Dining Review

Establishment: Eight Wine Bar & Restaurant

Location: 8 Colborne Street

Open Hours: Sun-Wed 5pm-10pm, Thurs-Sat 5pm-11pm.

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

Ever hear about those out-of-the way places, tucked into a nook of the city where the ambiance is great and the food is even better? I have just located such a gem in Toronto and it is well worth being rave-worthy.

Eight Wine Bar and Restaurant, located in the Cosmopolitan Hotel in the heart of the Financial District of downtown Toronto, does the heart good; fantastic food, fantastic service, a knowledgeable staff on wines and a cozy ambience all combine to make Eight one of the best kept secrets in Toronto.

This soothing environment of bold colours like reds and black paired with soft lighting and hints of dark browns, makes Eight feel casual and exotic. The establishment is set up in two distinct areas – a bar towards the front with some great varied seating options, and a restaurant that seats approximately 50 people (cocktails for 120). An extremely cozy environment. Eight decor is upscale trendy where you can feel fantastic after a long work week or an intimate dinner with friends!

The Wine bar is simply great as you have a plethora of variety. Fridays are dedicated to shot-sized samples of wine for only $1 an ounce, so you can taste

from a variety of wines and expand your knowledge base of what the world’s best vineyards have to offer. Many of the wines you will not find in an LCBO store, so this is an ideal place to learn about wines on a more international level. Of course, if you are somewhat unsure of what wines to taste, the resident sommelier will inevitably become your sound judgement on the subject and your best friend by the end of the night.

Each course you order can be paired with a complementing wine  (or tea if you prefer) that will bring out the flavours of the meal and of the wines. All the wines come exactly as they should be; whites were chilled to perfection.

Jason, our server, was a very personable host who took care of his customers' needs with meticulous efficiency. Clearly he loves what he does and as he says, “the smiles are genuine.” A sophisticated waiter for a sophisticated establishment.

Even though the service, ambiance, and wines selection was divine, truly the greatest compliments goes to Chef Mark Robertson, who provided one of the most exquisite meals I have had the pleasure to experience. This isn’t a restaurant; Eight is a place where food is honoured. Throw the pomp out and dine on unassuming quality. I am beyond impressed with Eight, so lets talk about the food....

The meal was prepared with as much organic and locally grown ingredients as possible. I tried a lightly spiced Tofu with a beautiful miso broth, then thinly sliced beet-cured Ontario trout paired with an orange and fennel salad. Alternate appetizers could be Quail Caesar Salad, Braised Veal cheek Ravioli, or Pan-Seared Foie Gras. Perhaps the most delightful appetizer would be a selection from the Charcuterie.

Onto the Entrees, where you might be enticed by the Oven Roasted Duck Breast, or the sumptuous Goat Cheese Gnocchi with Lobster (extreme comfort food - I am going back for this one again!), and the perfectly cooked Pan Seared Arctic Char with tomato and chilli consommé. I was especially treated to the Stuffed Eggplant with Ricotta (which is under the “I trust the chef, just feed me” menu), and can quite honestly say this dish wowed me with a perfect balance and synergy that is rarely found.

The best had been saved for last, oft treated as a lesser part of the meal. The dessert at Eight Wine Bar and Restaurant was as well paired with the meal as the wines; a refreshing Strawberry Shortcake with Chantilly Cream and Strawberry Sorbet.

Chef Mark Roberston’s idea of every dish having three depths of flavour, colour and texture is inspiring, easy to identify and captivating. Possibly what I was most impressed with at Eight was how everything seemed so perfect – perfectly chilled white wine, perfect hot dishes with perfectly balanced meals set in a perfectly calming ambiance with a perfectly efficient waiter. Eight Wine Bar and Restaurant is well worth seeking out.

The wine list:

Fielding Viognier (2007) – White Niagara Region

Pescaja (2008) – Italian Riesling Chardonnay

Domaine Laroche Chablis (2007) – French (Saint Martin)

Malbec Rose (2008) – Ontario (grapefruit base)

Montanaro – Liquore di Camomilla – Italian Grappa

Written by :

Kindah

 

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