Introducing: Hush, Gabby’s new, upscale sibling on King West
Todd Sherman, owner of the new King Street restaurant Hush, is no stranger to the food business. With many years at the family-run Gabby’s empire under his belt, Sherman is making the move into a more upscale dining territory. Located on the crowded strip between John and Peter streets, Hush is of course aimed directly at the TIFF and theatre crowds (sister restaurants Gabby’s and Hey Lucy are also within a stone’s throw of the place). Sherman told us he felt the strip had grown a little tired and was in need of a new, more upmarket eatery.
The decor brings a bit of club-like sensibility to King Street’s ubiquitous reclaimed and antique look: a chandelier mixes Edison bulbs with piano keys; two bar area tables are made from slabs of reclaimed wood; the bar top showcases 24,000 black iridescent marbles encased in an epoxy shell. Paintings from local artist Allison Knudsen hang on the walls alongside ceiling panels dipped in pewter, which can be flooded in any colour imaginable thanks to the LED lighting system.
Of the menu items, Sherman particularly recommends the prime rib, cooked in a Rational oven that injects steam into the Ontario beef as it cooks, keeping things moist ($21–$27). Lighter fare includes a seafood citrus salad, which comes with pico de gallo–topped lobster and shrimp and is served with grape tomatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, cucumber-wrapped field greens, avocado and a tangerine dressing ($15.50). Of particular note is the wine list, which was compiled by master sommelier Bruce Wallner of nearby Paese—one of Canada’s three Master Sommeliers—with average wines costing between $40 and $60 and nothing over $125. Suggested pairings are noted on the menu, and on Fridays and Saturdays the restaurant does a feature wine sampling.
- 102337
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-chandeliers-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-chandeliers.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-chandeliers.jpg
- 624
- 468
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-chandeliers/
- hush-chandeliers
- 0
- 0
- 102343
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- Campfire s’mores ($13): graham crackers and homemade Lindt chocolate bark (milk and dark chocolate), garnished with fruit, complete with a tabletop “fire pit”
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-smores-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-smores.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-smores.jpg
- 624
- 468
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-smores/
- hush-smores
- 0
- 0
- 102338
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- Siam red curry bowl ($18): chicken and shrimp with green peppers, green onions, seasonal veggies and bok choy in a mild Thai red curry sauce with jasmine rice
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-curry-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-curry.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-curry.jpg
- 624
- 483
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-curry/
- hush-curry
- 0
- 0
- 102341
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- Seafood citrus salad ($15.50): lobster and shrimp with grape tomatoes, bell peppers and fresh greens wrapped in avocado and cucumber, served with a tangerine dressing and pico de gallo
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-seafood-salad-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-seafood-salad.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-seafood-salad.jpg
- 624
- 468
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-seafood-salad/
- hush-seafood-salad
- 0
- 0
- 102342
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- The back of the restaurant
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-seats-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-seats.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-seats.jpg
- 624
- 468
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-seats/
- hush-seats
- 0
- 0
- 102335
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- The bar top is made of 24,000 iridescent marbles encased in epoxy
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-bar-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-bar.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-bar.jpg
- 624
- 468
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-bar/
- hush-bar
- 0
- 0
- 102339
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-gears-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-gears.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-gears.jpg
- 624
- 832
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-gears/
- hush-gears
- 0
- 0
- 102344
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- Hush is across from the Bell Lightbox, from which it hopes to draw customers
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-window-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-window.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-window.jpg
- 468
- 624
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-window/
- hush-window
- 0
- 0
- 102340
- (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
- Hush as seen from across King Street
- Introducing: Hush
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-outside-96x96.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-outside.jpg
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hush-outside.jpg
- 656
- 492
- https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hush/slide/hush-outside/
- hush-outside
- 0
- 0
Hush, 303 King St. W., 416-979-9799, hushrestaurants.ca
Let’s just say we had a bad experience here…
Full review here:
http://restosinto.tumblr.com/post/11842244646/hush
Cheers,
RestosinTO.com
My husband celebrated his birthday at this restaurant recently. All of our guests were really pleased with the food and service. I had the burger – it was fantastic and my husband had a steak, which he loved. The staff was really accomodating, making room for a very large group of us, even giving us extra space when a few people arrived late. I highly recommend this restaurant, especially if you are looking to host an event with over 10 people and want to stay away from Prix Fixe menus, which are common for larger groups. Thanks HUSH!
My partner and I tried this restaurant on Saturday night, and our experience was horrible. At the door we were told that we would need to give up our table in 45 minutes to an hour (we did not have a reservation). Fair enough, except that at that point the restaurant was empty except for two tables. We should have taken this as a sign and left right away. We decided to stay and, instead, ended up walking out a half hour later. At this half hour point we still had not received the bottle of wine we ordered, and our waitress had not yet offered to take a food order. The host tried to talk us out of leaving, saying that the delay was because they were retrieving the wine bottle from storage. Our waitress had communicated nothing of the sort to us, and in fact seemed to avoid eye contact when we tried to get her attention. Her lack of attention was definitely not due to being busy, as only a couple more tables had filled during this point. Guaranteed we will never visit Hush again.
Decided to try this restaurant with friends on Saturday and had a horrible experience. When we walked in they were having ventilation problems and smoke from the kitchen had infiltrated the restaurant and the entire place was smoky and disgusting. We should have taken this as a sign and left.
I had called in advance to make sure they could accomodate a gluten allergy which they assured me they could, however the waitress had no idea about the menu’s offerings and brought over the manager who came over and informed me I couldn’t eat the potato as it was full of carbohydrates and starches. For the record, a potato is gluten free and I am not on a low carb diet, I just cannot consume wheat. As the manager, he should have been aware of the ingredients of every meal as well as what contained the most common allergens.
On top of that, my friends both ordered two drinks which they had to send back. And we are probably the most accomodating people who never want to make a fuss but their grapefruit cocktail was a horrible, inedible combination of flavours and their casear which they claimed was real clamato juice, just taste like oyster juice, no tomato.
In the end, I ended up enjoying my steak, while another friend enjoyed her lobster and cheese grilled cheese, but our other friend’s salmon wasn’t even cooked but at that point we were afraid to complain again.
We really wanted to give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt since they are new, but the service wasn’t good and neither were their drinks or food. Definitely won’t be visiting HUSH again.
Visited Hush last week with some friends, having researched a place near to their hotel. I was a little apprehensive having read mixed reviews on the internet. Unfortunately I turned out right – we thought it was pretty poor.
Service, atmosphere and decor was all very cool and inviting. Our waitress was both beautiful and attentive, who’d of thought?! Sadly the food we had was not good. It wasn’t terrible but it didn’t wow any of us either. I can think of a thousand better places in the city for food, and for half the price (I don’t know why people keep saying their prices are reasonable… maybe I am not going to expensive enough places!) I suppose it serves us right for going to the King St area. I wouldn’t go back to Hush unless I had to.