The Butcher Chef — Restaurant in Toronto

I don’t even know where to start. This was top 5 restaurant experiences I’ve ever had in my life. It’s most definitely deserving of a Michelin star (or even two), I’ve been to starred restaurant that aren’t even close.

Went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago to celebrate a great milestone in my career, and haven’t been able to shut up about it ever since. As we walked through the discreet door, we were welcomed by the staff and entered a sophisticated room with an upscale steak-house decour and ambiance, with very few tables (the place seats 30ish people) - very intimate and cool.

To say that Daniel served us would be an insult to his role. He was a sommelier, an entertainer, a true host. He put together a special tasting menu for us, advised on which of the wines we brought should be served first and with which course, walked us through the different dishes with a je ne sais quoi that had us pay attention to his every word. He elevated the experience to the nth degree with an obvious passion and enjoyment for his job.

We started with a oysters which were super fresh and flavorful, with a few different sauces. Then they brought a soft bread with caramelized onion and beef sauce that was fantastic. Then a brassica salad which was good, but definitely at the bottom of the ladder. After that it was just knock-out after knock-out.

Chicken two-ways, one piece roasted which was tender and juicy which had an amazing sauce, and one piece fried that redefined what i thought was possible for fried chicken. A game dish with a mix of a great duck breast with crackling skin topped with foie gras, plus a roasted rabbit and rabbit sausage combo which blew everyone away. The raviolini with wagyu beef filling was unbelievable, and the truffle (freshly sliced in front of you) just took it to a different level. The wagyu shortrib was great, just falling apart as you bite into it and punching you right back with all those sweet and fatty explosions of taste in your mouth. Then we finished with a selection of 4 or 5 different steaks, one better than the next - frankly i don’t even remember which (the selection of steaks is huge) because I was too drunk at this point, but i do know they were all stuff of dreams. Sides had throughout the meal: pastrami carrots were unbelievable, sauteed mushrooms and crab & spinach were amazing, even the fries were very good.

The chef was even kind enough to make substitutions for a person who couldn’t eat beef, replacing it with items such as scallops, octopus and lobster which were all impeccable.

To finish we had a selection of desserts: white chocolate cheesecake, chocolate gateaux, mont blanc. All great, but the cheesecake takes the crown.

Obviously all of this means it’s extremely expensive - even though we did byob, we paid north of $1000 each, but if you’re looking to celebrate a special moment in your life, look no further.

Note that cork-fee is $100 per bottle, so it’s really only worth it if you’re playing with bottles that cost more $200 at lcbo - honestly anything less would not jive with the rest of the meal, so it’d be...

The tasting menu prepared by the talented chef at this restaurant was truly outstanding.

The evening started with cocktails and drinks. My Breakfast in Paris was refreshing, delicately prepared and well presented.

The first course was an appetizer combo with ceviche, sashimi and raw oyster, each creatively garnished and topped with caviar. The three distinctly different raw seafood each offered its unique texture and flavour, cleverly united by the common theme of caviar.

The salad of pea shoots topped with gold flakes was fresh and pleasing. As a salad lover, I wish I could have more of that. The dressing was minimal and that allowed the flavour of the pea shoots to remain as the dominant player in each bite.

Beef carpaccio with king crab salad stuffing was an absolute delight. Pairing two chilled items together this way was a stroke of genius. The presentation, texture and taste were all off the chart. Definitely one of my favourite dishes that evening.

Steamed diver scallops from Nova Scotia was the next dish, and the sauce was delicate yet commanding enough to tie the protein and snow peas together. Steaming at first came across as an usual way to prepare this protein, but with scallops this fresh and flavourful, and a sauce so harmonious, steaming turned out to be the perfect preparation method.

The ravioli with truffle shavings was everything one could possibly expect from a dish that highlighted truffles heavily. When I used a spoon to fold the truffle shavings into the pasta and sauce, the aroma released from the truffle was simply intoxicating. The sauce was robust and a perfect accompaniment to the pasta.

I used to fancy myself as an expert in preparing slow braised short ribs until I tasted the chef's short ribs. In addition to being perfectly seasoned, the meat literally crumbled under my fork with just the slightest pressure and it figuratively melted in my mouth. Simply spectacular.

The final course was a combination of three steaks: Ontario Wagyu, tenderloins and rib eye. They were served with copious quantities of grilled mixed mushrooms, hefty asparagus spears and fries. The meats were minimally seasoned to allow their natural flavours to come through. We were provided with 4 types of exotic salt to elevate the steaks. The steaks were tender and beautifully grilled. However, as good and tasty as they were, they seemed anticlimactic after the previous 7 superb courses.

The service was simply outstanding. The wait staff was attentive and accommodating. The chef came to the table twice to chat as well. He was friendly and warm. It was very apparent that minute attention was devoted to everything from preparation to plating. Speaking of plating, one could not miss the pleasing visual delights that were the creative pairing of serving vessel and the food in each course. Take a look at the pictures and you will see how the plates and bowls accompanied the food perfectly in terms of shape and colours.

Overall, I would rank this as one of my top 10 meals of all times. I need to...

Overall, an excellent experience. Considering the food, the service, the environment, and just the atmosphere created by the staff.

The food: The preperation, consistency between dishes, and the quality were all top tier. We got exactly what we asked for, and we were provided all the information needed to make that decision. We were also given some additional dishes to try, and they were also great - maybe it was chosen based on our orders, or maybe at random. Either way, it was excellent. That said, if you are just looking for food and none of the other factors of the over all experience, I would not say the price tag is justified.

The service: Sebastian and the team were wonderful. Kept tabs on everyone's needs made us feel comfortable throughout the dining experience. Very knowledgeable about the menu items and helped us through with all the questions we had - also provided suggestion that they can only know with experience. The only minor complaint we had was that the main courses came a little too long after the appetizers had been finished. Hunger kicked in very quickly after the appetizers. Maybe it's for a better experience down the line? Or maybe it's some organizational oversight. In the end it didn't take too much away (A personal complaint would be that the 24oz dry aged ribeye came very bare and did not need additional salt - it would have been nice to have more options to tailor the flavour in addition to the dry-aged funk).

The environment: We were seated outside in an area well suited for our larger party. There was plenty privacy and the setting was well decorated. The spacing between guests were enough to have some privacy regardless of where you are seated, but I don't recall boothes being a thing here. The inside is a bit more calm than outside, given we are in downtown toronto. Nothing can stop the occasional sirens and loud people on the streets. Once again, not enough to ruin the experience.

Overall: We had a great time, and that's all that matters in the end. It's definitely not a place I'd come regularly, but it's on my list of places to visit for special occasions for sure. I visted this time with a party of 8, so smaller parties may have different experiences. I'd recommend this place for the whole package, but would not if food/cost are the only...