Maison Selby

We didn’t have a reservation today, and this place is usually super busy, but luckily we came early and managed to get seats at the bar. The staff were all incredibly friendly and welcoming. We ordered two brunch cocktails—mine was on the sweeter side, while my friend’s had stronger alcohol and mint notes. Both were really refreshing and perfect for the morning. My shakshuka was solid, but my friend’s steak and eggs were honestly the best we’ve ever had. They paired it with these little flatbreads as the carb, so you could wrap the steak in them—it actually felt a bit like eating Chinese dumplings🥟

Alouette Restaurant offers a cozy, intimate environment paired with a carefully selected menu that feels thoughtful and well executed. We especially loved the beef tataki, which was flavorful and well balanced, and the triple cooked fries, perfectly crispy and indulgent. The stuffed olives were a bit too acidic for our taste, but still interesting. The lemon meringue pie is absolutely beautiful and a showstopper visually, though it leaned very sour for us. Overall, a charming spot worth visiting for its atmosphere and standout savory dishes.

I was in Toronto for a short two night stay to attend a concert. First time in Canada and as a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder, this was one of the restaurants on their Exclusive Tables Program so I was excited to try it out. I read some reviews so the quaint location on Spadina Avenue did not surprise me. I had a 4:15PM counter reservation on a Friday afternoon. At that time, there was only 1 party in a booth and I asked if I could sit in a booth and was told I could not because I wouldn’t have enough time to finish my meal before any other parties arrived, no big deal since I was on a solo mission. I took my seat at the counter. The music was loud enough and their playlist was very American, was surprised to hear a lot of New York rap classics and as a Native New Yorker I definitely enjoyed. The bar tender on duty at that time was nice enough, but overall I had this weird feeling, no one did anything overtly to me but I did not feel that warm fuzzy welcoming feeling, I have experienced at other establishments. With the suggestion of the bartender, I chose a drink that he suggested was sweet, I’m definitely into sweet drinks, he suggested the Gong Show. I could not choose between their infamous Aloette Burger or the Aloette Fried Chicken, so I chose both. The chicken was my fav out of the 2. The food was prepared well and came out hot. I enjoyed wrapping the chicken in the fresh lettuce. The burger was juicy and seasoned well. Everything was tasty. My experience was okay, if ever in Toronto again not sure if I’d make this a stop but clearly they’ve received excellent reviews, so maybe I’m a 1 off.