A classic neighborhood jewel amongst the parade of Yonge St. crazies.

The Scene
On the corner of Yonge and Gloucestor a small entrance gives way to two cozy rooms with pulsating disco, funky art-tiled flooring and an appealing menu. The place has a good neighborhood vibe to it: The servers are conversational, but in a good, charming way. After a few visits, they'll likely know your name and your order. The coffee's strong and is usually poured without looking.

A lot of effort is put out by the servers and the maitre’ d, Peter, probably the most gracious host in the city. The Brownstone’s main likability is the location. Yonge Street Toronto is not SoHo. But Brownstone can hold its own. This is a space that would work just as well in SoHo, except the attitude level is turned way down. Serious martini-heads will love Peter's Watermelon Martini, which had no name at the time of this writing.

The Food
The menu is creative and assured: wildly fresh smoked salmon served over pasta, Penné Arabiata, and panini sandwiches and a superbly grilled flank steak. Instead of being stuck with showy herbs and bombed with sweet sauces, the steak is arranged in a sleek way with a modest stack of thick, double-blanched frites on the side and a cup of freshly made mayonnaise, for dipping. This kind of stripped-down elegance dovetails neatly with a whole range of dishes on the menu at The Brownstone.

The Vibe
Regulars also know what happens to the lowly sandwich when transformed at The Brownstone. Take, for example, the humble grilled chicken panini: Here, it morphs into cheddar on country sourdough with tomato, cilantro and avocado sauce. For dessert, grab one of the heavenly brownies. The desert selection is abundant. Cakes are moist and thickly iced, and this downtown location has extended hours for the dessert dogs now sniffing around. Don't leave without trying the carrot cake.


Review this Place
Reader Reviews

A little odd
Nov 15, 2002
Ken V., Toronto, On
Almost perfect. I would only deduct points for the fish special that was somewhat mealy and service that at a few points was confusing. To wit: after we had been greeted by a friendly server and had gotten some enthusiastic recommendations, we ordered our appetizers and off she went. a few minutes later another server took over from there on.

C M Toronto, ON
June. 27, 2001
The food was wonderful!!! Our waiter was friendly enough, but seemed to have too many tables and had trouble remembering our drink orders. The prices were in line with this type of restaurant. The atmosphere was interesting, but a little too open for a romantic evening.


Michelle Flood, Toronto, ON
Jan. 22, 2002
My husband and I had one of the most memorable evenings ever at Brownstone. We walked away feeling Oh-So Swanky! Thanks, Brownstone.


C D Ottawa, ON
Nov. 19, 2001
Service was great & the food was wonderful. I went with clients & had a fabulous time. I'll be back with my family & friends.