Introducing: Bistro 896, Richard Henry’s latest French restaurant in Leslieville
Name: Bistro 896
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
Contact Info: 896 Queen St. E., 416-625-2653, bistro896.com, @bistro896TO
Owner/Chef: Richard Henry, owner of nearby bistro Le Rossignol and now-defunct Le Canard Mort, which was overhauled to create Bistro 896
The Food: Bistro standards like steak frites and white wine–steamed mussels, as well as burgers and sandwiches. A picnic-inspired plate comes with fried chicken, devilled eggs and potato salad.
The Drinks: French wine, craft beer and a winnowed down version of Le Canard Mort’s encyclopedic cocktail list. The summery Clover Club combines gin with fresh raspberries, lemon and egg whites.
The Place: The space has been given a modest revamp with new leather banquettes and tiled floors. A bronze duck on the bar pays tribute to the old moniker.
The Numbers:
• 3 retro recipe books pulled apart to paper the walls of the ladies’ washroom
• 2 years (to the day) between the openings of Bistro 896 and its predecessor Le Canard Mort
• 1 Szechuan dish on the mainly French menu: Kung Pao calamari
223817 The exterior of Bistro 896, at Queen and Logan (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Bistro 896 Introducing: Bistro 896 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-01-e1374240308439-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bistro-896-toronto-restaurants/slide/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-01/ bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
223818 Three kinds of eggs Benny on the brunch menu: bacon, mushroom and tomato, and smoked salmon (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Bistro 896 Introducing: Bistro 896 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-02-e1374240292705-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bistro-896-toronto-restaurants/slide/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-02/ bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
223820 The Le Canard Mort space was revamped with leather banquettes and new tile floors (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Bistro 896 Introducing: Bistro 896 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bistro-896-toronto-restaurants/slide/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-04/ bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
223825 The bronze duck pays tribute to Bistro 896's predecessor, Le Canard Mort (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Bistro 896 Introducing: Bistro 896 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-09-e1374240209127-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bistro-896-toronto-restaurants/slide/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-09/ bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
223821 Steamed mussels with white wine, fennel and garlic ($10) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Bistro 896 Introducing: Bistro 896 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-05-e1374240253266-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bistro-896-toronto-restaurants/slide/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-05/ bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
223822 Kung Pao calamari ($12) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Bistro 896 Introducing: Bistro 896 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bistro-896-toronto-restaurants/slide/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-06/ bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
223826 Fried boneless chicken, devilled eggs, potato salad, cheese and pickles ($14) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Bistro 896 Introducing: Bistro 896 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-intro-e1374240190243-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bistro-896-toronto-restaurants/slide/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-intro/ bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-intro 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
223823 Orange-bourbon cake with berry coulis ($8) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Bistro 896 Introducing: Bistro 896 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bistro-896-toronto-restaurants/slide/bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-07/ bistro-896-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)