Name: Jazz Bistro
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
Contact info: 251 Victoria St., 416-363-5299, jazzbistro.ca, @JazzBistro_CA
Owners: Joan and Colin Hunter, founder of Sunwing Travel Group and a crooner himself
Chef: Matthew Cowan (Simple Bistro)
The place: Once home to jazz institution Top O’ The Senator, the space lay empty for years until the Hunters took it over (it was briefly The Savoy in the mid 2000s). Inside, three floors of rich woods with gold and crimson accents are connected by a central atrium stretching up from the main stage. When it’s fully up and running in April, Jazz Bistro will book live music from Tuesday to Sunday.
The food: Updated renditions of bistro fare, like a tuna niçoise tartine ($15) and pan-seared arctic char ($22) with fingerling potato confit, as well as pastas like sage ricotta gnudi ($16). The restaurant is currently open for lunch and Sunday brunch (the latter featuring live music), with a dinner service to follow soon.
By the numbers:
• 88 keys on the custom-built Model B Red Pops Steinway Piano, the only one of its kind in the country
• 27 speakers throughout the bistro
• 7 monitors, which stream live music up from the main floor to the seats with obstructed views
• 6 chandeliers
197358 Lemon curd with pine nut shortbread and blueberry chantilly cream ($9) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-11/ introducing-jazz-bistro-11 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197357 Pan-seared arctic char with fennel and fingerling potato confit on a sauce verte ($22) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-10/ introducing-jazz-bistro-10 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197356 Boston Bibb Caesar salad with double-smoked bacon crisps, focaccia crouton, shaved parmesan and roasted garlic vinaigrette ($10) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-09/ introducing-jazz-bistro-09 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197355 House-cured gravlax with celeriac, radish and cucumber salad, with a crème fraîche and dill dressing ($12) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-08/ introducing-jazz-bistro-08 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197354 Tuna niçoise tartine with green beans, quail eggs, olives, baby arugula and cherry tomatoes ($15) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-07.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-07/ introducing-jazz-bistro-07 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197353 Sage ricotta gnudi with butternut squash purée, black kale, crispy capers, pine nuts, raisins and brown butter ($16) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-06/ introducing-jazz-bistro-06 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197351 The private dining room on the top floor (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-04/ introducing-jazz-bistro-04 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197360 The view of the main performance space from the second floor (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-intro/ introducing-jazz-bistro-intro 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197350 The upstairs bar seats about 20 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-03/ introducing-jazz-bistro-03 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197348 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-01/ introducing-jazz-bistro-01 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197359 The downstairs bar (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-12/ introducing-jazz-bistro-12 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
197352 Jazz Bistro’s Red Pops Steinway Model B piano was custom-built by the Steinway New York specialty piano division (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Jazz Bistro Introducing: Jazz Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/introducing-jazz-bistro-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/jazz-bistro-2/slide/introducing-jazz-bistro-05/ introducing-jazz-bistro-05 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
Sweet. This a nice addition to downtown.
Music will begin Tuesday, March 26 with Alex Pangman & Her Alleycats. Alex (aka Canada’s Sweetheart of Swing) will be releasing her new CD of traditional and original jazz from the 1920s and 30s.
It’s not wheelchair accessible. Is it?!
Hi, Yes, the venue is wheelchair accessible on the main floor, and third floor (via elevator), once that is complete.