Merlot Restaurant in Etobicoke

2994 Bloor St W, Etobicoke, ON M8X 1C2, Canada

★★★★☆
(395 reviews)
Categories: French restaurant Restaurant

About

Cozy & elevated French bistro with 2 levels of outdoor seating, serving classic dishes amid vintage art posters.

Website
merlottoronto.com
Address
2994 Bloor St W, Etobicoke, ON M8X 1C2, Canada
Plus Code
JFXQ+4V Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
11 AM–9 PM
Tuesday
11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
11 AM–10 PM
Friday
11 AM–10 PM
Saturday
11 AM–10 PM
Sunday
11 AM–9 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Spirits Wine
Dining options
Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Cosy Romantic Upmarket
Crowd
Family friendly Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid parking lot Paid street parking Parking

Photos

$Merlot Restaurant
2994 Bloor St W, Etobicoke, ON M8X 1C2, Canada

Reviews

4.3
★★★★☆
395 reviews

Most Mentioned

patio (26) steak frites (13) evening (13) duck confit (10) bistro (10) summer (9) french onion soup (8) steak tartare (7) mussels (5) creme brulee (5)
5 stars
239
4 stars
91
3 stars
37
2 stars
17
1 stars
11
★★★★★
October 26, 2024

I loved this place! The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is very chill. I went with my husband, my father, and my son, and the service was excellent. Definitely an experience worth repeating.

★★★★
October 13, 2024

Congrats to the chef! Everything we ordered was extraordinary. Atmosphere was great, friendly and relaxing.

★★★★★
August 30, 2024

Quick update on dinner - As good as it can get! Good food in an excellent atmosphere. We had lunch here for my daughter’s birthday. We felt right back in Paris. I really liked the french onion soup. Highly recommend!!!

★★★★
August 26, 2024

Didn’t eat here, just tried the rooftop patio that is open this summer from 5pm. The rooftop is bigger than I thought, they have their own bar there that cab sit about six guests! Good vibes, good service. You can have your water on tap, distilled, or sparkling💧

★★★★★
August 2, 2024

I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful atmosphere and food at Merlot. Food was excellent with great presentation, the atmosphere does remind me of the bistros I frequented in Europe. A nice touch was my luck sitting beside some French patrons, which added to the soft French inspired music. The service was polite and prompt, so no complaints. Overall, I highly recommend a visit for brunch or dinner.

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

We went here for dinner last night. Everything about the place was excellent - especially the food! It was our first time but we will definitely be back! Thanks to my aunt and uncle who gave us a gift card for our wedding as it is their favourite restaurant. Thanks to the chef and servers!

★★★★★
December 28, 2023

We had an absolutely exquisite dinner with another couple. I cannot say one negative thing about this restaurant they’re extremely accommodating, with excellent service and fantastic food. If you’re in the neighbourhood this is definitely an awesome restaurant to go to.

★★★★★
August 9, 2023

Merlot’s rooftop is open for the summer and it is a fantastic outdoor patio. The space is inviting with a nice bar. Service is friendly. The menu is different from the indoor one. There are some fun summer cocktails on offer and interesting appetizers good for sharing. We particularly enjoyed the tostones. Great place for drinks and snacks on a nice day! Note that they do not take reservations for the rooftop! Update:- Delighted to notice that their menu had changed during my recent visit, there seemed to be more dishes on offer. The atmosphere also seemed more intimate and less hectic. While the food was delicious it was the service that was outstanding. Our server, Adrian, was friendly, professional and efficient. I highly recommend Merlot for all occasions!

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Good morning, yesterday I had the honorable day of eating with my family at the Merlot restaurant, a very nice restaurant. The food was very delicious and rich with spectacular flavor. The person who served me was pleasant with charisma and energy. A good person serves you with great respect and is attentive to everything. PABLO ESTEVEZ. We will be going to eat at the Merlot restaurant more often.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Cozy little French restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. Service was phenomenal!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

It was very last minute decision to dine at this place last night, but I think its going to be the first of many to come! Loved the atmosphere, quality of food was superb all around, and service was top notch. Three of us shared a bottle of wine, ordered French onion soup, beef tartare, salad, duck confit (my favorite), chicken dish and ravioli and ended the evening with crème brûlée. Extremely delightful evening for sure.

★★
November 24, 2024

Dinner service was alright. Staff was terrible. Irakli was one of the worst service workers I have ever met. He made us feel really uncomfortable and was very disrespectful, he made a comment about my weight. I think he shouldnt be working in service work here anymore. I would return if that staff changed. Very sad and disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Amazing restaurant and staff! Super friendly, beautiful spot!! Go here frequently for steak frites and wine, extremely well priced! Highly recommend

★★★★
November 22, 2024

The owners of Brambles, nearby, took over Merlot - which was a competent French-style restaurant, with a menu that had not changed much in years. The menu and the service, and the bar offerings have been significantly spruced up - with great results. An excellent place to eat. One observation - it is more noisy than it needs to be. What about some sound absorption on the ceiling?

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Awesome food awesome vibe. Really good steak frites, oysters and creme brulee

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Had dinner on a Monday night in a full restaurant buzzing with Kingsway locals. Dinner was spectacular, service was great the wine by the glass was excellent. Delicious duck confit and steak frites. Thank you for accommodating gluten free options in your menu!! You won t be disappointed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great night with friends in from CA, USA, we havent seen in 36 years. The resturant was a fantastic find, the staff SUBURB, the food delicious. A wonderful evening. Food

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Great atmosphere, especially during the warm days on the roof top patio. Delicious food as well, onion soup just like in France.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Absolutely fantastic experience. Everything was eye-wideningly good. We had the steak tartare (better than our one experience of this in Paris), the Beef bourgignon (like lick the plate clean delicious), the Creme Brulee (balanced sweetness), and a cappuccino. Service was attentive and doting but not in a stuffy way. They somehow managed to strike a balance between a high-quality French and family-friendly restaurant.

★★★★
October 22, 2024

Pleasant atmosphere, friendly staff. Overall, the food was delicious, but the bread and butter was tasteless.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Great place with amazing staff and delicious food!

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

All good save my steak tartare was missing something. Its usually my preference (including a shot of vodka or brandy into the tartare) wherever I am. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Such a fun spot, we went for lunch and had great service. Delicious mussels and steak. The Aperol Spritz went down well too. Parking: Plenty of metered parking just around the corner from the restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Had dinner on the patio very nice atmosphere. Our server was lovely. Food was delicious. Highly recommend for traditional French food.

★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Damn, but its a shame; the food is as good or better than when François owned it, the decor the same, but the service is woeful, Last visit, on the rooftop patio, the manager was so embarrassed that he comped much of our meal. And so we returned, this time inside because of the outside heat. But the restaurant is under staffed and the staff are woefully undertrained. It saddensed me, because Merlot has long been a favourite go-to in this neighborhood, but its not cheap and its not a pleasant choice anymore

★★
August 22, 2024

might have been an off night but very very slow...over 45min wait for app...and another 45min wait for mains. they did comp some items but food was also lacking. wont try again.

★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Quaint place for French food. Has all the traditional meals and good wines.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Fantastic experience, everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, we loved the vibe, the music and the service, looking forward to going there again

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Charming authentic french restaurant. French onion soup was delicious. Had a delicious goat cheese and fig hamburger for lunch. I cant wait to try dinner next time. Update: I finally tried dinner in the summer and was not disappointed at all. Another nice surprise have a cute rooftop patio.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Dined at Merlot last night - we had the oysters, French onion soup and the steak frites. Oysters were fresh, the French onion soup was the best Ive had in Toronto in a very long time and our steak was cooked perfectly. Our server also recommended a bottle of wine which was great and paired very well with our meal. Live music made for a fun and vibrant atmosphere where at a glance you can tell every table was enjoying themselves. Well definitely be going back.

July 22, 2024

Was at patio on Wednesday. Food and service a disgrace to what this restaurant was before new owner. I sent mine back and for $20.00 you get a flat burger on a dinner plate with not even a piece of lettuce on it. Mine (which was sent back) was a pathetic chicken sandwich served in a dessert bowl. Downstairs only marginally better. New owner need not tell me to go elsewhere as I ve seen in the flippant comments to others who criticize. I do realize new owner owns a breakfast restaurant and burger place so fine dining is yet to be learned.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

I recently visited Merlot with my wife , and our experience was delightful from start to finish. The restaurants cosy and welcoming atmosphere greeted us as soon as we walked in. We were promptly welcomed by one of the servers and seated shortly afterward. Our server Pablo arrived quickly, offering us water right away. He gave us a few minutes to peruse the menu and returned at just the right moment to take our orders. Her helpful suggestions were much appreciated. The service overall was attentive and professional and the food was delicious.

★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Not a pleasant experience.. you order dishes to discover ingredients not mentioned in the menu that you can t eat. They must update the menu and state correctly ingredients like alcohol, porc and nuts..

★★
July 22, 2024

Service was great .food was less than mediocre what was ordered came cold and my colleague got something completely different than ordered and she couldn t finish it

★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Food was okay very expensive but was enjoyable

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Fantastic lunch.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

I went there with my husband, the experience was so good! Pablo was our server and he s great, so friendly and he also spoke in Spanish with us. We had a great customer experience thanks to his service and recommendations.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

This is one of the best places Ive been to, the food was gastronomic . The style and classy decor with close attention to detail was very impressive. I dont usually leave reviews, but I don t want to leave unnoticed, Food

★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Unfortunately have to report an unsatisfactory experience at this Kingsway standard where we have gone for decades. The new owners may need to rethink carefully, to keep old customers like us. In sum: service was incredibly slow: 25 to 40 mins between courses. Servers seemed overworked, with no time to be attentive. They never came to the table to ask how things were, check on progress, etc. When courses finally arrived, one or two items came, then we waited politely among us as other items came 8, 10 minutes later. None of the plates were very hot. Bread was stale, thinly sliced. Bottle of wine (which I accepted, unwisely not checking) was the wrong, and a more expensive, cote du rhone. (the first waiter did respectfully offer to charge the lower price; he then finished his shift and the change never happened). Food remained generally good, though bone marrow had very little marrow; the cassoulet came with a very small piece of duck, and the saucisse de Toulouse was almost comically small. The tomatoes in the dish were fully cold. When after some frustration we commented to the server at the end that some things had not gone well, instead of calmly apologising and attempting to smooth things over, she tried to justify and explain or excuse away our concerns. The excessive waits and neglectful service did not make for the best of evenings.

June 22, 2024

Food was really disappointing. I didn t eat much and had to go to grab something else to eat after leaving.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The food and service were both outstanding.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Reminded me of the little cafes in Paris. Fantastic food!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Came here with a friend for the first time and really enjoyed it. I ordered the Duck Confit a lOrange for my main. The duck was super tender and the skin was crisp. We had the grilled calmari for our appetizer, which was also very good. For dessert, I ordered the dark chocolate mousse which was just the right amount of sweetness, and a generous portion size. I ordered the cocktail La Vie en Rose which was delicious. Service was great as well. The atmosphere in the restaurant is quiet which makes it a great place to catch up. Would definitely visit again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

My friend and I were given gift certificates for Christmas and last week we went to Merlot restaurant on Bloor Street near Royal York Road for lunch I must say this restaurant was quite nice and the food was tasty. The cesar salad was expertly prepared and the ingredients were very fresh. I had the french onion chicken which was delicious and my friend had the pasta of the day which was made with a beet sauce. I tasted the pasta and man that sauce was out of this world and I am not a huge fan of beets. Kudos to the chef for trying this recipe for the first time. That chef certainly knows her way around that kitchen! I guess you can say she made me a beetliever-HA HA Our server was a tall, good looking chap and was very attentive to us two ladies. During our lunch, we both dropped our cutlery and before we could retrieve it, our server was right there with new cutlery. Hard to find good servers these days. Even little things like this are noticed. The restaurant seems to be very popular but seating is limited. I would suggest you make reservations to make sure you dont miss out on a good time. The food was excellent, the prices were reasonable and the servers suggestion for the wine was impeccable (I think he is a secret sommelier) . I will be going back there again real soon and if its during the summer, I will aim for seating on the rooftop patio. I love being retired!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

If you know, you know Vegetarian options: Ratatouille was also a beautiful light dish with lots of yummy flavour Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Fresh foods

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Great, cute little French restaurant with great ambiance, food and service.

April 22, 2024

Merlot has definitely gone down hill with ownership change. We were long term customers for the past 20 years. Four of us went today to celebrate an important birthday. Two ordered baby beef liver and onions-both meals returned as the liver was bitter and not baby beef, no onions either. Ordered hamburgers no cheese as replacement meal-one arrived with cheese and both were burned 42 minutes later. We were honest with the waitress when she asked us how the food was. The manager then came over and told us they just had the liver and they loved it. Later she told us the former owners of Merlot opened a new restaurant in Lorne Park. Very bazaar. Did not attempt to save the customer experience at all and ruined a birthday celebration. Never again. I am now editing this review since Merlot has replied. It is clear from Merlot s reply that they take no ownership for the horrible experience we had on what should have been a special lunch. Their blame the customer attitude is clear in their reply. No apology-it is apparently our fault that the food was horrible, not as described and took too long. Specifically, in reply to Merlot s commments, we are well aware what a confit onion is as stated on menu. There was one pearl onion on one plate as shown to waitress. The other plate had none. We ordered replacement burgers with NO CHEESE on both-very loud in restaurant so perhaps the waitress did not hear-however, the four of us did hear the order. We don t eat cheese ever. Nevertheless, the replacement meals arrived 40 minutes later. One would think that when two customers return their meals that the kitchen would strive to prioritize the replacement meals and deliver them in a timely manner. We do not get uncomfortable when a restaurant changes hands if the food is good. This was a special occasion and Merlot let us down and were aware and made no effort to save the day. Merlot, I see you have a blame the customer attitude and definitely were ambivalent when we were there at lunch. Even the salads had burned pecans on it. The four of us agreed this was the worst meal we shared in a very long time.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Absolutely love this place! The owner and staff are always so welcoming to myself and friends. Food and service are definitely a 10/10. I highly recommend for a date night or anytime you re looking to have a nice evening out. Can t wait to have another night there soon!

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Went on a Live Jazz Thursday. Music was excellent but started perhaps a little early (7pm). We were not made aware of live music when reservations were made. Perhaps if we had been, we would have chosen a different night. Our group of old friends enjoyed the food but were unable to converse and catch up. Maybe consider starting the music at 8:30 or 9pm

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

I had dinner at Merlot with a small group this week and was pleasantly surprised, as I had never been before, so was not sure what to expect. Will definitely be returning. The menu options and food portions were great, the ambience and service was perfect. Great French restaurant! (GG / Gloria)

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Weve been living in the area for the past 4 years and never been to Merlot. Very pleasantly surprised of the quality of food they offer. We had a steak tartare, some eggs and the Quiche and everything was really good! The only downside is the service. Nobody gave us a table, after waiting 5 min at the door, we just picked a table and sat down. After 15 min seated we had to stand up to get our menus. After we got our menus maybe 6 more min to our server to appear. Overall the service is too slow. We went there around noon and there was only 4 tables, so theres room for improvement there. We will be coming back during patio season.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

I ordered the mussels, charcuterie plate, grapefruit mimosa, and peppermint tea. The food was decent overall. The highlight for me was the grapefruit mimosa perfectly balanced and refreshing. The vibe of the place was welcoming and added to the enjoyment of my meal. Service was friendly and attentive, making me feel well taken care of. I m looking forward to my next visit

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Amazing food and staff! I ordered pan seared foie gras & it was delish. Will def come back

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Had a quick lunch here recently... Great hidden gem on the Bloor stretch. Excellent brunch options!

★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

We ordered Maison salad, Coq au vin and Mules frites. The food was not bad but most of it was not what we ordered! The salad was supposed to come with raspberry vinaigrette dressing but came drenched in Ranch dressing (that i think came out of the bottle from grocery store). The coq au vin was only a piece of chicken with very little bit of win sauce and not cooked in win! the frites were frozen Mccain fries from grocery store with a bit of chopped parsley. also, the wait between each course was way too long. In total was a bit of a disappointment.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Great new owner and manager

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

My first time experience and I have to say the attention from food selection to drinks was spot on!! I love local and the experience is amazing!! You don t need to leave your neighbourhood to enjoy the attention you deserve!! Food and cocktail selection is divine!!

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

As long-time Merlot devotees, we were disappointed to learn that François had retired and that Nathalie and the chef had left the restaurant, but decided to give the new and redecorated Merlot a try. How glad we are that we did! If anything, the food has improved, and the staff, in spite of the changeover, continues to be very professional and attentive. Iwona and Adrian couldn t have been more thoughtful and courteous throughout our continuing visits. The menu has changed, and we do miss the Medallions of Veal Tenderloin Normande ; however, as a main course, we have particularly enjoyed the Beef Bourguignon. The Salade Maison still remains exceptional. Under the prior regime, the dessert menu, unless Nathalie or Pina made a chocolate cake, wasn t that tempting. Now, the Chocolate Mousse is extremely tasty. Looking forward to trying the Black Forest Cake next time. Bottom line, if you re in west end Toronto, you don t have to battle bike lanes to drive downtown to get a five-star dinner.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Tasty food & good service. Plus live music!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Wonderful experience all round.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic French cuisine served by pleasant staff. The escargot and pate were exquisite!

★★★
December 22, 2023

Had New Years Eve dinner here with another couple who live in the area and dine here often. The ambiance was nice and the restaurant was not too busy. The service was friendly, but the food was very disappointing. Dinner was $100 per person which was expensive for what we had The first course was seafood in a cream sauce in puffed pastry. It was acceptable. Next course foie gras pate was very bland , served with a dry piece of baguette and a bland onion relish. None of us even finished it.The main course was a beef tenderloin or venison. The beef was superior to the tenderloin , but both were tasty. The potatoes au gratin were also very bland like last nights boiled potatoes with a bit of milk on them baked in the oven Dessert could have been purchased at a local grocery store bakery. I have not eaten here for about 15 years. Our friends will not return. The other disappointing observation was staff training. , so I cant blame them. Our server did not know where to place the knife or fork on the table. This is a fairly fine French restaurant yet everyone had their utensils placed differently in front of them like a cheap diner. Merlot , even if you still get your regulars , you can do better than this. It was a very ordinary meal and we looked forward to a more memorable evening.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Very nice atmosphere and good choices on the menu. Very busy at lunch and service was a little slow. Food was brought in a timely manner and was great tasting. Will definitely revisit.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Truly authentic French food! Steak and Frites is the absolute best in Toronto.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic atmosphere and great food. Definitely recommend.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Delicious

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Was a great experience. Lovely time with a special person.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

I have been coming to this restaurant regularly with friends over the past 6 months and we love it! It s our new go to. The staff is incredibly friendly, provides excellent service and the fresh, homemade food is consistently great and reasonably priced. It s a cozy little restaurant with a definite French, European feel. Most, if not all, of the staff speak French and are indeed French. Eating there feels like you ve been transported back to Paris. Parking: Green P out back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent place for a business lunch in Etobicoke. Great food. Good service. Excellent location.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great place to meet friends or family. Very quaint. Great food.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice french place. Service was good and the food was nicely done.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Wonderful French classics in a cute space. Lots of gluten free options and excellent cocktails. Gets busy on a Friday evening. Food presentation is old school and simple. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Love this place

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

As a French missing her country and food, I went there for lunch on a weekday by myself. Had the moules frites# and a food orgasm.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The rooftop was excellent on a clear summer night. We could see the chefs preparing every dish in the open air grill. The tart tatin and coq au vin were delicious. The service was slightly slow but they were busy. A great night out!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is for the downstairs portion of the restaurant. Excellent food. Friendly service, but waited long for food. Loud atmosphere.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

It was very loud inside. The service was great. Food was good.

★★
December 22, 2023

Used to love going to this place with my family and would always get the tortellini and fries but they recently took off any vegetarian options and therefore there is no point in going anymore. Pretty disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I really like the peoples, the inside is very artistic and nice.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Came to the rooftop patio with my boyfriend and had such a lovely experience!! Nice and quick service, beautiful atmosphere and some of the best fries we ve had!!!! So so good!!! Highly recommend, will be back!!

★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was bland, had chicken lacked flavour, veal sauce was like a canned tomato very disappointed

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Went with a group of friends for lunch. Server was fantastic and the food was delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Merlot roof top patio is a fantastic place to just drab a drink at their bar or have a fantastic meal. The food is always exceptional with a diverse menu. The Grilled Coq Au Vin is truly amazing and the Tart Tatin or Beef Tartare are amazing was to start off your meal

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Loved the food and friendly service. Great in the summer on the rooftop.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Merlot, like any astute femme of a certain age is reinventing herself; undergoing a facelift with regard to decor, and having a fling with a Latin lover upstairs on the rooftop. The result is tasty shareables that my guest and I sampled last evening as we re-celebrated a birthday up there. We opened with a glass of sparkling wine, accompanied by Tostones (deep-fried plantains) served with a trio of luscious dips. We also made short work of the Charred Beef Tartare: a unique blend of beef tenderloin, charred tomatillos, and chilis, served with toast crisps. The humbly-named daily special: pork ribs, yielded succulent, fall-off-the bone meat, accompanied by a slightly piquant sauce and a stack of irresistable, charred green chilis. In a word: YUM! The Garden Salad was ample for two. It featured unique additions like smoked tomato, pickled red onion, and toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds). Did we like it? Si! In fact, thanks to the attentive waitstaff and talented kitchen, we enjoyed everything. Sadly, we couldnt contemplate dessert, although the poached pears DID sound inviting. The relaxed atmosphere and fun of sharing an array of surprising plates makes this a place we will visit again accompanied by friends!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Really good French restaurant in the heart of the Kingsway area of Toronto. Super friendly manager and staff.

December 22, 2023

Now that the restaurant has changed ownership and menu I would not recommend it. Food and service was very disappointing and overpriced Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely spot and delicious food!

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great place, nice atmosphere and food was very taste

★★★
December 22, 2023

The previous chef and most of the previous staff are all gone. Sous chef has taken over but doesnt have the refinement of his master. Duck confit was nice and crispy on the outside, soft and tender, falling off the bone, but flavour was significantly deficient.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The service was extraordinary.......

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place highly recommended. Bartender made the best old fashioned.. pate was superbe

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I really had an amazing time there.fabulous delicious food and so nice staff.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Wonderful dinner. Warm, welcoming staff. Great evening.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Good to be back here after COVID-induced absence. Had the steak frites - great as always. Companions said their specials were delicious. Service was excellent.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Wonderful atmosphere & food. Highly recommend it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent French cuisine with superlative service. We drove from NE Oshawa for this place. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Wonderful French restaurant. Attentive staff, lovely menu. Delightful

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Food is French cuisine. Some protein portions are on smaller side. Restaurant can be noisy. Mussels in mouclade were delightful.

★★★
December 22, 2022

Food was good but service was not. The server ignored my table. We would have had coffee and desert but by the time I could get the servers attention we were upset and left.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Its a small place on Bloor that has decent food but nothing really spectacular. The duck confit was extremely dry and didnt have much taste. The steak tartare had way too much mustard in it and thats all we could taste. The server we had was very kind and helpful. The drinks were so so. Not the worst place if you want a reasonable meal.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Food was decent, but service was extremely slow and unresponsive

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great French restaurant in my neighborhood

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

You ll find the traditional French favourites on their menu like escargot and steak frites, as well as interesting dishes like the St. Tropez fish soup ($15.50). The broth has a bouillabaisse feel spiked with more saffron and thickened with pulverized fish - personally, I would have preferred if the fish was left in chunks, so it d feel less like eating savoury baby food. The texture improved once I dropped in bite-sized pieces of the toasted baguette topped with creamy rouille (a garlicky lemon and saffron aioli) and grated Emmenthal to each spoonful. Think of it as a lighter French onion soup that swaps out the onion for fish. If there s duck confit ($32.50) on the menu, most likely it s what I ll order. Interestingly, the duck leg arrives with no sauce giving it a lovely rustic homemade quality. You can certainly taste the duck and without sauce the meat has nowhere to hide, it needs to be done perfectly to taste delicious. In this case, it was. Yet, it was the caramelized sautéed garlic potatoes that stole the show. Cooked in duck fat until a sticky and crispy crust forms, the spuds made me swoon with delight. Never swap these potatoes for fries. The meal ended perfectly with a shared slice of tarte aux pommes ($13.50). The thinly sliced apples sat on a bed of apple sauce and a perfect pastry crust. Likely the apple sauce helps to add moisture without relying on syrup, which keep the tart light. While there s nothing wrong with the apple sauce, using crème anglaise or some sort of custard give it a richer element. And get rid of the fruit coulis, it makes the plate pretty but takes away from the lovely apple flavours.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I had a great time with my parents for our Business meeting. We had the fresh Fettuccine and the owner Francois was really nice to my parents and I. Will definitely be coming back! 5 stars in every category! -The American

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The best.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I would strongly recommend the rooftop patio for a glass of rose and perhaps some frites. If you are looking for an authentic French meal though, there are better places in the city. Personally, I feel like theyve lost their way in this regard and what you get is the North American interpretation. I found it expensive too for what you get. Its fine, but other than the rooftop patio, I wouldnt treat it as a destination.

★★★
December 22, 2022

A little disappointed. I wanted to eat French specialties but no food tastes the same as in France, whether its terrine or snails or other dishes... the service is also very long. On the other hand, the servers are very nice.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Terrible experience at this restaurant. Came here for an after dinner drink and it took 20 minutes to get a menu and another 15 minutes just to order a drink. We almost got up and left . Wish we did. Waitress didn t even offer to bring change back after paying cash. Terrible service and won t be back solely for this reason.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

A neighbourhood favourite, and has been so for decades.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

True to its name, has an excellent wine list, and the kitchen faithfully generates quality french fare in the traditional French style. A lot of well-established Kingsway businesses tend to get stale and are too conservative, but Merlot seems to keep the balance, delivering consistent experience yet putting in the effort to use fresh ingredients and vary the menu. Lovely rooftop patio runs during the summer months, though with a limited menu. The most reliable choice for french fare on the Kingsway strip. Parking: Ample parking in Green P surface lots near Royal York station. Wheelchair accessibility: Not accessible. Very narrow doorways and washrooms in basement.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Fabulous lunch! Great service! I hadnt been since before the pandemic and Merlot was the same wonderful place. Cant wait to go again. Croque Monsieur was perfect.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Atmosphere is good, prices are pretty high and the food is a hit or miss depending on what you get.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best lemon tart on the planet. Warning it is addictive

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great food, great service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

one of the best French restaurants in he city!!! excellent food, warm atmosphere and outstanding service. great value as well.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Quick efficient service with daily specials that all seemed locally sourced. A little quieter when I went for lunch which was apparently unusual. Nice spot for a quick bite and glass of wine

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Excelent... Genuine food, the service is efficient, and the atmosphere is very nice.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I had the pate to start, excellent! Followed by the trio of sausages, really good. My wife had the French onion soup, sever did not know what cheese it was topped with! She then had the lamb chops, kitchen recommended rare, they came out medium!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

My favourite restaurant in the Toronto west end when treating myself to an upscale dinner. Delicious food in a lively bistro atmosphere. The bonus is when they open their rooftop patio in summer, serving slightly simpler fare.

★★
December 22, 2022

All the food was mediocre. It tasted like banquet hall food and was not worth the price. The menu on their website was not the same as when we got there. The only option for the vegetarian in our group was a salad.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Delicious food, cozy atmosphere, great for date night or special events

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent food and servers were really nice. A real pleasure.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Such good food & atmosphere!! Definitely will return!!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Probably have had dinner there more that a dozen time, quaint, cosy, great french food, great service, servers always willing to recommend a choice from the menu and specials.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

I placed my order via uber eats 2 weeks ago via uber eats. The food was well packed. The canard confit/duck confit was just perfect. The true taste. Trio saussages were nice too. Merci

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Placed order for Take Out for a specific hour and it was ready precisely on time. The food was VERY yummy. It was extremely satisfying to try a place for the first time and have every expectation met. Ill definitely order from this restaurant again!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Food and service were amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great French food, good size portions. A great experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

What a nice spot to eat some food on Bloor. Small resto with good food. Ill be back

★★★
December 22, 2021

Beautiful patio on a rooftop, but food more than mediocre, most likely wont be back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

We hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner last night up on the patio rooftop. Without exception, everyone of us (16) , enjoyed the ambiance, service and most of all the wonderful food. My wife have been going to Merlot for many years (allowing for the Covid break) and we cannot recommend this restaurant more! Thank you Francois, Maria and staff for a lovely evening!

★★★★
December 22, 2021

Great French restaurant Good selection of dishes. But expensive wines. Excellent service in French and English.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Frankly I was expecting a little more from Merlot, both food and service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The service was impeccable by Guylaine and the food was great, Id give it a 10 star if able to.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Came with a friend a few weeks back. I had the provimi calf liver Lyonnaise, which was excellent. Cooked medium, the thinly sliced pieces were tender and flavourful. I thoroughly enjoyed the creme brulee, but what caused me to give this five stars was the house coffee. I take mine black and, after so many coffees in other places that were meh, Merlots coffee was delicious; a perfect companion for the crunchy/creamy cream brulee. The service was impeccable and I appreciated the tastefully designed barriers between the tables. Ill definitely be back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Good food with nice wine & cognac selection Restaurant also has a nice atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Awesome service and great food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Excellent atmosphere and food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

France in Toronto, the menu, flavours, atmosphere make you believe you are in a Bistro in one of many parts of France. Excellent preparation served in a friendly happy environment. A Kingsway gem.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The ambiance was wonderful but I thought the food was a bit pricey for what we got. The sauce for the tortellini was ok. I think the pasta was grocery store quality (hard, not a lot of filling) after my first glass of wine I wasnt asked if I wanted another. The staff just took my glass and I had no drink beyond that. My partner got the veal and said it was ok.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Quaint

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

One star for the food (that was very good), and one star for the one lady that smiled when she brought the mussels. Wearing black leather or vinyl pants and had glasses on and off. Im being specific, because I want that person to know they provided a good service, and that stood out from everyone else. Very slow service overall, also. And I realize its not an easy job. But when I splurge and go to a fancy place, I expect great food and service. Would maybe go again, but one because of the food.

★★★
December 22, 2020

Food was excellent, some touches of service were lacking. There were very few parties at the restaurant when we arrived, and yet they seated us right beside a very loud party of 6. We would have preferred one of the many tables that was quieter. That should happen naturally, unless the place fills to capacity. Also our table had no tablecloth and the plates slid around when you tried to cut your food. That too would have been solved by offering us a seat in the nearly empty back section.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Food Was Good

★★★
December 22, 2020

Good and friendly service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Fresh and tastey food for our small group.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Always a great experience

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Very friendly atmosphere and great food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Love the liver. Friendly staff. Good food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Always a treat. The real deal. A taste of home. Merci to all of the hard working staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Amazing food, very friendly staff, were served quickly! Would give it 6 stars if I could!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Great french cuisine and friendly staff. The rooftop patio is a perfect way to spend a summer evening.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Comfort environment. Tasty food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Food was excellent.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Good steak. Great fries.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Duck confit and dessert was good with the foie gras being passable. Overall good service and they also have a rooftop patio.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

I was missing home because of COVID. So i went to a french restaurant, couldnt be happier, from the service (in French) to the authentic decor and food. Blessed that I have found you. Merci encore cetait tres bon.

★★★★
December 22, 2019

Excellent food and wine in a warm, relaxed atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Good french food, friendly staff and nice warm atmosphere.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Nice cossy place with traditional French cuisine.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

This place has a good atmosphere, great location, and yet something is missing... Servers are French, very charming but also nonchalant. My special dish was disappointing (rabbit special) with hardly any meat on it, just tons of tiny ribs, and the server could not care less about my complaint. Make sure you are in good company at this place to occupy your time, since the food can be hit and miss. Do not expect empathy from the servers, and no complains please. Funny place...