My husband and I first went to Sorrel Restaurant last Christmas when it was located on Yorkville Avenue. The dinner we had was excellent and we decided to go for our Valentine’s Day dinner. Sadly, that didn’t happen as the restaurant was a victim of a devastating fire just a few weeks later (we went to Koko Share Bar for Valentine’s Day instead). When we found out that the restaurant was going to reopen on Yonge Street near the Summerhill subway station, we were happy and decided to pay them a visit.
Arugula Salad
Located in the old Patis Restaurant spot, the new Sorrel is much brighter (thanks to being on street level). We arrived at the restaurant and were promptly greeted by staff and escorted to our reserved table. The menu remains the same, with delicious salads, pastas and mains which include wild salmon (which is not as common in Toronto restaurants as farmed Atlantic salmon), Chilean sea bass and veal scalloppini. There is also a market fish, which changes daily. There are also sides available including vegetables and smaller of pasta.
Branzino (catch of the day/special)
Spaghettini (an item on the regular menu)
At our visit, my husband started with the roasted candy cane beets, which is served with Boston bib lettuce, gorgonzola and pine nuts while I ordered the arugula salad (shaved fennel, pomelo, citrus dressing and parmigiano). The beet salad was delicious, though the my salad was pretty standard, so I will likely try the beet salad at my next visit. For our main courses, I had the market fish (a grilled branzino, served with rappini and a piece of artichoke heart) while my husband had the spaghettini (kobe beef and berkshire pork bolognese,napolitana tomato sauce), an item on the regular menu. The pasta, which I tried a bit of, was perfectly al dente and there was just enough sauce. In other words, it wasn’t over-done. My fish was well-grilled and the vegetables it was accompanied with juicy and delicious. The portion are more “European” than North American – a good thing, in my opinion! We decided to share our dessert, a deliciously sweet caramel bread pudding.
Bread pudding
Service was just as we remembered from its Yorkville location – very friendly and utmost professional. The new location, which is on street level, is much brighter with its natural light, and more casual than its old lower-level spot in Yorkville. It’s a great place to go if you want amazing food in a quieter, more “grown-up” space.
Sorrel Restaurant is located on 1158 Yonge Street. Dinner is served Monday to Saturday between 4 PM and 10 PM and reservations can be made either online through Open Table or by calling 416-926-1010.
