting behind the bar.

Thank you, Zumi, Chef Jordan, the incredible waitresses, and the kitchen crew behind the scenes—your passion, precision, and hospitality made this night...