Toronto - Chantecler
This might be my new - old favourite restaurant.
Described as a “gentle bird” and “practical chicken” on Wikipedia, the Chantecler Chicken was bred to be suited to Canada’s climate and production demands.
It is this chicken that the Toronto restaurant, Chantecler, is named after.
Chantecler - the restaurant not the chicken - was a Parkdale institution until it burned down in 2019. After a couple months, owner Jacob Wharton-Shukster opened Le Phenix across the street. Two months after Le Phenix opened, the pandemic hit.
I went to Le Phenix as part of a promotion from Charlie’s Burgers Wine Program and remembered it fondly. When I heard Chantecler found a new home by Christie Pitts, the establishment went to the top of my must-go-to list.
The Head Chef is Diego Reyes (he worked at Noma and Viaggio - both restaurants are also on my to-go-to list) and has support from a daytime sous chef and charcutier Daniel McMahon (who previously worked at Brothers and Blackhoof) and nighttime sous chef Cherie Leal (who previously worked at Bricco and Colibri).
If you clapped for the chefs after a meal, they would deserve one of those awkwardly long standing ovations.
Chantecler served up the best meal I have had in a long time.
What We Ordered: Marinated Olives $6 | Steak Tartare $20 | Heirloom Tomato Salad $16 | Whole Duck (with this cherry sauce?!) $75 | Charred Greens $9 | Marble Strawberry Tart (Pictured, but cannot find the price. It was worth every penny). We also had two glasses of red wine and a tequila-agave cocktail (each).
While I stay away from gluten, the bread is made in house with flour from Brodflour (see past post). I had a slice with the tartare and had no complaints. Given this newfound gluten confidence, next time I might try the Brioche à Tête - it looked insane good.
Address: 798 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L9
Recommend For: Literally anything. The ~ vibe ~ of this restaurant could be described as “neighbourhood chic”. The patrons ranged from date night (couples in their 30s to 70s) to families and friends. The prices are not inaccessible - you could eat out for a reasonable price, or you could lean into some of the more decadent menu items (and wine).
There are two icings-on-this-restaurant-cake for me:
(1) The interior design. I mean look at that bar in the photo, it is incredible. The space is by Justin Vinet - case and point.
(2) They have a partnership with Rosewood winery in Niagara which has to be in the top 3 for me; I love anything ~ funky ~ and ~ organic ~ which means that if you tell me something is good for me because it has local ingredients and no bullshit, I am in.
This restaurant has gone from the top of my must-go list to the top of my will-recommend list. Sincerely, I am already plotting an excuse to go back.
Reservations: Yes, via Seven Rooms