Plush Cafe & Bar — Restaurant in Toronto

RESPONDING TO OWNER:

I’m genuinely surprised by the attempt to discredit my review rather than take any accountability. For clarity: we dined at your establishment on Saturday, July 26, and I ordered the Peking-style duck confit — so yes, well within the three-week timeframe you checked. I’m not sure how your system failed to reflect that order, but I assure you it happened.

We were seated by a young female hostess who handed us mismatched menus. Our server — a male — was the one who spilled water on our table and later couldn’t answer my question about the Smoke on the Water cocktail (which includes a salted plum–infused whisky). When I asked what whisky was used, the exact response was: “Not even the bartender knows that.” Surprising, especially if — as you say — the bartenders created the menu themselves.

Instead of the drink I ordered, I was brought the Cacao Confit, which I did not request and was not told about until I flagged the server down. That drink is still listed as $25 on your website, and that’s what I was charged — despite the price difference and zero communication around the substitution. While a $3 discrepancy isn’t a big deal, it’s the lack of transparency that matters.

Your cocktail menu and concept have promise — that’s why I came in. But trying to completely dismiss a guest’s experience, especially when the details are this specific, is disappointing. Defending your staff is understandable. Denying a customer’s entire experience? Not so much. This actually reinforces the core issue I initially raised: poor communication and a lack of accountability.

Also… I’m not your neighbour. Might be another Jess but certainly not me.

Original Review: We recently visited this restaurant on a weekend afternoon, and unfortunately, it was one of the most frustrating dining experiences I’ve had in a long time.

To start, we were the only table there, yet still encountered multiple issues. We were each handed completely different menus — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and had to ask for the correct ones just to get on the same page. Shortly after, our server accidentally spilled water across the table, which was awkward but forgivable.

The real letdown came with the drinks. I ordered a cocktail and asked what kind of whisky was used — the response was, “Not even the bartender knows that,” which felt more comical than professional for a $25 cocktail. Even worse, they brought me a completely different cocktail without asking or informing me that they couldn’t make the one I ordered. I only found out after I flagged them down. That in itself wasn’t a dealbreaker — mistakes happen — but when the bill came, I was charged for the substitute drink, which was more expensive, and no one ever mentioned the switch or price difference.

As for the food, I ordered the duck confit, which was disappointingly dry and just overall uninspired.

I understand this is a new establishment, and I really want to see them succeed — but they’ve got some major service and communication issues to work through especially at this price point. The staff didn’t seem prepared or knowledgeable, which made for an uncomfortable and confusing experience.

There’s potential here, but they’ll need to invest in proper staff training and improve how they communicate with guests if they want to build a loyal...

I wish I could give zero stars. At best, you’ll get below-average food; at worst, you’ll end up sick like I did.

First, we had to wait over 20 minutes for our meals while the restaurant was nearly empty (aside from a table that appeared to be occupied by the owners). The kitchen staff didn’t seem very active until we asked about the status of our order.

When the food finally arrived, the dishes looked decent but tasted disappointing. For these prices, the food should at least be average. The vegetables were coated in cheap blended olive oil, and the flavors were mismatched. It felt as though the dishes were made to look “fancy” by someone who has never dined at a quality modern restaurant.

The server was polite, but it was obvious she was inexperienced. It also seemed like her priority was serving the owners’ table rather than the other diners.

About half an hour after finishing the meal, I began feeling nauseous and unwell. It wasn’t the worst food poisoning I’ve ever experienced, but something in the meal was definitely off. I should also note that this was my first meal of the day.

All in all, I haven’t been this disappointed in a long time. I’ve dined at expensive restaurants around the world, and even when the food isn’t worth the price, the service usually...

Plush Café is honestly a gem! From the moment I walked in, the ambience set the perfect vibe cozy, modern, and really welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious, every bite packed with flavor. The drinks? Excellent refreshing, well-balanced, and definitely worth trying more than once.

What stood out the most though was the staff super friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. You can tell they genuinely care about their guests having a great time.

I highly recommend Plush Café to anyone looking for a spot to relax, enjoy amazing food and drinks, and soak in a sweet atmosphere. Definitely a place I’ll be coming back to again and...