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Rain, Toronto |
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Review by Martiniboys.com |
Miso-marinated cod, grilled perfectly, is set on a smooth black stone and surrounded with Japanese salad of tatsoi greens and daikon sprouts; Roast tandoori duck breast with a honey-sweetened sauce. Deep-fried plump shrimp in tempura batter cloaked in shiso leaves on wooden rods with a salad of nori, the sauce a yuzu ponzu in a wooden box for dipping.
Creative desserts are heavy on the chocolate theme: a layered array of gingersnap, chocolate ganache and cashews topped with a fat lychee; bananas coated with soya noodles and dark chocolate is sweetly bitter.
After devouring all of this, the month you waited for a reservation seems truly fitting. |
19 Mercer Street, Toronto, ON
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8 Reader Reviews
Why is everyone complaining about the portions. It is an asian fine dining restaraunt.
We just came back from rain on monday and it was terrific highl;y recomend it.
Ashley's Rating: 4 Stars |
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Our family of 5 had dinner at Rain a few nights ago. We found the food to be innovative, delicious, and the presentation gorgeous - a really special experience.
Katherine's Rating: 4 Stars |
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Rudest staff in all of Toronto, especially the girl (I refuse to call her anything else) who took our reservation. We should have taken that primary glimpse as fair warning. I think they pretend that they live in NYC. Our group of four were all laughing quietly. Food was good but the attitude from the staff overwhelmed everything else. We couldn't wait to get out of there. I consistently tell people not to go there, and you know what? They listen. Customers have mouths and they don't only use them for eating, they also use them to talk.
Ben's Rating: 2 Stars |
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I 've never been to your establishment.I had to check the circle, otherwise the email would not be sent. I'm sure you're cutting edge culinary geniuses. You could be the next best thing to James beard, Paul Bocuse, L'escoffier or Caesar Ritz. All I know is that by watching Fine Living on a rare ocassion and watching you touch every bit of food that the diners will put in their mouths made me gag. No gloves of any kind. I don't care if you washed your hands til your skin falls off, this is a very unsanitary practice and if I were in Public Health in Canada I'd close you down
Louise Barron's Rating: 1 Stars |
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I vowed a few years ago to never go back to Rain. I begrudgingly returned only because a friend was having a birthday dinner there.
We wanted reservation for between 6:30 and 7:30 for 5 people. We were told that they only had 5:30 or 8 available. 5:30 was chosen. I was not happy about starting a "dining experience" at 5:30 in the afternoon.
The waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. He explained that the idea of the restaurant is to order one or two main dishes and one side per person and to then share. At $34 per main dish and $14 per side, this was goin to be expensive. I remember form my last visit several years ago that the portions were very small, more like appetizers. There was barely enough on each plate for 2 to share let alone 5 people.
I must say that the one mouthful I managed to get of most of the dished we had ordered were very good. I was still hungry after I left and made something to eat as soon as I got home.
At 7:00 I discreetly went to the hostess and expressed my concern that we were told we could only get reservations for 5:30 or 8. We were there at 5:30. I explained that it was now 7 and the restaurant was mostly empty. She found this funny. I therefore called the manager. He didn't really seem to care that i was upset and explained that they stagger dinner arrivals to avoid overburdening the kitchen. When I said that the restaurant was still empty, he expalined that a party of 12 had just arrived. I was a bit perplexed by his response and told him I though this was pretty ridiculous. He said that he was sorry I felt this way. I returned to the table with my previous views of this restaurant and the arrogance reconfirmed. $160 later for my measly portion, I left hungry and unfulfilled. The food was beautifully presented. The service was great. The ambiance was dull. All in all there was very little value here
Paul's Rating: 2 Stars |
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Unfortunately, everything is off balance at Rain:
- the interior lacks a unifying theme and is a complete mismatch in style
- the food was extremely disppointing; out of four dishes only the "Blue Fin Tuna Three Ways" was acceptable, but not more. The other dishes were bland (spinach sesame roll and potatoe mountain dumpling) or simply discusting (miso marinated cod).
I simply can't see any reason why people should go to Rain, despite pleasant enough service - there are many better alternatives in Toronto and if Asian fusion is your thing you and your wallet is better off at Lee.
Jonnie's Rating: 1 Stars |
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Great room, unfortuneatly though - that was the highlight.
Guy Rubino's Mumbo Jumbo Fusion leads to confusing off-track flavours with to much clashing going on. Much time is spent on balancing act presentation and not enough on creating true, clean intense flavours.
Servers try but not sincere in there knowledge or delivery.
Wine list is well composed with some good picks.
David
David's Rating: 2 Stars |
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Firstly,it's comical that posters have given Toronto an unfavorable dining review in comparison to NYC or Chicago. As one who used to live in Chitown, I can firmly say that Toronto has as deep and diverse a culinary scene as Chicago. In regards to RAIN, it was not a worthwhile experience. 1)The service was courteous but, the staff consists of 20yrs olds who simply repeat verbatim the managers instructions. There's little personality. 2)Food was well prepared with nice presentation but, extremely small in portions and average in taste. 3) Atmosphere was cold and lacking. Rarely do I feel pretentious at a fine dining establishment, here I did. 4) Value was VERY low. It would seem prices are set more on the image than on the food and the atmosphere. While Rain tries, it is to be avoided in light of all the other fine choices within the rich Toronto dining scene.
Dylan's Rating: 2 Stars |
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Rain |
19 Mercer Street, Toronto, ON
416-599-7246
Clubland
Fusion
Restaurant, Lounge
Mon. to Sat.: 5:00pm - 1:00am
$$$ (within reach)
Master Card
Visa
American Express |
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MBO Toronto :: Toronto Restaurants & Dining Guide
