 ocated at the top five-star maven, the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, Toula Restaurant scene of the skyline can be paired with delish Venetian cuisine. The Italian eatery is also renowned for their vast wine cellar, with a substantial collection of wines from Piedmonte and Tuscany. – A.C.
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 AT A GLANCE
Toula Restaurant
1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON
416-869-1600
Italian
Front Street
Venue:
Restaurant
Hours:
Daily: 12:00pm - 2:30pm 5:30pm - 10:00pm
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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10 Reader Reviews | I must say that I agree wholeheartedly with all of the previous reviews. Having spent all of my working life (34 years) in the Food and Beverage industry, I was very disappointed with the entire experience at Toula.
From first arriving to the neglected space and seeing the badly worn blinds half up, half down, and not to mention crooked. Even pulling my chair in was an experience. My fingers actually stuck to the arms. I was not so surprised by this once our waiter finally arrived at our table. He was filthy. I would think that if his skills as a waiter (which I did not have the pleasure of seeing) are so great, it might be in the best interests of the Management to insist he always have a back up uniform on hand.
On to the food. Hmmm, Are you kidding me?????? Shameful, just shameful. Whatever happened to tasting your product before sending it out. Let me see, how can I describe the culinary achievements happening at Toula... Abysmal,and insipid.
On a lighter note, the Margarita, when it finally arrived was nice and cold.
I thought Westin had more exacting standards.
1. Anonymous's Review :: April 16, 2008 |
I must say that I agree wholeheartedly with all of the previous reviews. Having spent all of my working life (34 years) in the Food and Beverage industry, I was very disappointed with the entire experience at Toula.
From first arriving to the neglected space and seeing the badly worn blinds half up, half down, and not to mention crooked. Even pulling my chair in was an experience. My fingers actually stuck to the arms. I was not so surprised by this once our waiter finally arrived at our table. He was filthy. I would think that if his skills as a waiter (which I did not have the pleasure of seeing) are so great, it might be in the best interests of the Management to insist he always have a back up uniform on hand.
On to the food. Hmmm, Are you kidding me?????? Shameful, just shameful. Whatever happened to tasting your product before sending it out. Let me see, how can I describe the culinary achievements happening at Toula... Abysmal,and insipid.
On a lighter note, the Margarita, when it finally arrived was nice and cold.
I thought Westin had more exacting standards.
2. Kurt's Review :: April 16, 2008 Kurt's Rating: 1 Stars |
Was just at Toula for Winterlicious 2008 - what a dissapointment! The menu sounded lovely, but the food was definitely sub-par.
- East-Coast Scallops Venetian-style on fresh Polenta Cake for appetizer - incredibly bland
- Veal Medallion over Wild Mushrooms and caramelized Spanish Onion and Toula's famous Potato Cake for main (on the server's recommendation) - meat was tough and overcooked, the "potato cakes" were lumpy mashed potatoes
- Chocolate Souffle Cake with home-made Vanilla Gelato and Coffee-Orange Glace - more like a brownie with ice cream
The service was nothing to write home about - hostess and server were not very friendly.
Never going back there again.
3. Anonymous's Review :: January 31, 2008 |
Was just at Toula for Winterlicious 2008 - what a dissapointment! The menu sounded lovely, but the food was definitely sub-par.
- East-Coast Scallops Venetian-style on fresh Polenta Cake for appetizer - incredibly bland
- Veal Medallion over Wild Mushrooms and caramelized Spanish Onion and Toula's famous Potato Cake for main (on the server's recommendation) - meat was tough and overcooked, the "potato cakes" were lumpy mashed potatoes
- Chocolate Souffle Cake with home-made Vanilla Gelato and Coffee-Orange Glace - more like a brownie with ice cream
The service was nothing to write home about - hostess and server were not very friendly.
Never going back there again.
4. Farzana's Review :: January 31, 2008 Farzana's Rating: 1 Stars |
The food was worse than what I'd expect from a high-school cafeteria. It had obviously been prepared that morning or even the day before and either left in the fridge or freezer (even the garnishes were frozen on the sorbetti!), or under a heat lamp. Vegetables were mushy and the turkey scallopinni was overcooked and the mozarella not even melty. I truly believe the potatoes may have come from a box. I can't even believe they call the cheesecake that - it seemed like a cool-whip no bake a 10 year old would make. The staff were forgetful and poorly trained. ie. When I left my fork on my plate after the appetizer, she took the plate, then turned and returned the fork to table so I could use it for the main..eww. I was also given a fork to eat the sorbetti with - highly effective. When we asked another waiter if we could speak to a manager, he said defensively 'you can speak with me'. Quite obviously any feedback you may give will go no where. I feel sorry for the Westin, they need to get new management and chefs in that restaurant. The only possible reason it is still in business is because tourists don't know any better and overcharged. If you have a reservation there now - CANCEL IT!
5. Anonymous's Review :: January 29, 2008 |
The food was worse than what I'd expect from a high-school cafeteria. It had obviously been prepared that morning or even the day before and either left in the fridge or freezer (even the garnishes were frozen on the sorbetti!), or under a heat lamp. Vegetables were mushy and the turkey scallopinni was overcooked and the mozarella not even melty. I truly believe the potatoes may have come from a box. I can't even believe they call the cheesecake that - it seemed like a cool-whip no bake a 10 year old would make. The staff were forgetful and poorly trained. ie. When I left my fork on my plate after the appetizer, she took the plate, then turned and returned the fork to table so I could use it for the main..eww. I was also given a fork to eat the sorbetti with - highly effective. When we asked another waiter if we could speak to a manager, he said defensively 'you can speak with me'. Quite obviously any feedback you may give will go no where. I feel sorry for the Westin, they need to get new management and chefs in that restaurant. The only possible reason it is still in business is because tourists don't know any better and overcharged. If you have a reservation there now - CANCEL IT!
6. Jacqueline's Review :: January 28, 2008 Jacqueline's Rating: 1 Stars |
To: Mr. Adriano Vicentini, General Manager
Dear Mr. Vicentini
My name is Leah Polishchuk, and I would like you to give you a feedback regarding the experience we had at your restaurant on February 3, at lunch time (2 p.m).
I have never written a complaint letter in my life, but this time I felt that you must be aware of the level of service at your restaurant.
We frequently entertain out of town clients and visitors, and are familiar with Toronto's restaurant scene.
We had visitors from the US, and decided to show them Toronto, and take them out for lunch to one of the best places in Toronto. Few of our friends decided to join us.
They all felt that since I am more familiar with Toronto's restaurants, I was assigned a task of finding a place for lunch.
I read good reviews about Toula restaurant, and, considering your location, and view of the city and the lake, I chose your restaurant for our group lunch.
It happened to be Winterlicious festival, and I called to reserve a table on Jan 9, using my American Express Front of the Line number. I was asked to secure the reservation with my Amex credit card, and was told that all cancellations had to be made 48 hours before.
Upon arrival, we were shown to our table with beautiful view, ordered wine, and were ready to order. The menu looked delicious:
Salmon Bisque made from Home cured salmon,
Salad of fennel, radicchio and oven roasted pears,
Potato Chocchi,
Veal liver with polenta,
Salmon with Risotto,
Chocolate dipped apple strudel,
Venetian cream
We looked over the menu, and ordered, expecting delicious food.
Few of us ordered salad (I was one), and few ordered soup.
Soup was total disappointment: coldish, tasteless potato soup with just a hint of fish - the main thing, it was COLD (outside was - 18 C).
Salad was not very good either - there was fennel and radicchio, with some brownish pieces of the pear (not roasted).
Service was terrible. There were not many people in the restaurant, perhaps the lunch was already over, and we were a few of the last people at your restaurant - but we the waiter left us for 20-30 minutes at a time, it took a while to be served salad / soup, and then it took a long time to be served the main.
The only people (2 in a group) that had a decent meal were the lucky ones that had ordered salmon - it was pretty good, and so was risotto.
Veal liver was quite overcooked, although the polenta was good.
I ordered gnocchi, and expected to have a melt-in-your-mouth experience, since your restaurant is an established Italian restaurant. Well, they tasted like something bought frozen in the Loblaws, boiled and dressed with sage butter. People that ordered it could not finish it, it was just food, not tasty at all.
After the meal the waiter brought us our desserts after considerable wait, without even asking if we want any coffee / tea.
We ordered coffee / tea when the dessert was served, and had to wait another 20 minutes for it.
For desert, Venetian cream was very good, but the apple strudel was terrible! It tasted like it was frozen before.
I was under the impression that Winterlicious was created to attract patrons to new restaurants, and impress them, so they will come again and again.
Well, your staff did just the opposite - we would never go to your restaurant again, and tell everyone we know about the experience.
Our friends from the US are doctors, who attend many conferences worldwide, including Toronto, and I do not think that they will recommend your restaurant either.
I, probably, would not have written to you, but I am not sure you are aware of it. I do not think that your chef would allow this quality of food be served - I suspect that the chef left, and someone else took over.
Toronto is a world class city - we had travelled all over the world, and know that we have excellent restaurants in Toronto. I was VERY embarrassed when our visitors remarked that even a small city on the east coast of the US has better restaurants.
We've paid $450 for this lunch (10), and everyone felt very disappointed.
I hope that this is a very rare occurrence, and on other occasions quality control at your establishment is much better.
Sincerely,
Leah
Rating: 1
7. Anonymous's Review :: February 15, 2007 |
To: Mr. Adriano Vicentini, General Manager
Dear Mr. Vicentini
My name is Leah Polishchuk, and I would like you to give you a feedback regarding the experience we had at your restaurant on February 3, at lunch time (2 p.m).
I have never written a complaint letter in my life, but this time I felt that you must be aware of the level of service at your restaurant.
We frequently entertain out of town clients and visitors, and are familiar with Toronto's restaurant scene.
We had visitors from the US, and decided to show them Toronto, and take them out for lunch to one of the best places in Toronto. Few of our friends decided to join us.
They all felt that since I am more familiar with Toronto's restaurants, I was assigned a task of finding a place for lunch.
I read good reviews about Toula restaurant, and, considering your location, and view of the city and the lake, I chose your restaurant for our group lunch.
It happened to be Winterlicious festival, and I called to reserve a table on Jan 9, using my American Express Front of the Line number. I was asked to secure the reservation with my Amex credit card, and was told that all cancellations had to be made 48 hours before.
Upon arrival, we were shown to our table with beautiful view, ordered wine, and were ready to order. The menu looked delicious:
Salmon Bisque made from Home cured salmon,
Salad of fennel, radicchio and oven roasted pears,
Potato Chocchi,
Veal liver with polenta,
Salmon with Risotto,
Chocolate dipped apple strudel,
Venetian cream
We looked over the menu, and ordered, expecting delicious food.
Few of us ordered salad (I was one), and few ordered soup.
Soup was total disappointment: coldish, tasteless potato soup with just a hint of fish - the main thing, it was COLD (outside was - 18 C).
Salad was not very good either - there was fennel and radicchio, with some brownish pieces of the pear (not roasted).
Service was terrible. There were not many people in the restaurant, perhaps the lunch was already over, and we were a few of the last people at your restaurant - but we the waiter left us for 20-30 minutes at a time, it took a while to be served salad / soup, and then it took a long time to be served the main.
The only people (2 in a group) that had a decent meal were the lucky ones that had ordered salmon - it was pretty good, and so was risotto.
Veal liver was quite overcooked, although the polenta was good.
I ordered gnocchi, and expected to have a melt-in-your-mouth experience, since your restaurant is an established Italian restaurant. Well, they tasted like something bought frozen in the Loblaws, boiled and dressed with sage butter. People that ordered it could not finish it, it was just food, not tasty at all.
After the meal the waiter brought us our desserts after considerable wait, without even asking if we want any coffee / tea.
We ordered coffee / tea when the dessert was served, and had to wait another 20 minutes for it.
For desert, Venetian cream was very good, but the apple strudel was terrible! It tasted like it was frozen before.
I was under the impression that Winterlicious was created to attract patrons to new restaurants, and impress them, so they will come again and again.
Well, your staff did just the opposite - we would never go to your restaurant again, and tell everyone we know about the experience.
Our friends from the US are doctors, who attend many conferences worldwide, including Toronto, and I do not think that they will recommend your restaurant either.
I, probably, would not have written to you, but I am not sure you are aware of it. I do not think that your chef would allow this quality of food be served - I suspect that the chef left, and someone else took over.
Toronto is a world class city - we had travelled all over the world, and know that we have excellent restaurants in Toronto. I was VERY embarrassed when our visitors remarked that even a small city on the east coast of the US has better restaurants.
We've paid $450 for this lunch (10), and everyone felt very disappointed.
I hope that this is a very rare occurrence, and on other occasions quality control at your establishment is much better.
Sincerely,
Leah
8. Leah Polishchuk's Review :: February 14, 2007 Leah Polishchuk's Rating: 1 Stars |
I'm not sure what the quality of food and service are like on a normal night at Toula, but in the full-swing of Winterlicious things were definitely not up to par. The bread was stale, the appetizers bland, the risotto definitely undercooked. I'm not too sure why they were offering apple strudel at all, but it didn't really deserve the name.
I've never written a review of a restaurant before, and I'm not usually this mean. But if you're deciding on a Winterlicious destination, I'd head somewhere else...
9. Anonymous's Review :: January 27, 2007 |
I'm not sure what the quality of food and service are like on a normal night at Toula, but in the full-swing of Winterlicious things were definitely not up to par. The bread was stale, the appetizers bland, the risotto definitely undercooked. I'm not too sure why they were offering apple strudel at all, but it didn't really deserve the name.
I've never written a review of a restaurant before, and I'm not usually this mean. But if you're deciding on a Winterlicious destination, I'd head somewhere else...
10. Julia's Review :: January 27, 2007 Julia's Rating: 1 Stars |
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1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON |
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MBO Toronto :: Toronto Restaurants & Dining Guide
