The Gabardine - Toronto

I struggled to understand the menu. Other reviews called it comfort food, but from a US perspective, the menu doesn't reflect what I would call a comfort focused restaurant. There seemed to be no air conditioning, so really stuffy. The wait staff was very helpful and pointed us to their favs. Food was ok, overpriced though.

I went at 5:30 for supper. The slogan on the window was Fine Grub & Libations. There were 4 people at the bar and no one except me at a table for a meal. Also 3 people behind the bar that were talking. Peculiar for the high volume of people going down Bay Street at that hour for the train. I ordered the $21 bacon cheese burger with Thousand Island dressing, tomato, lettuce and fries. The burger was fine but the fries were over salted. With a coffee the bill with tax came to $28.25. A little on the high priced side.

The menu is quite varied, literally something for everyone, and so many things that I would have liked to try, but I opted for one of the daily specials, mussels, in a Thai-style coconut curry sauce. Delicious, and excellent plump fresh mussels. I also had some of a friend's dessert, made with key lime, and it tasted just perfectly of key lime. Excellent. The room was a bit crowded and therefore a little noisy, and we were close to the kitchen so it was a bit warm, but I still very much recommend this restaurant. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, so you can ask lots of questions and get just the answers you need.

Went there for lunch and returned for dinner the next day. The waitstaff is brutally honest about their menu (one told me she found the chicken pot pie too creamy . . . I ordered it regardless, but she was right) and then had the cod the next evening. Both are well good dishes done with thought and precision. The beers on tap were delicious and they had a nice cocktail list as well

It has the feeling of being a small family owned restaurant. You expect the chef/owner to come out of the kitchen at any moment. The food is good, fresh and certainly plentiful for the cost.