The Wine Bar

My review is based on a Wine Bar/​Hank’s experience in November, 2015. We actually hosted an event here.
We hosted our event in Wine Bar while Hank’s was open and when Wine Bar opened, we moved over to Hank’s. I’ll enumerate my pleased-​ness.
1) They were really helpful with letting me store things at the venue (for at least a few hours — all I needed) before the event actually happened. Extremely great since I had enormous projectors.
2) They were helpful with my setup (of said projectors) even of things that had nothing to do with them (like, again, the projectors).
3) They were helpful with the tear-​down. We really pushed our rental time in Wine Bar to the limit, staying probably 10 – 15 minutes past the time they told us to move to Hank’s — despite the fact that it gave them just a tiny window to set up
4) Everything was delicious!
5) They opened Wine Bar for us before it was actually open and they opened Hank’s for us after it was actually closed. So, so great.
6) Service with the food and drinks we ordered was phenomenal.
7) When we had money left to reach our minimum after the reception was over at Hank’s, they allowed us to dine at Wine Bar to reach the minimum. So generous!
I think that’s it. I wouldn’t recommend an event where you need Internet here (unless you have a hotspot) because it’s not the best reception, but it’s otherwise really great. I’d definitely have another event here (if Internet was not required) and eat more of their delicious food.

I can see why they have a Groupon deal for this place now. Appetizer was alright but my main course (ravioli) came out cold because they were waiting for the other course to be ready as well. Chocolate cream brûlée tasted like chocolate pudding with melted sugar on top. Service was garbage. Will not come back. Thank goodness it was just a groupon.

I’m surprised at some of the reviews here! We really enjoyed the wine bar.
We had a groupon, 2 apps, 2 mains, dessert and a bottle of wine.
Beautiful restaurant. We had the Angel’s Gate Cabernet blend to start, which we both loved and have been trying to find in an LCBO ever since. For apps, we shared the baked Brie and the pear salad. Both were delicious.
I had the butternut squash ravioli which we both LOVED. My dining partner tried the lamb stew which neither of us enjoyed. We had bread pudding for dessert which was delicious.
The service was excellent. Wine and food was great. we left full and pleased with our experience. I would definitely recommend this place!

The Wine Bar (9 Church) is an excellent and cultured, but utterly unpretentious, establishment which I would recommend highly.
My party of 14 was received with supreme politeness, attention and efficiency by a very kind server named Steve and by the lovely Alex (who I took to be the Maître D’ as she kindly assisted me with my reservations as they evolved over the preceding week).
The food (cheese and charcuterie platters and fries) and varied wine were excellent and reasonably priced. Included in my party were many international guests including one who had worked as a professional food critic and everyone came away satisfied and with the intention of a return visit.
The décor is lovely and warm and the location is superlative. Located close to Union Station it is easily accessible for people throughout the metropolitan area and is an excellent place to meet guests arriving to the city (we had guests who arrived by Via train and by Porter to Toronto City Centre Airport). In addition, as was the case in our situation, the location of 9 Church very close to the St. Lawrence Centre and the Sony Centre makes it perfect for a pre or post show venue.
I would lastly like to conclude by saying that while we were a group, the wine bar would also make an excellent location for a casually sophisticated and intimate date.
I will most assuredly be back with friends, family and colleagues.

Great wine place. Shared the scallops and steak, they were both delicious and we topped it off with peanut butter crème brûlée. First time I had brulee and I’m sure it set a high standard for my brulee going forward. I recommend this place if your looking for a nice chill place with great food paired with excellent wine.

Absolutely amazing food. Each dish was well seasoned and very flavourful. I would highly recommend the lobster taco appetizer, worth every bite.
The steak is also very unique. They put a green sauce that had a wadabi like so picyness to it that worked very well. They definitely know what they are doing. And of course the great selection of wine that hence the dinner experience.

Ever since my first review a year and a half ago I’ve been about a 8 – 10 times and I wouldn’t change a thing about what I first said. It’s very consistently delicious and the waiters now know me and seat me at my favorite spot (kitchen bar) upon entering. Only If I lived in Toronto… Le Sigh…

Disappointing. I walk by here almost daily and thought it looked great: a classy wine bar with light eats. I made the mistake of recommending this restaurant for a group outting one night.
Here were the issues, in order of their appearance:
1 — Our waiter smelled of alcohol. He also didn’t seem to know very much about wine, which is odd given the restaurant’s name would imply they’d be well-​versed on it.
2 — Our waiter never checked on our table for the entire three hours we were there. Pretty basic service to ask how the meal is, how the wine was tasting.
3 — All three waiters stayed at the end of the bar chatting the entire night. It took me several tries to flag them for water, for my friend to place an order our waiter missed, and to just get the bill so I could leave. Pretty amazing given we were one of only two parties in on a Thursday night.
5 — The food is terrible, delivery is worse. I ordered the pizza, which is actually a flatbread with pizza toppings. It was completely black on the bottom and sides and the wood board leaked juice onto the table. (Juice from what? I don’t know.) I asked the waiter if they could remake it. A few minutes later, he brought me a flatbread that was so raw the dough was chewy and lukewarm and the cheese wasn’t melted. The waiter gave it to me with attitude. I ate it because I didn’t want to make a scene at the table with a group of people. I shouldn’t have because I was sick all night.
I contacted management about the experience and the response a few days later was a copy-​paste apology. The owner showed no concern regarding the raw pizza and terrible service and made no effort to find out how they could best address the concerns and negative experience.
Too bad. It was a fantastic restaurant with good quality food and top-​notch service when it was owned by Jamie Kennedy a few years ago, according to one of my friends. I was looking forward to making this place a regular haunt. Maybe it’ll get new management soon and I can revisit.

I wish I could balance this review with pros and cons but to be frank there is really no downside to this place.
Right from the moment I sat down the service was five-​star. The wine list is imaginative and features a good balance of local and appropriate. However if you ask what you’re looking for suddenly you be poured a glass that is not on the menu. Pretty much the best way to attract a wino :-)
The food menu is equally imaginative and focuses on local and sustainable goods prepared to perfection! The only criticism Is the lack of baguette to accompany each of the fantastic dishes. However when I requested some baguette, it appeared quickly, my dish went back bone dry :-)
If you like a fantastic wine list and an adventurous food menu, this place is a must!

I have passed by this restaurant various times but was never compelled to actually dine there. Then came a $ 89 Groupon for dinner for two which included two appetizers, 2 mains, 1 dessert and a bottle of wine.
It seemed like a great deal and since we were attending a concert at the Sony Centre just down the road we bought the groupon. I made reservations by emailing the restaurant and got a response back right away.
Upon arrival the restaurant had 1 other couple other than my friend and I. The waitress was very nice, explained to us how the groupon works and bought out a bottle of Nua Brut Prosseco which is $ 50 on their wine list! I was really impressed that this was included in the groupon!
For our apps I ordered the duck confit tacos and my friend got the Quebec crispy fried brie. Both were really good. The duck was moist and well accompanied by fresh tomato & cilantro salsa, shaved baby spinach and habanero cheddar. The red taco shells were very light and crispy and supposedly house made chimichurri sour cream. My friend’s dish was crunchy on the inside and melty goodness on the inside.
For our mains I got the Grilled Moroccan Lamb Skewers which was really nothing special. It was tough and had chunks of fat that I had to spit out. However my friend’s dish which I got a taste of was heaven!!! She got the seared scallops which were perfectly cooked and served with a pickled corn. I definitely regretted my choice after tasting hers.
For dessert we shared the triple chocolate cheesecake which was ok.
Overall I still liked the experience even considering some of the flaws. The bottle of prosseco, the tasty starters, the scallops and the super friendly service made the night.
As a note, all their dishes are plated to share and they have free corkage on Mondays.
I would definitely come back, especially for the scallops!

3.5 STARS
This is a cute and cozy place that is wine first and food second! They have a decent wine list and the servers really know their wine so if you have any questions they can definitely lead you into the right direction. The food here is small plates/​tapas styles… so to be honest… you may need to eat before or after as well. A little too small if you are HUNGRY… but if you just want some nibbles with your wine. well then you will be fine. The butter chicken poutine was lovely as well as the seafood platter (shrimps, lobster croquettes, smoked salmon. etc). It’s small but lends itself to a nice relaxing atmosphere. You can also sit at the bar and watch the chefs prepare your meal right in front of you.
So for a fun evening I say check this place out… wine not? (lol yes bad joke inserted there)

We had a great evening. The place is beautiful, very warm and elegant. Service and food were amazing.
Wife and I set on the bar so were served by steve the barman whom was very nice, friendly and helpful.
We had a Groupon voucher so had a choice of two apps (cheese plater and duck confide poutine) and two main (steak and fish) all were excellent. Cheese cake and a bottle of wine wine… what can I say, give it a chance, the place is a gem… would totally go back and glad we gave it a chance
Thank you

I went here with a few friends and there were tumbleweeds blowing through the place! It has a nice and cozy ambience, and the wines are really nice, as are the staff, who were very attentive. However, the food was average at best (we ordered several appetizers) and I left slightly hungry.

I love this place. The food was some of the best I’ve had since arriving in Toronto 3 weeks ago (and we’ve eaten out a lot). The portions were perfect for sharing and the wine list is impressive. We ordered 5 tapas between the two of us, all gluten-​free, and were stuffed at the end. The service was attentive and awesome and even though it wasn’t a packed room, they were still hustling, which is a good sign of front of house management. I would definitely recommend this place for either a small bite and a nice glass of wine or a full meal.

I super love this place!
I love the atmosphere, the food, the service, everything!
I went here about a year ago and I was just blown away! We sat by the bar where the chefs cook and it was really awesome to see them while I drank wine. My boyfriend and I tried about 4 of dishes and we couldnt decide which one we liked the best because they were all so good. Everyone was also super nice and really paid attention to us.
I cant wait to go back the next time I visit Toronto.

i came here on a Friday night. it was summerlicious and we decided to try it. I had the apple salad which was quite good, but it went downhill from there.
I ordered the ribs, but i can’t eat potatoes. the waiter said I could not substitute it. the dish came with 2 small thin pieces of spare ribs, which you can find better in a food court. taste and portions aside, a food court would still garnish better in the Styrofoam box.
lemon crème brûlée tasted artificial and left much to be desired.
ate crackers when I got home.

Had a really great time here on a Saturday night.
Although located close to lots of things, it’s feel like it’s off the beaten path. Décor is gorgeous, atmosphere in side is really nice. We got seated in a great seat, in a wine-​walled alcove. If you make a reservation, ask for the bath portion of the room. Bar seating did look nice, they have two bars, one that faces the kitchen/​chefs, one that’s more a traditional bar.
Service was genuine. Our server wasn’t really in our face — which is nice if you’re trying to have a romantic, private night. He didn’t offer much guidance in terms of how much to order (the restaurant is sharing-​plate style — don’t know why so many restaurants misuse the word tapas, but in this case, they mean you are meant to order many dishes and share). Menu changes frequently so what I had may not be what you can have, but I would recommend everything we ate. We paced it out so we shared three courses and three glasses of wine to match those; then another 3 with some other wine; then a dessert (dessert was the best course, which I never say when dining out!). We never felt rushed. We were there almost 3 hours, which is so nice on a Saturday evening.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this as a date-​night spot or for an anniversary. Corkage fee is $ 30, should you want to bring your own. They do give samples out for free, so feel free to try a few wines before you commit!

Very disappointing… I love the idea of small portions and sharing, however portions seemed extra small and frankly, not that good.
There was a wide selection of wines, but all way over priced. We settled on a reasonably priced Ontario Chardonnay, only to find out it was the last bottle… not that it mattered, because we never saw the waiter again until we gave up and hailed him for the bill. One round of tapas and a bottle of wine for the five of us… we left starving and considered the hotdog joint on the way to the car.

Franchement à éviter et c’est bien dommage. Nous y sommes allés deux fois, en couple puis avec deux amis.
En cuisine, on assure, on innove même. Le chef Bryan Burke est capable de proposer des mets exceptionnels comme des choux de Bruxelles frits avec câpres pour né prendre que cet exemple. Le menu vous propose une sélection très intéressante de vins pour chaque mets. Voilà pour le positif.
Le service laisse à désirer: arrogance, mépris, précipitation, interruptions constantes, retrait des plats avant qu’ils né soient terminés.
L’endroit est très bruyant. Si vous y allez un vendredi soir et que le restaurant est complet, le niveau de bruit devrait dépasser allègrement les 90 décibels: tables trop rapprochées, pas d’insonorisation et espace réduit.

Came to Wine Bar with my co-​workers for some Summerlicious lunching. The restaurant itself is rather small, with the bar being the focal point of the restaurant. It is owned by the same owner as Hank’s and the Great Burger Kitchen.
Our orders were promptly taken, though the order to table speed in which the food arrived was rather slow (so if you work on a punch card system, this is not the place for you to eat lunch!) The portion sizes left more to be desired as all 3 of us left feeling as if we could eat more. But then again, this is a tapas/​wine bar — so I suppose its forgivable.
For starters the following were ordered: chilled asparagus soup, mini burger poutine and a broccoli salad. Of the 3, I ordered the salad and it was quite tasty. The broccoli was blanched and sprinkled with almonds and raisins with a honey balsamic vinaigrette.
For mains we ordered: salmon open-​faced sandwich, wild mushroom cakes and grilled quail. I knew that the quail would be small, so I didn’t order it because I knew it would not fill me, so I opted for the salmon open-​faced sandwich. It ¹⁄₈ of a whole baguette in size, topped with some average smoked salmon (even store-​bought stuff has more smoked flavour than this stuff!), and spread with some dill spread. It was quite tasty as a sandwich, I only wish the serving size was a little more generous. The grilled quail was indeed tiny, though my co-​worker did comment that it was quite tasty. The mushroom cakes were really tasty and was held together by some sort of creamy, glutinous ingredient that I suspect was a mix of flour and potatoes?
My favourite part of the meal was dessert. I ordered the Chocolate Tart, which came with the thinnest crust possible. I really hope that I will be able to find the recipe someday. It wasn’t buttery like most tart recipes, nor flaky like phyllo… It had me guessing as to how it was made. But I didn’t care — a thin crust meant that there would be more chocolate filling! It was extremely good — a dense chocolate tart, but it wasn’t heavy nor too sweet. I absolutely adored the chantilly cream. The Niagara Sour Cherry Bread Pudding was also ordered. This was served with a rum-​butter sauce. My co-worker’s only regret is that the serving size was so small. She wanted seconds! Last but not least, a Peanut Butter Crème Brûlée. How could you go wrong? What a genious idea to incorporate peanut butter. This was served with an almond shortbread cookie.
Verdict:
Good food, but small portions. The service was good, but slow. Would probably come back here for tapas and wine, but not for an actual meal.

Expensive, but enjoyable.
Regular 6oz glass of wine will cost you anywhere from 15 – 20 dollars. Half litre 50 to 80 dollars. Each tapa is small in proportion and also approximately $ 12-​$ 15 dollars.
I love the food there though. We had the risotto, steak, duck, and peanut butter crème brûlée. The risotto was really good, but i didnt like the mix of goat cheese. The steak only came in two pieces, but the best of the three tapas we got. The duck was made well. I loved the peanut butter crème brûlée… couldn’t stop eating it!
Service was mediocre for the price. Wine is as expected.