Ici Bistro’s J.P. Challet is moving back to the Windsor Arms
Toronto chef J.P. Challet has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the Windsor Arms hotel. To be concise: he was the hotel’s first chef in 1999; decamped two years later; came back in 2010 to revamp the food program and then left (again) five months later when the deal fell through. Now, the relationship is back on. Food writer James Chatto reports on his Toronto dining blog that Challet is uprooting the team from Ici Bistro, his quietly luxurious restaurant on Harbord Street, and moving back to Yorkville’s toniest boutique hotel.
The new restaurant, which opens this May in a renovated space next to the prim Courtyard Café, will have 40 seats to Ici’s 25. Otherwise, it will be a straightforward transplant. Challet told the Grid: “We’re not changing anything, just the address. I’m going to keep the same staff, prices, philosophy, and the name.” (As for the fate of Ici, that’s still somewhat up in the air, although Challet currently plans to hold on to the space.) The deal has an extra perk thrown in for Challet, not to mention the croissant-eating public: Windsor Arms developer George Friedmann will also be backing a new J.P. Challet patisserie in the Queen Live Market on Queen Street West.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/ici-bistros-j-p-challet-moving-back-windsor-arms/&title=Ici Bistro’s J.P. Challet is moving back to the Windsor Arms&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/challet-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_262012" align="aligncenter" width="656"] (Image: left, J.P. Challet/Facebook; right, Windsor Arms/Facebook)[/caption]
Toronto chef J.P. Challet has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the Windsor Arms hotel. To be concise: he was the hotel’s first chef in 1999; decamped two years later; came back in 2010 to revamp the food program and then left (again) five months later when the deal fell through. Now, the relationship is back on. Food writer James Chatto reports on his Toronto dining blog that Challet is uprooting the team from Ici Bistro, his quietly luxurious restaurant on Harbord Street, and moving back to Yorkville’s toniest boutique hotel.
The new restaurant, which opens this May in a renovated space next to the prim Courtyard Café, will have 40 seats to Ici’s 25. Otherwise, it will be a straightforward transplant. Challet told the Grid: “We’re not changing anything, just the address. I’m going to keep the same staff, prices, philosophy, and the name.” (As for the fate of Ici, that’s still somewhat up in the air, although Challet currently plans to hold on to the space.) The deal has an extra perk thrown in for Challet, not to mention the croissant-eating public: Windsor Arms developer George Friedmann will also be backing a new J.P. Challet patisserie in the Queen Live Market on Queen Street West.){kind=link}
The CityTV building is behind Yonge/Dundas. Isn’t anything fact-checked and/or researched anymore?
I have reservations at ICI in the middle of May. I would expect out of good customer service, I will be receiving a call telling me which location I should be going to. Im not really happy about this move and hope he also puts a Patisserie in the harbord st. location as well.
I have been to a variety of restursunts ranging from McDonalds to Michelin Rated restursunts. I have never had such a terrible dining experience.
Our waiter took 10 minites to come to oir table initially. We indicated that we were eager to order as we had plans after dinner we wanted to get to. The waiter did not return for another 15 minutes after that. We then asked for a wine menu that took another 10 minutes to show up.
Prior to attending we confirmed the advertised menu as including a “welcome drink” as part of our set-course menu for $125. The waiter said he was not aware of it and would look into it. While bad enough not being aware of the menu, he did not bother to look into it an ignored our inquiry all together.
We were asked by the assistant manager if we would like our meal served family style in order to speed up service for our group of 7. Our group clearly indicated we would rather not. However our apps came out family style. We raised the issue with the assistant manager who said it would be rectified for the rest of the meal.
There was clear breakdown in communication within the staff as all of the remaining courses were served family style ie they piled the food on one big plate and we had to serve ourselves. This was an issue for our entree particularly because the waiter did not bother to bring us plates. When we asked for plates, he brought us little side plates and we were left to attempt to cut our overcooked steaks on an undersized dish.
We ordered a bottle of wine which was not brought to our table until after we completed 90% of our entree. Really no point in wine after the meal.
The waiter was not only inattentive, but grew to be rude and patronizing after I asked the assistant manager that our meal not be served family style. He commented on our group of 30-35 year olds as “the gang” and “crazy kids”. While this may not have been a big deal ordinarily (but one would think that in a place that is supposed to be one of repute there would be some more formality), these comments were clearly passive aggressive indicating he didn’t like how we raised some concerns with the assistant manager.
We were not offered coffee or tea after the meal. There were several errors on our bill that including charges for things we didn’t order. This took some time to rectify. And while realizing we were in a rush, the waiter proceeded to clear empty tables rather than bring us the bill to sign.
I will say aside from an overcooked entree the food itself wasn’t bad, but nothing to write home about either.
Overall, I was shocked to the point where it actuslly ruined my night. And I am not one who is overly picky or easily upset. With so many other amazing options in this city, don’t waste time with this one.