Abrielle is one of Toronto's newest restaurants in the Entertainment District, but walk through their doors and you'll swear you've been transported to Europe.
The lavish new restaurant has a coastal Mediterranean vibe that's reflected in the food and the decor.
Abrielle Toronto is located in the newly renovated Sutton Place Hotel, which used to be the King Blue Hotel, and the restaurant sits where a coffee shop used to be. It's in the prime downtown core, close to the TIFF Lightbox, The Well and all the other bars and clubs on King Street West.
In other words, there's a lot going on around Abrielle, but don't let the noise distract you from visiting this spot for yourself.
@miranabulsiI checked out Toronto‘s newest Mediterranean restaurant, #abrielletoronto, and I haven’t been this amazing by food in quite a while. #abrielle #abrielletoronto #newrestaurant #newrestaurantalert #newrestauranttoronto #torontofoodie #torontofood #torontorestaurant #besttorontorestaurnt #fyp
I checked our Abrielle and I was truly impressed, which doesn’t happen often.
Here's what to expect.
The Restaurant
Interior of Abrielle Toronto.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
Upon entering from the King Street West entrance, you'll be wowed by the interior. I wanted to take a picture in each corner because everything was perfectly decorated. The newly renovated hotel also adds to the vibe as they have implemented a similar lavish feel.
The restaurant sits on King and Peter, a busy intersection with many people walking past, streetcars and more. So even though the inside might feel like you've escaped to Europe, the street sounds will remind you of where you are.
"Abrielle is much like Toronto — a monument of timeless charm, coupled with a vibrant energy that permeates each moment," a spokesperson for the restaurant said in a press release. "It is an oasis for people to share, connect, converse and enjoy, embodying a true, bon vivant."
That accurately describes the experience of actually being there. The space is huge with many different seating areas, but the cibe is consistently elevated yet romantic. There's also music in the room that fills it with vibrancy.
Abrielle's bar.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
The chandeliers are timeless, while the decor colours are neutral and pastel to give it that Mediterranean feel. There's also plenty of art on the walls to represent coastal cities in Europe.
But while the interior is impressive, it's the food that'll keep you coming back for more.
The Food
Abrielle menu.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
Abrielle's menu is curated by Chef Olivier Le Calvez, who has over 30 years of experience. He's worked France, the U.S., Mexico and Peru before arriving in Toronto, and he's won awards for his food at Toronto's El Catrin Destileria and Casa Madera.
That international experience is on display with the menu, which Le Calvez says is all about "capturing the spirit and traditions of the Mediterranean through my lens."
Not only is the presentation jaw-dropping for each dish, but the flavours are perfect.
The menu is divided into five sections: from the sea (raw), from the sea (cooked), along the coast, from the land and from the garden.
Whipped Eggplant, flatbread, sour dough bread and Burrata.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
For my starters, I ordered the Whipped Eggplant, $14, which is an eggplant dip topped with tapenade and lemon that comes with handmade flatbread. I also got the Burrata, $28, which comes with treviso, chermoula, brown butter honey and mint.
The warm flatbread was so fresh and flavourful. I was eating it on its own, but it was even better when dipped in the Whipped Eggplant. Usually, I wouldn't say I like eggplant, but I must say this dish was delicious. It was creamy, while the tapenade added extra flavour and the lemon gave it a bit of a kick.
The burrata dish cannot be skipped — I licked the plate clean.
Burrata is a popular dish at many Toronto restaurants but this one was a true st andout, and you can thank the added ingredients that made it different and refreshing. The brown butter honey gave the dish a bit of a sweet-and-savoury mix, which complemented the cheese well.
Octupus, Roasted Carrots, Patatas Bravas and Lamb Chops from Abrielle.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
For my mains, I ordered the Octopus, $42, which comes with confit potato and romesco, along with the Lamb Chops, $58, which is grilled Ontario lamb with white bean purée, confit heirloom tomatoes and lamb jus.
Obviously, you can't get mains without some side dishes from the garden section to break up the flavours a little bit. I got the Patatas Bravas, $16, topped with smoked paprika and harissa aioli, and Roasted Carrots, $16, a dish with roasted Ontario heirloom carrots sitting on top of goat's yogurt.
I've never seen an octopus dish as generous as the one at Abrielle. Mastering octopus is tough because if it's not done right, it can feel chewy and plastic. Abrielle does it right and each bite was soft, charred and juicy.
I'm not a fan of dense meats like lamb, even though I'm Arab and grew up eating it a lot, but the plate at Abrielle was so good I could've eaten more. The chops were tender, not overcooked, and so juicy. The white bean puree and lamb jus complemented the dish well, and I would happily order this again.
Potatoes are always great, but the plate of carrots really stood out. I love roasted carrots, but they were perfectly chewy while also being saucy. The goat's yogurt is not overpowering and compliments the vegetable marvellously.
Drinks and Dessert
Spa Day and Santorini Smoke from Abrielle.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
A meal isn't complete without a couple of delicious cocktails and a dessert as the finale, and at Abrielle, you'll be impressed by the offerings.
If you like fruity and light drinks with a little foam but don't want to drink an Espresso Martini, one of their signatures, then Spa Day is the most thirst-quenching drink you can get your hands on.
Spa Day, $23, comes with Tanqueray 10 gin, bianco vermouth, St. Germain elderflower, cucumber, lime, lavender bitters and egg white. Yum!
Two cocktails and Patatas Bravas from Abrielle.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
The Mezcal Mirage, $23, is another drink highly recommended by the restaurant and is also fruity but more spirit-forward.
Also, if you're looking for a drink with a show, order the Santorini Smoke, $25, and have your phones ready. The drink comes with Tanqueray gin, Taylor Fladgate 10 Year, Briottet Figue, Cocchi Americano, Licor 43, dry Curacao, lemon cordial and cardamom.
Carrot Cake from Abrielle.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
For dessert, the chef surprised me with a Carrot Cake. At first, I thought it would just be a big slice of cake, but that's not what I got. The Carrot Cake is a muscat sponge ball with cinnamon, coated in a coconut rum meringue. It was also topped with an sugary edible leaf and served on an orange sauce that was super refreshing.
The experience was exquisite, and I cannot wait to try their breakfast and brunch menus; I know they'll be just as impressive.
Abrielle Toronto
Mira Nabulsi at Abrielle Toronto.
Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 355 King St W, Toronto
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Why You Need To Go: To enjoy an exquisite restaurant in downtown Toronto with a Mediterranean flare. The restaurant's decor will whisk you away to the French Riviera, and there's no better time to visit than in the winter to escape Canada's cold weather.
Abrielle Toronto Menu
Interior of Abrielle Toronto.
Abrielle's bar.
Abrielle menu.
Whipped Eggplant, flatbread, sour dough bread and Burrata.
Octupus, Roasted Carrots, Patatas Bravas and Lamb Chops from Abrielle.
Spa Day and Santorini Smoke from Abrielle.
Two cocktails and Patatas Bravas from Abrielle.
Carrot Cake from Abrielle.
