Serving up French fare, without the frills, and an eclectic VIBE.
For those of you who haven’t been following along on their gut-wrenching journey, Chantecler first opened its doors back in 2012 on Queen West, by Jonathan Poon (serial restauranteur) and Jacob Wharton-Shukster (of Le Phénix). In 2016, Poon left Chantecler and opened up a lineup of new restaurants including Favorites Thai, Superpoint and Paris Paris. Fast forward to November 2019, and Chantecler burned down in a three-alarm fire. Before the fire, WS had already set sight on the space next door to expand and open up a butcher, in mid-2019. In January 2020, WS went on to open what was intended to be a 6-month pop-up just steps away from where the restaurant was, called Le Phénix, which quite literally, rose from the ashes. The pop-up ran until the end of 2022. This led him to create the newly built Chantecler 2.0, which has a home in the Bloorcourt Village area off Bloor St. W., just east of Dufferin St.
What’s on the menu at Chantecler 2.0, in Bloorcourt Village?
For those of you wondering, do not worry, they haven’t strayed from French-Canadian fare. Chantecler 2.0 is still serving up all of its beloved go-to dishes, such as beef tartare and delicious fresh oysters they once served before their smouldering demise. Not quite the exact menu from the original Chantecler, nor Le Phénix, but keeping true to it while complimenting some of their classics with a new selection of large and small plates that will excite your tastebuds.
The Eats
Not exactly your traditional French fare, but it never was. They’ve taken a tasteful approach to French-Canadian eats. French without the frills, is how I’d put it.
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To start, I highly recommend the Brioche à Tête, covered in a rosemary glaze and paired with a mouth-watering herb butter they have always been known for. The Brioche is made perfectly for pulling a part, which makes it super easy to split and share (or not). Served warm, which makes for an easy smothering of the delicious whipped herb butter. I’m salivating just thinking about it. We paired the Brioche with their Marinated Olives, which were delicious and served warm. I assumed they would be served chilled or room temp, but was pleasantly surprised that they were warm (bonus points).
They also have quite an array of selection small plates to choose from. We may have overdone it and could barely get through our large plates later, but I’m not complaining (which allowed for leftovers that will make for the perfect lunch today–score). They offer a selection of West or East Coast Oysters, which they’re known for, Shrimp Cocktails, Marinated Mussels, Snow Crab Legs, Fries, and so much more.
I definitely had to try the French Onion Soup (IYKYK I’m obsessed), and it did not disappoint. Although I was drooling over the thought of their Seared Cabbage and Mussels, we went with the Braised Leeks & Shrimp and they were probably our favourite bite of the night. But I’ll definitely be back for the mussels soon enough. However, it wouldn’t be a visit to Chantecler without having the Steak Tartare, not only was it delicious, but the bread slices that came with it are DIVINE. It’s a must-have dish!
As I mentioned, we were stuffed from the first couple of courses so luckily we only ordered two large plates for the three of us, and it was more than enough. We tried both the Half Sea Bream and the namesake Half Roast & Ballotine of Chantecler Chicken (a heritage breed of Chicken that’s native to Canada) and they were so good. These dishes left me wishing I hadn’t gorged so much on the bread and starters. I would honestly come back for Sea Bream alone, and the charred veggies and mushrooms are the perfect sides. The Chantecler Chicken was perfectly cooked, and creatively plated, but not for the faint of heart — if you know what I mean.
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Don’t forget dessert…
But make sure you leave some room for dessert. Limited options but none of them disappoint. Our favourite was the Spiced Cake topped with parsnip-flavoured ice cream. The cake is warm making it the perfect combination.
The drinks
Although not pictured, they have a great selection of cocktails, carefully crafted. A must-have is the espresso martini and their stock of many wines by the glass and bottle. We tried one of their orange skin-contact wines, and it was crisp and delicious. I need to go back to try more of the cocktails soon.
The looks
If you ever made it out to the original Chantecler or Le Phénix, you know that WS has a knack for creating a perfect neighbourhood vibe. Chantecler 2.0 does not disappoint. He elevated it, with the perfect touch of classiness, adding a fun eclectic vibe, and creating an ‘instaworthy’ backdrop for your experience.
The VIBE
Not pretentious, or stuffy, just cozy and welcoming vibes here. Perfect for smaller birthdays, a night out, and even business dinners.
Location: 798 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L9
Contact: 416.628.3586, Website
Community: Bloorcourt Village
Crowd/VIBE: Mixed, Date Night, Birthdays, Business
Delivery: Not available
Reservations: Sevenrooms.com
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