Colette Grand Cafe

Venue/​Atmosphere — 5 stars
Service — 3 stars
Food — 4 stars
Value — 3 stars
I came here for a weekend brunch buffet, and it was quite busy. We made reservations and still had to wait about 10 mins to get seated. For a buffet, the quality of the food is better than your typical buffet, but at the premium that you pay ($ 50 – 60), I’m not sure that it was worth it. I can only eat so much, so I definitely don’t feel like I got my $$$‘s worth. The venue and décor is really nice, so it’s an experience. I’m not sure that it was worthy to be classed as a Parisian experience, but nonetheless, the place is nice for a girls day out. The service I didn’t care for; our waiter rarely came to clear the empty plates off our table nor to refill our beverages. I can see myself coming back, but maybe only for a special occasion.

I came here with a friend for Sunday brunch. I made reservations a week in advance and there was only a 10 am spot left (which was perfect for me).
The first thing I noticed about the restaurant was the atmosphere. It was so bright, sunny and cheerful. I love the blue and white colours they used at the front of the restaurant.
The server told us that grapefruit juice, orange juice, coffee and tea were all included in the brunch price ($ 54). I didn’t really like the grapefruit juice because it wasn’t sweet enough. The orange juice tasted really good and I swear it tasted kind of like pineapple juice.
The presentation of the spread was gorgeous. I usually don’t take pictures of buffets but it was too pretty not to. I wouldn’t say that there was a lot of options. However, everything they have to offer is delicious and right up my alley. In other words, they gave us quality over quantity.
My only complaint is their dessert. I felt like there weren’t that many options and nothing really stood out.
I can’t wait to treat myself for brunch here sometime soon!

As we walked in to the reception area, the first thing I thought, «we’re not in Toronto any more». Wow, what an ambiance, well decorated, and you’re almost immediately faced with the luxurious and sweeping buffet. Maybe I just don’t get out enough, but Colette’s really looked like it was whisking us away, far from the chill of the city, far from Toronto.
We were at Colette’s for Sunday Brunch, and it was wonderful. We were a large group (12), and the service from the time we arrived until the time we left, was outstanding. Very attentive and helpful throughout.
The buffet required 4 plates, at least that’s how it was for me. First plate was a bit of a sampler from the cold dishes, and the salmon wellington — very yummy. The roast beef was a little over done for my taste, but was nice none-​the-​less.
Second plate — yea, the carbs. Bring on the fried chicken and waffles, smothered in maple syrup — oh yea. I could have eaten that all day. French toast with all the accouterments was excellent as well.
Third plate — eggs Benedict, served fresh to the table, was terrific and perfectly prepared, nice and runny. I’ve never had salmon under my eggs, and it was very nice for a change. But what really made it was the croissant the eggs were perched on. Melt in your mouth, I’ll never want to see an English muffin under my eggs Bene again!
Fourth plate — desserts were all very nice. A sweet selection, and just enough to send us on our way.
My only complaint: some of the food ran out, and we had to wait for refills on things like bacon, waffles and fried chicken, crème brûlée, you know, the staples. And in some cases we had to point out the empty trays to the staff. That really isn’t cool, especially for a brunch set up. Were it not for that, this review would have been 5 stars.
All in all, very enjoyable, and looking forward to returning one day.

My friend made the suggestion to check out Colette. I made reservations the night before and was greeted by a friendly hostess and the front of the house manager who led us to a really nice seat by the window with a great view of the CN tower.
The décor was really on point. Classic elegant café with decent space between your table and the other patrons. The menu was limited but prob done intentionally to minimize any issues with fresh ingredients and kitchen capacity. Portions were decent but sides had to be purchased separately. Had the eggs Benedict and side of potatoes (not the best but it came out warm). Water and coffee were never topped. My daughter had the French toast but other than the topper it was dry.
The biggest issue was service. Our waitress was extremely unattentive and not friendly. She was a meal taker and not a server. She didn’t top our beverages and we had to ask the manager at one point to order a round of drinks. The food runner had to grab things from the kitchen for us to start our meals and again she wasn’t around. Waitress did not do a quality check otherwise she would notice that the eggs in my Benedict were over cooked. Our plates sat empty in front of us for 15 minds before a random employee noticed we were waiting for some sort of attention. We waited another 20 mins at the end of our service to ask for the bill which then we waited another 10 mins before she showed up for payment.
Food ⁵⁄₁₀
Service ¹⁄₁₀
Ambiance ⁷⁄₁₀
Overall
A bit overrated for my taste and I won’t be coming back. Good for those who want to come off as a foodie and take «nice» pictures for social media. Saw a few girls who made the effort to do their hair and makeup to take pics with their high end cameras. That’s the crowd you get. I think I could score a better brunch experience elsewhere in the city. Best part of the meal was our seat. I think it was the only table worth sitting at if you enjoy a semi view of something besides other tables.

Excellent service. Delicious food. Nice classy atmosphere here. The 2^nd time had a live jazz playing. Their specials were really good. We had to wait a long time for my 2^nd time there, with reservations. They comp’d us wine, which was nice. If I was hungry, it probably would have been a problem. But I was just left with half the girls sleepy by the end of the meals.

Came here with my girlfriend for the sunday brunch. The food was spectacular! It’s an all-​you-​can-​eat style buffet, yet one with the freshest food. As they are pretty busy, food gets demolished and replenished timely.
They did a roast (beef?) and salmon wellington, it was delicious, and the amazing staff was able to cut me a small sliver as requested so I can sample more of their food (which i really appreciate)!
They offer a crab leg seafood salad, probably one of my favourite items they offer.

4.5 Stars
Had a romantic dinner here with the wife on a Sunday evening.
First impressions: romantic, classy décor with dim lighting that sets the appropriate ambience. The setting is quite picturesque.
Our server explained the menu and provided helpful suggestions. Service was timely, helpful, and professional.
Apps:
Foie Gras: done three ways. Approximately 35 dollars. The seared foie was by far the best. Of course that also boils down to preference. Foie lovers should all find something to enjoy here.
Goat cheese soufflé: tasty and accompanied by beets, nuts, and presented like a salad.
Entrees:
Halibut: flaky, tasty, and par for the course. Not remarkable but enjoyable for seafood lovers and fans of halibut
Tenderloin: served with fries. Juicy, tender, and flavourful. Not sure if it’s dry aged but for the price not a bad steak and a tasty entrée.
Bottom line: A picturesque setting with excellent service and prices in keeping with a fairly high quality food standard. Can certainly see myself returning.

Our company had our party here last Friday.
The place was pretty and beautifully decorated. The food… I’m not so sure…
For starters, there was a seafood platter with smoked salmon, oyster, crab, and shrimp. Whatever radish or anything that was on the oysters was too strong. So i felt that it may not be that fresh. For the shrimp and crab, they were pretty tasteless.
There was also some corn+edamame, mixed green, and quinoa salad. The butternut squash soup was my favorite.
For the main course was penne, mashed potato, chicken and beef. Seriously if they can’t make good pasta they’ll be pretty doomed. So… The pasta was good. Same goes to the mashed potato. But the Chicken was dry and beef was bland, soaked in oil…
As for dessert… Since it’s a French café, they didn’t disappoint. The macaroon was sweet as usual… But the little chocolate cake and tart were good. Later on we also had some yuzu cake (very refreshing), dark chocolate cake, ferrero Rocher cake and blackberry cake. I liked all of them ;)
Overall it’s fair. I’ll probably come again but only for the dessert.

I’ve always wanted to visit Colette Café, but never got the opportunity to until recently. The Café is adorable! French inspired from the exterior to the interior decorations, that remind me of an indoor garden. Everyone who works there are extremely friendly and professional. When I came here, I specifically went to the Café area where it was more casual and lounge-​like. They had a take-​out area where they served coffee, macaroons, pastries, and sandwiches/​wraps. I had their 8oz latte and their turkey bacon with apple sandwich. The sandwich was delicious and flavourful, which I highly recommend. I thought the apples would be a weird as I’m not usually a fan of savoury and sweet but the apples compliment the flavours of the sandwich so well. The coffee that they serve is creamy, smooth and freshly brewed. They even add nice coffee art to every cup. Even though the Café is a take-​out area, if you are eating in, they will bring your food over to your table, which is nice. They also offer free wi-​fi and they have extremely comfy lounge chairs and throw pillows, that makes you want to stay at the Café for hours and hours! (I stayed there for 4 hours, no problem.) I’m definitely coming back here and I would love to try their dining experience the next time.

Macaron lovers, I have found your safe haven! This classy French café is the best I have tried for coffee and French pastries! Let’s start off with the interior design of the place.
Every time I go to this café, I feel as if I am experiencing French culture! The interior design is very much like those European tea parties you see on TV or movies. You can choose to sit at a table or lounge at the couches/​sofas. I find this place very classy and sophisticated! The staff are very friendly too; excellent customer service!
From what I can remember, the coffees they have are: drip, americano, cappuccino, latte and mocha. I’m pretty sure they have more but that’s all I can remember; they also have tea! I usually get a medium mocha coffee with regular milk and a shot of homemade caramel.
The French pastries are the best thing about this place! They have croissants, chocolate croissants, almond croissants, coconut croissants, parfaits, lemon scones, lemon bichons, and macarons! The macaron flavours include: dark chocolate, vanilla, white chocolate, raspberry, blackberry, coconut, lemon, pumpkin cinnamon, matcha green tea, caramel, peanut butter, espresso and mocha (they probably have more flavours but this is all I remember). In addition, they also serve non-​pastries such as prosciutto croissants, focaccia pizza, turkey sandwich, vegetable wrap, cobb salad and tofu salad. I definitely recommend the chocolate & coconut croissants and matcha green tea & coconut macarons; those are my favourites!
This place is amazing! I support this place 100 percent! Whenever I ask a girl out to go get coffee, I’m taking her to this place!!!

Je m attendais à mieux … éviter de choisir le Canard, viande nerveuse …
Mais le cadre est vraiment sympa.

Beautiful venue both inside and outside. This is an instagrammers dream location– tons of photo oops. Staff was super friendly and the overall venue is great for large parties.
They have a restaurant area and a bakery area. Let’s start with their bakery… Um… Tons of baked goods, including decadent macarons (best I’ve had in awhile). And great coffee and tea choices. They even have chocolate tea!!!
The restaurant is beyond amazing. I definitely had a Parisian moment. And the food is delicious!!! I had the Colette burger and fries– yes, I finished my whole plate. And of course, I saved room for dessert… Yum yum!!! Definitely going back next time I’m in town!

What can I say… Novelty won me over! Would I do a $ 60+ brunch again? Probably not though, I WOULD come back for a few of these items on their own and perhaps a beverage or two :)
AMBIANCE/​SERVICE
Absolutely gorgeous interior with high ceilings and regal décor. Our party of 6 made reservations in advance to try their AYCE Brunch. We were seated and provided waters promptly by our servers. THEN! OFF TO ROAM!
FOOD
+Salmon Wellington with the house crème fraîche — Outstanding dish. Loved the crème fraîche which paired really nicely with the flaky pastry which wrapped the salmon.
+Dulce de leche crème puff — BEST item out of the entire dessert selection, this is coming from the girl who’s tried every sweet thing there: p
+French toast with topping station (raspberry jam, chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, berries, sprinkles, sliced almonds, walnuts, maple syrup) — Forget the pancakes, do it up with Colette’s french toast!
+Lemon scones with raspberry jam — Delectable.
+Freshly squeezed juice — DO IT.

We came here for Sunday Brunch. It’s been a long time since I’ve been wanting to bring my parents here, to show them a brunch that’s worthy of $ 50 (as opposed to their usual place). They are really picky, but even though they would have a hard time admitting it, they enjoyed it. (except I think we are back at our usual place because its closer to them and seating is more comfy).
We sat in the nice open solarium area. It was cozy, but we were still able to fit a stroller. The wait staff was excellent. 5 stars. I haven’t seen an establishment that does things this well. My water and coffee were never empty. Plates were cleared quickly and utensils replaced. They were friendly, courteous and even responded to my dad’s many requests. It seems so simple, but not a lot of places do things well.
The buffet was great. My stomach is small. (sad face).
There’s an omelette station, made to order and brought to your table. You could also order an eggs benedict (something no one told us until we saw it). There was a salmon wellington, and a roast beef. Scrambled eggs, Sausage, French Toast. Bacon.
Then there is the huge salad bar of yummy things. A lobster salad that I couldn’t stop eating, and shrimp cocktail. Smoked salmon and cheeses, with grapes.
If you still have room, dessert was amazing too.
You can also get baked goods in the bakery attached.
I think it would be a great place for a special occasion or family gathering.

Fantastic French café with a wide range of choices. Love the patio looking into the park.
Best local people watching spot… And down at the Wellington or on king street for the masses.

We heard a lot about this place and were somewhat disappointed. Lemon scone had a great texture, caramel macaron seemed like proper macaron, but the flavour wasn’t so good. Peach Danish was not good: cheese tasted fake and peach was too soft and tasteless, but croissant dough is very good. I would go for a plain or almond croissant next time.
I absolutely loved their interior. Great design and feels cozy.

Colette grand café Salad Bar
If you love Sunday brunch at this chic frenchie retreat, you’ll love the edited but chic salad bar offered weekdays only from 11:30−2pm. The presentation is not just lovely but tasty and variety is top! Everything from seared steak toppings to burrata panini bites, and wait till you discover the decadent dessert options.
#Whatwelove
Valet, outdoor seating, french chic ambiance, desserts, presentation

If you are looking for an upscale French décor pretentious atmosphere then you’ve come to the right place. I came here two weeks ago with my cousin, and well, we did not have a good time, especially since I had very high expectations. I never felt so out of place before in my life, and I’ve been to a few upscale high end restaurants. Apparently, you have to dress up a lot or else you get weird looks from the waiters and staff.
The interior: The décor is very elegant, classy, and French themed. They have an amazing seating area, lounge/​bar area, and the interior are designed very well. There are lots of random paintings, portraits, and photos on the wall, which is nice to look at. The colour theme and music are very pleasant. Overall, it’s definitely a beautiful place, and very picture worthy.
The food: We ordered from the dinner menu, and we were only here for appetizers and dessert. We ordered the veal tartare, goat cheese soufflé, mozzarella, macaroons, profiteroles, and smores croissant. The veal tartare was okay, although I felt like the dijon was a bit over powering. The goat cheese soufflé was horrible, super bitter, and we had to return it. Mozzarella pretty good, nothing extraordinary. The macaroons were horrible! For a French inspired restaurant, they do need to work on their macaroons, it was very dry and flaky, and you couldn’t taste the different flavours. I will say the best dessert I ever had was the Profiteroles with vanilla ice cream with caramel cream and warm chocolate sauce, it was extremely good (even though it’s off menu, you have to ask for it now). The smores croissant was delicious as well, and basically was everything you wanted out of a smores croissant. The presentation of each of the food dishes were pretty, and the portion sizes were small, however keep in mind this is a French inspired place.
The service: It was the most dissatisfying of my entire experience. Our server had a friendly condescending manner, and I’m not sure if that was on purpose to go along with the French atmosphere (joke) or that was his personality. When we ordered the goat cheese soufflé, and told the server how unsatisfied we were, he immediately changed it for another app, and it was not counted towards for final bill, and yes that was very generous of him, however it came with a snobby remark, «Well girls, at least you have a picture of instagram so it can look like you actually ordered two dishes,» that was very insulting and embarrassing nonetheless. Yes, Colette is a beautiful place and so what if we enjoy taking pictures of our food, and the restaurant. I had to actually explain, that I review restaurants on Unilocal a lot, and I like to share my photos on Unilocal/​instagram. We live in the digital age, where we want to share all our experiences with the world. We did not ask for it to be taken off our bill, and we have sufficient money to pay for our food. It felt as if, the waiter kept questioning our ability to pay for our food, which was ridiculous. At one point, the server asked us what we do for a living, which I don’t think is appropriate for a restaurant setting. It was a very humiliating experience, nonetheless I left a very generous tip for the server, not that I had anything to prove but because I have the ability to do so.
Overall: Basically, don’t come here undressed because the staff and other customers will look down at you. The food is alright, nothing special, and I don’t know what the hype was all about anymore. I wouldn’t recommend this place if you don’t want to be judged based on your appearance, and have people question your capability to purchase dinner or humiliate you. One of the worst experiences of my life, and I would never come back here ever again.

Trendy. Very trendy. Came here for a dessert date with a dear friend on a Wednesday evening. It turns out we were severely under dressed. The maitre’ d was en pointe and looked after our orders thoughtfully but our server was just doing her job. I had the burger which was good and my friend had the mushroom soup which looked tasty. It is good but not outstanding. Then we got the dessert chocolate soufflé for two. They made a great show of pouring the crème anglais but in the end the taste was underwhelming. Definitely paid for the trendy ambiance.
Inasmuch as this place is sooo pretty I think I am ok not to come here again.

Food: ⁸⁄₁₀
Atmosphere: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Service: N/​A — explained in review
Overall experience: ⁹⁄₁₀
My friend took me to Colette for a birthday «brunch». It is a fantastic place to go when you are celebrating an occasion. The entire place is beautiful and feels worthy enough to deem unique for your celebration.
The reason there is no service rating is because there was no wait staff when we were there. We ordered pastries and coffee from the bakery, and it was brought to us, but that was the extent of the service. That being said, those who did take our orders were pleasant and helpful.
What we ate was good. Nothing really stands out, and I can not speak for their lunch/​dinner food. However, Colette gets a high rating due to their design. Sitting in a grand, Parisian-​inspired room really does influence your experience, even if the food was just normal.
The bottom line: though the food is normal, you may come just for the décor (and the instagrams), and that’s okay.

Came here for a bday brunch for 2 today, but didn’t know it was a buffet. They should advertise this better on their website cause it’s definitely a worthwhile place to go for a special occasion!
At $ 54 (not including tax) a person, you get unlimited coffee, fresh juices, and three buffet areas with assorted meat and cheeses, salads, seafood (lobster, crab meat, salmon, shrimp), breakfast food (sweet and savory crepes, bacon etc.), omelette table, soup, tons of desserts, assorted warm meats (roast beef and turkey), and fruits!
The service was impeccable for us. When we were waiting for our table (we were walk-​ins and only waited 5 mins for our table), there was a server that offered us crab legs while we waited. The staff was super nice. We stayed over 3 hours catching up and no one rushed us to finish. I told my server it was my friend’s bday so she got her a slice of cake with a candle on it. Servers also helped us take some nice pics! Overall, I give the service A!
The ambience was beautiful, like other reviewers said. People were really dressed up for brunch.
The meal is pricey, but the food is good. I would come back for a special occasion or an outing where I feel like dressing up!