Taverne Tamblyn in Toronto

1426 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 4R3, Canada

★★★★★
(139 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant

About

Occasionally, Google does not update changes to the reservation system to reflect current reservation availability. If you do not find a reservation date or time that is your preference, please visit our website and click the link for reservations. Taverne Tamblyn is a neighbourhood restaurant offering French comfort food such as, steak tartar, steamed mussels, frites, beef bourginon. Thoughtfully crafted wine list with many by the glass. Classic cocktails and select draught beer. Tuesday evenings we offer a Prix Fixe menu only.

Website
tavernetamblyn.com
Address
1426 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 4R3, Canada
Plus Code
MMMF+45 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
5–10 PM
Saturday
5–10 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Dine-in Delivery
Highlights
Great cocktails
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Late-night food Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Brunch Lunch Dinner Counter service Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Gender-neutral toilets Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Romantic
Crowd
Family friendly Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Transgender safe space
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid street parking

Photos

$Taverne Tamblyn
1426 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 4R3, Canada

Reviews

4.6
★★★★★
139 reviews

Most Mentioned

french (22) steak tartare (19) beef bourguignon (13) mussels (12) steak au poivre (9) beef fat (8) ratatouille (7) gougère (6) bouillabaisse (6) apple tart (5)
5 stars
106
4 stars
16
3 stars
11
2 stars
4
1 stars
2
★★★★★
December 16, 2024

Amazing little spot that is super cozy, great food, atmosphere and cocktails. Started the evening with a refreshing French 75 cocktail, it was perfection. As an appetizer, I thoroughly enjoyed the gougères, they are bite sized heaven! For my main, I went with the beef bourguignon with fresh baked bread for dipping, the flavors did not disappoint. I got to sample the steak et frites, delicious! Looking forward to returning soon!

★★★★★
November 14, 2024

Came in on Tuesday for the pre fixe menu, and was so impressed. For such a low price my friends and I had such a great 3 course dinner, and our server, William, made sure our wine glasses were never empty. Super attentive and friendly service, lovely atmosphere, all around great dining experience! I'll be returning!

★★★★★
November 11, 2024

Had dinner with my friend a few months ago. We tried the prix fixe and it was great! The fries tasted just like McDonald's fries used to taste like before they changed their recipe. The burger was slightly dry which I didn't enjoy, but overall a great place for dinner!

★★★★★
November 10, 2024

What a fantastic establishment! Although we generally do not plan sufficiently in advance to secure a reservation, we were fortunate enough to obtain two seats at the bar at the last minute last night. The cocktails were flawlessly crafted, setting the tone for an exceptional experience. Mussels and steak tartare are consistently excellent choices for sharing as starters. The timing of the courses was impeccable, allowing us to enjoy a brief interlude and another beverage before ordering our main courses. The Beef Bergeron and the pepper steak were both delicious. We complemented them with an order of French fries, which were expertly fried in beef tallow and a serving of ratatouille, both of which were equally delicious. We concluded the evening with an engaging conversation with the proprietor. It is undoubtedly worthwhile to plan ahead and make a reservation for our next visit.

★★★★★
September 14, 2024

I have as of late become just in love when French cooking. So I was pleased that this was the spot that my partner took me to for my birthday. The atmosphere is causal and romantic. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is a mixture of both French and English and not super well laid out. It was a bit difficult to go though. My partner and I both speak French so for us it wasn’t a problem but it may be for others. The service was fine like boarding sub par and we really wish the server had taken us through the menu and explained the specials. We were her last table and it showed. As this was our first time to the restaurant we would have appreciated some guidance or excitement about the food. Our sever was friendly but again not super helpful we found the hostess to be much more helpful. We got the bread to start, it was proper in that it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We both got the steak and freits and I must say the freits were amazing. I can’t go back to regular fries. Both our steaks were cooked perfectly and to our request. We shared the ratatouille and it was delightful, a tad spicer then I assumed it would be but nice. We had the apple tart to finish and it was great too, served cold it was nice. However, maybe served warm it would be outstanding. We got cocktails and I had one made specifically with a liquor I wanted. My partner ordered off the menu and this would have been one of the times where we wish the server would have explained the cocktail. My partner said it was fine but did ask for a recommendations and she just didn’t really offer any. He ordered what he thought would be good but found it to be just fine. Overall, we really enjoyed the food and will be back. One thing that was bothersome. We sat next to a two top and they seemed to be regulars, they had the owner visit their table and chat. They drank heavily and were probably were over served. They used some pretty vulgar language and made it a point to ensure everyone on the patio heard them. I wish the server had managed her table better or at least acknowledged that their language was unpleasant. To sum it up we would come again as the food was wonderful. The service we assume was because we were a bit later with our reservation. However, the food here is great we would love to experience a server who is excited about the food and can make helpful suggestions. We will give it another go because this is a charming restaurant and has all the good things going for it.

★★★★★
August 20, 2024

By far one of the best meals I have had on a return trip to my former home. Excellent service and well-prepared and presented dishes. Oh, and the homemade bread, swoon!

★★★
August 4, 2024

We had wanted to experience this place for sometime. They have a patio that I think adds to the ambience. Always nice to eat outside. Service was quite good and servers were attentive. Food was quite good. Not incredible but certainly a worthwhile restaurant experience. Portions are on the small side. The ratatouille was lovely but you can see the portion compared to the spoon. But it was very tasty. The steak was hidden there under the sauce. It may be hard to see but it was good. It would have been better 1/3 less salt. But it was cooked expertly. Again portions were on the smallish side. Which is good in some ways. Sometimes portions are just too big so it’s good to reduce the amount on the plate. That said, I think the sweet spot would be about 1/4 - 1/3. Bigger. Wine selection was decent and we enjoyed the Chardonnay we had. Mussels were excellent but get the fresh bread to take advantage of the sauce you can soak up. We also had fries, which came in handy to fill the portion gap. And we finished it up with the crème caramel for desert. We enjoyed that. Bottom line, a worthy restaurant experience. I’m not sure I could hear any music but I feel some decent music (French or otherwise) could be good in adding to the ambience.

★★★
February 4, 2024

We were excited to try this French restaurant based on a recommendation. We ordered the following items: 1. Bread - 3/5. I would’ve preferred my bread to be warm or to have butter that was warm. It felt like day old bread, although they bake daily. To be honest, this should be complimentary at a restaurant. It didn’t really taste anything special to me. 2. Steak tartare- 5/5. This was a great appetizer. It comes with a few bread crisps. Highly recommend. 3. Beef bourguignon (main) - 4/5. The beef was tender. I just wish they made the jus thicker and added more vegetables to complement. 4. Cornish Hen (main) - 3/5. I felt like this dish was lacking flavour. Presentation was good. The chicken was nice and tender. 5. Fries fried in beef fat. 3/5. I felt like I was eating McDonald’s French fries. Nothing special. However, the white dip that they served the fries with was really delicious. 6. Ratatouille - 5/5 - I enjoyed the flavours of this dish! 7. Fleur D’Or (cocktail) 5/5 - Gin cocktail was very nice. If you like something more on the acidic sweet side, this drink is for you. Presentation was nice. 8. Crème Caramel - 3/5 - I could taste an overwhelming amount of alcohol on the top layer or the sauce (not sure which one). It didn’t sit well with me. The crème itself was very delicious. 9. Apple tart - 4/5 - I would recommend trying this. The entire dessert is cold. I was hoping to have a warm element to take this dessert to another level. Overall, based on the amount we paid, the restaurant was okay. My rating is based on my experience with other French restaurants in Toronto. More flavour for the mains could have enhanced the experience. The server looked overwhelmed & I was hoping they could’ve done a proper run down on the two menus we were given. The ambience is nice and romantic. I may come again in the future to give it another try.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 18, 2024

Food was good, service good, atmosphere good. A little pricier than I thought it should be for the quality of food.

★★★★★
December 14, 2024

Took my mom out for her birthday dinner last night at Taverne Tamblyn. It was both of our first times at this restaurant and we were blown away! We had a wonderful pre fix dinner, and truly amazing service from the beginning to the end. Can t wait to come back!

★★★★★
December 14, 2024

Great food and great service. The steak au poivre and the fries are always fantastic. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 7, 2024

Dinner was fantastic, staff are friendly. Fantastic chefs in the kitchen

★★★★★
December 7, 2024

Excellent food, and great value

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

If you want a great food in an owner chef run place then make the effort and go here. We were lucky to have the owner in the kitchen and not only was the food amazing but the service was great because it was a family running it. They want you to enjoy it not just to make money. It s a genuine desire to make sure you enjoyed everything. Chapeau Ben and team.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

I ve been here to dine three times now and each time the food was delicious. Service in the restaurant is prompt, but most recently the owners were helpful finding space for us last minute. I wouldn t expect that every time (still make a reso!) but they were willing to help where/when they could. Will be coming back.

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

We ve dined here on several occasions and have always had spectacular experiences. Highly recommend the steak au poivre - which rivals any Parisian restaurant we ve been to - the ratatouille, and the fries that are perfectly done each time. An amazing wine selection is the perfect compliment to their myriad authentic dishes. This evening I committed a cardinal dining sin (sat down for an hour and didn t order any food because of a babysitting issue). When I told them I had to leave, rather than be upset, both staff and owner (Ben) told me, these things happen. Please come back so we can take care of you again. This is the quality of service that we ve been met with every time. The team at Taverne Tambyln truly want to treat you to an amazing time, and it is reflected in each facet of the dining experience.

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

The food was wonderful and would give a five star review but one of the items ordered was served on the cool side when it should have been warm/hot. The moules frites was excellent. Lovely environment and in addition has a comfortably sized patio. Will be eating at this restaurant many times to come!

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

My wife and I finally made it to Taverne Tamblyn for brunch; well overdue (our first visit). Elegant, but simple interior which evoked some of the Parisian restaurants we visited last year. The menu was mostly in French which added to the atmosphere, as did the crisp white cotton serviettes. The food was really excellent. I had the bouillabaise (fish stew) which was so tasty my wife had to restrain me from licking the bowl clean. She had the poached egg in red wine sauce with frites fried in beef fat........an equal hit. For dessert we had creme caramel and apple tart with cream. All in all a really lovely experience. We will be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Love my local bistro. Great hosts, simple and focused menu... Zero downsides

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Taverne Tamblyn on the Danforth in Toronto is a delightful french dining experience, with exceptional food les gougères and frites cooked in beef fat are especially good wonderful service, and relaxed atmosphere. We enjoyed ourselves immensely.

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Not our first visit, but an excellent visit nonetheless. Highly, highly recommend this spot. Theres not a bad dish on the menu and their specials are usually top notch, too!

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Very knowledgeable staff. Amazing food for great price. Perfect spot for celebration or brunch with friends on a Sunday. The meat dishes are always delicious and the chocolate mousse is a must!

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

The best restaurant in Toronto! Great food and atmosphere. We celebrated a few family and business events here and are always looking forward to visiting this place again. Highly recommend. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

10/10. I had a birthday brunch here recently with 10+ friends. Everybody was raving nonstop about the quality of the food and the courteousness of the staff. I come to this place about once a month and it never disappoints!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Absolutely amazing. My partner and I have been here three times so far and each time had been delicious. We spent the week prior in Paris eating French food but couldn t stop talking about how it doesn t compare to Taverne Tamblyn. We got the weekly special muscles (saffron and Dijon), steak au poivre, frites, taverne salad and the apple tart- all amazing choices. The frites will change your life (tastes like McDonald s hotter cousin)! Service is always great and the staff are extremely friendly! Will be back soon!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Excellent french cuisine! Great service and atmosphere. Been several times and will be back. Recommend.

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Such a great place. We will be back! 5 stars all around.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Second time here for brunch and every time was absolutely delicious. The Grand Marnier crème brûlée was the highlight - it was boozy and delicious. One of the most refined restaurant on East danforth.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Jeffrey (our waiter) and Ben (the owner/chef) were both incredible. Everything from the tartare to the chocolate mousse at the end were fantastic! Can t wait to come back; one of our best dining date night experiences ever. Vegetarian options: Their ratatouille was on point! Super well done with a perfect balance of squash, zucchini, and zest (lemon)

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

Highly recommend Taverne Tamblyn. Had dinner there for the first time on Friday Feb 16 and all six of us left with the same impression This place is great. Across our group we tried many of the dishes and all were terrific. The restaurant was full but the service was prompt and very pleasant. The atmosphere was a pleasant buzz of countless conversations.

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

I went Saturday evening, my friend said the fries were highly recommended- well, I m still dreaming about how good they were! We really should have ordered them again for dessert! We had the frisée salad, fries of course, steak tartare and bouillabaisse. Everything was SO good! We sat at the bar and we were right in front of the chef and sous chef. I loved watching all the magic happen! Highly recommend this cozy place! Oh and the negronis were perfect!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

We enjoyed our visit to Taverne Tamblyn. It has a simple menu with fresh quality food and we had the pepper steak, Beef Bourguignon, salad, and the frites. A little note, the frites done in beef fat are amazing, and I will never eat any other french fries again. Please note, you had better get a reservation as, based on our experience that night, it can be fully booked at times.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

What a lovely local place. Great French cuisine executed very well. The dishes are simple but are absolutely delicious. They understand how to make it right. They also provide great level of service and are just very down to earth people. They also have great cocktail menu which is very enjoyable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

We really like this place. It feels like fine dining, but without the expensive price tag. We come for the martinis, mussels, and french fries (frites). The fries are contenders for the best fries Ive ever had. They are basically like McDonalds fries, but on crack (cooked in beef fat).

★★★★★
February 21, 2024

Have been twice. The service is excellent and the food is great and fairly priced. It is one of the better places on the Danforth. The idea that the food is pre made is ridiculous. You cant pre make food like that . Definitely worth checking out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

Food 4 1/2 stars. We were four for Saturday lunch and ordered: moules-frites, 2 X quiche and bouillabaisse. All were excellent except the quiche was a little soft/creamy which may be a personal preference thing. Service was attentive and friendly. Apple torte for dessert was excellent. About $120 per couple incl wine.

★★
February 21, 2024

We went for a Valentines dinner The host was so unfriendly when We arrived , a horrible welcome I sat on a hard bench , very uncomfortable Our food was under cooked and red inside We dine out often and this was a bad experience Our server was friendly and helpful Don t bother going We won t go back So many other great restaurants to enjoy

★★★
February 21, 2024

Honest review of my experience at Taverne Tamblyn.Went here on a Saturday evening for dinner. The ambience and vibe of the place is very nice, dim and romantic. Our server did not take the time to explain the menu and had very minimal communication. Didnt even make much conversation with us until it was time to pay the bill. The Food: Bread (2/5) - It was cold, not soft and served with cold butter out of the refrigerator. I asked to if they can warm the bread atleast, a gentleman came to our table whom I recognized is the head chef from their IG page and explained he can do it but it would dry out the bread. Then proceeded to explain what kind of dough, that it was baked daily and came out of the oven at 3pm. The team went through much experimentation to get the perfect balance of a crunchy outer shell with good level of rise. I love the passion here chef, I really do! But the bread was not soft, at least serve up some room temp butter especially if youre going to charge and not offer it complimentary. Steak Tartare (5/5) - Probably one of the best ones Ive had, no complaints it was delicious. Cornish Hen Confit (2/5) - Looked better than it tasted. Not very tender and did not fall off the bone, skin was soggy, would have appreciated some crisp to it. The lemon/rosemary sauce was a broken and a bit watery. I wanted to order their pork chop that was the special that night but was sold out by the time of our 8pm reservation and got this instead. A duck confit would have been much better. Ratatouille (5/5) - Tasty, hearty and full of umami. Reminded me of a shakshuka. Wish they gave more of it. Beef Bourguignon - (3/5) Underwhelming, the meat was not tender and juicy as youd expect it to be. The jus was watery and under-seasoned, a thicker sauce would really lift this dish. The portion was also small. Beef Fat Fries (3/5) - Like the other reviews said, they do taste like McDonalds fries but better, this is true, its good but overrated. No garnishes present, not a sprinkle of parm or truffle or anything. If youre a French Bistro and the fries are what get the most praise then theres something wrong here. Creme Caramel - (2/5) Nice texture but it is way too boozy, I can appreciate alcohol used properly in a dessert but this was too much. Also it did not come with any garnishes (ex berries, a compote, chantilly) and was a rather boring dessert. Apple Tart w/ Salted Cider Caramel - (4/5) Tasty dessert with good flavour balancing. However it was served cold right out of the fridge along with cold cream. Why is everything coming straight out of the refrigerator? A great part of dessert is the sensation of hot and cold in one dish and this was not it. Overall Experience: I was excited to eat at one of the highly rated French Bistros the city has to offer but was left disappointed. Service was subpar and the food is mediocre. Hot menu isnt very exciting, and half of it is beef. Maybe changing one for a different protein might shake things up a bit! The restaurant is known to be more affordable than others but honestly the mains do not come with sides which must be ordered separately. So you really just end up spending as much as you would with other places so I personally did not find much value . The restaurant is new and less than two years old, there is definitely potential but still has a long way to go to get to the level of other well known bistros (Le Baratin, Maison T, etc). I love the chefs passion for his food and Im sure he will elevate it to the next level in the future. Perhaps I will visit here again at some point hoping for better dining experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

Had a lovely time from start to finish. As always.

★★★★★
February 21, 2024

I enjoyed dining at this east end treasure on the Danforth Saturday night. The French Bistro did not disappoint, the experience enhanced sitting at the bar with full view of the open kitchen. Dinner began with a gin based cocktail, La Fleur dOr followed by a smooth and creamy Lobster & Shrimp bisque. The Steak au Poivre was outstanding. The toughest decision was whether to dip my side of frites in the pan sauce or the Aioli. Looking forward to returning when in Toronto next, patio season cant come soon enough. Dietary restrictions: Many excellent gluten free options, be sure to ask your server.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Highly recommend Taverne Tamblyn. Excellent food, cozy atmosphere and great service. Love the open kitchen.

★★★★★
January 21, 2024

Me and a special someone went here a week ago. I love this hidden gem. The pepper steak was an absolute delight. The salad was great. Love the fries. Very cozy experience. Great for anniversaries or just a random Tuesday. I cant wait to go back.

★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Delicious - small menu and they were out of the fish special that I wanted :( but the steak was delicious.

★★★★★
January 21, 2024

We absolutely Loved our dinner date on Saturday. Didnt have reservations and were offered bar seats, which turned out a great spot to be at. We watched the chef and his assistant work their magic. Everything looked clean and fresh and it was a delight to watch them cook. Food was excellent! Special compliments to the bartender. His house mocktail made my dining experience extra special.

★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Nice little French taverne serving classics dishes. Excellent cooking on the Cornish hen and the steak au poivr. Service was nice and friendly. Would like to see some more options for wine and the accompaniments.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Best steak tartare in Toronto, hands down!!! Fantastic addition to the East end. Ben and his team were very welcoming and engaging. The restaurant has been renovated and they did a good job making the room feel warm & very cozy - perfect for a date night. We sat at the bar and we had delicious cocktails, succulent meal and a wonderful time. Must try!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Would return. A tight menu, open kitchen, strong wine list. This will be a local favorite for sure. French inspired menu with a focus on Muscles and traditional French offerings. Tried both Ricard and Champagne. I prefer the Ricard more though I think both were very light. Ricard I expected to be more heavy and creamy however. Chicken Liver Mousse, honestly one of the best Ive ever had in the world. Extremely flavourful, perfect match with the Cherry and went well with both beer and Cocktail. Must try. Bread on the other hand was too hard because it is very dense and hurts your mouth. Id like to see this changed. Tartar - not my style. No mustard and heavy olive oil overwhelming on the palate. Steak Hache - Amazing. True French style heavy jus, bread soaked in sauce, super warm and comforting for winter. Must try. Fries - takes me back to childhood, corner shop style flavours. Wish they were not french fries cut though. Wine and Cocktails are strong. Takes AMEX. Expect $70-$110pp depending on 2-3 drinks.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Wonderful dinner at this new restaurant. We sat at the bar and it s the place to be. Great interaction with the chef and bartenders. Feature cocktail was awesome and food was delicious. We will be back!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great Boulevardier, Best dinner ever

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Wonderful food, cocktails and staff.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Flawless meal, excellent service, great atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Was incredibly delicious! So many dishes I wanted to try so need to go back again. Frisée and butter lettuce salad was fresh and full of flavour, steak haché was perfectly prepared and not a crumb was left on the plate. Cozy atmosphere, our server was knowledgeable and we absolutely loved watching them prepare everything in their open kitchen. Even the music gave off an awesome vibe. Definitely recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

phenomenal food. one of the best restaurants I have been to lately

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Taverne Tamblyn is casual, yet sophisticated with excellent food and service, in a cozy setting. I look very forward to coming back on a regular basis.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Perfect for brunch!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great new restaurant in a local iconic haunt. Service Food AND price were excellent

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Very nice addition to the neighbourhood. Great place with impeccable service and good food. French inspired cuisine. Very busy, reservations recommended.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

French comfort food at ok-ish prices for the setting. Standout dishes to me were the steak tartare (the salted egg yolk gave it an interesting bite) and the mussels (got the one with the apple cider, bacon and onions, and it was delicious). I found the beef bourguinion just ok (small portion, beef only tender-ish, would have liked more sauce) and would pass on the bread (pricey and average tastewise). Dessert (chocolate mousse) was small but really rich, so I liked it. Place has an elevated casual vibe to it. Service is friendly and efficient. It gets crowded so reservations recommended.

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Overall really good experience. Ambiance is great at the service is friendly. LOVED the steak tartare and the mussels...would skip the oeuf mayonnaise (the mayonnaise was thin and watery). Steaks were well cooked and the frits were salty and delish. We had called ahead to get the corkage fee so we knew the damage but, be warned it is $60. Overall a great addition to the east end.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Nice to have a French restaurant in the east end of the city. Close to Coxwell station. Had reservations for 9pm Friday. The restaurant was packed with lively french bistro vibe and interior you would expect. Open kitchen with limited but good menu. (No specials) We had chicken liver mousse with cherry compote, champagne mussels, peppercorn steak and frites and for dessert creme caramel. Unfortunately they ran out of chocolate mousse. All the items were yummy but the stand out were chicken liver mousse, frites and creme caramel.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Exceptional, simple French food. Cozy space with a warm atmosphere. Sit at the kitchen bar and watch the show!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great food. A bit loud.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

A wonderful experience from beginning to end at Taverne Tamblyn. The staff was super friendly the ambiance cozy and the food was out of this world. Looking forward to going back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Finally got to check them out and we weren t disappointed. The chicken mousse and steak tartare were delicious, and the bourguignon was very tender. Great atmosphere inside, looking forward to patio season. Quick, friendly service. Also, great value for your money. The prices aren t over the top at a time when eating out has become a luxury. We had several drinks, two apps, a main with side and dessert for about $80 a person which is not common in Toronto. Strongly recommend.

★★★
December 21, 2023

Simply the food was very good the decor was nothing to write about the portions were small the three of us left hungry I would come back if the portions were larger everything was à la carte, even the bread. Half of a bun was $7 dollars the wine list was excellent

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Granted, I m a bit biased because this place is less than a 2 minute walk from my home, but this might be my new favourite restaurant in Toronto. The combination of service, simplicity, tastiness, and prices, I think is actually unbeatable right now for a nice night out. I almost don t want to write a review, to try to prolong it flying under the radar so I can have more meals there, but I guess BlogTO is already giving it away, so may as well. Service is friendly and professional. No amateur waitstaff who don t know the menu like you get post-covid in Yorkville; they all can offer recommendations and if something takes too long or isn t right, they make it right. It feels like empowered, professional servers like in Europe or you got in restaurants in Toronto pre-covid, except it s now in 2023. And the evening host Jeff is excellent. Our cocktails took a bit long on our recent visit and without asking, two glasses of French port on the house came out after dessert by way of apology. The food it s basically a good selection of classic French dishes, done really well. As someone who doesn t like hundred-item menus, it s perfect. Particular highlights are the steak tartare, the beef-fat frites (anyone remember McDonalds in the 1980s before corporate cost-cutting?), the mussels, and the bouillabaisse (available every night!) As I said in the above paragraph, the concept is to me what a restaurant ideally should be. Pick one theme, have a modestly-sized menu, and do it really well. Having 25 things on the menu instead of 100 means the servers know every dish intimately, the wait for your food isn t super long, and you don t have a Barry Schwartz paradox-of-choice problem. It s just an amazing pleasant experience. Cocktail menu and wine list, again, is thoughtfully curated, relatively small, but everything is good. There are some new world wines but all done in French style (oregon pinot in old-world style etc.) And the prices: $12-16 for a cocktail, unheard of in the post-covid hyperinflationary Toronto where downtown, cocktails are $18-24. Wine is $60-120. Between this place, Wood Owl, and Lake Inez, I might never have to go west of the Don again for fine dining. (Kidding, I can t give up Bar Isabel.) But seriously, this is a still-relatively-new gem, and if they keep it up like this, I look forward to going here many times for many years.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Among the best tartare I have ever had the pleasure of devouring! Delicious french brasserie cuisine with a supee chill vibe.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

So for me this was a 4.5. Everything was solid, and we loved it, but its just shy of perfection for me. Have communicated suggestions in private!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Tried the very popular Tavern Tamblyn on Danforth at Monarch Park last night. The location had been a Tamblyn drug store of once, the city s biggest pharmacy chain. French bistro-style, rich, saucey and yummy. Limited a la carte menu, small portions that were just right, friendly and pro staff, happy crowd and loud but nice room. Heather had mussels, I had roast chicken leg, shared fries and ratatouille, choc mousse, ciders, coffees. A very fair 107$ after tax. Reservations a good idea, table and counter service. Nice to see new things happening and successful out there beyond Greektown.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Fantastic French Fare, simple and delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

A must go! The food was delicious. Great French options with incredible flavor while not being too rich. The chicken liver mousse with cherry compote was a perfect start. All of the mussel options sounded great. We went with champagne, crème fraiche and shallots and loved them. Can t wait to try the others. The beef bourguignon and bouillabaisse were so delicious. The ambience is great as well. A nice size and design. We ll definitely be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Best boeuf bourguignon I ever tasted.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

An excellent dinner. The mussels, of course, gougeres, and the rich creme caramel. Good wine list.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Lovely dinner. Excellent service. We had bouillabaisse, steak tartare, beef bourgignon, frites. Everything was excellent.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great place

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great location, great atmosphere and even better food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Absolutely wonderful!! Will be recommending this restaurant to many friends and family

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Awesome

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great first time. We will be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Really enjoyed my dinner experience, Ill go back for sure.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

East of Greektown, this is the best patio in the Danforth. No competition. The food is delicious and the service is first-class - very friendly and attentive. I wish they opened up earlier, even if only for drinks. I miss grabbing a beer or glass of wine on the patio on random weekdays. Even so, the patio is one of the best places in the area for dinner and drinks with friends.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Absolutely a gem!!! Food was executed so wonderfully ! Myself and another local Chef were absolutely thrilled!!! Food : 5/5

★★★★
December 21, 2023

We went May 13th for dinner, 4 of us. Order: Gruyère Gougeres: 3/5. These are more like a scone then a gougere. Ok but not my fav. Shrimp Avocado Marie Rose Sauce : 4/5. Needed a tad bit of salt. 1/2 loaf of mini sour dough: 4/5. Very good. With nice salty butter. Chicken liver mousse: 5/5. Cant fault it. Excellent flavours. Filling. Steak Tartare: 4/5 so good with a spicy after bite that was surprisingly good. Could have had a tad more acid. Served with nice crostinis Champagne Shallot Mussels: 5/5. Cant fault this dish at all. The freshest mussels Ive ever eaten. Fries in beef fat. 5/5. Memories of Mcds fries back in the day. Steak Hache: 4/5. Needed a tad more sauce. But excellent with the raclette added. Striploin with a peppercorn sauce: 5/5. Very tender for a striploin melt in your mouth. House salad. 5/5. Perfect palate cleanser. Not over dressed. Creme Caramel with Grand Mariner: 5/5 Perfect ending we all shared because we were so full. 2 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc Les Sauterelles, so crisp & clean. 5 Godspeed Pilsner 1 Sparkling water. Service excellent! Shout out to Rebecca.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great atmosphere, amazing service, delicious food. Can t wait to go back!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Hidden gem in Danforth.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great new french restaurant. Friendly service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The beef bourguignon portion size is nice.

★★
December 21, 2023

The appetizers were amazing. The mains were mediocre and the service was awful. No banter mostly disdain. It made for a very awkward experience. It made us feel us feel most unwelcome.

★★
December 21, 2023

I was so looking forward to a lovely French bistro night out with my friend, looking at the menu and rethinking my choices. I give 4 for the food because the pate and the tartare were absolutely gorgeous. The Cornish hen (chicken) was cooked to perfection. The salad was light and delicious. The Steak Hashee was a choice. However, we definitely felt like we weren t wanted there. It started fine, we arrived early but in absolutely no haste and even apologized for being early, but is that where it went south? Confused about what we did wrong and definitely left with a bad taste in our mouths by how ignored and dismissed we felt.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great food service and ambiance! The pepper steak and fires are excellent

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Classic French menu done well. Definitely should be on everyones list. Steak au Poivre was excellent. Interesting, but good, take on Boeuf Bourgignon. Great fries.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Overpriced, microscopic portions.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Started with a smoked mackerel dip. It was potted and had just come from the fridge so was quite cold and hard to spread - this also affected the flavour to some degree - dish was too cold. We ordered a quarter loaf of bred which was literally cut in a quarter. The bread was very competent, beautiful crumb, but it was not shareable or cut in any way. Butter was cold and not spreadable. Good butter. Steak Tartare was very good - more pepper than other iterations I have had, and the shaved egg yolk was a nice riff. My steak au poivre was well cooked but I have no idea what cut it was - typically it is tenderloin, but the cut I received was thick, small and very hard to cut. I could not identify the grain for proper slicing. Sauce was tasty. Fries were honestly some of the best fries I have had all time, just perfect. Service was very friendly and competent.

★★★
December 21, 2023

Mains come with no vegetables and look forlorn on the plate. We ordered frites, which was forgotten by the server. When we raised the miss, the server denied she had forgotten, then went and entered the order in the computer. There was no apology or offer of compensation. In all, a disappointing experience. A neighbour. Parking: take the TTC. Its a 5 minute walk to either Greenwood or Coxwell stations.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The main course was excellent..... We arrived a bit early and we were seated. Immediately I noticed our waiter did not introduce himself. The menu wasnt explained, no specials were discussed. The waiter was awkward the entire night. Quick to drop items off and walk away. Otherwise, when he did serve us, he was polite. We ordered a bottle of champagne to start $125. I agree with some of the comments regarding the appetizers. We ordered the beef tartar and salmon/shrimp pate ( I dont recall what it was called). The apps came immediately, within 2 minutes. They are either prepackaged or prepared in advance, in a fridge because they came out too cold when they should have been served closer to room temperature. They didnt appear to be fresh. A waiter had to come over and explain one of the apps to us. Otherwise, they werent bad. Certainly not as good as some of the reviews. Maybe things have changed .... Course 2 was the muscles in a spicy cream sauce which we enjoyed. We highly recommend them. Main course: Cornish hen was incredible. It was so moist and delicious. We also had the beef bourguignon which was amazing, fork tender. The Ah jus could be a bit thicker but it did not disappoint. I was surprised how limited the menu is. This is not a restaurant that you can go to every few weeks for one thing or another but maybe a few times a year. They serve the same beef 3/4 different ways (waiters words) and Cornish hen. For the cost, approx $400 ( tip included) the overall experience was a disappointment. Many small things could be improved immediately to enhance the experience. But for the cost, you can dine in Yorkville for a much better experience

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Everything we had was really delicious and the service was perfection. We got the Gougeres to start which were soo chesssy, the steak tartare, Cornish hen and beef bourguignon. Great dinner!

December 21, 2023

Very disappointed. It was overpriced and the portion of the meals were very small, we thought it was a sample. Make sure you eat before you go or after. My partner ordered a Steak Hache with Recllet Cheese, we expected a reasonable peice of meat and expected them to come melt that recllet cheese in front of us. But it we were very surprised how small that dish was. Super disappointed and well never come back.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

It was the smallest dish I ve ever had. My partner ordered the Chicken Liver ( which was ok ),and I ordered the Steak Hachée, I can t even describe how disappointed I was, because it was so small portion ( a bite ) , we left hungry and disappointed. It was overpriced, we don t mind paying for food but that wasn t reasonable for the size/portion of the meals. Never again unless they reconsider the size/portion of the meals.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Amazing food, highly recommended,great environment and the bread is yummy

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Special celebratory dinner tonight with family. At the time of making arrangements I had no idea I was communicating with the owner so I was pleasantly surprised at his personal involvement in helping to make tonight special. Food is on-point and well prepared/executed, service was perfect and attentive and can say, with absolute certainty, this will be a regular go-to for both personal and clientele. Ben was great, as well as the sommelier and the rest of the staff. Loved it and thank you.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Excellent spot, best in the neighbourhood.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Taverne Tamblyn, nestled in the bustling Danforth locale, emerges as a French restaurant with potential. The ambiance greets you with warmth and vibrancy, priming you for the culinary experience ahead. The meal commenced with promise but not without missteps. The Gougères, deviating from the classic French staple with extra cheese, lost their charm and lacked the anticipated molten center. Equally underwhelming were the mussels, falling short on the freshness scale, a critique also noted by my wife. However, the steak au poivre was a redemption - small in portion yet robust in taste, paired with a well-crafted peppercorn sauce and impeccable, crispy fries. These alone could merit a return visit. The dessert, a chocolate mousse, was passable but missed the mark of French finesse. In essence, Taverne Tamblyn is a venue of dichotomies with a pleasant setting and certain standout offerings. Yet, its marred by a culinary inconsistency. To match the quality of its ambiance and shining stars on the menu, the restaurant must elevate its culinary execution.

★★★
December 21, 2023

The food itself its incredibly bland, however the drinks are great and the vibes are good. I feel like they increased the prices since it first opened. When I originally went right when it opened mine and my partners bill for two drinks an app and two mains was around 70 bucks, now it would be over 100. The low prices is what made it worth it since the food is bland. We havent been back since. RIP Sarahs.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Superb menu!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Taverne Tamblyn is one to watch. I came on opening night as I was so excited to sample the neighbourhoods newest bistro. After starting our meal with fresh bread, we were faced with hard choices (no bad choices) for mains. Steak au poivre, steak tartare and seafood soup were highlights. The beef fat fries are an addictive accompaniment to any meal. Cant wait to come back and try more. Wheelchair accessibility: Completely flat entry from the street

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great addition to the neighbourhood. Excellent food and service.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Loved Taverne Tamblyn! Visiting TO from Montréal and went with local friends. Shared so many great appetizers and had the beef tartare. Delicious food and cocktails + nice wine list. This fresh modern tavern feel brings great atmosphere to the night! Highly recommend. Thank you for this wonderful dining experience!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

My wife and two kids went to Taverne Tamblyn for dinner tonight. Our experience was amazing. The food, ambience and service was great. I thought the food was reasonably priced and the drinks were well priced. The highlights were the following: * The cocktails were special, particularly my elderflower sour * Great wine selection * The Beef bourguignon was out of this world. It might have been the best one I ever tried and it was done unconventionally. A braised beef rib with a reduced bourguignon sauce. Unreal * The frites fried in beef fat were deadly good * They served sherry which a big quantity and really well priced. The manager or som made sure it was on the menu as an homage to a gig he had in the past. A must order * The service was excellent. The bartender, waiter, manager and som were all wonderful * We had two young kids with us and it was easy to have them as the staff was chill and the seating set up was really comfy If I had any complaint it would be that it would have been nice to have to not pay for bread if you order beef bourguignon, but that is being really picky. I highly recommend this restaurant. It will definitely be a go to spot for us. The neighbourhood desperately needed a spot like this. Enjoy it while you can because the word will soon spread. Taverne Tamblyn wont be a secret for long! à bientôt