Best bistro/diner on Mt. Pleasant or Bayview?

[taysdad]

Looking for a great gourmet meal on either on Mt. Pleasant or Bayview - south of Lawrence - north of Bloor.

Any ideas? There will be four guests and we're all foodies.

[estufarian]

The simple bistro prix fixe is only Sun, Tue Wed (and closed Monday).
But this isn't a 'great gourmet meal' - this is a very good local restaurant, not a 'destination' venue.
But as it's in the area you are looking in, it's certainly one of the better options. I find it a bit more expensive than some of its neighbours, so the prix fixe looks like a good deal - except the options offered the two times I checked it out weren't appealing to me personally (although I'm still waiting for a menu I like).

While waiting for that menu I've twice visited Segar (which I wrote up separately on this board) which I find a bit more creative.
And my 'top value' - very competent food but even more 'neighbourly' is Cafe Pleiades (on Mt Pleasant).
Try all three!

-----
Cafe Pleiade
557 Mt Pleasant, Toronto, ON M4S2M5, CA

[TorontoJo]

I finally tried Cafe Pleiades, and enjoyed my dinner, but it is very much a homey, neighbourhood restaurant. My dish (a competent, but overly peppered beef bourguignon) was nice, but I could and have made better versions at home. I actually think it's even less of a destination than Simple Bistro is.

The ironic thing is that the OP is asking for a "great gourmet meal" at a bistro or diner, the very definition of which is almost anti-"gourmet" (at least IMVHO). To me, bistros and diners are places where you go for tasty food in a casual atmosphere. Some are more upscale than others, but none of them are going to be earth-shattering experiences.

-----
Simple Bistro
619 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S2M5, CA

Cafe Pleiade
557 Mt Pleasant, Toronto, ON M4S2M5, CA

[juno]

The OP's best shot at a "gourmet" dinner on Mount Pleasant Ave. - "gourmet" being an almost meaningless word nowadays - is at Zee's, one of the better fish and seafood houses in Toronto. About $150 a couple with wine, all in, as I recall. As TorontoJo has pointed out, bistros don't qualify as gourmet destinations. Both Simple Bistro and Mogette offer tasty, French bistro dining and I like them both - perhaps Mogette more so for its slightly more interesting menu, offbeat wines by the glass and smooth service. Those tables for two can be a tight squeeze, though. Cafe Pleiades is a cut below. It's a solid neighborhood joint that has been around a long time with good reason - it delivers the goods most every time out. Not gourmet, but damn good - it does a better job on some items over others, but never disappoints. Easy to take prices (about $100 a couple, all in), particularly the wine list, one of the most attractively-priced small lists in Toronto.

-----
Simple Bistro
619 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S2M5, CA

Cafe Pleiade
557 Mt Pleasant, Toronto, ON M4S2M5, CA

Mogette
581 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

[delamothe]

Zee's has an excellent Steak/Frites also. Will have to check Simple out soon.

[kawarthagirl]

Simple or Mogette Bistro

-----
Mogette
581 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

[TorontoJo]

Simple Bistro. Or Zee Grill, if your party likes seafood. Both on Mt. Pleasant.

-----
Simple Bistro
619 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S2M5, CA

Zee Grill
641 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

[linalool]

i agree with simple bistro. well executed food and assured, relaxed front of house. great little wine list too. segar on bayview was also a nice treat. other than amaya, segar is the only alternative for a tasty night out on bayview. the rest is positively mediocre. riz, asian bowl, lemongass, satay, 61, both sushi places, azteca, duffs, mcsorleys, kamasutra, vero, (i think thats it) are all so-so at best. (except mcsorleys awesome grilled wings. i love them so much i wish i could move above them and just come down in my robe and sit and eat them in the alley.)

[Full tummy]

Well, I'll add my vote for Simple Bistro. Unanimous so far. Food is excellent and service professional. Definitely enjoyable. Not too noisy. Perfect for that size of group.

-----
Simple Bistro
619 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S2M5, CA