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Martiniboys.com | Last Updated: April 24,2009 11:15:47 am
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Ironically located on a street, the Boulevard Café looks, from the outside, like a typical contempo bistro; I guess that's what Peruvian joints look like (?). With a fireplace, cozy patio, and über comfortable ambiance, the BC draws a crowd of book-land regulars, tweed patches and sliding eyeglasses and all. It has a simultaneously in-the-know and inclusive feel and unique (well, unique to Toronto) fare. |
 AT A GLANCE
Boulevard Cafe
161 Harbord St, Toronto, ON, Canada
416-961-7676
Latin American
Harbord
Venue:
Restaurant
Hours:
Daily: 11:30am - 12:00am
Price Range:
$$$ (within reach)
Payment:
Master Card, Visa, American Express, Diners Club
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THE BUZZ
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IN THE AREA
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14 Reader Reviews | I had an unkind experience at the Boulevard Café this weekend when my partner and I were made to wait over 30 minutes for our ‘reserved’ table for two. While those arriving before and after us (with and without reservations) got escorted to their neatly decorated stations we were made to wait without so much as regular courtesies from the curly brown-haired owner and waiters bustling around us. We left after sampling a glass of house white while waiting in line, acquired grudgingly by said curly haired owner. Our time at the Boulevard Café was reminiscent of discriminating experiences when you’re made to feel your not welcome in establishments ‘too good’ for your patronage. Given that the owner herself is Peruvian this seems difficult to swallow, but hey, treating people like s**t is a skill without borders.
1. Brown Girl In The City's Review :: March 11, 2010 Brown Girl In The City's Rating: 1 Stars |
Excellent red wine sangria! Fresh fruit galore, including gooseberry garnish, and the thick colour shows that the ice does not water down the drink substantially. It isn't cheap though, $20 for 500mL.
2. JK's Review :: January 28, 2010 JK's Rating: Stars |
The boulevard cafe was extremely disappointing aside from the decor. I went for a very late lunch and every single option on the menu was eggs. I mentioned that I had a very sensitive stomach and asked if there was anything aside from eggs. The waitress recommended the steak with fries which I ordered. It came with 2 sunny side eggs piled on top which, along with the fries, was drenched in an exhorbitantly spicy sauce (Why would you recommend that kind of spice for a sensitive stomach?).
I was charged nearly $5 for a cup of tea and erroneously charged nearly twice as much for the steak as what was on the menu and I was charged for corn bread that I did not order. I asked that the bill be corrected for the appropriate amount for the steak and after 20 minutes, the cheque came back wrong again. Since I was in a rush, I just paid it as is, but I will never return and I suggest that no one eat at this restaurant.
3. Anonymous's Review :: January 25, 2010 Anonymous's Rating: 1 Stars |
Do not come here if you want a glass of wine with your meal. If you choose to drink only a glass or two of wine rather than buy a whole bottle (and they start at around $45 for wines you can get in the LCBO for $12), they will charge you ten dollars per glass!!! Plus you only have a choice of about four or five wines (including both whites and reds). Unbelievable. I have never heard of this kind of pricing. And they are really sneaky about it too--the wine list doesn't give prices by the glass, only by the bottle. I came here for Summerlicious and was tossing up between here and another place, Biff's Bistro. I chose this place because the wine prices at Biff's seemed a little steep (I am a student and have very little cash to spare). I just assumed that since Boulevard Cafe is obviously not in the same league as Biff's (even though they were both doing the $15 lunch prix fixe) that their wine would be more affordable. So, stupid me, I ordered a glass of house wine without asking what the price was. Nasty shock when I got the bill. I'm sure it's happened to a lot of people. What's amazing is that with that kind of deception and meanness that people keep going back there. Sure the patio is nice, and the food was ok, and the service was fine considering how busy it was (although they really could stretch to another waitress during lunch hour--mine was absolutely run off her feet and I had to seat myself and then wait ten minutes for the table to be cleared), but seriously--ten bucks for a glass of cheap substandard plonk? I totally should have gone to Biff's and had a truly upper crust experience--that would ironically have actually worked out cheaper.
4. Ebony's Review :: July 16, 2009 Ebony's Rating: 2 Stars |
Good food, good service, great ambiance on the patio, expected pricing, diverse interesting clientele. You needn't park a Ferrari at the door to be part of "the scene." Totally delightful!
5. Jeff's Review :: June 14, 2009 Jeff's Rating: 3 Stars |
Food was decent: large portions, nice flavours, decently presented, although one of the dishes (salt fish) was delivered cold and had to be sent back.
Service, however, was clueless. Our waiter unbelievably asked us to switch tables in the middle of our dinner to accomodate another group. We refused. As a result, the waiter was cold and distant throughout the remainder of the evening.
I've been here several times for lunch in the past and have largely enjoyed the experience, but I would not return again for dinner.
6. LB's Review :: April 11, 2009 LB's Rating: 2 Stars |
We went there this Saturday for Winterlicious. The food was good, but the service was awful. Like we waited standing for 25mins for our 8pm table. We asked for one bottle of wine, they brought another different one, and when we questioned it, they were like, well it's the same price (so why didn't they just say they were out of the one we ordered?. Our wine glasses were very wet when the waiter put them on our table, and we had to dry them with our napkins (while the waiter watched and didn't apologize or anything). A number of people who came after us got served before us. And they added gratuity, which I've never had happened before, on a 2 person bill. I understand for a large group, but not for the 2 of us. It's like they thought we weren't going to tip so they went ahead and added it "just in case". They added less than I usually give, though and I didn't feel like bumping it up any.
I just got the feeling like they though they could get away with treating us crappy, since we were the Winterlicious crowd.
The food was pretty good, but I won't be going back.
7. Anonymous's Review :: February 05, 2008 |
We went there this Saturday for Winterlicious. The food was good, but the service was awful. Like we waited standing for 25mins for our 8pm table. We asked for one bottle of wine, they brought another different one, and when we questioned it, they were like, well it's the same price (so why didn't they just say they were out of the one we ordered?. Our wine glasses were very wet when the waiter put them on our table, and we had to dry them with our napkins (while the waiter watched and didn't apologize or anything). A number of people who came after us got served before us. And they added gratuity, which I've never had happened before, on a 2 person bill. I understand for a large group, but not for the 2 of us. It's like they thought we weren't going to tip so they went ahead and added it "just in case". They added less than I usually give, though and I didn't feel like bumping it up any.
I just got the feeling like they though they could get away with treating us crappy, since we were the Winterlicious crowd.
The food was pretty good, but I won't be going back.
8. Adam Smith's Review :: February 05, 2008 Adam Smith's Rating: 1 Stars |
I had the most terrible dinner at Boulevard Cafe. I have eaten here in the past and have quite enjoyed their menu with their wonderful wine selection. What a huge disappointment it is now. We ordered the tilapia $25.00 which was thin and dry. We also ordered the steamed mussels. The mussels were mostly shell. They were dried up and served on a plate of brown beans. The best thing about the meal was the bread.
9. Anonymous's Review :: December 12, 2007 |
I had the most terrible dinner at Boulevard Cafe. I have eaten here in the past and have quite enjoyed their menu with their wonderful wine selection. What a huge disappointment it is now. We ordered the tilapia $25.00 which was thin and dry. We also ordered the steamed mussels. The mussels were mostly shell. They were dried up and served on a plate of brown beans. The best thing about the meal was the bread.
10. Hakan1's Review :: December 12, 2007 Hakan1's Rating: 1 Stars |
This place has great pisco sours but I'll never go back after the owner confronted me in front of everyone on the terrace about a bad bottle of wine. The wine they served me (a red Rioja) must have been stored beside the oven because it was totally oxidised and had transformed into sherry. When I sent it back, the owner appeared and rudely told me that I was wrong and the the wine "wasn't corked." I explained calmly that I never said it was corked but that it was oxidised. She guffawed and said that she was going to have it with her dinner. Fine, I thought, ruin your dinner. She brought a bottle of cava (that wasn't on the menu) and then proceeded to charge me extra to cover the first wine that I had refused. The word for someone like this in Spanish is "maleducada" ("rude" or literally "poorly raised"). I won't return.
11. Anonymous's Review :: June 29, 2007 |
This place has great pisco sours but I'll never go back after the owner confronted me in front of everyone on the terrace about a bad bottle of wine. The wine they served me (a red Rioja) must have been stored beside the oven because it was totally oxidised and had transformed into sherry. When I sent it back, the owner appeared and rudely told me that I was wrong and the the wine "wasn't corked." I explained calmly that I never said it was corked but that it was oxidised. She guffawed and said that she was going to have it with her dinner. Fine, I thought, ruin your dinner. She brought a bottle of cava (that wasn't on the menu) and then proceeded to charge me extra to cover the first wine that I had refused. The word for someone like this in Spanish is "maleducada" ("rude" or literally "poorly raised"). I won't return.
12. Bob's Review :: June 28, 2007 Bob's Rating: 1 Stars |
Went there for Winterlicious, so I can't give a subjective review of the every day value, etc.
But I was very pleased with my Winterlicious meal, and so was everyone else in my party! The food was flavourful and unique, with full portions. The staff was friendly, and didn't rush us out even though we were last to leave.
A neat little spot, with a cozy atmosphere and great food! I will be going back.
13. MD's Review :: January 29, 2007 MD's Rating: 4 Stars |
Great food!
14. Km's Review :: February 03, 2006 Km's Rating: 4 Stars |
| Click here to view all 11 reviews |
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161 Harbord St, Toronto, ON, Canada |
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