  umerical-chic naming continues apace with a whopping three new adventurous eateries that have been labeled with numbers. Cue the distinguishing ad hoc packaging full of gastro-archeology and shiny design clichés, and you’ve got yourself a numerical catfight.
For now, the number is Eight, which, of course, is at 8 Colborne Street. Eight replaces Doku 15, a gorgeous bar that nobody went to, taking up much of the lobby space of the Cosmopolitan Toronto Hotel. The lounge/restaurant is still undeniably glamorous, yet the space still feels more like a club than a restaurant and, in many ways, it is.
The crowd is older, mostly traveling businessman meets Lipstick Jungle (or Cashmere Mafia, your call). Yet the bass-heavy soundsystem, concrete aesthetics and glam customers can’t detract from Eight’s dishes being surprisingly good. Overworked and fussy perhaps, but Chef Derek Kennedy's ingredient pairings work – think pan-seared black cod, or charcuterie plates of Niagara proscuitto, foie fras terrine and Serrano ham.
Kennedy's short menu of mains features a Kimchi-rich Ahi tuna ($24.00), nicely plated with ginger soy sauce to deliver the proper amount of bite. The ravioli ($16.00) is another good option, with puffy pillows filled with the meat from oxtail cooked with five-spice powder. They are sauced with a zesty tomato sauce with king oyster mushrooms. I loved this dish, although a tighter grip on the spices would have been appreciated.
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8 Colborne Street, Toronto, ON
3 Reader Reviews
I was at Eight last night and was surprised by the level of service I received. At the start, I was expecting the basic lounge-like experience but got back so much more than I bargained for. I met two friends there and ordered a few plates between us to split (a duck shepherds pie, mini bugers and a cheese plate)..food was good, wasn't pricey at all but the kicker was our server. She was cute, attentive and paired our food with a few great wines. A friend of mine is not from here (New Jersey) and she recommended a few sites to see in the city and knew her way enough around the city to give detailed directions. To top it all off, the manager came by and gave us printed information on driving directions to a couple of places including info on the wines we tasted and how to get them for ourselves. The service was flawless, attentive and over-the-top. As we looked around the place, we noticed wait staff engaged in conversation with everybody in the place in the same way. I have to admit, the washroom on the second floor isn't very functional, but they are tasteful. Overall, the food was good, priced right, but there should be some grilled fish on it. GREAT, GREAT service!
Belinda Thurway's Rating: 4 Stars |
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Tried Eight Wine Bar... disappointed. Found the space to be unsuited to the decor, the menu was over priced signigicantly and the portions were very small, the fact that the restroom is inside the hotel and not even in the restaurant was also a bother. Do not recommend.
Julie Howlett's Rating: 2 Stars |
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I went and tried "Eight" after all the glowing buzz on here. I have to be honest...I was kind of disappointed. Maybe expectations were too high. THe interior was cool, like in this article, but the food was nothing really to write home about. Staff was cute, but kind of aloof. Am I missing something here?
Erin K.'s Rating: 2 Stars |
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Eight Wine Bar |
8 Colborne Street, Toronto, ON
416-350-8188
Financial District
American
Restaurant
Daily from 5pm-12am
$$$ (Within Reach)
Master Card Visa American Express |
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