Introducing: Le Rossignol, a restaurant that might kick off Queen East’s French revolution
No need to Google it; we’ll just tell you: le rossignol is French for “nightingale.” It’s the name of the new Gallic restaurant that’s slipping into the old Pop Bistro space on Queen East. It’s also a mistake. “I love Edith Piaf,” explains the new owner, Richard Henry, “and I thought her nickname was The Nightingale. I was wrong. It’s The Sparrow, but it was too late, and anyway, we liked this better.”
The first-time restaurateur and former arts administrator had always dreamed of owning a bar, and when he saw that Pop was up for grabs, he jumped on it. “I fell in love with the patio out back; that’s why I bought the place. It’s got stone walls and two trees. It feels just like Old Montreal or Europe.”
His chef, Jeremie Seguinot, should feel right at home, then. The 37-year-old chef was born in France and came to Canada as a child. His menu reflects both countries, featuring French bistro classics—frisée salad ($9), escargots ($9), moules frites ($17) and cassoulet ($19)—and a few Canadian ingredients, like wild boar shank ($24) and elk tenderloin ($27). Seguinot has cooked under one of this city’s best French chefs, Didier LeRoy, back in the Azalea days, and one of its wildest, David Adjey at Nectar. He’s even put in some time in France (Le Lieu Unique) and in Montreal (Tsirco). “I demo’ed this place and helped build it. I’ve never been this involved in a restaurant before, and it’s a really good feeling.”
It better be, since he’s about to get much busier. Henry is presently preparing a sister restaurant, Le Canard Mort, a couple of blocks away in the old Barrio location. “I’ll be heading that menu up, too, and it’s going to be French gastro-pub,” says Seguinot. Henry chimes in, “With a really great menu of vintage cocktails. Barrio is closer to what I dreamed about.”
Le Rossignol, 686 Queen St. E., 416-461-9663, lerossignolbistro.com.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-le-rossignol-a-restaurant-that-might-kick-off-leslievilles-french-revolution/&title=Introducing: Le Rossignol, a restaurant that might kick off Queen East’s French revolution&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Le-Rossignol.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_47812" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="Chef Seguinot’s seared wild Pacific salmon with rapini, lima beans and a saffron jus (Image: Signe Langford)"][/caption]
No need to Google it; we’ll just tell you: le rossignol is French for "nightingale." It’s the name of the new Gallic restaurant that’s slipping into the old Pop Bistro space on Queen East. It’s also a mistake. “I love Edith Piaf,” explains the new owner, Richard Henry, “and I thought her nickname was The Nightingale. I was wrong. It’s The Sparrow, but it was too late, and anyway, we liked this better.”
The first-time restaurateur and former arts administrator had always dreamed of owning a bar, and when he saw that Pop was up for grabs, he jumped on it. “I fell in love with the patio out back; that’s why I bought the place. It’s got stone walls and two trees. It feels just like Old Montreal or Europe.”
His chef, Jeremie Seguinot, should feel right at home, then. The 37-year-old chef was born in France and came to Canada as a child. His menu reflects both countries, featuring French bistro classics—frisée salad ($9), escargots ($9), moules frites ($17) and cassoulet ($19)—and a few Canadian ingredients, like wild boar shank ($24) and elk tenderloin ($27). Seguinot has cooked under one of this city’s best French chefs, Didier LeRoy, back in the Azalea days, and one of its wildest, David Adjey at Nectar. He’s even put in some time in France (Le Lieu Unique) and in Montreal (Tsirco). “I demo’ed this place and helped build it. I’ve never been this involved in a restaurant before, and it’s a really good feeling.”
It better be, since he’s about to get much busier. Henry is presently preparing a sister restaurant, Le Canard Mort, a couple of blocks away in the old Barrio location. “I’ll be heading that menu up, too, and it’s going to be French gastro-pub,” says Seguinot. Henry chimes in, “With a really great menu of vintage cocktails. Barrio is closer to what I dreamed about.”
Le Rossignol, 686 Queen St. E., 416-461-9663, lerossignolbistro.com.){kind=link}
ooohh I hope they deliver – the lawyers at our firm would ahem, “eat it up”
Do not even bother to reserve a table at Le Rossignol, because they surprise your party on arrival with no table.
Do not trust them if they say to you “we are so sorry can you come in 15 min your table will be ready” on top of that they never call even they said second time “we are sorry, will call you when the table is ready”. This restaurant is a joke.
A French gastro-pub!? I don’t understand, sorry but it’s neither a pub nor is it, in any shape or form, an example of a modern British gastropub,,, isn’t it just another French bistro??? There are no genuine gastropubs in Toronto and this is the least likely of pretenders.
Disagree with Mila’s comment! We had a table for two ready on arrival, using a reservation made only 45 minutes earlier. Perhaps they were working out early-opening jitters when Mila dined there. In any case, we had a fabulous meal with a lovely Malbec. Will return to Le Rossignol soon.
Had dinner here on a Friday night in December.
Average food, terribly slow service. You could chalk the service issues up to growing pains, but I worry when a French kitchen serving steak frites doesn’t know things like how to cut flank steak across the grain.
My wife and I had dinner here last Friday and enjoyed the experience. We went for an early dinner (6:00 pm) and we beat the first dinner rush, so despite what others have said above, we found the service to be prompt, courteous and very friendly.
For an appetizer we shared the Mushroom Crostini which had a wonderful taste, but was a bit salty.
My wife had the steak frites which was cooked perfectly, although the frites were also a bit salty (I liked them!).
Myself, I had the Wild Boar Shank with seasoned mash and Garlic Jus. This was beautiful. A fine balance of subtle flavours, the meat cooked to perfection. I am not a foodie per say, but I believe “mmmmmmmm” was the only word I said for the entire meal (much to the dismay of my wife), and that as after every bite.
So, go there straight after work, order some wild pig and get a mice glass of wine (I had the Terra Rosa Malbec which was very nice) and you will enjoy Le Rossignol.
Le Rossignol surpassed our expectations with French inspired cuisine – we recently dined in Manhattan at a well-known Zagat rated French restaurant – Le Rossignol beat them hands-down. I enjoyed the mouth watering sweetbreads while my partner found the steak frites prepared perfectly. On a Sunday night – the service was impeccable. We strongly recommend Le Rossignol! Cheers.
Four of us went to Le Rossignol last Sunday evening on the recommendation of a friend who has eaten at most of the French bistros in the city and deems this one of the best.
It was fantastic! We all had starters and mains and then shared a creme brulle for dessert. Every mouthful was wonderful. The service was professional and prompt. Couldn’t ask for anything more! We are going back in a few weeks to treat our friends to a birthday dinner. you won’t be disappointed. We weren’t!
Definitely not worth the hype.
Both of us ordered the heirloom tomato salad to start. The tomatoes were unripe (consistency similar to soft apples) and therefore flavourless. And tomatoes are in season right now! Hers was too heavy with bocconcini and mine didn’t have a single piece.
For the mains, I had the ravioli. They were much more al dente than ravioli should be. My friend had the steak was apparently fine but very overcooked. The searing burned the steak. It also came with limp, over-salted fries.
The menu sounded fine, albeit somewhat tired, but the execution was really abysmal.