The bright, refined new dining room at DT Bistro (Image: Megan Leahy)
Now in its seventh year on Harbord, Dessert Trends Bistro closed down on New Year’s Day for extensive renovations. Though the main dining area was relaunched May 18, the new 40-seat second-floor addition opened just this past weekend. With the help of his friend Bennett Lo of Dialogue 38, DT owner and renowned pasty chef Donald Duong designed the new interior to look as much like a jewellery store as a pastry shop. We dropped by to take a look.
Right after entering, guests are faced with a dramatic floor-to-ceiling Calacatta marble showcase, with three of chef Duong’s prized cakes behind glass. Upstairs, the new space is spotted with cakes that resemble handbags, sitting on freestanding podium jewellery cases. The colour scheme is full of creams and pastels, and the walls are covered in luxurious wallpaper made from texturized cotton and embossed silk, with paintings by Vietnamese artist Ngo Tam. On the main floor, a tufted leather bench has been added along the length of the north wall, while the centrepiece is an oversized light sculpture Duong designed himself, made from manzanita branches and dotted with light bulbs wrapped in cotton. Behind the second-floor bar is a similar piece made from an onyx backlit base and white marble top. The room features robin’s-egg blue tufted leather chairs and silvery walls.
Upstairs only, DT has introduced a three-course afternoon tea for two or more guests ($25 per person). The menu features a selection of pastries, followed by a choice of small savoury bites and finished with an assortment of baked treats. As a part of the new addition, Duong has also added a rooftop herb garden. While it doesn’t receive service, the outdoor space is a serene perch from which to watch the world go by on Harbord Street.
143898 (Image: Megan Leahy) DT Bistro’s new herb garden Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro04/ june12dtbistro04 0 0
DT Bistro’s new herb garden
143899 (Image: Megan Leahy) The herb garden doesn’t get service Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro05/ june12dtbistro05 0 0
The herb garden doesn’t get service
143907 (Image: Megan Leahy) Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro12/ june12dtbistro12 0 0
143909 (Image: Megan Leahy) The new upstairs room Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro15/ june12dtbistro15 0 0
The new upstairs room
143897 (Image: Megan Leahy) The pretty new second floor Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro03/ june12dtbistro03 0 0
The pretty new second floor
143902 (Image: Megan Leahy) Handbag cakes by Donald Duong in the second-floor dining room Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro08/ june12dtbistro08 0 0
Handbag cakes by Donald Duong in the second-floor dining room
143900 (Image: Megan Leahy) The new bar on the second floor Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro06/ june12dtbistro06 0 0
The new bar on the second floor
143906 (Image: Megan Leahy) Duong designed this light sculpture himself, using manzanita branches and cotton-wrapped light bulbs Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro11.jpg 409 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro11/ june12dtbistro11 0 0
Duong designed this light sculpture himself, using manzanita branches and cotton-wrapped light bulbs
143905 (Image: Megan Leahy) Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro10.jpg 372 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro10/ june12dtbistro10 0 0
143904 (Image: Megan Leahy) Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro09.jpg 314 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro09/ june12dtbistro09 0 0
143901 (Image: Megan Leahy) One of Donald Duong’s showpiece cakes Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro07.jpg 459 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro07/ june12dtbistro07 0 0
One of Donald Duong’s showpiece cakes
143908 (Image: Megan Leahy) The Calacatta marble showcase, with three of Chef Duong’s prized cakes Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro14/ june12dtbistro14 0 0
The Calacatta marble showcase, with three of Chef Duong’s prized cakes
143896 (Image: Megan Leahy) The main pastry display case on the first floor Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro02/ june12dtbistro02 0 0
The main pastry display case on the first floor
143895 (Image: Megan Leahy) Some of Donald Duong’s creations Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro01/ june12dtbistro01 0 0
Some of Donald Duong’s creations
143911 (Image: Megan Leahy) The first floor has a new tufted leather bench along the north wall Reintroducing: DT Bistro https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june12DTBistro_intro.jpg 656 435 [] https://torontolife.com/food/dt-bistro-renovation/slide/june12dtbistro_intro/ june12dtbistro_intro 0 0
The first floor has a new tufted leather bench along the north wall
DT Bistro, 154 Harbord St., 416-916-8155, desserttrends.ca
Nice…does that mean the price to eat there is now 10-20% higher?
Great article – makes me want to eat there now!
Donald Duong is one of Toronto’s top culinary talents. The new renovations look great!
LOOKS VERY COOL