Brownes Bistro in Toronto

1251 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 1W6, Canada

★★★★☆
(279 reviews)
Categories: Modern French restaurant Bistro French restaurant Pasta shop Pizza restaurant Pizza takeaway

About

For 30 years Brownes Bistro has been a staple in Rosedale. Cherished by the neighbourhood`s affluent denizens as well as lovers from all over Toronto, this restaurant`s satisfying and sophisticated fare is what keeps its quaint tables in high demand. A classic bistro menu pays homage to all things French, including fresh creations conceived daily. Warm hardwood, oak paneling and crisp linens create an unmistakably European ambiance, while an excellent selection of wines will have you reaching for obscure adjectives in no time. With its hospitality and its low-key locale, without a doubt Brownes Bistro will be around for another 20 years.

Website
brownesbistro.com
Address
1251 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 1W6, Canada
Plus Code
MJM5+J4 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
11 AM–10 PM
Monday
11 AM–10 PM
Tuesday
11 AM–10 PM
Wednesday
11 AM–10 PM
Thursday
11 AM–10 PM
Friday
11 AM–10 PM
Saturday
5–10 PM

Services

Service options
Kerbside pickup No-contact delivery Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Cosy Upmarket
Crowd
Family friendly Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid street parking Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
279 reviews

Most Mentioned

food and service (11) pasta (10) rack of lamb (6) mashed potatoes (6) valentine's day (6) conversation (6) efficient (5) evening (5) business (5) birthday (5)
5 stars
185
4 stars
57
3 stars
16
2 stars
8
1 stars
13
★★★★★
November 5, 2024

The chef is a genius!! We ordered the pasta special and it was incredible. Hands down the best pasta I've had in my life. Clearly freshly made in house. The creme brulee is amazing too. The wait staff are diligent and attentive. The atmosphere is quiet and pleasant. Background music is very quiet so it's easy to talk. AMAZING PLACE!

★★★
March 11, 2024

Uninspiring, I wouldn’t go back here. Everything was okay, the bread was cold and the entrees were not my preference. Ambience was not bad, but the restaurant is a bit dark and service was decent enough.

★★★★★
February 15, 2024

Embarking on a gastronomic escapade at Brownes Bistro is like discovering the culinary unicorn of Rosedale. Picture this: a cozy den adorned with wood paneling and a kitchen that's more open than your friend's oversharing on social media – it sets the vibe for a journey back to the days when good food wasn't just a hashtag. After three rendezvous with my taste buds, I can't keep this culinary secret to myself. The rack of lamb variation is like a rock star on the menu, hitting all the right flavor notes – move over, mainstream dishes! And the angel hair portion? It's not just for two; it's a covert mission in not-so-secret indulgence. Warning: you might not want to share, but hey, that's what the dessert menu is for, right? Brownes Bistro is the cool kid on the block, constantly shaking things up with a special menu that's like the VIP section of flavors. The mussels in their curry broth are like the influencers of the seafood world – unapologetically delicious and leaving you wondering how you lived without them. And for those who like a side of woah with their calamari, the grilled calamari is the punchline you didn't know you needed. Brownes Bistro: where good food meets good times, and the only thing skimpy is the chance of leaving without a smile.

★★★★★
February 15, 2024

Food, service and atmosphere were all exceptional. We ordered the steak frites which were made to perfection. The staff does a wonderful job to make sure the experience is memorable. Overall an amazing restaurant, would recommend to all my family and friends!

★★★★★
February 4, 2024

We got a last minute reservations for Winterlicious. There was 5 of us and everyone was happy with our food. 3 of us had the Winterlicious Prix Fix and 2 ordered off the menu. I think they were short staffed so service was slightly slow but accepted. Regardless, we enjoyed our experience. Would come back!

★★★★★
August 12, 2023

Got together with some friends for a little reunion. It’s a quiet spot with an older crowd. Food was good, well made with good ingredients. Price is also reasonable for a bistro style dining experience. Service was also excellent with friendly and attentive servers. Overall a good experience and good value compared to other Bistros.

★★★★★
July 16, 2023

Small and cute home style french restaurant. Food was splendid, our waiter was very friendly and attentive. Had the salmon which was cooked to perfection. Portions are small so you can conveniently eat all of the 3 course meal. The wine selection is also very good. Only negative is the washrooms are so cramped.

★★★★★
December 2, 2022

Went here for my birthday and the atmosphere was warm and homey. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. Jerry was fantastic! The food was perfectly done. We had the pan seared arctic char and it was so HOT (in temperature) and crispy!!! It was probably the best arctic char we've had before (and this is coming from someone who has had fresh arctic char from Nunavut before). The lamb sausage was like fancy comfort food--soo good. Oh, and the escargot and soup of the day (sweet potato & coconut) was yummy! The creme brulee had real vanilla bean in it and we got a complimentary brownie+ice cream for my b-day! I'd love to come back again to try their other dishes. This is a place where each and every dish was executed perfectly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

I tried the rack of lamb and absolutely loved it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Our favourite neighbourhood bistro.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Always delicious and great service

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Excellent service and food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Great food and service. Good wine selection. Everything was fresh and flavourful.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Despite being very busy and full, the service was excellent, the food delicious. However, it was very noisy and difficult to have a conversation with friends.

★★★★
April 21, 2024

The service was excellent and our waiter was very nice and efficient at his job. Enjoyed all my dishes. Unfortunately the only reason it was not a 5 star experience was when my friends were talking about sharing their salad the waiter offered to have it split so they could share. When looking at their bill they noticed they had added a split charge so they ended up paying more when they originally just wanted to share the one salad. A little sneaky I thought to charge them that without letting them know it would be extra.

★★★
March 21, 2024

I went to Brownes Bistro a few months ago. My date had the steak and I had the salmon. The food was not to our expectations. It tasted bland. There was not enough seasoning in our food. However, the customer service was superb. Our server was very professional, kind and helpful and was checking up on us to see how we were doing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

A welcoming and intimate local establishment with incredibly helpful wait staff who helped me pick a wine to go with my meal (I know nothing about wine). They even chatted with us after dinner about how we came to find the restaurant and about other foods we wanted to try. Very personable and friendly. The food was quite delicious and really well prepared. I cant often afford to go to nicer places, but Im very glad I chose to come to Brownes this time when I did. Sometimes its nice to try the finer things when you can! Im sure Ill be back again for another special occasion.

★★★★★
February 21, 2024

Great French spot! Food is great and the servers are always friendly and professional.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Very good cuisine and service, with a nice selection of wines. Refined interior.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Thank you, Jerry and the team at Brownes Bistro for hosting a festive dinner for 17 last night. The planning was so easy with you, the service was excellent and the food was delicious! Not a single thing went wrong. (Also, the martini was spot on!) Happy Holidays and thanks again!!

Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Bad tasting overpriced food. Ordered the seafood plate which was $36 and got 3 shrimps and 2 scallops, complete rip off

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great place for dates!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Well, it only took me 30 years to finally have a meal at Brownes, and its as good as everyones been saying! The food is quality and delicious. Portions were not small but also allow room for their delicious deserts. The wine list is well chosen and they make a solid martini. If you love french cuisine, this is a great option for you.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

great!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Recently went with a friend. The environment was comfortable and relaxed. The service was great and responsive. We both had steaks and frites. They cooked my steak exactly how I wanted and the fries were nicely flavoured. I highly recommend checking out Brownes Bistro for a business or family occasion.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great service, great ambiance, great food. Highly recommend

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Winterlicious dinner with friends. We had a great time. Food and service were amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Hidden gem indeed! The food was fabulous and the service was just as fabulous! Dietary restrictions: You can ask them to alter parts of the meal for dietary reasons. No problem at all!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Its actually on Woodlawn Ave, not Yonge, but well worth hunting for. I ordered their Winterlicious special: super fresh crisp salad, rigatoni that was over half wonderfully tender and tasty beef pieces with mushrooms and green beans, then a brownie with ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce. Both my companions were equally complimentary about their choices. Wonderfully expert and attentive service from Jerry as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great service and food :) we will surely come back to dine here again

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

10/10 service at brownes. The food is always delicious. Jerry was excellent and gave great recommendations. They were very accommodating to my food restrictions. One of my favourite places to dine!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Always delicious food, great service. Its always my go to place I can rely on! Food

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I have been here twice and both times, I was very impressed. The food is tasty. Once I had the venison and it was absolutely amazing for the price. Feels like a more mature crowd here and very welcoming. I love the cozy atmosphere.

December 21, 2023

I sent them the following note about 3 weeks ago. They didnt even reply to me to apologize. So here is our experience. Hello there, this note is to give you our review after we had a terrible experience at your location. (since I could not reach you from your facebook account, your reservation email address was my only chance to send you this note. So I hope it will find the owners). On the 16th of March at 7:45 pm, we had a reservation for 8 people in your restaurant. It was a special gathering to celebrate one of our friend s birthdays. Some of us had been there before, but for most of us, it was the very first visit to your location. As usual, our waitress gave us the menu and presented us with the specialties of that day. We then gave our orders: 3 salads to be shared and 8 main dishes, including 3 striped basses which was the special of that day. When ready, the waitress served our main dishes and some of us even started to take their first bites. Suddenly, one of our friends called the waitress and asked him whether the fish he served was really a striped bass or not. He then started to complain and accused the kitchen staff not telling him that the bass is sold out and he apologised for not telling us in advance, adding that he can change those 3 dishes . Well, should we wait for another 15-20 minutes to get a new dish while others have already started to eat? We said, that s okay but we were really upset about not being told in advance; even not at the time of serving but only after we questioned it. He must have thought that we won t be wise enough to realise what we were eating, huh? What a rude misconception? He then put 3 glasses of white wine in the middle of the table; saying that those are the courtesy of the restaurant. But that was another mistake, because we were all drinking red wine, not white. We finished the main courses and asked 3 different desserts to share. We also told him that he can give those 3 desserts as a courtesy instead of those 3 glasses of white wine which were still standing in the middle of the table. What he said was another disaster: you sure you did not take any sip from them, yes? Finally, he brought the bill. The desserts were really free of charge but at the bottom of the bill, there was a gratitude (tip) of %20, included with a hand-writing. Well, well, well, trying to secure his tip, knowing that we would never ever give him that since he did not deserve it at all. To cut it short, we were angry but said nothing to him, so as not to spoil our friend s birthday happiness. The next day in our WhatsApp group, we were not only sharing our photos taken that night, but also the terrible experience we had in your location as well. I m not writing to you this note for asking anything, no we really don t ask anything from you. Because that bitter taste is something that we really don t want to remember. I know that you re serving there for many years, hope you ll continue to do so. But for that, you have to choose your staff and educate them well enough to be able to continue your legacy.

December 21, 2023

Ordered leek and cauliflower soup which I had to return as it was served luke warm. I ordered a pizza and was given plate of sausage, potatoes and what I thought was cabbage. I was hungry and didnt want to waste another meal and said I would eat it, though the waiter did offer to get my pizza quickly. Again the sausage and potatoes were room temperature and the cabbage(?) felt it came right out the fridge, and this was supposed to be a hot meal. I immediately sent it back and was no longer interested to try something else. Thankfully, it was removed from my bill. I wished a restaurant open for more then three decades would have staff be aware of food temperatures, not only for comfort but food safety.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Very friendly staff & tasty food. They serve nice GLUTEN FREE meals. We had a great experience. Thank you.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

A cozy little spot tucked in off of Yonge on Woodlawn. It s a gem of the neighbourhood that s been a staple for family dinners for at least 20 years. There s no loud music to disrupt conversation (a rarity nowadays), so the vibe is immaculate. They ve got good specials and good wine selections. My Grandma always has the lamb-shank every single time we go and that s a testament to the quality of their food. And always gotta finish with a creme brûlée. Don t miss this spot!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Pretty nice restaurant, very good service, good food, will visit again

★★
December 21, 2023

Very poor service. Did not get what I ordered ,did not get ice when asked for ,meals did not come at the same time and took an exceptionally long time to come. The waiter really did not seem to be with the program. Wine is way too expensive. All in all nothing really good to say. We will never return. Too many other better options.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Love this place! Exceptional food and service. It is always consistent as well no matter how many times Ive visited. Nice little local gem. Highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Excellent attentive superb service. Excellent wine list. Great price points to suit every budget; and variety of superbly prepared dishes to suit every taste. The after dinner coffees are excellent - obviously the proprietors pay detailed attention to this often overlooked aspect of dining. A North Toronto /Summerhill neighbourhood gem! I go every month with a group and have never been disappointed!

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great service!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Three of us had a wonderful dinner at Brownes. I had tuna and the others had lamb. Everything was delicious. The only negative is the noise. It was almost impossible to have a conversation.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great food and selection. Atmosphere was great. I will say im young for their typical demographic. Busy at 5-6 slow after that

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

food is so great! I love it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great staff and great service and the ambiance is just right - its a little unassuming from the outside, but one youre inside its as nice a place as you could expect. Great for business meals, romantic dinners and everything in between. Great wine selection as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Excellent meal with superb service

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Beautiful restaurant, really friendly staff and amazing food as always! 10/10 would recommend to anyone!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Food, setting and customer service = Excellence! Perfect spot for a romantic dinner! The staff are all very kind and efficient!! Highly recommend!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Excellent, as always.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Excellent restaurant with owner chef for 21 years always good food at reasonable prices.

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Food was very mediocre and nothing unique, aside from small portion sizes, the taste was very plain and boring. They have a lot of food/drinks/dessert items that are not included in the menu and the waiters dont spend the time sharing that information unless you ask about it. The service was underwhelming. The washrooms were also not very clean or tidy. The only positive thing was the nice atmosphere. Definitely expected much better

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Arranged for a party of 12 (Birthday celebration) ... making special arrangements was very easy ... setup was done ... food was excellent ... servers attentive to the group ... everyone commented on the great food and atmosphere ... would highly recommend this place ... definitely will be back

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The food was once again EXCELLENT. I had the gazpacho, the caesar salad, and the grilled shrimp and scallops. It was worth every penny!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Exceptional food and service. The New York rigatoni is my favourite its a must try! Also, make sure you save room for dessert, take your pick as they all hit the spot! The chef personally came to our table to ask how our food was which I found to be a lovely touch. It shows they generally care about their output and the customer experience. Peter, our waiter was witty, well-informed, and an all round gentleman when dealing with us (a group of seven and a baby). 100% would recommend this fine dining establishment to anyone in the area.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Cosy restaurant with good quality food and great options for reasonable prices.Overall beyond average and satisfactory

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

We dined a bit on the early side (6pm) as this place gets slammed on the weekends from 7 pm on. Food and service was top notch. The wine we wanted wasnt available but the waiter recommended an excellent substitute at a similar price.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Came here for summerlicious! It was delicious. Gelato was great and so was the salmon. My favourite was the cold soup. I LOVE COLD SOUP HOW COME I NEVER TRIED IT BEFORE Id eat that everyday. Server was also super chill and nice. 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Amazing ambience and great service to go along. Filet mignon is a must have and my absolute go to whenever at Brownes! Would highly recommend!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Four of us had dinner at Brownes last week, a variety of appetizers and entrees. Its a charming neighborhood bistro with fairly traditional options, well prepared. The night we were there food service was s-l-o-w. The servers were hopping but said the kitchen was backed up. Fairly noisy room when it fills up, not easy to talk around a table for four.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Wonderful food Great service would highly recommend

Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Dont care about customer time!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

We had a great time and it was a birthday dinner for my wife- she loved it and we will be back. Our only comment is that with one more service person it would be brilliant. Not sure if its the kitchen is overwhelmed or its the 2 service people trying to keep up.

★★★
December 21, 2022

Dined in. Wine menu brought to the table in torn and dirty plastic cover. Food menu was the same, stained and dirty. If I am spending $70.00 on a bottle of wine and $30.00 plus on an entree, then please invest in some clean menus. Food was fine, but no atmosphere at all.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Amazing Stuff and place and food. We order one salad and they even split for us ! Love the places!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Friendly staff and good environment!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

We just held our Christmas lunch at Brownes Bistro. The food was excellent and the service was top notch. All 15 of us enjoyed our meals.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Wonderful food! Perfectly prepared, flavorful, well-plated...highest compliments to the chef. Positively delicious. Great ambiance and helpful service. A fine experience dampened only by the embarrassing wines offered by the glass. (I hope they get some professional help to match the fine work coming out of the kitchen.)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great food, great service! They give you space to enjoy your night out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Great food, cant wait for dine in experience.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

A favourite for many years and still is in covid. Traditional food, well made by friendly people. The grilled sardines are among the city s best. Thank you.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

The Lamb was outstanding as usual. This is the first time I have ordered the liver,so tender and tasty.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Delicious

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Our Valentine s Day dinner was ready exactly on time and exactly as ordered. Great service as always!

★★★
December 21, 2021

good bistro food, but they should forget about french fries which end up not passing the test of time. Mashed potatoes las longer and would be better with steak than soggy f fries. Otherwise good value .

★★★★
December 21, 2021

We ordered pick-up pasta and salad and it was absolutely delicious - hot, tasty and perfect.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Food was excellent and on time delivery!

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Great food, great staff and we are supporting you until you can reopen. good luck and hope to see you soon.

★★★
December 21, 2021

Two meals were ordered and, as usual, there was more than enough food for the two of us. We both had pear salad and steak with one tiramisu and one cheese cake for pick up at 6.00pm. Arrived about 10 minutes early and surprised to find the two food bags immediately available for pickup. Quality of the food was very good but with two concerns, namely food was warm enough to eat but not as hot as one would expect (how long had the food been in the bag when picked up 10 minutes before agreed to pick up time?) and while one of the steaks was excellent the second one had a significant amount of fat, grizzle. With that said the both of us cannot wait till we can go back and enjoy the food and environment inside the restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Amazing food and service. I highly recommend Brownes Bistro!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Amazing food, great service. We had the Penne, the fish special and the lamb it was all amazing! Good portion sizes too. Would recommend and will definitely return!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Lovely and quaint. Service was amazing. The grilled chicken breast and penne rigate was so delicious. Order the lemon cheesecake as afters, you won t regret it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Very friendly staff, good food and large patio, I recommend making a reservation if you want to go.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

We are a family of four that just moved to the Rosedale area... We decided to try our luck on Canada day to try the local food offerings...and stumbled upon Brownes Bistro without a reservation. Although it was busy, A tall gentleman named Conran? (which is what we believe he said his name was) greeted us immediately and let us know he could have a table ready for us, if we could be patient for a few minutes while he prepared one for us. We thought this gesture was extremely kind and accommodating...especially because we could see it was a busy night. Now, let us just say... Everything about our first experience here was incredible. Starting with all of the Food we ordered...which was just fantastic! However, what really stood out for us (above everything else) was the EXCEPTIONAL service we received from Conran his knowledge & recommendations on every dish (including dessert) Every cocktail & wine pairing that we ended up ordering was SPOT ON! Weve never come across a server that took such pride, care & kindness in providing true service which extended to our entire family including our children (whom he entertained, and made laugh repeatedly throughout the meal) This kind of service does not exist anymore.... we loved him (and the food he recommended) .... Needless to say, we were very impressed.. so much so, that we cant wait to come back! Remember the name Lilly! Thank you again to both Brownes Bistro & Conran for making our first experience here PERFECT!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Friendly staff, good food, tasty sangria. Try it yourself!

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Brownes is amazing!!! This restaurant prioritizes fresh ingredients and quality service! I m so grateful that indoor dining has resumed so I can enjoy the BEST rigatoni and steak again much more frequently! The people that work here are super friendly and it s always nice seeing a familiar smiling face yes I know they re smiling even through their masks :)

Local Guide
December 21, 2021

WORST PLACE EVER. Me (asian) and my boyfriend (white) went into a restaurant and both felt that there was a racial differentiation in terms of the seating plan. Any seats with more privacy (corner seats etc) were taken by white couples. We were sat in the same row as other Asian couples. When I asked if I can move, they refused. And I mean REALLY refused. Plus, the waitress was exetremely rude. Never again and will not recommend to anyone I know.

December 21, 2021

Rude service & mediocre food. Seems popular to age group 75+ only. Would not recommend if you want good experience.

December 21, 2021

Terrible Margherita pizza and ditto for the tomato and Mozzarella salad

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Took my family here and the food was amazing. The environment is an intimate setting, and our server was very knowledgable about all the food. We had the pasta, and pretty much all the appetizers. Try the Fettucini and Roasted Rack of Lambs

★★★
December 21, 2021

Ok

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Great food, very good service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

My boyfriend took me there for a date at the end of July and honestly maybe we dont know where to look but I have to say, thank you for curating a space where people can have a conversation and eat (no loud music etc). I had the seafood parpadelle which I really enjoyed and the service was great. Will recommend to friends for ~fancy date option.

★★★
December 21, 2021

I was not impressed with my dinner. I got one of the dinner specials and it wasnt good and I really should have sent my dinner back.

★★★★
December 21, 2021

Good place , great quality

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

I was introduced to Brownes Bistro by a friend last Thursday evening and returned on Sunday night as a treat tor my Dad. Both meals were excellent, and the entire experience was only made more enjoyable by our waiter, Conrad. His friendly demeanour, efficiency and prompt attention to detail were noteworthy and greatly appreciated. I highly recommend this Bistro!

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

We ve been dining at Browne s for several years now. Prior to the COVID-related lockdowns, we enjoyed the understated casual elegance and warm ambiance experienced while enjoying in-house dining. During the lockdowns we continued to enjoy the wonderful food quality and impeccable preparation via online ordering for take-out orders. My wife and I enthusiastically endorse this fine restaurant operated by friendly, caring professionals. Give them a try!

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

A great experience . Food is superb. Conrad is a a professional waiter who goes out of his way to make the evening special .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

This is a really cozy place with delicious, high quality food. The service is also excellent. Our waiter, Jerry, was very attentive. Will definitely be coming back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Came to Brownes Bistro for my mothers birthday. Everything was fantastic! I had sweet potatoe and apple soup for an appetizer and the lamb sausages with cabbage and mashed potatoes for main. The servers and owners worked the floor really well, interacting with the guests. They were very friendly and personable, and made you feel welcome. My father had a wrong dish brought to him, but it was quickly corrected without hassle by the staff. Would highly recommend Brownes Bistro for a good hearty meal.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Visited for an evening dinner. There was no wait to get in and they checked covid vaxxes. This is a nice quaint restaurant. The decor is very nice. Staff were accommodating and knowledgeable. They recommended some very nice dishes. This is a wonderful place to have a quiet evening dinner with someone special. Tables are nicely spread out and you can easily hear your company talk. Very much recommend.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Great atmosphere! Quiet. They dont play music so you can actually have a conversation. Salad could have been better. Main course pasta was great. Everyone at the table enjoyed.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Food is nice but nothing amazing! We were walk ins and the waiter said just some advise, book next time, which I thought was a bit rude considering the place was almost empty

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

Very good food and service.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Service is excellent. Food is great.

★★
December 21, 2020

While the restaurant, atmosphere and my meal was very nice the service was very poor. Our waiter was impatient and at times rude. The cutlery and the table was dirty. There was an issue with the food for one or our party and they refused to switch it to something else, only offering the option to recook it.We had a party of 9 adults and they refused to split the bill. I would not return to this establishment.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Angus Ribeye with Gorgonzola Sauce and garlic mashed potatoes for our last dinner here tonight, super DELICIOUS to say the least !!! The BEST and largest steak I ve ever eaten lol !!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

We love this place and, since weve retired to Muskoka, have been back several times when in Toronto. Great food...great staff. Bravo Brownes Bistro!

★★
December 21, 2020

I have been going there for many, many years. I had a horrible experience last year. The owner served us and was rude and unfriendly. I gave it another shot as I had been there for so many years. Same problem!!! Looks mostly like the old timers are their customers and the place is closed by 9 even on Friday and Saturdays. If a man can have PMS this guy does! Im done.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

I have been too Brownes Bistro many times and they never fail to exceed my expectations. Whether it s for a special occasion or just a night out with your friends/family, it s amazing. It has a true European ambiance, the service is exceptional, and they also have amazing options for diverse eating habits such as vegetarians. My personal favourite is the Angel Hair Pasta. They let you substitute the chicken for extra veggies if you ask! Highly recommended!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Great Poole nice cocktails

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Tasty rack of lamb. The ambiance on the sidewalk is just far enough away from Yonge street to be pleasant in a summer evening.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Phenomenal! The pasta was delicious and service was top notch! The owners went above and beyond in fulfilling my order! I cant wait to come back again!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Always a positive experience here. Highly recommend a visit. Great food, drinks and staff.

★★★★
December 21, 2019

Foods are great and have plenty selections. Staffs are warm and helpful. Parking is near by.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

This is a friendly neighborhood bistro tucked away on a side street off Yonge south of St Clair. A long history of serving Rosedale regulars. Someone said the menu is uninspired. From my perspective this is just great. I prefer real food rather than frothy frilly dishes that are more about presentation than taste or portion. We visited today for lunch and the food was tasty and plentiful. The dessert was excellent and the overall service friendly attentive and efficient. It took a fair while for the food to come out but that was just fine with us.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Fantastic food no doubt, however the portion sizes in relation to the price leave one wanting for more.

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

Had an exceptional experience today! Delicious 3 course meal and the staff were really welcoming and accommodating! Will definitely be back!

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

We had dinner at this restaurant, and we had such an incredible experience. The food was delicious, and we wanted to complement the chefs on the high culinary standard of the dishes coming out of their kitchen. The squid starter was one of the most perfectly cooked seafood dishes Ive had. The service was perfect. We couldnt love this family run restaurant more.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and a great steak.!

December 21, 2019

Went here for valentines dinner, food was excellent but a little bit of a wait, but the most serious issue was our server Tibor if I m not mistaken, was so incompetent that another server had to come over and take our order and then the host had to take our dessert order, not once did he apologize for leaving us waiting. As someone who has worked in many restaurants of similar size to much larger there is no excuse for the awful service considering his section was no more then 4 tables when we were there. Only reason I d ever go back was for Maria who stepped in and served us when the guy who had us originally dropped the ball so badly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

delightful food and service tonight for Valentines Day ! Looooved the Tuna and the creme brûlée !

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Amazing gem in the north Rosedale / Deer Park neighborhood... Excellent wine list. Great appetizers. Friendly staff. Go for the standbys like Steak or Venison. Good seafood pasta.

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

My dining experience at Brownes Bistro was overall wonderful. The service is amazing and the food is exquisite. We were greeted by friendly staff and were seated very quickly. The menu was easy to choose from, and the meals were prepared perfectly. Highly recommended!

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

Every visit to Brownes has been nothing but a warm welcome, cozy atmosphere, great service by which they will remember you by name and delicious food... I love this place.

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

I had an amazing experience at Brownes Bistro. The staff are amazing, the food is remarkable, just feels like Im at home when Im there. Will definitely go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

I have had the opportunity to try several things at Brownes. The food and service here is nothing but the best. Always an amazing experience!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

I brought my date here on Valentine s Day and from the moment we walked in through the doors, to the time we were leaving, their service was impeccable! We ordered the flank steak with mashed potatoes - the steak was cooked to perfection and I had the best mashed potatoes ever!! We also ordered the angel hair pasta - this dish has become a favourite of mine!! They always made sure our glasses were never empty! I can t wait to come back to Brownes Bistro! Thank you!

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

Spent my Valentines Day dinner at Brownes and my experience was nothing short of exceptional. Despite a super busy day, the staff went above and beyond to make sure our time there was an enjoyable one. The food was amazing and their extensive wine list gave us plenty of options. Our waiter, Jerry, was also very knowledgable about the perfect wine pairings for our meals. Will definitely recommend this gem to friends and family and will be back soon. Cheers

★★★★
December 21, 2019

Excellent food and service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Fantastic service, delicious food. This was advertised as a Hidden Gem on Open Table, and they werent wrong! Our server went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our food, and accomodated our requests. Will definitely be coming here again, so many good dishes to try!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Great lunch. I had penne in mushroom sauce, which was the daily special.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Great place and great taste

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

This place is located near Summerhill TTC station. We went as a group of four. And we thought we were underdressed when we went in. Most people were dressing in suits and dress shirts. So come prepared. We ordered a variety of dishes, and we tried everyones. The mussels and the escargot were spot on. The pastas were good, but not amazing. The veal chop was good as well, but not amazing either. And then the veal liver was a bit too gamey for me and most people. And the service was great. Overall, its a nice place to go in groups or on a romantic date.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Very nice for Summerlicious! Yummy desserts!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Classic French restaurants, excellent services and food. Went for group summerlicious, highly recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Brownes Bistro is truly a hidden gem in Rosedale. The restaurant is beautiful and has a very nice ambience. An extensive menu with a lot of great choices for both food and wine. I had the rack of lamb which was cooked to perfection and plated like it was out of a magazine! The staff is wonderful, very pleasant and knowledgeable. Will definitely be back. Highly, highly recommended!

★★★
December 21, 2019

Nice and cosy ambience, food was ok

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

I enjoyed the flank steak with creamed potatoes. It was well done, just as I preferred it. The samosas were shaped different from what was expected and although they were supposed to be filled with vegetables, the filling looked and felt like meat. With the Yukon frites, a garlic mayonnaise was served. The garlic flavour was powerful. The serving was large so it was definitely shareable among 4 people. The atmosphere was generally quiet but the server was lively and engaging. I have no complaints but the experience was not impactful.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Excellent food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Great spot..great chefs

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

It isnt a French restaurant. More Italian. But food was good. And wine selection is ok.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Great customer service and amazing food! Youll be amazed! Great place for a date!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Oh my, was this ever good. What a gem of a restaurant. I will be back for sure.

★★★
December 21, 2019

Warm comfortable food is great and service wonderful

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

All the dishes were tasty with good service and its literally steps away from Summerhill station.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Great service, food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2019

Amazing atmosphere and staff very professional and amazing food as well. Definitely will return here. 5 out of 5

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

First time here and let me tell you extremely satisfied with the food and service. The staff handled everything very efficiently. Neat restaurant highly recommend this place!

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

Iv been too Brownes Bistro for the first time ever just the other day with a few friends of mine for a business dinner and I must say my experience there was phenomenal. They greeted us all with a warm welcome. The service was really fast, friendly and efficiency, most importantly the food was deliciously amazing. I would defiently recommend Brownes for any family/work outings.

★★★★★
December 21, 2019

Excelent food. Great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Went for Winterlicious. Excellent meal. Wonderful service. Wish this place was in my neighbourhood.

December 21, 2018

Reserved a table for two for Valentines day many days in advance, yet we were forced to wait in line with 10 other people ahead of us for close to 45 minutes... clearly the owner is friends with the airlines that likes to oversell seats...this alone, regardless of food, warrants a 1 star rating... beware!

★★★★★
December 21, 2018

Excellent menu and excellent food. The lamb sausage and lentils and mash were Fab. And my wife said the rack of lamb was cooked to perfection. Choc brownie dessert out of this world. Wonderful service from our waiter, Stefan. A Restaurant with life but not noisy. We shall return. Incidentally, it is wheel chair accessible. Peter

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Super good service and food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Warm atmosphere, delicious food

★★★★★
December 21, 2018

Havent had a bad dish here yet and the service is always great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Medium to medium high priced restaurant. Interesting variations on standards served by knowledgeable staff including good choices of wine. Celiacs will find good food here with some choice available.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

This restaurant is really beautiful and the dishes are really good, my taste buds are still tingling and if I could I would go back there. Bon appetit.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Always superb food, wine and service. Never disappoints!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

The food here was delicious! I am on a diet, and they were very accommodating of my dietary restrictions. I had the Flank Steak with vegetables as my main course, and it was fantastic!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Very friendly welcome, the dishes are very good homemade. The setting is very pretty. I recommend this address!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Food was delicious.. portions are generous

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Ive tried roasted lamb at a lot of places but this place has to be the best. The service was beyond exceptional and the atmosphere was welcoming. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Excellent food and attentive service. Crowd is mostly seniors and business types.

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

The food is great, with a nice presentation and excellent service. My two-star rating is for the limited menu. There are no gluten free pasta or bread choices. The pasta items are very attractive, but inaccessible. There are several nice pizza choices, and baskets of beautiful breads. I understood it when I dined there many years ago. I do not understand it today, since gluten free options have become mainstream.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Food was delicious and the staff were friendly. I would definitely go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Enjoyed a visit today, overall it was a great experience. The food was exceptional even tho the wait for our food was a bit longer, which I will overlook as the restaurant was filled to capacity and given that its the holidays. Great service and the waiters were friendly and attentive. And it was a great atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2018

Annual tradition and excellent food and service every time!