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Name : Cluny Bistro
Contact Info : 35 Tank House Ln., 416-203-2632, clunybistro.com, @ClunyDistillery
Owners : Distillery Restaurant Corp, the group behind El Catrin, Pure Spirits, Archeo and The Boiler House
Chef(s) : Executive chef Paul Benallick, whose 20 years’ experience includes stints at Jump, Stock, Auberge du Pommier and George Brown College’s The Chefs’ House. He works alongside pastry chef Chris Kwok and “boulanger” Lucas Craig
The Food: Updated bistro dishes, like chili-ginger frog legs and Buffalo sweetbreads, plus an on-trend assortment of crudos, ceviches and seafood tartares (including an unconventional “Nicoise” tartare with egg, French beans and olives). More traditional options include French onion soup, brie-slathered brioche and six different steak-frites platters. Those wishing to indulge (or impress) can take advantage of the “foie gras this or truffle that” supplement, which buys a few ounces of foie for the table—or a whole truffle at near-wholesale cost.
The Drinks: The mid-range wine list is largely French and peppered with other popular picks. The cocktail list sticks to classic French drinks with a few signature creations, like the citrusy Joie de Vivre, which has a gingerbread-sugar rim.
The Place: The old Tank House space has been transformed into a neo-Parisian stunner, dripping in ornate porcelain and marble. The space is divided into a formal dining room, a more casual bar, a soon-to-open café and bakery, and a large wraparound patio (opening mid-summer).
280346 <strong>Cluny</strong> is located at the end of Tank House Lane, across from Soulpepper Theatre (signage to come) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 587 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-01/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280347 Cluny’s doors open into the main dining room. There’s a more casual bar to the right, and a soon-to-open café and bakery to the left (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-02/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280348 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-03/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280349 The hostess stand (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-04/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280350 Lunch and dinner can be ordered in the bar<br />
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(Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-05/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280351 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-06/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280369 The citrusy Joie de Vivre ($11) and the gingery Du Roi, which is made with cognac and chilled green tea ($14) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-24.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-24/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-24 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280354 The 11,000-square-foot dining room, designed by Toronto firm <strong>Munge Leung</strong> <br />
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(Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-09/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280356 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-11/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280365 Baked goods will be sold from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the adjoining <strong>Cluny Boulangerie and Patisserie,</strong> which is scheduled to open next month (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-20.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-20/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-20 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280368 Ginger-chili frog’s legs are served with pickled celery slaw and a mild version of <em>nuoc cham,</em> a Vietnamese dipping sauce ($15) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-23.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-23/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-23 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280373 “Buffalo-fried” sweetbreads are served with smoked blue cheese dip and pickled carrot sticks ($15) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-28-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-28.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-28.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-28/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-28 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280374 Cluny’s French onion soup is made in the classic style with glazed onions, beef broth and house-made sourdough baguette topped with melted Comte and Gruyere ($16). (The bonus: oozy overflow of broiled cheese that’s caught by a cast-iron pan below) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-29-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-29.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-29.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-29/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-29 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280372 The restaurant’s raw bar carries oysters, crab, lobster and other seafood (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-27-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-27.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-27.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-27/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-27 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280371 Scallop crudo with watermelon, chili, peanuts and cilantro ($14) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-26-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-26.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-26.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-26/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-26 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280367 On the Chop Plate, lamb, pork and veal chops are served with lemon-garlic aioli and a pile of frites ($39). The platter is meant for two (but could probably serve four) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-22.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-22/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-22 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280360 For $50-$60, diners can purchase an entire black Périgord truffle to shave over their meals (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-15/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280364 Passion-fruit soufflé, pistachio financier and vanilla crème anglaise ($14) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-19.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-19/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-19 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280370 Pastry chef <strong>Chris Kwok’</strong>s praline profiteroles are served with milk chocolate Chantilly, hazelnut praline and wild-strawberry coulis ($10) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-25.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-25/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-25 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280361 The covered and heated patio should open by mid-summer (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-16.jpg 1000 632 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-16/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
280359 Chef <strong>Paul Benallick</strong> (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Cluny https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/cluny-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cluny-toronto-restaurants/slide/cluny-toronto-restaurant-14/ cluny-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
We had opportunity to attend one of their opening party’s. Cluny’s did not disappoint. The baked breads were fresh & wonderful. The Sweet Breads – “Buffalo Fried” had just the right amount of spices, The Roasted Duck Poutine & the Veal meatball “Tomahawk” are a must try.
Our meal ended with a wonderful dessert – Passion Fruit Souffle. One of the best soufflé’s I have eaten. Chef Paul Benallick came out from the kitchen and asked what we thought and thanked us for coming. He was engaging. Cluny’s staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. We have since returned and were not disappointed. Great new restaurant. A must try!
I work here and have only the best thoughts on every thing from ingredients, to management to staff members. Worth it’s weight in gold.