Introducing: John and Sons, the new Summerhill oyster house from the owners of Rodney’s by Bay
(Image: Megan Leahy)
The highly anticipated John and Sons Oyster House is now up and running in the prime corner real estate previously occupied by Terroni on Yonge south of St. Clair (in between, it was an Italian place called Divino ). The restaurant was opened by the same team that’s behind Rodney’s by Bay —indeed, the downtown sister location has now taken on the John and Sons moniker, launching co-owner John Belknap into the ranks of the city’s oyster tycoons (the “Rodney’s” name was previously used under licence from Rodney’s Oyster House ). The 100-seat restaurant’s modern-rustic interior was styled by Belknap’s brother-in-law, Brad Denton, whose previous work includes Le Petit Castor, Czehoski and The Harbord Room. There’s a decided nautical theme, with bare bulbs hanging from thick rope and little model lighthouses in niches behind the oyster bar.
Depending on what’s in season, raw bar manager Mark Moore serves a selection of seven to nine kinds of oysters each night. They are served individually at market prices, ranging from $2.50 to $4.50 each. For the bivalve-averse, co-owner and chef Sonia Potichnyj has created a diverse à la carte menu featuring sustainable fish dishes like a breadless tuna BLT ($24), Louisiana whitetail jumbo shrimp ($18) and seafood ravioli ($24). Non-fish options include beef short-rib poutine ($19) and Korean fried chicken ($21), and for dessert there’s homemade pomegranate- and cherry-jelly-filled doughnuts ($8) and a triplet of s’mores ($8). The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and serves brunch on weekends.
176174 Jelly Doughnuts ($8): pomegranate and cherry jelly with cardamom sugar dusting (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-17.jpg 414 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-17/ nov12-john-and-sons-17 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176169 S'mores ($8): toasted marshmallow on graham-cracker crumb cake with dark chocolate cream (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-12.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-12/ nov12-john-and-sons-12 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176168 Pan-roasted black cod with baby bok choy, edamame, shimeji mushrooms and ginger-scented smoked bonito broth ($25) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-11.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-11/ nov12-john-and-sons-11 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176167 Short-rib poutine ($19): braised short ribs, jus, Bromont white cheddar curd and Yukon gold frites (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-10.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-10/ nov12-john-and-sons-10 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176165 Oyster Po-Boy Sliders ($15): crispy fried oysters, spicy-poblano slaw and habañero-lime mayo (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-8.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-8/ nov12-john-and-sons-8 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176164 Seared diver scallops with squash purée, brussels sprouts leaves, bacon jam and cider butter ($25) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-7.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-7/ nov12-john-and-sons-7 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176163 Bouillabaisse ($14): whitefish, pickerel and mussels in a garlic saffron tomato broth, with Marseille rouille and grilled rustic bread (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-6.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-6/ nov12-john-and-sons-6 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176170 Baked Oysters Rockefeller ($12) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-13.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-13/ nov12-john-and-sons-13 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176166 Louisiana whitetail jumbo shrimp, achiote citrus, pepper medley and avocado cream ($18) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-9.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-9/ nov12-john-and-sons-9 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176171 Smoked Trout Salad ($14): House-smoked steelhead trout, Ontario butter greens, pickled cipollini onions, lemon-maple vinaigrette (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-14.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-14/ nov12-john-and-sons-14 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176172 Tuna BLT ($24): seared yellowfin, maple miso-glazed pancetta, panko-crusted tomato, orange soy vinaigrette and edamame-horseradish purée (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-15.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-15/ nov12-john-and-sons-15 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176173 Autumn Heirloom Salad ($12): autumn beets, baby kale, apple vinaigrette, goat cheese cake and spiced pumpkin seeds (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-16.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-16/ nov12-john-and-sons-16 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176162 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-5.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-5/ nov12-john-and-sons-5 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176161 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-4.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-4/ nov12-john-and-sons-4 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176160 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-3.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-3/ nov12-john-and-sons-3 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176159 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-2.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-2/ nov12-john-and-sons-2 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176158 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-1.jpg 624 414 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-1/ nov12-john-and-sons-1 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
176176 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: John and Sons Introducing: John and Sons https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-john-and-sons-intro.jpg 656 436 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-john-and-sons/slide/nov12-john-and-sons-intro/ nov12-john-and-sons-intro 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
John and Sons, 1 Balmoral Ave., 416-515-0551, johnandsonsoysterhouse.tumblr.com, @JohnandSonsTO
I believe it is designed by Brad Denton of Pencil Design, not Brandon.
congrats John.
Thanks Rodney. We’ve updated the post.