Barberian’s Steak House

In an Old House on Elm Street, steps away from the crowds at Yonge & Dundas and the limos full of bachelor and bachelorette parties going to Remington’s and Zanzibar, is a Steakhouse where you can step back in time.
As you walk in the doors, the mood, lighting and décor take you back to the 50’s/60’s, when all fancy dinners and power lunches were at steakhouses like this. If you are a fan of the show Mad Men, this is where a Toronto Don Draper would eat.
To celebrate our 20^th Anniversary, hubby wanted steak and chose Barberian’s. He made a reservation, so even though it was a busy Saturday night, we were seated right away.
The ratio of staff to customers feels like 2 to 1 with all the waiters in suits, and busboys in black and white. The only female staff we saw was the Sommelier, which added to the old time feel.
Having looked at the menu online we didn’t need much time to order, the 24 ounce rib steak is what we were there for, and hubby asked for his upgraded to Pepper Steak for $ 5, which basically means they add peppercorn sauce which he loved.
Between the bread and pickled veggies, and the fact we just ordered 3 lbs of meat between us we skipped the appetizers, which are, of course, all very old school.
Not being heavy drinkers but wanting wine we had seen on the website that our favourite Masi Amarone was offered by the glass but when we got there it was only listed by the bottle. Our waiter said for 2 glasses he would open a bottle which was very appreciated!
That’s service!
We did add sides to have with our steaks: Mushrooms, Onion rings, sautéed snap peas (one of the many vegetable choices of the day), all of them piping hot and delicious additions to the steak.
The steak was, of course, the star of the show. The reason we wanted the thicker cut was to be able to order them to our preferred medium rare and still get that beautiful crust on the steak you can only get at a steakhouse that cook with a bazillion BTU’s. The incredibly helpful and friendly waiter suggested to order the steak medium or medium rare plus, stating for a rib steak if you cook it a little longer the marbling will melt into the meat more. Sold! We went with medium rare plus!
The steaks were succulent and tasty and that crust was worth the extra minuscule $ 11 to upgrade from 16 ounce to 24 ounce… the price per ounce goes down with the bigger steak was how we justified the gluttony.
I had always planned to bring my leftover steak home for steak sandwiches the next day, but had no idea I would be beyond stuffed before I even got ¼ way through the giant slab. Hubby was more ambitious and got halfway through before he had to stop.
The waiter checked in several times to see if everything was okay. The manager (owner?) did as well. Again this is old school service which is rare these days and makes you feel your business is appreciated.
Being a celebration we HAD to have dessert. Hubby had «The House» chocolate mousse, which is presented in an adorable white chocolate house with dark chocolate roof. I had the crème Caramel, which I prefer to crème brûlée. Being so full we didn’t rush into dessert so these are the only things I took time to get photos of. Pictures don’t do the steak justice anyway.
The desserts were lovely and I couldn’t finish mine and the waiter kindly packed it up putting the caramel sauce in a separate cup to prevent possible leaking. Another example of above and beyond customer service.
Yes, the total after tip took us past the $ 300 mark. Yes, the room is dimly lit and moody. Yes, everything about Barberian’s is old school, but if that means quality food and incredible service, then old school rocks!

Came here for my birthday and I was blown away by the great good and awesome service. Would definitely be visiting again to get the Chateaubriand for 2!

The steak is good, but for the money (expensive!) I expected more. We went here for my birthday and I ordered NY Striploin while my girlfriend ordered pork chop. The striploin was quite good, but I’ve had better at Morton’s (aged!) and for less money. The pork chop was quite dry and definitely not worth the price.
We (I) dropped hints throughout the dinner that it was my birthday, but the server ignored it. Would it have been too much of an expense to offer a free slice of cake with a candle on it??? Come’on! Finally my girlfriend ordered a flan dessert and asked them to put a candle on it (and paid for it).
Great location, good (not amazing) steak, but for the money, one could definitely do better around Toronto.
The pickled vegetables were a nice touch, but not enough to salvage the rest.

Great classic steakhouse
Nothing fancy just simple and tasty
Experienced waitstaff, great wine selection
I had the rack of lamb, great choice and you can’t go wrong. Defiantly a great size portion
The choice of food is not massive but the simplicity is all you need. The classic cuts of steak in different sizes for your needs cooked to the way you want it. One steak came out to bloody and they gladly took it back and cooked it the way we wanted it.
The baked potato was great which they bring to you plain and the staff load it up with a choice of sour cream, bacon and cheese :)
The price point is high, the décor is old school and traditional — if your into modern design it’s not a place for you. It’s a classic place to get a great steak and you know what to except if location and a high price point.
Was busy even on a Wednesday night at 10pm
Top 5 steakhouse in TO for sure

I love the ambiance in here, the cost check, the low-​lighting, the separate rooms and everything. I had the 12oz. bacon-​wrapped filet mignon with rice. It was very good, just not worth the $ 64.00 I paid for it. The unlimited pickled vegetables and warm bread to the table were a nice touch as well. What’s really cool are the paintings and different memorabilia hanging on the walls. This place it really unique and I really liked it. Compared to other steakhouses I’ve been too, this one is okay. I likely won’t return, but please give this place a chance.

I ate lib steak, it was so delicious!
I think this restaurant is little bit too expensive.
But if you wanna eat good steak at good atmosphere restaurant you should try!

You would not expect this 50’s throwback in the busy downtown area! The place is dimly lit, very vintage and the servers are as polite and accommodating as can be. They start you off with this massive book of wines; which we regretfully didn’t partake in. Then they bring a basket of bread and pickled vegetables. Delish. Me and my date both got the rib steak. I got fries and he got the baked potato. Oh how I regret not getting the baked potato. Another waiter came by and offered a very generous serving of sour cream, bacon and parmesan cheese for it. But on to the steak! It was tender and so friggin juicy. I love the perfect char on it. I usually don’t eat steak but I ate almost all of it. Mind you it was a massive cut of meat.
I would come back for special occasions. Pretty pricey but worth it.

My date brought me here for Valentine’s Day dinner. As soon as we walked in, I knew it was going to be magical. Someone who seemed important, maybe the owner, identified our reservation and made us feel at home. The free coat check was a plus and the girl was so sweet. The first thing we see at the table is the novel length wine list. The range was incredible. Not long after a sommelier came to the table, asked us our budget and tastes and then let us try a few wines before settling on one that was perfect for us and our meal.
We both ordered steaks, her the filet mignon and me the rib steak. We both asked it be prepared medium. I feel hers was perfect and buttery. I wish I ordered mine medium rare as it was a little too tough for my liking. The sides were the fries that came with it that were well done.
For dessert we had the apple beignets with ice cream. I thought it was presented well and yummy, but definitely not the traditional beignets I was expecting.
During our visit we witnessed a proposal and met a man who had two gigantic Spurs championship rings. He let us try it on and take a picture. I wish I realized at the time I probably should’ve taken the photo with him and not the ring. :P
I would definitely go back. Was a magical experience. Next time I will order the filet and/​or ask for my steak to be prepared medium rare as to not make the same mistake.

I cannot put into words how well worth your money Barberian’s is! From free coat check, to exceptional service all night long, the overall ambiance/​décor, and above all else, the food!
Despite hearing soo much hype about their Rib Steak, I personally do not enjoy the marbled texture of this cut, and opted for a 10oz NY Striploin. My boyfriend decided to go for their legendary Rib Steak. While ordering our entrées, we were provided with a basket of garlic bread, and a plate of pickled veggiea, both of which were delicious!
The entrées arrived, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with thw appearance, and with the idea that I was about to eat haha! I ordered a baked potato on the side, where the waiter returned with a separate tray to add sour cream, bacon bits, and feta to my potato (never in my life had I heard of feta on a baked potato, but lemme say, I will never eat a baked potato again unless it has feta on it!). My boyfriend upgraded his side to their mashed potatoes. Our first bite in and we instantly fell in love with our food… I don’t know how else to say this other than, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT!!! Truly the beat steak of my life, best baked potato, best experience in a steakhouse!
Even though we were both ssooo ssoo full, we decided to order dessert, and went with their hot apple beignets. They were nice enough to realize that we’d be sharing the dessert and separated it onto 2 plates for us. I cut into it, and steam was released from the pastrt… is there any better vision in life than a fresh, hot dessert!!! Scoopes it up with some vanilla ice cream on the side, and finished it within a couple minutes, needless to say, I had no regrets ordering dessert!
I must say, this was the greatest dining experience I’ve had in a while, possibly in my whole life! Although, yes, it’s pricey, it was worth every penny (and that means a lot coming from me as I usually am always looking for a bargain hehe). If you have a fancy/​special occasion and need a place to celebrate, or if you just want a reaaallll top quality meal, please do yourself a favour and dine here!

I love the old school feel of this place. The atmosphere made me feel like I was a big shot right out of the 30s. It’s a great spot for a date, a night out with the girls or boys, or a fancy reunion with family or friends.
The menu was what you would see at a classic steakhouse. The prices weren’t outrageous for what you got. While I prefer other steakhouses in the city, this one certainly wasn’t a disappointment. Portions are what they should be for the price, and the steaks were cooked well.
The only thing that was kind of annoying was that the place was nearly empty when we were there. My boyfriend and I came for a nice date, and we were sat next to two guys that were talking so loudly, it was nearly impossible to ignore.

A classic steakhouse in Toronto located just off Yonge street with amazing décor. You feel like you’ve been transported back in time right when you step in. I dined in the wine cellar in the basement and I must say, it was quite impressive. There’s nothing quite like sitting in a rather private area with thousands of bottles of wine around you. Service was also on point.
It doesn’t happen often, but it happened here — the steaks were undercooked. We all ordered medium-​rare and when the steaks came, they were quite on the rare side to a point where I wondered if the centre got any heat. Fortunately the party was okay with it and we went on eating. We also had the rack of lamb which was actually really good.
I would return to Barberian’s just for the experience of dining in a massive wine cellar again. If you want to eat waygu or 40+ day dry aged beef… look elsewhere.

We came for my husbands birthday and we will NEVER return again way too much hype on a place that’s outdated and needs to be revamped in a big bad way! The service we were hoping would make up for it, well that was the worst part, our waiter sucked large. The bus boys were awesome and the coat check lady was very nice, but man the waiter was rotten!
The tomato and onion salad was presented in a way that resembled a local diner the lettuce was wilted and I had to add copious amounts of salt and pepper to make it taste decent, when I asked for the oil on the side the waiter snubbed me… seriously the service was beyond below average it was actually stupidly horrendous!
The filet mignon was meh with two count them two stalks of broccoli wow is that what I get for $ 400.00 plus??? Then the waiter took the oil and vinegar away very nice touch there buddy! The wines way over priced and the desserts, well can we say hello 1970’s.
People save your money and go to the Keg, they actually have better service, better menus and a way better ambience. That’s what this place is, a true and honest to goodness RIP-​OFF.
Oh by the way did I mention our service was crap!!!

We went here for my birthday dinner based on some recommendations we had from friends. It was a toss up between this location and harbour sixty.
We’ve always noticed this location while downtown so we decided to give it a shot first. The décor is pretty classic and feels that the restaurant is quite old with some character. We had reservations and were seated quickly and our jackets left with their coat check.
The waiter was great. Very personable and we got started right away. We ordered a Ceasar salad and French onion soup to start with a few drinks and before long they were there gone and were delicious.
On to the mains. I had a 12oz fillet and my wife had the 16 oz top sirloin. Both were cooked to perfection with the right amount of flavour and seasoning. They also were the right size for the price. It’s sometimes heart breaking the price you pay for a small steak but this one lived up to the price!
For desert (yes we still had some room) we had a cheese cake and ice cream. I’d ask your waiter if the deserts are for one or two because their portions are quite large.
My only concern is we wanted to order a bottle of wine and the waiter couldn’t get us excited about any. It’s far bigger than one would like to be able to shuffle through and pick a matching bottle for your meal.
Having that be my only concern it was a great meal. Not an every day location I’d visit but it’s good for special occasions.

it’s been about a decade since my last meal here and i must say, it’s the same mediocrity as i recall. yes, it’s a toronto landmark. yes it’s good quality beef. but for the price, that’s just not enough.
the pros:
*a.m.a.z.i.n.g. wine list. one of the best in the city.
*no pressure, not pushy, well informed servers
*sadly, the brussels sprouts were the highlight of the meal
*no pretense
*my ideal lighting concept for a steakhouse – dim and relaxed.
the cons:
*food took nearly 1.5 hours to arrive and it was a fairly vacant scene at 5pm
*after 1.5 hours, our chateaubriand was overcooked. unforgivable at a steak house. ordered MR, and it was in the centre, but nearly well everywhere else. the result of a kitchen shortcut, too high temp or inexperienced chef
*my manhattan was $ 30+ (bar rail bourbon and quick-​to-​melt ice chips)
*outdated, outmoded, embarrassing décor (the mouthwash in the loo is ruined by the paper Scooby Doo cups)
*White-​Out on the wine list. beside a sold out, $ 800 barolo (seriously?!?)
in sum: if someone is taking you, go. if you’re paying, opt for Black Angus on Bloor West

Well spank my ass and call my Unilocaly, what a feast we had on Saturday night. I think I took the idea of a diet cheat meal to a whole other level! Two Christmases my mother in-​law to be (bless her heart) gave the greatest gift a meat eating fella could ask for — gift certificates to two great steakhouses. Last year we used one gift card to go to Ruth’s Chris to witness the «sizzle» and it was a good experience. We squirreled away the other certificate for Barberians for a «special occasion» and when one didn’t come up we decided a 2 year anniversary was as fitting as any other occasion so we booked!
Barberians has been near the corner of Elm and Yonge since 1959, it’s a modest old home from the outside maintaining a classic charm from days of past. Entering the front you’ll note the bar and complimentary coat check. The décor and dim lighting screams of 1960’s class and sophistication — think of early seasons of MadMen where Don and Roger would go for bottomless Martini and Oyster lunches.
The staff, equally as dapper as the venue are dressed in white shirt and tie with a dress vest and apron.
Upon arrival for our 6pm reservation we were taken immediately to a great corner table in the one of the main dining rooms. Our server immediately offered us water and informed us of the specials and drink offerings. I asked about cocktails and he said without hesitation that they were known for their Manhattan and their Martini’s, but that they were very boozy. Perfect, I’ll have one. My fiancée had a class of House red wine. The Manhattan came out extremely quickly, almost making me wonder if there was a punch bowl of Manhattans pre-​made somewhere, I mean it’s not a hard cocktail to make but golly was that quick. The first sip was all booze and I nearly retched, but I gave it a moment to settle down on my palate and chill in the glass any from second sip onwards this was near perfection.
Hungry, we wasted little time deciding and were ready (and well researched) for what we wanted by the time the drinks arrived.
We decided to share two appetizers, the escargot and the caesar salad (you gotta have caesar salad at a steakhouse, you just have to). Our server was great and even offered to split the salad for us into two «smaller» portions before it left the kitchen, and each portion was huge in it’s own right. I imagine the salad might be a bit too big for just one person, so keep this in mind when ordering. The dressing was fantastic and I was able to taste all the the signature elements that make a classic season dressing perfectly. As for the Escargot, lovely, plump and dredged in butter and herbs. Stellar.
On to the mains, my fiancée went for the Salmon main with a side of fries, I was torn between a Porterhouse steak and my goto Rib-​steak. I started to explain my dilemma to our server and before I could get my words out he said «rIbsteak», I continued to explain and he said, «with out question Rib-​steak». Wow, A strong recco. I asked why and he said they take extra special care with this cut and dry age it for 20+ days before it’s served. He had me drooling so I ended up ordering not the reasonable 16oz size, but the 24oz just for good measure (that’s nearly 2 pounds of marbled meaty goodness) and got fries on the side as well. The steak arrived and was glorious, perfect char on the outside, well marbled and cooked to one of the best medium rare temperatures I’ve ever had and it was THICK. Like real thick, it occupied ²⁄₃ of the custom printed plate. A top choice cut of meat and top steak. I was full about 10oz’s in, but by a combination of greed and respect for the restaurant that cooked it, I polished the steak off and licked the bone clean — seriously there wasn’t a scrap left.
I should have ended up right here and then, but my dessert stomach had yet to be satisfied. My lady and I ended up deciding that being a «cheat night» that we should go whole hog and split a dessert. Banana split was the choice and like everything else it was huge and practically perfect in every way. Paired that with a heavy shot of fernet to help digest, a coffee for me and Monte Cristo Café for her.
Are you hungry now? Well you better make a phone call, I bet they’ve got a table this weekend with your name all over it!
MEATcrest Out!

Had a great dinner out with friends last night. I had been to Barberians a few years back and was not surprised to discover little had changed. This place originally opened in 1959 and I’m pretty sure it looks exactly as it did back then. This place is very old school and you can immediately tell they have a lot of «regulars» — people hug and high five as they enter and the guy at the door was clearly born to be a host. We had a reservation but we were a bit late so we were held off to the side for a few minutes. I would strongly recommend a reservation on busy nights unless you enjoying standing in a hallway trying to stay out of everyone’s way.
We were seated quickly in a charming booth but it wasn’t in the «main» room which seemed a bit more entertaining. The server arrived quickly and water, bread and a plate of pickled carrots and pickles were on the table in no time. Our drink order was taken and delivered fast.
We didn’t order wine but the wine menu is huge almost to the point of being overwhelming. My friends took the waiters suggestion and ordered the house speciality which is bone-​in rib eye. I ordered the NY strip. Both good choices but my friends was not cooked exactly as ordered which resulted in us receiving free dessert (not that we needed it). I had the Ceaser salad to start while my friends started with prawns. The Ceaser is classic and it won’t blow your mind but the prawn cocktail looked incredible. There are non meat choices on the menu but this is a true steak house.
The Steak was the best I’ve had so far in Toronto. The restaurant is a bit dated and a lot old school but that’s it’s charm and the food is outstanding as is the service! Highly recommend it!

Wow.
Barberian’s is something of a legendary spot. It’s an old school steakhouse, not the kind of place you find many of anymore. It’s not changed much over the years, though I think they’ve had to adapt a bit to modern era realities (the dress code is less stringent than it was in the past, I think…)
You’re here for steak, probably. Really, really good steak, and you’re not afraid to pay for it. And you will. This isn’t a cheap night out, it’s a quality experience to savour. If you’re going to do it, do it right. Get good wine. Get dessert. And don’t have a heart attack when you see the bill, because it’s going to be worth the leisurely dining experience on a steak like you’ve never had.
Secret tip: creamed spinach isn’t on the menu, but ask and the kitchen will make it for you.
If you order a steak more than medium, I’d like to think the staff will throatpunch you.
Also, the pickled vegetables — they’re amazing. Best appetizer ever.
They offer an interesting «after theatre» lighter fare menu as well, definitely a good option after a show.

Consistently poor service every time I’ve been here. Meals components are severely staggered across all courses, mistakes in orders, and they don’t fix it. Sadly, once the waiter realises he has flubbered everything up, he stops caring because he realises that there is going to be no tip for him or the kitchen and then your dining experience spirals even further down hill.
My advice: Buy the steak spice from your grocer and a nice cut of meat from your local butcher.

We came here for Tarim’s very belated Birthday and probably hyped it up in our minds. It was only my first week eating meat again so I was extra pumped.
The food was pretty good but not blown out of my mind. Honestly, my favourite part of the meal was the bread. The wine was wayyyyy overpriced. The service was super lacking — either because it was a busy night or because of our age.
I would give them 3 stars for service+atmosphere+food but given the sticker shock at the end, I’m docking a star.

The ambiance is what one would imagine for a steak house in 60’s, 70’s or maybe even 80’s. We are talking dark interior, servers in vests with immaculate attention to detail, a wine list that goes on forever. So if one seeks those qualities I would say this place will be enjoyed by you. However things have changed even for steak houses one needs to up their game for food.
We were here in a mid sized group and called in ahead for reservations.
I ordered a French Onion soup though visually appealing it was devoid of taste. I had to resort to loading it with black pepper just to get some feeling out of it.
The main I had a filet with a side of fries and bernaise sauce. While cooked to the right consistency It didn’t wow. Another diner who had ordered the steak with black pepper sauce commented that the sauce was like from the bottle and just lathered on the steak which left little option to portion control.
Don’t get me wrong they do serve a decent steak but once one can factor in the cost/​value proposition they are comparable to chain steak house spots.
2.5 Stars

Bin immer wieder gerne in diesem Steakhouse. Für mich eines der Top 5 Steak Restaurants in Toronto. Das Fleisch ist super die Getränke Auswahl ist sehr ordentlich. Ich bisher immer gut bedient worden und habe tolle Abende verbracht. Hier trifft man auch gerne mal Lokale Sportgrößen und Berühmtheiten am Nachbartisch. Es ist zwar etwas teuer aber das Essen ist den gehobenen Preis durchaus wert. Ich kann es nur empfehlen.
5 Sterne

Für einen anständiges Stück Fleisch ist man hier an der richtigen Adresse.
Ich gebs zu: ich habe mein Fleisch am liebsten well done. Das was ich kriegte war dann bald schon too much. Für den happigen Preis hätte ich unterm Strich mehr erwartet. Die anderen bei mir am Tisch waren hingegen sehr zufrieden, vielleicht hatte ich einfach Pech (solls auch geben). Werde dem Restaurant nochmal eine Chance geben, sollte ich wieder mal in Toronto vorbeikommen.
Die Weinliste ist enorm, selten so eine grosse Auswahl gesehen.