Richmond Station

I went here to try their tasting menu along with 7 of my family members. The meal was amazing. The waiter and sommelier were extremely helpful — they even offered a meal alternative for my brother who was allergic to raw carrots without previous notice.
Would definitely recommend for anyone who wants to try a restaurant that is guaranteed to provide both value and taste. Save room though, the deserts are amazing.

An absolutely fantastic meal from start to finish. The chickpea fritters will be salted by the tears of joy flowing unstoppably from my eyes. The sea bream ceviche will make you reconsider life itself. The skate wing with crispy potatoes and asparagus tips is a meal so expertly crafted and subtly complementary that I watched myself eat it from a height of about six feet above my body. Possibly the best meal I have ever eaten in Toronto, and definitely the best cappuccino I’ve ever had at a subway-​themed restaurant.

Main did not come until an hour after we sat down (40 min after our appetizer). When we inquired, the waiter simply said, «oh I didn’t place your order til after you were done your appetizers. If you wanted to have it right away, you should’ve told me!» Table next to us (who started ordering at the same time as us) were already eating desert by the time our main arrived. I assume they informed the waiter of their busy schedule that didn’t include spending forever at a restaurant?
Not sure since when wait staff assumed that people want to stay at a restaurant for 3 hours. Did not want desert. Definitely not coming back.

It all started with me Unilocaling my way to find a nice restaurant to celebrate my good friend’s birthday in style. Oh, what’s that? You take reservations for a party of 7 and we can be seated in private dinning area in front of charcuterie fridge with hanging meats? Count me in!
This place was interesting from the beginning and I’ll recommend booking online for reservations or calling in early for a larger party, ask for the kick-​ass private dining space! Our sever was kind enough to walk us through the entire menu, and introduce some lovely items not featured on the menu. Seeing how we were struggling with our decisions on appetizers, she fixed us up a sampler flight for our group ($ 10 pp). The hamburger was made well, tasted like a extremely flavourful aged steak! The muscovy duck was also good but I’d go with some of the daily items, burger or other favourites. That’s just me because I love Peking duck and any other form of duck will always be second lol.
Don’t forget to order a refreshing cocktail (s) with your meal. We couldn’t resist but to have a few rounds! If you have room, dessert will usually come deconstructed, like you always see in a melodramatic master chef challenge. It’ll push your favourites to new levels, apple crumble with cheddar cheese ice cream!
It was a great experience and we thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We will be back and look forward to the ever-​changing menu!

I came here after being rejected at Pearl Diver (see review), was greeted warmly and immediately seated. The ambiance is simple, elegant and clean. The food was some of the best I had in Toronto. That said, I haven’t had outstanding food in Toronto. It was good, not extraordinary, but tasty.
My only gripe is that the portion sizes are a touch too small, especially for the prices. I had a house salad, skate wing entrée and Nutella ice cream and cheesecake for dessert. The salad was a good size, but the entrée and dessert were small. I was hungry within 3 hours despite paying $ 55 including tip for the food.

At Richmond station we wanted to see if there was a «chef choice «option. The waiter said yes. He said it varies from day to day depending on what the chef thinks is the best on the menu, so we went with that.
I went with friends, group of 6. We had oyster as appetizer, two each. Then came a meat platter. Our favourite was the duck foie gras. One our friend is allergic to seashells so the chef modified and gave her ceviche which she loved. Then we had salad, chef gave us 3 different salad to try and share among us. Then for the main the chef made 3 dishes of lamb and 3 of beef to share. We had a salmon each. Finally we finished with a dessert platter.
We thought the dessert lacked flavouring. Carrot cake had too much of a ginger taste for some reason. Chocolate cake wasn’t strong enough. Other wise it was great.
We re all definitely looking forward to coming back !

The hotel concierge suggested this restaurant as a dinner option, but for whatever reason, initially, this place just wasn’t calling to me. But then, as I was walking around and trying to decide on somewhere to eat for for lunch, I said (to myself) «what the heck» and went in. I’m very glad I did. I got a spot at the counter. After looking at the menu and some consultation with my well-​informed server, I opted for their burger, accompanied by a side pear and pecan salad and a curried soup special (I want to say it was sweet potato – that’s what I get for writing the review a few weeks later).
In any case, everything was delicious. The soup was just what I needed, the burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare, with cheddar cheese and a beet chutney (yum), and the salad was fab in its own right and a superb match for the burger. Service was warm and welcoming, the atmosphere is bustling and pleasant.
In short, Richmond Station isn’t four and a half stars rounded up out of generosity of spirit. At least on this occasion, it’s exactly what Unilocal’s five-​star rating is for. I look forward to dining there again on a future visit to Toronto.

Gorgeous restaurant. It’s one of those places that you can go over and over again and still find the place quite quaint. Came by after work one day and was seated immediately on the bar/​community table which I absolutely adore because you can see what everyone else is ordering and judge the dish from afar.
We got two drinks (old fashioned and gin & tonic — with a refreshing spin) and a few side dishes. This place is good because they have new menus every now and then to keep things fresh but with that being said, not every dish is perfected. I actually came here because I wanted polenta fries but unfortunately it was no longer offered.
I would come back and try other items on their menu and because the atmosphere and servers were so great!

I used to recommend this restaurant to other people. Thanks to my experience last Friday, I don’t think I will anymore. It was a very simple matter, wine was left off of the order and I watched every other table in the section with the same server all receive their drink orders before I did. My server, Molly, was no where to be found. When we were finally able to spot her and catch her attention, her blasé, not waiting for us to ask statement was, «I forgot to enter your order, sorry.» Note, she was not sorry at all, and in fact, seemed fairly dismissive. So is it normal, in the service industry, once there’s been a mistake, that you don’t work to fix it? I’ve worked service for many, many years, and that is just not how it’s done. No drink was forthcoming, and I was then later informed, «the bar’s very busy, so your drink is not ready.»
Ah. I see now, is it my fault that I ordered wine? Wow, how dare I inconvenience you with ordering. How dare I wonder why it’s my fault that the bar is busy. Was it busy when I ordered? How about when you forgot to put the order in? I totally deserved your bad attitude.
Food was good, but I doubt Molly had a hand in that. I won’t be back and I certainly won’t recommend this restaurant anymore.

We saved this restaurant for our fancy dinner out, and it did not disappoint. All the food from start to finish was interesting, unique, and flavorful.
Our server was very efficient and knowledgeable about the menu. When we ordered the charcuterie to start, she asked if we wanted to add cheese to it, since it was just meat. Of course we did (who can eat one without the other?) but you are officially forewarned — that actually made it double the price. I loved that the server who ran the meat and cheese platter out did a complete rundown of everything we would be eating, and gave recommendations for what combined well with other items.
The menu is not large, but there is quite a variety to choose from. I chose the rabbit 2 ways, and that day that meant it would be the shoulder fried, and the loin grilled. I thought the shoulder had more flavor, but the loin was delicious as well. There were quite a few interesting items on my plate, but my other favorites were the crispy potato triangles.
Dessert was fabulous — I had their version of carrot cake. It seemed like a spice cake, served with ice cream and topped with caramel. Delicious. They also offered soy options for their after-​dinner latte, of which I am a big fan.
Richmond Station is a fun restaurant with a pleasing, industrial-​chic atmosphere, and it is definitely worth a night out.

After much searching on Unilocal,Richmond Station came up as one of the more highly-​touted restaurants, with a fairly innovative menu to match. Scored a reservation for a Friday dinner in Toronto, and we were quickly seated in the back section. It definitely seems like there’s a dichotomy of experiences, with the front area for more of an intimate vibe, whereas the back area was where most of the larger groups were sitting, so it was slightly more boisterous. However, being seated in the back area, it wasn’t disruptive at all, and I really enjoyed seeing the open kitchen and the chefs hard at work, churning out the dinner service.
I was a bit intrigued by the bourbon cocktails they had on the menu, one of which included a vanilla-​cherry extract. I usually don’t go for those flavors, but the waitress recommended it and said it wasn’t too sweet, so I went for it. I really wish I hadn’t. The cocktail basically just tasted like a vanilla coke with bourbon, and was way too sweet, even with the assurance that the sweetness would be more subtle. Some people have different palates, so I’m not going to put that on the waitress for her recommendation. Moving on.
As for food, we ended up going for the rabbit liver pâté, the mushroom agnolotti, and the Moscovy duck. I thought the dishes we ordered tasted good, but it just seemed like each dish had one ingredient too many. Perhaps it was just our dish choices, but the little pieces of fried sourdough didn’t really add anything to the mushroom agnolotti. The sweet potatoes with the rhubarb chutney in the duck dish was a little confusing to me, as the sweetness from both components clashed a bit. Also, the sweetness from the chutney in the rabbit liver pâté was just a little too overpowering. So really, maybe back off the chutneys a little bit? That said, the agnolotti had a great earthy taste and texture from the mushrooms, and the duck itself was delicious and cooked to the right temperature and tenderness.
Service was very attentive and friendly, although it was quite strange to be offered bread AFTER our rabbit liver appetizer. That bread might have been more useful to sop up any remaining dregs of the pâté. Oh well. Also, our waitress did forget to tell us about the specials, and we didn’t know they even had specials until after we ordered, so that was a little frustrating. Prices are easily higher for the area, but the portions seem fine, and the menu does have fairly unique offerings, so the value’s not bad.
A solid dining choice in the area. The menu is pretty unique, and the chefs do seem like they’re trying to push the envelope, so that’s definitely appreciated. Not sure if I’d make a return trip if back in Toronto, given the plethora of great restaurants in the area, but I guess I’d recommend the place for a casual date or small get-​together.

My experience at Richmond Station was a solid ⁴⁄₅.
I had the scallop crudo for the appetizer. It was very fresh, thinly cut, and well seasoned, but the portion was TINY.
For the main, I had the rabbit two ways. Really enjoyed this dish, it was crispy on the outside and soooo tender on the inside, and perfectly seasoned.
However, my favourite dish was definitely the dessert. I ordered the acid test, just out of curiosity from the name. The dish was an explosion of various flavours, and I loved the presentation (see photo), so innovative and creative!
The service was pretty mediocre, hence the ⁴⁄₅ rating.

Had high hopes for this place and unlike most, it really didn’t disappoint. From the overall atmosphere to the food/​wine itself it was a great experience.
I got the Caesar salad and Coq Au Vin. Caesar was way different take but I enjoyed the mix of Brussel sprouts and anchovy. The Coq Au Vin was really spot on– great blend of flavor and good sized portion.
Would love to try the chefs table next time but really any seat is a good seat there.

So originally my boyfriend and I were booked to go to the Chase for Winterlicious, but unfortunately the fire alarm went off right after we got seated. How lucky eh? Not knowing when the alarm would stop, we decided to leave and luckily Richmond Station, around the corner, just had an opening for 2 people at the bar. Guess we lucked out here instead considering they are always booked up way in advance :)
Steak Tartar ($ 11)
LOVED THIS! the steak tartar was flavorful, and I love how it was served on a ruffles potato chip! Super tasty.
Cod Cakes ($ 10)
4 pieces of fried cod cakes. I liked how there was a lot of cod meat, not just stuffed with dough. It was fried nice and crispy, and went well with the sauce.
Pork Wellington ($ 27)
I’ve never heard/​had pork wellington before, usually it’s just beef wellington. This dish was on their daily specials menu. it’s a porkloin, wrapped in diced mushroom, wrapped in a piece of cabbage, wrapped in a sausage, and finally wrapped in a puff pastry. The meat was tender, and I loved all 5 layers. Guess I was too greedy thinking they would serve the whole roll — they only serve a chunk from the middle. Under the pork wellington were mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and cabbage as the side.
Pulled Pork Ravioli ($ 25)
There were 6 pieces of Ravioli. The ravioli was stuffed with a lot of pulled pork, which was great but i found the meat not as tender. The ravioli was served in romesco sauce, sauteed kale, lime leeks, parmesan, cilantro, and almonds. I personally thought the taste of the pulled pork meat in the ravioli did not go well with the romesco sauce. But the sauce alone, tasted great with the kale and other side ingredients.
The service was really good — our waitress was amazing, she was very knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, friendly and observant on noticing what we needed.
Apparently they get a lot of locals so they change up their menu quite often. I’ll be sure to come back and try their other menu items :)

I am in love with this place. Food, atmosphere and servers were amazing. Cannot wait to come back.
Service, wait times, dress code
We came during a busy hour on a Saturday night at around 7 pm but only had to wait for about 5 – 10 minutes for a table. The restaurant is beautifully decorated; it’s sort of sophisticated but casual at the same time. Our server was very knowledgeable and knew the menu inside out and gave us great recommendations.
Food
Appetizers:
We had one of their specials that day which was the chicken wings. Highly recommend it if you’re a huge wings fan (which we totally are). It was very flavourful.
Mains:
STN burger
Honestly, it was probably the best burger I’ve ever had. The patty was so juicy and the sauces that accompanied it was pure perfection. I’d say the sauces had a bit of a sweet taste to it which contrasted well with the acidity from the beet chutney. The burger comes with rosemary fries which were also very deeelicious.
Pulled Pork Ravioli
My boyfriend was very satisfied with his selection as well. The ravioli sauce was more on the light side which we love, compared to some that are usually very heavy and creamy. The stuffed pulled pork was great and overall the dish was great.
Dessert:
Honey Poached Pear
A lovely dessert dish. Ice cream and the caramelized poached pear fit perfectly together.

It’s all true. This food is awesome and the ambiance is good… just not that intimate.
I often wonder if a restaurant legitimately earns its stripes as the Best Restaurant in Toronto as deemed so by TripAdvisor, or through some scheme to get more «excellent» reviews. However its clear to see why there are so many great reviews for Richmond Station.
Being in the downtown core at Yonge and Richmond, I expected a more formal business crowd however the restaurant that day was filled with an eclectic mix of styles, ages, genders and groups. The restaurant has two seating levels with a main and upper floor and a large community table on the main floor.
If you’re looking for an intimate dinner for two, I would suggest there are other places that will allow you to sit closer to your mate and with some distance between other guests. However when you’re as popular as Richmond Station, the more seating the better (for the restaurant). So I get why the layout is as it is. They also have a kitchen bar where singles can sit and watch their food being prepared. This is a nice area but the view of the kitchen and the kitchen itself are not that spectacular.
The service is one of the great things about Richmond Station. The wait staff is friendly and they use traditional small notebooks (and not iPads). I also like the fact that our waiter, Steve was forthright with his recommendations with both the great and the not so great.
The food itself is representative of the world class chef Carl Heinrich is. The ingredients are simple and fresh, the preparation is logical and the resulting flavours are wonderful. The Chickpea Fritters were awesome and the rest of our meal, also as great.
I think this is one of the best restaurants for a lunch or dinner with friends or business associates. The community table on the main floor which holds about 24 people would also being a wonderful time for a large group.

Tasting menu review.
I recommend reserving a seat at the «chef’s table»… its basically a long bar table with a view into kitchen. It was a great experience watching the chefs at work.
The tasting menu is great value. It’s $ 65pp, and came with 7 or 8 «courses», 1 of which was a dessert. It wasn’t the best or most creative tasting menu that I’ve had, but I didn’t expect that at this price point. There were a few dishes in particular that we really enjoyed (side stripe shrimp, salmon that was cooked perfectly, and venison to name a few).
I liked the atmosphere as well. It’s fairly casual, which I always appreciate.
We saw a lot of burgers being prepared in the kitchen… I’ll try one of those on my next visit. The duck seemed to be popular too.

Appetizers and desserts are more outstanding than the mains
Recommend: duck confit lettuce wraps. Duck is tender and perfectly cooked. Combined with kimchi the course was very delicious.
Lamb neck croquettes! My favorite dish so far! So refreshing with the tzatziki sauce and tomatoes.
Coconut cream tart (dessert) was awesome. Not too sweet. (If only the portion is larger)
Stn. Burger was okay
Great ambiance!

Richmond station… I have a lot of mixed feelings about this place. I had made reservations in front of the open kitchen. I really enjoyed watching the chefs cook and garnish each dish. I was really excited to order due to the aroma from the food in front of me!
LAMB NECK CROQUETTES (3.5÷5) — The starter was very dissapointing. I felt like I was eating over priced falafels with small pieces of lamb. I would not recommend this dish at all.
RABBIT 2 WAYS (4.5÷5) — The presentation was very colorful and well put together. After being dissapointed by the starter, I did not want to hold any false expectations. My first bite into the rabbit, I felt a sense of relief. It was very moist and cooked to perfection. The garnish were very well put together as they compliment the rabbit very nicely. The flavours were rich and I was very satisfied with the meal.
Daily Special Dessert (⁴⁄₅) — I had ordered the daily special. When the dessert had arrived, the presentation was breathtaking. The dish was very colorful and very well put together. The choices on the palate were well thought of due to the balance between the crunchy and soft textures.
Overall, the experience was enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Das Restaurant liegt ganz unscheinbar und ist von außen kaum zu erkennen. Wenn ich nicht gewusst hätte, dass es dort ist, dann wäre es mir vermutlich gar nicht aufgefallen. Vorweg ein Tipp, unbedingt reservieren! Wenn man Glück hat bekommt man noch einen Platz an einem langen Tisch, wenn nicht, dann muss man wohl ein anderes Mal wiederkommen.
Von innen ist das Restaurant sehr schön und gemütlich eingerichtet. Das Personal ist sehr freundlich und aufmerksam und auch die Speisekarte lässt keine Wünsche offen. Alle Speisen sehen nicht nur sehr schön aus, sie schmecken auch genial gut. Für mich persönlich ist der Station Burger einer der besten Burger, die ich bislang gegessen habe, aber das muss wohl jeder für sich entscheiden. Wenn dann noch etwas Platz ist, sollte man unbedingt eines der kunstvoll angerichteten, köstlichen Desserts probieren. Das lohnt sich auf jeden Fall!
Insgesamt war es ein sehr schöner Abend in einem sehr schönen Restaurant mit tollem Essen und ich werde beim nächsten Besuch auf jeden Fall wieder vorbeikommen.

4.5 stars for my lunch experience.
I had always wanted to try Richmond Station. Thanks to my colleague who suggested a lunch there.
It was so cool to sit in front of the open kitchen overseeing the chefs preparing our food. The space was a bit tight between tables but the service was friendly and very professional. The prix-​fixe lunch menu ($ 21 two courses) might be a bit pricey for my lunch budget but worth the quality and service for sure. Besides, it was a treat from my colleague:-). We paid an extra $ 5 for a dessert each and it was the best I had this recently.
A very satisfying weekday lunch indeed.