A La Carte at the Gardiner Bistro

Annabelle Goodman —

Fine dining in an elegant atmosphere. The third floor dining room at the Gardiner Museum has an exquisite view.  Three sides of this spacious room look outside. You may face the Museum across the road or have a view of the trees at Queens Park. The room is bright and airy and furnished in an elegant manner. Following your brunch or lunch you can visit the museum. The restaurant is reserved for private parties in the evening. The menu is very friendly and the service superb. This was my second visit this summer and I can’t wait to return. Andre was our delightful server. What a sense of humor. He certainly added to the delightful experience. He was most cooperative and very attentive throughout.

111 queens Park – 416 586 8086

We arrived for a Sunday brunch but were also offered the regular lunch menu. Once a year I lunch with a former boss and his delightful wife. We always look forward to our visit and love to catch up on all the news of the people we worked with. The warm bread was of fine quality. We all commented on the superior taste of the extra virgin olive oil. A small dish of salt mixed with herbs added flavor to the bread.

We all opted for the daily special of Baked Eggs.  A baked egg was placed on top of the most delicious cooked vegetables. It was served in an individual casserole. It was hot and right from the oven. The base was ratatouille like with the addition of roasted potatoes. We asked to have it a touch spicy. It was perfect to our taste. A beautiful fresh mixed green salad was delicious. I couldn’t even finish it all. Every bite was savored. The flavors melded together to offer a wonderful brunch delight.

The Omelette of the day was also considered. Spinach, leeks and other vegetables made it sound like a perfect choice. Many breakfast items were available for brunch. Pancakes and Waffles or a Greek Yogurt Parfait are available.

On my last visit I enjoyed a Filet of Salmon with new potatoes and seasonal vegetables. I recall the delicate taste of the herbed lemon butter.  I noticed that many guests were enjoying their famous Lobster Sandwich. It obviously was the winner on this day as well. A very large sandwich bursting with lobster filling was most appealing.

Salad Nicoise is always my favorite salad. It is a daily feature on the lunch menu. A creative Watermelon and Feta Salad or a soothing Kale and Peach Salad were also available.

The coffee was noteworthy, fresh and flavorful. Of course I enjoyed a Macchiato. It certainly woke me up but I savored every drop. I teased the server because they didn’t have any Lemon Tarts on the menu. Last visit the same. Maybe next time. The Dessert of the Day was a Crème Brule. I wish I had room.

It is affordable and offers gourmet food in an elegant surrounding. This is a ‘classy’ restaurant. The service is exquisite. The food is fresh and beautifully presented. It is a great place to entertain or spend time with friends.