Grace restaurant is an adorable little spot on College Street directly beside our favorite taco haven La Carnita. I arrived just before 6pm and was greeted by the owner Lesle. I snooped around the space and took pictures of their lemon curd yellow walls which are lined with vintage family photos, all connecting to the family’s farm Algoma and Lesle’s grandmother Grace. While slipping my fingers down the menu I stared out the window as the College Street car zoomed by and a couple of women ran along the sidewalk in their heels. The sun was setting across the restaurants patio. The city was hungry and ready to feast.
I was given a quick tour to the second floor by the owner, a space they call “Grace Upstairs.” This fantastic little space is outfitted with a bar that can be booked up for private events such as birthdays, corporate cocktails hours and even wedding receptions (an intimate one mind you). Upstairs can host 30 for a sit down dinner and 60 for a cocktail party. They offer a much lauded BBQ Lobster Boil in the summers every Wednesday which offers cheap eats and drinks. This weekly event features $20 whole lobster, $10 basket of clams, $12 pulled pork sammie with cocktail or beer and $2 corn on the cob.
My guest for the evening was April Wozny, who I have been meaning to take out to dinner for over a year. She heads up the ever so popular Business Womens Special party in Kensington Market and I thought we would have good fun catching up over glass of this and that and a fork full of here and there.
We started off with cocktails, then found ourselves sipping one of the most beautiful soups. Several glasses of wine later paired with perfectly executed plates made me smile up at the full moon. I surveyed the dining room and put my hand on my heart. The space really offers a stunning and romantic interior. We were treated to personal visits by Chef Colin Moises who recently took over the kitchen after working a few years in St. Johns at Atlantica. His food is thoughtful, creatively presented and stays true to the restaurants “Farmhouse in the City,” concept.
I was so pleased with my experience at Grace that I have added it to my Toronto Top Restaurant list. Be sure to plan your own urban culinary escape in the heart of downtown Toronto at Grace’s modern farmhouse.
We enjoyed (* note my favorites):
Bourbon Street Blues *
bourbon muddled with mint, house preserved blueberries, lemonade
Tequila Peach Basil Mash
tequila, charteuse, pureed peaches, basil syrup, lime juice, soda
***
Chilled Cauliflower Soup *
asparagus ribbons, sunflower seeds, edible petals, crispy shallots
Summer Smoked Fish
beets, goat curd, sea asparagus, yuzu, elderberry sap
Lobster Pappardelle *
watercress, mushrooms, parmesan, truffle
Grilled Pork Tenderloin *
herbed spaetzle, fresh corn, baby spinach, tomato tapenade
Lemon Tart
raspberry, candied lemon zest
Ice Cream Cake *
brownie sponge, cookie crumb, frangelico dulce, hazelnut praline, roasted marshmallow
Ontario Peach Panna Cotta
earl gray tea, berries
