Alo in Toronto

My wife and I chose to dine here for a special occasion, and it was an incredible experience! The food and service were fantastic! We very much appreciated the quality of the ingredients, along with the creativity and technique to craft each course. This was our favourite fine dining experience, to date. We were pleasantly satiated after 9 courses, and each course was consistent to amaze us. Finally, the service here was excellent; we have never dined somewhere with so much care and attention to detail.

Kept my expectations low as disappointment is the norm at most Toronto restaurants Alo however justified the hype We had a table in the bar - service and food was outstanding Look forward to returning

Customer Experience starts not when you step into the restaurant but when you are looking at their menu and making a reservation. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, OpenTable kept erroring out and not letting us book a table. Between me and my fiancee, we separately tried booking using our Amex, MasterCard, and Visa - each CC from a different big bank without success (all cards are in good standing, and recently used online without any issues). Had to call Alos reservation line directly (where they only picked up on my 5th try) and explained that OpenTable was not working. The customer representative(Jennifer) was dismissive suggesting that I call my bank instead. She then asked me for my email address for her to share the OpenTable link/website - its like she didnt even listen when I explained it wasnt working. And speaking of, I never received her email (yes, checked the spam folder too). I understand why Alo uses a third-party to hold reservations. And OpenTable having a technical glitch is not their fault, but ultimately they should have a back up/alternative way to take reservations. As for their customer representative, a little empathy and offering an alternative reservation method would be nice. We were looking forward to celebrating an occasion at Alo. All in all, Im sure the Michelin-rated food is fantastic but this experience has only left me with a sour taste.

Tasting menu was an excellent choice! Food and service were both exemplary. Loved every moment.

Had the dining experience and the bar side dining experience. Definitely prefer the full dining side menu but the food was delicious. Service was amazing and the atmosphere was great. It was hard to get resos but definitely worth it. The Wagyu melted on my tongue. 10/10 recommend if you get a chance

My partner and I celebrated our anniversary at Alo. Regarding food, we liked the appetisers and desserts. The main courses were unfortunately a bit hit and miss. The lobster and dashi were simply too salty. The omelette was also a bit strange as it was quite bland. However, the desserts were very well balanced in terms of tastes. In particular, the olive oil ice cream and lemon shaved ice was a brave and successful attempt. The service was also a bit strange and some arrangements were simply bizarre. Some servers were kind and professional but some were just over the top and unnatural. There was a server who was trying to ask us to pay extra for champagne, wagyu, caviar and truffle. Honestly it felt a bit cheap for a Michelin starred restaurant to do this kind of hawker-style marketing...both my partner and I found this a bit disturbing but also amusing. Also, we went to Michelin starred restaurants which did not use any of those expensive ingredients. As such I find this a bit over the top. Perhaps they could just leave a menu which lists all add-on options at the beginning and let customers choose whatever they want? I feel that this is more natural

Overall amazing experience, food is phenomenal and service is on point. The bar space seating is a bit tight which makes it a bit awkward.

It used to be the benchmark for French cuisine in Toronto, but now its like giving guests the tips of chicken wings, and the main course costs only 600 per person. Desserts are the best

An unique and elite food experience. The thoughtness and sophistication of each dish were paramount. I found that not only my taste buds being pampered, my eyes were in a visual adventure and my mind was put to high gear in order to fully embrace and enjoy all the aspects and complexities. Service was super attentive, wine selection was excellent, the cocktail and mocktail selection was special. The cooking was contemporary French with a Asian/Japanese twist and food ingredients were of high quality from around the global. Wagyu beef, foie gras , lobster, etc The blind tasting menu took ~3hrs to finish and a little envelope with the menu was provided in the end. Nice touch. Overall, its a very fulfilling, exciting and exquisite culinary experience. An excellent option for a fancy meal to celebrate anniversary or major milestone.

Hmm perhaps the expectation was to high. We finally dined at the Alo Restuarant for our anniversary as the spots seem to be easiler to find these days. Here is my honest review: Service: Definitely 5 star. Very attentive, knowledgable, and CS focused. You could tell that they ve been trained thoroughly and are unified. Atmosphere: It was smaller than expected, which was a plus for us. It s not fancy in any means but has a great vibe and open kitchen which adds breath of life to the space. Gets quite dark after sunset so take pictures while you can! Food: It was great but just wasn t what I anticipated. Their current menu is Japanese fusioned French however, I hoped for more French cuisine. Lots of quality seafood dishes, but the mains didn t Wow us. It starts off strong but slowly fades away. Koshihikari Rice was our favourite and this says a lot. Again, overall it s good but wasn t phenomenal. Also, worth mentioning that number of dishes were reduced from 9 to 7. Should you visit? if you haven t been, yes. Would I return? Hmm possibly.

Possibly one of the best restaurants in Canada. Have the tasting menu. Sit in front of the kitchen. Watch the magic happen. Is a type of place that could in a large World cosmopolitan City, were so lucky to have it in Toronto. If you cant get a table at Alo for 3 months... Try a walk in at alouette down stairs. Oh and I love that fact that theres a little tiny sign and a little tiny stairway in the back alley that takes you up to the heaven that alo is. The service is top notch you thought youd expect from a Michelin restaurant because it is a Michelin s restaurant. Love this place. Plus it has possibly the best burger in the city, as the sommelier for a wine pairing and youre welcome (update in 2024, still the best burger in Toronto)

We had a great time celebrating a birthday at Alo! Service was spectacular, food was creative and delicious, and the overall experience was very enjoyable.

Ive had the opportunity to eat at Aloette, Alobar, the bar at Alo and I finally had to the opportunity to try the restaurant that started it all, Alo. I did save the best for last. The service was beyond impeccable, the sommelier provided the best wine experience that Ive had so far. The food was delicious. I will caveat, it is a lot of food, and a lot of wine (if youre taking the wine pairing). I should have had a smaller lunch. Was there one or two dishes that I enjoyed less, yes. However, the meal and experience as a whole were incredible. Thank you to everyone at Alo for such a great experience and evening.

I recently treated myself and a good friend to a very special dinner at ALO Restaurant. The experience was exceptional, with a tasting menu that left us thoroughly impressed. The knowledgeable staff guided us through each course, enhancing our appreciation of the culinary journey. The food was so captivating that I hardly took any pictures, except for one of the chocolates at the end of the meal and another capturing light shining through a wine glass. Inspired by the latter, I created a new piece of work titled Dinner at ALO.

I came to Alo to celebrate a birthday, and overall, it was a memorable experience with some room for improvement. The chef showcased a beautiful use of Japanese ingredients, including wagyu and an array of fresh sashimi, all presented with a French twist. The first couple of courses were very Japanese-inspired, and the sashimi with a citrus touch was the perfect way to start the meal. The presentation throughout was stunning and artistic. Moving on to the main courses, I was slightly disappointed. There was a minor but unfortunate issue a hair was found in one dish. While this is an error that shouldn t happen at a Michelin-starred restaurant, the staff handled it well. They promptly replaced the dish and even offered a complimentary drink, which I appreciated. In terms of the food, everything tasted good, but there s room for improvement. I wish the dishes were served hotter. For instance, the crab egg roll came out a bit cold, and the plates themselves could have been warmer to keep the dishes at their ideal temperature. The desserts, however, were the highlight of the evening. The olive ice cream and the intricate French dessert box were almost too pretty to eat, and the canelé was perfectly done. These were truly the standout moments of the meal. Overall, I enjoyed the experience and the effort that went into the service and presentation. I would love to come back to see how the restaurant continues to refine its offerings.

The food. The drink. The service. ALL amazing. Ritika was our waitress and she was phenomenal.

The food was a bit overrated. I had two heavy creamy dishes in a row, the taste balance is not good. I heard the main chef yelling multiple times during the dinner, seems like he s mad at the staff It was my anniversary with my boyfriend, it was cute that the restaurant had a printed note and also noted it on the daily menu.

It was a blissful time to promote Japanese ingredients.

My daughter and I had our traditional chef s menu and wine pairing birthday celebration here. Every aspect was superb! The food, the service, the atmosphere, the wines. Our server and sommelier were incredibly knowledgeable and answered any questions we had with enthusiasm. Will definitely make this the spot for special celebrations!

I have an egg allergy and, upon hearing this, the people at Alo told me that each and every dish they serve has eggs as an ingredient and proceeded to cancel our reservation with two days notice. I simply do not believe that Alo puts eggs in each and every one of their dishes - it was a clear indication that they do not want to serve people with allergies at all. I have never experienced a restaurant that is so hostile and intolerant of people with allergies that they are utterly unwilling to lift a finger to accommodate them. Even after I told the person at Alo that I like every type of food and will eat basically anything that does not have eggs as an ingredient, they still did not want to serve me. I had assumed that a restaurant of the reputation of Alo would be sufficient creative and skilled to eliminate a single ingredient from at least one or two dishes but apparently not. I was grateful that the similarly named but much more accommodating and creative restaurant, Avelo, was able to provide us a table on short notice and it was fantastic. I m so disappointed in Alo. I had been wanting to eat there for years. Dietary restrictions: Utterly unwilling and unable to accommodate dietary restrictions such as allergies.

My partner and I dined at Alo for my birthday. We got the tasting menu with wine pairings and some additional course upgrades. Food was amazing, as expected. Some misses for me but that s just a matter of personal taste and preference. The highlight dishes for me made it all up, namely the dungeness crab, chanterelle mushroom & corn, and the dashi & koshihikari rice. These were so so so delicious that I haven t stopped raving and thinking about them since we left. The wine pairings went so well with every dish. The sommelier was extremely passionate and knowledgeable. We enjoyed hearing about the history of each wine, its region, and its winemakers. As for the service - it was outstanding. It didn t feel robotic like some people might say or compared to other restaurants. Maybe only at times but that s to be expected at fine dining establishments. Most of the staff seemed genuine, friendly, and attentive. Only critique I have is that the dining furniture might need some upgrades. The seats seemed worn out and I m personally not a fan of white cloth on tables. My opinion could just be a matter of preference but upgrading the dining room to something more modern and unique might help with making the experience much more memorable. Additionally, I did notice small dirt on one of my forks that was just placed down but I just wiped it off and didn t say anything - likely just human error but for an extremely attentive service staff, I would think that would ve been caught. Not a big issue though. It didn t deter me from enjoying the rest of the night. Overall, dining at Alo at least once is an experience everyone should have in Toronto. Food and service was a 10/10 for me. Will definitely be coming back in the near future (hopefully they ll keep the chanterelle mushroom dish & koshihikari rice dish forever, they were SO good!!!)

Compared to some of the other fine dining experiences I ve tried, Alo is an amazing experience, but I do believe that there are a lot better alternatives based on the food, experience, and price you re expected to pay. Based on the worn out seats, small glasses of wine, getting sick after eating there, and all the meal upgrades they offer in the beginning, it does kind of feel like they may put profits above all else - but I sincerely hope that this isn t the case. 4/5 stars for the food - and for a few reasons. Firstly, like one of the newer reviews below me had mentioned, I did feel sick the very next day after dining here. My partner felt fine but it took about two full days for me to fully recover. I m not sure if there was something about the ingredients they used or if it was something related to their food handling but I hope that this is something they look into. In terms of the food itself, there were several highlight dishes that made up for some of the ones that weren t as memorable. We also opted for a caviar upgrade for one of the dishes, but unfortunately, I felt like the dish would have been just as fine without it. Other than that, our sommelier was amazing and took us on a journey with each and every glass that we had. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about each wine, and the parings definitely elevated each dish we had. However, compared to other wine parings I ve experienced, the amount of wine we were given was a lot smaller in comparison. But even then, I still wouldn t miss out on the parings! During service, I found the waiters to be very attentive and very natural. It s very easy for establishments like these to feel a little robotic but I didn t feel that way at all. In terms of the actual dining establishment itself, the leather sofas felt a little sticky & could use a good reupholstering. Besides that, the rest of the establishment felt very clean and comfortable. We also found a few mistakes on our takeaway cards as well. For one, I was provided with the wrong wine list and my partner s name was spelled incorrectly - which had a special happy birthday greeting inside. At this price point, there should be a certain degree of care and attention to each customer & there shouldn t be any mistakes like these at all. Overall, my partner and I had an amazing experience at Alo but based on the price point, I do believe that there are other establishments that exceed the experience we had at Alo. Nevertheless, all of these misses could be easily improved on and I hope to be back again with a much better experience!! Parking: I ended up parking at an underground Green P nearby (2 minute walk).

The food is good but not cheap and impressive. I never expected to pay $650 for a dinner for two, and we had to finish within 2 hours, but the food came very slowly. There was no privacy at all, the table was ridiculously small, and I could clearly hear what people at the next table were saying. Overall, its overrated

A perfect French dining experience Food prices are good

Service was exceptional and thoughtfully executed throughout our visit. Each course was unique and had impeccable presentation. The desserts were my favourite.

Quite good, probably the most decadent and tastiest tasting menu out there. Only four stars cause I think there s other tasting menus which beat it from a taste/price ratio, and because there s also other tasting menus which are more well balanced. Service a class above what I ve experienced at other places.

Amazing experience and best service I ve ever had.

First off, our server Justin H., made the entire experience unreal. He was very attentive, helped with any questions regarding the menu, and went the extra mile to make us comfortable. The food was exquisite and very fresh, we enjoyed every meal/appetizer we ordered. The atmosphere was very pleasant and we ll definitely be back. Thank you for your incredible service!

We dined at the kitchen counter, what a show! The food was exquisite, the service exactly what you would expect of a michelin star restaurant. The only thing that I would recommend the restaurant is making their menu less rich. By the time i got to the wagu course, I couldnt get it down. Delicious but one bite was all I could stomach. We also shared a wine pairing and believe me when I say, I CAN EAT! Luckily my husband, who is 62 and also can eat, finished my last dish for me but didnt feel so well after! I love Alo; and this was our 5th time, we will go back, and hopefully, next time, the menu can be more balanced

A gourmet restaurant for special occasions, that s for sure! We really appreciated the quality of the dishes served. They were beautiful to look at, the precision of the cuts was incredible and every bite was tasty. We would definitely come back to get a better view of the kitchen. The brigade is talented! The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and his selection of wines to accompany each dish was perfect. With the Wagyu and foie gras options and the wines, we paid $600 per person and it was well worth it. The only downsides were the arrival via a gloomy corridor and elevator. I dont understand why this isnt renovated and decorated adequately. Another point, the service was very professional but very theatrical. I would have liked less militarized, more friendly.

The tasting menu had seven (or technically 10.5) courses that were very tasty and well presented. There were a variety of techniques and flavors that all complement each other. The portion size was perfect so it left us feeling satiated. The only downside was the inside was a little outdated with the leather seats having rips and marks. Service was impeccable and one of the best I ve ever had. The servers were super attentive, friendly, and walked us through exactly what we re eating. Would highly recommend this for a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary.

Had a wonderful time with the 9-course chef s tasting menu. Every bite was something to savor slowly. I will especially remember the Dungeness crab custard. The desserts were a joyous surprise at the end. Michelin star experience is about the food, ambience, and service and all three hit the mark. The service was splendid. Staff were welcoming. The sommelier took care to connect with us as he shared his knowledge through brief storytelling. The manager visited our table and shared in our delight. And yes, take a trip to the washroom, lol.

I just wanted to share that recently I had the opportunity to work with Jennifer on a customer service hiccup and she was so communicative and professional. She responded in a timely manner during a busy time of dining. Really appreciate her problem solving and interest in sorting everything out for me! Thanks Jennifer.

Was waiting for the reservation more than one month and it worth to wait! Attentive service, great quality of food, fair size portion , we really enjoyed the experience!

My partner and I had an unforgettable time at our first dining experience with Alo this past August 2nd, celebrating our 2 year anniversary. Their hospitality, service, and food were absolutely incredible! It was a very impressive experience through and through from the moment we walked through their elevator doors. The dining room and open-concept kitchen were stunning! Being able to watch the synergistic symphony of the kitchen brigade, with their call-outs and responses, execute Chefs Patrick Kriss and Tim Yuns 9 course tasting menu was a very entertaining feat in itself. The food was spectacular and very reassuring of Alos namesake, reputation, and excellence as a 1 Michelin Star Restaurant in the heart of Toronto, ON Canada. We had the pleasure of being served by Bence and the rest of the Alo Front of House Team throughout the span of our two and a half-hour meal. The whole menu for that night was a top-tier feast of exquisite flavour and textural combinations. My 5 favourite dishes were the Dungeness Crab with Scrambled Egg Foam and Cured Quail Egg dish, as well as the Dashi and Koshihikari Rice dish, the Chanterelle Mushroom and Corn dish, the Provimi Veal Tenderloin dish, and the Japenese Waygu dish - everything was incredibly delicious! The Lemon course was a remarkably surprisingly refresher, and my partner and I loved the Olive Oil Sorbet hidden beneath the Lemon Ice! The dessert was an impressive finish to our meal with a lovely Sparkling Jasmine Tea courtesy of the Alo Team (we do not consume alcohol anymore, so that was very thoughtful and generous of them) We were given a personalized menu from the night with our anniversary date printed on the bottom which was a fantastic and heartfelt ouch to the whole experience! We will cherish these memories for the rest of our lives. To the Alo Team; Thank You all so much, and please keep doing what you do - culinary and hospitality magic!

I wanted to love this place. It s been on my list for years now and I finally got to try it for our anniversary this year. Overall - 8/10 Is it a Michelin-star-worthy restaurant? Sure. Is it the best restaurant in Toronto. Not at all. Better options include Enigma, Quetzal, and Restaurant 20. I guess it gets its flowers for doing it before them. But its gotta step up its game if it wants to compete with some incredible new restaurants that are popping up across the city. Service - 9/10 Service was great, but almost too perfect. What I mean by that is after a few drinks, I kept dropping my napkin and they d bring me another one right away - and then try to reach for the one I d dropped Twice they took away a dish before we were done. Food - 8/10 Food was very good, what you d expect from a Michelin-star restaurant. Some of the dishes tasted a bit off. Overall, it didnt feel super creative. Wine - 7.5/10 This was the most surprising part. We opted for the wine pairings, but for a modern French restaurant, not a single French wine pairing was served with our meals. And some of the wines didn t drink great until you took a bite of the food and sipped with it. The red wine had so many tannins it felt like the somm was playing a joke on us. Dessert - 9.5/10 Best part of the meal. The shaved ice olive oil ice cream was great. And they brought out some other mini desserts.

We made a reservation 2.5 weeks ago for their special, truffle tasting menu. We prepaid $785 CAD for 2 which included gratuity for an 8 course meal. We sat at the counter and loved every moment of it. It was bright so I could take pictures of the food and watch the kitchen in action. The dining room area became very dark and dim later in that evening. Although everything except for the lemon with olive oil ice cream in shave ice and the petit fours, had truffle in it, we didnt taste much of it. We were expecting more truffle flavor in the dishes. If we hadnt known it was a truffle tasting menu we would have thought maybe 2 or 3 items had truffle in it. When we went to Italy to have truffle it had a much stronger truffle flavor. However we did enjoy most of everything weve eaten. Some were actually the best things weve ever eaten. They certainly do deserve that Michelin star. The only issue we had was the small and old elevator going up to the restaurant. It was stinky and it didnt leave us with a good first impression. The meal itself was near perfect but then we had to take that same elevator back down to leave, we were slightly put off.

My palate is not developed enough to really enjoy this place. 2 out of all the dishes were to my liking. Super expensive though but great service very attentive wait staff.

Perfect. From start to finish the service was impeccable. This was the most casual fine dining restaurant, all the staff were very relaxed and friendly. Presentation of food, service of food, and most important the actual flavor were amazing. Cant find a fault on anything. Would you back in a heartbeat

The Bar at Alo. It is advertised as the same food as the Alo but more limited. It was noisy and uncomfortable. Our server was officious and condescending. The portions were tasting menu sized (very small) but priced like regular sized elsewhere. The food was overly fancy, some unrecognizable as what it was, but generally tasty. Dont waste your money.

Amazing food. Seeing the kitchen working was a great experience. Wine selection was excellent.

If I could give them 10 stars for everything, I absolutely would. I had a special accommodation, and they were so creative in how they adjusted some of the courses while keeping me close to what the original experience would be. All of the food was incredibly delicious. The team even created a great mocktail pairing for me and it was also amazing. This is my second time being lucky enough to dine here and I highly recommend it. Thank you to all the wonderful team who took care of us - it was truly and incredible experience. Dietary restrictions: No uncooked, unpasteurized foods. No components with alcohol.

Quite simply one of the best dining experiences Ive ever had. Food and service absolutely impeccable.

This was truly just so spectacular. My favourite restaurant experience I may have ever had. Every course was beyond any expectation, and by the time we were presented with dessert any expectation we had was already so far surpassed. Wheelchair accessibility: There s an elevator to enter! Bathrooms are spacious.

Hello from San Francisco! I was supposed to be here before they get their Michelin star but life happens better late than never! Alo is very deserving of their Michelin Star - overall experience was very satisfying. Definitely something worth doing once in a blue moon. We went with their tasting menu along with the white truffle and Japanese wagyu substitutions. Their menu doesn t provide a lot of information so hopefully my captions aren t way off. It s always nice to see Asian influences merging with other cuisines. The only thing that stood out in a weird, but not bad, way is the swordfish. It uses some ingredients commonly used with Mexican food. It threw us off a bit and reminded us of tacos. The servers are all great here. They re not overbearing and shows up when something is needed. It was easy for us to talk to the staff as well. Hoping to try different type of seating next time so we can watch the kitchen staff work.

Finally reviewing after my third time here. Service is always lovely from the servers to the sommeliers. I really appreciated the birthday cake and checking in on me. Lots of French and Japanese flavors and techniques in the tasting menus. Theres a good balance of savory and sweet. Same goes for the wine pairing. I did notice the number of courses reduced from 9 to 7 but that works out better for me as I could barely finish 9. There is a lot of care in the dishes and wine pairings, highly recommend coming out at least once. Also Ill never get tired of their bread, best bread ever

There was a fruit fly in the vicinity. Food was great.

I can see why this restaurant has been rated the best in Canada. We had a great experience. I will definitely be back.

Fantastic meal for a special happy birthday to my lady. Amanda was our server made our meal very special. We had the tasting menu and Amanda recommended great drinks for us. We opt in for the Foir Gras and A5 Wagyu option and it was a fantastic upgrade. The tasting menu was really tasty, and service was excellent thank you

Wonderful Parking: Nice Food : 5/5 |

It exceeded my expectations it s almost impossible to get a table so we settled for the bar with the 5 course meal Dietary restrictions: I have a seafood allergy and my friend has a gluten intolerance and everything was modified without an issue

Pretty magical experience. Came for the tasting menu and it DID NOT disappoint. Well worth it. Thoughtfully curated menu, dishes and flavours. Drinks were exceptional, elevated. Yes, the buns/dinner rolls are as good as everyone claims. Was blown away by dessert. The flavours and presentation were thought out down to the finest details. Service was amazing (theyre also very professional in mannerisms and attire), nice bathrooms (you have to check out bathrooms if its a Michelin star restaurant), lovely ambiance.

The service was amazing, we sat at the bar and the wine pearing was a great choice, the food was interesting and delicious. Truly a great experience!

Had dinner with my hudsband and kid last Friday. We sat on the bar seats and feeled hot because we were closed to the kitchen. Suggest to make the room temperature lower during summer. Whats worse, my husband and I had a diarrhea after we got home that night We were pretty sure it was something from the dinner :( Kind of disappointed after long days expectation.

!! For people who try to have a nice fancy date, just don t try this one to be your first fancy dinner, for 250+/person, you have so many great choices out there. If you have patience, just read below before booking tasting menu. Been to many Michelin restaurants, this is the worst one. Try to create fancy oriental food, but just nothing good. Among all the expensive restaurants I have been to, this is the only one trying very hard to sell all kinds of extra dish/wine CONSTANTLY during your dinner. Sauce has the canned tomato taste, sorbet has mixed meaty taste which is disgusting. Meat all done by slow low temperature boiling, very boring and tasteless. Dessert tastes very cheap, the sweetness is so cheap compared to any generally good restaurants. The portion is so so small even compare to Michelin 2and 3 star restaurants.. 600dollars dinner is one the worst dinner I have ever had no matter what the price is. The fusion creation and taste gives me the impression that the chef is so immature but try very hard to sell the oriental idea to people who don t really know it. I have had beijing roasting duck in New York 3-star, and japanese food inspired dishes in all kinds of fancy restaurants, they were all good. This is the only place I am so disappointed that I felt ridiculous about its reputation and price.

I was waiting to eat at other restaurants with a star before writing this review after dining here in April 2024, and after having eaten at two 2 star restaurants in Europe now, I can confidently say that you should eat here ASAP because this restaurant is so good, its going to get another star and the prices will probably increase. So I recommend booking now and enjoying this while its still underpriced for the level of service, taste, and quality that you are getting. To start, Ill mention that Ive always struggled with eating seafood. As someone from the middle of Manitoba, far away from the sea, Ive had a weird psychological block thats made it hard for me to enjoy. Alos menu when I visited was Japanese inspired, and as a result, almost every dish included fish. This experience made me love fish. I love crab, razor clams, and literally everything on the menu felt like the best thing I had ever eaten, getting better and better with each course. Since eating there, my seafood block is gone which I think is a testament to how ridiculously good the food here is. But aside from amazing dishes, I need to talk about the best part about alo, which I never thought I cared much about, and thats the service. Eating at Alo feels meticulous and perfectly crafted. The servers are so incredibly skilled, professional, and oozing with personality it felt like we were in a surreal kind of performance. The atmosphere complimented this with what felt like 90s rap remixed to be be classy, as the professional staff in high class outfits all wore the same sneakers with different colours. We discussed at our table things like do the sneaker colours matter? Do you think they are listening to us and catering this experience and other conspiracy theories because of how amazing and surreal It was. There was a method to everything, and we both agreed at our table that we could never imagine being able to do this. Everyone made us feel welcome, comfortable, and just kind of transported to another world for the evening. I do not think there could be better service at a restaurant, theres nothing I could even think that they could do better. The food was all beautiful, the cocktails were great, and the menu they gave us to take home at the end of the night was one of the coolest designed menus Ive ever gotten. I wont spoil it, but its one youll want to keep. Alo is an amazing restaurant, and if you are scared by the price, dont be. Something this good is worth a lot more than they are charging. If you love food, you need to eat here.

dining room experience

Ive been here several times and its a great experience. Its much better than French food at the same price.

Absolutely beautiful and top notch staff. The chefs are amazing and dedicated. 9 pm dining was lively and fully booked! There was above ground parking garage around the block for $10 for the evening.

An absolutely incredible dining experience! Highly recommend the tasting menu with the wine pairing. The restaurant is run like a well oiled machine. The service was out of this world no detail was missed. Worth every penny.

We had our anniversary dinner here, and it was top notch. We had the tasting menu, and the food was delicious. Cocktails were beautifully served, and had the right balance. Service was a 10/10.

Spectacular! We did the tasting menu. Everything was amazing. Food was spectacular. Service was perfect. Everybody was so nice and knowledgeable, especially Sabrina. What a nice young professional. Looking forward to go there again.

Came here for my birthday and sat at the kitchen counter where we can watch the chefs work. The service was excellent from beginning to end and all the courses were delicious and intricately put together. The koshihikari rice, Wagyu, and the Dungeness crab in particular were sooo good. There were 9 courses in all and it was the perfect amount of filling. I really enjoyed being able to watch the chefs work during the experience, which was ~3.5 hours long but didnt feel that long at all. It was thoroughly enjoyable for a fancy, special occasion.

FOOD: All the courses are bite size but the could get you very full in the end. Some of them are really really good, some are ok. They are all creative and to the different level that I feel if Im not a food critic Id hardly understand them. But I can feel the extra care, attention to detail put in every single thing on the dishes. Amazing presentation, wine pairing is highly recommended. DESSERTS: blowed me off, they did a great job creat a whole menu for dessert part, with opening, main and ending, great arrangement or the courses. I love the melon sherbet so much it washed away all the fishy taste in my mouth. SERVICE: top notch, they noticed small little details while serving and found out I didnt like one of the course although I didnt say, and bring me a different one which is crazy nice service. Wine pairing was explained very detail by a really knowledgeable waitress. Therere always 3-4 servers surrounding my table area. 1 small thing I feel uncomfortable that therere way too many servers surrounding me pay attention to every details, plus a chef standing in the corner watching people eat with a grumpy face. It makes me feel very pressure. VIBE: very upscale, elegant vibe. Its a big restaurant, tables are set up far from each other so Im glad it gives customers lots of privacy. Lovely decorations.

This restaurant truly lives up to its name and exceeds expectations. We dined at the Lounge area. Each course is exquisitely curated to deliver a symphony of flavors that delight and stimulate the palate with every bite. The service is impeccable, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable dining experience. Despite being a tasting menu, the portions are generous and leave you feeling satisfied. We are eager to return and indulge in this culinary masterpiece once again.

Flawless dining experience. We first heard about Alo through the Worlds 50 Best Award in 2021 and can confidently say this is one of the best restaurants in Canada. Service is convivial and warm and the small dining area makes for an intimate and attentive dining experience. Food is incredible showcasing French and Japanese techniques and ingredients. Flavors are beautifully balanced and delicate. Definitely worth the price and the long reservation window. Would definitely dine again!

Everything was amazing. Pickle on the side wasn t the best. But I ll let it pass. Burger was massive could easily be shared

To celebrate our anniversary, my husband made a reservation at this highly acclaimed restaurant on social media two months in advance. This was also our first expensive meal since moving from New York to Toronto. Overall, the food was indeed quite good, and we ended up feeling quite full. We even received complimentary melon sorbet and a small strawberry chocolate cake. The restaurant likely deserves its Michelin star. However, I have a few points of dissatisfaction. First, as a high-end dining establishment, the sofas had many noticeable stains on the backrests, which gave a poor impression and made it feel like a dingy diner. This was really disappointing. The hostess moved us to a sofa with relatively fewer stains, but unfortunately, it still had some. This was quite off-putting, especially since I was wearing light summer clothes. Second, I would like to believe that their seating arrangement was not intended to be racially discriminatory because their service was otherwise quite good. All the patrons seated on our side were Asian, while the other side was occupied by white patrons. Perhaps this arrangement was coincidental, but I hope those reading this review can provide more insights. Third, the restaurants decor and table settings could use some updating if they hope to improve further. Many renowned restaurants worldwide could serve as inspiration. Im sharing these thoughts because we were satisfied with the food and we hope Alo can continue to improve and become even better.

Food was amazing and atmosphere was great!

Um, excuse me!

The service was fantastic - Marcus was our primary server and was exceptional. I had the chance to try many great restaurants and this was just ok.

Impeccable service and good food go hand in hand here. We had the 6 course menu in the bar room, had some unique and delicious takes on dishes weve had before

Recap from our 5 year anniversary at Alo in Toronto! This place is worth every penny. From fantastic food and amazing service, to great drink pairings, chill vibes and a professional staff that don t take themselves too seriously. Would highly recommend to anyone who has a passion for the art of cooking or just appreciates food, hospitality and cocktails.

Great people, great service,,, there were few dishes we didn t enjoy but can t make everyone happy with every creations. Overall, top restaurant, will visit again and again.

The best restaurant - celebrated engagement, wedding anniversary and birthdays. Food is always fresh, menu always has something new. The staff are amazing, you can even be entertain by watching the way they move and communicate to one another. No other experience like it in Toronto. Worth every penny

To get to this place, it s attached to Aloette but it s a separate entrance. You should be able to see an entrance with stairs and an employee waiting by the elevator. You walk inside, tell the employee you re here for your reserved time, and then they send you up the elevator. After you walk out, they offer you a complimentary coat check. The dining room ambience is dark, intimate, and sophisticated. It s also more on the quieter side, so that you can have an actual conversation with the person or people you re with. We did the tasting menu in the dining room for $225 without tax and tip. It was about 12 courses total. I ll attach a picture of the menu along with everything I ate. Service was perfect and superb. Our empty plates were taken away when we finished and they kept our table clean. They provided a well detailed description of each course. The tasting easily breaks into my top 5. It s difficult to choose a singular favorite dish as they all were perfectly prepared, seasoned, elegant, and the presentation was immaculate. Yes, I was completely satiated by the end of the meal. This was definitely one of the highlights from my trip.

Very impressive! Ive been here only once before and it was much different. I had . mostly small dishes. This experience was much more intricate and refined! Also tasting new dishes blew my mind. Will definitely come back.

Amazing

The best

The atmosphere and service was great. The food didnt meet my expectations since it didnt give me a different flavour profile that I thought I would experience with Alo.

Worth it. Go.

Exceptional in every sense. Hospitality and attention to detail is above and beyond. Be assured a top tier experience awaits.

Alisha is the best server we have ever had. Her knowledge and kindness made our night.

We loved the experience at Alo! The service was impeccable and the atmosphere very romantic, with lots of space and tranquility. The dishes were excellent from start to finish, we really fell in love with the dashi! The price is also very reasonable ($225) for a restaurant of this caliber which has 1 star. We leave with lots of beautiful memories! Thanks to the entire Alo team.

Incredible experience from start to finish! Service was a perfect choreography and everything was done precisely. The dishes were beyond our expectations and 225$ for a 9 course tasting menu of this level is very reasonable. I think it s fair to say that this restaurant is worth a detour . Dietary restrictions: Foods restrictions were well accommodated

Amazing dining experience. Loved 10/11 courses (wasnt a fan of the truffle foam course we had). Great service and we felt the wine pairing was well worth it.

Best dining experience Ive had in Canada. It should be for the price, but it did not disappoint. Food was elegant and rich - all the boxes ticked. Cheers to the Sommelier - great presentations packed with tidbits of info about regions and historical facts. Friendly, non-pretentious service. Thank you!

Next-level quality cuisine & exceptional service. Michelin restaurant and it shows. 90s hip hop playing and relaxed atmosphere. This aint your grandmas fancy snoozefest, afraid to make a mistake restaurant. This is how it should be done.

After having been greeted by the hostess in the small lobby at street level, you are requested to go with the (somewhat shabby) elevator to the 3rd floor. Inside the elevator you initially wonder where you will end up. On the 3rd floor, you again are greeted by a hostess and reservation is confirmed. Coming from Europe, the standard in most Michelin star or recommended restaurants, seems to be low noise, soft music and atmosphere. Not at Alo, or many North American restaurants I went to for that matter. Music is present, and so is the chatting of staff and guests. Once used to this, I was sat at the bar for a drink and after 20 minutes or so was invited to my seat at the kitchen counter. Not something I would typically prefer and as a solo traveller, this typically makes me feel I am shoved away in a corner, but not at Alo. Considering the already noisy atmosphere, the kitchen staff only adds to this and you are straight in the middle of the hussle and bussle. It is a pleasure to see with how much detail the dishes are created and the sometimes chanting and shouting kitchen staff. An 11 course menu awaited, with bold textures and flavours, but all beautiful and extremely tasty. Christopher, the sommelier, added to the evening with surprising wine pairings and goes all the way to share his knowledge of the wines and letting you decide which wine you believe matches best with certain dishes. Once you are settled and accept the noisy atmosphere, you will have an unforgettable evening in a very vibrant environment where the staff really looks after you and makes sure you have a marvelous experience. One of the best restaurants I have ever been to I can say hands down.

Alo met and exceeded expectations. From the greeting to the end. Attention to detail, exquisite food with complex flavors, and atmosphere were fabulous.

Great food and amazing service! One of my favorite restaurants in Toronto, the servers are very detail oriented and friendly. This time that we went, the Hokkaido sea scallop and koshihikari rice were probably our top 2 dishes, followed by the melon pre-dessert with sparkling sake foam!! Always exciting to see what they have planned next.

The reviews on the delicious food and amazing service speak for themselves. However, the attention given on my daughters food allergies was the most compassionate service we have ever had. To be able to sit down without worries and have that experience may have made our evening at Alo the most enjoyable we have ever had. Thank you Patrick and team for for hospitality.

Great food, incredible service. An experience I would recommend to everyone to try at least once.

This was the second time I ve been there and the food is always amazing. It s not always easy to identify what you re eating even with the explanation but it s absolutely delicious. It can be hard to hear the descriptions because of noise in the restaurant.

This is an amazing restaurant in downtown Toronto. The staff is very friendly and attentive. I would like to give a special shout out to Tracy who made our evening very special with her continuous attention. The food was delicious and the progression from starters to desserts was very well thought through. The freshness of the fish and meat were tangible and could be tasted. Also, the head Chef and the Owner were very diligent and every dish came out of the kitchen under their supervision. Loved the food, ambience and the service. It is a bit challenging to get a reservation but it is worth the wait. Would highly recommend Alo. They make all effort to make your special occasion memorable.

Alo was one of our best dining experiences to date. The staff was kind and attentive throughout the entire experience (more than we can say from 3-stars we ve dined with), and the food was amazing. They accommodated our pescatarian restriction beautifully. So lucky to have a restaurant of this caliber in Toronto!

The first restaurant I visit whenever I return home to Toronto. Always the best experience

Food and service was overall very good. The bar room tasting menu was delicious and drinks were unique as well. The atmosphere was calming, and servers explained the dishes with a lot of knowledge. We did the dishes upgrade for the bar room tasting menu, but didn t think the upgraded dishes were that worth it for the price. I would just stick with the base menu if dining in the bar room.

Arguably the top restaurant in Canada. From the moment you step into the restaurant and head to your seat, you will notice the quality of service will be aligned for the whole night. This is my second experience and everything has been consistent since the first (3 years ago during covid) My favourite part was noticing how they remove your plates/cuterly after each meal. Our sommelier recommended us the perfect wine for the night. I got the pleasure observe the kitchen from my table. If you are into the culinary scene, you will notice how meticulous they are when it comes to preparing your dish. From the steps they take to the team chants they do. After watching the TV series the bear (highly recommended) you will appreciate the little things you didnt notice before. Thank you for the wonderful night and this will not be my last experience at alo.

I had the pleasure to experience a michelin starred restaurant in Toronto for the first time for my wife and Is anniversary. And we only did the barroom experience. Fine dining is just another level of intricacy that is so hard to be specific. I think every dish we had was tasty, flavourful, artistic, and just a good balance in every bite. From start to finish, an experience of pure bliss. The dish that gripped me most for this seasonal menu was the japanese rice dish. I cant even recall the name but it was absolutely sublime. Incredibly elegant, creamy, slight complexity, it was absolutely wonderful. It is so difficult to just have one dish of each plate, I wish I could have at least 2-3 more servings of each. The kicker at the end, dessert...it was just so beautiful, I didnt want to destroy it but it just had to be enjoyed. One day, I would like to experience their dining room experience and watch the chefs make each of the creations before you. A very superb experience! The atmosphere had a romantic feel, the music was not too loud, and service was impeccable. Never before have I experienced a serviette being folded every time I left my seat and new cutlery given for every dish. That level of service and detail truly makes a fine dining experience.

What I was hoping for in a Michelin-starred restaurant. The flavours of each course were more or less well-balanced, and very high quality ingredients, like that butter from France! Mm, chef s kiss. You could see the Japanese influence in many of the courses. Everything was exquisite, but, honestly, what I have dreamt about since my visit was the milk bread! I don t know what they put in that bread, but I would come back just for that. Everything was presented beautifully, and the attention to detail was excellent. My husband and I tried the bar room over the dining room option, which was great to get a feel of everything and filled me satisfactorily. (I think my husband could have used a little more food though.) The ambience was romantic and cozy, and all of the staff were excellent. Great place for a special occasion.

I went to Alo this past Saturday and I was absolutely blown away by the quality of food and service that I had experienced. I had eating at Alo highly recommended to me and my expectations were still exceeded. The team was incredibly helpful. They made one of my guests who was celebrating a birthday feel very special, and Marcus also helped me out when I started encountering some digestive issues by bringing me some ginger tea. Please pass along my regards to Marcus and the rest of the team. I look forward to returning to Alo again one day for another incredible culinary experience!

I went to celebrate my birthday. The reservation manager (Jennifer) was superb at communicating via email. She is friendly and helped me find a quick spot since I am in town for a short period only. The whole team were amazing. Monica did a fantastic job at checkin in and making sure I have everything I need. I tried out the tasting menu but was non impressed with some courses that were above salty (And I can handle flavors very well) this ruined the remaining courses for me. I did get a palette cleanser in between to help out but I do hope the staff consider rearranging the tasting menu to compliment each other very well. The palette cleanser should be part of the menu if such high levels of sodium are used (salt was too much I actually had a bad headache and puffy face) I do have to give credit to the pastry chef as I think the dessert was well done! It was perfect in all sense. All in all, good experience but I do prefer other Michelin star restaurants in the area as I was non impressed with choice of ingredients and taste level.

Incredible, as expected.

Great experience.

The food was disappointing. It s good, but does not stand out among other restaurants, except in terms of its exorbitant prices. Given that the expectations are so high proportionate to the prices one leaves with a particularly poignant disappointment. The service is exceptional. It seems that there is a server at every corner, ready to move dishes as soon as you take your last bite. The atmosphere leaves much to be desired. We waited to be seated in a dark, narrow hallway at the bottom of the stairs, regularly moving aside for servers to come back and forth with ice buckets and other materials. The dining room itself is pretty basic.

Best restaurant service I ve experienced in all my years in Toronto! Lee is the greatest!!

Overly salty food. Not worth price point $800 for two. Wagyu upgrade for $90 each was not worth it. Nowhere near Toronto s best definitely not Canada s best. Food is honestly very boring and follows trope of upscale restaurants - truffle, uni, shiitake upscale ingredients done in an uncreative manner. Also $20 jasmine tea. I expected a pot traditional Asian style with great leaves. It came in a bottle. It was iced jasmine tea that tastes of Nestea.

Top

Outstanding

Incredible night of dining. I d say this is the best restaurant I ve been too in Toronto. Food was small servings but I designed and cooked perfectly. Drinks and recommendations were awesome. It s also set tasting menu s which lets you go in a little ride without needing to make decisions!

I had wanted to visit Alo for some time. Perhaps it would have been better were I still waiting. While overall theres little to fault, theres equally little to praise. The service was praise worthy, though with nearly a one to one ratio of staff to table, anything less would have been inexplicable. The room itself deserves less praise; simple and unfussy, but also not as elegant or refined as one might expect when enjoying a meal approaching four figures, though most disappointing was the selection of music, which included hip hop and rap and sounded curated to appeal to the often younger, self proclaimed influencers. The environment offered little ambience, certainly not one consistent with the anticipated experience of eating meticulously prepared, beautifully plated, and professionally served dishes. As for those dishes, the reason one ultimately goes to Alo and the few restaurants recognized globally for still investing silly amounts on kitchens filled with 15-20 white coated chefs acknowledging their leader with yes chef in military precision, it was simply good. Thats the greatest disappointment of the Alo experience, that the sum of all that training and military precision in the kitchen when finally plated is only good. The menu the evening I dined leaned very heavily into Japanese inspirations and flavour profiles. French ingredients and techniques applied to Japanese flavours has worked well for many higher end restaurants for decades, but here the repetition of an often singular flavour, in this case the fermented flavour one might find in a delicate bowl of miso soup, carried through several of the served 10 courses showed less creativity then the chef and his team are likely capable of. So after trying to secure a reservation personally for well over a year, and then having a concierge service take over for another couple of months before finally finding a mid week early evening time slot, the expectations set together with the restaurants recent Michelin recognition were perhaps too high to have been met. For those with enough curiosity and disposable income, I say try it and form your own opinion, and for all others I say that sometimes its better to wait.

Alo was an exceptional experience, it truly is not just a restaurant. The food is amazing and all 10 courses were curated with incredible expertise of Japanese and French cuisine. We sat in the dining room and the atmosphere was very nice, and fitting for a luxurious dinner. Our server Marcus was also top notch, he was very friendly and answered our questions about the menu with knowledge and kindness. All of the staff were welcoming. Service was 10/10, and food was off the scale. The personal touches for birthdays and anniversaries also make this an unforgettable experience.

Best food we ve ever had. All other food is ruined for us now.

Please note that I am only giving Alo a Three Star rating in the context of it being a Michelin Star restaurant and its ranking as Canadas best (or second best) restaurant. The dishes were competently crafted and delicious. Service was good. But overall the experience was rather lackluster (and a huge decline from my previous experience). There was nothing inventive or surprising - no spark. Everything was very standard. The wine list was the most condensed Ive ever seen in a fine dining establishment - about 100 labels. They have also downgraded their stemware from the beautiful Zaltos to Spiegelau. Finally, this was a birthday celebration and the restaurant served a small birthday dessert with a WHITE candle. A Michelin restaurant ought to have known that a white candle in East Asian culture is only used when worshiping the dead. The misstep is incredibly offensive. The message is essentially that the restaurant wishes death upon the birthday individual.

What more needs to be said about Alo? This restaurant provides an experience that s rare to find in Toronto. From the decor, to the service, to of course the food, everything is done at a standard you d expect from an S tier establishment. I d be lying if I said I could tell you what each of the dishes were, but it was certainly a journey of aroma, colours, textures and tastes. It s really an amazing experience when something shocks your senses in ways you wouldn t expect. Service is absolutely impeccable. My glass was never once empty and dishes and cutlery were very promptly taken away upon completion of each course. Also, my dad told a white lie in saying it was all 3 of our birthdays. Alo reacted in the most Alo way possible, and brought out 3 cakes at the end of the meal. Completely unnecessary but wow, what an experience. The cake was also the best I ve probably ever had. The cream was so light yet so delicious that I wish I could order it again individually. The hype for Alo is real. Save this restaurant for a special occasion because they will not disappoint you.

Amazing food, beautiful presentation and impeccable service. Despite the steep increase of the tasting menu, still by far one of the best tasting menus in Toronto and well worth your money.

Above all reproach.

This is a 2023 1 Michelin fusion restaurant but more on French cuisine. A patron pays for a set tasting menu that takes 3 hours to savor and enjoy. The presentation, plating, and curated dishes are all worth the bucks you pay for. It is a fine dining experience, and it is not an everyday occasion. You will have to save up if you are just an average human being, NVM if you are rich and famous. This will be easily affordable for you. Im sharing with you all the sumptuous looking dishes. Service was more than excellent, as your dish is being served, they will explain how and where it is sourced.

We had a private event with wine pairing. Amazing food, presentation, and attention to detail.

WILDLY OVERRATED. The environment was fine but so dark we couldn t read the menu. The food was very elaborately described with uniquely sourced ingredients and speciality preparations but at a very basic level just didn t actually taste good. Everything about this place was hyperbolic.

My wife and I came to Alo to celebrate my birthday. It was perfect! The staff made our experience impeccable - from checking in to storing our costs, table service and paying the bill. The food was delicious. We had the prix fixe menu and a few drinks. Everything was meticulously planned and portioned. The flavours were phenomenal. Thank you for having us!

10 Course Tasting Menu (with wine pairings) - Canapés - Hokkaido Scallop * - Shima-Aji * - A5 Wagyu ** - East Coast Lobster ** - Truffle Agnolotti - Striped Red Mullet * - Pecking Duck * - Japanese A5 Wagyu Striploin ** - French 75 - Chocolate Tart/ Petit Fours

This place totally lives up to its highly-rated reputation! Creative presentation, layers of flavour, and impeccable service combine to form a great dining experience. We had the tasting menu with optional wagyu course; So. Much. Food. Do not eat beforehand. Like seriously, the tasting menu is over the top in quantity and quality.

Umm a bit overrated

TL;DR - Last night was my first time at Alo Barroom to some it up, the experience was deflating and I was hungry after dinner. The 6 course tasting menu with the wine pairing was such a disappointment. For the epicures out there, you will find the courses have been done serval times by other restaurants better, and at best the wine pairings to be palatable (not delicious). Here s the breakdown: 1) The 6 Course Tasting Menu. For a meal that will cost you over $250 per person Be prepared to be hungry after your meal. The portions were 1-3oz of food, and the food was lacking creativity and passion. And I was shocked there was no amuse-bouche to get our pallets ready for experience or when the courses took on a completely different flavour. 2) The Wine Pairing. Not worth the cost of $80. Barely enough wine to taste and enjoy with your course. I know the oz per wine glass differs for each restaurant, but this just felt cheap. Even the pour of a full glass of wine was closer to 3oz Compared to 5 or 6oz is pretty standard at wine bars. 3) Lack of service. When we finished our third course, we waited 45 minutes for our next course to arrive. Watching the other tables be served all six courses before getting our next course. And the staff were constantly bumping into us trying to get through the narrow aisle after clearing plates. No comps were offered for either of these inconveniences. I was really looking forward to the tasting menu and delicious wine, I love modern French cuisine but the whole experience fell flat.

Amazing food and polished, attentive service. Bar side is a bit too dark for my liking and tables too tight. Stilk worth coming for inspired, memorable food.

Very good service and food is great. There was a little mishap but management was apologetic. The only thing that I would suggest them to improve on is perhaps the music collection they play. Perhaps can consider some cool lounge chill music that goes better with the atmosphere. Looking forward to their menu change.

Everything you could ask for in modern fine dining! Only complaint is how hard it can be to get a reservation. Deservedly so!

And overall Amazing dining experience with exceptional service from beginning to end. Food quality was superb although some dishes were a miss due to taste and texture. Regardless, the overall experience was very good And worth the hype. We completed a blind 11 course menu with a large quantity of food, which we were Barely able to finish. I would absolutely Recommend.

The Wagyu and dessert was good. I was unfortunately only able to get a bar reservation. Im presuming the experience in the main dining or counter would be better. Ive been to Michelin stars in Chicago, New York, Boston, Italy, Japan and Montreal (would be if they had it) to compare. Have to come back in the future and try the counter.

I tried the bar menu a few months back and found it a little on the salty side - fast forward to last week I was able to try the dinning room menu. I could not find fault in anything. Paired with the wine tasting I enjoyed every thing served. The service was once again outstanding.

Overall food and experience was amazing! All the dishes were delicious but I did not think the wagyu main was worth the extra cost wish we d stuck with the other one. We also opted for the wine pairings which were definitely worth it!

Thank you to Alo for being such a special part of our engagement night! The food was superb, and the service was phenomenal. It was a night I ll truly never forget. Thank you to the team there for making it so special.

Theres a reason why Alo is consistently rated one of the top restaurants in the city. The food is very creative, well plated and full of flavour. Theyve thought through the dishes carefully and it comes through. The service is impeccable. Its quick, attentive, friendly but not intrusive. Definitely a splurge meal but totally worth it!

The most amazing dining experience weve ever had. Did the tasting menu with wine pairing at the kitchen counter, the food and service could not have been any better. Our main server Michael made the experience for us he was phenomenal!

Service was Key... Jim and Ian do a terrific job at showing human compassion and understanding in all aspects of Life that has nothing to do with receiving food. That however, in mentioning the food..I have never seen a foodbank such as this one. It was explained to me that what I received is not always the case, but mind you the case yesterday was five reusable grocery cloth bags FULL. Fresh veggies and fruit, lamb chops from a the butcher, which butcher I know not. As I stood there realizing the cart full of food was all for me; a single man in his early 40s, immediately I was overcome with gratitude and had a deep sense of joy which caught me off guard almost losing my composure, which of course is not a negative thing at all, for me though, I prefer to leave those emotions at home. Overall a Great Thanks to those that do Their job whether They are paid or volunteer. My many Thanks goes to You. Best Regards to You and Yours in 2024 Sincerely, Mark Poole

This is the best dining experience I have ever had-hands down. I now understand what a balance of flavours, appropriate seasoning, and perfect wine pairings actually means. This restaurant has ruined other restaurants for us, it is that good. It is pricey, but absolutely worth it.

Wake up! For a 1 Michelin star restaurant, I had hopes for my palette, the ambiance, and the overall experience. Save your money and visit at least London or Copenhagen to experience true gastronomy or go to Montreal where there are many gems without the Michelin moniker. Gastronomy without the fuss. We arent talking portion size here or counter dining. Grateful that Toronto is on the map, but we got ways to go, because I thought I was going to a Japanese restaurant instead of French. Details below. Experience - Our sitting was over 30 minutes delayed because the time between sittings is probably not enough. The table was close to the adjacent tables - I get it, pack us in and turnover. The tardiness meant more time to catch up with my friend. For potential diners, just be mindful. This hasnt happened in London Copenhagen, or parts of Spain where customer experience is important from the moment you walk in - its all in the details. If there is a delay, youd get at least an amuse bouche or a drink on the house instead of asking you to wait at the bar and buy your own drink (still and sparkling water is offered). Washrooms - hidden behind a sliding door that is not automatic. If you have accessibility issues, you definitely need someone to assist. There is an accessibility washroom. Staff - attentive, able to explain all the ingredients, and have a laugh. We are human after all. However, I felt that there was pressure to upsell. Wagyu instead of sirloin, an additional $90 and another thing which had a supplement. Even when we took the 6 course as is, they confirmed again whether we wanted the wagyu supplement. Faux pas, but Im not doing restaurant economics here. Accessibility - see above note on the washrooms and in the other section of the post. Food - this is what we came for. We had the 6 course to get an impression to see if we would try the full menu another time. A la carte is available. While there are two sections to the restaurant and we were in the bar room, im curious if the customer experience is dramatically different or there are some first principles that need to be considered to be consistent. Kudos on trying for the presentation but more effort needed to be world class. Hamachi (w/ shiso, plum, umeboshi, radish, kohlrabi, ginger, kombu) - it was nicely wrapped. The ginger was not overpowering. Japanese not French though Foie Gras Tart (cranberry, serrano chili, sicillian pistachio, cocoa, crème fraîche) - the cranberry overpowered everything else. Was a cool dish which made the foie gras kind of slimy. Half a portion. Tart was the thick and hard crust kind. Consider making it a warm dish, filo pastry, some brie, hazelnut, foie gras, and other garnishes - check out Casavant. Koshihikari Rice - basically risotto with mushroom - well made, but portion size for a toddler starting to eat solids. It included Perigord truffle, nori, dashi, matsutake mushroom, and sudachi. Matsutake mushrooms should have a distinct flavour, mix of spice and pine, but I did not taste it. Granted there are two types in Canada (east or west coast). I hope it was the mushroom. East Coast Scallop - Persian cucumber, mitsuba, lemon, sake, kaso, kansho - Nicely grilled large scallop. Tasty sauce on the salty side, (could have included something to soak up the sauce). Kansho is sweet potato in Japan. Unless it was pureed to the point it was almost liquid or somehow infused, I didnt notice it in the dish. Saw the finely cut cucumbers. Creekstone Prime Striploin - myoga, king oyster mushroom, scallion, peppercorn. Great mushroom and steak, despite smaller size. Dessert - when we got the accompaniments for the dessert they put some food glue to peel off. Seriously...no one wants to peel rice paper or your bon bon off of food glue. Be intentional and bring it out properly. Canele was dry. Photos are not filtered. The restaurant was dimly lit. Vegetarian options: You wont be able to eat much Dietary restrictions: Please confirm before booking Parking: Near Queen and Spadina there is a mix of paid street parking and parking lots / garages Kid-friendliness: Older children... Wheelchair accessibility: Yes. The restaurant is on the upper floor of a building and there is an elevator. Washroom entrance has a sliding door. Staff will need to assist. The actual accessibility washroom has a push button to open. The path to the washroom is kind of narrow between diners and bar patrons OR you can go around the window side. Good if someone accompanies as the place is dim.

We had a wonderful evening at Alo! Thanks to the chef and the teams. The service is attentive, the sommelier is really top notch, competent and knows his winegrowers well. The cooking is perfect, cooking just right and seasonings precise. I highly recommend Alo! Soon a second star???

Lackluster - Im genuinely saddened to have to write this, but our second visit to Alo was a bust. We went 4 years ago and it was absolutely mind blowing from beginning to end, every dish so unique and the service impeccable. This visit was blah, the food was unimaginative, no stand out direction or flavours, not one dish I walked away craving to eat again or even curious how they came up with, just very ordinary. Although every dish was beautiful, the taste did not match. We sat at the chefs table, Chef Kymbat was impressive to watch, so precise with everything, the rest of the kitchen gave me greasy spoon vibes, lots of the dishes just slapped together. Our primary server didnt know most of what he was serving us and was faking his way through descriptions. There were definitely a few servers that were very charming and stood out. I had talked so highly of this place for years and am a huge fan of Chef Patrick Kriss but this place has fallen off. We spent nearly $700 on dinner for two and Ive had much more satisfying and inspiring tasting menus in this city for a third of that. Maybe theyre going through a shift, but at this time I dont think its worth a visit.

The first time we dined it was amazing. We have been back twice since and each time it was a disappointment. The food is not up to the same standard, the service is still good, but not what you would expect from a Michelin star establishment. I believe the chef has bitten off more than he can chew with so many different restaurants. We will not return to Alo, but will give alobar a try with hopes of an experience like our first visit to Alo.

Extraordinary 11 course meal prepared by Michelin Star chef Patrick Kriss. A memorable evening indeed.

All the food was excellent, my favourites were the Japanese rice and scallops. The dessert was also unreal

beautiful restaurant

the food was mid. there was a couple good dishes, but most were not that great. i dont think it was up to par with other fine dining places I have been to

Take an elevator to the second floor and youre on your way to an amazing dining experience. Friendly greetings from the staff at the door and Joshua behind the bar. We opted for the pairings which makes the experience quite amazing. Detailed descriptions of the food and wines and friendly interactions with the staff while they do their thing. The food was delicious. The wines were equally superb. Recommended for a special treat.

I had high expectations for this Michelin-starred restaurant, having waited years for the opportunity to dine here. Unfortunately, my experience was a letdown. The menu, described as French cuisine, leaned heavily towards Japanese seafood, which was an unexpected and not entirely pleasant surprise. Several dishes featured odd combinations of textures and flavors that left me not wanting more. While the service was impeccable, the food failed to meet the standard I anticipated for such a renowned establishment. Regrettably, I won t be returning.

Tried the tasting menu, 9 out of 10; the rice dish was a little too much in fusion. However the foie gras tart and the Bread was incredibly Good!! Food

Wife took me for my birthday / our anniversary. Food was incredible. Highlights were the scallop with jamon larso and bouillabaisse, house made truffle pasta, A5 waygyu, apple sorbet pre desert. Everything was amazing from minute one. They welcomed us back as we have been a few times before. Service and wine recommendations were excellent. Staff went above and beyond for our special occasion. Best dining experience in Toronto.

A wonderful tasting menu (highlights were the mackerel canapé, hokkaido scallop, and spiced apple sorbet). But Alo is made exceptional by wine pairings selected by Sommelier Christopher thoughtful and unpretentious, taking the taster from classical notes to new finds from unexpected locales (who knew Austria had some phenomenal wine!?!) Plus the best service I ve had at a Michelin restaurant bar none. Fantastic. Thanks so much for having us!

I was very disappointed dining here for my birthday. The cocktails were unmemorable, our dishes came out a different times, and the steak was too tough to cut through with the butter knife that it was plated with. On top of that, there were noisy patrons at the bar that seemed to be friends with the staff, going in and out for cigarettes. I was really looking forward to this experience but unfortunately will likely not be returning.

Good service, good for special date

This is by far the best restaurant in Toronto. We first tried the restaurant three years ago and were impressed by the quality of the cuisine, the emphasis on ingredients and the impeccable service. We went back to the barroom section today and it was delicious. It is the only Michelin restaurant in Canada that is comparable to those in France. For the quality of the food the price is reasonable in the restaurant and bar room. It is unfair to compare it to much more affordable restaurants in Europe since in North America you will not have any restaurant of this quality for such a reasonable price.

I went on November 24 for dinner. I got the tasting menu in the dining room. The food was excellent as well as the service. I was very full by the end. All dishes were tasty and def worth it. The food was Japanese flavours and ingredients with French preparation. Highly recommend and would definitely go back.

One of my favorite restaurants in Toronto. Definitely recommend this to whoever Pleasant and delicious meal Service is good, no complaints. Staff members are friendly and attentive. food is so flavorful. Food

Alo is a foodie experience, more than a restaurant. Its quality over quantity. If youre expecting a 6 or 7 course menu to translate to a lot of food, the smaller portion size might be a miss. If, however, youre looking for thoughtfully crafted experiences of flavors, served by knowledgable and highly attentive staff in a beautiful setting, then Alo will likely be a hit.

I recently dined at Alo and unfortunately had a disappointing experience that was further compounded by several issues. The elevator leading to the restaurant had an unpleasant smell, which, regrettably, dampened my appetite even before entering the establishment. Despite the commendable service, the foie gras tasted off, and to my dismay, I fell sick after the 6 course meal. This unexpected aftermath certainly overshadowed any positive aspects of the visit. I sincerely hope the restaurant addresses these issues promptly to maintain its reputation and ensure a more pleasant dining atmosphere for future patrons.

Alo lives up to their reputation for being the best restaurant in Canada! After religiously refreshing the reservation site, I was fortunate to take over someone s last minute reservation for a seat next to the kitchen. Seeing the impeccable preparation of all the dishes was quite a sight and would highly recommend this. The tasting menu was a flavour journey with fresh ingredients from Japan (Hokkaido uni, A5 Wagyu, Shima Aji, Madai), to tenderloin, duck breast and more. My favourites were the bluefin tuna with sea grapes and Uni with cured quail egg and egg foam! The staff are also extremely friendly

Celebrated my birthday here and everything was perfect. Each dish was just as fantastic as the last. Service was impeccable. Can t wait to return.

I was really keen to go to Toronto s best and try the Michelin star experience the city has to offer. Since Alo is the most recommended by press and public alike, I went through the arduous process of getting a reservation and was looking forward to the experience I was underwhelmed and disappointed. I didn t want to write my review till I went to another restaurant without stars and cost me much less to get an experience I enjoyed, in case I was being unfair in my judgement. Toronto isn t even close to what Europe is at the moment so as a single star Michelin restaurant I don t think they have to try hard but the food was just ok and in some cases too salty, unpalatable . The service was good but it felt so text book that I wasn t sure if the staff were having a bad night or if they have some level of uppitiness to keep up to, which I find hard to buy when I look at everyone in running shoes. (I made a joke about a dish as to why I didn t want to eat it and our host just had this weird way of expressing his defensiveness that gave me the idea that people being themselves is hard here). There is no clear story, vision, narrative among the choice of my 6 course affair it was French or Japanese felt more Japanese than French and the little explanations were given but were rushed through and was done by different people serving your table. I have to admit the first few courses were excellent and carried the flair of a Michelin star restaurant (my litmus is: if I feel like I am eating something that transforms the ingredients on the plate in a way that is excellent or offers some level of novelty that you go ooh at; then I consider it a success with good taste being foundational). From the egg on egg on egg dish onward the experience slipped to disappointment. I probably had one bite and said no more ( it was just too rich and I felt that if I ate the whole thing I d have a stomach ache) I upgraded to the wagyu and it was great but the dish isn t something wow and the syrupy rich whiskey sauce honestly ruins the already super rich cut of meat. The dessert was such a let down I left my petit fours untouched. The restaurants makes everything else spartan (the space is nice but isn t architecturally or designed to wow, the waiting space is just sit by the window, your table doesn t even get a candle) so the focus is heavy on the food and when it doesn t deliver you will be disappointed.

Very less food for the money

I suppose Ive figured it out. Its the juxtaposition that makes it special. For a night, you see - you come off the street, into a bit of a dilapidated elevator, just as you might have done a dozen times that week, going into and out of your workplace, or home. You wait in the slow moving box as it trudges along, reliably unspectacular both in speed and ambiance as it carries you off to your floor. (The 3rd floor - for posteritys sake) Its only when you arrive, and take a glance around, that you realize the standard has been lifted. No matter if you are ordering a cocktail at the intimate bar, or if you are sitting down for a meticulously prepared meal, the stand will be at a level you would never have expected from that elevator ride. - this is excellence, nothing else will do, nothing has been sent from the bar or the kitchen without the thought and care that is only found at the finest of eateries. Cathartic, Romantic and expressive, would be the experience in 3 words. A precise display of what the fine dining experience ought to be to represent the great city of Toronto. As if the perfect segway for the trip, the same reliable elevator is waiting to transport you right back down from where you came, becoming a portal back to the mundane and unspectacular day to day from which you came.

Tried the tasting menu $120 for each person. Did $120 worth? I would say $100 is going to the service and atmosphere. The food quality is an average, not impressive.

not worth the hype