Take A Culinary Journey At Toronto's New French Restaurant, Le Baratin

If you're craving a taste of adventure but you don't have time to book the tickets, Le Baratin can offer you a night of authentic and unpretentious French Food.     

The atmosphere at the restaurant is intimate and decorated with rustic chic décor. Little details also include the adventures of Tin Tin books on the walls, evoking childhood memories. The restaurant is perfect for small gatherings and dinner dates.

Chef/owner Jean Regis wanted to offer Toronto a unique taste of France through his passion for French living and cuisine. He believes that a restaurant should create an authentic experience for each diner.

It is why Le Baratin separates itself from the pretentious French fine dining experience that everyone often associates it with. He has gained experiences around the world working at London's Aubaine restaurant and Le Paradis in Toronto and finally opening his classic French restaurant.

The menu items can be shared or not, as they offer big portions. One of the starter items we had was the roasted beetroot salad (le salade de betteraves) with pickled red onions, cracked goat cheese, and cumin dressing. This salad is proof that not all salads are boring.

This was a colorful salad with different textures and juices from each bite of pickled red onions and beetroot. The second appetizer we had was the tarte of the day which included salmon, asparagus,, and gouda cheese. Each dish was cooked with perfection and generous portions.

For the main course, we ordered the duck leg with roasted potatoes and green peppercorn cooked in wine sauce. Duck is a popular ingredient in most French menus. The duck fell right off the bone and was tender and juicy.

The second dish we enjoyed was the five hour braised lamb shank served with the dry fruit couscous. The dried fruit couscous was a surprisingly nice addition to the lamb shank as it added to the flavours and juices from the lamb. It is clear that all the ingredients used in each dish were carefully thought out to highlight the flavours of each dish.

To end the night on a sweet note, we enjoyed the tarte tatin: a crispy golden puff pastry with apples and caramel with an airy whipped cream.

Aside from dinner, Le Baratin also offers a breakfast menu with classic dishes such as the croque monsieur and unique menu items that are hard to find in Toronto such as Farçous, which are French spinach pancakes.  

Who knew a little piece of France was just at the corner of Dundas Street West? 

For more Toronto dining and travel news, click here.