45 Colborne St, Toronto, ON M5E 1E3, Canada
Rustic-chic restaurant with exposed brick walls serving Canadian dishes made with local ingredients.
You won’t find better service or more exquisite food anywhere else. The restaurant itself is stunning between the decor and the live piano music creating a comforting atmosphere. The service is beyond exceptional and welcoming. A unique menu with delicious items. This is one of the best restaurants in Toronto easily. This was our second time at Woods, the first experience was just as exceptional, despite arriving early to our reservation and saying we could wait the staff welcomed us in to our table. Our server asked upon seating if we had a show to attend that evening, which we did, assuring us not to worry about time. He provided great input on the menu and wine selection. Reminded us of the time after we completed our meal in a genuinely sincere manner, not pushy, he was very considerate. The food was absolutely delicious and the service even better.
Wow. This was the most amazing experience. Everything, evvvvvvverything was so lovely. The staff were just so great, shoutout to everyone and our server Sammy The food…wow. So good. Everything was delicious and Wood speciaizes in Elk and it shows. Order the elk! It was an extra special occasion, with my partners birthday and they made it so so special Everything was delicious. And honestly soo ….affordable. With the service and quaLity … Woods is simply unbeat
This place was amazing. The service was a 10 out of 5 (yes, you’re reading that correctly). The maître d’ is from Brooklyn, NY and was so fun and personable. He made all the difference during our dinner… My experience wasn’t even about the food, which was excellent… The service was exemplary for the price. We love this place. Who the hell is giving a rating below 4.4 (the average)??
Dined here after my wedding ceremony with some friends last month and I couldn't have asked for a better dining experience. I had booked a reservation in the main dining room a month in advance (after being told the private room was booked on the same night). It ended up working out well as my friends and I enjoyed ourselves in the main room - we loved the ambiance and the live music playing a few feet away (played by a pianist and trumpeter). Food and drinks were delicious and the service was great - hostess/servers were very attentive and it really made the night all the more special. I will definitely return.
Overall the food at Woods is wonderful. I had the watermelon salad and the squash ravioli. My dining companions thoroughly enjoyed the elk - a specialty of the restaurant that focuses on Canadian themes in its cuisine. The staff was very attentive and kept our glasses topped up. The only issue we encountered was how long it took for our meals to arrive. We were a very large party, so completely understand this can cause a strain on service, however main courses took over 2 hours to arrive. I would go back Woods in the future but I don't necessarily recommend for large group dinners.
I have been 4-5 times, and Woods never disappoints. Excellent food, great service, and terrific drinks in a stylish and cozy spot. Trek downstairs for a private room for a bigger group meal. Watermelon salad always wins. The fish dishes are terrific, and many of my companions say the elk is delicious. The squash raviolis are rich and flavorful, but eat slowly to enjoy as it's not a large portion. The terrific server recommended a Canadian Manhattan to start, and it's spot on. Excellent place for business meals or dates.
Fantastic ambiance, the dining room is stylish and intimate. The menu is alright, the food is beautifully presented but tastes a bit generic. I still recommend Woods but I suggest to focus on cocktails and great atmosphere rather than on food. Make sure you make a reservation, the place is pretty small and fills up quickly.
Tasty hidden gem! Great drinks, amazing dishes. Very good sized portions, so you can enjoy the menu from appetizer to dessert, and they are all worth it. Loved the intimate, yet lively atmosphere. Very good, fast service as well. Just make a reservation in advance, as tables as limited. When they are fully booked, they accept walk-ins at the bar as well. We appreciated the drinks on the house and coat service as well. Will be back.
Extremely unprofessional. Do not recommend
Nice place to be in!
Seared elk, Duck breast, Smores, 2 glasses of wine, nice atmosphere. Lovely restaurant
Very long wait in between courses, for hit-or-miss dishes. Beautiful decor and servers were very helpful. Food
SCAM. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. THERE ARE BETTER PLACES TO SPEND $300 ON A MEAL WITHOUT BEING SCAMMED. Asked for tap water. They brought $10 bottles without telling us about the charge. Youre already spending $50+ on mains, and THIS is their hill to die on??? EMBARASSING. This seems to be a common pattern and scam at the restaurants (look at previous reviews). Underwhelming. Server was rude, dirty flatware, and didnt ask how wed like our meat cooked. Im not paying $300 for Jack Astors service.
From the moment you walk in, there is a delightful sense of being in enveloped in a warm, sophisticated and yet relaxed atmosphere. The food is elevated Canadian flavours that make it hard to resist licking the plate clean. The service team are very friendly and attentive. Go here. You won t regret it.
The food and service was fantastic. The Elk Ragout was amazing. When we asked why there was no cheese on the charcuterie board, the owner brought out Oka Cheese for us to try, and explained its Canadian history. Highly recommend this restaurant.
Fantastic time. Very romantic, service was excellent and we didn t feel rushed. Live music created a nice vibe and we ll be back. Wine list btg could be better, but didn t take away from an overall great experience.
Incredible service, gorgeous food and a lovely atmosphere. Picked off Google the night before and could not be happier
We had an awesome meal (scallops and seared elk) and the service was absolutely perfect. Cool vibe too! Highly rec.
Great evening at this restaurant! The cuisine is exquisite and the chef is flexible in case of food intolerances. The decoration is magnificent too and the atmosphere is super nice, chic and relaxed at the same time. I particularly liked the attention and kindness of the servers. Thank you for the party !
I hosted a large group for a business dinner at Woods and could not have been more pleased and impressed. We were seated in a beautiful private space downstairs and had excellent service throughout the evening. The waitstaff was helpful and guided us, without being pushy, and the food was fantastic - including a few complimentary courses they brought us as a surprise. Every dish we tried was fresh, perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. They also did an amazing job accommodating several allergies. We happened to go to a less impressive restaurant the night before and the group raved about Woods more than making up for that experience. Unfortunately I live in Chicago, otherwise would be coming back here regularly!!
We walked into Woods restaurant after visiting the Hockey Museum. The host asked, do you have a reservation. I said, no. His response is the best Ive ever heard, Great, a bonus diner. Since Colborne Street has some construction, the restaurant was not crowded. We had two excellent servers, and some tasty scallops. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
I just had dinner with my team at Woods restaurant on Colburn Street. This is a small street between Yonge and Church just north of Front St. We had scallops for the entree and I had the seared Elk. It s my first time trying elk and both dishes were excellent. The service was excellent and so is the atmosphere so I think we ll be booking this place for our next team dinner.
Love this atmosphere, not a big restaurant, but food was good. Wait staff on point !
Beautifully designed, rarely eaten and drank so well and the service was very pleasant
We went for dessert on international donut day and they were the best donuts I ve had all year!
A good option to eat with a varied menu. After ordering a glass of wine, they offered me a tasting of yet another red wine. And they ended up offering a wonderful tasting of Canadas oldest cheese. Attentive and friendly service. Highly recommended, if you want to spend a little more on a good meal.
I have to leave a review on their burgers as that s what we had. The beef is top quality , the patties are home made and cooked to perfection. Juicy the way a burger should be. The bun is made in-house and so soft. The fries are wedge style and perfect The staff are amazing, attentive. The restaurant was quiet at the time we went but don t let that detour you. Highly recommend
Incredible food, amazing ambiance and decor. Fantastic cocktails. Damn.
Had dinner last night at the bar at Woods and it was a phenomenal experience. Probably the best service I ve had sick pre Covid - the Irish bartender made incredible drinks and treated us so well. Lastly, the beef carpaccio, elk tartare, duck, and pickerel were all wonderful. 10/10 recommend.
Nice restaurant with great decor. Take their recommendations and youll surely have a good time Food
Food was top notch, server was professional and attentive. Special shout out to the chef, the elk was cook to perfection. Would definitely come back again!
Nice atmosphere, live piano being played. Food was slow to come out as we waited quite a while before being given our mains after the appetizers. The duck confit was quite deliciously cooked and tender - the meat just fell off the bone. The elk ragu was quite strong in flavour (gamey). The seared tuna was mild in flavour but nicely presented. Lastly, the steak was overcooked and served cold. We requested for it to be sent back to the kitchen for a second try and the waiter was very helpful and accommodating. All in all, not sure we would return.
Kudos!!! Terrific venue for our board s social dinner. Attentive service, amazing food and great space. Highly recommend!!!
We were at Woods last night before a show at Meridian Hall, and from the moment we walked in it was A++! They asked if we had a show, kept track of time, such a nice touch. The food was outstanding, really enjoyed the Elk Ragu. The atmosphere and ambience were wonderful. Will definitely be back! Thank you!!
Had two company dinners here. Great food and service
Disappointed. The food wasn t really good especially for the price we paid, and my plate was taken while I went to the washrooms though I hadn t finished it Nice people however and cute restaurant but not worth the price
Hosted a 15 people dinner at the private room. Someone was smoking in the restaurant and the whole room smelled like cigarette. When complained, the staff told us theres nothing they can do about it. Speaks to the quality of service and the standards this restaurant holds itself to.
We went to this restaurant on a Friday night and started out with cocktails in the bar while we waited for a table. The cocktails were very good. After we were seated we quickly placed an order because we had tickets to the Raptors game later that evening. Even though the restaurant was mostly empty at this point, we found ourselves waiting for well over an hour. I understand that this is a fine dining establishment but when I gently mentioned we were on a schedule to the waiter, he seemed to become somewhat upset. It is true that by this time the restaurant was filling up quickly. Overall the food was excellent and we had a great time.
This place looks great. The menu is interesting. A few of the details were off but overall a good dinner
Great atmosphere, service and food.
Extremely slow service and okay food.
Delicious food and drinks. Fantastic service. Nice earthy ambience. Had a wonderful experience with my wife.
Amazing service from everyone. Food was great. I will definitely go back.
Vegetarian options: Great selection! Recommend to try
Very bad , it took 2 hours to bring the food and it wasn t that busy. Not a very nice place for a date.
Made a reservation for 8 got seated at 8:40, it took 2 hours to bring the food and it wasn t that busy. Had to keep asking the waiter for an update they love to say the food will be out in 2 mins about it was 20 mins extra or more each time. They end up giving my bf a wrong entree but we were so hungry we didn t care. Not a very nice place for a date. The rez is for Kam Friday 27 8pm just incase the owner try s to debunk this review.
Good dinner
Our experience was so disappointing. The service was atrocious. Our waiter barely said two words to us. It took him 40 min to bring us a drink. I had to ask for table water and flag another waiter down to order an appetizer. After I waited another 30 minutes for 6 oysters, we ended up leaving.
Considering the menu isnt very big and they are seemingly specializing in elk, we were pretty disappointed. I had booked this for a special occasion. The ambiance is great dont get me wrong. The service was great too. However, we chose this place because we wanted the elk and we got there at 6 pm and apparently they were sold out. They were also sold out of the fish and some other things. So make sure to order your elk ahead? Super strange. Instead I got the pasta with elk but it was awful. It didnt taste like anything really. My husband said we could give it another try but Id rather go somewhere like Antler where I know I can get special meats. Waste of money and truly disappointed as a foodie.
4.0/5 Their signature dish, the Seared Ontario Elk was certainly worth the visit. The elk was cooked to perfection and the sides that consisted of tortellini, oyster mushrooms, berry sauce and parsnip purée were such a great combination of flavours. Wow. The appetizers we ordered (the beef carpaccio and elk tartare) were underwhelming. They seemed to lack salt and flavour in general I would not order these again. The server was pleasant, although she kept referring to each of us as my dear which I didn t find too tasteful. The live music was lovely, but the trumpet player was much too loud. We had to pause our conversation whenever he came into the main dining area. Overall, a good experience! I would return for the Seared Elk as I found that quite unique.
Really bad service - waited an hour to get our main, no refills on water or asking if we would like top ups on drinks. Asked for the bill and again waited 25 mins before asking again. Piano player played loudly over music while there was intermittent shouting from the kitchen. Jarring. Food was fine. Asparagus not cooked
French fries are really really yummy, Highly recommend the Ravioli.I felt the beet salad was underwhelming, tuna was a bit overcooked and wish they had give us more then a half slice of bread.
Leaving this review with the hope that they improve the service. Dined with a party of 7 and waited almost an hour until we were served drinks and almost 2 hours for food we ate in 10 mins because we were so hungry. Price tag felt expensive for the portion of food and quality of service.
At its best, cooking is an expression of sustaining someone with love. The food at woods exemplifies that in way that I havent experienced in a long time. Thank you for a wonderful meal and incredible service! We cant wait to come back!
We had five star expectations for this place, and we were looking for somewhere specifically serving elk or local produce. Overall service was great, as where the food and drinks. However, we asked for the service between starter and entree to be spaced so as to enjoy the meal more. Despite this, the mains arrived within minutes of the starter having been cleared so as a result we didnt really finish the mains. Hence only three stars. We give a personal five stars to our waiter who did listen to our needs and assisted us in our wine choice.
Enjoyed a wonderful culinary experience with family. Kids, although not as adventurous as us, enjoyed the NY Striploin. My husband I experienced elk for the first time and quite frankly were impressed with how tasty and tender the meat was. This establishment not only displayed a piece of art on the plate but definitely did not disappoint in flavour. Highly recommend the kale chips, carpaccio and charcuterie board for starters. I don t post many reviews, however, we were sitting next to a couple - one of which was Anu Raasakka - Google reviewer of the same time. Our dining experience was approximately 2 hours. When we arrived at our table, she was already seated with her companion. I m disgusted to read her review as she failed to mention that after enjoying her meal and complaining - the waiter assured her the main course for both patrons are on the house. The fact that she and her partner ate $120 of food at no cost and still had the audacity to write a 3 star review is absolutely unacceptable! There are always going to be people that you can t satisfy but the restaurant went above and beyond to make these two happy. Perhaps if this couple spent more time communicating with each other rather than looking around the room, they d have a better experience and provide a review reflecting their night.
Hidden gem! Went here for a work event and tmit did not disappoint! Amazing service, delicious high quality food and the presentation is picture worthy!
Awesome as always
Mediocre service, food, and bland cocktails. Can t see why people seem to like it
Experience was alright, not great. We made a reservation but when we got there the table wasnt ready. The person seating us also seemed really distracted. Starters were great and the place was nicely decorated. Tried the elk and the waiter didnt ask me how I like it done so the meat was very rare.
The owner of this place Robyn is a wage thief. I was not paid for $2300 of my hard work(over 2 months) and when asking for my payment he just blocked me. Never work here! Th worst part is that I was not the only one left unpaid by this place..
Fantastic food, wine and service. Will definitely be back.
Absolutely incredible. Must visit in Toronto. Elk ragu was outstanding. Incredible service and atmosphere.
Great food, awesome service, know whats up
Came here for a work social, food was okay and service was great!
My fiance and I had an absolutely wonderful time here. The food was presented and tasted great. The service was very attentive and quick to clear plates, take orders, exc.. . They gave us great breakdowns of the items and food came out in a timely manner. Cocktails were very well done. Would recommend the espresso martini, it goes great with the woods smores (modern unique presentation) The interior is magical and warm, classy vibes perfect for a little weekend date. Live music was played and set a relaxing mood for dinner. Exactly what we wanted from a farm to table experience!
Rack of wild boar and French conac cocktail are wonderful. Everyone has to try it!!
Incredible experience at Woods! Definitely going back. The staff were all very attentive - very quick to clear plates, reset cutlery, and fill water glasses. Robin, the owner, is pure class, very friendly but also can read the room. Great place for a date nice. There was a nice place to put our coats at the entrance and the server helped me put on my coat at the end of the night. Food was delightful - I had the duck breast, and it was taste bud heaven. The deconstructed smore for dessert is also a must try, the golden marshmallow painted at the bottom of the plate is to die for
Great atmosphere and some food was good. But ordered steak and it took an hour to get our entries and then the steak was over cooked. No apology or credit just a replacement. But he had to wait. So not cool.
Wonderful spot. Really nice ambiance and the staff was superb. Had the duck and it was amazing. Owner was amazing too.
If I owned this restaurant, I wouldn t change a thing. Service, food, and atmosphere on point! Dietary restrictions: Accommodated allergens
Worth every penny I spend
Tasty hidden gem! Great drinks, amazing dishes. Very good sized portions, so you can enjoy the menu from appetizer to dessert, and they are all worth it.
Its very rare that I give a restaurant 5 stars in all 3 categories, but Woods definitely deserves it.
Yeah, this was a good time. The food was good and there server was attentive. Definitely going back
We had our Corporate event here and it turned out to be one of the worst ones in this city. Subpar food, rude service, inconsiderate bartenders..this place checks negative on all ends. Way too many better places in downtown Toronto to spend your hard earned money on.
Best restaurant in Toronto, hands down
The atmosphere at this restaurant is perfect. The decor is relaxing and cozy. The service and food were absolutely amazing. Ordered the green salad and scallops to start which were good and the portions were just right for an app. The Duck breast was tender and flavorful. The steak was cooked to perfection. Although the sugar donuts were warm and delicious, I wish the dipping sauce was a bit more thick like a chocolate syrup.
Well, we have been waiting an hour for our food (elk ragu and chicken) so maybe when it gets here Ill be able to tell if its good or not. Not a word from our server the whole time, like not a sorry for the wait or anything. Drinks were ok.
Amazing hidden Gem! Ambiance is lovely and the food is amazing!
Sat next to the stairs where staff carried large bins loudly every 10 minutes and had conversations in the same stairway. Owner of the restaurant was for whatever reason just standing right by the stairway and also our table and when I asked if he could stand somewhere else he didnt. Not sure who he thinks he is but this place is too small and this shouldnt happen
I was a member of a group of 7 that ate at Woods for dinner. We had a reservation for 7:30, were seated promptly, and the wait staff was very nice and gracious. The atmosphere was wonderful and the live pianist was great to listen to, however we did take a few issues to our experience as a whole. The wait time was a bit long for our entrees. Our starters had arrived within 15min of ordering, but our entrees took much longer. We ended up waiting around 90min before the entrees were all served. Granted everyones orders were served all at once, but we felt the wait to be too long without any communication from our servers. The food itself was great, but due to the timing of all the food coming out, we found one of the dishes to be room temperature and not hot as we expected. This was disappointing. Overall it was a good experience though.
Great date night. Food was fantastic. Service was great. Love the Canadian theme.
My wife and I went here for our anniversary and loved it. The food was terrific with balanced portions that dont leave you feeling like you overdid it after a starter, main and dessert. The service was very attentive and friendly without feeling intrusive. And it was nice to not feel rushed. The atmosphere was really lovely with live piano and just the right lighting for ambiance. The feels like a real hidden gem in Toronto. We will definitely be recommending this restaurant to others, and look forward to returning ourselves.
They have Elk on the menu prepared different ways which is very unique. They also have boar which is cool. I invited two friends to the restaurant. Booked a table on OpenTable 2.5 weeks in advance. The restaurant called me two weeks later to cancel our reservation due to a private event. In my decades of restaurant going, never heard of or experienced anything like this. Not even a, would you like to rebook for another day, just flat out your reservation is cancelled on the Friday before a long weekend on the pretence that at least they had phoned -- I guess instead of just cancelling on OpenTable. Imagine the clowns running this place. Not eating their Elk, not giving my money to them. Simple.
My husband and I dined at woods last night for our anniversary before seeing a show. I cannot say enough about, not only the amazing food, but our server and the ambience of the restaurant. We both agreed it was, by far, the best meal weve had in a very long time!
For the amount we paid we were pretty disappointed with the food. The vibe and decorations however were great. The food portions were small. The scallop appetizer was 29$ and only came with two small medallions. They also ran out of the watermelon salad which we were hoping to try. I had the lamb, which came out cold and didnt have much flavour. My partners meal came out cold as well. The ragu looked good. It was unfortunate because we were really looking forward to this experience. The best part was probably the fried doughnuts and the service.
This restaurant is TOTALLY overrated with a pretentious staff and ridiculous prices for the substandard food it serves. My gin cocktail was lacking in the principal ingredient....go figure. My scallops were cold, the frites were tasteless potato wedges and my sons elk meat was overcooked, tasteless and tough.
Tasty drinks, nice open atmosphere. The duck was amazing, definitely recommend!
The atmosphere of this restaurant is amazing and the service is the best Ive ever had in quite some time however the food quality is very poor for what is meant to be a higher end restaurant. I had chicken cordon bleu there and I have had better chicken cordon bleu from a frozen box at the grocery store. The size of the dish was also ridiculously small as well, it felt like a sampler not a main dish.
Great steak
Excellent experience at Woods. Great room, polished service and delicious food. Will definitely be back.
I cannot imagine a more embarrassing performance for a restaurant that puts on a self-proclaimed above average dining experience, as stated on their website. This place underdelivered in every possible way. I attended with a large group (between 20-25 people) for a private dining experience - half the group arrived at 8 pm while the second half arrived at 815 pm, which was set up as a surprise. Unfortunately, the only surprise that evening was the shock and awe by every person in the group when they found out our main courses would be brought out at 10:46 pm. Only Michael Douglas in the movie Falling Down was more disappointed in the service provided by this restaurant. The embarrassing performance was only amplified when I spoke to the manager of the restaurant following the meal - he initially agreed it was not normal to have the main course of a meal brought out over 2.5 hours later, he then back tracked and told me it was not unusual for their restaurant. When he asked what he could do to make up for the disappointment, I simply requested to have the bill brought out to me ASAP... they couldnt even do that right, I had to go back and request it again after waiting close to 20 minutes. If youre looking to be underwhelmed, this is the place to be. Food was average at best, portions were acceptable for a childrens menu, and service was non-existent. The manager at this place doesnt have a clue and obviously didnt find their performance as embarrassing as everyone in our party did. If you make the mistake to come to this place, definitely bring your wallet, but leave your appetite at home.
Loved it the second I walked in. Continued loving it throughout the evening. Went for dinner. Had watermelon salad, wild boar and donuts. Food was excellent! It was normal size portions, but I could have eaten more. Not that I wasnt full; it was just soo good! Service was perfect. If you only have one dinner in Toronto, let it be here. Yet, I must say, having foie gras on the menu in 2023 is a bit of a turn-off.
The Paramount of customer Service and Class in Toronto. From Enda the bartender, and his insightful wine suggestions, and discreet yet attentive service, this is worth the visit. If you wish magnificent atmosphere, exemplary service and for Toronto, easy parking, then this place is for you. The owner Robin, has done a magnificent job, and I look forward to my return.
There are some facts for me to not giving five stars There were too many green lights, and my vision was green even after leaving the restaurant. The menu was minimal. And pricy, we paid $150 for two burgers ( which was the only option I liked )and two drinks (not that great) Also, $17 for water, LOL. I believe if the restaurant charges you for the water, then they think about their pocket rather than their service and the customers. Especially if the server pours you water without asking and adds to your bill. :) not a great experience
Dinner for two came to just over $200. We ordered the watermelon salad and scallops to share and for mains had the elk and sea bass. For the price, my expectations were quite high and unfortunately this did not meet them. Food and portions were acceptable. Food
Gaby is an outstanding bartender - highly recommend to anyone with a heart and a stomach
I love it when a restaurant exceeds our expectations! I need to go back and order what my husband had which was the rack of wild boar. I couldn t get over how delicious it was. I wanted to steal his meal. I thoroughly enjoyed my duck cooked to perfection and we shared the elk tartare. It was all scrumptious and the restaurant is soooo so pretty. 10/10l
Food was mid. Waiter was extremely rude and discriminatory. Would not recommend in general, but would recommend sitting at the bar for a cocktail. The bartender was skilled.
Not 1, but 2 drinks were spilled on guests at my table. Not 1 apology. Just a shrug and annoyance by the waitstaff like it was our issue they keep knocking glasses off the table and onto guests. Dont go here. Staff are rude and do not know how to work at a restaurant. Toronto has a lot of nice places. Spend your money elsewhere.
Went there recently and loved the atmosphere. Food was delicious and service was great. I had a lovely interaction with a kid working there, I think the food runner. Defo coming again
What at first we thought was a beautiful hidden gem turned out to be an awful experience. Food delicious - atmosphere - totally awesome. Service, never have I experienced such disrespect and blatant ignorance from restaurant staff. To note we were a group of 11. When we received our bills and members from our party were discussing the 9$ sparkling water- in which she didnt even asked for she specifically asked for tap water - the waiter became frustrated and THREW his receipt to my colleague. Absolutely disgusting behavior. The waiter then refused to split our bills. To throw a receipt at a customer and stomp off like a toddler is unacceptable and I do hope the manager reads this and provides adequate training to their staff. What a sour taste left in our mouths. Never again will we visit this restaurant.
Dont do it, nope, dont do it.
Great food and service
A little gem the seared foie gras is to die for!
Absolutely delightful evening, flavour packed food, attentive and friendly waiter service. The piano player added to the atmosphere of a restaurant I couldnt fault. Sure its a little bit more expensive than the average restaurant but you get what you pay for. In terms of the quality of food and how youre looked after its a lock in for 5 stars
Great food with a particularly strong ambiance. The elk tartare was unique and featured larger chunks of meat than a traditional French tartare, giving it a tangy stronger taste (not to mention the elk). The boar burger was very flavourful. Great spot for a rustic and gamey experience.
Exceptional dining experience. I visited Woods restaurant with my mother and husband during our holiday in Toronto 2 November 2023. We are from London, UK and are used to dining at a variety of excellent restaurants. I believe Woods restaurant is one of the best dining experiences I have experienced! The ambiance of the restaurant was made by the very talented piano player who played a variety of songs all through the night. The service was impeccable, the waiters brought the food at the same time, cleared the plates as soon as we had finished, etc. They were very knowledgeable and polite. The food was also fabulous. We had scallops, Elk, wild boar, duck. All the ingredients were very fresh and presented so thoughtfully. Yes it was more expensive than an average meal but you get what you pay for. I am happy to pay more for a special occasion and a wonderful evening.
1. Food 2. Experience/Service 3. Wow Factor is was makes a great restaurant and this place is great at all 3. I can t say enough good things about the food and service and the one thing that makes this place unique is that it s Canadian Cuisine . There are tons of different cultures is Toronto and you can find any kind of food you want but it s not common to find high end Canadian Food. When people are visiting from the states this is my favourite place to bring them to experience Canada.
I must say, I just had an answer experience from the time I walked in the door. Food and service were absolutely amazing. Visiting from the US but I will definitely be back very soon!
I had a great experience at Woods. The food was great. We went with the waiter recommended Elk options. It was very good. Portions are on the smaller side for appetizers.
Unique atmosphere, simple delicious dishes and excellent service. Convenient location!
Subpar food for the price. Service is very slow and they would not split the bill for us.
Came here for a holiday party, and was so happy with the professionalism of the service, the food, the drinks, the environment and the overall atmosphere of the evening. I will definitely be back in my own to dine again and enjoy their delicious cocktails!
The food wasnt spectacular but the atmosphere and service totally make up for it. A very cool place! Definitely worth checking out.
I had a reservation with Opentable (CB, phone number...) tonight. But there was a party and no room for us. I was first told we are sorry, you should not have been able to make reservation. And after responding that it was a little late to tell us that , I was also told that they tried to reach us but because it was an international phone it did not work. I wonder how my family and friends can still call me from France on my cell phone then ?! Liar dont inspire me good food. Ferdinand, angry to be taken for a fool.
An absolute must to taste Canadiana done right! We went early in the evening but the reception was warm, the staff engaging and professional and the ambience was very cool. The food was excellent and it was good to see Canadian ingredients used so well. I highly recommend the charchuterie and my wife commends the scallops. A jazz band was just warming up as we left which only made the overall experience just a little cooler!
Excellent menu selection and quality dishes. Cant wait to try the other meats. The burger was quite moist and the duck was perfectly cooked.
Great cocktails. Bartender made a really good Martini.
I came here on New Year s Eve for dinner and my experience here was horrible. I had high expectations for this place because of the good reviews online and the ambiance of the restaurant, but my expectations were to high for this place . I arrived at the restaurant around 8:30, I ordered my drink which came quickly, after getting my drink the waiter brought out 3 slices of small bread and a tablespoon of butter. My boyfriend and I had to wait about 30 minutes to get our appetizer, about an hour past and we finally got our second appetizer. We were at the restaurant for about two hours and we did not even get our main course meal. No one came to our table to offer us refills on drinks or give us an update on our meal. The entire restaurant was sitting down with empty plates. The waiter was nice but I think they could have done a lot more to accommodate their customers. We ended up leaving angry and hungry. One of the worst restaurant experience. The service was below average. I was very disappointed ..
Fantastic food, service and atmosphere as usual. The live music was the bonus this time. One of the best Valentines day dinner we have ever had.
The food is so delicious! The chef should be proud of themself. All the staff are amazing and their attention to detail is impeccable. Great food, VIP service, definitely a hidden gem in Toronto
This place is one of the best places to eat in Toronto. The food is so good and so unique, the portion sizes are quite big for a fancier restaurant - like we had 2 1 app (charcuterie), and 2 mains and had to take leftovers. The dessert was the only thing I did not really like here, it tasted like the generic donuts from CNE which is very Canada but not worth the effort. Also drinks are really good here.
Great Service and atmosphere, excellent staff, food was well presented and prepared.
BEST EXPERIENCE EVER!! These are the nicest people I have ever met along with the most amazing food I ve ever tasted!! Couldn t get enough!! We were treated like royalty, would go back a million more times! Big shoutout to Derek and Robin as well, we are so grateful for the unforgettable dining experience!!
Wonderful as always, drinks are balanced and food delicious. We will be back!
Incredible ambiance and amazing food! Highly recommended!
Very delicious specialities!
Great food and even better service. The host is amazing and makes everyone feel like a VIP
Great evening. Sat at the bar and Gabbi was a great host. Lovely food and we were able to get some fantastic insights to Toronto and Canada. Thank you for a great evening!
The evening was delightful, with a few things that could have been better, but overall decided on 5 rather than 4 stars. The server was the main attraction; enthusiastic, knowledgeable, attentive and fun. The wine list was excellent. The seared tuna dinner was fantastic with great vegetables and some of the best tuna ever! The seared elk was good but the 2 accompanying giant chocolate tortellini were heavy and gluey and just had a sort of odd flavour. Three of our party ordered this meal and all felt the same about them. They looked like big mushrooms and we were wishing thats what they were. :) The pasta on the elk ragu was great, however. The crispy kale was pretty well drowned in oil and needed to be better drained, the fries were wonderful. Ambiance is great, prices are a little higher than the 2 other places in the area where we dined but for all-Canadian and carefully sourced ingredients, not out of line.
This is what fine dining is supposed to be; great food with attention to the finest of details and exceptional service.
Amazing first time experience at Woods for a birthday dinner. Derek was a superb server and gave great recommendations for both wine and food. The seared elk is a must!
Unfortunately, my recent dining experience at Woods left a lot to be desired. While the restaurant has lovely decor and an interesting menu, every single person at my table received lukewarm or cool entrees. When a member of my party commented on this to the waiter, he basically gaslit her, trying to claim that the dish was supposed to be a cool dish. This was clearly not the case, however, and they either let the dishes rest too long or forgot to bring them out to us and didnt want to have to own up to it and remake them. In addition, the amount of ketchup that came with an order of French fries was preposterously small--I would be shocked if it even measured to a tablespoon. When we asked for more ketchup, again the waiter was dismissive and made excuses, saying that it was homemade ketchup and a little goes a long way. Woods is not a cheap restaurant, and it is insulting and ridiculous to send out a teeny little dollop of ketchup and then try to dissuade customers from asking for more, as if it were caviar and not the most quotidian of condiments. There are a lot of restaurants in Toronto. I wont be returning here. I would hate to further deplete them of their stores of precious ketchup, which are surely produced by hand in the back by winter elves so tired out from their ketchup production that they forgot to notify the wait staff that our entrees were sitting for ages in the kitchen, cooling to the temperatures of the elves own frigid homeland. For the elves sake, I hope Woods switches to factory-produced ketchup in the future.
One of the best places to eat in Toronto! The restaurant design is gorgeous and the food was so tasty. Great Chef David was absolutely professional, Daniela and Robin were absolutely great, we were treated like royalty. I highly recommend the beet salad, pumpkin ravioli and mini donuts. We decided to celebrate our rehearsal dinner in this restaurant.
Great food, great service!
Amazing! Food was incredible Tuna was delicious and the burger is not like anything you have had before...homemade bun and sauce everything but the plate Service was awsome; let them know if you are in a hurray and they will accommodate. We will be back in a few weeks time :)
Great food, great wait staff, great wine selection
I had the most lovely time sitting alone at the bar here. Dinner was filling and thoughtfully prepared and plated. The real highlight was my server/bartender Gabby. She was a great companion for the evening and every cocktail she prepared was incredible. Whenever I m back in the city I ll be sure to pop by.
Great find. Kinda tucked away but worth the search. Awesome carpaccio! Excellent Martinis, Gabby is the best!
Great atmosphere, menu and staff! We had the charcuterie, elk tartare, oysters, elk ragu, and wild boar meal. The wild boar was a little dry and should have had more sauce, but the other dishes were delicious. Elk tartare was amazing - flavour was delicious and the homemade chips served were lightly seasoned and the perfect pairing. Our waiter was fantastic - he was so friendly, hilarious and they gave us complimentary dessert (homemade cinnamon donuts with chocolate sauce!). Would definitely come back!
Lovely experience. The food was delicious, top notch service.
Visited for a work dinner for approx 10 people. Great service, tasty cocktails, lots of variety on the menu. Looks like a great place to return to as a couple or small group too.
Honestly, just okay
I cannot say enough about this restaurant. We wanted something not so crazy busy but high end food. We happened upon woods because it was close to our hotel but we were so please with EVERYTHING. The service! The ambiance ! The food! I would reccomend anyone who asked, dine at woods! You absolutely have to go.
What an amazing dining experience! Our waiter Tommy was super helpful at offering recommendations that did not disappoint one bit. The ambiance is wonderful and the food choices were all amazing (minus the scallop Duo which was not quite what we were expecting). Would definitely go back to try out the new amazing menu options and to see how the restaurant has changed their interior decorations.
Came here for a date night with dinner and drinks. Inside is a great atmosphere. Cocktails were fun and well crafted. We tried to share the scallop appetizer but it was very small and better suited for one person. For dinner, both the duck and the seared tuna were very tasty but perhaps smaller portions than expected compared to the price. Overall the food and drink are both very good but a little more expensive for what you get. The service was attentive but a little rushed for dinner.
You are doing yourself a disservice by not coming here if you re in Toronto. Excellent food, creative drinks, and a super friendly staff. Can t get better than this!!
Went here for dinner since the reviews looked good. The presentation of the food was excellent. However be prepared for disappointment in the flavor of the food. I had the Steak and my husband had the Elk Ravioli. The steak was cooked perfectly, but it seemed they might have forgotten to add any seasoning because it was quite bland. The Ravioli noodles were perfect however the Elk was overcooked as it just tasted like minced burger meat in the sauce. It also didnt help that it came out room temp and wasnt hot. The vibe and service was great, but wouldnt recommend going for food.
Hidden gem, excellent food and even better service. Will be back for the elk tartare and wild boar.
The steak was cooked to perfection! The friendly and knowledgeable staff really made us feel welcome. All around excellent experience. Thank you for a great Tuesday night out.
Came here for a date and the experience was amazing. Our server was super funny, outgoing, and made us feel very comfortable here (also gave us a little red wine for free!). The food is very very good, no complaints whatsoever. The ambience is very beautiful and is perfect for a nice dinner date or formal dinner! Would definitely recommend.
We had a fantastic night at Woods restaurant. Our waiter was super fun and charismatic, the food delicious and the atmosphere was just moody enough for a great night away from the kids. Highly recommend.
Amazing service and wonderful food!
Absolutely incredible experience here. Lovely ambiance, beautiful decor, great service and even better food. I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant!
Absolutely phenomenal from start to finish- our best meal we had in Toronto! The service was wonderful, ambiance perfect, and the FOOD!! Oh my goodness- it was delicious. Everything was perfect, we will definitely be back and will recommend to all!
Attention tourist trap! Unfortunately the kitchen cannot keep what the menu promises. First of all, super nice service. Elk tartar sour (slightly spoiled), starter platter extremely overpriced and all main courses not well crafted! And when we say goodbye, the waiter pushes the tip very exaggeratedly - which of course is part of it in Canada. Too bad!
We came to try Canadian food. Dinner menu did not have enough selection. Server and host were super nice. The food was okay. It was not anything to rave about especially since it was so expensive. Service was super slow though. We were there for 2hrs.
The food is amazing and our waiter was wonderful, the excitement he seemed to have for every meal was amazing, even if you know what you want ask him about it. It is pricey but its worth it for a special occasion
Amazing food and service, first meal in Canada was amazing and will be hard to beat. Service was amazing. Was quite a culture shock the laid back atmosphere but loved it. Portions quite small but I am an American fatty
Was with my partner here to celebrate an anniversary. We loved the food here; we ordered the oysters, seared tuna and the rack of boar. Ambience was very nice and our waiter + staff were so welcoming and very attentive.
When I realized after we arrived that (1) no one in my party had looked at the menu Id sent them, (2) one person in my party doesnt do red meat, and (3) another person in my party is vegan, I was worried I would be the only one whod enjoy my meal. Though vegan options were limited, they were delicious! They loved the watermelon salad and the butternut squash dish! I had another person in my party who is not an adventurous eater, and she *loved* the chicken cordon bleu (and I am glad she let me try a bite, because it was hands-down the best dish of the lot). She even liked my beef carpaccio, but didnt feel adventurous enough to try my elk ragu papardelle (which was super-delicious). We topped the meal off with ordering all 3 desserts to share. All were delicious! The top pick for all of us were the fresh doughnuts, the deconstructed smores took 2nd, and the strawberry shortcake with housemate gelato came in last. The service was great (our server had a touch of sass, which we enjoy) and when I asked what cocktail Id order that would make him say Ooh, great choice! he recommended the Canadian Manhattan and was 100% correct. It was one of the best cocktails Ive had in a while (and I live for trying new cocktails). Thank you, Woods, for a terrific experience!
Delicious food. Great service. A tad expensive, but worth what we paid. Vegetarian options: Limited vegetarian options with one per course, but they were able to customize an appetizer. And what they did have was delicious. Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible. Restaurant is up 5 steps from the street. Bathrooms are in the basement down a full flight of older stairs.
Easily the best dining experience in Toronto. I came here once and it instantly became my favourite restaurant. There is truthfully not a thing on the menu I would not recommend. The elk dish will transform your evening, but it is not without a star-studded supporting cast. From the cocktail menu to the strawberry shortcake dessert, you truly can not go wrong.
The dinner experience was not what I had expected. The restaurant was very crowded and music was very loud. There was a business mingle type of event at the front half of the restaurant. When I booked the restaurant, the photos made it feel like its a quiet type of restaurant but it was very busy. Food was ok. It might be good if you dont mind loud music. The wait staff were very friendly.
My friend and I had a girls weekend in Toronto and ate at Woods restaurant, a beautifully designed restaurant tucked away off the busy downtown streets. We highly enjoyed our experience and our meals were mouth watering. The menu has really interesting options. The summer squash ravioli was incredible and my friend loved her seared tuna. The service was also incredible and Derek was super attentive. I highly recommend this restaurant (and no, there is no relation).
Excellent restaurant and excellent value for money Friendly staff
Just great. The food was excellent and at a star level. The starters gave us a good idea. The moose tartare was world class and you definitely cant get it anywhere else in the city! The scallops were outstanding and cooked perfectly. For the main course we had elk and boar. They were even better than the starters. The crowning finale was the dessert. Just beautiful. The service was just as good. Overall, a perfect evening.
For a $500 dinner for two, and terrible service we will never be returning. We believe the server was unorganized and dishonest and we are still trying to make sense of the bill. Do not recommend and won t return.
Equally amazing as the food and drinks is the delightful owner of this charming restaurant. We couldn t get seats for our party of ten but we grabbed thoughtfully crafted drinks and amazing snacks of hand-cut chips, spicy mustard, and cured meats. We are looking forward to enjoying a full meal - ps the decor and piano are a perfect touch to a romantic date night!
Absolute worst dinning experience I ve ever had. Server didn t take our orders until we we had been seated for 1.5 hours. He kept refilling our water glasses with water bottles that were 10$ each without our knowledge. Which came up to 100$ just in water. When it came to the bill and paying, it was absolute chaos and nothing got split properly. The automatic 20% gratuity for awful service didn t help either. I ve been here twice and both times were extremely disappointing, and with such a high price tag you d expect much better service and food.
We had the most pleasant of experiences here with our group. The owner, Robbin, was so accommodating and gracious. The bartender, Gabby, was incredibly friends and quickly made everyone some of the most delicious drinks! I was in love with a cocktail (cant remember the name) that one of the other bartenders apparently invented! Very refreshing. The charcuterie board even down to the crackers were delectable. Hope to be back soon!
Very tasty dishes, good wine, friendly staff!
Absolutely delicious meal! Everything we ate was amazing, we tried the elk tartare, scallops, duck, chicken cordon bleu and the cinnamon doughnuts, it was all perfect. Service was impeccable and we had lovely wine too. It s worth it if you re looking for a special dinner. Definitely would go back!
Wonderful food, great bar staff, fabulous cocktails!
Everything here was spectacular. Firstly, the service was amazing, with attentive and personable waitstaff. Cocktails were great, the elk tartate was delicious, and the wild boar chops were cooked go perfection. Definitely save room for dessert, as the house made donut holes were out of this world.
The food was the best i had the steak it was amazing
Great food and atmosphere, the croquette with the tuna was great. If the doughnuts are available for desert just do it. Recommended dishes
The charcuterie is just a bunch of sandwich meat slices from the grocery deli. It s was bologna and Genoa salami slices described as artisanal cured meats. The service was great but average food in tiny portions on large plates doesn t equate to fine dining.
Probably my favorite place in the city. If youd like to be treated in a high-end way, have a laugh and enjoy sublime oysters and seared tuna, this is your place. Thank you so much!
Nice experience
Very expensive for the quality of the food and service you get. Terrible live piano by someone who had no clue what he was doing
Its very rare that I give a restaurant 5 stars in all 3 categories, but Woods definitely deserves it. The food was delicious and good value for money. The atmosphere was wonderful with great decor and just the right amount of buzz without being too noisy. With that said, the restaurant truly stands out because of the service. Our waiter and the supporting staff were the very definition of great service. Friendly, efficient and overall a joy to interact with. The management of Woods deserves kudos for fostering such a great environment.
The food was incredible, I would definitely eat here again. Our service was okay. At first they were very attentive but when we weren t ready to order the first 2 times they came within our first 5 minutes of being there they didn t come back for 10-15 and we had to wave them over. All other reviews say service is excellent though so maybe we were just a one off. Their online menu from their website is out of date. Prices have increased and there are different items on the menu. The google menu is completely wrong so don t even look at that. Their menu in house is also a little off. I ordered a $14 glass of wine and when the bill came it was $16. The bathroom sitch is disappointing considering you expect a fine dining experience. Is there really nowhere else that can keep these extra chairs except the hallway for the bathrooms?
Amazing place, great food, super service. Such a treat!
The best service Ive experienced in Toronto. Great food and atmosphere. We also had a surprise visit from the cast of The Boys during our dinner!
I have to say that the atmosphere was awesome here. Such a beautiful interior. I was hoping for unique delicious food, but unfortunately it was a disappointment. It tasted bland. Service was good, but it took too long for the food to come. Will not come again.
Love this place, ambiance is incredible, staff , bar, delicious cocktails, live music be jazz piano . Food is brilliant. Thank you Woods
Fantastic service and atmosphere, good date spot.
Lovely spot for dinner. Beautiful ambience. Piano player was wonderful. Fabulous selections on the menu. The foie gras was tasty but the Wild Boar Ribs were the best! So tender and delicious! We had the deconstructed s more for dessert. Everything was wonderful. Lovely date night!
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It s quite loud but otherwise everything was superb
Beautiful decor and lively atmosphere. Food was delicious and the presentation was a work of art.
Its sad to do this as Woods was one of my favorite dining places in Toronto that wasnt on the ever questionable trendy lists that circulate. Have been a patron many times over the past few years and always had a wonderful experience with food/service/atmosphere and price so when I went with my business partner last week as a holiday celebration I was extremely shocked and disappointed to walk her into the jarring spectacle of nothing less than a full on 3 ring circus! Including but not limited to the offerings were overly loud music, indoor pyrotechnics (is that even legal anymore?), naughty female dance inspired entertainers, a set up crew asking us to help them, 1hr delay in receiving our main course and the owner offering a complimentary glass of VQA bottom of the barrel red wine (i kindly informed him I dont drink red wine) but he insisted. To my dismay I will never return to the once loved and admired establishment.