My friends and I arrived for our 7PM dinner and we were promptly shown to our table. Once our drink orders were taken, my friends and I discussed the menu and how we wanted to approach our dinner. I suggested that we each order an appetizer and a main, and share them - so that we can try as many of the menu items as possible. So that's what we did. We each ordered a different appetizer and... more

I attended a media event for The Red Tomato, a pizza and pasta wine bar underneath Fred's Not Here (both owned by the same owner). I rarely eat on King Street West so I always assumed that prices at the restaurants would be super expensive. However, when I saw The Red Tomato's menu, I was pleasantly surprised that the prices were quite fair (ranged from $13-$18 for a full size pizza).

My... more

I picked this restaurant to have dinner before my husband and I see a movie. I had high hopes that food will be great but I left disappointed. Why?

Food: we ordered peking duck pizza and pork belly pizza for our main. So the peking duck pizza has an overwhelming amount of shitake mushrooms and onions. Therefore, I couldnt appreciate the taste of duck. I'm afraid the duck wasn't the freshest... more

Rating is 3.5 rounded up.

Disclaimer: All drinks and dishes were provided free of charge by the restaurant. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

I was invites to check out the pizzas at The Red Tomato during their Pie Tunes media event. That night, I got to taste 6 of The Red Tomato's 10 pizzas. Toppings ranged from classics like Margherita to fusion flavours like Peking Duck. Each... more

Stopped by for a quick bite to eat before a event. We were told no tables available but could sit at the bar which was fine. Until we saw available tables.

Anyways after being kinda ignored we finally were able to order. We decided that the Duck fat fries and the jerk chicken pasta sounded good. We decided wrong.

To be fair the Duck Fat fries were good - crispy thin fries with parmesan cheese... more

This was definitely one of the worst restaurants I have been to. The servers were blatantly rude, asked if they could take something away or if we were still "picking at the food," and didn't bring our salad because "there was nowhere to put it on the table," when there was plenty of room. The food was nothing special, but the service was downright awful.

*I admit, I was invited to an event for their new pizza menu (not Yelp event), so if this review is against the policy, please let me know and I will remove it :)*
*I would have given this restaurant a 3/5 because the pizza was some-what decent, however I gave 2/5 because of the attitude and professionalism of the staffs.
*Staff talked behind my back (literally) for not finishing my pizza... more

Great food. Service a little tardy. Had the garlic shrimp $18 delicious. Highly recommend and iceberg lettuce which was lacklustre.

This was my 2nd time here in as many weeks and both times were spectacular. From the very attentive service, the great 80's music playing on my 2nd visit to the really delicious food this is certainly worth visiting again.
The atmosphere is cozy with a large bar which takes up most of the room and some kitschy "red tomato" lamp shades along the bar area. There are very comfortable chairs and... more

Not bad. We ordered the vegetable soup which was a little spicy but gave it a nice kick. The "pulled pork quesadilla" was okay..could have been better. Our favorite was the crab and seafood fondue dip

Decent $5-$7 Happy Hour Menu

Always curious to try some new places out on the 'restaurant row' of King Street... so we picked Red Tomato at random. Found it kind of neat how there was a completely separate restaurant upstairs as well.
Atmosphere was a little strange... with the red lighting it kind of felt like an old basement from the 70's or something. I... more

Must Try Dishes! Don't be turned away by atmosphere

We got the lobster and crab soup as a starter and we could not get enough of the puff pastry on top! It was baked to a crisp perfection and the soup was seasoned very well. No chunks of lobster or crab, it was more of a viscous bisque but nevertheless delicious! I ordered the mushroom spinach risotto with the... more

Decent & efficient

Service was professional and efficient, and food here was very acceptable - not ground breaking but tasty, hot, and produced without fuss.

Would not go back

Dined at Fred's not Here the previous night and decided to try Red Tomato downstairs. Beverages are same wine list as Fred's and same prices. Most menu items are tapas style and deep fried --the batter or crumbs over power the taste of its contents.The lobster and crab soup was a little cheaper than Fred's but pastry top was soggy... more

Dined with friends prior to a Mirvish show (got 15% off!) on a Wednesday night and had a delicious meal & great service (Jackie was just the right blend of friendly, efficient & informative). Because I read other recommendations that said portions were small, we all ordered an appetizer and a main course (instead of splitting an appetizer between two like we usually do) and found that we were... more

Food not wonderful

We were staying just up the road and decided to go to the Red Tomato - it probably wasn't our best decision.
We had the tapas and I must say they were pretty ordinary.
Service was ok though - but couldn't recommend the food.

Very disappointing -- and I've been to this place numerous times and used to really enjoy it.

The atmosphere was still awesome, the wait staff attentive and friendly, and the food delicious.

So why only one star?

My pasta dinner was so small we had to go for a second dinner to another pub afterwards.

I had the stuffed pasta in a tomato sauce. Really good, but at $15, and listed as an entrée... more

Nice bar in basement of Freds Not here

Great service and food, but being a basement level found it dark. Also gets pretty nosiy when full.Good selection of beers

Bit disappointed with the food at this restaurant.

I had the Seafood Orecchiette w/ Calamari, Lobster Tail, Shrimps, Mussles, San Marzano Tomatoes, Saffron and Garlic ($18). The orecchiette were clumped together and the sauce didn't have much flavour and was much too watery - it looked like I had ordered a bowl of tomato soup.

My friends had:

Salad Caprese - fresh mozzarella, basil,... more

Wife has been sick all day since our lunch there

My meal was just OK (nothing special), I had the tomato salad, steak and sorbet.
My wife had the Baked lobster and crab soup (there was no lobster in it, just a broth!), the Salmon seafood risotto and sorbet for desert.
My advise is to stay away from this place, at least the seafood!!! My wife has been sick and... more

An OK meal

We had theatre tickets for The Book of Mormon and this restaurant is one of many that are close. The service was great! Very attentive and eager to get us out in time. I was a bit disappointed that the appetizer I ordered (spring rolls) came with our meals. I wouldn't order these again as they were quite bland and... more

We have a great time to spend in the hotel

Fabulous food and service. Great value for the price. Located right across the street from the Hyatt Regency. You will not be disappointed.

Red. Red. Red.

How I love thee bar!

Went after work between the hours of 4:30 and 9pm. It was a lot of liquor.

So they have a great bar menu. If you sit at the bar (seating is very limited and it's packed early but dies down after the theatre starts) they have a special menu of $5-$6 drinks and a whole bunch of food for the same price. It was absolutely worth it. Value and quality do match... more

Tourist Trap - Avoid

Miniscule portions, horrendous prices and bad service. The mixed green salad was just that - mixed greens out of a plastic bag..not a vegetable in sight and $10!?

They have special after 5pm at the bar that includes most of the smaller dishes and drinks for 5$-7$ each. That was pretty good price and we tried almost every food on the menu and couple of drinks. This could be a place for you if you're looking for a good deal :)

Dinner before Theatre

We dined at Red Tomato, just down the block from the theatre on Kings Street as part of a Mirvish Dinner package to see La Cage. We chose the restaurant based upon Trip Advisor reviews and were not disappointed. Down the stairs and into a long bar with dining tables, we went and chose the last table on the right... more

I agree with other reviewers about the decor and being misled on where you will be eating. I was hoping for a table on the patio, but then we were lead to a weirdly lit and decorated basement. The basement had boxes and the broom in the open and the 'please wait to be seated sign' was hand-written with pen - I knew then what I was getting into but decided to give it a shot...

Our waitress... more

I really enjoyed my experience here! It's not the nicest decor, but quite interesting - very dark and I had a hard time seeing anything. It's in the basement which is unusual.
The waitress was quite nice, and very efficient, without being overbearing.
I had chicken pot stickers for $5. It was a small portion, with 3 pot stickers, but this amazing chilli sauce with a bit of a sweet taste.
Then I... more

Pretty good food

This was one of our first stops for dinner in Toronto. It was down the block from our hotel and had affordable food when compared to some of the restaurants further along on King Street.
This location has 2 separate restaurants, Red Tomato being the one down the stairs. The food was pretty delish. The seafood soup was delicious and... more

Great atmosphere and food

Have been to the Red Tomato several times when in Toronto. The staff is very friendy and the food is always great. Always make it a point to drop in when traveling through the city.

Great For Pre-theatre Dining

This is a quaint little downstairs restaurant located in the theatre district in Toronto, thus making it handy for dinner before a show. I found the staff to be friendly and attentive. The menu is satisfactory with a focus on pastas and seafood and an interesting variety of appetizers. The place has a large bar as well and might be... more

Basement Gem

Quaint surroundings, interesting centrally located bar and low key atmosphere. Food choices are mostly Italian cuisine, but wouldn't classify this as an Italian restaurant. Appetizers are good, but portions are on the small side, thus relatively pricey. Mains were all good size and value. Smoked brisket risotto was excellent. Service varies depending on the server, and our server was not... more

love to travel the world <3

The food was excellent, specially the sea foods, great menu!!!! and the service was great, they were very friendly!! couple of my friends and I went during summerlicious and had a great time. I would love to go there again:)

The colour red should indicate excitement

The colour red should indicate excitement should it not? The food & service was anything but. I was not impressed by the plate of dried up green salad. Next came the entree which was bland and boring. 3/4 of my mussels were not even open. The small piece of lobster was chewy....need I go on. Overall for the price I... more

Stay Away

Just back from the War Horse special deal from ED Mirvish. Had the dinner deal at Red Tomato it was horrible! Food made me ill barely made it back to hotel. Booked reservations ahead they offered table right in front of the kitchen or right under the air vent. Lucky had a shawl. My poor husband had a gentlemen"s rather... more

Tough Scores

Ate here a couple of nights and a was very happy with the intersting menu and good prompt, friendly coustomer service. We were staying across the street at the Hyatt and chose this place out of the 6 million other places across the street to choose from. I ate the lobster soup as an app. It was really good and... more

Great place for small plates....and the lobster and crab soup is incredible. It was a great introduction to Toronto.

Awesome, accomodating staff, interesting flavor combinations

Our party of 22 was quite welcome here. Our wait staff were over accommodating and very friendly and fun. They even sought out a coconut shell to put a dessert in for our friends birthday (inside joke!). The appetizers were yummy (coconut shrimp and chicken satay skewers) and the dinners were good, interesting flavors but maybe a 7/10 on preparation... more

Fine for a quick pre-theatre dinner

Went here on a Wednesday night before the theatre. I arrived 15 minutes late due to a subway delay; my husband said the server had been nice enough to go looking for me in case I'd gotten Red Tomato mixed up with the restaurant upstairs.
Unfortunately, our table was tight between the server station and another table for four; I... more

Great evening

Located in the theater district, restaurant has good atmosphere and is a great place to have a nite before show. Food was good and service was prompt and friendly. The evening we were there, we had a special for $29 which included an appetizer, entree, and drink (wine or beer). We felt the price was very reasonable for what we... more

Good place to go with a group of friends, or a date...but it can be a hit or miss

I have been there several times. My first time was with a friend and we both liked Red Tomato a lot. The decor was nice, vivbrant orangy-red walls and huge art pieces and funky arts but the soft lights and candles on the tables created ambience. It was quite busy, as it was a weekend, but not too crowded or... more

The only thing worthwhile about the Red Tomato restaurant is their waitress who had full blossom riped tomatoes...and a decent looking face...

Food was not good...Got crab cakes which were okay...Chicken satay were dry and not even warm...Lobster crab soup is alright...Stuffed calamari with risotto is different, but this one tasted rubbery... The mussels with leek sauce is interesting, but... more

REALLY didn't enjoy my meal here last night.

I walked into the restaurant and saw all the nice candle lit tables with fresh white tablecloths and great atmosphere. THEN the waiter told me to decend down the stairs to where Red Tomato really was. I was then met with red booths, tables and cheaper tealights - Bummer.
I have a thing about restaurants who present themselves well with nice table... more

The location is bizarre. I felt a little embarrassed when I walked in with my boyfriend and was told we were eating in the basement.

The server was fun and friendly.

The décor is atrocious. Anyone who's been knows that I'm referring to the God awful murals. I did not feel like I was eating somewhere classy by any means, but that didn't mean the food would be bad.

My boyfriend had spaghettini... more

Incredibly disappointing...move along

I went to a show in the theater district with my boyfriend last night and thought the Red Tomato would be a good choice for a quick bite beforehand. We both like to snack and share appetizers and it was the 'graze and share' style menu that attracted me.
In a word - YUCK!
For those not familiar (I wasn't)... more

Yes, their location is weird. Fred's Not Here is the restaurant next door and to get to the Red Tomato, you go downstairs to this basement, albeit snazzy basement area. While looking for a place to eat before the baseball game, we were drawn in by their 2-course dinner + drink special for $25. I'm not a big drinker and I didn't think I would have room for an appetizer or dessert, so I opted for... more

Absolutely Terrible

Do yourself a favour & don't waste your time or money on this restaurant.
The food & service was beyond terrible. My family & I regularly frequent restaurants & I must say that this is one of the worse place we have been too.

Absolutely disapointing

Arrived with my wife & 2 children & the host assumed we wanted to use the toilets.
We started with their famous baked lobster & crab soup & it was probably the only tolerable item of food we ordered.
The Bruschetta's were soggy & bland.
My 8 year old ordered the angus burger from the kids menu & it was... more

Avoid this place

We dropped in to the Red Tomato after a day of sightseeing in Toronto. That was our first mistake.
No one greeted us at the door. We stood there for quite a while, then finaly deciding maybe it was the kind of place where you seat yourself. So we did. And we waited. Then a waitress came and told us... more

I had lunch at Red Tomato with some friends last week and it was terrible! I had the Red Tomato Ceasar salad and I couldn't finish it because they used WAY too much garlic! I LOVE garlic but this was disgusting! It was saturated in garlic and the taste overpowered the salad. I had the worst garlic breath for the rest of the day and it even overpowered my gum. I had to eat a whole pack just to... more

We went for a light dinner and had the lobster bisque, crab cake, and coconut shrimp. The bisque lacked either lobster or sherry flavour, the crab cake was lukewarm and insanely salty, and the coconut shrimp were greasy and bland. With a drink each the meal cost more than $65 and left us both unsatisfied. A very disappointing performance for a Toronto classic. One star for good service.

Keyword for the this place is "weird".

You see a big sign, enter the door, see the tables ready... and then a guy on the reception says that Red Tomato is downstairs, so instead of entering the restaurant you are descending to the basement. Weird.

Than you get seated and despite the huge size of the room, it looks dark and claustrophobic. Yet, you constantly have a feeling like you sit in the... more

The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food was something different. My group ordered several appetizers and they were less than satisfying. The Korean BBQ short ribs stick out in my mind. They were dry and incredibly flavor less. This is all unfortunate as this is a nice restaurant with a good location.

Disappointing. Overpriced appetizers

It had been a couple of years since we last went to the Red Tomato for Happy Hours appetizers so having just finished work around the corner we thought we would give it a try. When we arrived the place was empty and the waitress asked if we wanted to sit at the bar. We preferred to sit at a... more

We booked as a group of 24. We were led to out tables, put in our orders, received our food and then were told one of out tables was needed for another group. In the midst of eating they had to crowd into the other tables our group were using.This resulted in a nightmare senario at bill time as the wait staff had served everyone beore the move. We were crowded to the point where my arms were... more

Yeah!! And yeah for the Yelp app or I would have never found you in my tourist wanderings through downtown Toronto. I wanted a bar that was cozy, dimly lit, and cool for the single lady just lookin for some vino and food. Loved IT!

First, hellooo is this the cutest, hippest, most relaxing bar ever? ! "Yes", I'm going to have to go ahead and answer my own question. Yeah! Second, the bartenders... more

Went in for a quick dinner before a movie at ScotiaBank Theatres. While other restaurants along this stretch of King West practically grab you off the street and try to get you seated in their joint, we had trouble convincing the staff here that we wanted a table. When we asked for one we received an abrupt response asking us which restaurant we wanted to dine in (they have two restaurants in... more

decided to go here for dinner with a friend after browsing the King strip and its menu appealed to us more then other. we went with the fixed price menu which was a really great deal (i think it was $25 for wine, main and dessert) . i had the brisket which was incredible.

great atmosphere, service and lovely meal!

recommended!

I had an absolutely delicious dinner here after a stressful check-in at my hotel. The ravioli (vegetarian) was delicious, so well cooked with delicious vegetables as the garnish. For dessert my friends and I enjoyed some absolutely delightful cocktails. I had a Long Beach Iced Tea. It was strong, but not too strong, with some serious sweet flavor. The service was super friendly and quick. When... more

I was here last Wednesday for a casual meet up with a friend visiting Toronto. We did not have a reservation and were able to be seated in the lower level without waiting too long.

Environment = Chic, cute, aesthetically pleasing
Food = Mediocre; their menu is attractive and there is a variety to choose from.
Drinks = Great! Like the menu, there is a variety of cocktails to choose from.... more

Cute place! Somewhat unusual mix of mostly Italian food, with a dash of Asian menu items thrown in for good measure.

I stuck to the Italian fare, though was nearly tempted by Dim Sum.

Interesting and tasty take on the Caprese Salad (not your usual/boring sliced mozz/sliced tomato/basil leaf concoction). My meal was satisfying and hearty.

It was a Thursday night and my fiancee' and I were exploring King St. There are within any half mile range more places I can count to eat at around here. I saw the sign hanging outside for this establishment and immediately had a memory of my mother raving about this spot, since we are a family of foodies, I decided this would be a good bet.

Upon walking down the steps into the main room we... more

A horseshoe bar, a curving staircase and outdoor seating offering a great view to everyone. The open kitchen sets the tone for a lively meal, a place where friends can meet and talk away into the night.

The famous Coconut Shrimp, Calypso Chicken Pasta, tasty Samosas, Pad Thai noodles, Nachos with Chicken Confit and 5-spiced Buddha Wings are quite a treat. Frequented by business types, club... more

This is my go-to spot when no one can make up their minds on what they want to eat. All round decent place in terms of service, price, ambiance and eclectic menu choices.
Everyone needs a plan "B" and this is a pretty good one.

Not satisfied

My friends and I had dinner at this place it was very disappointing. The food size I had was Beef with rissotto rice and salad.First of all the beef slices was “1/2 an inch and the length of a small kiikat halloween bar”only 4 slices the rice was so mushy and the sauce was salty that you needed water to wwash it down then the salad around 10 leaves, I honestly counted it. And the drinks well, I... more

Very unassuming- I stumbled upon this restaurant near the theatre district, advertising their prix fixe menu and it was wonderful! I had the Tom Yum wonton soup and Duck gnocchi- large portions, great value! Friendly and efficient staff, cool red modern decor in this asian fusion restaurant.

A little pricy but great

A little pricy but great food!

This is mine and my partner-in-crime's happy place.
Soup. Happy hour. Company. Happy!

Happy hour is from Monday to Friday from 3-6pm. (They have happy hour at other times as well, but can't recall exact dates & times.) Appies and sharing plates plus other items on their menu are available for a cheaper price point.

The soup is why we come here.

Lobster and crab bisque with a phyllo pastry... more

Im only reviewing the bottom lounge part of...

Im only reviewing the bottom lounge part of this restauranta nice welcoming atmosphere. Open kitchen at the tail end gives you something to look at 2 t.vs on mute playing any cant-miss sports events a rectangular bar at centre. A red grid above the bar makes for interestingcomfortable lighting. Waitresses are clean and attentive. Fun art work and music good drinks and nibblies Reserve a table... more

Terrible

Terrible