I would say the food was pretty good here but given the interior I would have expected more. I thought the restaurant was beautifully decorated and the live wall was gorgeous, however the food wasn't up to these standards. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, but I would definitely say I wasn't 'wowed'. In addition to this, although our server was very nice, I originally got a glass with a... more

Amazing version of cosmopolitan. We stopped in for a cocktail. It was delicious, and the don't cheap out on the quantity and quality. Well done!

We took over Sassafraz for our rehearsal dinner in August. We were 150 out of towners and everything was perfect. Food was excellent, service was outstanding and location was absolutely perfect. We planned this entire evening from 2000 miles away and the restaurant was so accommodating I highly recommend

We had an absolutely wonderful brunch at Sassafraz this weekend.

First of all, one of the best thing about brunch at Sassafraz is you can actually make a reservation. Most of the popular brunch places in Toronto don't take reservations so this is a major bonus.

Our meal was just perfect. I had the beet & burrata salad and then the avocado toast with a fried egg on top. Both were excellent.... more

came for a wedding and was absurdly impressed. the venue itself is beautiful.. the lighting, chandeliers, exposed brick, wooden floors, tasteful centerpieces.... really beautiful space. the FOOD was phenom. cocktail hour featured lobster, tuna, fried chicken "lollipops", mac and cheese, a beets concoction- all excellent. for dinner, i ordered the salmon over risotto- SO fresh and delicious. my... more

I came to this establishment having way better expectations then I had expereinced. The whole process was underwhelming and pretencuous, I felt like they didn't care that I was there because they were better then me and i should be thankful that I got a seat. Ricki the manager walked around like he owned the place and paid little attention to his surroundings  (more of a clipboard manager)... more

The best French restaurant in town! Sassafraz is a cozy fine dining restaurant in Yorkville, serving your french classics. This was my second visit and I noticed they have removed their tablecloth dining - something many Toronto fine dining restaurants have done in the past years.

My personal favourite is the duck terrine which bursts with flavor. The tartare and salmon were beautifully plated... more

Brunch in Yorkville sounds so fancy. And Sassafraz tried to provide that reputation. The room was impressive with sky light, living wall and "waterfalls". I liked the feeling that I was outside but still within the cooling interior.
I ordered the omelet. It was ok but not wowed at $21. My friend ordered eggs Benedict. Gordon Ramsay definitely would not be impressed with the overcooked eggs.... more

Sassafraz is absolutely amazing! Everything in that place, from the food in the restaurant to the staff are everything you could ever dream of. My husband and I just had our wedding there, and just saying 'Thank You' doesn't even suffice to what these incredible people deserve. When things got difficult, they were there to lend a helping hand. ALL of the staff that helped out were just so kind.... more

A fabulous lunch on a fabulous July day. The service was great, from the moment we approached the sidewalk based concierge.

We ordered from the Summerlicious menu for me, and she had a salad tailored for her vegan tastes. A wonderful bread accompanied the food.

A couple of glasses of Chablis helped complete the experience. The sidewalk traffic on Cumberland St provided entertainment.

All in... more

Came to Sassafraz for Summerlicious a couple days ago. The dinner at $43 is decent value, based on the regular menu prices and the pricey neighbourhood. We started with bread which was good but it took an extremely long time to come to our table. Overall it seemed our server was too busy and a little bit stressed. I had the Caesar salad to start which was fine but too lemony and some of the... more

We came to Sassafraz for summerlicious as group of four. The overall food taste was good, but the service and wait time was HORRIBLE. We arrived at the restaurant around 7pm. After we order it took around 15 mins for the bread to be served and another 5 mins for the appetizers to be served. The food was pretty good, but after they took away our plate we waited for at least 30mins for our main... more

Was at this location today for Summerlicious menu..and this place never disappoints! Amazing Ceaser salad, and the Leek Agnolotti was so flavorful and savoury, I ate every last bit! Great value for price! And so tasty!

Tried the 2018 summerlicious menu, and overall quite content with the meal.

For appetizer, we ordered the beef tartare and the tuna&shrimp ceviche. **Winner: beef tartare.** This was possibly the best beef tartare I've had. I would HIGHLY recommend the beef tartare, which is also found on their regular menu.

For mains, we tried the 6oz tenderloin and the King Cole Duck breast. **Winner: 6oz... more

I've dined here a number of times and it's the location and ambience that sells plus it's history . It's restaurant week so I ordered the special (tuna tartare and the duck which was fine) Only let down was the wine selection was weak and I opted for the cheese platter for dessert which was a total disappointment. Two pieces of cheese that looked identical that has been sitting out for a while... more

Food was great. Service was excellent. Very nice atmosphere with a living plant wall. A classy place and comfortable seating.

I went there for lunch for summerlicious. The restaurant looked nice. My friend was there before us & they didn't know where they seated her, kinda weird. Fresh bread was served first which was great since we were hungry!! I got the cesar salad for appetizer & it was not the typical Cesar salad, it had a vinegarette dressing. For main course I ordered the salmon with soba noodles. My friend & I... more

I went with friends for Summerlicious lunch.

Service was excellent; polished, friendly and attentive.

Bread was served warm and was very good, with nice density and texture. I started my meal with the Beverly Creek Farm Lamb Meatballs; lamb meatballs flavour balanced by the tikka masala, not too gamey or spicy, chèvre yogurt added a pleasant rich creamy touch. The Atlantic Salmon was a nice... more

One of my favourite places in the city. Service is always amazing. Their food is great but portions are small. My favourite is their pasta probably the best one I have had in the city.

This review is for S Cafe, the quint, bar style resto lounge that is situated inside next to Sassafraz restaurant.

For an upscale evening out, this is the perfect place to have a romantic candle lit dinner with great food and on weekends they have their resident pianist playing too.

Every dish we ordered was cooked perfectly and full of flavours.

The place could use some minor renovations... more

We went to Sassafraz for lunch today and it was generally not a great experience. I asked for a bottle of sparkling water and waited 10 minutes for it to arrive. I thought it was a bit flat but when I spoke to the waiter, he said that this type of water was not as fizzy as Perrier and I could have soda water instead. That seemed reasonable but then it took another 10 minutes to get soda water.... more

We came here for a company lunch and they were great with accommodating a larger group (around 10 people). Service was attentive and I was impressed by the decor. The restaurant had been renovated and looks really modern and classy now. I got the Cote D'Or salmon and the chocolate bar for dessert after. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the soba under it complemented it really well. The... more

Two weddings and a dinner, that's what it took for me to finally pen a review for this iconic Yorkville restaurant. The was a dinner many years ago, and while I'm sure none of the menu items (or staff for that matter) are still the same, I do remember it was memorable.

Fast forward to two years ago, we were invited to a friends wedding here and at first when we heard this we were puzzled. How?... more

I didn't find the food to be anything special... I absolutely loved the atmosphere of the restaurant, my friend booked a table right by the manmade water fall they have in doors, it was beautiful!

Good place for a date night. Located at Yorkville, this restaurant has an easygoing atmosphere. Service was attentive...really attentive.

We got two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts. Octopus appetizer was bit chewy/rubbery while the pork belly appetizer had decent brown sugar balance to contrast the protein.

Entrees - I had bone in veal chop. Asked for medium rare and came out... more

A very expensive place to eat very average food. The atmosphere isn't bad, and perhaps it's really the quality of people you are paying to be around. I don't mind when the guy next to me pulls out a $45,000 necklace for his girlfriend. I just gifted my brother the kingdom of Spain.

Every birthday my family takes me here because it's one of my favourites. My only complaint would be that some menu items are extremely overpriced. However if you want melt in your mouth kind of food you get what you pay for.

Sunday Brunch should be special, classy and trendy. That's exactly what brunch at sassafraz entails. The lavish resturant is located in the heart of Yorkville, if you come here around TIFF you'll for sure see celebs dining. The ambience makes you feel like you're not dining in Toronto, rather a upscale resturant where you can forget your worries and pretend to be someone else for a meal. The... more

My fiancé and I came to Sassafraz for our 10 year dating anniversary and couldn't have been happier with the experience.

The location is fantastic and the atmosphere is so welcoming and effortlessly alluring, with the water running down the back wall, big ceiling windows and plants. It made a bitter cold and grey day, seem so much warmer and bright, once inside.

I went with a early... more

I was really excited to try this place. First I want to thank the hostesses for working with me because I did get to my reservation late and called them to tell them my flight pushed us back longer than we thought. They were very accommodating and moved the reservation. I was ready for tapas and Tinis. We got here and it was brunch I
Until 4 which was kind of a bust To me because I really... more

Came here for dinner this week and was excited as Sassafraz has been on our list for a while. We arrived and were seated but it took about 15 minutes of us sitting there before anyone came to our table. We didn't even get water during that time. Finally, someone (a manager I think?) noticed that we were looking around trying to locate someone and she came by to get us started. The service the... more

Hi and, a special thank you to the staff for what they did for me in terms of how much I learned and, what I can apply to my next job. I am glad that the staff were nice, and, also I focused on their kindness. The management were great and, might I add nice to be thought of so much, have a Happy Valentines guys!!.

nice ambient, liked the waterfall/green space at the back, makes it a nice place to have brunch in the winter.

Food is so so, the winterlicious/summerlicious menu are good value, but i would probably not go for regular priced menu.

We went to this restaurant for Winterlicious on a weekday night. We had a reservation and were promptly seated once in their main dining room.

I had the duck pate for appetizer, veal chops with barley risotto for main and the cherry cheesecake with chocolate ganuche for dessert. My boyfriend had escargots with bacon for appetizer, duck breast for main and chocolate cake with barley ice cream... more

I went here for Winterlicious. Ordered a chicken dish which was very well cooked. Appetizer included escargot in a bacon cream sauce. Desert was a cherry cheesecake. Aside from the main dish, appetizer was ok, and desert was nothing out of the ordinary, but tasty. Service was excellent. I did find a small hair in the butter that came with the starter bread, but the waiter was very apologetic... more

I was here on Tuesday for winterlious dinner and celebrating a friend's birthday. The food is 3 star in average, but service is bad and disappointing.

I tried the duck pate, duck breast and cheese board to go with a prosecco. The best out of them is the duck breast. Duck pate is good, but it's a lot of pate for 3 pieces of bread, they should provide a proportional amount. Cheese board was... more

I went there with my husband for supper with a Groupon three-course coupon for two. We were seated very close to a door which opens to some place, (kitchen I guess), on the way of the servers. I was not happy with it at all, and the whole time, I felt uncomfortable. I'm not sure if it had any thing to do with the fact that we were Groupon customers.
Our server was very nice though, greeting us... more

My partner and I came here last night for my birthday celebration. It was a lovely night.

First off, I mixed up the reservation date but they graciously re-arranged their seating plan and put up by a table near the windows. It looked pretty busy on a Saturday night, good thing we arrived by 6pm or else we probably would be out of luck without a reservation.

We used the groupon 3 course menu... more

My boyfriend took me here on my birthday! The location and and exterior of the restaurant is so chic and cute! Even though it was freezing outside, I felt all warm and giddy walking up to the restaurant. The inside is even more appealing! The decor is so cozy and elegant. The dining area is very spacious and glamorous. We loved everything about the atmosphere. Our servers were on top of... more

This should be a 0 star review.

We came here tonight after purchasing a Groupon last week for a 3 course meal, which we were really excited to try. I've been here before for lunch on the patio, and thought it was a great value.

This time was very different from my non-groupon experience.

We were seated in a lovely table in the cafe by the window and given the Groupon menus, which actually... more

Came here for two 3 course dinners. I tried the brown sugar pulled pork belly, pan seared digby scallops, and their cheesecake. The pork belly was mostly a bed of lentils and the scallops were a bit too salty. You can never go wrong with cheesecake though!

The service was good as they weren't pushy or over the top, food was served relatively quickly, but it took a while for them to give us the... more

I found the shrimp and tuna ceviche to be very weird. First off it was full of walnuts, pine nuts and chic peas. Secondly it was way under seasoned. No lemon, no salt, no spice and no cilantro. It should be called shrimp and tuna salad. It was in no way, a ceviche. The fish tacos were tasty. I found the braised octopus to be flavourless. And the dessert of caramel creme brûlée, was underdone... more

Four reasons why this place was a disappointment.#1. I think Sassafraz is overly hyped. It used to be a place where celebrities would hang out, but that was years ago (before the fire) and they just don't come here much any more.#2. The decor was par, but I have seen better in a hotel lobby. This place was nothing special.#3. The food was okay, not fantastic... and combined with being over... more

One of my old time favorites when I visit home...I have been going to this place forever...used to be the Belair Cafe....my hamburger was delicious...however, the service was not so great :(

This was my first time there, as i was celebrating my birthday, and the atmosphere was incredibly beautiful. The hostess was good and the server was the best I have had in years. The server and cook made quick and easy substitutions for my meal as i do not eat meat and it was done with ease and finesse. The food was good, just different then I have had before and I enjoyed that. Dessert -... more

Their food is not as good as before, but i still like the ambience of the restaurant. I take my friends from other cities when they come visit me.

Popular brunch spot and Toronto's posh Yorkville neighbourhood. Decor is classy, and the atmosphere feels very fresh once you get inside. My friend and I arrived at the peak of Saturday brunch time, so there weren't any tables available. We were sat at the bar, which was fine.

We shared a Toasted French Baguette with truffle butter and mixed mushrooms, and an Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon.... more

Sassafraz came highly recommended to us and we traveled a long way, hoping to enjoy a romantic evening. The food was fantastic forever the service was extremely poor. This rating is only getting two stars because of the service. The meal was quite expensive and the fact that our waiter treated us so poorly really put a damper on the evening. My hope is that management takes note of this post... more

My favourite restaurant in Yorkville. They have the best burgers ever and the service is always good.

Sassafraz is a French restaurant located in Yorkville. It has a sophisticated atmosphere. The Victorian exterior is a nice contrast to the modern interior. As you would expect, the service is top notch.

The menu is safe but well done. I had the soup, duck and dessert. All of the courses were excellent. However, I would recommend the duck if you have never been to Sassafraz as the duck is a... more

I had recently some friends visiting me and I wanted to try some new restaurants that I have visited before, through Yelp got highest rating ones and Sassafraz was the one last weeks to visit.
Nice looking restaurant located in the heart of Yorkville area in Toronto
Food was nice, service was good, ambiance was classy and relaxing
over all... more

We celebrated our 17th anniversary of meeting at Sassafraz this past weekend. The service over lunch couldn't have been more attentive or professional. Thank you to everyone at Sassafraz for another memorable celebration- we look forwad to having dinner with you in a few weeks!

I go to Sassafraz every time I go on a trip to Toronto - and I always have a great experience! Since my family goes so often, the staff is very friendly and always offers good suggestions on new things we should try.
The menu changes often which is great to try new things - but if the Bell Pepper... more

Our celebratory lunch was incredible! Laurel was so warm and welcoming and every recommendation was absolutely perfect! Your steak tartare is better than Scaramouches and the atmosphere so wonderful. Thank you for the perfect meal to end 2014!

This place was superb. The food was so great. Service was just as good. Nestled in a perfect spot. We really enjoyed everything here. A little pricey but defiantly for occasions we wouldn't think twice about spending it. If you are around this area, you must try this place out. Thank you for a great experience.

We had a great lunch today at Sassafraz in Toronto. The fodd was great but the service was excellent. Laurel was our server and she was great without being pushy. I would suggest this restaurant to anyone looking for a special lunch. It was not inexpensive.

We've only eaten here once but you can sense they know what they are doing. The historic yellow building in the best boutique shopping area is quaint yet sophisticated. Hostess, manager James ans server Gio were fabulous as they smiled and greeted us through the meal. The food was straightforward but used some great local ingredients as well some exotics.... more

Don't ever buy a Groupon for this place. I did last year and deeply regretted it. We were treated like second class citizens, we were not shown a wine list or ever asked if we would like a beverage. They just assumed that we were cheap since we bought a deal. We are not. I have worked in the service... more

If you are looking for a special place for dinner with excellent food and special ambiance in the center of Toronto , this is the place.

What a pleasant surprise this was on a cold Toronto evening! On a whim we ventured out to seek a reasonable meal after weeks of hotel fare, and stumbled on Sassafraz. At the outside it looks like fine dining, candle lit tables, beautiful women in evening gowns and men with black ties. Somewhat nervously we perused the menu and it... more

Great food, perfect location, couches that are comfy. Wonderful bar we have been there many times!!!

Wonderful light dinner with the wife. Server, Courtney was delightful and made excellent recommendations.
Pricey place but lots of fun
Seared Flank steak was perfect. Wife got her standard oysters.
Great crusty bread
Cosmo to die for.

Visited the upscale Yorkville of Toronto and decided to walk in for lunch. The restaurant has a very nice modern and minimal ambience. The service is excellent; attentive and courteous. The food did not impress everyone but was overall very good. The deconstructed Spanacopita, the tartar stake and salad were great. The ginger-flavored gnocchi produced mixed feelings and is not... more

Unique menu that pleased all 8 of us. Our server was attentive, funny and took care of all all special requests. Food was delicious! Looking forward to returning for dinner on another day.

On my my first visit to Toronto in many years..my cousin took me downtown to Sassafraz. They only do the brunch menu at the weekend so I had the grilled cheese sandwich (4 cheeses) with pulled pork and my cousin had the charcuterie platter, washed down with a couple of Caesars. The food was delicious, the service friendly and efficient... more

My husband and I just had lunch here. Very chic setting with reasonable prices. Easy to find since it is in a yellow house. Our server was Jennifer Switzer who was wonderful, informative and cheery. I had Scottish salmon and husband had scallops. Both entrees were delicious-restaurant even knew how to cook my fish rare-an oddity! The Chablis by the... more

We attending a wedding held at Sassafraz and it was wonderful. It was a small wedding (60 people) The restaurant had set up an area to hold the service and it was remarkable. After the service ,the chairs were quickly moved and tables were set-up for apps. while the guests were in the bar area for drinks. There was no... more

We had a business meal for an approximate number of people, because travel plans kept adjusting.
The service staff were excellent in helping us, in fact they offered to keep the kitchen open for one of our colleagues, who ended up not attending because he was too late.
The meal that we all had was excellent and the service was... more

In a very smart part of town (Yorkville), we had pre-dinner drinks in the cafe/bar attached and then an excellent meal. Would not suggest for small children but my 13 year old son had lots to choose from. Nice ambience. Would go back

Loved the food, was very good and service was excellent. Enjoyed the couch to sit in, after hours of walking Yorkville.. Ambiance was lovely.

My father and I ate at Sassafraz for lunch early in September 2014. We were actually searching for brunch one Friday morning and stumbled across Sassfraz, which I had heard from friends was a nice place to eat.
Despite arriving a little before opening we were welcomed in for a cup of coffee until the kitchen opened for lunch. Staff... more

We went after a premier at tiff . The food took forever and was underwhelming. My fish was inedible . Very very disappointed. It wss not the same restaurant I had been to before. Will not be returning.

Terribly disappointing! (not withstanding the scallops which were good)
If I hadn't known that I had ordered lamb, I would never have known that it was lamb I was eating. From the first cut and taste...there was no taste. I couldn't believe it. I didn't comment to my friends, as I was being taken out and didn't want to offend... more

What a surprising disappointment. Not a busy evening, but the kitchen could not supply 4 out of 9 entrees on the menu. One member of our party ended up ordering a hamburger off the bar menu. My entrée was beyond overdone--literally burned. Service was spotty. This restaurant is on its last legs...cannot recommend it for any reason, particularly given the... more

Arrived with no booking, but was seated in what was initially a sunny spot with no shade, but as the hour progressed the sun moved around and it was pleasant. 2 Bloody Mary's and a Bellair Bellini. Eggs Benedict, pancakes and a omelette were the perfect brunch selections. Great views of people and smart cars parading on a sunny weekend.... more

We had a fantastic table in front of open windows overlooking the patio and street. Our server was excellent; courteous, humorous and attentive but not intrusive. The food sections seemed to fall between appetizer or dinner style offerings - not much in-between which made it a bit hard to choose for lunch. One of my companions had the scallops and,... more

Completely underwhelming food. Soup had no taste. Burger very bland. Yet priced like a premier spot ?? On the plus side, the bland food was served very well, with friendly and attentive service. Oh, how to tip??

Have been here a few times on trips to TO. Last trip, as always the food was great. Had the gazpacho and Muscovy duck. As always, the service was great and attentive. All excellent. We sat on the patio and found it a bit dirty. Probably because it was a Monday and still had not been cleaned from the weekend.... more

Outstanding service, atmosphere and food

We have been to Sassafraz for dinner multipe times and have always had an exceptional experience. The food is always fresh and seasonal and the service is outstanding.
Last week we had our wedding at Sassafraz and couldnt be happier.
We began planning over a year ago, had many options of venues in Toronto and from the very first meeting... more

Good location, pretty decor, mediocre food

Went for Summerlicious. Very pretty restaurant with covered patio. Staff were terrific, our waitress was especially good – she explained both the main menu and the summerlicious menu and did an excellent job of upselling with a light touch and checked in often.
The food however was mediocre. The tomato salad with spinach puree was very bland – just a... more

Classy place for a social luncheon

The yellow building is easy to spot, the hostess' reception was warm and friendly, the atmosphere was calm and peacefully quiet for a social gathering of friends (love the water/living wall). Service was attentive but never intrusive. Food is beautifully presented and tasteful. Remember that this restaurant in in Yorkville and pricing is reflective of this. Eating outdoors is possible... more

Wasn't that impressed with the food. Kitchen was slow! Waited about 30 minutes for my main course. Dessert meh. Ate during summerlicious.

My husband & I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary at Sassafraz and had the MOST pleasant experience. We eat out quite a bit and have never been this satisfied with a high-end restaurant. From the first point of contact at the entrance, we were attended to immediately and directed towards the hostess, who then led us into the restaurant. Another hostess walked us over to our table where we... more

Great!

Food was excellent. Service was fantastic. Walked by many times and finally tried it and was thoroughly impressed!Handmade chocolates at the end of the service was a nice touch.

Relaxing and Delightful

We had a lazy afternoon lunch on a Wednesday and enjoyed a comfortable table in the restaurant but with an open window to the sidewalk and street. Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly without the slightest bit of pretense. Our meals were lovely including tartare, charcuterie, a steak salad and scallop entrée with a BC pinot.
Deserts were not... more

Great Food, but serious concerns!

Sassafraz has great food, but we were somewhat disappointed with the kitchen. Our server was alright, but when she recommended a cheese tray at the end of the night (detailing each cheese), she came back to tell us that the kitchen was under renovation and the cheeses were deep in the freezer. After declining dessert, the waitress came to tell us that the cheese was actually 'not in the... more

The Ladies night out

It started off good but after our appetizers we waited a long time for our main meal, no one came to apologise or to assure us someone was working on our meal. Finally the meal arrive, my bison looks dried so it must have sat under the lights for some time.
We ordered desert and coffee, latte, capaucino. Well the desert arrived and again the hot drinks were no show for a long while. Finally the... more

service was great, food was fresh and tasty. setting was romantic and quiet.

Great food, slow service

We came for a snack and found some great healthy food and drinks. Unfortunately the service was not the fastest so despite enjoying the view over the street and the interesting pedestrians we drank our coffee elsewhere.

Still hungry

It has been 30 years since I have returned to have lunch at Sassafraz in Yorkville. My friend and I decided to share two dishes, the arugula salad and the scallops. The salad tasted good but was minuscule. The scallops (only 1 1/2 each) tasted great but came with scant amount of soggy wild rice which was tasteless. I told... more

Delicious

My friend and I had dinner here during Summerlicious. Surprisingly this was my first visit to Sassafraz, even though I'm a Toronto local! The food was beautifully plated and tasted fantastic! I had the buffalo mozzarella to start and we both had lamb as our main, which we loved! To finish it off I had the Pina Colada Panna Cotta... more

Dinner

We really enjoyed our second visit. The food was excellent and catered to my dietary needs. We will return

Great experience

I've always eaten on the patio and didn't realize how big it was inside, with the waterfall, beautiful umbrella light fixtures and glass roof, complete with a curtained private table above. Great ambiance, service and was given a private table, tucked away in the corner. Food was pretty good, including the fesh hot bread delivered in daily from an Italian bakery. Will definitely go back!

went there for summerlicious. Great lamb and duck breast. gonna visit again for sure!

Mediocre food, friendly server

Went there today with family for summerlicious, were greeted by several snobby girls who forced us to sit at the bar to wait for our table to get ready. Our server Gio was really nice and friendly though. Food was mediocre, we ordered Lamb sirloin and Cornish hen. I dunno how but they managed to overcook a Cornish hen....was not... more

Amazing

Went there for summerlicious with friends. The atmosphere was really nice. The server was really friendly and professional. Absolutely enjoyed our meal. We had beef tartar and Buffalo Mozzarella. The poached quail egg went really well with the beef tartar. As for the entree we had duck breast which was delicious. The orange reduction brought out the favour. Absolutely done... more

great food and scene

We went there for Summerlicious. Everything was delicious and the services was great!. My only (semi-) complaint was that the food portions were a little small.

Amazing staff

So appreciative of the wait staff who were incredibly attentive and accommodating for our group of 5 moms and 5 babies. Great experience, great food, great ambience!

disappointed summerlicious

Went for summerlicious menu but the food was really not so impressed, especially the desserts, compared to many other restaurants with the same priced menu that I've been to. But the restaurant has very nice decor and service was excellent. I how that their normal menu would be better.

Wonderful summerlicious experience

Service at the restaurant was great. Our server was attentive and the food was amazing! We sat at the outside patio and could not ask for more

We had the Summerlicious menu, which was extensive and our choices were delicious. The service was excellent, I will go back!

Best Spot on Cumberland

Sassafraz starts the night off right with a warm welcome and prompt customer service. The choice of food and drink are excellent. Quality of food is outstanding. Perfect place for a night out with friends or for celebrating a special occasion. Considering Sassafraz is in a prime location, it is easy to locate and parking is closely available.

Excellent food and service

Tried the summerlicious dinner menu. Both Lamb steak and duck breast are excellent. Surprisingly the dessert is very good and not too sweet.

Great place for lunch - Summerlicious selection was terrific and there was something that appealed to each of us.

Flies

Beautiful ambience, but they need to control those fruit flies!!!

No good

There was a lipstick mark left on the wine glass, Penne was salty and not tasty, my friend's dessert came too late(everyone else finished their desserts when she got hers), Servers didn't care about us enough. No water flush at the restroom.
I don't think I will ever visit here again.

Will go back for good food

Food is good and atmosphere is great too. Service is perfect. And the wine list is good choice.

tasty desert

I'll certainly give Sassasfraz another chance but likely again only for an after dinner drink or desert. The night we went the place was dead (odd for a Friday) and frankly the service was adequate but not super friendly.That said, great spot and great espresso
Doddsy.

Great ambience, great food.

May have been the best prepared chicken breast I have ever had. Flavours were very good for my tomato gazpacho appetizer, milk chocolate mousse dessert, but main side of slivered root veg could have used a little something.Great overall experience and I would try it again!

Very Good...As Usual

Sassafraz continues to provide excellent food and service. Over the years the quality is maintained, and few restaurants achieve this.
Price levels are high, but not outrageous. Reliable for lunch or dinner. Highly recommended.

lovely lunch

This was our first visit to Sassafraz and from the moment we walked into the restaurant it was a special experience. Staff were friendly and fun and very attentive, décor is gorgeous, food was fresh, local, and beautifully prepared and presented. There is an excellent selection of wine and cocktails (the Summer Splash drink was delicious!) We were there for a friend's birthday lunch and you... more

Not as good as before

When I went to Sassafraz for first time, I was impressed by the quality of the food and service. This time the experience was different since the food was average and it took more than 40 min to get a simple appetizer.A little disappointed this time :(

Outstanding Service

Outstanding customer service. Tentative to details by the server. Humourous at times. Definitely will go to Sassafraz again.Thanks for a memorable experience.

Summerlicious 2014

Came here for the forth year in a row for their Summerlicious and it's always a pleasure. Although the food service took a little longer than usual, once the food arrive, all was made up for! Super delicious and the staff is always welcoming.Would definitely keep coming back.

Disappointed

1. The food was just ok because one of the main courses was cold when served. 2. Not infant friendly at all - washroom has no changing table. 3. Waitress was rush rush rush, dessert was there while one of the main courses was not finished yet.

First time dining here. Besides the romantic ambience, the service and food is top notch. We asked our server, Gio, if we could move to the tables at the end of the restaurant with the vertical plant wall & waterfall. He apologized and told us that those tables were already reserved. It was sweet of him to show us the place after our dinner and gave us a tip on how to reserve it next time. He... more

Always a pleasure

Dining at Sassafraz was probably the best deal of Summerlicious. The $25 price tag for the prix fixe lunch was a bargain, in my opinion. The food was excellent, and the portions generous (in comparison to other restaurants' Summerlicious menus). It's great that they partake in this event; everybody should be allowed the opportunity to dine at Sassafraz, to experience the great food, the great... more

Excellent Summerlicious menu!

What we enjoyed most was that the Summerlicious items were from the regular menu. Perfect for real comparison. Also, enjoyed the Summerlicious menu cocktails and wine. Splendid! Great to have all the windows open and enjoy the summer in TO

Overrated!!! This place is a show-er. . . not a go-er. Maybe it would've been a better value if I went during belly dancing but I was unimpressed eating alright food surrounded in dusty albeit beautiful drapery at over inflated prices. While I love the idea of being whisked away to an exotic world bold to the senses, Sassafraz delivered an amateur experience.

We hosted our wedding at Sassafraz and cannot recommend the restaurant enough. They made the planning process simple and straightforward, they accommodated all of our requests, and they made the day run incredibly smoothly.

During the planning, we tried all possible meals at the restaurant: brunch, lunch, and dinner; we even went one night just for cocktails. On all occasions, the staff were... more

Great evening

Enjoyed our meal very much. Staff were attentive.
Even though restaurant was busy, our waiter was on top of things for the whole evening.
Would definitely go back.

Summerlicious at Sassafraz

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent. Everything about this restaurant just screams "Class". Their Service is outstanding; the waiter we had was friendly and very helpful while being just right amount of attentive. The food was outstanding. The neighbourhood and the view was very pleasing other than the few yahoos you love to rev their engines loudly to be noticed. There were no negatives about this... more

Very Pretty - food just fair

The Summerlicious menu looked terrific, but the execution was very average. Tomato salad was very bland with almost no dressing and the spinach/avocado puree amounted to 2 miniscule dots on the plate. The pork entrée was a generous size but on the dry side and the seasoning was just salt and pepper not the Asian inspired seasoning as stated on the menu. Our waitress was very sweet and... more

tasty but just ok

I had heard a lot of great things about this restaurant. I thought I'd try it out during Summerlicious. The interior décor was outstanding. It was the most positive thing about my experience. The service was polite and knowledgeable yet I felt rushed. There was barely any time between the appetizer, main, and dessert. The food was disappointing. I had high expectations, but it was just "ok".... more

Nice ambience, meh food

we went here for summerlicious, and were dissapointed by the dishes we got, one of them was simply a diced tomato, and the dessert had hard nut shells in it
Liked the decor, but the staff are running around like a headless chicken.

Flavors are Good

But food took awhile to get to our table, we waited quite awhile between courses.

Good Brunch

I've been here three times and each time for brunch. Sit at the dining room on the left when you enter, and near the back of the room. I like the manmade, gentle waterfall by the wall and the natural light flooding in from the windowed ceiling. It's very peaceful, quiet, and posh.
The food is good and they make... more

Great Hosts

First time at Sassafraz for our anniversary. Food was very good (Lamb Sirloin was excellent, Muscovy duck was a bit salty and the duck croquets excellent. The wine cost more than our prix fixe menu but wel worth it. Above all: the service was just empowered excellent. We'll go again special occasion or not! Thank you Sassafraz staff.

Nice atmosphere, not so great food

I've been hearing all about this place for years, so finally decided to try it out for Summerlicious. I tried the salmon and pork t-bone, and the salmon was the better of the two; the pork was dry and tough. The tomato appetizer was rather dull, but fresh tasting, and the dessert lacked (not to mention greasy finger prints were visible all over my dish -- oops!). As for the service, it was... more

Summerlicious 2014

Food was quite good, except the pork chop was a bit over-cooked so not tender - expected this to be done better by Sassafraz.
Dessert portions were pitifully small - looked like children's portions. Otherwise, experience was ok.

Great experience!

This was a very enjoyable lunch. The service was prompt and our waiter was very pleasant.
Our party ordered a variety of food and all of us thought the flavour and presentation was excellent.
Although we were directed to a particular table, we asked if we could sit at another table and were told it was no problem. Many places do not like you to sit elsewhere. Good for Sassafraz for making the... more

Great food and location

Went for Summerlicious, great menu options, and great service. I love going to Yorkville, just to walk around and people watch. It's a great place to have a great meal and enjoy the view from the large windows that open onto Cumberland. Definitely make a reservation in advance.

Go to place for good meals

Always come here when in the mood for a well-balanced and thoughtfully designed meal. Not looking for something heavy and "filling" but more for a pleasurable sensation. The quality of the food does not disappoint.

Expected more

We went to Sassafraz for a friend's birthday and it happened to be during summerlicious... Service was excellent, food was lackluster... And because we were a large group (11) - we were seated in the event space upstairs. The space was ok- but lacked the ambience and vibrancy of the main area. The drinks were great... But food was disappointing. I doubt that any of my party would be returning... more

good service but not good food

There was no sause for
a meat, only taste salt & papper.
I can make this at home.

Great Ambiance

Atmosphere and service is always welcoming! The Summerlicious menu was OK but lacked vegetarian options. Pasta with cream sauce is not a health friendly dish which left the vegetarians in our group with no choice. The rest of the group enjoyed their meal. The drinks were very refreshing. I will be back for winterlicious depending on the menu choices. I would truly love to back. We enjoyed the... more

great night spent at the Sassafraz! Food and service was impeccable!

Great Experience

Went for Summerlicious, enjoyed a wonderful 3 course meal, the flavours, the colours - everything was plated very well. Great staff and great sitting inside but looking out the big open windows. Definitely make a reservation before heading over.

Great restaurant

Food was good, service was ok...dessert though, why tangerine sauce?!?!?

Good food - expensive drinks. For the price the decor is mediocre. Service very good.

replacement for my Calamari delight

for years I have been having a deep fried calamari at my special table on the corner of Belair and Cumberland. Calamari and a Kiir - my usual.
On Canada Day I visited to see if the old taste was still there. No - they stopped making it and have replaced it with 4 new alternatives. I asked for the... more

Terrific experience

We have been to Sassafraz a few times before, with the service/food being either really great or lacklustre. We went for brunch and everything was wonderful. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was attentive & friendly.

We asked to take back one of our orders (lam chop) because it was undercooked and the waiters took it back and brought a new, better cooked lamb with no problems. The ambience was great and the service was simply excellent and the staff was friendly and efficient no matter what the request!

Met all my expectations. A good time was enjoyed by all. I would certainly return.

We had to come back for the tuna

My daughter and I were looking for dinner and came by the restaurant. She had the tuna and I had the gespacho. It was so good, we had to come back. It was just as good. With the siracha sauce, edamame and purple potatoes, it is a lovely meal. Tomato salad was very refreshing and the soup had just the right amount of heat.

Wonderful locale

this is a lovely cafe, on a corner made for people watching. It is well worth grabbing a table outside if you can but if you sit inside you'll find tables that remind you of Paris and couch groupings which shout - sit, stay, and chat. It has great ambience and great vibe.
We went for a summer brunch. The... more

Great Brunch

After much walking in the neighbourhood my friend and I were getting seriously hungry and decided to try Sassafraz. We were very pleased with our choice. The staff were friendly and the food was very good. We decided in spite of the late hour to have brunch with a glass of bubbly. The creole eggs with sausage were excellent and... more

Such potential but we were disappointed

I stumbled upon this restaurant while exploring Toronto on a Sunday morning. They have an excellent patio, dining room/cafe area and bar. The brunch/lunch menu itself was intriguing and highlighted fresh ingredients and new takes on traditional dishes like omelettes, pancakes, and even a hamburger. Their drink menu was excellent as well and featured fresh fruit and even health drinks.... more

Great upscale corner cafe and restuarant

This has become our go to place when we visit Toronto. Great bar and beautiful dining room. Prices are very reasonable and the food and drinks are excellent. Nice place to sit and hang out for a morning or afternoon.

Worth the wait

Our service was excellent, and so was our food. Our meal took 2 hours to arrive, but our server came over many times to apologize on the wait. It was fine because it was part of a 'girls weekend' and we were happy to catch up with each other. May have posed a problem if we were on a tight... more

Below Expectations

I realize that Sassafraz has had mixed reviews, but it's one of those restaurants in Toronto that you hear about and just need to try for yourself. The physical space itself is rather nice, simple decor but comfortable, with a beautiful skylight and live wall in the main dining area. However, what's important is the food and on the day... more

Great

Sassafraz has a great atmosphere, and incredible location. I'd definitely recommend it and plan to return.

Lived up to recommendation and then some

Recommended by a friend who used to live in Toronto for the first night of our honeymoon the whole experience was top notch from the start. Service was excellent with the noticing our hotel key card. I had told them when booking it was or honeymoon and we got a cocktail on the house. Oscar our waiter was really good... more

Perfect place for a patio drink and snack

Visited over the weekend and returned twice in the same day. Nice wine and cocktail selection and tasty treats. I recommend an outside patio table. Great people and exotic car watching in hip yorkville.

Great table service but If I had to pay full price for this meal I would go some where else in Yorkville area like Le Trou Normand or Il Posto.
We went there to use a groupon of $69 for three course meal for two people.
Barley+ wild mushroom soup was very good, Chowder was tasteless with chewy fish pieces in it. The bread is home made and delicious.
Lamb shank was good, tasty and cooked to... more

Hands down, the most beautiful restaurant in Yorkville, possibly even in Toronto! Me and a friend stopped by during Toronto fashion week to eat dinner and the food was marvellous. The service is pleasant, and the interior is classy, sophisticated, and stunning. Definitely coming back here again. Keep it up Sassafraz!

We had a groupon gift from a friend and couldn't go during the time frame due to personal reasons. We called and asked for a extension for just one week...ONE WEEK....and the girl I spoke to on the phone refused todo it. I am not asking for my money back nor am I asking for them to bend over backwards. But a simple request like this shouldn't have been dismissed. I will NEVER go there again... more

Great food and service, go there its very romantic.

This is a classy, sophisticated restaurant with some of the best looking food that I've ever seen. The interior is beautifully decorated with graceful and elegant undertones. As soon as you walked into Sassafraz, you just know that you are in for a luxurious dining experience. The food here is also delicious, even if the prices are somewhat on the excessive side. Overall, Sassafraz gets a... more

Really nice place I went during Summerlicous. I found the service and decor was absolutely amazing. I would definitely do the dinning room over the patio area. The food was cooked to perfection but I just found that it was a bit pricy. I found that their menu was one of the most varied and interesting.

Possibly the snobbiest staff members. The greeting girls are very fake (not that I expected much more). The tables are very small and impossible to eat on and the chairs are uncomfortable. The food itself is mediocre, but overpriced. Their "artisan cheese plate" is in fact easy to find in Sobeys. They do make a nice steak, but for their price, I expected more than a tiny lump of filet mignon.... more

Food was good but not worth the price, the high price tag is more for location and hobnobbing with the trendy chic

Sassafraz Restaurant

If you are in the mood to wait over an hour for a small portion of overpriced food- have I got a recommendation for you!!!

Yesterday, looking to grab a quick bite to eat to fuel our shopping in the Yorkville area, my companions and I decided to dash in to Sassafraz- which looked like it had all the makings of a cool place to lunch. We were seated quickly in the outdoor area, (a great spot for... more

Summerlicious lunch experience: our recent favourite; good to excellent food; nice indoor garden and simulated water fall decor; good service. Appetite: Spinach and roasted beets with parsnip chips and violet mustard maple vinaigrette; Good quality vegetable in good mix. Entree: Pork tenderloin with roasted garlic sweet potato mash, asparagus, sweet apple cider glaze; tender and nicely done if... more

Loved the decor. Service was excellent. Had salad to start was perfectly prepared. Had appetizer mushroom and truffle agnolotti as a main. Couldn't taste much truffle and sauce was overpowering.

Best date restaurant in Yorkville!

"""The food was good, but they were out of the fish we wanted. Ambiance was engaging, but a little noisy. Outside patio very popular. People- watching in Yorkville entertaining."""

"""Fantastic food, worth the money."""

This restaurant is always written about as being the best place to stop in the Bloor area. It was lunchtime and we order sandwiches and salads. When it arrived it looked like something we could have ordered from a regular chain restaurant and tasted bla

"""We had a great table...inside, where we wanted to be and a very nice dinner. White table cloths always makes dinner so much better, so that made us happy. Good food, nothing grand, but good. Very nice Service too."""

"""Never lives up to its location. Food tries to hard and falls short. Decor feels like it hasn't changed, despite a fire that necessitated complete renovation. Success seems to continue because of the view...people watching that is."""

"""Sassafraz is everything you could ask for in a restaurant. Fabulous cuisine served in a classy environs by warm, experienced waiters - wonderful everytime you go!"""

"""went there by myself and did not feel confortable. shame on you, sassafraz!"""

"""Still the place to be seen and if you haven't seen it, worth seeing. Great ambiance and in a superb location - still no. 1 in Yorkville"""

It's a pleasure to dine at Sassafraz in Yorkville

"""The """"Grande Dame"""" of Yorkville. Good at any time of the day. The food has made great strides to the better in the last year."""

"""modern french , canadain quebec marries clasiic bistro = splendid dishes .. love salmon in orange cerviche"""

"""Some say that Sassafraz is overrated, however, it is a must stop everytime in Toronto for the relaxing atmosphere and an opportunity to view the beautiful people of Toronto."""

"""ok food, pretentious for nothing"""

"""Having risen from the ashes, this place is a gem in the trendy ayorkville district. A place for both great food, and also a place to see and be scene!"""

Perfect Valentines Day destination!

Great attentive serviceGood food! Great wine selection!

A trendy see-and-be-seen kinda place, so you know what to expect. Great people watching from the patio.

Sassafraz Restaurant

I tried Sassafraz for lunch last time I was in Toronto with my wife.

Its one of the flagship restaurants in Yorkville and has a big reputation as being one of the in spots to eat.

I found the food to be OK, but nothing overly exciting or tasty.

However it was massively over-priced. Yorksville prices I guess.

This is a very popular restaurant. Always busy and highly popular amongst the celebs during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Nice spot in Yorkville - consistently good!

An excellent brunch spot.

Reffered by Hotel consierge, went and returned a...

Reffered by Hotel consierge, went and returned a second time ( both business). Our American guests appreciated the food choices, quality, decor and service. Very attentive servers. No complaints

Sassafraz is in an excellent location. Great to impress a date and upscale so you will not have a lot of change on $100. They even knew what a Gladiator shot was even though it was invented in BC. The scallops were excellent and the tuna was divine! You c

Prime location for celebs

Really delicious food in a wonderful, ambient environment.

You go more for the people watching than the food, and woe betide if you seem less than 'cool'- wait staff pass judgement on looks alone, but a determined (but polite) request and no nonsense approach will secure you the ebst patio table

Very pricey, food okay but nothing to rave about.

Very nice location is the raison d'etre of this establishment. Good for drinks, and late hours dining. For regular lunch and dinner you can do better at many other paces nearby.

I personally love this place:) the food is always great

The food for brunch was excellent. The service is friendly. No complaints.

The decor is nothing special but pleasant. The waiter is too much in the foreground waiting for the customer to show appreciation for the food. Caters to a hip crowd.

For a slice of posh Yorkville people-watching, try the patio on Cumberland St. Service skews to the pretentious. While you can go just for a delicious cocktail or glass of wine, eating a several course meal is highly encouraged. I ordered the Sea Scallop

Terrible food. Watch the celebrities come in and out during the Film Festival, but don't join them!

Stunning decor, wonderful service, and great food.

lovely

Lunch on the patio on a sunny day was sublime.

Mediocre food at ridiculous prices. Sure, you may spot a celeb dining there during Toronto Film Fest week, but really? I'd rather stand among the throngs next to a red carpet than with snooty service and less than memorable food.

Certainly not impressed with this restaurant. The patio was not full but the waiter was rude about seating us where we wanted, out of the rain & close to the inside of the patio, not a crazy request. After some rudeness on their part we finally sat down a

A Yorkville establishment, take out of town guests here for lunch. Otherwise a bit overpriced, although food is consistently good.

Geatly over-rated. Wait staff are condescending and the food is average.

Haven't been there since it burned down but it was great before.

Always a great place - perfect for star gazing during TIFF

A place people go to see and be seen... not to eat.

newly reinvented. jury still out

Always pleased.

never understood the fuss about this rather mediocre place

Overrated. Service so so and food just OK but expensive

Great location with good food and service, very nice outside on sunny days, enjoyable

great breakfast, spotty dinner, chintzy desserts, great bread and ambiance. Excellent chic location.

Great for people watching.

The service was so horrible I will never go back.

You wont go there for the food, but everything else!

Beautiful spot, lovely decor but the food is only fair and the service marginally better.

A fan

Real value for terrific food. Portions are substantial and well executed. The staff are genuine. A must visit

Bad food! Bad experience! Went to Sassafraz for...

Bad food! Bad experience!Went to Sassafraz for Valentine's day b/c of great word of mouth -and were horribly disappointed. Waited over an hour to be seated! Our reservation was for a seating at 830pm, finally got a table at 945pm! We were standing in the doorway waiting for a table, along with 50 other patrons! Incredibly disappointed by poor organizational skills of the housestaff to allow... more

We went there a couple of days ago to try their...

We went there a couple of days ago to try their winterlicious menu. The service was excellent. The Wine and food were very good too. We were seated at the bistro and not at the dining area, because it was full.

Not impressed at all ... very pricey and the food isnt t...

Not impressed at all very pricey and the food isnt that great.

Dessert!

I once went to Sassafraz (now a pile of ashes after a recent fire) on a whim with a friend, and we ordered the whole dessert menu. The entire thing. Though I could only wear sweatpants for the next few days, it was worth it. Unfortunately the crowd at Sassafraz is pretty snotty, which is good if thats your thing, but their dessert is great!

... more