Restaurant Chantecler - Parkdale
Anyone been to this place?
http://restaurantchantecler.ca/
Walked by it tonight, looked busy, checked out the menu tonight at home. Not very extensive but looks like some interesting dishes.
So many new places in Toronto, hard for me to keep up! I tried searching for reviews on here but didn't see anything. Seems generally positive on Urbanspoon -
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/165842...
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Worth the hype.
We went the other night and ordered from the regular menu. Given the overall quality, I would like to do their tasting menu at some point.
Not much new to say. Service was engaging, passionate and flawless. Interesting cocktail list made with care, a well chosen draught and cask beer, and a larger wine list than one would expect for a restaurant this size.
The room is small but warm and inviting. All the seats are either at large tables or bar seats. The two best seats, in my mind, are right in front of the chefs. The food is inventive and well executed, enough to make it difficult to replicate at home. Flavours from five spice, smoke, or with pickles were complex and deep without being in your face. Attention was paid to various textures and all food came out piping hot.
We ordered too much food, had two beer and two cocktails, and the bill was $60 pp before tip. An absolute gift considering this was better than most Michelin one stars I've been to. Highly recommended.
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went for dinner last Friday - we made the reso on the day of and they were able to accommodate two of us between 7:30-9. we didn't think we would be there past 9 but ended up staying till 9:30. we weren't rushed by the servers and they kindly offered us another glass of wine and dessert past 9pm.
we started with fish wrap, veg noodle salad and spicy shrimp. the cod for fish wrap was so moist and delicious, although i didn't particularly think that it had a very unique flavour. perhaps i thought so because i had it without cilantro (personal preference). we were gonna go for something else then saw someone havnig veg noodle salad so we had to try. the potato noodle looks like glass noodle parpadelle, and had good flavours, so that was a nice surprise. spicy shrimp was crispy and peppery. wish i also tried the squid... well, next time.
then we moved onto the main course which was the lettuce meal. the portion was great - we ran out of lettuce / other leafy things towards 2/3 of the way and they refilled our basket without us having to chase down someone for it. the meats... super moist, melt in your mouth. the marinade is really great. i was surprised by their kimchi - i'm korean and picky with kimchi. well executed, authentic flavours yet not that sour so that most people could try and not feel appauled.
we finished with an ice cream dessert which was not super special per se, but kept us content.
not sure what the bill came up to because SO grabbed it, but in general i felt that it was quite well priced for the scrumptious food. i think the beer that my SO had and the 3 glasses of wine that i had (oops) probably cost almost the same as all the food we had...
i'll definitely go back to try calamari, beef tartar and spicy popcorn chicken (the table next to us had a basket and looked popcorn-y). good stuff!
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apparently, there will be a series of tasting menus instead of the a la carte meny starting in the new year? http://www.torontolife.com/daily/dail...
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Tried the lettuce wrap sunday yesterday with a bunch of friends, accomodated 10 of us on the table by the front window.
Lots of fun - the meats are moist and excellent, I do prefer the pork there to Momofuku Daishos version. The shrimp with numbing salt was delicious as was the crispy, soggy calamari (although that cant hold a candle to Grand Electrics Spicy Squid.)
They were very quick with the lettuce refills, unlike Momofuku, which is much appreciated. Overall an incredibly fun night filled with great food, labatt 50 and good friends. Loving the large format dining right now.
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re: szw
Sorry as it was my birthday, I was treated to the dinner so I barely looked at the price. I do know that one order of $19.95 is enough for two people, and all the added specials we ordered were around $10. There was a lot of wine and cocktails being consumed (my manhattan was pretty decent) so the bill came out to around $80 per person all in but I actually had 9 people not ten.
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re: themiguel
Haha I was sitting next to you guys on the communal table.
My god were they packed! Went in at 10:30 for two of us and we waited half an hour before we could get a table. After we got a table at 11 people still kept coming in and the restaurant was completely packed on a Sunday night!!
We had the noodle special, which was from their guest chef Neil, and the noodle was a "dam dam" noodle: thick wheat noodle smothered in ground pork oyster and peanut sauce. Very delicious although the noodles were a bit undercooked. Then we had one order of the lettuce wrap, a side of XO sauce and pork neck. The XO sauce was amazing, even at $5 for a tiny saucer it was well worth it. Pork neck was really tender, most places cook it rather tough. And the lettuce wrap combo is A LOT of food for $19, the two of us couldn't even touch the bowl of rice. But then again this was dinner #2.
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does anyone know if they can accomodate a group of 10+ people? saturday night? does anyone have experience with large groups? do they offer something like lettuce sundays on "regular" nights? a big group of us really want to go and don't mind sharing family style.
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re: jlunar
you're spot on with the 10 in the front window! we got in contact with the restaurant and they said they can fit 10 there along with 6 at a table nearby.
they offered prix fixe in the $45-$65 range, which seems reasonable ..... but i'm not sure if everyone in the group is up for that. we'll have to find out what's on offer and discuss.
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re: msprnt
oh my...just got back from an amazing lettuce wrap dinner. we had two lettuce dinners and all the sides except the oysters (just didn't seem to fit with everything else) for four of us. all the braised meats were tender to perfection with a great balance from the pickled veg and sriracha etc. 2 drinks each (mix of great cocktails, wine and beer) and the bill came to just over $200 with tip included. tough to beat that. the place was a bit of food celebrity haunt tonight due to soupstock (chefs from charcut, parts and labour, stone road grill along with some other industry personnel)
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re: downtownfoodie
prima
Oct 22, 2012 06:49 AM
I also tried the lettuce wrap dinner with some friends last night, at another table. Sounds like we were in the restaurant at the same time, downtownfoodie.
My favourite dish was the crispy soggy calamari, which I thought was an amped-up squid answer to Alberta-style ginger beef. Some of my friends thought it was too sour, or too close to sweet & sour, but I like most forms of sweet & sour, so it worked for me.
The braised meats were tender- I preferred the beef to the pork. I wish they offered their Sunday Funday sundae, topped with Fruit Loops, Captain Crunch, Amarena cherries, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, whipped cream, banana. I would've been more heavy-handed with the toppings, especially the sauces.
I thought the music was ridiculously loud for a Sunday evening, while people are eating dinner. The DJ wasn't supposed to start until 10 pm, according to Twitter, but the music was very loud by 8 pm. Maybe the DJ was eager and started early? I'm getting too old for not being able to converse with the person sitting 18 inches away from me. It actually detracts from my experience, if I have to get up from my seat, to walk over to my friend who is sitting across from me, so I can hear what she said.
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re: jlunar
prima
Oct 22, 2012 07:42 AM
Maybe the DJ was just for last night, since some people were tweeting about Chantecler being the after-after-party for Soupstock? I don't know.
Looks like they're gunning to be the industry night "it spot", keeping their kitchen open until 1 am on Sundays, when they close their kitchen at 12 am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 11 pm on Wednesdays.
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Went on Saturday night for our 8:15 reservation and were greeted and shown to our seats at the bar. I personally really like sitting at the bar but I think its worth mentioning that when I made the reservation, I was not informed or asked about being sat at the bar rather than a table (which are very few, by the way). I know some people may not want a reservation if they knew they couldn't sit at a table, so if you are one of those people, make sure you do request and inquire about where they intend to place you!
Service was incredibly friendly, casual, professional, and attentive. Cutlery was promptly positioned and removed between courses, dishes were adequately described, courses arrived promptly and appropriately spaced, and most importantly, sassy smiles were passed around like share-plates. It was just an all around good experience.We started with a couple of cocktails. For him the Buckwheat Julep (Buckwheat infused Bourbon, Mint and Bitters) and for me the Gin and Grapefruit Tonic (Bombay Sapphire, House Tonic, Grapefruit). The Julep had an lovely nutty fragrance livened up by the fresh mint, and the tonic was a perfect balance of bright acidity and mild sweet tonic. Loved this.
So the way the food works at Chantecler (for the regular, non-Lettuce Sundays menu) is that the dishes are meant (or at least encouraged) to be shared. They arrive one my one, in an order deemed appropriate by the chef based on flavour progressions, rather than the strict appetizer- main type orientation. We tried:
Smoked Duck Breast with Beet, Peanut and Mustard Green- A solid dish. I think we were expending a cooked breast, but regardless it was tasty. I loved the smokiness of the charcuterie against the sweet, mildly acidic flavour of the beet.
New Potato with Pork Jowl, Jalapeno, Apple and Quail Egg- Probably the better of the two appetizers. The pork was rich and fatty, but not chewy or unpleasant. The soft poached quail eggs burst effortlessly to produce a rich and decadent sauce. With all of this fattiness on the plate, I was grateful for the kick of heat from the jalapeno, and the sweetness and acidity lent by the crispy apple slices.
Pacific Cod with King Oyster, Celeriac, and Matsutake- By far the best savoury dish of the night. It was easily one of the best dishes I have had this year. The mushrooms lent a gorgeous earthy note, lending a satisfying supple texture. In contrast, the celeriac had been pureed and then expelled from an aerator to create a light, mildly sweet and slightly nutty air. The star of the dish, however, was the perfectly cooked cod, garnished with a dusting of buttery salty breadcrumbs reminiscent of crushed potato chips.
Pork Neck with Kusshi Oyster, Lettuce and XO Sauce- We deemed this dish "The Ultimate Kosher Feast". All jokes aside, it was pretty damn good. The oyster lent an interesting textural juxtaposition against the super crispy skin of the pork, and the XO sauce (a Chinese sauce traditionally made of dried seafood, chili, garlic, sometimes ham etc) offered a nice salty hit. My only criticism was that the wilted lettuce kind of threw me off my enjoyment-game. While I normally love cooked lettuce, the texture (kind of like chewing on a rubber band) kind of masked the tenderness of the pork, and made it taste a little overcooked. When eaten separately (as I quickly learned to do), the dish was spot on.
Sea Buckthorn Parfait with Meringue and Almond Praline- Well, let me just say that Chantecler knows how to do dessert. When I read their menu online, I honestly wasn't too enthused by the dessert offerings, and ordinarily, that's enough to deter me from a restaurant. Am I ever glad I gave it a shot because this dish was absolutely killer. Sea Buckthorn (so I learned) is a sour berry that the chef pureed into a thick sauce, mixed it with a few tiny droplets of orange blossom puree, topped with a silky and fluffy soft meringue, and dusted it with crushed almond praline. The result was a masterpiece of texture and flavour. The smoothness of the puree was pleasantly interrupted with little pops of fragrant jelly. Both of these components offered a satisfying tart base note, tempered by the mildly sweet meringue and the nutty crunchy candy garnish. My partner (who actually dislikes desserts) actually licked the bowl- like tongue in goblet- I wish I got a picture.
Ice Cream with Buckwheat, Plum and Shortbread- Another flawless offering. Just looking at the picture is making me weep. Served very cold, the ice cream had a distinct savoury element that I can only describe as a less sweet, more refined version of peanut butter. The shortbread cookie crumbs held their shape, and along with a generous garnish of candy shards, provided the sweet to complement the Buckwheat's earthy undertones. The plum, cooked sous vide in nothing more than a little sugar brought a refreshing element of acidity to the plate. While we refrained from using tongue, this plate also got cleaned pretty good.
So following dinner, the bartender graciously offered us up a complementary dessert shot, featuring Amaro, Bourbon and Bitters. I was a bit apprehensive (I never bring a shot glass to my lips without at least a little reflection), but it proved to be delicious. Like the bartender said, just sweet enough for the lady.
So after 2 apps, 2 mains, 2 desserts, sparkling water, 3 cocktails, 2 cappuccinos, I think the bill was about $160 including tax and tip. An excellent meal considering the quality. I would however say, that if you arrive hungry (like we did), then you may want to order another dish, as we both left a wee-bit peckish. Regardless, it was one of the better meals I've had lately, making me incredibly interested in checking out their Lettuce Sundays before it's popularity explodes.
Thanks for the heads up CH!Pictures here http://abbeyskitchenblog.blogspot.ca/...
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jlunar
Oct 10, 2012 02:37 PM
Finally!
I enjoyed the smoked duck (top dish), especially with those delicious marinated mushrooms and the creaminess & crunchy texture from the toasted hazelnuts. The chicken consomme (bottom two photos) with poached hen egg, smoked hen, & confit mushroom had a very strong broth. The intensity reminded me of my mother’s chicken soup. Very yummy and rich, with smoky elements and lovely green freshness from the cilantro.
The halibut cheek (left) was good and I enjoyed the melding of flavours. I thought it a shade over-cooked, but I’m nit-picking. Though I could do without the grapefruit, I thought the curls of ramps(?) went really well with the cheek. The gnocchi (right) was so good. So. Good. Great creamy mushroom flavours on the tongue. Another favourite was the agnolotti (not pictured). It was really nice with the pine nuts and the sweetness of the carrots and creamy spinach filling. We had also ordered their titular chicken, and the smells when it was being cooked were phenomenal.
Another favourite: the polenta. It ate almost like congee and had a delicious mushroom ragu on top. The flavour on the ragu somehow reminded me of pork flosss. This is a future re-order.
For dessert, the panna Cotta, with bitter almond, tapioca, & osmanthus syrup. Done up very much like the Chinese almond jello dessert, but trading the canned fruit for rhubarb. Really lovely and light and refreshing.Lettuce Sundays at Chantecler are pretty awesome. For $19 you get a pile of delicious meat sided with lettuce, rice, house-made pickles, and condiments. Not to mention the interesting sides that you can supplement your meal with. Like that phenomenal cold fried chicken. Worth a visit some Sunday soon.
Many of Chef Poon’s palate-pleasing dishes have a familiar Cantonese thread woven through them, yet I wouldn’t call anything truly Cantonese – or even Asian. And more importantly, it’s been done well. To me, Chantecler is one of those really comfortable places to have a meal. I don’t mean plush seating and smoking jackets, but the space exudes the feeling of someone’s home, albeit a really nice one. And the delicious foods match that sensibility.
Intro babble and photos: http://www.foodpr0n.com/2012/10/10/ch...
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re: jlunar
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re: jlunar
love this! It seems most of these dishes are no longer on the menu though. Wish I could try the halibut cheeks, love their texture. Almost like chicken and scallops combined. I'm definitely making a visit this week. Will also try daisho so I can compare with lettuce wrap sunday.
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re: jlunar
i ate here last night and had a phenomenal meal. we had everything on the current menu, and i was basically floored the whole way through. highlights included the fish and mushrooms dish, the potato apple egg dish, and the sea buckthorn dessert, although honestly everything on the menu was executed really, really well. the beef tartare with nori and wasabi-y sauce was an unexpected hit with a couple guys who don't usually like tartare. oh yeah and the tuna/bean salad dish absolutely killed it. fish done in an immersion circulator and cooked perfectly. literally the only shortcoming was, i thought, the pork dish, but only when the pork was tasted on its own - it was a bit flavourless, but combined with the rest of the elements in that dish (lettuce/xo sauce/oyster i think?) it was actually a knockout. portions were perfect for sharing amongst the 3 of us and with a couple beers (and $3 shots of soju for some reason) by the end i was definitely feeling a little hazy. also worth noting is the service, everybody knew what they were talking about and were happy to answer questions about ingredients and preparations (although one of the benefits of our table was being able to watch everything in action), and plates were gone in an appropriate time and water was never low. dude even crumbed the table at one point, i was impressed haha. it's also one of the most comfortable rooms i've ever eaten it, just really warm and inviting, although we were there for like 2 1/2 hours and my ass was kinda sore by the end thanks to the not entirely comfortable chairs haha.
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re: brushfire
Well I went tonight for lettuce sundays and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to all on this thread for giving me the impetus to finally go!
Started off with the salt baked shrimp with szechuan pepper, five spice- very tasty and crispy though was hoping for more of a numbing sensation as advertised. Still a great dish, I'd easily order this one again. Also received the crispy soggy calamari on the house as they initially messed up my order on the shrimp. Savory, sweet tamarind sauce with garlic, but as someone else mentioned above perhaps a touch oversauced. For the main event, I found the portion to be very generous and I would have to agree that while both meats were tender, I preferred the pork. It was smokey and sweet while I found the black beans were rather muted in the beef portion. Finished off with almond tofu dessert, a trucked up version of do fu hwa, nothing too special. Service was helpful and very friendly. I'll be back for more in the future!
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re: deabot
What was in the almond tofu dessert? I'm very curious, really want to try it. Another person also mentioned the black bean in the beef but the boys from Chantecler wrote in a post that was deleted by admin saying that it's fermented bean paste and not fermented black bean. I'll have to google that one up to see what that actually means....
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Had a chance to finally check this place out on Friday night with two friends. We didn't have a reso and it was 830 on a Friday night yet they made room for us at the bar.
The service was friendly and well informed. The drinks were tasty and average in terms of price point. We had a total of six dishes between the three of us and all were rather lovely but IMO the zucchini blossoms and corn dish was AMAZING. I would go back just for that dish again. It was balanced, a beautiful, seasoned well and had a great variety of texture and mouth feel. IIRC it was $12 and it was worth every penny.
With two dishes and three dished each our bill was $75 pp including tax and tip.
As we were leaving the server called us back to give a wee digestif.
This is a lovely local spot and I wish them all the best. I'm sure I'll be back soon.
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