Introducing: L’Ouvrier, the newest addition to Dundas West’s restaurant row
Inside Dundas West’s latest restaurant (Image: Simone Olivero)
Back in August we told you about L’Ouvrier, the new restaurant and bar on Dundas West, which takes its inspiration from a line in Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London : “The cook does not look upon himself as a servant, but as a skilled workman; he is generally called ‘UN OUVRIER’ which a waiter never is.” The workman in question would be Angus Bennett, who along with Justine Fowler opened the doors to their new spot last night.
A large WWI-era image of hard working chefs looms over the space as a reminder of Bennett’s food philosophy: “Cooking is less about art and more about hard work and dedication.” The menu, which jumps around the world from cuisine to cuisine, dispenses with titles for the dishes, instead listing each ingredient as it’s found on the plate. Some of the house favourites include an Asian hot and sour soup with chicken dumplings, ginger, scallions, cilantro and shiitake ($8), a tuna tartar plate with a side of crispy chips and avocado puree ($14) and roasted salmon with lemongrass, coconut milk, Thai basil, coriander, lime leaf and ginger ($21).
The large open space was once an illegal after hours club with dark walls and small, presumably smoke-filled rooms. Bennett and his team stripped the space down to its concrete floors and added a coat of white paint to achieve a minimalist feel. In the middle of the room is a large, 12-seat bar, which will likely be the hub of activity (and noise). There’s also a smattering of tables of various shapes and sizes. The lion’s share of the decoration comes from installations by artist and friend Courtney Wotherspoon , who adorned the space with industrial materials from the reno job, including electrical wire, nails and little plastic bags filled with nuts, bolts, pegs and paint. Breaking up the white are splashes of decidedly non-work appropriate hot pink: there’s the one pink table, the hot pink aprons servers will wear, some hot pink string art on the walls and the hot pink neon sign in the window.
92246 (Image: Simone Olivero) Roasted salmon with lemongrass, coconut milk, thai basil, coriander, lime leaf, ginger, birds-eye chili and greens ($21) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-salmon-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-salmon.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-salmon.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-salmon/ lourvrier-salmon 0 0
Roasted salmon with lemongrass, coconut milk, thai basil, coriander, lime leaf, ginger, birds-eye chili and greens ($21)
92252 (Image: Simone Olivero) Tuna tartar with soy ginger glaze, avocado puree, crispy shallots, tatsoi sprouts and potato chips ($14) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-tuna-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-tuna.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-tuna.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-tuna/ lourvrier-tuna 0 0
Tuna tartar with soy ginger glaze, avocado puree, crispy shallots, tatsoi sprouts and potato chips ($14)
92245 (Image: Simone Olivero) Salad of cucumber, fennel, grapefruit, orange, radish, cilantro, chili and fleur de sel ($9) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-salad-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-salad.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-salad.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-salad/ lourvrier-salad 0 0
Salad of cucumber, fennel, grapefruit, orange, radish, cilantro, chili and fleur de sel ($9)
92248 (Image: Simone Olivero) Hot and sour soup with chicken dumplings, ginger, scallions, cilantro, and shiitake mushrooms ($8) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-soup-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-soup.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-soup.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-soup/ lourvrier-soup 0 0
Hot and sour soup with chicken dumplings, ginger, scallions, cilantro, and shiitake mushrooms ($8)
92240 (Image: Simone Olivero) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-love-food-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-love-food.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-love-food.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-love-food/ lourvrier-love-food 0 0
92233 (Image: Simone Olivero) Art installation by Courtney Wotherspoon using building materials Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bags-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bags.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bags.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-bags/ lourvrier-bags 0 0
Art installation by Courtney Wotherspoon using building materials
92236 (Image: Simone Olivero) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-chairs-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-chairs.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-chairs.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-chairs/ lourvrier-chairs 0 0
92238 (Image: Simone Olivero) The light fixture came from Post and Beam in the Junction Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-light-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-light.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-light.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-light/ lourvrier-light 0 0
The light fixture came from Post and Beam in the Junction
92243 (Image: Simone Olivero) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-pepsi-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-pepsi.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-pepsi.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-pepsi/ lourvrier-pepsi 0 0
92244 (Image: Simone Olivero) The lone hot pink table Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-pink-table-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-pink-table.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-pink-table.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-pink-table/ lourvrier-pink-table 0 0
The lone hot pink table
92247 (Image: Simone Olivero) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-setting-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-setting.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-setting.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-setting/ lourvrier-setting 0 0
92249 (Image: Simone Olivero) Nail and string installation by Courtney Wotherspoon Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-string-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-string.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-string.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-string/ lourvrier-string 0 0
Nail and string installation by Courtney Wotherspoon
92251 (Image: Simone Olivero) Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-table-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-table-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-table-2.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-table-2/ lourvrier-table-2 0 0
92250 (Image: Simone Olivero) The dining room features a variety of mismatched tables Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-table-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-table-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-table-1.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-table-1/ lourvrier-table-1 0 0
The dining room features a variety of mismatched tables
92237 (Image: Simone Olivero) Looking out onto Dundas West Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-dundas-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-dundas.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-dundas.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-dundas/ lourvrier-dundas 0 0
Looking out onto Dundas West
92239 (Image: Simone Olivero) Inside L’Ouvrier Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-long-table-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-long-table.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-long-table.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-long-table/ lourvrier-long-table 0 0
Inside L’Ouvrier
92234 (Image: Simone Olivero) The bar from the other side Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bar-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bar-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bar-2.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-bar-2/ lourvrier-bar-2 0 0
The bar from the other side
92235 (Image: Simone Olivero) The bar area can seat up to 12 people for dinner or drinks Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bar-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bar.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-bar.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-bar/ lourvrier-bar 0 0
The bar area can seat up to 12 people for dinner or drinks
92232 (Image: Simone Olivero) Co-owner and chef Angus Bennett Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-angus-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-angus.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-angus.jpg 415 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-angus/ lourvrier-angus 0 0
Co-owner and chef Angus Bennett
92241 (Image: Simone Olivero) The first of many splashes of hot pink around the otherwise minimalist restaurant Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-neon-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-neon.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-neon.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-neon/ lourvrier-neon 0 0
The first of many splashes of hot pink around the otherwise minimalist restaurant
92242 (Image: Simone Olivero) Outside the new Dundas West restaurant Introducing: L’Ouvrier https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-outside-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-outside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/lourvrier-outside.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-louvrier/slide/lourvrier-outside/ lourvrier-outside 0 0
Outside the new Dundas West restaurant
L’Ouvrier, 791 Dundas St. W, 416-901-9581, louvrier.ca .
Great introduction to the space and the food…
An interesting note: the dining tables (save for the two rounds) were all hand made by chef Angus Bennett using the original 2″x4″s taken down during the reno. A crafty fellow!
Looks beautiful. Love the look of the menu too! Chef’s pretty cute too.
Looking for a review of l’Ouvrier?
http://restosinto.tumblr.com/post/10659966735/louvrier
Enjoy the write-up!
Cheers,
Restos in TO
Had the tasting menu on Saturday night. How often can you say the chef hit every plate perfect. Flavor tempature presentation.
The food was amazing service was terrific.
Ya gotta try this spot.