Quince

Cozy well-​settled restaurant with very prompt service. Ambiance was perfect for our casual party however, the menu options were seemingly bland in contrast to the busy and upbeat environment. The dessert variety however was elaborate and simply perfect.

Bitterballen cravings? Quince will satisfy them. It’s a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.

Great service at Quince. Loved the food they served at summerlicious and I highly recommend this place:)

I recently came here with a group of colleagues for a private dinner, and overall it left more to be desired. The wait staff were very polite and attentive; however, the food was just adequate. While the remainder of the restaurant was empty for the majority of the night, we were in the basement for the dinner. The setup was unusual in that many of the guests were left with obstructed views of the presenter.
We were served appetizers consisting of bruschetta and satay dishes which were actually quite good. For the appetizer, we had a choice of a potato and parmesan soup or a salad. The salad, although being quite large for a serving size, was quite bitter. For the entrée portion, we had the choice between gnocchi, a salmon dish or chicken breast. My colleagues commented that the gnocchi was quite good, although the accompanying brisket was overdone. My salmon was well done, however the accompanying peas and potatoes left more to be desired.
Many of us asked for dessert to go, as the night was getting quite late. The brownie was quite dry for both the dine-​in and take-​out options.
I have to say that a highlight of the night was the Stratus Cabernet wine that was served.
Overall, this was an average dining experience, but lacked the ‘Mediterranean’ dining experience that was expected.

Checked in today for a little winterlicious dinner with my cousin and aunt. It was pretty good :) t loved the octopus terrine with the miso coleslaw. The coleslaw was just the right acidity, especially well paired with the octopus. Definitely started off well! I then orders the duck confit for my main and I think it was good but could have been better :) it was a good serving sizes and I love the vegetables they paired with it. I’d say go for the fish instead though. My cousin had the mackerel which was very good!
The highlight of my trip was the dessert. I had their butterscotch banana budino toffee crunch. It was so so so good! :) not too sweet and the banana flavor really came through. Not overwhelming but still extremely satisfying. :)
The place was uniquely decorated. It was simple and the large mirrors make it seem more open and spacious than it really is. Very rustic feeling without making you feel out of place.
Service was excellent and fast. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. :) reading the other reviews, it seems to be a hit and miss, I’d say I definitely got a hit. :)
The only note is that you should be careful at the door. It’s winter for my visit and the mats don’t help you get up that little slope at the door. It’s quite slippery!

We went to Quince for the first time last year during Winterlicious 2014. We selected from their prix fixe dinner menu. Appetizers: chicken liver pâté with mango chutney; butternut squash soup. Entrée: wild boar ragout; beef brisket with mashed potatoes. Dessert: pumpkin almond torta; boutique selection of cheese. Overall, the dishes were tasty — highlights included the pâté, brisket, and torta. The portions are also very well sized — you leave feeling satisfied. The servers are also very friendly, and the ambiance is perfect for just about any group and any occasion.

We came here on a Friday for Summerlicious dinner. I don’t know if it is the day we went or what, but everyone here seems to be over 40. The interior and place itself is pretty cute.
The food was ok, nothing amazing but good enough.
The octopus carpaccio was nice and tender so that was pretty good.
Some dishes were misses like the grilled swordfish with orange and fennel. The swordfish was overcooked and way to sweet. It was also bland besides the overly sweet flavor.
The grilled skirt steak with broccolini was ok. There wasn’t a nice crust on the steak, but it had a nice flavour and was not overcooked (it’s pretty hard to make skirt steak not flavourful).
Dessert was meh, my husband had some brie and breamster and said it was good. I had a brownie with ice cream and it was ok, the description of the dish on the menu sounded much more decadent than the actual dish which was kind of run of the mill.
The waiter was attentive only while taking orders. We tried to make eye contact with him to get us our check for over 20mins. Every time he walked by, we tried to politely grab his attention in vain.
Overall, too medicore in every aspect to return on my own.

I wish I could give decimal ratings, because I would give Quince something between 3.5 and 3.75 stars.
I was impressed when I first stepped in by the décor and the atmosphere. It was very relaxed, tasteful and current. I was there for Summerlicious 2014 with a large party of 12 and we were all very happy with the menu. Usually, I find Summerlicious menus to be underwhelming and unimaginative. But Quince’s menu was really great! Dinner was $ 35 for a 3 course meal and each course was superb, beginning to end. With drinks, each person’s meal cost about $ 50 with tax and tip, which is more than I would spend on a typical dinner, but it really was yummy food and it was a special night with friends.
I took off 1 star because while the food was great, it was not the best meal I’ve ever had. I like to reserve 5 stars for a simply perfect meal that I dream about afterwards. If possible, I would take off another quarter to half star for less than great service. However, the manager of the restaurant did rectify the situation courteously and promptly, which my friends and I were very impressed with. She was the saving grace that earned this review a full 4 stars.
Overall, I would 100% recommend Quince for a nice meal in that area. Thumbs up and smiles from me!

Went there on a Thursday night — ordered the charcuterie as a starter and their soup of the day. Soup was pureed tomato with fennel oil — intense with flavour but a bit salty. Bread basket was enjoyable with hummus dip. Mains were salmon which was cooked to medium at my request and extremely delicious as a result. My friend got the gnocchi which was also very good. Rapini was well seasoned. Dessert was the best course being the apple tart and the almond cake — the density and texture were perfect. Service was attentive and very accommodating. I would definitely recommend and come back.

I’ve been here twice and been very pleased with my meal both times. The first time I went was during Summerlicious in 2013, three-​course prix fixe lunch for $ 25. Three of us went together, ordered different items and were all satisfied with what we received especially for the price.
My partner and I went out tonight for their regular fare and between the two of us tried:
Chorizo and Crispy Potato (starter, $ 12)
Grilled Pork Loin with brussels sprouts, poached apple, pickled mustard seed and red cabbage purée (entrée, $ 22)
Braised Lamb with wilted kale… and some other nice things, this was obviously my partner’s dish (entrée, $ 25)
Everything was great! The portion of my entrée was a little smaller, but the presentation was particularly beautiful and the combination of flavors was better than I expected when ordering it.
My partner was actually worried about me ordering the pork loin because «red cabbage purée» sounds pretty risky and I’ve been disappointed by strange vegetable purees at other restaurants… but I honestly think that might have been the best part of my plate!
We will be back!

Agh. I did not like the food here.
I really want to give it a higher rating, because the food *looked* good. And even the first few bites of things tasted alright. But everything went steadily downhill from the beginning.
Let me preface this review by saying I went during Winterlicious. And for the record, I’m probably going to avoid future Winterliciouses because of restaurants like this.
Anyhow. First. They forgot to bring us a bread basket.
I had butternut squash soup for an appetizer, which was okay but nothing interesting and no depth of flavour. It may have well came straight from a can.
Then, I had the grilled salmon on a bed of rapini. The portion size was really small. The rapini was nice, but the inner 2/​3rds of the salmon was severely undercooked. And undercooked salmon is disgusting. The outside was nicely charred but the inside was almost cold.
To finish, I had the cheese plate. It was also a verrrrry small portion, and I wasn’t a fan of either of the two cheeses.
My companion seemed to enjoy her food a bit more, but I had a few bites, and her pork loin main tasted underseasoned and her «cookie and cakes» dessert was so boring. It was like 4 small pieces of desserts that look like they came from a Metro grocery store platter.
So no, I definitely won’t be coming back here. It’s a shame too, because the inside of the restaurant looked really nice and cozy. But the food? Nope.

This place is fine but has a few drawbacks so I wouldn’t give it an especially favorable review, especially considering the level of prices.
1. The beer list is awful. The craft brew movement is years old at this point. Any restaurant in this price level should have one or two good craft beers.
2. The space has some nice architectural features but our table wasn’t especially comfortable. It’s crowded without feeling lively, if that makes any sense.
3. Service was up and down. They were personable and helpful, but it took them a long time to get around to asking us to order drinks, and then they vanished for extended periods a few times after that.

I came here recently with about 10 work colleges on a weeknight. We were early so practically had the restaurant to ourselves. The service was particularly attentive but this was likely a factor.
The atmosphere is modern and open yet I found it quite comfortable. The lighting was well considered and made the space very inviting. I had the salmon which was on a base of spiced cream with a potato cake. It was prepared quite rare which I enjoyed although I wasn’t asked how I liked it cooked (if you like it otherwise, it would be a good idea to speak up proactively)\. The steak frites were commented on positively by the group who noted the quality of the meat and that the caliber of its preparation was high. The deserts were particularly well done both in presentation and in taste.
Overall a solid mid-​town choice.

Really great value during Toronto’s winterlicious and summerlicious promotions. Their peanut-​braised beef poutine (regular menu item) was one of the best things I’ve eaten this year. Excellent soups, satisfying mains, and a nice (polished and trendy, yet family-​friendly), casual setting.

I’m a sucker for value, so when I found out I could get a 3-​course meal for $ 25 (thanks to Summerlicious) I was up for trying this bistro.
There are only 2 or 3 tables on their «patio» (i.e. on the sidewalk) so we were stuck inside on this beautiful summer evening. The inside, however, is beautiful. Super tall ceilings, industrial design, reasonably spaced tables despite how narrow the space is. I especially liked the chairs (they look like the Remy chair from Restoration Hardware), but some patrons found them uncomfortable. They have different chairs in different sections of the restaurant, which I thought was creative and interesting.
If you’re doing Summerlicious, it’s imperative to peruse the menu before deciding on your destination. I was sold on Quince the minute I read: Octopus Carpaccio, as an appetizer. I was even able to overlook the fact that it was served with capers (on my questionably short list of «dislikes»). I never even knew this dish existed. It was even better than I expected and impressed that it was an option, considering some of the other options were as mundane as soup or salad.
Choosing from the list of entrées was a challenge for me. I usually prefer the shortened Summerlicious menus because I struggle with meal selection, but Quince offered 5 delicious options. I’m used to a Summerlicious menu only offering 2 or 3 choices, and even then one of them is easily disqualified. I was especially interested in the braised pork shoulder, grilled salmon or pappardelle with veal ragu. However, the chicken or gnocchi options also seemed like good choices. I went with the pork shoulder and my date decided on the salmon. The portion was rather large, especially considering this was for Summerlicious. I found the whole dish on the salty side, but the meat was so tender it fell apart any time I touched it. I stole a bite of the salmon when my date wasn’t looking, and it was also cooked to perfection. The aioli sauce was a nice complement to the fish. I was impressed.
And to top it all off, the $ 25 meal includes a dessert. This was a no-​brainer for me; the obvious choice is the lemon meringue pot au crème with blueberry compote. My date chose the chocolate walnut brownie, based on the waitress’ recommendation. The lemon meringue was a winner!
The high rating is mostly due to the value. For $ 25 the quality and quantity of the food was outstanding. The service was very friendly, but not necessarily attentive. They forgot to give us bread when every other table around us already had their basket and, for some reason, our meals took a while, with no explanation. I would like to try their regular menu some time.

I know, Winterlicious isn’t the best way to experience a restaurant, but the food here was really disappointing. The steak was chewy and had an oddly gamy aftertaste (and when I ordered, the server didn’t ask how I wanted it cooked – fortunately, it came out the way I would have ordered anyway) and the panna cotta tasted like Greek yogurt.
And even worse, it turns out that the same group I went with on Wednesday had visited the restaurant for Summerlicious in 2010 and none of us remembered. (One of my friends said the place looked familiar, but we dismissed it because so many restaurants share that exposed brick, reclaimed wood, large windows aesthetic, but a search of my email when I got home revealed that we had indeed visited previously. Not a good sign.)

I love food! I love to eat! I love different experiences!
Quince’s semi annual Indonesian Rijsttafel ($ 55/​person) that I experienced on September 28^th, 2001 was such a treat!
What is Rijsttafel? I even have problem pronouncing it. It is a Dutch word that literally translates to «rice table», is an elaborate meal adapted by the Dutch from the Indonesian feast called nasi padang.*
Rijsttafels strive to feature an array of not only flavors and colors and degrees of spiciness but also textures, an aspect that is not commonly discussed in Western food. Such textures may include crispy, chewy, slippery, soft, hard, velvety, gelatinous, and runny.*
I was intrigued when I saw the menu. My Unilocal Friend even taken back and asked the waiter if we need to choose from the given menu. Our friendly waiter just asked us to relax, no decisions need to be made as every single item list on the menu would be served to us! That’s what I call a feast!!! A food adventure!
So much food… a steady parade of little dishes were served to us the whole evening. Some are good, Some are so so, Some are meh. But it was the concept, the experience, the atmosphere I enjoyed here at Quince that made this evening memorable.
I was so overdosed with food by the 2^nd round of the rice table, ended up packing enough for lunch for 2 people the next day. And the food surprising tasted even better after I heated it up in the microwave!
Thanks Quince for putting together this special Indonesian Rijsttafel feast! It was such a real culinary adventure!
*Source from Wikipedia (
)

Indonesian Rijsttafel (based review) — September 28^th, 2011
Note: I didn’t have Mediterranian Bistro fare, so please refer to other reviews for Quince’s daily norm. Quince held a rare-​find Indonesian Rijsttafel night in Toronto on September 28^th, 2011. Much appreciation (+0.5 star) for the owner to hold this Special Evening as part of his Dutch Heritage.
I didn’t expect much of the atmosphere but on a night of full patrons the space livened up to it’s Bistro potentials and the design showed it’s eclectic beauty and grace easily matching any styles of Downtown Bistros. As a sidenote, Toronto offers very little in terms of Indonesian food and the ones I’ve had I can’t say I’m a complete fan of. Now on to the Food (think Kaiseki servings) of the night…
On the Menu: Indonesian Rijsttafel ($ 55.00/person)
Sides/​Condiments:
Atjar Tjampour, Seroundeng, Sate Sauce, Sambal Goran Ketang Kering,
Roedjak Manis, Kroepoek Oedang, Sambal Badjak
As noted, some of these really helped to customize flavours on some otherwise bland Mains. Favourite goes to Sambal Badjak (Fried Spiced Sambal Oelek) by a mile.
Mains/​Sharing Plates:
Rempeh, Sate Ajam, Sambal Daging, Udang Rendang,
Sambal Goreng Telor, Sambal Ikan Tomat, Gado Gado,
Rendang Pedang, Babi Pangang, Ajam Pedis, Sambal Goreng Boontjes,
Nasi Goreng, Steamed Rice
Most dishes are not easily recognizable on first sight except for the Sate Ajam. If not for the over-​the-​top friendly service patiently and enthusiasticly explaining each and every single dish to us, it would be a guessing game all night. My Friend already had a huge? mark on her head all day, lets give her a break this night. :P
Mehs: Udang Rendang, Sambal Daging, Rendang Pedang
Interesting: Rempeh, Nasi Goreng, Sambal Goreng Boontjes
Not all the dishes were mindblowing but at least I had a chance to experience and now I know my personal favourites going forward. I was plenty full semi-​belly busting while my Friend packed a good portion home.
This event was definitely worth it’s weight in Sambal.
We even got some Dutch Spekkoek (?) Cake to end our Meal.
Let’s do this again sometime.

A hidden gem for the Yonge and Eg/​Davisville area.
The food is all good. Everything i’ve had there has always blown my mind.
The lunch menu is so cheap for the quality i feel like i’m ripping the place off.
The dinner menu is also great. On their carrpacio, i love the addition of the deep fried capers.
Their dishes aren’t simple — it’s complex components coming together, yet gives you a simple feel to the dish that is not sophisticated — just bloody good.

I came here tonight for Winterlicious 2011 with a few of my friends. I actually never heard of this restaurant before until Winterlicious. We decided to try it out. We made reservations at 6 PM, and we were quickly seated.
Quince was dimly-​lit, a great little romantic feel to it. Our waitress was very friendly and always came by to check on us.
I ordered the following:
HOUSE CURED VEAL CARPACCIO: I wasn’t the biggest fan of it. It was a bit too salty with the capers.
BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER: I was thoroughly impressed by this. The lamb shoulder was soft and tender, and the lamb jus was amazing. Not only this, the carrots were cooked to perfection.
CHILLED ARBORIO RICE PUDDING: The rice pudding was okay — the quince jam definitely gave it more kick and flavour, but it wasn’t the best choice on the menu.
Considering that we had 8 people, we got to try a little bit of everybody’s dishes. For appetizers, I would say that the Traditional Dutch Green Split Pea Soup was the pick. For entrée: the Braised Lamb Shoulder and House Made Gnocchis were the winners. Lastly, dessert: Spiced Pumpkin Pot au Crème.