Elias Restaurant & Tavern in North York

I go here often. Great relaxed atmosphere.

Love.

Best Jerk chicken in Toronto hands down!

On the recommendation of Mrs Hanna, a very polite lady, she recommended wonderful fish to me, I am very happy with the meal and grateful for the service, I am leaving surprised and with a wonderful taste in my mouth.

Took us all in when the rain was crazy and were so nice even though there were so many people! Beers good and the pattys were great!

Wonderful establishment! Decorated a bit strange for a punk bar, but the floor was dry and the beers were wet. Do wish they hadve played some NOFX though.

Thanks for the hospitality Saturday afternoon.

This place has a special place in my heart. 5$ Beer

Delicious! Definitely recommend the jerk chicken

Feels like I m about to have Sunday dinner after church all the feels! Food and atmosphere that has all the comforts of the Caribbean traditional experience Food

LITERALLY AMAZING. We were offered The potato pie and a piece of chicken and some peanut punch to taste while waiting for our food and it was DEEEELICIOUS!!! The food taste amazing! Very great hospitality and service. Music was on point and very relaxing atmosphere!!!!! Thanks again. I will definitely be back. FOR SURE!!!!!!!

ELIAS RESTAURANT BAR AND GRILL WAS THE WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD IM MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE . I LOVE FOOD FROM DIFFRENT NATIONS ESPECIALLY JAMAICAN BECAUSE OF MY HUSBAND . I DESIDED TO GIVE THIS ONE A CHANCE. THE PICTURES OF THE DISHES WERE GLUED TO THE OUTSIDE WINDOW I SHOULD HAVE WALKED BY AND KEPT WALKING!!! I WENT IN IT WAS DARK AND VERY UNINVITING, IT LOOKED LIKE HOLE IN A DIVE!!! SOMETHING TOLD ME DONT DO IT , LEAVE I SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH MY GUT INSTINCT BUT I DIDNT. I ORDERED TAKE OUT ANYWAY. I GOT 2 CHICKEN ROTIS AND LARGE OXTAIL. THE YOUNG SOUTH AMERICAN GIRL THAT TOOK MY ORDER SAID THEY ARE ONLY TAKING CASH. SHE SAID 50$ NO RECEIPT WAS PROVIDED! IM GUESSING THEY ARE RUNNING SOME SORT OF SCAM WHEN THE OWNERS ARE NOT THERE. IT WAS JUST HER AND THE CHEFF WHO PROBABLY DOENT EVEN KNOW HOW TO COOK , SHOULDNT EVEN BE CALKED COOK !!! HE IS YOUNG , VERY DARK SKINNED WITH SHORT DREADS AND VERY SKINNY !!! I GOT HOME I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE CHICKEN ROTI I HAVE NOT HAD IT IN A WHILE. I STARTED EATING AND ALL I GOT WAS BONES A FEW POTATOES AND A LOT MORE BONES!!! ABSOLUTELY NO CHICKEN MEAT !!! THE BONES HAD NO MEAT ATTACHED TO THE BONES ALMOST AS IF THE COOK SUCKED OFF AND ATE THE MEAT AROUND THE BONES AND THREW IN THE BONES IN THE ROTI !!! I HAD ALMOST HALF OF IT , IVSTARTED THINKING WHY I WAS DISCUSTED AND HORIFFIED !!!! I RAN TO THE WASHROOM AND MADE MYSELF THROW UP. I THREW OUT THE REST. THE OXTAIL WAS FOR MY HUSBAND HE SAID IT WAS THE WORST OXTAIL HE EVER HAD, AND HE HAD A LOT BELIEVE ME HE ALWAYS SENDS ME TO GET HIM OXTAIL, I HAVE BEEN TO SO MANY PLACES THAT SOME KNOW MY ORDER WHEN I CALL AND KNOW US BY NAME !!!! HE HAD A FEW PIECES AND SAID I DONT WANT THIS GARBAGE !!! 50$ WASTED !!!! FOR 2 ROTIS AND A LARGE OXTAIL ????? ON THE PUCTURE IT HAD A LOT OF OXTAIL , TOMATOES , CUCUMBERS AND IT HAD A CHOICE OF A SALAD OR CABBAGE AND CARROT MIX , I ASKED FOR SALAD. WHAT I RECEIVED WAS JUST A FEW PIECES OF OXTAIL , NOT A SALAD IT WAS A FEW WILTED RAW GREENS MAYBE 2 TEASPOONS ON THE RIGHT END OF THE CONTAINER ON THE SIDE , NO TOMATOES OR CUCUMBERS EITHER !!!! IT WAS THE WORST FOOD EXPERIENCE EVER!!! USUALLY MOM AND POP STORES TRY HARDER TO PLEASE THEIR GUESTS TO GET THEM TO RETURN AGAIN AND AGAIN , OBVIOUSLY NOT THIS PLACE !!!! I WAS HORRIBLE !!! NEVER EVER GO TO THIS PLACE !!! THANK GOD WE DID NOT GET FOOD POISONING !!!! I WANTED TO CALL AND COMPLAIN !!! BUT THE COOK SEEMED LIKE HE WOULD SPIT IN YOUR FOOD IF YOU CALLED TO COMPLAIN AND GET NEW DISHES !!! SO I DID NOT EVEN BOTHER !!!! I AM SO PISSED OFF !!! WE ARE FURIOUS!!!!! I AM SO DISCUSTED AND HORRIFIED!!!!!! JUST A FEW DOORS DOWN THERE IS A PLACE CALLED SMOKIN ROTI THAT PLACE IS UNBELIEVABLE, AMAZING , INCREDIBLE, BUT SADLY THEY WERE CLOSED THAT DAY , THIS IS THE REASON I ENDED UP AT THIS GOD FORSAKEN PLACE !!!! I WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN !!!!! AND TELL ANYONE I KNOW TO AVOID THAT PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE !!!!! WORST FOOD EVER !!!! WORST SERVISE EVER !!! 50$ CASH FOR WHAT , IN WHOSE POCKET ???!!! WITH NO RECEIPT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY SECOND INTUITION TO TURN AROUND AND LEAVE.!!!! BELIEVE ME I WILL BE CALLING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THEM MAKE AN UNANNOUNCED VISIT TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT AND I SAY THAT LOOSELY AND LOOK INTO TO THE CHICKEN BONES THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NO MEAT AT ALL ATTACHED TO THE BONES !!!!! WRITING THIS REVIEW MY STOMACH IS TURNING , I FEEL LIKE THROWING UP JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT THE COOK MIGHT HAVE WAS SUCKING OFF THE MEAT OFF OF THE BONES CAUSE HE WAS HUNGRY BUT CANT AFFORD TO BUY FOOD !!!!!! I WORK IN THE INDUSTRY I KNOW CHEFS TASTE THE FOOD BUT THIS WAS SOMETHING ELSE!!!! DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE !!!! IT IS DISCUSTING!!!!!!!!!!

I, dont drink alcohol so I am sorry I cant commands on that!but the food is the best,I have had ,fish and chips, Goat rotie and other meals there ,good Friday was fish and chips ! Thanks to the Cook and staff made my day !

Well, people were very friendly , Had both a chicken and goat roti, great flavor, well spiced, not too spicy, nice portion , great price Food

I didn t want to do it but I had to, because I m still trying to figure out what irritated me the most. First and last time I ll be visiting, but here is my experience. I waited for 30 mins for 2 roti s to be prepared, one chicken, one goat, ended up being late for work. A majority of the time I waited, it was other orders were being prepared, even the lady that took my order made a comment saying, I know you want to scream right now but it s coming , I did want to, but I was really trying to be polity patient. By the time my order started being prepared, which took about 5-10mins, I just noticed I was hearing the microwave being opened and closed multiple times, and I honestly believe every single part of my meal was just reheated food (in the microwave), rather than freshly made that morning and waiting in a hot pot. As I waited from beginning to end, the overwhelming smell of alcohol and cigarettes on customers, that seem to be regulars, was just getting to me. I m not against what people do on their free time, but to have those heavy drinkers and smokers right by the front entrance, in and out like it was there hang out spot, and smelling that strong, was a lot for me, at least give them a designated area to hang out away from the front entrance. To clarify, I saw no one smoking inside, but they definitely went out to do it various times and came back in with a heavy stench to sit and drink some more (right at the front where orders are being taken). Lastly, what brought me to the decision to write this review was my roti. I ended up eating the chicken roti, which wasn t bad in flavour, but it wasn t that good either. What was frustrating is it seems I was given pure leg and thigh in it, because not one single scoop was boneless. It was so difficult to eat, so difficult to enjoy because of that. I m not even sure what the goat roti was like, because I ended up giving it away. I did visit because the reviews seemed pretty good, but it seems this place is just not for me.

Amazing jerk chicken with rice, beans and a salad. My wife got the pork which was awesome as well. Very affordable for four adults to eat a delicious dinner. I wish I lived closer because I would go often.

A great local restaurant! Got a plate of jerk chicken and rice wuth a drink for under $20 which is amazing these days. The food is amazing too. The chicken is so tender it falls apart when I just press it with my knife! And the gravy is so flavourful too. Plus the service is great, very friendly and cracking jokes with me and my friend group.

I wish I could give this restaurant no stars! Horrible and disrespectful workers and business practice. They have no problem charging 50 cents for debit or credit card transactions and not refunding people their money unless back in their ghetto restaurant. My customer service experience at this restaurant was horrible and left a bad taste in my mouth. I went in today to order a medium jerk chicken and a small curry goat. They gave me the wrong order. They gave me the medium jerk chicken and a small jerk chicken. I get home and see it is the wrong order. I call them and let them know I am not able to eat jerk chicken and ask to be sent the correct order or for a refund so I can order something closer to me since I am not left without any food. The lady that took my order in the restaurant was rude as hell and refused to do anything and asked me to come back to the restaurant which is more than 45 minutes by bus from my house. I told her I couldn t and explained that they messed up my order, she just yelled to someone to come talk to this lady and she handed the phone to the person who actually messed up the order. He was also disrespectful and lacked common sense just as the lady. They refused to send me the correct order, refused to refund me the money via e-transfer and asked me to take the bus and come back, but they would not refund me the bus fare. I am all for supporting small, black businesses but the business practices and attitude of some of these businesses, especially Jamaican businesses are down right disrespectful and they do not care about customers. I would never order from this restaurant again!!! Learn about customer service!

I ordered the Small chicken soup it literally had 1 small piece of chicken and it was extremely salty I had to add water which didnt help. I also ordered the Oxtail and although the meat was tender....the Oxtail itself tasted like if they used Stew chicken gravy and it had no Oxtail seasoning nor flavour or taste it was weird. Now Ive been coming here for years the food has always been good. But since the place got a face lift outside I havent tried them until today. Im sad to say my stomach hurts and after I tasted the oxtail I could not eat it. I hate wasting food but this should have been well seasoned. If I could get my money back I would. Im sorry Elias but get back the original Chef please. The coleslaw was tangy and tasted like vinegar. No sah dat nuh mek it!

Had a quiet lunch here with a friend. The chicken roti was deliciously packed full of flavour. Thank you. If Im back in this area I know where I will be stopping. Thank you!

I definitely will be returning..The food is great along with the customer service

Rice with salt fish pull loud real loud

This restaurant is a gastronomic treasure trove. The food was a delightful exploration of tastes and textures, expertly prepared and beautifully presented. The service was attentive and personable, making me feel like a valued guest. A culinary adventure worth embarking on.

Food was great, music was great.... such a great vibe!

First time I came there bought two roti chicken and goat second time I came I bought 4 roti all in 1 week . Keep the prices the same and I will be back ..neeed delivery of some sort #thebigguy

Edit #2 - I decided to go back Oct 14 to see if anything had changed. I arrived around 9:30 and found that the bartender that was supposed to have been there the prior, was there - she was warm and friendly. I ordered drinks and went to sit with my friend. Within a few moments - the owner came to talk to us - the whole conversation was her talking to my male friend, making excuses for her lack of wanting to cover her bar the previous week. She blamed her husband and the person that was supposed to clean her kitchen. She complained that she was tired because she was working from 6am. I told her I understand long hours as my employer works 80hrs/week in her restaurant. From her response to this comment, it appears that Leslie only works Saturdays at the restaurant. Even after being asked to talk to me and not my friend (a black male), she still continued to ignore me and talk to him - which I found both sexist and racist. The experience I wrote about was mine - not his. He was tired of her complaining and we got up and left. Her ONLY acceptable converations with me that night should have been, I hope you have a better experience tonight - not sitting and complaining about how tired she is working in her restaurant. EDIT to respond to owner: If you have a staff member that is late, it is your responsibility to have it covered, not leave your bar unattended. Also - Hannah DID have a beer - it was a Guinness, bought for her by a customer. She sat beside that customer to start drinking it - and HE is the one that told her she didnt get us the drinks that SHE asked us if we wanted. Its pretty sad that you have to blame a customer for your lack of service. I was patient and kind while I was there - I wasnt rude to you or your staff - and everything that I wrote about what happened that night was 100% accurate. ****** The owners should be embarrassed by how poor the service is. The woman who was behind the bar was grumpy and mouthy and couldnt remember what drinks we ordered, Eventually, she asked us if we want another drink, we said yes.....she proceeded to get herself a beer and sit down with a regular. We were two of five people there. The owner sat at her staff table with her back to the door and bar, ignoring everything, including the person that went to the bar to get another drink (the other lady went to the kitchen to work). Aside from the poor service, it appeared they used their hands to take ice from the ice bucket to put in drinks, my friends drink was made with less than 1oz of alcohol (I watched the pour), one woman there complained about the worker messing up all the time, including how she once (previous week) ordered her regular drink and was given a beer. I get that most of their regular patrons may not care about good service, but this level....embarrassingly bad. I work in the industry, and this wasnt even bare minimum service. Side notes: the atmosphere was cold and unwelcoming and unfriendly, no music was playing, the customers had control of the television.

The best goat roti I am impressed I took a picture mid way after deciding to write a review you will not be disappointed

Good food, good people and good atmosphere. The owner is super nice and all their food is absolutely the best. Best Carribean restaurant in Toronto for sure

Got food poisoning.

Always good food. Good vibes and good music.

The best jerk chicken I ve ever had, amazing curry goat too. Wow. I ve had this ongoing thing with my mom since we ve moved to the city, we ve gone around trying as many different places jerk searching for the best one. This one is definitely the top one of all. Even better than mikes, even better than pats. The flavour was amazing, the heat was there. I could go on and on. Will definitely be returning.

I am not fascinated by this restaurant and bar as there are always a bunch of drunk guys hanging outside the bar inwhich they block the walkways towards the other stores as well as most times there are drunk and unruly people at the bar and restaurant

Bad customer service and they microwave the food . I m not paying for microwaved food when I m going to a restaurant. I could do that at home .

Best food and friendly staff and Awesome management

Best place to be very friendly people and lots of respect and great service. Very good price and yummy health food for little amount.

Great owners and the best Caribbean food. Ox tail. Jeck chicken. Curry goat. And other daily specials.

Doubles were fantastic. The homemade peanut punch is amazing. Unfortunately the jerk and oxtail were severely underseasoned.

Amazing food and service at Elias! Oxtail was tender, juicy, and flavourful! The server was incredibly friendly, helpful, and polite! Any time Im in this part of town, I will be here for the tasty food and quality service!

My favorite place the owner is amazing and the staff and food are just as impressive I recommend to any one no matter the occasion you will enjoy your time

They stepped up from my last review. Debit machine worked, food is still great, served in proper for dine in. Really do love eating here and when they have a live dj the place is popping.

I do not know who is the chef s, but they really need to improve on their oxtail and the gravy, because the oxtail was hard to eat. I did not enjoy my food at all.

This place is fantastic for its juicy melt off the bone jerk chicken food honestly I live locally go this place, and their workers, and the chefs know what they are doing I would recommand those who are new to the area rk give this a world thanks for the many great meals guys keep up the great work!

This is a great little neighborhood restaurant

Had a fantastic experience. The Jewel chicken was fall off the bone good and the drinks were cheap. The staff was fantastic and or server was super friendly and it was a pleasure meeting her. Will definitely be back!

It was OK.

Excellent service

Always friendly service and great environment.

Very Tasty Food!! I rate it

Great food and good energy. You can taste the love

The food here is amazing I love the jerk chicken and the soups. Sooooo good I been coming here for at least 6 years now! Won t stop coming

Great spot and i love the music

Good people better food best price

Best service

I had a fish sandwich on pita style bread and it was DELICIOUS!!!!!

Great entertainment and night life

The food is great. Friendly staff. Good location.

Great food friendly people awesome music

I felt very sick during the meal and I couldnt finish it. The servers and or workers should work on their people skills so that they can present themselves more professionally.

Ii

Friendly, very nice bartenders

I had a really nice cooking eating experience. The food was good and the staff is friendly. Drinks are cheap, so you cant go wrong with this neighbourhood Restaurant

These guys are like family.

Great place to eat, drink, and socialize with friends

Good food, good music, cool people.

Good vybe, good music, chilled spot...

Chicken roti was oily, not good

Cool place to relaxs ,nice people , good food ,cold beeers, the price for food and drinks are affordable and good music .

Crazy Jerk chicken Recommended!

Food is trash owner is nice servers are ratchet booze is cheap...

My first time there today, soup OK, a little salty for my taste buds, buy a very friendly atmosphere. I would go back. I think they have grown folks night their, reggae night. It a Jamaica restaurants. .

I like

Excellent service. The food was soooh delicious! !

Great place good times

Food is wonderful tasty

Nice customer service but the food isnt that great.

Super dive restaurant with an affordably hearty breakfast. Staff is friendly and its cash only. Only issue is the entrance can be very intimidating sometimes and the layout is a touch uncomfortable.

They served mi food and the lady came out with food in her hands and i was concerned that she touched my food with hands wen i complained about it she was rude to me.

Great food and great music turns into a small club friday and Saturdays after 10pm no cover charge

Make a good breakfast on the weekend

Great food, fast and friendly service

Food is and nice music

Friendly staff.... good food... and Great Music!! Check it out if you havent already!

Wouldnt order food here only reason five stars is cheap booze

Try the goat curry!

Good food better people great chef

My go to..great people always a good time

Redsnapper dinner tasted really good.

Great food!!! Anyone that says these people do not know how to cook has been eating at McDonalds for too long.

Ever since the original owners sold the restaurant (about 2 months ago)- its changed. I went in one day to give the new owners a shot - and I walked out after getting my garlic bread. They are very nice and very sweet owners - but they dont know how to cook. The garlic bread they served me was a burnt half of a bun that was squished so flat it was about 1/2cm thick. There was no butter or anything on it. It was like dry burnt toast. If they dont start serving quality food - they will lose neighbourhood dollars.

Great home style cooking, all day breakfast