Review this Place

Reader Reviews

overwhelmingly unimpressed
Darren, Toronto
March 1, 2004
I consider myself to be a regular patron of restaurants. I am not one that would typically take the time to complete a restaurant review. However, 6 of us went Crush and were overwhelmingly unimpressed. The dinner was extremely over priced with the food scoring an average at best. It took 3 hours for the meal to arrive. Toronto has many restaurants that without doubt would be a better choice at this price level. If you happen to make your way to Crush, I suggest you keep walking to the right and go to Brassaii.


Upgrade the ventilation
D Farley, Toronto
December 2, 3004
Crush has a good feel as a space and on my visit, had appropriate
lighting for a dinner meal. The noise level is slightly too high to permit completely relaxed conversation. One drawback is ventilation in the dining space - the general odour of cigarette smoke from the bar is a drawback to those trying to enjoy the food and flavour of the wine. Management might consider upgrading the ventilation. The wine selection is broad and changes monthly to feature different regions.
Among the appetizers, the pear, celery, and padano salad I chose had a flavourful roquefort dressing, complemented by superlative sugared walnuts, but used excessive celery, which made it heavy and chewy. Among the mains, the fish was reported as excellent, and the pork loin perfectly cooked to my request. Our server was competent and attentive, but tended to be informal and somewhat condescending. Less pretension would be appropriate.


Sam Toronto
March 31, 2003
My husband and I have been to Crush on a number of different occasions. We have gone alone as a couple and have also brought friends.
Our only complaints are that the smell of smoke sometimes waft into the eating area. Also, the high ceilings mean there is an echo in the restaurant, so it can get rather loud.

Service is very polite and efficient, but somewhat slow... Also, we find its hard to get a reservation on a Saturday for the same night, but if you show up at the door and are willing to wait, they rgularly find a table within half an hour..and we never mind waiting at the bar with a drink. The food is always really good. The escargot croquttes and the hanger steak are excellent. The wine selection is also very good by the glass. This is nice if you feel like experimenting, or don't want to drink much.

Overall, the place is a great neighborhood restaurant with good food and atmosphere. There is better value and food in Toronto, but Crush tops the list in the King West area...


Boo-Boo Toronto
DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!
March 9, 2003
This place is not worth the paper the review is written on. We went in a group of 9, and ALL of us were disappointed. A 12$ salad that is little more than romaine, mediocre dressing and a sliver of mushroom? Please! And what about the $37 steak with cold, uninteresting mashed potatoes? The chevre salad, greasy and unispiring...I could go on, but you get the idea.

Save your big $$$ you pay in that place and eat somewhere else...but do go for a drink at the wine bar, as I have to give them that: excellent wine list!

unpleasant dinning experience
Kiki, Toronto
October 25, 2002
I was dinining at Crush on a sunday evening. I was looking forward to it, and unfortunately i must say that i am quite disappointed. The steak tartare was horrid with no taste, and the fish special (bass) tasted like rubber, but the rissotto was good and the stilton ice cream on apple crumble was delicious(if you like blue cheese ice cream) but the fruit flies that buzzed around our table was really the reason for such an unpleasant dinning experience. Little things can really piss you off sometimes, theres just nothing like ordering an expensive bottle of wine and trying to swat bugs around it. Anyways the waitress was really nice and admitted that they had a bug problem (she shouldnt have) but i would definitely never go back.
ps the lighting is horrible!!! it was so bright i felt like i was on a movie set.


Re: above___^
Nov 22, 2002
jackie r, Toronto.ON
I always like to check out the current reviews about my favorite places and normally don't write anything. But, I have to say that after reading this last review I must reply. If this is the same person that I saw there eating with a man with curly blonde hair, I must defend the waitress. I was sitting close by and the woman eating complained about everything every time the waitress came to the table. The waitress brought her more this, and more that without being asked to. I have never heard someone give a waitress such a hard time. I would only imagine that this waitress said nothing to avoid any continuation of complaints.


Trendy but not pretentious
Anne Dougherty, Toronto, ON
August 16, 2002
I have been to Crush many times and I have to say that it is definitely worth checking out. Not only is the food fantastic, but the sommelier introduced us to our current favourite red wine. Great match. Thanks Crush!


I would attend this restaurant again.
Da German, Toronto, ON
May 29, 2002
Although it is not as "stylish" as some of the other restaurants
mentioned here, it is still not a bad place with good food. It is
located on King Street next to Rodney's Oyster house. I would attend
that restaurant again.


Starters were spectacular,
Michelle Farley, Toronto, ON
May 12, 2002
. . . fois gras was masterfully done and the articoke and quail egg was as tasty as it was pretty. Mains were above average but will definitely go back to sample more of the menu. Great wine list, well-chosen with lots of reasonable bottles. The room was lovely but a little too bright, not very romantic but very funky. Like the relaxed atmosphere at the bar. Ended the evening on a great note with the yummy chocolate truffle. A great addition to the neighborhood, I look forward to hanging out there this summer.


Not-quite-cool investors
Biggysmalls, Toronto, ON
May 12, 2002
a bunch of bay street investors trying to be cool...not for me


I can't wait to go again
Jon Heymann, Toronto, ON
May 11, 2002
Crush really is a great place to go. It has all the elements I look for in a restaurant: good food, good wine and a great atmosphere.
I particularly enjoyed the pissaladiére and the hanger steak which was grilled to perfection. You have to try the fish which is as fresh as can be.
Their wine selection is excellent and by having so many sold by the glass, you can really match your food to the wine.
Friendly, interested staff really make this a pleasurable experience.
I can't wait to go again.


We like it!
mike k, Toronto,ON
Mar. 11, 2002
For an area that has alot of mediocre places, this one shines. It is certainly better than any other new spots, hands down. How places like Urban and Kit Kat pull in the crowds are by geography alone, as it’s a pre-theatre area. But Crush was a great find!


what do you people see in this place?
David S., Toronto, ON
May 11, 2002
attitude in heaping portions served with mediocre at best food was on the menu when we went. Great layout, no doubt, but not worth the effort. decor is not everything in my opinion, but the staff must think so. We got the feeling we could easily be replaced should we decide to leave and go elsewhere.


Great atmosphere, great food
Simon B, May 11, 2002
We went for a friend's birthday party last night, had a wonderful time. Our waiter was very nice and offered his recommendations (a sign of a good waiter), overall service was great, and our food was sooo good! The restaurant was bustling but it still kept that cozy atmosphere. We will definitely come back!