Introducing: Bestellen, the new College West meat den from Top Chef Canada’s Rob Rossi
Rob Rossi’s new restaurant is no place for carnophobes
The most recent in a slew of west-end spots run by young restaurateurs capitalizing on the affordable rent, Bestellen has finally opened on College West, right next door to Italian eatery Black Skirt (the name is German for “to order”). Chef and co-owner Rob Rossi, who took second place in last year’s season of Top Chef Canada , and business partner Ryan Sarfeld, a trained chef who transitioned to the front of house, modeled their first venture after the kind of place they’d like to hang out in: the music is loud, there are plenty of beers on tap and the menu, designed for sharing, is heavy on the meat.
The partners met back in 2009 when Rossi was working at the Mercatto group of restaurants, where Sarfeld was a manager. In early 2011, the two began conspiring to open their own place. They found a gutted former convenience store and began the renovation process, designing the space themselves. They kept occupied during the seven-month construction job with Rossi curing meats and Sarfeld prepping eight different barrel-aged cocktails. The visual focus of the 80-seat space restaurant is the glassed-in dry-aging room, whose shelves are lined with hefty bone-in striploins, rib sections and Rossi’s house-cured salamis. A couple of whole pigs also hang behind the glass—this is no place for the carnophobic.
Rossi cites Italian, Spanish and German cuisine as inspirations for the menu, which consists mainly of shareable plates and larger cuts of meat. Hoping to encourage communal dining, he’s even serving an entire suckling pig (a minimum of eight people and 72 hours notice is required). The kitchen roasts and serves the whole pig as a family-style feast, including snacks, salads and sides ($59 per person). Those who’d rather not order the full animal have plenty of other carnivorous options on the regular menu, like baked hen’s egg and n’duja sausage served with house-baked bread ($10), steak tartare with aïoli, olives and a deep-fried quail’s egg ($13) and chorizo-stuffed squid with white beans, smoked tomato and cilantro ($12). There are also big pieces of meat that are meant to be shared, like the 32 oz. côte de boeuf with roasted bone marrow and choice of two sides ($98). Sarfeld’s cocktail list includes a variety of freshly shaken options, as well as a rotating special from his barrel-aged collection. Currently on offer is an aged negroni ($14) that they promise is potent—it’ll have to be to stand up to all that meat.
Bestellen, 972 College St., 647-341-6769, bestellen.ca
126716 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) From College Street, Bestellen promises both meat and mead Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen1/ mar12bestellen1 0 0
From College Street, Bestellen promises both meat and mead
126717 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) The front dining room, complete with exposed ducting and chalkboard Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen2/ mar12bestellen2 0 0
The front dining room, complete with exposed ducting and chalkboard
126718 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) A variety of German beer hall paraphernalia (note the two hanging pigs in the meat locker) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen3/ mar12bestellen3 0 0
A variety of German beer hall paraphernalia (note the two hanging pigs in the meat locker)
126719 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) That’s one meaty mural Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen4/ mar12bestellen4 0 0
That’s one meaty mural
126720 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) The glassed-in dry aging room Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen5/ mar12bestellen5 0 0
The glassed-in dry aging room
126721 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen6/ mar12bestellen6 0 0
126723 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) The bar area Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen8/ mar12bestellen8 0 0
The bar area
126724 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) The view from the back of the restaurant Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen9/ mar12bestellen9 0 0
The view from the back of the restaurant
126725 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) Rob Rossi making a tartare dish Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen10/ mar12bestellen10 0 0
Rob Rossi making a tartare dish
126726 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) The kitchen crew making pasta Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen11/ mar12bestellen11 0 0
The kitchen crew making pasta
126727 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) Steak tartare with aïoli, olives and a deep-fried quail’s egg ($13) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen12/ mar12bestellen12 0 0
Steak tartare with aïoli, olives and a deep-fried quail’s egg ($13)
126728 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) 32 oz. côte de boeuf with roasted bone marrow and choice of two sides ($98) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen13/ mar12bestellen13 0 0
32 oz. côte de boeuf with roasted bone marrow and choice of two sides ($98)
126729 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) Chorizo-stuffed squid with white beans, smoked tomato and cilantro ($12) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen14/ mar12bestellen14 0 0
Chorizo-stuffed squid with white beans, smoked tomato and cilantro ($12)
126730 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) Baked hen’s egg with n’duja sausage and house-baked bread ($10) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen15/ mar12bestellen15 0 0
Baked hen’s egg with n’duja sausage and house-baked bread ($10)
126731 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) Barrel-aged negroni ($14) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen16/ mar12bestellen16 0 0
Barrel-aged negroni ($14)
126732 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) Sancho sour: reposado tequila, sage- and jalapeno-infused pineapple and lime juice ($11) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen17/ mar12bestellen17 0 0
Sancho sour: reposado tequila, sage- and jalapeno-infused pineapple and lime juice ($11)
126715 (Image: Meaghan Binstock) Introducing: Bestellen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12bestellen_intro.jpg 656 386 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bestellen/slide/mar12bestellen_intro/ mar12bestellen_intro 0 0
looks great , cant wait to try it out !!
Great another hack doing mediocre food….rob rossi keep up the good work! GET BACK TO WASHING TOILETS AT THE BAY,,,HACK
Last night we had dinner for six at bestellen and we all came away with the impression we had found an exceptional new haunt. True, the music is loud and the first impression is that it might just be too casual. But there are few places that take their food so seriously.
The staff was incredibly knowledgeable about every component of every dish, encouraged sharing (which seems a difficult idea with trout, for instance), and Ryan knows his wines like he grew up as a grape.
The steak (they are heavy on the meat) was sensational and the 16oz fed three while we also shared a pasta with a piglet ragu. Candidly, each course was exceptional – perfectly presented, well proportioned and mouth watering. But the best may have been saved for last. When it seemed impossible to have more, we were convinced to try the warm carrot cake made in the bustling kitchen. This was incredible. We ended up ordering three! Served like a cupcake, warm and moist with a generous drizzling of caramel and a light touch of crispy carrot shavings – it meant you left with the same impression as when you first sat down. This is a great restaurant for hanging out – but especially if you are a “foodie”. There are a lot of great restaurants appearing in the city and I didn’t really know of Ryan or Rob prior to booking. But I think I will get to know then because I am definitely heading back soon.
Dinner for six with martini’s, three bottles of wine and a full table of food and desserts came to about $80 a person taxes and tip included. A bargain given the generous portions and exceptional service and very decent Bourdeau we were consuming. I only hope it doesn’t get so crazy popular I can’t easily get in again!
Unfortunately, the service needs some work.
Ooh, can’t wait to check this place out! I was sold at “meat den”…I’m there!
Had a peek inside the other day. Looks even better in real life.
Looking forward to trying the food. A meatetarian’s paradise :)
The place looks like you are eating in a barn. But do you expect from someone who lived in Barrie.
I had a nice dinner here , food was very well prepared , surroundings are ok , not offensive , i do recommend it for a nice dinner