Introducing: La Créole brings refined island cuisine to a romantic room on St. Clair West
Name: La Créole
Contact Info: 810 St. Clair Ave. W., 416-651-8228, lacreole.ca
Neighbourhood: Humewood
Owners: Ben Cherette and Paterson Louis-Jean of Manje Kreyol Catering
Chef: Manje Kreyol chef Magda
The Food: Six months after Jen Agg opened Rhum Corner, her laid-back Haitian hangout on Dundas West, the city has a second refined island kitchen. La Créole serves a mix of French Caribbean, Créole and Haitian dishes in a fabric-swathed room on St. Clair West. Appetizer platters come heaped with cod fritters, fried plantains and chunks of marinated beef served with plenty of picklese, a pickled condiment made with shredded cabbage. Main dishes include stewed snapper with black-bean sauce and a roasted quail glazed with guava.
The Drinks: Beer, wine and signature cocktails, like the Kremas, a mix of coconut cream, rum and spices. Non-alcoholic beverages include te jenjanm (ginger tea), kafe ayisyen (traditional Haitian coffee) and bottles of Malta Créole, a carbonated malt beverage that’s traditionally served ak let (i.e. with milk).
The Place: A gauzy draped ceiling and crystal chandeliers give the casual room a touch of romance. The cozy back area is outfitted with booths, colourful Creole paintings and a small stage equipped for Haitian-style music performances, like konpa and Creole jazz.
The Numbers:
• 75 seats
• 75 per cent imported ingredients
• 1 stage for live musical performances
269943 <strong>La Créole</strong> is located at 810 St. Clair West, three blocks west of Christie (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-01-e1397488176191-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-01/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269944 Crystal chandeliers and a gauzy, draped ceiling make the casual space feel exotic (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-02/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269945 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1001 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-03/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269946 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1001 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-04/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269947 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1001 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-05/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269948 The small stage at the back of the restaurant is equipped for live music performances (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-06/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269949 Plain fritters, served with <em>picklese</em> ($6) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-07/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269950 Chunks of fried beef are served with <em>tostones</em> (deep-fried plantain) and <em>picklese</em> ($12) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-08-e1397488226374-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-08/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269951 Cod fritters ($10) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-09/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269952 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-10/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269953 Chicken soup with dumplings and plantains ($6) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-11/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269955 Guava-glazed quail with sweet potatoes and grilled veggies (MP) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-13/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269956 Ginger tea ($4) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-14/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
269957 A duo of sample-size desserts: the chef’s rum cake, and <em>pan patat,</em> a Haitian sweet-potato cake (full sizes are $6 each) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: La Créole https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1001 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/la-creole-toronto-restaurants/slide/la-creole-toronto-restaurant-15/ la-creole-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
Wish i could say I see this place sticking around for a while, but I don’t. Not to be mean but there are almost NO Haitians in Toronto, and St. Clair west types aren’t going to be eating all of that deep fried stuff repeatedly enough to keep that place alive.
Yes, how could that possibly escape all of us? After all, that’s what Toronto is all about: relegating minorities to their own cuisines and not being open to others’ culinary delights!? Give me a break. You are certainly free to stay away from the place if your vision of what makes a great meal is what you’ve gobbled down your entire life. My money is on Torontonians being more adventurous and open-minded than you perceive them to be…
Oh pls! Most of the racists i encounter in Toronto are minorities who like to support their own only and relegate themselves to businesses owned by pple who are originate from the same Countries. And who are not open-minded or adventurous themselves!!
Cindy, I’ve had plenty of Haitian food, while I love the fried pork, plantains, and picklis, it’s fairly boring. There’s nothing adventurous about Torontonians eating West Indian food. We’ve been doing it for decades. Look to the young chefs in the city that are doing things. This seems overpriced for how standard it is. Keep it in styrofoam takeout containers with a space half the size and 30% lower food cost and it might survive.
I’m flabbergasted by the comments you have made so far! The fact that you have established Haitian food with Torontonians eating a lot of West Indian food shows how your culinary knowledge is close to none. Comparing Creole food to West Indian food clearly shows your ignorant and degrading character. .BTW fried pork, plantains, and picklis is probably a token of what they offer.And it’s funny that you keep saying that you “loved” it!You should encourage instead of destroying.