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Scouring the city for excellent French fare? With no shortage of buzzy French bistros, upscale restaurants, modern fine-dining or casual wine bars -- we’ve rounded up a list of Toronto's best French restaurants. These spots are guaranteed to transport you out of Toronto's bustling nine-to-five, overachieving way-of-life to the quiet alleyways of Paris' Latin Quarter -- where a laissez-faire attitude dominates.
From a croque madame swimming in béchamel to a sizzling hot pan brimming with succulent escargot bathing in warm butter --there’s nothing quite like the tried and true classics of French cuisine. Whether you're hunting down a perfect beef bourguignon or you prefer the surprise in inventive modern French-inspired cooking -- we have you covered with Toronto's best spots for French food.
Alexandra Park
163 Spadina Ave 1st Floor
Aloette
French
Another home-run by Chef Patrick Kriss, Aloette is the casual sister restaurant of Alo, located on the main floor. This narrow French diner is outfitted with benches and a sprawling bar that spans the entire length of the dining room. The room's domed ceiling is reminiscent of the Parisian metro and the space is consistently packed. The restaurant is a contemporary take on French food, with favourites being the Aloette Burger with Beaufort cheese broiled to a golden crust.
Aloette
Alexandra Park
163 Spadina Ave 1st Floor
Another home-run by Chef Patrick Kriss, Aloette is the casual sister restaurant of Alo, located on the main floor. This narrow French diner is outfitted with benches and a sprawling bar that spans the entire length of the dining room. The room's domed ceiling is reminiscent of the Parisian metro and the space is consistently packed. The restaurant is a contemporary take on French food, with favourites being the Aloette Burger with Beaufort cheese broiled to a golden crust.
French
St James Town
592 Sherbourne St
Maison Selby
French
New to Toronto's restaurant scene, Maison Selby takes over the historic Gooderham House and is bringing exciting French food to the neighbourhood. Original accents were preserved in the renovations, from the door knobs to the silverware, but contemporary and colourful embellishments were added. The French Onion Beef Chuck Burger is outstanding.
Maison Selby
St James Town
592 Sherbourne St
New to Toronto's restaurant scene, Maison Selby takes over the historic Gooderham House and is bringing exciting French food to the neighbourhood. Original accents were preserved in the renovations, from the door knobs to the silverware, but contemporary and colourful embellishments were added. The French Onion Beef Chuck Burger is outstanding.
French
Brockton Village
1600 Dundas St W
Le Baratin
French
This eclectic spot on Dundas West offers a wide selection of French staples to share, or come Monday night and be treated to a $25 prix fixe menu.
Le Baratin
Brockton Village
1600 Dundas St W
This eclectic spot on Dundas West offers a wide selection of French staples to share, or come Monday night and be treated to a $25 prix fixe menu.
French
Trinity Bellwoods
130 Ossington Ave
Cote De Boeuf
Steakhouse
Operating as part restaurant, part butcher -- this Ossington spot specializes in all things boeuf. Sit at the butcher's table and choose your preferred cut to have grilled up right on the spot or grab a sandwich on crusty French baguette with creamy Dauphin and French ham.
Cote De Boeuf
Trinity Bellwoods
130 Ossington Ave
Operating as part restaurant, part butcher -- this Ossington spot specializes in all things boeuf. Sit at the butcher's table and choose your preferred cut to have grilled up right on the spot or grab a sandwich on crusty French baguette with creamy Dauphin and French ham.
Steakhouse
East Chinatown
744 Gerrard St E
Batifole
French
Warm and relaxed, this French restaurant boasts itself as having the best French food in chinatown! Located on Gerrard East, Batifole offers classics like cassoulet, pate and frog legs.
Batifole
East Chinatown
744 Gerrard St E
Warm and relaxed, this French restaurant boasts itself as having the best French food in chinatown! Located on Gerrard East, Batifole offers classics like cassoulet, pate and frog legs.
French
Distillery District
35 Tank House Lane
Cluny Bistro
French
The sprawling bistro located in the Distillery District is inspired by France's modern cooking movement and bids farewell to pretentious attitudes that tend to surround French fare. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner -- offerings are expansive and include a wide cheese selection, as well as a raw bar.
Cluny Bistro
Distillery District
35 Tank House Lane
The sprawling bistro located in the Distillery District is inspired by France's modern cooking movement and bids farewell to pretentious attitudes that tend to surround French fare. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner -- offerings are expansive and include a wide cheese selection, as well as a raw bar.
French
Downtown
163 Spadina Ave
Alo
French
Boasting the title of #1 restaurant in Canada, Chef Patrick Kriss' beloved Alo serves a refined and contemporary tasting menu in the elegant dining room located on the second floor -- above the more casual Aloette. Alo's dishes are influenced by a multitude of cuisines but the basic techniques are still rooted in French cooking.
Alo
Downtown
163 Spadina Ave
Boasting the title of #1 restaurant in Canada, Chef Patrick Kriss' beloved Alo serves a refined and contemporary tasting menu in the elegant dining room located on the second floor -- above the more casual Aloette. Alo's dishes are influenced by a multitude of cuisines but the basic techniques are still rooted in French cooking.
French
Queen Street West
492 Queen St W
La Palette
French
This romantic Queen West spot is practically an institution known for its steak frites. Classic French fare is served in this relaxed bistro setting with exposed brick, Parisian decor and vest-adorned servers. The crispy fries with house-made mayo are a must. Just like they do it in France!
La Palette
Queen Street West
492 Queen St W
This romantic Queen West spot is practically an institution known for its steak frites. Classic French fare is served in this relaxed bistro setting with exposed brick, Parisian decor and vest-adorned servers. The crispy fries with house-made mayo are a must. Just like they do it in France!
French
Yorkville
156 Cumberland St
Chabrol
French
Cozy and nondescript, Yorkville's go-to French restaurant is tucked away on Yorkville Avenue (moving to Cumberland come March, 2020). The tiny spot serves upscale French food like Albacore Tuna Nicoise, Imperial Oestra Caviar and fish en papillote.
Chabrol
Yorkville
156 Cumberland St
Cozy and nondescript, Yorkville's go-to French restaurant is tucked away on Yorkville Avenue (moving to Cumberland come March, 2020). The tiny spot serves upscale French food like Albacore Tuna Nicoise, Imperial Oestra Caviar and fish en papillote.
French
Leslieville
1190 Dundas St E
Gare de L'Est
French
A Leslieville outpost, this authentic French brasserie doles out all your favourite French classics, from French onion soup to Trout Amandine.
Gare de L'Est
Leslieville
1190 Dundas St E
A Leslieville outpost, this authentic French brasserie doles out all your favourite French classics, from French onion soup to Trout Amandine.
French
Dundas West
146 Ossington Ave
Paris Paris
Canadian
This extremely popular wine and snack bar on Dundas West extracts influences from various cuisines, hailing itself as a global restaurant. The menu, still, is heavily influenced by French cuisine -- apparent from items like steak tartare, chicken liver mousse and the wide selection of charcuterie. The cool vibe definitely harps back to natural wine bars that are popping up all around Paris -- ones that don't necessarily conform to traditional techniques of French cooking.
Paris Paris
Dundas West
146 Ossington Ave
This extremely popular wine and snack bar on Dundas West extracts influences from various cuisines, hailing itself as a global restaurant. The menu, still, is heavily influenced by French cuisine -- apparent from items like steak tartare, chicken liver mousse and the wide selection of charcuterie. The cool vibe definitely harps back to natural wine bars that are popping up all around Paris -- ones that don't necessarily conform to traditional techniques of French cooking.
Canadian
Trinity-Bellwoods
72 Ossington Ave
Union
Canadian
This laid-back, unpretentious spot on Ossington regards itself as a Canadian bistro with French-inspired dishes. The steak tartare is some of the best in the city and the elk sliders are a must-order.
Union
Trinity-Bellwoods
72 Ossington Ave
This laid-back, unpretentious spot on Ossington regards itself as a Canadian bistro with French-inspired dishes. The steak tartare is some of the best in the city and the elk sliders are a must-order.
Canadian
Fashion District
432 Wellington St W
Le Sélect Bistro
French
This Toronto institution offers traditional French cuisine in a classic Parisian bistro setting -- equipped with tiled floors, poster-studded walls and relaxed rattan chairs. Prided on being one of the most authentic French eateries in the city, the menu consists of offerings like Salade Frisee Lardons and Magret De Canard A L'Orange; as well as pates, terrines and parfaits. Le Select Bistro also houses a wine collection with over 1000 bottles.
Le Sélect Bistro
Fashion District
432 Wellington St W
This Toronto institution offers traditional French cuisine in a classic Parisian bistro setting -- equipped with tiled floors, poster-studded walls and relaxed rattan chairs. Prided on being one of the most authentic French eateries in the city, the menu consists of offerings like Salade Frisee Lardons and Magret De Canard A L'Orange; as well as pates, terrines and parfaits. Le Select Bistro also houses a wine collection with over 1000 bottles.
French
Harbord Village
89 Harbord St
Cafe Cancan
French
This quirky and playful French bistro in Harbord Village offers beloved French classics such as escargot, steak frites, French onion soup and bone marrow. From the team behind Piano Piano, Cafe Cancan brightens up the typical bistro with vibrant pops of colour, a hidden patio in the back and a delicious brunch menu.
Cafe Cancan
Harbord Village
89 Harbord St
This quirky and playful French bistro in Harbord Village offers beloved French classics such as escargot, steak frites, French onion soup and bone marrow. From the team behind Piano Piano, Cafe Cancan brightens up the typical bistro with vibrant pops of colour, a hidden patio in the back and a delicious brunch menu.
French
York Mills
4150 Yonge St
Auberge du Pommier
French
This sophisticated and modern French restaurant is a destination spot in North York for romantic dinners and business lunches alike. Equal parts upscale and elegant, the restaurant was constructed from two woodcutters' cottages that date back to the 1860s. Staple French ingredients like foie gras, confit duck, escargot and tartare are reinvented into contemporary masterpieces by Chef Tim Schulte. Both the tasting menu and the a la carte offerings change seasonally.
Auberge du Pommier
York Mills
4150 Yonge St
This sophisticated and modern French restaurant is a destination spot in North York for romantic dinners and business lunches alike. Equal parts upscale and elegant, the restaurant was constructed from two woodcutters' cottages that date back to the 1860s. Staple French ingredients like foie gras, confit duck, escargot and tartare are reinvented into contemporary masterpieces by Chef Tim Schulte. Both the tasting menu and the a la carte offerings change seasonally.
French
Leslieville
1118 Queen St E
Greta Solomon's Dining Room
French
Greta Solomon is a Lesliville treasure serving up classic French fare in an intimate and charming dining room. The menu features amazing French staples like house-made bread, charcuterie and oysters; as well as more elaborate dishes like butternut squash risotto with smoked walnuts, chilli honey, toasty sage butter and salty cheese.
Greta Solomon's Dining Room
Leslieville
1118 Queen St E
Greta Solomon is a Lesliville treasure serving up classic French fare in an intimate and charming dining room. The menu features amazing French staples like house-made bread, charcuterie and oysters; as well as more elaborate dishes like butternut squash risotto with smoked walnuts, chilli honey, toasty sage butter and salty cheese.
French
Yorkville
60 Yorkville Ave
Cafe Boulud
French
This French brasserie changes the menu seasonally, rotating between a wide selection of dishes in a vintage, colourful and elegant space. The rotisserie chicken is tender and crispy (they’ve also been known to rotisserie a whole pineapple). Cafe Boulud also features various cured meats, terrines and pâtés.
Cafe Boulud
Yorkville
60 Yorkville Ave
This French brasserie changes the menu seasonally, rotating between a wide selection of dishes in a vintage, colourful and elegant space. The rotisserie chicken is tender and crispy (they’ve also been known to rotisserie a whole pineapple). Cafe Boulud also features various cured meats, terrines and pâtés.
French
Trinity-Bellwoods
892 Queen St W
Le Swan
French
What does French cuisine and diner grub have in common? Comfort. Jen Agg does it again with another inventive restaurant sure to wow anyone. The French diner offers bistro classics and American comfort food in an atmosphere filled with cozy booths, art-deco wallpaper and romantic lighting. The Salad Nicoise at Le Swan is a must -- crisp frisee lettuce, blanched green beans, perfectly jammy eggs, house-dried cherry tomatoes and tender albacore tuna. Plus, the steak frites is piled high with herb butter and salty fries.
Le Swan
Trinity-Bellwoods
892 Queen St W
What does French cuisine and diner grub have in common? Comfort. Jen Agg does it again with another inventive restaurant sure to wow anyone. The French diner offers bistro classics and American comfort food in an atmosphere filled with cozy booths, art-deco wallpaper and romantic lighting. The Salad Nicoise at Le Swan is a must -- crisp frisee lettuce, blanched green beans, perfectly jammy eggs, house-dried cherry tomatoes and tender albacore tuna. Plus, the steak frites is piled high with herb butter and salty fries.
French
Trinity Bellwoods
227 Ossington Ave
La Banane
French
This lavish brass, gold and marble accented eatery serves up contemporary French cuisine. Order anything from the raw bar and you won’t be disappointed. Plus, it’s all sustainably sourced seafood. The menu features classic French dishes with modern ingredient twists -- like seabass en croute served with yuzu beurre blanc or seared foie gras with hazelnut and grapefruit.
La Banane
Trinity Bellwoods
227 Ossington Ave
This lavish brass, gold and marble accented eatery serves up contemporary French cuisine. Order anything from the raw bar and you won’t be disappointed. Plus, it’s all sustainably sourced seafood. The menu features classic French dishes with modern ingredient twists -- like seabass en croute served with yuzu beurre blanc or seared foie gras with hazelnut and grapefruit.
French
