Introducing: Colette Grand Café, the palatial new French restaurant in the Thompson Hotel
Introducing: Colette Grand Café, the palatial new French restaurant in the Thompson Hotel
Name: Colette Grand Café and Bakery
Contact Info: 550 Wellington St. W., 647-348-7000, colettetoronto.com, @colettetoronto
Neighbourhood: King West
Previously: Scarpetta, celebrity chef Scott Conant’s short-lived Italian restaurant
Owner: The Chase Hospitality Group (headed by president Steven Salm), which is also behind The Chase, The Chase Fish and Oyster, and soon-to-open Little Fin
Chefs: Executive Chef Michael Steh, chef de cuisine Matthew Swift and executive pastry chef Leslie Steh
The Food: The restaurant’s modern French dishes are sophisticated, polished and pretty. Starters include lobster vichyssoise and frog-leg lollipops with pea purée. Other items are meant for sharing, like a whole roasted bass wrapped in sliced potatoes and an elaborate green-curry crab dish with baguette and grilled-pork terrine. During the day, the casual bakery-café serves sandwiches, snacks and buttery viennoiseries (and, of course, a selection of macarons).
The Drinks: Sommelier Jay Whiteley (from the award-winning Hawksworth Restaurant in Vancouver) devised the mainly French wine list, which focuses on bottles from Burgundy and Champagne.
The Place: The former Scarpetta space—now divided into a bakery-café, a lounge and a formal dining room—was remodeled by the same firm behind The Chase and The Chase Fish and Oyster. Colette exudes a similar kind of breezy luxury, but with a few French-country touches (barrel-vaulted ceilings, hand-painted tiles, lots of blues and yellows). There’s a covered terrace and a long outdoor pavilion running alongside the hotel’s courtyard pool.
Read More
- 284594
- <strong>Colette</strong> is located on the ground floor of the <strong>Thompson Hotel,</strong> at 550 Wellington Street West
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- Introducing: Colette Grand Café and Bakery
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-13-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-13/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-13
- 0
- 0
- 284591
- The restaurant was designed by <strong>Gianpiero Pugliese</strong> of <strong>AUDAXarchitecture,</strong> who also designed <strong>The Chase.</strong> Colette oozes the same kind of casual elegance
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-10-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-10/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-10
- 0
- 0
- 284589
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-08-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-08/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-08
- 0
- 0
- 284595
- Fried frog legs with black garlic, mushrooms and pea purée ($21)
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-14-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-14/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-14
- 0
- 0
- 284600
- Mixed shellfish with garlic-herb pistou, served in an Eiffel Tower–shaped bowl with frites and aioli ($34)
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-19-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-19/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-19
- 0
- 0
- 284585
- Whole roasted bass for two ($65). The fish is wrapped in sliced potato, stuffed with a mixture of fennel and celery, and served with an onion soubise
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-05-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-05/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-05
- 0
- 0
- 284590
- Lobster Vichyssoise with sweet corn quiche and leek crème fraîche ($24)<br />
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-09-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-09/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-09
- 0
- 0
- 284593
- Roasted duck with poached rhubarb ($44)
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-12-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-12/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-12
- 0
- 0
- 284598
- Toasted cinnamon rice pudding served chilled with sour-cherry gelée, mascarpone and pistachios ($10)
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-17-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-17.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-17/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-17
- 0
- 0
- 284584
- The bar
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-04-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-04/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-04
- 0
- 0
- 284599
- The lounge area adjoining the bar
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-18-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-18.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-18/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-18
- 0
- 0
- 284603
- The Joli: tequila, Aperol, honey, agave and raspberries ($16)
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-22-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-22.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-22.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-22/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-22
- 0
- 0
- 284582
- There's a separate entrance for the bakery-café
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-02-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-02/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-02
- 0
- 0
- 284581
- The café serves quiches, sandwiches and salads, plus a large selection of house-made breads, viennoiseries, tarts, cookies, bars and other baked goods
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-01-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-01/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-01
- 0
- 0
- 284583
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-03-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-03/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-03
- 0
- 0
- 284604
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-23-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-23.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-23.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-23/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-23
- 0
- 0
- 284597
- Macarons come in flavours like bitter chocolate, crème fraiche caramel and peanut butter brownie ($3.50 each)
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-16-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-16/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-16
- 0
- 0
- 284601
- Berry tart ($7)
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-20-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-20.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-20.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-20/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-20
- 0
- 0
- 284587
- The “Chocolate Stone” is filled with dark chocolate mousse, milk chocolate whipped cream, cocoa nibs and flourless chocolate cake ($8)
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-07-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-07/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-07
- 0
- 0
- 284592
- The bakery also makes dog treats
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-11-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-11/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-11
- 0
- 0
- 284602
- The covered terrace
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-21-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-21.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-21.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-21/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-21
- 0
- 0
- 284606
- A separate outdoor pavilion runs the length of the Thompson’s courtyard pool
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-25-200x200.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-25.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-25.jpg
- 1000
- 667
- https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/slide/colette-toronto-restaurant-25/
- colette-toronto-restaurant-25
- 0
- 0
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/colette-toronto-restaurants/&title=Introducing: Colette Grand Café, the palatial new French restaurant in the Thompson Hotel&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/colette-toronto-restaurant-09-intro-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_284608" align="aligncenter" width="656"]Click to view gallery (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Name: Colette Grand Café and Bakery
Contact Info: 550 Wellington St. W., 647-348-7000, colettetoronto.com, @colettetoronto
Neighbourhood: King West
Previously: Scarpetta, celebrity chef Scott Conant's short-lived Italian restaurant
Owner: The Chase Hospitality Group (headed by president Steven Salm), which is also behind The Chase, The Chase Fish and Oyster, and soon-to-open Little Fin
Chefs: Executive Chef Michael Steh, chef de cuisine Matthew Swift and executive pastry chef Leslie Steh
The Food: The restaurant's modern French dishes are sophisticated, polished and pretty. Starters include lobster vichyssoise and frog-leg lollipops with pea purée. Other items are meant for sharing, like a whole roasted bass wrapped in sliced potatoes and an elaborate green-curry crab dish with baguette and grilled-pork terrine. During the day, the casual bakery-café serves sandwiches, snacks and buttery viennoiseries (and, of course, a selection of macarons).
The Drinks: Sommelier Jay Whiteley (from the award-winning Hawksworth Restaurant in Vancouver) devised the mainly French wine list, which focuses on bottles from Burgundy and Champagne.
The Place: The former Scarpetta space—now divided into a bakery-café, a lounge and a formal dining room—was remodeled by the same firm behind The Chase and The Chase Fish and Oyster. Colette exudes a similar kind of breezy luxury, but with a few French-country touches (barrel-vaulted ceilings, hand-painted tiles, lots of blues and yellows). There's a covered terrace and a long outdoor pavilion running alongside the hotel's courtyard pool.
[gallery columns="6" ids="284594,284591,284589,284595,284600,284585,284590,284593,284598,284584,284599,284603,284582,284581,284583,284604,284597,284601,284587,284592,284602,284606"]){kind=link}
Use Uber code UBERTORONTOFREERIDE to get $20 off your first ride. Just download the Uber app and enter the code. Valid anywhere in Canada!!!