Le Swan

 I really have so many reviews to write, I almost feel bad starting with this one... This one is just top-of-mind and I was there recently so... The photos are easily accessible in my photo album--I'm all about convenience. 

This little gem is located in the heart of Toronto, on Queen Street West, directly beside Trinity Bellwoods Park. Le Swan has honestly been on my list of places to try for SO. LONG! (I feel like I say that about every place I try?) I finally got around to coming here and I wish I'd come with someone else so I could have ordered more food... I truly believe everything on this menu would have been absolutely delicious (and from what I've heard, IT IS!) Before we get any deeper into this, I should mention this is a French diner where half of the menu is the "French" version and the other half is the "diner" side. In layman's terms: the menu is split into two and there is a fancy side and a casual side. I decided to order a little from both. I am currently off the sauce so, I'm not drinking alcohol but I did notice they had Topo-Chico which is the best carbonated water, so I ordered one of those. I then asked the waiter for some recommendations based on what the staff like to eat (this typically yields better results than just asking "what's popular". I find the general public actually has poor taste but, I digress...) The waiter gave me a bunch of options and I picked some of the items I wanted to try that he'd recommended. That felt like a weird sentence to write... Obviously I chose things I wanted to try? Either way--let's get into it! 

The items he recommended that I ended up ordering are: the smoked trout rillette, steak tartare & the banana foster dessert. The only thing he did not recommend that I ordered was the chicken fried steak! I'd never had one before and if I've heard anything about Le Swan, it's that their entire menu is amazing so, I figured if I was going to try it for the first time, there's no better place than here & now! 

Smoked Trout Rillette

Close-up: Smoked Trout Rillette

This was honestly such a great dish to start with. Not overly salty or fishy, nice and smoky and light, the caviar on top was a nice added touch and I'm a sucker for dill. I could have eaten this straight out of a bowl. Delicious. 

Steak Tartare

I really enjoy steak tartare and generally order it wherever I go (on the tireless pursuit for the best). This one did not disappoint! Great flavour, plenty of green onion (which I love), good 'ol yolky yolk on top and, for once, enough crostini for the amount of tartare provided! First time for everything, hey? 

Chicken Fried Steak

Closer: Chicken Fried Steak

This was honestly a work of art. Which is wild to say about a piece of steak thats literally been deep-fried. When this came out, I had this sense of "warm & fuzzy" and almost "homey" vibes. My family has never made this a day in our lives but for some reason this immediately made me feel cozy inside. Perfectly crunchy, salty, well cooked steak. This was honestly everything I imagined it would be and more. Potatoes were silky smooth and the gravy wasn't overly salty and didn't take away from the dish; it was flavourful but light--it was a nice accompaniment. 

Banana Foster

Close-up: Banana Foster

These photos do not do this dessert justice!! Honestly, the caramelization on the bananas was GORGIE! It was sooo aesthetically pleasing, wow. I think I took 100 photos of friggen bananas (and alas only two of them turned out moderately well.) Not only was this dessert stunning but it was DELICIOUS. Sauce wasn't too sweet but complimented the ice cream and bananas so well. Divine. 

Front waiting area - Le Swan

Bar view from where I was seated

I should also mention, not only is the food unreal but it's so cute inside! Above are two snapshots of some of the vibes inside! French diner themed, super kitschy decor, nice glassware, wood accents, and of course, sprinkled with various swan decor! It's a cozy spot and it was JAM-PACKED when I arrived, I'd absolutely recommend making a reservation here! I came here solo and the entire restaurant was occupied except for ONE lonely seat at the bar (score for me!) I was sat immediately but I did watch them turn away half a dozen people without reso's! Don't screw yourself! Book ahead! Trust me, it's absolutely worth it! 

In conclusion I'd say: 

1) Definitely make a reservation here 

2) Come with more people so you can try all the items! The menu really isn't that large.

3) Come hungry! 

Super cute spot for a date-night or some drinks with friends! Really versatile menu and space--could be fancy, could be casual! You could bring just about anyone here for a night out dinner/drinks and I'll bet you'd wow them with this spot! Don't sleep on it! Le Swan is absolutely worth the hype! I'm already looking forward to when I can go back (because you bet I will be back!!)