Toronto’s five best steak frites
The world’s most perfect meat-and-potatoes pairing is a bistro classic. Here, the city’s top five steak frites.
1. Nota Bene’s Cumbrae Farms steak
The rub (thyme, rosemary, balsamic and olive oil) offsets the complex, almost gamy flavours of an incredible strip loin nurtured by 60 days of dry aging. Flesh so tender it parts at the nudge of a knife contrasts with the snap of lustily salted frites. $45. 180 Queen St. W., 416-977-6400.
2. Jacobs and Co. Alberta rib-eye
Toronto’s best steak house doesn’t serve steak frites, per se, but sumptuously marbled and aged High River Hereford beef ($50). The rib-eye deserves an equally extravagant partner, in this case a side order of tarragon-showered duck-fat fries ($12) that mingles the earthiness of the potatoes with the musk of the deep-fryer. 12 Brant St., 416-366-0200.
3. Delux’s Wellington County flatiron
Succulent ribbons of local, grass-fed, garnet-hued meat repose beside a peppery watercress salad. Fresh herbs in maître d’hotel butter and great frites complete the mouth-watering, verdant tableau. $24. 92 Ossington Ave., 416-537-0134.
4. Didier’s strip loin
The spectacular crust of this strip loin echoes the wondrous textures of the pommes frites—the city’s best. Chef Didier Leroy soaks potatoes in ice water, then double fries them, enrobing a creamy interior in a crackling, salty exterior. $30. 1496 Yonge St., 416-925-8588.
5. La Palette’s AAAA Black angus strip loin
A fine steak doesn’t need sauce, but a chocolate-port reduction doesn’t hurt, either. Blue cheese (in the horseradish and blue cheese butter) adds a slight funk to the slab of grilled aged beef. Tarragon mayo lends a creamy touch to the fries. $28. 492 Queen St. W., 416-929-4900.
(Illustration: Jacky Dylan)
A “bistro classic” for $62? Anyone heard of onglet?
I am taking reservations for the spring time, I can gurantee you steak frites done in my moms kitchen not even mine that will make the best of you cry tears of only happiness and joy..
cowbell. hands down best in the city!
Cowbell steak nice but the medium rare is really raw raw meat..nota bene everything about this place spells overprice & pretense… dunno..
Nota Bene is delicious in every way and amazing service and ambience
Le Papillion at the park, hands down winner!
…would you like fries with your Big Mac? Not haute cuisine but just as filling.
The Harbord Room and Side Car on College both deserve honourable mention.
With so many steak eaters around, how come we lost Carman’s?
Dear Munchers,
I can hands on guarantee that Nota Bene has one of the best steak frites in the city, since I was with the first brigade that prepared all the dishes before the place even opened.
Geoff and David put a ton of love into making their fries perfect and the beef is damn good.
PS OddFellows has the BEST steak & eggs brunch in the city for only $16!
Best Bang for you buck is Sidecar’s Steak Frites. $24 bucks from Sunday to Wed. I can’t believe it’s not on this list.
huh? What about the keg?
Hold on do they do frites?
Yes they do but they call them fries.
You should have mentioned the steak frites of Le Select Bistro on Wellington. They are excellent and well worth the price of a $35 menu that includes hors d’oeuvre and dessert.
Are we forgetting about Bloor Street Diner? The have such good frites.
did someone forget that steak frites is an inexpensive, simple, bistro classic.
Cheers to Noto Benne…. Never a bad meal, Never a bad server. Always a place to enjoy a fab meal… Thank You Noto Benne for raising the stick higher and higher.
Can somebody tell me the address of Old Fellows please.Thanks.
Table 17, Queen E. (Riverside/Leslieville) absolute winner. Frites properly done – twice fried. Plus it’s on the prixe fix deal Sun. & Monday
“Steak Frites” doesn’t exist in Toronto at all – one only sees pretending! One needs to go to the “L’Entrecôte” in Bordeaux. They only serve one dish there at a quality and price that makes Toronto’s quality and prices laughable! You get a complete meal including: salad, a large glass of wine, L’Entrecôte, perfect fries, and a goblet full of creamy ice cream!! All at a price that is 1/4 (or less) of Toronto’s pricing just for the steak itself!! (without the salad, wine and ice cream!) lol
The Bordeaux steak melts in your mouth! L’Entrecôte is a cut of beef that is NOT found in North America – therefore NOT found in Toronto – therefore not one Toronto restaurant can compete on quality (or price). Why do Toronto people like paying double for everything (well not always double – same car in Toronto is $12,000 more than in Buffalo?!!)
My vote goes to Le Paradis. The wine gravy is amazing!
Jules on Spadina (at Richmond). French, inexpensive and always yummy.
I would also add The Rushton @ Christie/St. Clair W for their excellent steak frites with aioli
Having eaten Steak Frites at each of the above mentioned restaurants, let me propose that someone at TL was charmed not by the steak at Delux, but rather the sweetly charming waitstaff who no doubt distracted the reviewer from the meat on the plate. The steak is, in fact, a bit sad. Cut for you in the kitchen, and plated in slices, it almost always arrives cold – not at all an appetizing combination with the compound butter.
While I often respect the opinions of TL’s restaurant reviewers, this one is laughably out to lunch.