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Complete dinners for $35 per person, including all taxes, tip and a glass of wine or and aperitif. Open daily for snacks 2 to 6 pm, for dinner 6 pm to midnight, late menu to 2 am. – B.J.
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 AT A GLANCE
La Palette
256 Augusta Street, Toronto, ON
416-929-4900
French
Kensington Market
Venue:
Restaurant
Hours:
Daily: 6:00pm - 12:00am
Price Range:
$$ (Affordable)
Payment:
Master Card, Visa, American Express
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THE BUZZ
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IN THE AREA
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16 Reader Reviews | Not recommended. I lived in France for one year and can honestly say that La Palette is a poor excuse for French food. Also severely overpriced with respect to the quality of the meals. I think that there might be better places to spend your money and enjoy a nice gourmet evening. Try La Bodega on Baldwin Street - service not so great but the food was good. Other than tha, I recommend Montreal restaurants.
1. OK's Review :: February 05, 2010 OK's Rating: 1 Stars |
I've eaten at restaurants in Paris (France) and not one time, while I was there, did I have a duck legs so dry. The atmosphere was decent but lets be serious that has no affect on how the food tastes. It looked so promising when I walked through the door. I was hoping to experience a little bit of France, but instead I was extremely disappointed. I honestly hesitated paying the bill; because it was so overpriced (for food even I could have also improperly made at home). BEWARE OF ITS FRENCH ALLURE IT IS SO FAR FROM FRENCH CUISINE ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY!!!!
2. Nick's Review :: January 06, 2010 Nick's Rating: 1 Stars |
This tiny, whole in the wall is a treat! The ambiance, and size leave something to be desired, and I wouldn’t recommend trying to sit inside on a hot day. It can feel a bit like you are back to back with strangers, but the patio offers more airy and comfortable seats. The food is delicious and original. I recommend the tasting menu; but you better be hungry because the tasting menu portions are generous! A French restaurant without the pretension attitude, and delicious food. Great place to eat!
3. KC's Review :: July 16, 2009 KC's Rating: 4 Stars |
A cockroach on my table!!!! Need I say more?!!!
4. Lauren Whittaker's Review :: February 24, 2009 Lauren Whittaker's Rating: Stars |
Having arrived from the culinary wasteland of Hamilton , almost any restaurant would warrant 4 stars ! However , my wife loves good food , is an excellent critic and agrees with the rating.
Firstly , it is not pretentious , it is small with tiny tables and the clientele were friendly , casual and animated . The general ambience was as if one were eating in a small dining room owned by a ( long lost ) French aunt , complete with Lautrec posters on the walls !
The wine list was eclectic . When I indicated that I liked Rhone wines the waiter produced three bottles and asked us to compare . We chose a " Mistral " , an excellent Cotes de Rhone.
My wife's escargots were excellent , my seared duck breast and my daughter's soup likewise . Their steaks were excellent , complete with frites and tarragon mayonnaise . My Boeuf Bourguignon was better ( she said ) than my wife's , which is a huge compliment . The desserts were , a lemon tarte , a flourless chocolate cake , and 3 small creme brulees ( plain, maple and blueberry ).
No coffees or cognac.
All in all a delightful evening. The service was attentive and friendly.
If one is looking for formality , predictable cuisine and a subdued atmosphere then don't go here . If one has wistful memories of a French aunt , then do !
5. Gordon Fulthorpe's Review :: January 25, 2009 Gordon Fulthorpe's Rating: 4 Stars |
Love the atmosphere, honestly one of the most charming spots in Toronto, and the service was The food varied in quality, beginning well with fresh baguette and a delicious baked cambert for an appetiser, but the duck confit was rather bland, and the crème brule, was nothing to rave about either. The biggest disappointment came at the end, when the coffee we ordered turned out to be instant. It’s a moderately high-end restaurant, freeze-dried instant coffee should be below any restaurants’ standards.
6. Monica's Review :: December 28, 2008 Monica's Rating: 3 Stars |
I had the pleasure of having dinner at La Palette a few weeks ago. I have lived in Toronto for eight years now and consider myself to be a "foodie." La Palette was the best dining experience I have had in a long time.
My dinner companion and I were greeted at the door by the owner himself, who also took out coats and seated us.
We fell in love instantly with the restaurant's quaint and very romantic ambience. We truly felt as though we were in Paris!
We were then introduced to the extremely extensive drink list (one of the finest in TO!) and opted for an on-tap beer from Oakville. It was astounding and complemented our soup appetizer very well.
I ordered the steak and frites. My medium-rare steak was done to perfection, while the tomato and goat cheese topping enhanced its succulent taste. What can I say about the frites and garlic mayo? Delightful!
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I ordered the flourless chocolate cake. Great dessert places are difficult to come by in this city. I highly recommend La Palette's dessert menu. The cake, which was complemented by a scoop of rum-flavoured praline-coated vanilla ice cream, literally melted our mouths. We were in heaven.
I would go so far as to say that my eating experience at La Palette was orgasmic. I have recommended this gem of a restaurant to many people and am looking forward to visiting again soon.
7. Anonymous's Review :: January 17, 2008 |
I had the pleasure of having dinner at La Palette a few weeks ago. I have lived in Toronto for eight years now and consider myself to be a "foodie." La Palette was the best dining experience I have had in a long time.
My dinner companion and I were greeted at the door by the owner himself, who also took out coats and seated us.
We fell in love instantly with the restaurant's quaint and very romantic ambience. We truly felt as though we were in Paris!
We were then introduced to the extremely extensive drink list (one of the finest in TO!) and opted for an on-tap beer from Oakville. It was astounding and complemented our soup appetizer very well.
I ordered the steak and frites. My medium-rare steak was done to perfection, while the tomato and goat cheese topping enhanced its succulent taste. What can I say about the frites and garlic mayo? Delightful!
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I ordered the flourless chocolate cake. Great dessert places are difficult to come by in this city. I highly recommend La Palette's dessert menu. The cake, which was complemented by a scoop of rum-flavoured praline-coated vanilla ice cream, literally melted our mouths. We were in heaven.
I would go so far as to say that my eating experience at La Palette was orgasmic. I have recommended this gem of a restaurant to many people and am looking forward to visiting again soon.
8. Liz's Review :: January 17, 2008 Liz's Rating: 4 Stars |
One of my faves. Out of 8 visits, I have been disappointed only once, which for any place is a great average. Awesome sirloin and tasty deserts in a cozily classy Kensington atmosphere keep me coming back. Claiming to have had one of the worst dining experiences in 40 years of Toronto dining, is pure comedy. Quit jerking your knee, jerk.
9. Sven Jorgenson's Review :: December 13, 2007 Sven Jorgenson's Rating: 4 Stars |
Typical French fare. It was good, but nothing that blew me away. Like it said in the review, it was small and cute. If there weren't other good French places in the city to go to, I'd return to this one.
10. Anonymous's Review :: January 09, 2007 |
What a huge disappointment, after hearing raves about this little boite for so many years. I guess when the previous co-owner took the entire restaurant over he didn't pay attention to what was successful. The food was mediocre -- really nothing to rave about --and the service appalling. Yes, it's cramped and one expects that, so no big surprise that you barely have room to move your elbows. With so many better choices in Kensington Market (Torito, the Bellevue Diner) and French options (Batifole), why bother with this passe venue?
11. Torontogirly's Review :: January 08, 2007 Torontogirly's Rating: 2 Stars |
This used to be my favourite restaurant in town - it so cozy, charming and the food tends to be great. Plus, their service was always really personalized. For example, after listening to my confusion on which delectable dessert to order, the waiter obliged me by a half order of each:)
Having said that, the last couple of visits have not been the same - the food was bland last time and the charming touches were missing, replaced by hurried service.
I may keep trying to get it right here, but I won't be as quick to reccomend it as I was in the past.
12. Anne's Review :: December 02, 2006 Anne's Rating: 3 Stars |
Probably the worst dining experience I have ever had in Toronto (in close to 40 years of experience). Both steak and fish badly, badly underdone. When we requested that the mains be cooked a little more they disappeared for 20+ minutes and returned in exactly the same state and stone cold. When I asked whether they were actually recooked no one seemed able to give an answer. Front of house staff (except for one accomodating fellow who just got involved too late to make a difference in the evening) seemed to practice the philosophy that if they ignored us intensely enough, the problems would disappear. A terrible, dismal, catastrophic failure of a dining experience. Call Gordon Ramsay!
13. Marklar's Review :: September 03, 2006 Marklar's Rating: 1 Stars |
They were very friendly and accomodating. Nicole, the lady who sang in French was very nice to listen and added to the French atmosphere.
Liver pate appetizer was huge and tasty, well worth the 8$ price tag.
I can't say the same thing about the award winning(?) steak and frites. Steak was too greasy. Oil was puddled in my plate. Frites were not crispy and were greasy as well. May be it was a bad night, I am not sure, but I couldn't understand how this steak and frites won an award and cost 26$!!!
Deserts were phenomenal though! I loved the choclate-espresso crem brule. Flourless choclate cake was amazing too.
They need more servers there and should definately stop chatting with their friends who seem to pop in quite often. We had to wait quite a long time to receive our food and bill. Also certain things we ordered did not arrive, but were nicely replaced at no charge.
14. Beyza's Review :: February 21, 2006 Beyza's Rating: 3 Stars |
We had a party of 18 - and 1 waiter, I can't tell you enough how accomodating they were. The service was amazing, The food was great, so much we had asked the chef to come out so we could give him a great round of applause. Our waiter was lively and witty - and checked on us several times to make sure our drinks were topped up regularly. I had ordered the special, which was cheval (horse) I was a little apprehensive about my entree choice....considering I was told I was eating someone's pony. But it was delicicious none the less and very lean - not the game like type of meat you would expect. As an appetizer I ordered the mushroom caps stuffed w/ escargot and cheese, which was flavourful and not too filling. It's a great little restaurant - nothing pretentious about it at all - and I hear the brunch is phenomenal.
15. Leila's Review :: November 12, 2005 Leila's Rating: 4 Stars |
Having just returned from dinner at La Palette, would have to give it a very low ranking on the food quality scale. The steak was so tough it couldn't be cut and was full of veins and fat. We sent it back only to receive a similar poor quality steak in return. The vegetarian option was mediocre - luke warm, dry and not terribly tasty. The ambience is good, however the service was unacceptable. The waiter was extremely unpleasant when he didn't recieve what he considered to be an appropriate tip (and we did not tip as the food quality was unacceptable - except the fries! - and we were charged a lot of money for a very bad meal.) We will not return.
16. DRC's Review :: September 13, 2005 DRC's Rating: 1 Stars |
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256 Augusta Street, Toronto, ON |
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