Flor de Sal

Amazing food, great service. Very tasteful décor. Loved the place. Wine selection is rich and selected with great knowledge, very impressive. Don’t forget to try their desserts, delicious and to me they are artworks.
We were five people to dine there for the first time and we tried different dishes. All of them were unique, fresh and tasteful. We will definitely going back there again. Highly recommend to all.

Beautiful room, classy and elegant. Service was good. The server was too talkative. Food preserved well by flavours were missing. What is so Portuguese about this place. Food needs major improvement. Good wine list. Will I go back… I don’t think so… Too prcey for bland food

Wow, just an excellent experience overall.
We had dinner there on a Saturday night and our waitress Joanna was just amazing, it seemed that’s all the stars were aligned from atmosphere food and especially courtesy of Christina coming to our table to ensure that all of the services were two excellent and satisfying standards. Without a shadow of a doubt we shall return. Hats off to the great team keep up the outstanding level of service.

Flor de Sal, the ambience itself will ignite the youthful or the seasoned romance in you at once. The 2 floor restaurant partitioned in small, elegant rooms is perfect to remind you of the gone by romantic days when diners were enjoying good food with the loved ones and when the mobile invasion was not introduced to elegant dining. At Flor de Sal the ambience itself will dissuade the diner to pick up the phone for some useless conversation. The bar, albeit small is inviting and has the most warm atmosphere that is worth checking out. I was impressed and will visit the restaurant again.
Now to the food. I was there with a friend lunch time. The Celric soup of the day laced with pesto sauce and fresh crab meat was heavenly. My friend ordered clams as an appetizer which accompanied pencil thin fries. The presentation was mouth watering and the generous serving gave me an opportunity to taste. The clams were meaty and cooked to perfection. It was lunch time so we restrained to some casual fare. My friend ordered Cobb salad and being a critic of food passed it on as the best he ever had. Well that was pleasing. I made the mistake of ordering a hamburger at Flor de Sal. One should neither offer nor order a hamburger in such an esoteric environment. It is sacrilegious. It is like wearing a pair of shoes in a Buddhist temple. Flor de Sal is temple of food and the hamburger, particularly a dry one with no character should be banished forever. Now wait a minute, don’t judge the place with an odd entry on the menu. I saw my neighbour’s grilled fish arrive that sent my eyes wandering shamelessly on to his choice. Well I was too full to order another entrée. Before leaving the restaurant, I made another booking to visit the place next week. I know I will start with a dry martini at the bar.
Now it is time close with my comments on service. We were received by Adam and served by Adam. Adam’s mannerisms and etiquette totally match the Flor de Sal ambience. He is elegant, a good host and above all very caring. He served as if I was a squire in my own castle. Can’t ask for better.
I have not been complimentary of the new wave restaurants and have been told so by my friends. My praise for Flor de Sal comes straight from the heart and not from the guilt from the comments my friends have made about my reviews.
Cheers and enjoy.
Suresh Chawla.
Toronto

I really walked away from this restaurant impressed, but also wondering about the next time I might come back. It’s not to say that there aren’t other restaurants just as good in Toronto, because there are. But I felt like every course hit the right note for me. I can imagine the taste of each one as I think about them again. And that’s why I really liked this restaurant.
I came here on a Thursday night this week. There were five of us, so they placed us in a private room on the side upstairs. It was nice, but I think one of us had read that the larger room upstairs was nice and was hoping that’s where we would’ve gotten to sit. I didn’t mind though. I suspect we could’ve gotten moved if we had asked (not sure).
The menu is a nice one. Not overly large, but had a nice selection. I won’t mention what everyone else at my table had, mainly because they got stuff that I couldn’t eat (shellfish). But for appetizer, I had the sardines and we had some shishito peppers to share. Two sardines came on the plate, each was a nice sized (it is intended to be shared), served with arguula, potatoe and a sundried tomato salsa. It was a very nice flavour combination. None of the elements was dominant, and worked well together. The shishito peppers were nice too. I think I just really like shishito peppers, so they could’ve just put a basket of it in front of me and I would’ve been a pretty happy customer! For entrée, I got the sable fish. All I really need to say about this dish is: «try it!» The fish is filleted and cooked perfectly. It was so soft and tender. I don’t know how else to describe it other than that maybe: it’s the best dish I’ve tasted at any of the restaurants I’ve visited this year. I’d come back to this restaurant just for this dish. I then had the passionfruit cheesecake.
I’d have to say that service here was very good. I dont know if it’s improved since May or if it’s always been like this. But I think my experience was a pleasant one. The staff was patient not to interrupt conversation (even standing there waiting for our attention). I was explained what I could and couldn’t get (because of my shellfish allergy) or if something could be removed from my plate if I wanted. When asked between different plates what they’d recommend, they explained what was unique about the different dishes, but also gave a response about which they liked. The owner (Cristina) also visited the table twice first to introduce herself. Second to follow up and see if there was anything we’d want. We had a friendly conversation with her. I can see that she has a lot of passion for her restaurant.
I’d have to say, for me, great food + great service, this place is definitely currently one of my favorite in Toronto. I’d come here again for sure.

This review is based on our experience at the restaurant 2 – 3 months after its opening. We haven’t been back since that experience, but would like to try again if they’ve upped their game.
The biggest miss was food: it’s not the ingredients or technique of cooking, but it’s seasoning. At this price range, I would expect that everything is seasoned well… but it was quite inconsistent. There are so many restaurants opening up lately with similar quality of food for better value. If this is fixed, I think the value can be justified, given their beautiful space and attentive servers… (hopefully that remains the same).

Just had a superb lunch of cantaro fish. Food presentation is pleasing without being fussy. The wait staff is helpful and professional. Don’t be in a rush as the food is prepared when ordered. Save room for dessert! Glad to finally find such quality of food and service in Toronto.

I first met chef Roberto Fracchioni when he was running Monk Kitchen, a true «hidden» gem that was located in the basement of the Templar Hotel. Sources tell me that Monk Kitchen is no more and the Templar Hotel is now void of its own restaurant. I had taken my sister there last year for her birthday, and we loved Roberto so much that when we found out he is now cooking out of Flor de Sal, where the former Corner House was once located, we decided to go there for my birthday this year.
Cristina da Costa, former CHIN radio host turned restauranteur is the perfect hostess. She greeted us at the door, checked up on us without being obtrusive and when she found out we were celebrating a birthday offered us a dessert/​apéritif on the house. She definitely knows how to make you feel special.
I’m glad that the dated décor left with the Corner House as the space is minimalist but modern and the patio is extremely inviting. Naturally, we both decide that’s where we want to spend the night.
Dinner starts off with Portuguese corn bread which fails to excite me. It was all too dense and rather bland. The only saving grace are the duo of olives from Cheese Boutique.
Wines are pretty pricey though I do like that they have the option of a half-​bottle which allows room for both a white and red wine, especially for a smaller party of 2. My sister found a new favorite in the form of a Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. We quickly search the LCBO to find a full 750mL bottle for $ 13.95 while our half-​bottle rang in at around $ 30. That’s just to give you an idea on the mark-​up.
An amuse of Ricotta and Beamster-​stuffed shisito arrives at our table on a bed of pine nuts and cherry tomatoes. We quickly devour it. The cherry tomatoes are sweet, plump and delicious and the shisito pepper is extremely satisfying.
We start with a bowl of Bulhao Pato, clams cooked in vinho verde with garlic and cilantro. The serving is quite scant for the $ 18 price tag and I wonder if Fracchioni is taking Flor de Sal (which is the Portuguese-​equivalent of fleur de sel) too seriously. I’d normally sop up every drop of the cooking liquids with my bread, but…
A palate cleanser dubbed the Sicilian Lemon Bomb arrives at our table infused with Limoncello and sprinkled with pomegranate.
With mains starting at $ 39, one’s expectation is high. I opt for the Branzino, which comes grilled whole with lemon and rosemary tucked into various pockets of the fish but the kitchen is happy to fillet it for you if you don’t want to do the work yourself. The accompaniment of sorrel, farro and radish is bland and flavorless and is more there for plating than it is for consumption. I certainly didn’t waste any calories on it.
My sister’s rack of lamb ($ 47) however, is fantastic. Grill marks are not there just for show as you can taste the charred goodness through the mustard and oregano. The fried artichokes get quickly consumed as my sister and I exchange glances before our forks race to finish the last piece.
It is worthy of noting that when we were originally deciding where to go for dinner that the final 2 considerations were Scaramouche and Flor de Sal. We eventually opted for Flor de Sal because of our previous experience with Fracchioni at Monk Kitchen and the fact that it was named in Toronto Life’s list of «Top 20 Best Restaurants» this year. Suffice it to say that we were extremely disappointed in our decision to go with Flor de Sal (and will think twice before taking a recommendation from Toronto Life again)…we didn’t even bother with dessert. All we could think of was the coconut cream pie we could’ve had at Scaramouche.
Flor de Sal definitely looks the part, with its elegant interiors, the amuse and palate cleanser and its area code, but for the price tag, better food can be found elsewhere.

It was a last minute booking, the 4 of us.
Wanted to check out this fully new renovated Resturant.
Very modern and done to the nines.
Décor ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Service extremely friendly
The food was fresh and very very tasty.
A bit pricy but well worth it.
They have a lots a seating pockets within the Resturant (2 floors) great for 8 – 10 pips.
Any way.fantastic.

Food. Service. Atmosphere. Everything was flawless. I would recommend this restaurant highly! Toronto Life, naming it one of the 20 best new restaurants, got it totally right. Enjoy the patio while the weather permits!

Just excellent. The celery and crab soup was a treat. Atmosphere was pleasant and sunny. Fantastic spot for lunch. Have been here for dinner as well and staff are always friendly and accommodating. We dine out a lot in TO and it’s so refreshing to enjoy food of this caliber in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Not pretentious or stuffy at all.

Starting on a positive note the décor is amazing. It’s a little opulent (but not over the top), intimate and very comfortable. After reading some good reviews I was really excited for the food. Unfortunately they make you wait for it. After seeing our server to get water when seated I think we waited 45 mins before we even saw anyone to give an order. I could have overlooked that if the food lived up to expectations, but no one in our group had a dish that came anywhere close. I had the lobster gnocchi (dry and flavourless) and salt cod (very chewy). We passed on dessert. Maybe it was an off night so I’ll give it another chance because I know there is talent the kitchen and hopefully they can get their service together.

Stunning ambience. Food was really good but pricey. For the prices I’m not sure if I was blown out of the water, but it really was such a nice setting and the service was phenomenal — attentive but not annoying or pretentious — so I’ll be back.

Fantastic!!! The fish was excellent. We had a white wine that paired perfectly with our oysters, lobster gnocchi, and fish. Definitely at the top of our list for restaurants.

Had a truly wonderful meal here. The appetizers, main course, and desserts were all equally wonderful. The service was top notch.
When they brought the bread I was initially disappointed. No oil and balsamic vinegar, no butter. Then I tried a piece. WOW, it was amazing and didn’t need anything extra.
The beef tenderloin was one of the best meals I can remember having.
The chocolate torte was the perfect finish to the evening.
The Lobster gnocchi was also incredible.