Le Papillion

[ER2]

Just back from a lengthy and pleasant three course Sunday lunch at Le Papillion. My main course was tortiere, followed by apple crunble and ice cream - both very decently made - but what was outsanding was the first course of French onion soup. It was very rich and flavourful and absolutely the right thing to have on a cold and snowy Sunday like today. Give it a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[No2cilantro]

I heard Le Papillion (well that entire block) will be history down the road. Guess what's taking its place. Condo, condo, condo.

[ekammin]

Le Papillion has been at a variety of downtown locations in its history. I hope that if the condo monster devours the block where it now is located, it will move somewhere else.

[orangewasabi]

if they move, I truly hope they take their decor with them to the new location. Those chairs are epic in their uncomfortableness; they're just the kind of thing that should live forever.

[jessicaxo]

They're dividing the land where Le Papillon sits into smaller parcels so that day might not be too far off - the whole block is connected by a chain of hallways and they are preparing to seal off all the adjoining doors. My office is directly above the restaurant kitchen (seriously) and although I haven't eaten there the food smells great, especially at 11:45am.

[scoobysnax]

I was there once, me and few pals were looking for a late dinner, and we found Le Papillion in the St. Lawrence Market area. I don't think it was that impressive. I got the steak frite, which was decent, but not done to the correct doness i wanted. My brother got the duck breast, which wasnt much either. We came kind of late though, so maybe we caught them closing and it wasnt very good.

[DAB]

One of the worst meals in memory - flavourles, gooy crepes, terrible service, even worse chairs. Unless this place has undergone a MASSIVE overhaul (don't see that happening!), can't imagine it's any better.

[dancingTimmy]

This has made it onto our "don't go" list.
We are normally only in the area before an event (ACC, Mirvish, etc...) and have been under whelmed as they try to jam as many people as possible through in the shortest time possible. Always reminds me of the King street west gang.
In general i head north 1/2 block to wellington or colboune street and pay a little more for way better food and service.
Maybe the sunday experience is different? Pre-theatre crowd is always a bad time to hit a restaurant.

[pescatarian]

This is the first positive post I've read about Le Papillon in ages. Most people, including myself, haven't been there in years. I never understood what the appeal was to the place. Their specialty was supposed to be crepes, and what I remember is flavourless, subpar crepes. I even remember preferring the crepes at the Magic Pan at the Eaton Centre (but then again I was a kid the last time I ate at the Magic Pan, so perhaps my taste buds weren't so choosey yet).
Perhaps Le Papillon has improved, but I couldn't say, because it's not somewhere I would go.

[embee]

The Magic Pan, a US franchise, had MUCH better crepes than anything ever served at Le Papillion! Magic Pan was the best place to eat at the Eaton Centre way back when.

[Googs]

I actually often miss and get a little nostalgic about Magic Pan. It was something a little different for a dining experience in a mall. It felt good to dine there something like Diana Sweet's in its day. Where did Magic Pan go?

[JamieK]

I was a regular at the Eaton Centre location (there was one at Sherway Gardens too). And was addicted to their St Germain pea soup, served with a little sherry to add to the soup. I still think about it.

[pescatarian]

The Magic Pan is a fond childhood memory. My aunt used to take my sister and I there everytime we went to the Eaton Centre. I think my regular was a spinach crepe. I remember we went there once and it was gone and we were pretty upset!

[lamaranthe]

If this one in Eaton Centre is very similar to the one in MTL, beware: very fancy stuff, i.e. straberries with black pepper, etc.

[pescatarian]

The Magic Pan in the Eaton Centre has been gone for at least 20 years. It wasn't fancy. Just good.

[Full tummy]

Holy Memories! It seems to me that's where I went for my semi-formal dinner when I was in grade ten, some 20 years ago. Can barely remember anything about it, though.

[JamieK]

I love the French onion soup at Le Papillon!

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Le Papillon
69 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E1B5, CA

[millygirl]

Oh yeah, onion soup....is it still as good as it was 15 years ago?
p.s. if you love onion soup you should check out Jacques Bistro du Parc in Yorkville on Cumberland. Best onion soup in the city.

[JamieK]

Yes, I'm a fan of Jacques too. But haven't been in many many years. A long-time friend who I used to go there with are planning a nostalgia visit there soon.

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Jacques Bistro Du Parc
126A Cumberland St, Toronto, Ontario, ON M5R 1A6, CA

[embee]

With the caveat that I haven't been there in quite a long time, Jacques' onion soup was by far the best in Toronto. Bibiche also has a delicious onion soup, which I have had recently. Le Papillon doesn't come close.

[millygirl]

I treat myself to Jacques all to frequently and believe me, the onion soup is still stellar!

[yaddayadda]

We haven't been there for years! And whenever we pass by, we noticed the same circa 1980-90's reviews, so we assumed Bibiche had had its day. Worth going back?

[embee]

They've been in business for at least twenty years and I keep expecting them to retire. Little has changed. Still the same weird decor and uncomfortable chairs. The specials vary, but the regular menu seldom does. Still huge portions, low prices, and most of the food made in house.