The Wood Owl in Toronto

Cozy restaurant with friendly staff! My favourite dishes were the cavatelli and the basque cheesecake.

Very good food & excellent service.

Absolute worst experience. We showed up early for our reservation and they were rushing food at us like drinking water from a fire house. We asked to slow things down and we were told by Cody who I assume was a manger that they had a timing standard to keep too. What about a dinning experience standard ??? This Cody guy was one of the most arrogant humans I have ever met. Total buffoon and not the representative that I would want running my business and interacting with people. We stopped our remaining food order, wine order etc and left to eat somewhere else after the 3 appetizers were served and Cody s incredible response to us when we asked to slow the food down incredible!!! Slapstick comedy like - on how the food was being served. I have told everyone DON T BOTHER EATING AT THE WOOD OWL. Not worth it.

It was tremendous from start to finish. No weak spots, everything was on point.

2nd time there. I ll give it 4.5 if I can. The beef tartare is good as always. Food option is a bit limited. Hoping for more variety. The cheesecake was a hit!

Lovely cozy spot with perfect menu!

Really loved this place. The room is really cool and the servers are seasoned professionals. We sat at the bar and we were very well taken care of. There is an interesting cocktail menu, including some vermouths, which are hard to find. The smoked trout dip, chicken liver mousse, and beef tartare were excellent. Also make sure you order the bread and butter. The night we were there, the butter was a smoky honey butter, and it was amazing. We had a Seabass for the main and it was full of interesting flavours. Dessert was a basque cheesecake which was nice. Overall a great experience and highly recommended. One of the most innovative restaurants in the East End.

My friend and I went to the wood owl last night for my birthday dinner. We sat at the bar, and my friend accidentally spilled her drink. The servers were so gracious and kind then near the end of our meal we had a friend who wanted to join us and they were so accommodating and found a table to move us to even though the restaurant was very full and busy. The food was amazing. Drinks were delicious and service was top-notch. I ll definitely come back again again! Thank you so much for a great night.

As a big critic, I could not find something to say. Everything was delicious! The service was great!

Absolutely delicious food. Amazing service, very knowledgeable about the menu and happy to share recommendations on drink and wine pairings. Highly recommend.

Grilled Shrimp and Steak Frites were very good

2024 update: Crazy yummy flavours at The Wood Owl, we ve always had superb delights there. Can t say enough about it, really. From the stunning cocktail (Fig Leaf Infused Gin, Strega, Raspberry Syrup, Lime ) to the perfect basil infused polenta, to the meltedy chocolate dessert. Mouah. 2023: Super flavourful dishes at The Wood Owl (Danforth east). Seriously recommend them. Not an off note anywhere, each mouthful bursts with surprise, Michelin level flavours, accompanied by excellent wine suggestions. Tiny spot, with requisite noisy Danforth patio, but outrageously good food. Menu changes seasonally and as new locally sourced ingredients become available.

Holy moly. This was the best food I have ever eaten. Everything was unique and flavourful. I couldn t say what I liked most. Trout dip - phenomenal. Carrots - seriously?? How can carrots be this good?? Shrimp - fantastic !!! Steak tartar - unbelievably good. Mushrooms - so simple but delicious!! Chicken liver mousse - perfect!!! Service was exceptional. Highly highly highly recommend.

My first time going to the Wood Owl was great. I enjoyed the food very much. However, I wanted to take a group of friends there for my birthday, but because there were more than four people, the website would not allow a reservation. It said to contact the restaurant. However, It seems they have no phone number. So I sent a message on Instagram, but never heard back. Despite having good food, I won t return because I don t like when restaurants make it difficult for their customers. There are lots of good restaurants, other than this one.

Best meal I ve had in Toronto in a while! Great service, ambiance, and the food- incredible!

A happy find! I may be late to the party but the Wood Owl offers an amazing food experience, small tapas style plates, but plenty to share with another diner. I tried a nonalcoholic cocktail - delicious! I wish I could eat more in one sitting. Alas, a return visit will be required.

Staff very friendly, food is good

Wonderful service and staff. Knew the evening was going to be great when I e-mailed them last second on a Friday evening for a table for 6 and got it. :) Food recommendations with regards to quantity were on point, the food itself was spectacular, and they make some delicious cocktails to boot. Highly recommend the chanterelle mushroom cavatelli, the polenta caponata and their bread and whipped butter! The basque cheesecake and chocolate cake were outstanding as well. Vegetarian options: Ordered everything vegetarian on their menu. While there isn t a LOT of choice considering it s a limited and seasonal menu in the first place, what you do get is all exemplary!

Disappointing. When you have to pile your plates for servers to notice you are done it is a problem. The smoked fish dip was almost like tuna salad and quite salty. The Argentinuan shrimp were good but really needed a good squeeze of lime. The curry was one note and not really a curry some acidity and heat would help. The peppers with the steak chimichuri were entirely flavorless. The steak was well cooked though the potato fries were very greasy.. should have cooked at home and drank our own wine for a $200 dollar meal.

My partner and I cant rave enough about our evening at The Wood Owl. From the second we walked in the staff was incredibly attentive and detailed. Every bite was delicious, one of the best tartares Ive ever had at a reasonable price point. Highly recommend!

We went to Wood Owl with some friends and it surpassed all expectations. The food was amazing especially the potato chips, tuna, steak, trout dip, and everything else we ate. All of us thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The restaurant is fairly noisy so if you are sensitive to loud spaces, I would make an early reservation. Vegetarian options: There are only a few veggie dishes but the menu does change. Depending on the season the amount of vegetarian options may increase. There were numerous fish options. Dietary restrictions: The restaurant was very accommodating for gluten free and their fryer is actually completely gluten free. Even the dessert was gluten free!

We had a wonderful meal at Wood Owl last night -- fabulous food and excellent service. But there were two small, but significant, disappointments. First, as we were tucking into our chicken liver pate, the server swung by and offered us more bread. We said sure, thinking what a nice gesture that was. $2.50 was added to the bil. Second, I really resent a credit-card machine that offers me the choice of a 18%, 20% or 22% tip -- on top of the tax. How about 15% -- which is what I wrote in?

Great experience with the exception of the arctic char being over cooked!

Where do I begin me and my girlfriend have had a few date nights here now and the service is incredible. Everything we have ever tried on the menu is beyond our expectation everytime, and priced fairly!!! Today our steak was like BUTTER and the personal favourite wines served by our server were delicious!!! also we arrived 45 minutes late for our reso and there were no issues! We still got our two hour dining service and the communication was easy and quick when we were running late. Everyone here from the hostess to the server to the chef does their job very well. It s very cozy and a good atmosphere inside even on rainy days (today) but also they have two patio tables setup out front for sunny days!! We highly recommend this place to any foodies out there and we will always be back to try new things on the menu! Thanks again Wood Owl!!!!

Beautiful experience all around. The atmosphere feels special and exclusive, unique touches surround you and make you feel like you re eating amongst a restaurant of friends. Our server was fantastic, great energy and knowledgeable. She guided us in all the right directions. Food was incredible, thoughtfully curated with flavours that melded to perfection. We basically had 76% of the menu and split between 4 of us the bill was MORE than reasonable. We had the following; Bread with harissa butter Mushrooms escabeche Marinated olives Trout dip Onion and okra bhaji Scallops Cavatelli Asparagus with tirokafteri Picanha Chocolate cake Basque cheesecake Everything was perfectly shareable, fresh and delicious to the very last bite. Highly recommend the asparagus, picanha and cavatelli. Amongst a group of winners they were the winner-iest! We will be back and I can t wait! No pictures bc we devoured instantly. C est la vie!! Vegetarian options: Easy to find delicious vegetarian options here Parking: Lots of Green P parking around

Yeah food taste so good,like homemade,so clean and service was good too,I recommend this place to visit for others, Vegetarian options: All

Ultra cozy!

Some of the food we ordered was amazing, others were very good but over priced. The interior is lovely. This would be a great place for a date night as it s quite an intimate setting. It did get rather loud at one point though part of that was the server talking over the rest of the restaurant. They have a great wine list! By the glass or bottle. I would definitely recommend but it didn t blow my socks off

This is exactly what the east end needs more of! Cute local dinner spots that are absolutely delicious. From the owners of The Wren next door, the birds nest grows! Only downfall - it s small and reservations might be hard to get.

I ate the most spectacular meal here. The smoked pork blew me away. And then I got to enjoy my favorite dessert - a panna cotta that legit made me emotional. I keep waiting for it to return to the menu because it was out of the world. Highly recommend!

Absolutely incredible experience at the Wood Owl! My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary, which we did not disclose until the end of our visit because we did not want special treatment. Nonetheless, our dining experience was nothing short of that expected for a special occasion and the food and service was just phenomenal! It was our first visit, but it will certainly not be the last!

Excellent neighbourhood restaurant. Unassuming but outstanding food!

the east end wins again, the most delightful, beautiful restaurant with delicious, complex flavours all accessible as a neighbourhood, non-pretentious joint. this is a rotating menu restaurant - so reviews you read here are likely not related to what you ll eat which IMO, is fantastic. we sat at the bar - a place we highly encourage guests to sit at - we ordered 7 dishes (2 more than suggested) and were blown away. the service was top notch - we always appreciate skilled staff, and the atmosphere + music were a solid 10. fantastic date spot, being your parents to eat spot, friends with benefits spot + my best friend is getting married so we are celebrating spot.

Unfortunately even the delicious food didnt make up for the overpriced and small portions. I left hungry, so wont be back again after spending ~$120 on basically 2 entrees and an appetizer and some carrots.

The Wood Owl got a Michelin mention it doesn t mean much anymore. The atmosphere was great but pretty loud. Good service. Cocktails were drinkable, but the wine was better. The plates were tasty, salty, and sugary. Nothing to call home about. $200 for two.

We had a great experience at The Wood Owl. Our server was very knowledgeable, and patient. We ve enjoyed every bite at The Wood Owl.

Ive been walking past The Wood Owl for a couple of months now and finally on a Friday night was able to coerce my wife out to Greenwood & Danforth for a night of bar hopping. For food, I was intent on The Wood Owl as it looked really cozy from the outside. Its more cozy on the inside! We were seated at the bar for dinner, but never felt confined or that we didnt have our own space. The service excelled and then we tried the food. The surprise of my life was that while everything was delicious, I was floored with the Tartare, Ochra and Eggplant & Lentil dishes. This place knows what it is doing when it comes to flavour. On to the cocktails which were outrageously well done. I had the Apologies to the Queen and the spice brought the right notes of cozy to our night out! We will 100% be back to this cozy little local restaurant!

The Wood Owl was recommended to us, and it was a hit! It s rare to find restaurants that make vegetables the star of the show. What a delight! We tried the Chicken Liver, Beef Tartar, Roasted Carrots, and Cabbage with Anchovy . and the dessert off menu the best carrot cake I ve ever had. The roasted carrots were perfect. The one dish that didn t blow my mind was the beef tartar. It tastes so much like a burger that I was missing the flavours of beef the Dijon took over. One of the servers told us to try the mushroom side dish next time. Can t wait! Definitely going back

Unique flavour combos of shareable plates that were quite tasty. The duck could have been rendered more, one piece was cooked well the other not so much. Overall, the cost $200 for 2 apps, 2 mains, 1 glass of wine and 1 soda seemed a bit over priced. It s small place with cozy setting, about half the seating is at the bar, give them a heads up if a table is required.

We finally managed to get our reservation for 4 and dine at Wood Owl! Its an unpretentious hidden gem that knows its cocktails phenomenally, even though theyre a wine bar. Bull in the Heather is a 10/10. As for food, some of it we were over the moon about, and some that somewhat missed the mark. The chicken liver mousse and the basque cheesecake were to die for.

Went here for a date and made reservations around 8 p.m. It is a smaller restaurant and seating is closer to other tables than other restaurants but still fine. The menu is great with a good amount of dishes focusing on vegetables as the star. The adobo carrots are a must try and eggplant was delicious. Also ordered the kettle chips and trout dip which was a nice starter, while waiting for food. Smoked porkchop was good but I dont think I would get again. For dessert, had the chocolate cake, which I expected more from, would not order again. Still really enjoyed the menu and would definitely come back to try the rest of the menu. There is street parking and a green P walking distance.

Really enjoyed my first visit here. Perfect date night spot, great service and delicious, unique food, wine and cocktails. Will be back!

Great value for quality. Steak tartare must be ordered.

Excellent restaurant! One of the best in the east end. Food, cocktails, service, vibe, everything was great.

My wife and are both in the hospitality field and are quite well travelled when it comes to the restaurant scene. The Wood Owl is absolutely exceptional in every way. Its unassuming appearance from the street draws you in for a closer look. Once those doors open, you are transformed into an intimate and warm space, reminiscent of yesteryear. Every aspect of the dining experience has been meticulously planned. The food, cocktails and wine are impeccable. The service is approachable and friendly, while remaining dedicated to a 5 star delivery. The mastery that is this restaurant has clearly attracted the attention of patrons from near and far. Michelin Guide has it as a must try in their latest guide. Thank you to our server Cavin, and the team at The Wood Owl for a most excellent experience. We will be back!

Our first time here and it won t be the last. This is a classic sharing dish restaurant. They suggest about 3 to 5 items in the menu for two people. That s probably very accurate. We shared the chicken liver mousse and it was the best we ever had anywhere. I decided to try the special, a beautiful short rib dinner. I didn t share. It melted in my mouth it was tender and tasty. The Mrs had Squash with radicchio and ricotta. Very bountiful and the flavour spot on and filling. The service was impeccable and the staff very friendly and knowledgeable. By 6:00PM they were fully booked.

No photos were taken because the food was shamelessly devoured by all of us! The menu is spectacular. We shared most of the appetizers, the carrots were the unanimous standout. The sauce with the scallops and mushrooms were saved to enjoy with our steak frites, porkchops and char. Do not let anything go to waste! More bread with that heavenly whipped butter was ordered. Our table was continuously filled with exceptionally well executed and intentioned dishes. We had the Basque cheesecake and the chocolate dessert, both celiac friendly and ordered another Basque cheesecake again because it is that good. The texture is so velvety and delicate. The menu accommodated our celiac friend and we were all so glad that she was able to enjoy almost everything with very minimal substitutions. Their beverages stood their own with everything we had. Cocktails, wine, amaro and alcohol free. The service was so warm and friendly, knowledgeable and thorough. Genuine. Hard to find it on that level. It s a great room to be in! We were all admiring the décor. You re lucky to have had every plate returned. Being in the restaurant industry, it s hard to find time to enjoy other great restaurants like The Wood Owl. We had all been wanting to come for so long. We were so excited to come tonight to celebrate our Chef s birthday and they made it so memorable. The Michelin recommendation is well deserved. I m gushing because it s rare to have an experience like this. The hard work is much appreciated and so worth the wait. Will come and visit again hopefully sooner than later. Thank you so much to you all for making a special occasion that much more special.

We had dinner here for New Year s Eve and it has immediately become one of our new favourite restaurants. We can t wait to return. We had duck croquettes and smoked trout dip to start, then beef cheek and steak tartare with fries as mains. Everything was incredible. The steak tartare in particular was the best one we ve had in Toronto by far. For dessert we had a lovely passionfruit puff pastry. I would definitely recommend a visit and will be returning. Thank you!

The food was decent, nothing special, not a whole lot of flavour, I left hungry, the dishes were extremely small, a lot smaller than they look over advertisements. Less than a lunch portion for dinner. Was overall disappointing as I took my friend there for her birthday. I had to go home and eat a second dinner. Service was really good however if you leave hungry that s a problem. We had three courses each.

I wrestled to write this review as I wanted to give more stars but I could not. The space is small but comfortable, with clean lines and uncluttered. The service was very good and friendly and overall, the food was good. The reason for 3 stars was, at the bottom of our kitchen made potato chips was a black hair . They apologized and comped me the $4. Honestly, I expected a little more for the nausea inducing experience. How about offering a desert on the house or a glass of wine? Not what Id expect from a Michelin listing.

First-time visit. Would definitely return. Very creative menu - not a weak dish among the five we shared.

Had a wonderful experience at the Wood owl. Food was excellent and I absolutely love the design of the interior. The seating at the booths was somewhat uncomfortable though. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable about every aspect of the menu, but he spoke very loudly. When he was speaking to other tables, we couldnt hear each other. A small critique for an otherwise excellent night out. some really incredible flavour combinations I have not experienced elsewhere!

We have been to the Wood Owl twice now and have been extremely impressed by the knowledgeable and attentive staff, along with the incredible food. We will be back next Friday and can hardly wait!

Have Returned (Jan2023) Would return, would recommend. Extremely rare find in Toronto, small focused menu with high degree of execution, fine wine list, good service. Chicken Liver, smooth, umami, paired with a subtle sweet fruit jelly. Trout, lots of dill, creamy yet light, slight tang and very herby. Steak is not super worth, as it feels like it is more of a steak salad. The charred veggies were the actual highlight of the dish. Mushroom and Chips were great snacks, balancing each other out. I would also recommend getting the bread as the whipped smoked butter was absolutely amazing and unique. Bread had a perfect crust and chew. Overall great experience, takes AMEX. booking recommended or try walking in at opening time. Jan2023: Tuna Dip: Must Order. Tartare: Good Liver Paté: Must Order Short Rib: Good

Excellent restaurant! The ambiance and service made for a very delightful dining experience. Everything we tried was so flavourful and tasty. Will definitely be returning!

Delicious meal, nice ambiance, not too loud! Honestly everything was delicious (we had almost everything on the menu) and I particularly loved the following dishes: - chicken liver pate - mushroom arancini - butternut squash - carrots - short rib Soooo good. Would go back!

The space is very nice, I love the concert posters. The wine list is amazing especially given the size of the restaurant. Staff were informative, helpful, and fun. It was quite loud when full, but that is to be expected here in Toronto. The trout with sunchoke and pickled apples was quite delicious, and the chicken liver pate was also a winner. Great addition to an already excellent food neighbourhood.

Id visited The Wood Owl before when they first opened but tonight, everything we ordered was damn near perfection. The Bavette steak and tarragon bordelaise was perfection. The perfect rare-medium rare flavour explosion. The Hokkadio scallop crudo with cara cara orange was such a delightful and pleasant surprise! I LOVED the balance of flavours in this dish. To drink the Southside: Gin, lemon and mint syrup was perfectly balanced for my tastes. And to top it off, a rich chocolate cake with creme fraiche, hazelnut and coffee crunch. The chocolate cake was rich like a brownie to me. We walked in at 6pm and lucked out with a table right away but make a reservation to be safe. They were steady and busy even for a Tuesday night. You wont be disappointed if you enjoy delicious food in a cozy, wood paneled, warm neighbourhood gem kind of vibe. Happy eating!

Really fabulous menu, food, ambiance. Servers are knowledgeable about the food and wine and suggestions were fantastic.

We had a fabulous evening at the Wood Owl. It was our first visit for everyone in the group and the service was warm and attentive. We had a couple of dietary restrictions - they were able to accommodate well and the server was very well versed on modifications for each item. Every dish was great, particularly the scallop crudo - we ended up ordering a second one after trying it. Nice selection of wines by the glass and the cocktails were lovely. Will definitely be back!

Great atmosphere. Delicious food that was recommended by the server. Excellent, personal service. Will definitely return soon!

Creative dishes, perfectly executed.

Amazing sharing plates with great flavour pairings in each dish. 80 each, including tip, plus two drinks per person.

We had this restaurant on our list of places to try...we were not disappointed. The service and food were amazing. What we loved most was the unique wine options for pairing with the food. We will definitely be making a return trip.

An absolute gem. Food is always delicious. Wine is fantastic. Service is excellent. Love this place.

Unbelievable dinner with creative dishes, delicious cocktails and wine, fantastic service. Would highly recommend!

One of the best meals Ive had in a long time. We went on a Tuesday for the steak frites and it was divine. Also recommend the beets and carrots as well...even the bread with whipped butter was an experience. Please visit, and have a great time!!!

If you re looking for fine dining in the east end then this is your place. Friendly service and the 4 of us enjoyed trying many tapas and each one was perfection. We will return.

A gem of a restaurant ! Their food has never disappointed me, and their staff is extremely knowledgeable and offer great wine pairings. Of the many things I love about the restaurant, the thing they do better than any other place Ive been is making delicious vegetable dishes with the most fresh and seasonal vegetables. They are balanced, fresh tasting, not overly heavy, with the vegetables being the star. Easily one of my favourite places in the city

Every experience here has been nothing short of amazing! Great atmosphere, amazing food and very caring staff members. 11/10, highly recommend always.

Food was great. Only thing holding it back from 5 stars was a bit pricy for the portion sizes. Would go back again!

Honestly we were going to try this restaurant it has a nice vibe but as soon as we sat down and saw the menu and the food portions we skurried back out the same way we came in. The dishes on the menu are a bit pretentious they dont have any normal dishes for if you dont feel like trying something adventurous, and the price is pretty high (and based on what other people were served the portions were small). The Wren right next door on the other hand is amazing.

This was definitely a happy find. We decided to see if they had some walk-in availability on a Saturday, which they just did. Lucky us. Place has an interesting menu with a mix of influences, from Spanish to French, and from Lebanese to Filipino. Food experience was great. We got a mix of small starters: chips, bread, and mushroom escabeche. The mushrooms in particular were delightful and the sauce was an even better way to use the bread than the butter. While the focus is on sharing, we both decided to go for the Adobo carrots. Again, a lovely mix of flavours. Would definitely recommend. Maybe a bit less parsley. I also wonder if replacing some of the carrots with tempeh would work, just so the vegetarians among us get some protein on their meal. Portions are reasonable given the prices. Dessert in fact was pretty large and the pavlova was huge... The wine menu is excellent, with a wide range of prices. It does start maybe a bit on the more expensive side, a bottle will easily cost the same as a starter, main, and dessert. Service was great. Got some good recommendations, everything was done timely despite a full house. Only downside might be the acoustics: its pretty loud in terms of conversation, so difficult for people who are hard of hearing.

Fantastic food, service and atmosphere. A gem of a restaurant.

Great ambience and fantastic food. Love the scallop crudo and green curry snapper.

A gem of the east end. Incredible specials, fantastic wine list, the interior is stunning. If you can land the booth at the back you can feel like a hip mob boss over looking their feifdom 10/10 would recommend.

A gem! Everything was delicious. Can t go wrong with Wood Owl, a favourite in the neighbourhood for me.

Great neighbourhood resto.

Brilliant experience at wood owl, food was amazing, fresh and reasonably priced. Great wine selection.

The kitchen closes early for food, last call 9:45

Lovely service! Delicious food! Great wine selection. They take reservations and have both indoor and outdoor seating. Id say comfortably parties 1-4, possibly more. Smart casual attire/atmosphere. Street parking - Danforth, side streets, or a couple Green Ps around. We started with the bread and whipped butter. never a bad choice. And then this other table got these okra bhajis that we saw and just had to have! They have nightly specials too. for our mains, we both got the seared hanger, béarnaise and frites (see Instagram for 22 Aug 2023 or within my attached photos with this review). Of course finished with a cheese plate for dessert with fresh honeycomb. All highly recommended. Their menu rotates which ensures fresh ingredients. Dont necessarily trust the selection thats available on old photos posted in reviews online, but do trust that it will all be delicious.

Had a wonderful dinner here. Smoked trout dip is amazing, steak tartar also terrific, had the steak frites and it was also great.

Wonderful meal with friends. Had the olives, chicken liver mousse, braised beef and several other delicious items. Everything was a complete hit. The cocktails were also a delight. I will definitely go again.

Great spot and family friendly! Party of four including my friend s toddler had fantastic food and the wine selection is great (I believe they started out as a wine shop next door). The meat was tender and the vegetable dishes were dressed up flavourfully. The interiors are cozy and the staff are so lovely. Would easily go again! I particularly liked the adobo carrots and the liver mousse with challah but all the dishes were tasty!

What a little gem this place is. Small and cozy, with lovely warm-toned woodwork and comfy seating, and classic rock and pop wafting through the speakers to set the tone. The menu is brief and focused, with an offering of sharing plates to suit both timid and more willing palates. Service is casual and friendly, but still very professional. Looking forward to returning.

If you are not ordering the whole menu the swevice is horrendous. Food is below average shareable

Great spot on The Danforth. Best tartare I ve ever had.

One of the best little restaurants I ve been to in a long time! Very cute vintage atmosphere and perfect for a date. We got: Beef tartare - amazing! Such a good tartare, tons of flavour from the egg and green stuff (chives?) on top. The bread was perfectly buttered, crispy and toasted. Went so well with the soft rich tartare. Smoked mussels - my favourite dish of the night, the smoked mussels and dill were such a good pairing, lots of crunch from the cucumbers and chips. I could eat this every day! So flavourful but also feels very light. Short rib - the ribs were extremely tender but I think the veggies and sauce was a little too salty. It was good but a little less salt overall would help a lot. Lemon meringue pie - great finish to the night, not too sweet and just a little tart. They also have port wine by the glass which I find rare in the Toronto wine scene. Parking: Street parking on the side streets nearby

Cool vibe, good food. Came here for dinner and got a bunch of stuff, with the standouts being: - Shortrib: Smoked perfectly, cooked tenderly. Kimchi gave it a nice pop. - Bread and Whipped Butter: Not joking. That butter is memorable. - Chocolate Cake: Soft and smooth. Theres a citrusy dash to it which, along with the hazelnut and coffee brittle, is a great contrast to the sweetness. Service was excellent, place was narrow but well laid out, atmosphere was casual and welcoming. I get why so many people like this place.

Lovely food. Service was professional. Had the Steak tartar and the short rib. Both excellent and recommended. Good wine list. Busy place, so best to get reservation.

Recommended by a local, regular customer, we were not disappointed. Every course was delicious - especially the scallops. Impressive and unique wine selections. Will definitely be back.

This restaurant was cosy and cute right beside The Wren. We had a reso on a Wed night at 8:30pm and it was packed. The service was really good. Our Server was charismatic and genuine who was attentive without being intrusive. We were the last table yet they never rushed us but tastefully shared that they close at 11pm. The food was hearty and rustic. Menu is not big but each item was thoughtfully prepared. Surprisingly my favorite was the smoked trout dip with crispy chips. The Vieux Carré cocktail was also tasty. A great neighbourhood gem that s well priced for its location especially compared to all the inflated prices dining out downtown.

Fantastic service and delicious food.

Incredible experience. Beyond expectations. International flavours from France, Punjab, Mexico cleverly combine and complement with every mouthful. Okra bhaji was amazing. Steak tartare classic in every sense. Scallops with passion fruit legendary. Trout dip joyous. And so pretty. Mains as varied as starters. Steak Diane. Beautiful. The Mexican influenced carrots stunning. I ve never said that about a carrot before. Eggplant and squash sublime. Rounded off with chocolate cake, crème fraiche and coffee brittle plate that glided down like the Owl the restaurant is name after. The team still smiling. And the best wine choice I ve seen for ages in a neighbourhood destination. The ambience and service is relaxing and wonderfully executed and I was left wondering how this unassuming restaurant isn t more on the radar. And as you leave you see a plaque discreetly on the shelf, Michelin . Like a proud fiancée that never flashes her glitzy ring. The food in this place is the perfect marriage of so many flavours and I can t wait to be dancing down its culinary aisle some time very soon.

My first visit to the Wood Owl was long overdue but a Tuesday visit for the Steak Frites, Beef Cheek, Adobo Carrots and more was a treat! Im a fan of sharable players and when theyre as carefully crafted as we had at the Wood Owl, its a delight. Wonderful dinner with great service

One of my favourite restaurants in the city! A great wine list and delicious seasonal menu which changes up often so it s fun to try something new every time. You can share plates or get your own main. If they have the mussels and sourdough when you go, get that. The servers are amazing and super knowledgeable about both the wine and food. I d say it s a good date place.

The food and atmosphere were incredible and something I looked forward to, but I was so disappointed with the service. Pass, at least on weekends, if you want to savour your wine/food/company. Partway through the meal, the server made clear that we needed to leave within 2 hours. Naive me thought this was enforced if there werent other open tables (it looked like it) or spending stopped (it didnt).The red wine was poured before we finished the sparkling. Dessert wasnt an option or offered. A ~$300 meal for two people felt transactional and rushed.

Interesting dishes, great service, price is okay.

Best restaurant in the Upper Beaches!

What can I say... perfect....

Amazing dishes from appetizers to mains. Dishes were best had via sharing. Staff were fantastic at offering drink pairing advice. Only downside was they do not have any coffee, post dinner drink options.

Loved it. Tks to the staff and chef.

Such a great addition to the neighborhood! I feel lucky to have such a great restaurant near by. Pricier than other places but lovely staff and small plates we tried were delicious and had something unique to offer. Good wine selection but could have a few more by the glass, maybe they will in the future. Reminded us of French bistros and Vin Papillon in Montreal.

Nicely together meal for two to go was a wonderful staycation meal. Very easy instructions and the perfectly timed. highly recommend.

good food, good wine list.

We were there for dinner to be honest I don t know what to say about the place other than it s pricey 90% of the crowd are ladies. It s a good addition to the neighbourhood, the Wren is much better which is the same owner s place.

Waited almost 2 hours to get a table. Constant follow ups with the host and we kept being told we were next. So patiently we waited with the hopes of being seated. At 9:50pm we were informed that there was a table ahead of us. We were told this 2 times throughout the course of the night. Unfortunately they were waiting on the table to confirm if they were showing. 10 mins later, we were told again they re still waiting, as we are standing outside like chumps with the hopes of being seated. We were shown a menu and told kitchen closes at 10pm (it s 9:50pm) and that we weren t going to have a guarantee to have a table since they are still waiting on the other table to confirm. What a way to waste one s time. If you know the kitchen closed at 10pm you should ve informed us of that earlier, instead of having us as a backup plan if your next table wouldn t show. Very unfortunate as I came all the way from the west end and wasted 2 hours of my time. If you show up to this establishment I recommend the following: 1) show up right at opening time 2) do not believe the wait time you will be told 3) have a backup plan 4) bring snacks and maybe a folding chair - it s like waiting on a ticket presale. Unfortunately I didn t try the food, so cannot attest to that. What I can attest to is the absolute lack of regard for one s time and complete lack of customer service.

Incredible dinner and wonderful local spot. Food, service and wine all top notch. Ill be going back

Beautiful restaurant with an inventive, well throughout menu! Everything was really well seasoned and delicious! Friendly staff! The only negative is their wine list, too expensive.

Beautiful restaurant with stunning and delicious dishes. Incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff who were great with helping with wine and meal selections. Beautiful place for a night out

Made the mistake of ordering the charcuterie plate, which several slivers of meat presented on a side plate. We had to order a small $6 loaf of bread with an extremely salty slab of butter otherwise youre just eating cold cuts and a couple of tiny pickles. Their least expensive glass is of wine was $15, and the beer comes in small glasses. Nothing about the menu was enjoyable or exciting, they even burnt the chocolate cake. All around poor experience.

Excellent service- staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Food was amazing. Had some carrots that were insanely good. Not sure how one makes incredibly delicious carrots but they did it.

Really enjoyed my experience dining at this restaurant during a recent visit to Toronto. A well curated and diverse wine list, delicious menu options great for sharing and a warm and inviting ambiance made for a great evening catching up with old friends. Highly recommend!

Atmosphere, food, wine, staff- absolutely amazing!

Lovely dining room, delicious food, great wine, and very friendly staff. What more could you want? Highly recommend.

My favourite go-to restaurant when visiting the city. Friendly staff and a cozy environment! The menu is well thought out with food everyone can enjoy. A great addition to the east end!

Excellent food, kind courteous staff and wonderful atmosphere. Will be coming back here on my next trip to Toronto and I ll be recommending it to friends I know who work or live in the City

Absolutely incredible, we ordered everything on the menu. Staff made us feel special and very welcome, the kitchen staff even came out to thank us. Definition of a hidden gem, I can not wait to go back!

I have been here several times and couldnt have enjoyed it more! Atmosphere is cozy. Staff is super friendly. Wine list is wonderfully curated. There are dishes for all occasions; to share or bigger plates for a full meal. Food is absolutely delicious and specials highlight local seasonal produce, a true commitment to fresh and local. Everything is house made and high quality and it shows. Couldnt recommend this place more!

This place is absolutely lovely! Stumbled on this place; wed been planning to eat elsewhere but it was closed so we thought to give it a try since we were in the area. Food was wonderful and beautifully presented. Chocolate cake was so good my friend tried a bite of mine and then ordered a slice for herself.

Awesome. All the reviews on here are true. Friendly staff, great drink menu and food was incredible - way beyond expectations. Will definitely return.

One of the best restaurants weve been to this year. knowledgable staff, great service, really good wine menu and and amazing food. Most importantly reasonable prices. Well definitley be back.

I have two dietary restrictions that are extremely limiting in most situations. They handled them beautifully without sacrificing taste. We had a wonderful experience!

This is the 4th time we ve been there and this place never disappoints. The cozy and layback atmosphere is great. They have a small menu but all the plates, small and large are delicious, full of flavours and well presented. And they rotates some of them so you always have new things to try. Of course, you should come for their wine. What an eclectic choice and great surprises. Finally, the staff is really great, very welcoming and knowledgeable. It can get busy and they don t have too many seating so book it now that you can. What a fantastic addition to the Danforth.

A gem of Toronto. The food, service, and atmosphere was top class. Basically ordered everything from the menu and everything was cooked perfectly and uniquely different.

This place is precious! The place is cozy and welcoming. Bonnie took care of us and made our night one to remember! She suggested a beautiful red wine and now its my new favourite!! Thank you Bonnie, we will be back!

Food is top notch, as is the service. We highly recommend the beef tartare, straciatelle with roasted peach, and wonderful wine pairings. Trust the server recommendations!

Fantastic atmosphere! Great selection of wines and sharing plates. Highly recommend for a small group.

Service was excellent. Ploughmans plate was good, chocolate cake was excellent.

Cool neighborhood spot with good food - if you re willing to wait. Great place to grab a drink with friends or for a casual date night. The wood owl has a small, rotating menu so we didn t know what we were in for when we arrived. The appetizers were nothing to write home about, but wow - we really enjoyed the mains. Great quality of ingredients and flavour! It felt like this restaurant was better suited for happy hour or drinks rather than full blown dinner, which is what we came here for. Table/drink service was fast, but food service was slow. I would return if I m in the area again, and keeping this in mind!

We ordered two mains, an appetizer then the cheese board for our last course and it was perfect. Cute local neighbourhood spot was great for celebrating our anniversary. Cozy feel, warm service, thoughtful wine selection. Food was delicious, well seasoned, with creative and seasonal flavour combinations. Will definitely be back.

Excellent food and atmosphere. Will definitely be back!

My happy place. Warm and welcoming hosts, decor is modern, understated and just oozes good vibes. Always ask for a wine suggestion, they never miss. Veggie options are usually my favourite, a very creative focused menu of exquisite dishes executed to a high standard playing on different textures and freshness. Just wonderful.

Glad we made this charming discovery. Very warm welcome and nice little cozy place! A great selection of wines and delicious nibbles.

Went in for some late night snacks and drinks. Wow they have really nice ambiance of retro style Ossington strip vibe. Since we ordered cheese plate, it would be a right choice to go with wine but we were very curious about some cocktail choices. Both Spanish Fizz & Sazerac were delicious. Raw goat cheese ( Treizeme Apotre from QC on the cheese plate was fantastic. When dipped in honey, it was like I was in heaven. Rosemary crackers were also soooo good, we had to order extra. Staff kept coming back to our table to make sure we got everything we needed. Would recommended this place for great wine sipping, cocktails, small plate food for a date night or girls night out.

The wine list is great, the food might be even better. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

Ok. Shut up. They offer you a candle at an overturned milk crate for two in the back alley, you say yes please and hold the back talk, because you ve just scored.

First time here for dinner after hearing about the great feedback. First off the atmosphere was so warm and inviting, and the staff are incredibly helpful and friendly. Our server matched wine to our liking and it was by far the best wines weve had in a longtime. The food was incredible! You could tell each dish was made with precision. The leek gouda arancini....would return just for those. Definitely make a reservation as it got full very fast. Highly recommend and would return!

Very small plates. We had the squash and carrot plate. $23 each? Room and bar was amazing and service was attentive and very friendly. 18% started at 18%. We were starving, had to hit A&W on way home. Other places have as a good a vibe and better food. Go to Allens near Plater Blvd.

Enjoyed a lovely dinner at The Wood Owl. Staff was super friendly. Our waiter was so cheerful and excited to talk about wine :) We had the bread and butter (delicious), trout dip (yummy), squash ricotta salad (good), beef cheek (delicious). Was a bit pricey but would definitely return sometime. Great service and food. Thanks for a nice evening.

I celebrated my birthday at The Wood Owl and it was a lovely experience. The ambiance is warm, the service very attentive without being too much, and the wine and food choices were amazing. The mushroom escabeche, shrimp aguachile, steak tartare and mascarpone dessert were standouts. Will definitely go back!

Had been wanting to come for many months and it was worth the wait. Wow what a great wine bar that is so intimate, cozy and has wonderful food and service. We started with the bread and butter (chive and garlic), smoked trout dip and ricotta and roasted butternut squash. All were incredible and had unique and wonderful flavours. For the main we shared the braised beef cheek which had wonderful crispy potatoes too. So delicious. We also had the roasted carrots. Everything was a hit and this is definitely a place we will return to. Wonderful service too. Definitely a great night out in Toronto.

Looking for a great new spot to check out? We had dinner last night at The Wood Owl, brought to us by The Wren, and right next to it on the Danforth. Just opened, they are a wine bar with sharing plates, appetizers and a few entrees, and I can tell you, everything we had was really, really, really good! Pictured are the Rockfish Crudo, Chicken Liver Mousse with challah, olives and the ZaAtar Eggplant Frites. There are a few cocktails, and several wines available by the glass, plus a long list of wine bottles. No reservations, indoor dining only, and they are leaving lots of distance between guests. We cannot wait to return! Support Local <3

We have been wanting to try The Wood Owl since it opened and finally made it. What a treat. Lovely wine selection. Delicious, flavourful and delightful food. We will return.

I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at The Wood Owl - the ambience is great, fantastic wine selection and the food was excellent. Service was great too, gave wine recommendations and came to check up on the table quite often. Really welcoming. Already looking forward to coming back!

I usually review places when the food comes and rave about the food. But my bad this evening, the food was sooooooo good that it didn t even have chance to snap a pic. Shout out to the staff for fitting us in and make this night memorable with our our dear friends. We will be back and next time with the picture of awesome food. Please come try it out and you will love it , like we did!

Dinner w/Friends last Saturday - warm service and incredible food. I cant remember a meal where *every* single item ordered was out-of-the-park. Outstanding.

Ambiance was super cozy and romantic. All the food we ordered was delicious and cant wait to go back to try the rest of the menu.

Gorgeous renovation, great food, kind servers. Its a nice tight menu and everything was great - and we pretty well ordered the whole thing. You should definitely go.

Fantastic experience from start to finish. Service was warm, welcoming and accommodating while being attentive, wish every place was like this! The decor is rather lovely, cozy and with touches of whimsy - the ambiance is created with a warm yellow glow. Now the food was of course the real star, its a concise menu and it does it very very well, think of it as an elevated Wren ( the sister restaurant next door). My favourite was the grilled skirt steak - juicy and tender with the crunch of the pomme allumettes, delicious tarragon sauce and tang of horseradish. This is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and we will definitely return!

Excellent foods and a wide assortment of wines. Sommelier on hand as well.

Warm and inviting ambiance- perfect for a date night or intimate get together with friends. Wine selection was fantastic, really enjoyed the shared plates as well. Will definitely be back, highly recommend

Beautiful little spot. Cozy interior. Perfectly understated. Delicious sharing plates as well as larger dishes. Great wine list. Staff was absolutely lovely. It would be lovely to have a larger by-the-glass selection. But maybe it s a bit limited due to the current capacity restrictions.

The chicken liver mousse and eggplant frites are 10/10. Darryl will make you fall in love with any and every wine as well.

Everything was wonderful

The staff here really knows how to let you just enjoy your night and the food is absolutely delicious.

Love this place! I recently had dinner with a friend and we had such a great experience. Amazing food and wine, great service and the ambiance is wonderful. Highly recommend!

We had a fantastic time here. The staff were amazing, attentive and a pleasure to deal with! The food was also delicious! They do not have many beers on tap,but the wine selection is good. Well be back for sure.

My wife and I have been here several times now and have fallen in love with the atmosphere, the food, and the staff. Every aspect of the whole experience is ideal for a date, or a fun night with friends. Oh, and with Daryls guidance weve enjoyed exceptional wines with every meal!

Phenomenal new spot! The food was delicious, the staff were amazing and the atmosphere was cozy and casual. The wine list was a huge highlight (shoutout to Darryl for the sweet reccos).

Took Uber from downtown $20 , arrived there and no free spots on the waiting list. It was not possible to reserve in advance (they dont accept) or call them to understand the status of the waiting list (no telephone number) ... What is the solution? at the end took another Uber to go back home ($40 in total back and forth), and too late to book another restaurant ..I will never try to come again!

Amazing food and HEPPA air filter. Yay! But noisy and no hot drinks.

Fantastic time. Enjoyed every bite and sip, and the ambience! Excellent wine recommendations. Walk-ins only, so get there early to put your name down. We had a drink next door and went over once we got the text our tables ready :)

Tasty assortment of small plates with the eggplant frites a must order! Food comes out quickly, water is constantly topped up and good dessert wine. The place is walk-in only.

So good! Roasted carrots with ricotta, divine steak and frites (oh my god, the frites!!). Beautiful bottle of sparkling. Wonderful service. Highly recommended.