Aera in Toronto

Pros: Service and atmosphere is amazing. The restaraunt is beautiful !! With dim lighting and nice decor, it was romantic. Service wise, we had Alex for our server and he was so enjoyable to be around. He is very kind, attentive and sweet! Big thanks for making my partners birthday surprise a one to remember :) and the lady at reception was also so sweet! I did not get her name though. Cons: food was a 5 out of 10. Drinks were a 2 out of 10. Nothing spectacular, taste was quite bland. But plating/presentation was very pretty. cocktails are certainly not worth $25 each. They are very small, and taste was just not good. And paying $35-45 to reserve a table is kind of ridiculous tbh. That cost should go towards your order, not be an additional cost. 2 hour seating time is quite short for two people ordering a 3 course meal. Maybe 3 hrs would be better to enjoy food and drinks. I would recommend this restaraunt only on the basis of a once-in a lifetime experience. The views were impeccable, its a great place to take nice photos, and enjoy the atmosphere of the romantic setting. The customer service is great, it was a wonderful experience. But based on the fact that the food/drinks were bland, I dont think Id return. Just a good one time experience.

Aera offers a stunning view of the lake, city, and an incredible perspective of downtown Toronto and the CN Tower. The location at The Well is excellent, and the restaurant s design and decor are elegant and luxurious, creating a beautiful atmosphere. The food was of high quality and tasted great. The steak, in particular, was very good tender and flavorful. However, despite ordering both medium rare and medium well, the steaks came out almost the same, closer to medium rare. The mushroom soup was a standout rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Unfortunately, the overall experience was let down by poor customer service. We visited as a group of 20 and felt that the service lacked professionalism and warmth. The waitstaff seemed rushed and uninterested, only doing the bare minimum without engaging with us. There was no personal touch just a focus on completing tasks quickly. The flow of service was also disappointing. Despite choosing the set menu, the wait times between courses were excessively long. From appetizers to the main course, the table remained empty for long periods, and we were left just waiting. For such a large group, the staff seemed overwhelmed and unable to manage the timing of each course smoothly. While the girls at the entrance were friendly and welcoming, our server felt distant and disengaged, making the overall experience less enjoyable. We visited on a Thursday night, and the live music was quite loud and the venue was busy, which may be something to consider if you prefer a quieter setting. Although the bar and interior design are impressive, Aera didn t feel like a true high-end restaurant. For the price, the experience didn t match expectations, and I wouldn t recommend it if you re looking for exceptional service to match the upscale ambiance.

First of the space is stunning. Great view of the city etc etc. however the black guy that greeted us with the fake van cleef should not be working in customer service. He did not even greet us and acted like we were a bother to him for showing up at the restaurant he should however take classes from the brown guy with the beard working at the bar who was our server. He was super enthusiastic and always checked up on us and very kind. He 1000% deserves a pay raise for Christmas. Cocktails were okay ish. I ve had better French 75s but can t say it was bad. Good restaurant will try again in the future

Everything about our experience was excellent and our server John was so attentive and lovely. He made recommendations and they were all amazing!

When I came to this restaurant it had just opened so I didn t expect it to be the best with how busy it was, and because my expectations weren t high I wasn t really disappointed the food service and atmosphere was all mid. I m booking it again but this time for my CEO and his 8 business associates. Again, my expectations aren t high and I needed to confirm a detail before booking and I called only to be met with low quality low standard service on the phone brushing me off quickly and being no help. I expect better. So hopefully when my boss arrives he receives better - will update the review after his dinner.

When we got off the elevator on the 38th floor we noticed how quiet and classy the restaurant is. However, the receiving area easily gets crowded. We were greeted by smiling hostess and were brought to our table. As we approach the dining area we noticed the stunning views and skyline. When we reached the dining area I was immediately turned off by how loud it was in there. It almost felt like you re in a market. The service was fairly good, I did not like how the server asked how my food was when my mouth was full. He wasn t very attentive in that sense and it happened twice. He also seemed like he was in a rush when we asked him questions, make suggestions, or give him feedbacks. As for the food: I was thoroughly disappointed. We ordered shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was soft and was on the fishy side, the bacon wrapped scallop was rubbery (overcooked). We also ordered the spicy crunchy scallop roll. There was this spicy puree on top that didn t go well with the scallop. The lobster pasta, was on the heavy side and only had 3 small of lobster. However, the steak though. That was excellent. Perfectly charred and cooked to our liking. It s very pricey, but as long as you know what you re paying for ( the view) and not the food then you re good :) With that said, there are other restaurants with excellent views that has better tasting food. Parking: Hard to find the elevators to the restaurant from underground.

Overall, Id rate this experience 3.5 stars. A decent experience, but something Id only do once for the view. The city view is amazing - the windows are tall and span floor to ceiling, and wrap around the restaurant. The ambience is good. Try to book one of the booths facing the windows if you can. Food is decent. Service is where the experience is lacking. The servers were all friendly and accommodating, but it seems like they are sorely understaffed. Our server was running around and barely stopped running just to take our orders. It took about 30 minutes just to receive our drinks, and another 40 minutes was spent waiting for the bill. They were fortunately apologetic and provided complimentary drinks for the wait. This would otherwise be a perfectly decent date night spot. I wouldnt return just because I would expect better, more consistent service for this type of restaurant.

very expensive pub food there

Went to Aera for my girlfriend s bday and honestly would have had a better experience at McDonalds on Spadina. Our server was kind and allowed the bday girl to take a picture by the view of the CN Tower as the next reservation was not arriving for 15-20mins. Not even 30 seconds of being next to the scenery, a red/orange hair waiter with glasses told us to get up and that we took enough photos. He was absolutely rude and continued by giving the bday girl attitude. To the point she started crying! We immediately paid the bill and left. I wouldn t recommend this restaurant to anyone. If you re celebrating anything, take your reservation somewhere else. 0/5 Service. If you want a restaurant with a view of the CN Tower and better food/service try Canoe.

Such a beautiful restaurant with one of the best views you ll ever get, we got to our reso late because of a storm but they were able to accommodate us, our server was so quick and nice, the food is good/ averge.

I don t usually write reviews about my dining experiences, but my recent visit to Aera left me so disappointed that I felt compelled to share. As an upscale restaurant, I expected a higher standard of customer service especially while celebrating a special occasion like my birthday. On December 6th, my boyfriend and I had reservations at Aera to celebrate. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the hosts and escorted to our table a cozy booth across from the iconic CN Tower view. The evening started off well, and our waiter was friendly and attentive. At one point, I asked our waiter if we could quickly take pictures by the window table to capture the stunning view. He graciously said yes, reminding us to be quick as other reservations would be arriving soon. We snapped a few pictures without any issues. Later, I realized the photos didn t turn out as I had hoped, so I politely asked the waiter if we could take another quick set of pictures at a vacant table. Again, he agreed. However, as we were about to take the pictures, another waiter a man with glasses and reddish-orange hair approached us in an unreasonably rude and aggressive manner. Without any courtesy, he immediately told us to leave the table because he was setting it up. While I completely understand the need to prepare for the next guests, his tone and delivery were unnecessarily harsh. He then added, Stay seated at your table, and I m sure you have enough photos from before. Shocked and embarrassed, I explained that we had been given permission by our server, but his condescending attitude left me speechless. Feeling humiliated and upset, I returned to our booth in tears. The incident completely ruined what should have been a joyful evening. We decided to cut our visit short, asked for the bill, and left. As someone who has dined at many upscale establishments, I ve never experienced such poor customer service. It s disheartening that a restaurant known for its atmosphere and views would employ staff who lack basic professionalism and empathy. This experience was deeply disappointing, and I hope the management takes steps to ensure no other guests are treated this way in the future.

Wow! What a room! Food and drinks were great too! Can t wait to go back! Food : 5/5

The view was great, the pictures came out good however the service was horrible coming from someone working in the industry. When we came in we weren t greeted which isn t even the main issue. My friend and I were taking pictures where we were seated and one of the ladies working told us to stop taking pictures with flash. l understand that rule but someone else took it and nothing was said to them mind you, she saw it. Her tone was very rude when she told us so and every time we got up after that to go take a picture somewhere else away from the tables, she gave us a look (a lot of people were taking picture there). With that being said, we decided not to tip. While we were leaving the waiter said was my service that bad that you didn t tip me in the rudest tone ever and gave us a look. I don t know if this is a normal occurrence for waiters to do because it was for-sure unexpected. I was recommended this place through tiktok and I guess I ve to be careful listening to tiktok recommendations.

The food, service, and the atmosphere were all excellent at Aera. I d highly recommend checking it out for yourself and enjoying both your meal and the view of the city.

Fantastic food, great atmosphere, and excellent service . Highly recommend

Our waiter was horrible, didn t pay any attention and even when we ask for a coke he took 20 minutes to bring it. We were placed by the kitchen and my food was sitting there for 15 minutes. I saw the waiter slap his forehead. The manager had to tell him go give the food. I ve never been to a restaurant that treated us this way. It s like he was ignoring us on purpose. Call it racism or just being rude. Would not recommend

First time visiting Aera at The Well and have to say it s an impressive restaurant on the 38th floor with a hell of a view on 3 sides. The restaurant is quite large with an upper and lower tier, upper tier being in the middle of the restaurant (decent view) and the lower being closer to the windows and the great views of the city. Hostess was welcoming and the wait to sit not long, our walk to the table was through a long hallway that allows you a great view of the CN tower and the rest of the city. Loved the very open concept of the kitchen, really bright, open and CLEAN! The place has a great bar area, well stocked with a cool lounge for cocktails (which are definitely on the pricier side, but I guess there is a premium for the views). We were seated in the upper tier in the middle of the restaurant, and our views from our table were nice, overall the restaurant is lively, loud but not overpowering our conversations. Service at the table on the other hand was slow to start and choppy all through the meal with items being forgotten or long waits for server to show up. This restaurant is expensive, and for the price point service should be much more professional and attentive to patrons needs. Our server quite frankly made unnecessary comments to deflect the fact his service was lacking, and when confronted by his inability to serve a drink in a timely manner with our meal served, states my wife eats so fast , buddy you took 15 minutes to come back to us after our mains arrived. Food was great, every plate ordered was tasty and well proportioned. Really enjoyed the Caesar and tuna tartare as appetizers (easily shared between two) and the short rib special with vegetables and mashed potatoes, and my wife enjoyed her Sablefish and brussels sprouts as mains. The service is why I gave 4 stars and not 5, as our food was excellent, and should be for the price point, but a much needed server polishing would be required to get 5 stars in my opinion. Overall loved the energetic vibe of the place, with a live DJ playing some great tunes and the well designed layout of the restaurant and fantastic views. Would definitely return for the food and hopefully have a better server!

We brought our entire firm to Aera for a holiday dinner and had booked weeks in advance. Not only this, we spoke to the Manager in the morning to confirm the table was going to be well suited for the group, ideally close to a window and she advised its great, youre going to love it. When we arrived, we were seated at a few low tables (like coffee tables!!), not at all suitable for a dinner. We thought it couldnt possibly be our correct table, but sure enough, they expected our group to eat dinner this way. When we asked the same manager who we spoke to earlier, she advised that bar tables mean the low tables (like coffee tables) and she couldnt help us. She said she would look into it and never returned. Since when are bar tables low tables??? If anything, they are hightop tables. We obviously had no choice at this point to go elsewhere because we had a large group during dinnertime. We literally had some people pick up their dinner plates and put them into their laps and eat because leaning over and down to eat was so uncomfortable! How are these tables dinner tables and part of the booking for dinner? We spent thousands of dollars and gave Francisco the nice waiter a great tip - but would never come back. We do not recommend this place. If you go , be sure that you are getting a real table of proper height and not leaning over like youre in your uncles living room. So disappointed.

Stunning location, great food. Service was good but potentially over attentive - we were checked 3 times whether we were done with our meal when we were enjoying it slowly. Otherwise though, a great evening!

I came here for my bday and had a great time so we decided to bring my friend here for her bday celebration. Food was not hot. Our server John did not check up on us throughout the night. No water or pop refill, no two bite check, brought the bill without asking if we wanted anything else. Despite all of that, I still tipped 20% but he didn t even say thank you or good night. Just took the machine back and left. Very disappointed with the whole experience.

This place offers a great view... And thats about it. Came here around brunch / lunch on a Sunday and it was shockingly empty. Food was all edible but overpriced to the max. Chicken and cornbread batter was way over salted and the tater tots were as basic as they come. Not sure why people are raving about the corn bread. Texture is nice but taste is ordinary. Most offensive was the service. Not a reflection on the staff who were super nice, but its clear they were understaffed, with slow and scattered service. My drink order came halfway through my meal which is mind boggling. Drinks themselves were ok. Nothing to write home about

Ambience is really nice and the view is pretty amazing. Food tasted great. Service was quick and professional. Overall experience was good :)

I like the atmosphere over here.

Epic view. Great sushi but a bit overpriced. Pork chop smaller than expected. Great service and location. Overall a 5 star

A restaurant with a one of a kind 360 view of Toronto! Date night there, drinks came quick, food was good and sushi was top end! Our server Randy was exceptional and had a great attention to detail. Had great recommendation for food, drinks and desserts. At first our table wasn t where we wanted but Yulia one of the managers quickly changed that and decided to change us by the window for a southwestern view of the city. Will be coming back! Thanks Aera Restaurant

I would give ZERO if possible. We visited the restaurant yesterday, and the only thing I enjoyed was the view. The person who served us was totally rude and treated us with attitude. Even at the end, they didn t say thank you, good night, or anything like that. Such a bad experience.

My husband and I went recently on a Saturday night. The food is very good, but also very expensive. We shared the sable fish, mac & cheese and the brussel sprouts all very tasty. With the exception of the 5oz tenderloin, all steaks are close to or well over $100...and every thing is a la carte. My martini was very good but served in a glass resembling a thimbel...for $25. The view is off the charts, but be forewarned that on Saturday nights its full of 20-somethings so the restaruant quite literally resembles a night club...with everyone in their Le Chateau fineset. Aera contributes to that vibe with their very own live DJ. I would return here but not on a Saturday night.

The food was better than we expected after seeing few negative reviews. Nigiri was fresh, poke bowl was good as well. The view is great and service was good.

Absolutely incredible atmosphere and view, a little pricey but to be expected at a new spot like this. Great place for cocktails and bites

Great vibe, amazing service. will come back for sure

Honestly, a really big disappointment we went for happy hour and during happy hour they had no food just random bar bites so we ended up staying for dinner. When we received our food, the food was very bland and subpar to say the best. While we were being seated The hostess practically ran across the restaurant before we could catch up with her and find our table and the manager was at my face handing me the bill before I could even order dessert or take a bite of the meal we had waited 2 hours for. Very rude and disgusting customer service. Im unimpressed by how rushed our experience was because it seemed as though the staff wanted us out or assumed that we wouldnt have paid and for the bill. As for the ambiance Im extremely disappointed, There was a view of the CN tower, and they placed us on the other side of the restaurant with a view of the back of a condo although the restaurant was empty we were one of four people in the establishment, honestly insane. If youre going to spend any kind of money, you would do better walking yourself to McDonald this place is good for maybe a meeting with a client that you hate aside from that dont go. Good riddance to Aera. For reference me and my fiancé are a coloured couple maybe your experience will be better if youre not.

Overall, I was very satisfied with my second experience. I first visited this spot with some friends and ordered muddies and their beef tartare - I was not impressed one bit, but I recently went back with another group of friends and we all ordered different dishes. We stepped away to take some pics and came back to a beautiful table spread. The service, food and ambiance were on point. We even had coffee and dessert - on a Wednesday lol. I had such a great night catching up with my girls. I recommend you try it out for yourself. But, I really suggest they add a sign outside the building to make it easier for people to find the restaurant. Ive heard similar feedback from friends.

Yue

Lamb chops

You go there for the view, maybe. Food doesnt match the hype and price. The bacon we ordered is def overcooked, and some are burnt. I think they have to elevate the service and food there, otherwise, why would you go there? Drinks are just basics, $25 per drink - Id rather just go to Bar Chef for that with a great experience.

Food is 5 star without any doubt, but the table isnt a good size to fit 4 people with wine and water glass, we have to ask to place the food only one plate at each time. The 38th floor has an amazing view, especially at night! Recommend for 3 people or book a large table with 4 or more.

Located in The Well, Toronto s latest urban development, Aera offers a prime location with stunning views of the city skyline. The atmosphere is sleek and modern, making it an appealing choice for a day out with a view. Unfortunately, the food and service don t quite live up to the ambiance. The fusion concept feels more like a trendy gimmick than a thoughtful culinary experience. The sushi, while beautifully presented, falls short of Japanese standards in both flavor and quality. Even the end pieces of the sushi were disappointingly short, making the portion feel lacking. The fried chicken was a letdown hard, dry, and entirely flavorless. Additionally, the salad served on the side was extremely sour and did not pair well with the fried chicken. The butter cornbread was so oily that it crumbled the moment you picked it up, making it nearly impossible to enjoy. The Egg Benedict was just average, with nothing particularly outstanding to recommend it. However, the dessert was probably the best dish of the day. The lava cake was done nicely, warm inside, and paired beautifully with a delicious Nutella chocolate ice cream that added a delightful richness to the experience. Service also missed the mark. My waiter seemed unfamiliar with the dishes when I asked questions and repeatedly forgot multiple items we requested. It felt as though the service staff could benefit from more training and support to enhance the dining experience. As a heads-up, finding the restaurant can be tricky. The Well s underground parking is confusing to navigate, so I d recommend checking Aera s website for specific directions beforehand to save some time and hassle.

Great food, service and a view.

I called this restaurant twice, and both times the person who answered was incredibly unhelpful and came across with a noticeable attitude. When I asked about the menu, the response was dismissive, which was surprising. Usually, restaurants have their friendliest staff handling phone calls, so it makes you wonder what the service is like in person. After reading other reviews, it seems that poor service is a common complaint here.

More of a experience restaurant. Great view of the CN tower (especially at night) convenient location. Elevator up enhances the the exclusive feel. Food was slightly above average. Nothing too standout. Great mashed potato. Great for a special event. Not for regular visits.

Our server was excellent, cocktails were very average however the experience was completely ruined by the blonde hostess at the front who was insanely rude and dismissive.

Went for my birthday this time the first time I went was for our friends bday. I dint get any on the house cake while my friends did. Which is weird and inconsistent considering its a returning customer

Absolutely love this place! Didn t have dinner here just drinks but atmosphere and service was immaculate. Will definitely come back!

The restaurant is gorgeous and our server was great, but the blonde host at the front is incredibly rude and ruined our experience

Deserves a higher rating. This place exceeded our expectations! The food and service were incredible. The lamb was cooked perfectly, and the pasta was delicious. Our server even recommended a sushi roll that wasn t on the menu yet, so we got a first taste before its release. We also got a lava cake as a birthday treat! Will definitely visit again for another milestone occasion.

Everything about Aera is incredible. The food is top notch & the servers are highly attentive. The blonde lady working the front was wonderful & made our experience fantastic from the moment we stepped foot.

Beautiful views but food is both expensive and average. I d probably narrow the menu and try to give it some soul feels a bit incoherent right now

If youre in the Toronto area, look no further than this exceptional steakhouse and sushi spot for a truly unforgettable dining experience. The service is impeccable, with staff who are both attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring your meal is flawless from start to finish. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between cozy and upscale, creating an inviting vibe that suits both intimate dinners and celebratory nights out.

Extremely disappointed with the service. Waited for like felt ages for simple french fries and our drinks. I was looking forward to order from the main menu but since no server came back to take my order the kitchen closed and I had to settle for the snack menu. Food : 3/5

Cool views and atmosphere, served was nice. Food was bland, boring, and unremarkable. Far better restaurants in Toronto for the price

Everything is amazing. Views , food, service.

Best Mac and cheese!

Slightly over rated bakery

They accommodated a party at 9:00, gave us great service and the food was fantastic. It was truly a very memorable evening.

came here for my bday dinner and the service & food was amazing!! they had called up my husband to ask him his choice of dessert ahead of time, which i thought was a very sweet touch you can never go wrong with aera Food

Went here for a birthday dinner a few days back. The views were incredible, with the Toronto skyline and CN Tower stealing the show. The cozy, stylish ambiance made the evening feel extra special. We started with the classic Caesar salad, cornbread, and fries. The cornbread was easily the favorite-warm, buttery, and just sweet enough. The fries were crispy, and the salad was fresh. For mains, we had the seared Branzino, the lamb chops, stuffed chicken breast, and 10 oz Strip Loin. Everything was cooked perfectly, but the lamb chops and steak were the stars with their bold flavors and tender textures. Dessert was the highlight-a molten lava cake with Nutella ice cream and Frangelico crème. It was rich, gooey, and the perfect way to end the meal! With amazing views, delicious food, and great service, Aera is a spot worth visiting, especially for a special occasion.

Not only stunning views but also spectacular food! I really enjoyed the branzino and the ceasar salad. The desserts are phenomenal as well! Thank you for a night to remember

First time I went there was amazing! Great view, great server and pretty decent food. Steak tarter not the best. Corn bread BEST THING IN THE MENU! Second time I went there for my anniversary, very rude server we got

Made a reservation at Open Aera and the views of the city did not disappoint. Walking through the 38th floor, I was very impressed with the decor, the amazing ambiance and floor to ceiling windows. The 39th floor patio was really great too, as long as youre not facing the side that has all the mechanical things - they should probably block that off with something more appealing to look at. First time coming here and while the service was pretty good, the rest was not great, considering how high the prices are. Its important to note that Open Aera has a smaller/different menu than Aera. We ordered some appetizers: truffle fries - where you could barely taste any truffle flavour for $21, brussel sprouts that were great and the fried shrimp - tiny pieces of shrimp for $25). All items were VERY salty. For my main, I ordered the steak and mushroom bowl and what I received was a lukewarm bowl where my steak was completely raw in the centre (I was not asked how Id like my steak to be cooked). Whats also interesting is that the description of the item on the menu is very vague and leaves out several ingredients. I would have enjoyed the dish IF the meat was properly cooked. Also, if it was meant to be served warm they should have noted that in the description, so Im not left to assume it just got left out on the pass for a long time. It was also insanely salty, which seems to be a theme here. My friend had ordered a 2nd glass of wine and the waiter had commented that he added a bit extra of a pour because it was the end of the bottle. She noted that she knew that because the wine tasted old. He was kind and opened a brand new bottle in front of her, so the service was great. After we left, myself and my friend both had a stomach ache. We both ate the appetizers, so something there must have set us off. Wont go back to Open Aera, but will try Aera, as their menu seems much better, however I wont be going back for awhile as I think they need time to figure some things out (like use less salt).

I experienced deceptive service from the team at Oliver & Bonacini (O&B) which manages Aera. Had an event there with a spend well over $4000. The most deceptive thing was that they had switched the DJ who was supposed to play that night and the events manager failed to notify me of such change even though I specifically mentioned his name by email to her and her assistant manager several times. The DJ that was on was very bad. I had chosen the venue because of the view and one of their specific DJs. That is aside from mediocre service overall throughout the night. They also could not keep the leftover food for pick up the following day as they promised.

It was very bad service.

While the atmosphere was absolutely beautiful and food was good (not mind blowing, but good), I was extremely disappointed with how our reservation was handled. I had booked a reservation for 3 people at 8pm. At 7:51pm, while I was just getting to the elevator to take me up to Aera, I received a phone call and message from OpenTable stating that the restaurant would be doing last call at 8:30pm. Assuming that Aera notified me close to my reservation time as they did not want me to cancel my reservation - because I would have for sure taken my business elsewhere if I had known we only had 30 minutes to order food and drinks. Super disappointed - there is no way they would have made a last minute decision to close the restaurant early. I should have been notified much earlier than 9 minutes before my reservation.

Food was great but the service was slow.

Its not worth what you pay. They only guarantee you a beautiful view and a super average meal. Reserving a table was a disastrous experience, we had to go in person to do it. I would never go back

Such a fabulous place! Get cn tower view table

Nice view. Decent food. But not good service for the price

For a 350$ diner. I was expecting more. A plate was burned. The person bringing the bill had zero hospitality skills. /Cool view from the 28rh floor.

Worse place ever. Would never go there again. Over priced. Rude. Not worth it

I wish Google had not zero but a negative rating. The only good thing about this place is the view, and thats if you get the seat you reserved and dont have to wait 30 minutes after your reservation to find out that your table was given to someone else by mistake and that you have to sit somewhere else. We ordered four appetizers for two people and a main course with a few drinks. The food is garbage. I could smell the steak from a mile away, and not in a pleasant way. The tuna tartare was disgusting, and the shrimp was cold. The music was so loud you could barely hear the person sitting next to you. I usually dont leave reviews if I dont have anything good to say, but stay away from this place.

I wish I could give 0 stars. The food was disgusting. We ordered a few items and could barely eat any of them. The music was so loud that we walked out with headaches and could barely hear the person sitting next to us, even when they were yelling. We had to wait quite some time to find out that our table had been given away by mistake. Finally, when we were seated, we had one of the worst views. Read through other peoples review and trust me whatever its said is right I just wanted to see for myself and here I am writing this review Vegetarian options: Not many Kid-friendliness: Not at all

Went for a birthday. Nice ambiance and view. The sablefish is quite delicious. Wedge salad and foie gras are not to my taste. Service is lacking a bit (forgot my order at first but brought it on not too long after). Given the current rating, I was skeptical before going. But I ll say it s not that bad. Not a bad idea for a group celebration.

My recent visit to Aera left me with a mix of impressions, and I believe there are areas where the restaurant could refine its approach to provide a more fulfilling experience. The reservation process left some ambiguity regarding seating options. Despite booking well in advance, only the lounge and bar areas were available. We were seated in the lounge, where the coffee table setup didnt offer the most comfortable dining experience. Transitioning some of these setups into traditional dining tables could greatly enhance guest comfort. While Aera boasts stunning panoramic views and a visually appealing ambiance, the constant photography by guests occasionally intruded upon the dining atmosphere. Additionally, the service felt somewhat disjointed and lacked cohesion. Identifying our server amidst the bustling staff proved challenging, and there were lapses in attention to detail, such as delayed table maintenance and cutlery provision. There was also a persistent issue with the sound and lighting throughout the night. The lighting was frequently adjusted without any apparent reason, and the volume of music was raised and lowered intermittently. When music was playing, it was excessively loud, making it difficult for guests to converse without raising their voices. The menu, described as American fare, included a sushi section that seemed out of place and led to some confusion. There were also inconsistencies in pricing, with some items appearing overpriced. Unfortunately, several dishes failed to meet expectations in taste and presentation, particularly the shrimp scampi and tuna tartare, which lacked freshness and quality. When we brought concerns about the food and service to the attention of management, the response was somewhat disappointing. There seemed to be a lack of proactive measures to address our issues, and the dismissive attitude towards customer feedback was disheartening. After expressing concerns about the quality of certain dishes, those items were promptly removed from our table. However, no alternative dishes were offered, nor were we provided with a menu to place additional orders. As a result, two of our four guests were left without entrees. Additionally, when we mentioned that the beer served was not a Sapporo, the server, who was also the bartender, initially insisted we were mistaken. It was later discovered that the wrong keg had been tapped, and a different beer had been served to patrons under the label of Sapporo. The explanation provided was that the bartender was more familiar with wine than beer. Upon leaving to retrieve our coats from coat check, a staff member asked how our evening had been. When we expressed our disappointment, she identified herself as the manager and asked for more details. However, throughout our conversation, she was preoccupied with checking coats and assisting other patrons, which came across as quite unprofessional. Her demeanor was casual and dismissive, more akin to a brief chat in line for coffee than addressing customer concerns. Overall, while there were aspects of Aera that showed promise, the shortcomings in both service and food quality overshadowed any potential positives. I hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend Aera at this time and dont foresee a return visit in my future.

Aera has a really cool ambiance, the views of Toronto are really fantastic! However, the reasons to frequent Aera is mainly for the ambiance. Their was nothing wrong with the food but it s nothing special. However, at this price point, there are much better and tastier options in Toronto that offer a better culinary experience. It s mainly about what you value, you re paying for the view; if you re looking for that, than Aera might be for you.

Honestly not worth it. I got the strip loin which was $85???? Like 85 and it would have been worth it if it was good steak it literally just had salt and pepper on it. it s steak i coulda made at home. The fries were not crispy at all the mashed potatoes or whipped potatoes whatever it s called was the best thing there but the prices r so overpriced all cuz of the view and the service was just like any other restaurant not amazing not bad regular. would not go again tbh there s definitely many better steakhouses

The view is magnificent, especially during golden hour and sunset. The service staff were polite but clearly overwhelmed and could not attend to every table. The issue is the food. Undercooked pasta, raw meats... I hate to say that this was a huge disappointment given the price point. Maybe go there for just the happy hour but get some good food elsewhere?

I was super excited to check out Aera. The food was fantastic, cuddos up to the kitchen team, delicious flavours and fantastic sushi. The service however was horrific. We felt like a number rather than a guest. It took us 2 hours to get our plates. I was asked a number of times if I wanted another beer, and nobody brought me one for almost 40 minutes. Its a corporate vibe, super mainstream, borderline on brothel. Id avoid it.

We had an underwhelming experience here. We ordered 5 dishes and 1 drink for two adults and one child, but the waiter rudely asked, Thats it? in a condescending tone, making us feel like we didnt belong. The food was average at best, nothing memorable. Overall, the poor service overshadowed the meal.

One of the most spectacular places I have been in a while. The view was breathtaking and every single meal we had was yummy. Like every thing. The drinks were gorgeous. Overall it was an experience. I will go back here over and over for special occasions.

Justin is wonderful. He is a breath of fresh air and extremely kind and considerate I appreciate you! The espresso martinis are great and lots of small plates to share.

For the price point of the menu I expected far better quality of food and service - both of which were unbearably average. Even the signature cocktails had nothing visually appealing about them. Everything was so average for an above average price. The view was cool I guess

The rooftop at Aera provided a pleasant and refreshing atmosphere, complemented by good music and a lively ambiance. While the service on the rooftop was adequate, the location of the washroom downstairs by the elevators was a slight inconvenience. The indoor dining experience, however, was far superior. The atmosphere inside was elegant, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Toronto. The service was more attentive, and the food menu offered a wider and more refined selection. Overall, I highly recommend the experience, particularly for the indoor dining, which truly elevates the visit.

Stopped in for a drink. Icarro is the man! Really chic design

Our dining experience at Aera was absolutely amazing! From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and well taken care of by the host team. The manager, Justin, was also so friendly and made a point to come over and personally greet our table. The food was phenomenal! Our table especially loved the bacon-wrapped scallops and the scampi shrimp, super flavourful. The venue itself is beautiful, with stunning views that really elevate the atmosphere. It s the perfect setting for a memorable night out. A big shoutout to our server, Reuben, who was incredibly kind and provided top-notch service throughout the meal. He was attentive, friendly, and really made sure we had everything we needed. We can t wait to come back to Aera again soon!

We made a reservation for 7:45 and we didn t leave until 10:15 not cause we ate slow but our food took forever to come. Our server was great- no issues. But it seemed to be a bit slow on a Tuesday night. That aside- the food didn t taste great at all. The steak was very bland. We spent almost $400 with tips and it wasn t worth it at all. The only item that was great was the bottled water that we were served (they didn t even mention tap water as an option) until 2 bottles later and their Caesar salad.

Beautiful view of the city, charming, impeccable service, food was exquisite

We had such a great time at Aera! The manager Justin and our server Reuben were amazing and made our experience even more enjoyable. Stunning view of the city and the ambiance is superb. We loved everything we ordered especially the bacon wrapped scallops and bourbon toffee pudding. Cant wait to come back and try more food from the menu :)

Awful service.

Ate here for brunch and had the sashimi. Great if you like scallops. Food was great, amazing vibe of the restaurant. Would recommend

The veiw was the amazing

Came with so much excitement to Aera. The view of the CN Tower all lit up at night and the city sparkling below was beautiful. But it was short lived. The customer service from the hostess of our table was terrible. Right from the start all the way till the end, the service kept getting worse. If I could give the service a rating of zero - I would. And no one at the restaurant took it upon themselves to ensure that any guests on our table were well served - including the managers at the front of the restaurant. Our appetizers were brought to our table after the main course dishes. There were so many mistakes made with the servers delivering the wrong dishes to the wrong guests. The hostess of our table didn t bother check on us during the entirety of our time there to ensure we were doing ok; if we received anything; if we needed anything to drink; etc. she just disappeared for long periods of time. Some of our table guests did not receive the correct dishes they requested. One of our guests did not get her steak cooked the way she requested. And when she kindly requested if the steak could be cooked the way she requested and brought back, the table hostess took it away and did not return until we had to flag down a table server to inquire about the steak. The hostess came back saying oh, I didn t realize you wanted the steak back . Why would the guest not want their main course meal that they ordered. We had to cancel some of the appetizers that we requested because they were never put through the kitchen staff and were not prepared for us. Overall, all our guests were quite disappointed by the way the Aera staff behaved. The table hostess never came to check on the guests to see if our water glasses needed replenishing. It was very clear that she just didn t care to be there. For the amount each guest paid which was well over $150+ each, the service was not worth it. The music was way too loud. You can t really have conversations with anyone unless you are sitting really close to them at the table. The restaurant was way too crowded to move around in. The hostesses the front check in desk were just trying to push you out of the restaurant, as you are trying to find your footing in the dark corridors to the exit. I would not recommend this restaurant. Go somewhere else. You will get way better food and better service.

I visited Aera for the Thanksgiving special at 6:30 pm, hoping to enjoy an early dinner. To my disappointment, they had already run out of the Thanksgiving menu, leaving us with no choice but to order from the regular menu. It felt like a suspicious marketing tactic advertising the special to get people in and seated, only to push them to order from the regular (and more expensive) menu once inside. When we expressed our frustration, they attempted to smooth things over with a complimentary round of shots, but they were so weak they were practically juice. To add insult to injury, after offering us complimentary dessert as an apology for the inconvenience, they brought just three small slices of cake for seven people! It was a baffling and unsatisfactory gesture. As for the food, the pork belly steak was great flavorful and perfectly cooked. However, the salmon was disappointing, with a fishy smell and an odd texture. While the skyline view is a nice touch, I d suggest coming here only for a quick drink and a few photos. Overall, the experience felt like a rip-off, with poor service and questionable management decisions.

No clear indication

A typical Toronto venue, totally overpriced with medicore service. Thank god for the stunning views! We were looking forward to a thanksgiving experience that apparently began at 5pm so we booked a 6:30pm reservation. It was Ridiculous that the turkey special was sold out at that time when Aera had been advertising for the past 9 days about it, and I had specifically booked this experience for it! Then we were offered complementary dessert and out comes 3 slices of pie for 7 people. Pretty insulting especially when half of our group just met each other for the first time that night! Food ended up being decent, (you decide if a fish and a side without a drink is worth $100) Disappointing waitstaff, most of them walked around dazed and confused. Management should be held accountable.

I came with my two sons and my daughter-in-law for Thanksgiving dinner. The view was amazing. The food was delicious, we had ceviche scallops, oysters and cornbread for starters. The cornbread was amazing. For main we had sable fish and aged beef burger. The sablefish was very good. If you have never had a sablefish, this is the place to have it. The best, it melts in your mouth, delish. For dessert we ended up ordering chocolate molten cake. It gave a perfect ending to our meal. The service was excellent. Josh was courteous, knowledgeable and made us feel welcomed and did check on us a few times. Btw the way Aera charges for window seats which did leave a bad taste in our mouth and getting to the restaurant from the parking was a bit confusing.

We recently visited Aera Restaurant in Toronto for brunch and had a lovely experience overall. The rooftop views of the city are absolutely stunning, making it worth the visit alone. We tried the steak & eggs and the 39th Benedict, and both dishes were delicious. The service was attentive, and the staff made us feel welcomed. However, one downside was that there are no washrooms on the rooftop itself, so you have to go all the way down to the front entrance, which was a bit inconvenient. You ll also need to find paid parking nearby, as there s no on-site option. Additionally, the prices are on the higher side, but considering the views and atmosphere, we d definitely go again. Overall, a great spot for a special occasion or a leisurely brunch with a view!

You re paying for the view at Aera, which is a beautiful view of the city, if you re visiting on a nice clear day. The sushi was fresh but the rolls were on the small side and not necessarily as flavourful as places I ve been to with more reasonable pricing. The espresso martini was tasty.

the food was amazing, the service was horrible.

Great view! Food is terrible for the price paid and seating is super condensed. They slanted their seating diagonally to optimize space and fit as many tables as possible. Service was not as great as expected and we were completely ignored after our last item was ordered except when we were asked if we were done. (Ie no water, until I made the comment to ask for more water, but they definitely asked us if we wanted more $30 drinks) We paid over 500$ between the both of us. Would hope they at least had the tap water flowing for that much money, it would had paid their entire hydro bill for the month. Majority of their food had no flavour. Best part was the dessert. They did the best on that. Presentation of the food was great, just like the view of the restaurant. But unfortunately, that is all they had going for them, like many Toronto resurants that base their foundations of vain imagery vs. mastery of food. They overcooked alot of their seafood which was sad to experience because there was only the seafood on the plate as the primary item.

Good food (Mac&Cheese, Brussels Sprouts were very good), good service. Filled with 20-somethings which explains the loud thumping music - too load. If you re not seated by the window,the fabulous views are moot. If you re a boomer, go Mon - Thurs.

Surprised with the mediocre rating. The food was great and the view is superb. Definite a spot to impress your guests.

We went excited to check this place out by recommendation of a friend, only to be told there was only standing room at the bar when the place was near empty at 4pm

Horrible service. Worst service ever of the front reception and of the waiters and the manager with the curly hair. Would never come back again. Ruined our entire experience.

Absolutely beautiful. The views were incredible! I love the ambience! The sangria was tasteful probably the best sangria I ever tried definitely worth the price. Just try it if you re in Toronto!

We reserved a table, but when we arrived, they said they had an event and couldn t accommodate us. I don t understand such an attitude towards their customers

We made an advance reservation came to brunch and our reservation was not there, the restaurant did not warn us that they were having a private event, did not offer any solution to the problem, and were treated very disrespectfully.

We made a reservation through OpenTable, but when we arrived, the hostess informed us that there was a special event. I showed her my confirmation, but no effort was made to resolve the situation. I hadn t received any emails or notifications about the event. My experience was ruined, and the manager was rude. I believe a restaurant of this caliber should be more attentive to its customers

Overall average experience. The tuna sushi roll is honestly the most memorable thing from Aera. The lamb chop was overcooked and my friend said that it tasted burnt. For a place I m spending over 100$, I d expect the food to at least be amazing - sadly only 1/3 dishes made the cut. The staff were really friendly and attentive so an extra star will be honoured.

Overall v bad would not recommend. Avoid at all costs. Would rather go to mcdonald s at queen and spadina

My husband and I reserved for our first wedding anniversary. View & vibe were gorgeous. Our server Randy was wonderful - he deserves 5 stars. Food was beautifully presented. Would have been an exceptional all-around experience if it weren t for the hostesses lack of hospitality. On their phones, checking makeup & chatting, ignoring guests. No stand aside for guests is practised - as we were on our way out, a hostess walking towards us stood in front of me blocking my way until I moved. I literally had to back track up the stairs I had already walked down, rather than her just stepping aside to let us pass. Never experienced that before. Washrooms were also gross and unmaintained - not a good look for a restaurant, so I kindly let the hostess know. She barely gave me a glance and went back to chatting with someone else. Scrolling through some other reviews, I see we aren t the first to comment on the front desk staff s rude & uncaring demeanour. Unfortunate, since they are supposed to be relied upon to provide both the first and last impression for Aera guests.

I have never left a review for a restaurant, but this was so bad I had to. Food was disgusting, multiple items missing, and probably the worst service I ve ever had.

Its not even worth reading these reviews, just go elsewhere. Id rather order off an iPad than talk to these servers. Steak tartar looked like it came out of a tuna can. Literally a McDonalds is a more gourmet dining experience. Avoid at all costs.

Breathtaking rooftop views of CN Tower & City. Truffle fries are the best in Toronto. Open kitchen restaurant is absolutely gorgeous.

Dined in. I booked this restaurant because my sister and I needed some bonding. I love everything about this restaurant. Brett our waiter was amazing. The food was full plates, we couldn t eat all. We got the best seat.

Horrible experience with the host as well as the manager Absolutely no consideration for anyone Such an expensive restaurant with such poor customer service should genuinely not be allowed to stay open. Terrible. Food : 1/5

The atmosphere is truly inspiring. The bar area is spacious and inviting. The food was generally excellent but somewhat oversalted. The service we had was abysmal. We had to chase our server to find him. He was absolutely terrible.

The horrible service is what gives Aera a 3-star review. The food and atmosphere of this restaurant were truly amazing! The lamb chops I had were tender, juicy, and extremely flavourful and the potatoes were some of the best I ve had in my life. The service however was really disappointing. As someone who works in the industry I am more forgiving than most because I understand how hard serving people can be. However, our server was extremely slow, he took more than 10 minutes to greet us, didn t introduce himself, disappeared for another 20 minutes after taking our drink orders and didn t even come to check if the drinks were satisfactory. After I waved him down to take our food orders, someone else brought us our food and we didn t see him again for another hour or so at which point he came and asked us to leave because they had another reservation at our table. This was really disappointing because 1. I was really hoping to have a dessert, 2. No one informed us about an out time when we were sat, 3. We would ve ordered our desserts a lot sooner if the server cared to actually serve us.

Food was great from starter to mains. Service was excellent

We made a reservation at this restaurant but upon arrival we were informed that they couldn t find our booking and were hosting a private event instead. Unfortunately, no effort was made to apologize or make up for the situation. This experience really dampened our day.

Excellent experience- it was buzzing but the service was top notch and the food was amazing! Will defn go back

Probably the best sushi in TO, amazing view from the 38th floor with excellent service. Must try the Cornbread

Reserved for patio dinner with my friends and felt very unstatisfued with the service. You NEED to ask for water before they even give you which was not normal for a high-end restaurant. We were sitting there for almost 10-15 minutes but no one took our order. We approached a server and told her that we were ready to order but she just walked away. Mind you, other tables that came after us were already served. Then we waited again for another 10mins then she came back and took our order bc our server was busy . Before the food came, we were worried of our shaky table and notified the servers if we can change tables or places. Then we saw those servers making fun of our concern (it was very obvious) and made it seem that we were just picky. The food was fast but mid. For a restaurant that automatically charges tips, they really gave no effort or whatsoever. The bussers were more helpful than the servers/hosts. We really felt uncomfortable as were the only table that are obviously not treated the same way. Will never dine here again nor recommend this place

Never felt so discriminated in a restaurant until now. Came in for our reservation - no one gave us water for a good 10 minutes, and the person who did, spilled it everywhere on the table. No server approached us to introduce themselves, had to call a server over to take our order but she just walked away. Then came back about 15 minutes later and took our order anyway because our server was busy . The table provided to us was shaking very bad, so we requested to move but they said they can t do anything about it. My friend also saw the waitress that we told the issue to, mock our request to her colleague, making us feel like we were being unreasonable with our request. Food came relatively fast, but there was really nothing special about it. Also, there s no view of the CN Tower from Open Aera unless you get a seat in the corner. Had to call different staff over whenever we needed water, whereas in other places someone would just automatically be there. Someone from our table ordered sushi, and didn t even get soysauce until we asked for it. Also took about 20 minutes to get our bill. Went as a party of 7, notably we were all Asian descent. As a party of 7, there was an automatic 20% gratuity, and we felt that because the servers knew this, they gave no effort to provide us quality service. We noticed that everyone else (non-Asian people) around us seemed to be getting their food and service way faster than we were. Overall, staff here made us feel like it was our priviledge to have eaten here. Mid restaurant, never coming back again.

As a person who have worked before in the same industry, it is very disappointing to experience such service that you feel discriminated and neglected just because we have to pay 20% tip automatically doesnt mean that they will treat us poorly. Our server does not even give any effort to check on us after getting our orders but have all the time to chat with her co-worker. She didnt even bother introducing herself. For the price that we are paying, we atleast expect a good and friendly service but this is the worst dining experience we had. The service does not even deserve a 1 star for how badly they treated us.

This was a very dissappointing dining experience for us. It took so much time before our orders were given. We were asking the servers if we could change our table spot because one of the table we had and my chair was so shaky. But they just keep on excusing that the other tables were reserved even though there wasnt any sign on it. One of my friend also saw the server like sarcastically mocking our table about the shaky thing and complaint. They didnt even refilled our water glasses until we asked it for ourselves. We felt discriminated on how did the servers attended the other tables. I wont recommend to dine here coz the price of the food is way too expensive especially on the service that they offer.

38th floor dining on the rooftop. Nice ambience. From the elevator touchpad you select Aera which takes you to floor 35, which is the main reception and indoor dining room. A hostess escorts you to the stairs to walk up to the open terrace.

I ve been to Aera about half a dozen times and I ve never had a bad experience. The views are sick and the food is exceptional The steak The sushi The cornbread Cocktails The happy hour is decent too! Definitely recommend as a spot to check out

View & vibe were gorgeous. Our server Emilly was wonderful - she deserves 5 stars. Food was beautifully presented, fresh with good quality.

It was my birthday and my girlfriend was planning an unforgetable night with me starting from this restaurant. To make it the best experience, she made the resetvation on OpenTable, with a special request of table 26 or similar. Table 26 is the one with the good city view. After submitting the reservation, she didnt receive communication from the restaurant so she believed things will be arranged and the night would be great. Turned out the dining part was a disaster. We were treated horribly for three times, while none is actually expected. As we arrived, we were told that they do not accept reservations on city view tables from OpenTable. We have to access the reataurants website and book from there. But there was no prior communication, nor any instructions from OpenTable to explain this before the night. Technically from our customer journey, there is really no way to know about their special rules for the window seats. After talking to one of the managers in the store, she promised to move us up to the rooftop window-side couch seats. She even showed us the seat. Then she transferred us to the host serving rooftop area. Ignoring what the manager showed us, the host brought us to a high table away from the window. Comon, you promised us a good spot with a couch and a big table, but then give us a spot totally different from what you promised? We have to talk to the host, but she didnt look sorry at all. Rather, she quite errogantly asked us to wait. After a long waiting she finally gave us what they promised. These two dramatic expereience had been crazy for the night but they did it thrice. We had a coupon for two complimentary drinks, and we have requested it from the waitress and she knew it was supposed to be complimentary. However when we get the bill, the two drinks were listed in it. We have to ask the waitress to take them off the bill. This was a ridiculous cuatomer experience, I just dont understand how come such basic things would happen three times in a row. There is another one actually, but I wouldnt count it as bad customer service. As we were leaving the rooftop, we used the elevator. After the door is closed and I press the floor button, nothing happened. We waited for like 30 seconds and still didnt feel any movement nor hearing any sound from the elevator. We freaked out and press the current floor, as well as the open button, trying to see if the door would open. As soon as I press the open button, the elevator started shaking and making high pitch noises. What a moment! I started thinking about my last words. After 1 or 2 minutes of thinking about death wishes, the door finally opened and we were sent to the right floor. We jumped out the elevator as soon as we can and promised to each other that we will never return. The good news is, the night was magnificent except the dinning part. Now I even feel a mix of anger and hilarious just thinking about it. It absolutely make some story tellings.

Humm, the comments about the table arrangement were true. I booked a standard table and left a note celebrating my birthday and thought maybe the hostess would bring us to a nice view table or at least a normal table? Instead, she brought us to a table that s legitimately 2 feet away from the kitchen and it s against a corner???? I told her bring me to another table or I am not eating( I asked politely tho) She said it s all booked and others have reservations. Are you dumb? Everyone has reservation okay? Duhhh??? The waitress was nice enough to assist me with the table arrangement. But at the end of the day, the hostess did a terrible job. Not demure not mindful.

The sushi was great along with the tacos. Service was great but its the view that makes this place really stand out. Spectacular

There us something very off-putting about their staff with their condescending and sarcastic attitude. I asked them if they had any halal options because one person in our group only eats that. The response was absolutely insane. Everything is halal, including our Pork!. Followed by crazy laughter. At that point I didnt even want to go there anymore. Good luck with that quality of service. Itll be just another forgotten restaurant in 2-3 years.

theres a reason why this restaurant has such low reviews. The hostesses (the asian and black ladies) were so rude and ruined the whole dinner before it even began. atrocious. Id recommend places like George instead of this garbage experience

We went here for my boyfriends birthday, and while the vibe and view were incredible (10/10), the food was a huge disappointment. The taste and quality were about 4/10, definitely not worth the high price. You can find much better food elsewhere for what we paid. Portions were small, and the quality was average at best. Great for the view, but if youre after good food, this isnt the place.

Terrible service. We got a great view and the food was good but after our first order of food and drinks, the server never returned. We had a $300 bill and to get this type of service is ridiculous. We waited on a drink for 30 mins.

Amazing views of the city. Servers who are trying hard but a silly kitchen process that results in steaks brought out without sides for several minutes, making for an awkward start to dinner and this is supposed to be a steak and sushi spot. Agian, bougee views and finishes but the food and sequencing is no acceptable or up to par for the prices. Will likely never return.

I almost passed on this restaurant because of the 3.6 review rating but glad I took a chance. This is a beautiful setting, service from Randy was outstanding and I would rate the food and cocktails as overall very good. The main was very good and the dessert was outstanding. Looking forward to another visit soon!

Incredible! The hosts were so welcoming, assisted me with all of my reservation needs & got me an amazing table. My server Brett made sure our experience was even better, I cannot thank him enough. 10/10 will be coming back

The location, food, and atmosphere was amazing. That however does not compare to the staff and the consideration they put into their guests. One of the most outstanding teams and I truly could not be more appreciative after it being our first time on vacation with my partner. 11/10

Beautiful views, but really stops there. Took over an hour to have 1 drink and some of the staff were extremely rude. Go check out the view and then leave, unless you feel like being insulted and waiting for 30 minutes to get a drink at 4pm when its dead in there. Disappointed.

Disappointing experience despite friendly staff. I visited Aera with my friends, early afternoon on a Friday to celebrate a win, but unfortunately, it wasn t the best experience. The restaurant was only about 10% full, yet we waited at least 15 minutes before anyone came to our table. While the staff were lovely, they seemed new and a bit unorganized. Several items on the menu were also unavailable, and the servers couldn t clearly explain their happy hour deals. For the price, I expected better service and a smoother experience. Overall, I wish I had chosen to spend my money elsewhere. Wheelchair accessibility: The building and elevator is wheelchair accessible.

Poor customer experience. We had made a patio reservation for a friend s birthday celebration and they called us last minute saying that the patio was closed as the weather didn t permit. I decided to phone them and speak to the staff, she was so rude and unapologetic about this inconvenience. It s 23deg & sunny out, well okay it s 39th floor so i can buy that.. could be cold up on the 39th floor. But wait, we never asked them to cancel our reservation, within few minutes we got a notification that they ve cancelled our reservation WITHOUT our consent!? Moreover they didn t specify anywhere on their website or in our reservation confirmation that the patio reservation was weather dependent. So please don t make any plans at this restaurant because they might cancel your reservation last minute and ruin your evening & all your plans!

Great service here and atmosphere. Worth the visit for their bar and wine list. Food was very average for the prices.

The chicken breast paillard reimagines a tuna niçoise with chicken as the star protein. The chicken is sous-vided, grilled and thinly sliced for easy sharing. It s served over creamy garlic labneh along with niçoise olives, potatoes, beans, tomatoes and halved quail eggs.

Just a wonderful place to sit down and enjoy views. Food is delicious.

Disappointing Anniversary Experience & Poor Service Overall I ve had two experiences with Aera, and unfortunately, both were deeply underwhelming. For our anniversary, we spent nearly $300 expecting a special evening, but the service was shockingly poor. Despite the occasion, there was no acknowledgement from the staff, and the overall service fell far short of what youd expect at this price point. Hoping it was just a one-off, I decided to give them another chance this week. Unfortunately, the booking experience was nothing short of a nightmare. Their website doesnt function properly, bouncing me between their site and OpenTable with no success. For a restaurant positioned among so many other great choices in the area, the lack of service and professionalism is baffling. There are far too many other options nearby that offer far better service and customer care to waste time and money here. Disappointing on every level.

Restaurant Aera in Toronto offers an exquisite experience where the dining experience is as breathtaking as is the view. Atop the 38th floor of The Well, Toronto, this spot provides some of the most panoramic views of the cities skyline, including the CN tower and Lake Ontario. The ambiance is sophisticated, with its floor to ceiling windows ensuring diners a stellar view. Interesting to learn from our server that this restaurant is named after Amelia Earhart (the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean) We had a wonderful dining experience yesterday with exemplary and attentive staff. Our choice consisted of: 1.Seared Branzino Sea Bass Fillet with charred fennel 2.Ocean steelhead Salmon Trout with a Hollandaise sauce and caviar 3.Burkhart Farm, Ontario Beef Tenderloin And our meal ended on a spectacular note with a Molten lava cake. The cremeux added a rich and velvety texture along with the Frangelico crème. Loved every bit of the indulgent and swish experience at Aera.

Nice place with cool view. One of the main chefs on the rooftop gave us unprofessional attitude cause we were a bit late with the food ordering time. Also got awkward vibe from one of the security guards. That was unpleasant from the overall service experience. Food

Cozy place with delicious food

Good quality food, but very slow service. View was nice. Should mention online that the menus are different for aera Vs aera s rooftop

One of the best restaurant in Toronto, there are everything you need, breathtaking views, comfortable seating, delicious food and great drinks, top notch service. Love this place

Rude treatment by server Caroline .

Had the prime strip loin, was juicy, perfectly cooked and full of flavor! The scallops were and sides were delicious as well!

They were very strict when it came to seating; we had 5 guests due to a last minute addition and they made a bigger deal than it had to be. The venue was extremely noisy; our table couldnt hear each other speak despite facing each other. While the food was good, the prices are steep so keep that in mind. Its as other guests have noted in recent reviews; the restaurants service and tone were patronizing at best and certainly unwelcome given the menu prices. This is a place where youd take a date if you want to impress them and dont mind busting your wallet to do so, but the substance behind the gilded sizzle might leave a shallow taste in your mouth. Its very much so a place that influencers may like given the aesthetically pleasing decor, view and food. For dinner, we had the seafood tower, sablefish, pork chops and brussels sprouts. Each one was excellent and rightly sized portion-wise.

Loud music needs some ear buds carry with you Good was not up to the mark Served cold lamb chops

Me and both my aunties visited from NYC had a fantastic time at Aera. The server we had was top tier (forgot his name), he was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. We were seated at the back (by the area with roof issues) with a stunning view of Toronto. Everyone that works at the place were divine. We enjoyed the food, wine, free glasses of Prosecco, desserts, and the vibes was spot on. My auntie celebrated her birthday with a big smile. Thanks to the amazing staff. Big love from the Big Apple ladies!

We got a table that apparently you must pay for to sit at since they made us wait long which we had only waited like 3-4 minutes for so that was interestingly awesome. Our server did not come by to introduce himself for about 12 minutes and when he did come he did not even introduce himself, he just stood there and we kind of just told him we re ready to order everything now, he hardly spoke I normally expect an experience and talking at a place like this this was probably one of the bottom 2 worst dinning experience when looking at the service only.. there was none of that. He seemed 100% too busy for everyone. We received our food about 7 minutes BEFORE our drinks came out no one checked in on us to see how the food was. Food was beautifully presented but none of us REALLY liked the flavours. I had a The Well e-gift card that I tried to pay with but they did not accept it which was super disappointing for me. They did not charge us for our drinks which helped but to be honest that was super fair as I almost did not even want my drink anymore anyways it was too slow. Overall, I loved the view, but won t be going back and won t recommend it to others

If you re booking through OpenTable, don t bother writing any requests as they will just ignore you. My partner and I were celebrating our anniversary at this restaurant and I specifically added in the requests box for a spot with a window view (mind you I made this booking over a month in advance). My request went totally ignored. When I asked the hostess and manager politely for a window seat, they said nothing was available, despite seeing many window seats open. However, the table next to us within 15 minutes of sitting down were able to hassle their server and get moved to a window seat. For a supposed high class restaurant, insanely terrible customer service. What exactly did the table next to us have that my partner and I did not for us not to be properly accommodated to? Besides this, our server was kind but the food also took over ONE HOUR to come. There were so many cooks in the open kitchen so how could this have possibly happened? This place definitely prioritizes a certain kind of people that my partner and I just happened not to be. Shameful.

We visited the restaurant for brunch, on a Saturday, 12:30 reservation. The place was not crowded, not loud, the staff was attentive, courteous, professional. The view of down Toronto was superb. Bathrooms were clean, fresh smell. Under ground parking was not expensive, parking directions were excellent. We walked around the entire floor with views on every direction, fantastic. We have visited many top restaurants in different parts of the world, congratulations to the Toronto Aero Restaurant team, great job!

We had a fabulous night out on the rooftop patio at Aera! The views were incredible probably the best in Toronto. The drinks and food were delicious (tuna poke was amazing) and the staff were very attentive. It s a perfect spot for a night out with friends, date night or a special celebration. I highly recommend!

Just had the chance to go to Open Aera and it was a 10 out of 10, fantastic service, food was excellent, chick ambiance and magnificent 360 views of the city! Could not have asked for a better experience with friends.

Tried out Aera last night and loved it! The food and drinks were so delicious, the staff were so smooth and attentive and the view to die for! Loved it!!

Paris is an incredible mixologist who also knows how to give theeee experience to the guests. His mixology and peoples skills truly make this place worth a visit.

Beautiful new patio in Toronto that just recently opened. The space is beautiful with amazing views. Food and service was top notch. Definitely be back!

Great restaurant at the top of the Well. Happy hour drinks are decent, and the food is also good. Recommend the creamed spinach as the side, and the other protein dishes are good too.

Super recommended brunch! Very good atmosphere, quiet music, excellent service, spectacular view!!

Absolutely terrible service, we booked a reservation a month ago and had to wait over 30 minutes for a table (we had to keep going up and asking to be seated no on came to us), when seated, our server was nowhere to be seen. They offered us free mocktails which were not great at all and none of us could finish. It was a disappointing experience that ruined a special night for us.

i had a truly awful experience. i sat there for 40 minutes before i had to get up and ask someone to place an order. views are nice, but service is nowhere up to par. 0/5

The idea is amazing but when management doesn t care if random people are walking around basically sitting at your table so they can take pictures of each other the quality of service nose dives. The view is great the service is good but no quality control from management it s more of flash camera then anything where you really can t enjoy your night every time you turn your head you see 2 3 flash camera from even grown men which is to say embarrassing to even think to go on a date to a place like this. And seriously fire the Dj from Sunday aug 5th trashiest music it s a patio not a strip club . Very poor management.

Love love love the restaurant, the service, lounge and patio. There was a live dj playing Carribean music all night and hip hop, which I loved. Prepare to pay $$$ for the food and drinks.

The service sucked. No coasters for the drinks. Messed up the order. No cutlery before the steak arrived. Dessert menus landed on our table requiring multiple reminders for the waiter to serve. Food was middling at best.

Summary Great views, decent food but lackluster at this pricepoint. Service quality is well below what youd expect, food is leaves something to be desired and is overpriced. Atmosphere is best summarized as people taking photos in front of the CN Tower. Great spot for influencers, a skip for the foodies. Maybe a good spot for a quick drink to soak in the views, and go somewhere else for dinner. Food Flavour and presentation was solid, but many of the dishes were uninspired, lacking creativity and did not have the level of finishing you expect at the pricepoint. Scallops lacked acidity, mushrooms and sablefish were oversalted. Served with a butter-knife making it impossible to cut the fish and roasted eggplant. While there was craft put into the dishes there is just a lack of attention to detail, which you would find at other restaurants in Toronto for the price. Service Host staff were cold and unwelcoming, waitstaff checked in infrequently, we had to signal down another server to ask to order. When we did order our drinks took 20 minutes, food took almost an hour. We didnt get any updates, but unprompted a manager did apologize for the delay and offered us a complementary drink.(which was nice) Even then, the replacement drink took another 20 minutes, and servers didnt offer anything in the way of pairings or suggestions. They were polite and cordial but dining here felt transactional and lacked the dining experience Id hoped for. Atmosphere The view of the city from the restaurant is beautiful, theres no doubt. The rest of the restaurant is upscale but nothing to write home about. Youre here for the view. My largest criticism is that it attracts more of a influencer / social media photo crowd rather than a dining crowd. If you sit at the sushi bar, expect to see people taking photos with the CN Tower all night, if youd find that distracting get a table. Vibe wasnt for me personally, but may appeal to others.

I have dined at Aera several times since it opened, both as part of a small group and, also, private dining. Definitely one of the best views of Toronto! The restaurant is usually buzzing. They have a very extensive menu with a great variety to choose from. Because of the selection, its a great option when entertaining a party with choosy eaters. The food and service are consistently good. Chef Horne is the best!

Aera in Toronto is a hidden gem that deserves more recognition! Despite mixed reviews, the service is exceptional, with the warm and friendly assistant manager Marame making every guest feel special.The cocktails, especially the Amelia and Cosmo, are expertly crafted by Jason, delivering a wonderful experience. The sushi is fresh and delicious, albeit pricey, but worth every bite. With stunning skyline views and talented DJ John spinning tunes every Thursday and Friday creating cool vibes, Aera creates a vibrant ambiance perfect for a night out. Highly recommend this sky-high dining experience!

Had a great experience

My husband booked this restaurant last night. It was difficult to find from The Well parking lot. Lots of walking. The Menu is very selective and most of the items i dont eat. We managed. Its expensive for what we ate. The food wasnt really good. the wedge salad was tasty. I ordered a steak and it was medium rare. i asked for it medium. The waiter didnt come check up on us so i didnt eat it, i left it, $95. We were not asked if we wanted another drink. It was very loud and couldnt hear my husband sitting next to me. In his reservations he asked for a window seat and willing to wait. We didnt get a set. We sat on the top and saw nothing. our bill with tip 2 ppl came to $400. Definitely not worth it. Paid less at other high end places and ate better. Parking: The Parking is far to get to the restaurant when parking under the well.

It was a very bad experience! The booking table is written on the hope is the window table position can see cn tower, and with a bit said can change the seat, at first she told me that those positions need to add money, and then my friend last time to come is not. She just said those tables were full. Serious discrimination!

Very delicious! We ordered the Rigatoncini which was super creamy (100% recommend), whipped potatoes, veggie & tuna signature roles, & tempura. Highly recommend all (whipped potatoes is a must!). Unexpectedly, the washrooms weren t very clean.

An upscale and vibrant restaurant. The music and the view was amazing. Parking: Indoor parking and outsoor parkings are available Food : 3/5 |

The restaurant and food are excellent! The view is a heartthrob

The food is too salty

I ordered the Australian Wagyu, my husband had the stuffed chicken breast with the whipped potatoes, mushrooms, and fries. Everything was delicious, seriously! The view is incredible. We were seated by the windows with a lake view. I dropped my fork, and within a minute, it was replaced without even asking. The staff is very attentive to every table. I don t know why there are so many bad reviews, I don t have anything bad to say about the place.

This is one of those restaurants where youre just paying for the views. The view of the city is beautiful and the one of the best in Toronto. I did not like the service as the hostess was cold, our waitress was not attentive, and never smiled. The food was mediocre. I ordered the avocado toast and thought the salsa did not compliment the avocado toast. A big disappointment is the mimosas were $20 each when the flavours were nothing special.

I had dinner on Saturday aug10. The food was not impressive at all,I had the mushroom soup as starter,the stuffed chicken breast for main course,the ice cream for dessert and tea .my chicken was cold,my tea was not hot too. Only my soup was good

This is basically a social media restaurant. Youre going to get some great pictures but you shouldnt have any expectations about the food or service. Everything will look good, very little will actually be good. Cool view but you may as well go to 360 for that.

I went here with a party of 9 for a birthday dinner. The food was great. We ordered a start of sushi, followed by the bacon steak and the beef burger. I give 2 stars because the service wasn t good. Multiple orders were incorrect on our table, the food came all in the wrong order and it was difficult to get the staff to fix our meal. What was really annoying at the end of the experience was that we were charged a 20% auto gratuity. Also we were not allowed to split the bill. I m not an against tipping but it feels like this place is more of a money grab rather than something special. To improve the experience I would recommend the restaurant to just make things a little bit more flexible to their patrons. I would have gladly tipped generously if that was the case.

Came here with my boyfriend for a lovely dinner and beautiful view! The sushi was very fresh and plated very nicely. Service was very attentive and polite. Would definitely come again

We went there for a girls dinner, and the restaurant surprised us by covering the bill! Thank you, Aera, for an incredible evening. It was a fantastic experience to watch the cooking process from the sushi counter, and the view was breathtaking. Theres no need to visit CN Tower to get a stunning view of the city.

Bad management, i emailed the manager to get a table for 9 . No response. They dont reserve on the phone or online for 9 people.

Food was good, ambiance was great. Service was good too but it seems like anything under 18-20% tip is not acceptable for any server today. Once you pay 20% on a $630 bill is less then I am not sure what is acceptable. At the end of the night you pay 20% tip and you do not get a thank you or have a good night and just walks away without an acknowledgment . It s disappointing.

Came to celebrate my partner s birthday - staff was pleasant and polite, views were stunning. Very hard to find how to get to the restaurant from the parking garage. Instructions were unclear from website. We were a party of 10 and we were told that 20% gratuity would automatically be added to our bill - they are unable to split bills. We ordered several appetizers: steak tartare (I was expecting the raw steak to be more red, it was more of a grey colour?), scallop ceviche (decent tasting though overpriced), pb&j foie gras (interesting take but it tasted good), hamachi ponzu (nothing about this stood out). Two of our friends ordered rare steaks and they came out overcooked. They took them back and brought out rare steaks. I had lamb, it was medium well though I had asked for medium. Neither of the steaks were comp d, which I expected with this fine dining establishment. Our friends ordered the seafood tower, which is advertised to serve 4-6 people. The 2 of them shared it and did not feel there was enough food for the 2 of them and ended up ordering pizza elsewhere after the meal. I didnt bring a cake as there s a $15 cake plating fee. $150 to simply plate the cake that I pre-paid for is ridiculous. That s excessive. At the end of the meal, the server asked if my partner likes chocolate and I replied yes. A small molten chocolate cake was brought out afterwards with the words happy birthday . It wasnt until I received the bill that I discoverd I had been charged $17 for this. Had I been told upfront re: this, I wouldnt have agreed to it. This felt sneaky. Given that our bill was $1600, a complimentary birthday dessert and to comp the over cooked steaks was the least they could do.

A quite an expensive place vs what they offer. We (a party of 4) spent over $650 for a regular dinner and a FEW drinks, comes to settle our bill, we paid $80 extra for server as a tip. Tell you what, John(the server) walked away from us like he owned a share in our personal wealth. No thanks, no smiles but a rude walk off of our faces. This made me wobdering if tips are taken for granted and if so, what are the realistic limits. Certainly we would have enjoyed much superior food at other facilities. Just raising us to 38th floor through an elevator and ripping through our wallets with a dry walk away.......come on, give us a break!!!!!! Will never visit this place again.

We had a great brunch yesterday! The view is amazing!!! Our server gave us great recommendations, we re hoping to come and see the patio next time!

One word: Zeitgeist. Avoid. At all costs. This is my idea of living hell. Had two cocktails but had to leave. Anyone who has a semblance of class and dignity should avoid this insidious zeitgeist establishment

I agree with other comments on service, I think servers need some thorough training. But the views and food were great. We had a few apps and main and it was very delicious. I typically have low food expectation for the rooftops but this one has surprised me.

Really did not go in with high hopes as usually a restaurant can t have both good view and good food. The patio was closed due to weather but damn the view indoor is just super gorgeous. The food was surprisingly so well done as well. Our wine took a while to come as the waitress thought we wanted something else which was out of stock, came back 10 mins later the bottle we wanted was also out of stock. She ended up offering another bottle of Prosecco. For appetizers, we had the beef tartare, hamachi crudo and PB&J Foie gras and everything was done pretty perfect. The PB&J Foie Gras was surprisingly delicious, must try! We then shared the sable fish with Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, the fish was done so perfectly and it s so flaky and moist, miso made it perfect. Wrapped up the meal with lava cake , which came with Nutella ice cream. Couldn t really taste the Nutella ice cream but the lava cake was done just right as well. Our waitress was very nice but possibly taking care of too many tables and so everything took quite a while, she even needed to hunt down a dessert menu for us. honestly food and atmosphere is perfect, at this price point, you would expect better service though.

Had dinner at Aera with a large group the night before a wedding. Was served a whiskey sour. It did not taste right but the server did not come by to check on us. I started feeling ill but the washrooms were messy and did not have paper. Shortly after I ubered home I became violently ill. This lasted for days. Public health attended at the restaurant and confirmed that they were not refrigerating their egg whites used to make the drink. Will never go back and now feel distrust towards all O&B restaurants.

The brunch menu was short and nice. Reasonably priced. It s all about ambience and view. Worth it ! Food

Our experience was mostly positive, with the exception of our interaction with the receptionist when we arrived with a stroller. Although she informed us that strollers were not allowed, her manager graciously made an exception. Initially, we were seated at a window table with a lovely city view, but were later asked to move due to safety concerns related to the stroller. This reasoning was unclear, as the new seating arrangement actually provided less room for others to pass by compared to the original spot by the window, which seemed more spacious and safe. Additionally, I was disappointed that the note I included when booking the table, mentioning that it was my wife s birthday, went unacknowledged. I had hoped for a small gesture, such as a birthday message on the dish, but it seems the note was overlooked. We also felt a bit unwelcome during the initial moments, as there was some confusion over the menus we were given both a dinner menu and a lunch/brunch menu, which caused delays in ordering. However, our experience was greatly improved by our waiter, Raj, who provided exceptional service and truly went above and beyond to make our visit enjoyable.

One of the best views of the city! We were on the patio at Open Aera and it is the summer vibe. The food was delicious, especially the tuna sushi, hamburger, and lamp chops. The service was quick and friendly. Highly recommend and can t wait to go back! Vegetarian options: Great salad and sushi options!

Came here for a friends birthday dinner on a Tuesday evening. We ve been here previously and had such a wonderful time we decided to return once again. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful... never changes. The view is jaw dropping.. definitely one of the few restaurants with one of the best views in the city. The cuisine was delectable. I decided on the lobster spaghetti and bacon wrapped scallops, both were rich and fresh. Decent sized potions for the price your paying, left with lots of leftovers. Our last visit, service was excellent.. however, service seemed extremely slow this time. Our server seemed very blunt- didn t smile once, didn t seem welcoming whatsoever, seemed overall unhappy. We had to ask to order drinks, food, water, etc. i would ve been more than happy to order another drink had I been asked Once our meals were finished we had flagged her down & asked for boxes she never brought them. The busser came by after 15-20 minutes of waiting and he happily took our plates and packed them up for us. Our server finally returned, we asked for our bills which took another 15 minutes. I would think for such an elegant restaurant downtown, the service would be spectacular especially when you are adding automatic gratuity, the service should meet up to the 20% tip you are paying. Although the food was great, the poor service led our visit to be a very disappointing experience :/

The hostesses are very unpleasant and quite rude ON THE PHONE. if you book online, good luck because all the window seats with view from CN Tower are gone pretty fast and if you try to call , they dont wanna change for you. P.s: I changed my mind after calling, im not going there. They are so rude on the phone. To get that CN Tower view, you have to pay & book online (where there is no availability so I dont know actually how ppl can get a seat. First arrived, waiting 1-2 hours queue for a meal ? No thank you )

Thanks for a great afternoon! We didn t stay for a meal, but we enjoyed a few drinks on the rooftop patio, and it is definitely worth a stop in if you are in the city!! It was very relaxed and the views are amazing. We didn t feel rushed or ignored by staff. It was the perfect balance. Dylan was our server, and he was awesome!!!