A restaurant in Toronto that had been generating a lot of buzz since it opened, piqued my curiosity, particularly on Instagram, so I decided to see what all the hype was about. Café Renée, located at 100 Portland in the King West area, is nestled between Sara and Little Sister Restaurants in a converted house, painted white with royal blue accents. Inside, they’ve done a fantastic job of recreating the charm of a Parisian brasserie- think shiny white subway-tiled walls, a classic tin ceiling with fans, mosaic-tiled floors, red curved banquets, and French-style windows with mirrored glass. The narrow bustling restaurant even features a gorgeous atrium in the back. For decor, they get an A+.
Unfortunately, the food and service didn’t quite measure up. It took about 20 minutes to get someone’s attention to place an order, 30 minutes for drinks to arrive, and 45 minutes total before our appetizers and bread were on the table. We were with children, so you’d think they would try and speed things up. Although the restaurant was busy, it wasn’t at full capacity. Water refills were frustratingly scarce, and it felt like they were trying to encourage more alcohol orders by serving water in tiny glasses. They offer a happy hour from 5 PM to 7 PM, but it only applies to specialized martinis, not their regular bar menu.
As for the food, it was a mixed bag. The gruyère mozzarella sticks with the rigatoni vodka sauce were a hit, but the shrimp cocktail was a major letdown- reminiscent of frozen shrimp from Costco. Although it’s a French-style brasserie, the menu leans heavily towards pasta and French classics. The ravioli du dauphine with buerre monté, parmesan, black pepper, and olive oil was tasty but more of an appetizer portion. The crab spaghetti with uni cream and Ichoke crisps were okay, while the rigatoni all vodka was a decent imitation of Carbone, albeit a bit too al dente. My grandkids weren’t fans of the burger or the steak frites, although the steak seemed fine. The whole branzino, on the other hand, was a better choice- I’ve had a fantastic version by executive chef Nick Liu at his other restaurant Dailo.
The wine list offers a well-rounded selection of old and new-world options, and the cocktail menu is extensive and original. If you are in the mood for more drinks, you can always head upstairs to Charlemagne, a craft cocktail bar. There are only two dessert options. A pavlova and a sorbet with champagne. This is not a destination restaurant, but more of a convenient spot for the after-work King Street crowd or local condo dwellers. Just don’t expect to be in and out quickly. The drinks are delightful, and the food is comforting and adequate.
Happy dining,
Shanea
08/15/2024
