Victor’s new semi-private dining room
With upscale bars and restaurants popping up in new hotels in and around King West, Victor , an operation that staked an early claim to the area, has given itself a makeover. Long-time general manager Michael Sullivan and chef David Chrystian recently stepped in as the new owners of the restaurant, located in the Hôtel Le Germain , and have relaunched it with a new menu and a contemporary facelift by Jenny Francis Design .
The expanded lounge space remains cozy, with plush velvet couches and oversize lampshades by the windows overlooking Mercer Street, while the zinc-topped herringbone-patterned bar lines the opposite side of the room. The reconfigured space includes a new semi-private dining room, which has an art deco feel and Escher-inspired flooring and can seat up to 40 guests.
The revamped “Taste Toronto” menu is designed for sharing, with a selection of dishes reflecting the various ethnic pockets around the GTA. The seven options change weekly, ideal for those who want to snack on a variety of cuisines without leaving King West. Highlights include the channa masala with mango chutney from Little India and the arepas with carne asada, salted onions, avocado and pepitas from Kensington Market ($14 per dish, three for $36, four for $48, five for $60 or all seven for $79).
The main menu features sustainable seafood options like marinated sardines with shaved bean salad and crisp potatoes ($14), as well as mains like the roasted elk and venison sausage and loin with braised cabbage, mustard and sweet potato tart ($28). Decidedly unusual twists on classic cocktails include the Bourbon Cosmopolitan ($15) and a “Manhattan” with Clase Azul tequila ($18).
65742 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) The new semi-private dining room at Victor Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/dining-room-6/ dining-room-6 0 0
The new semi-private dining room at Victor
65740 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) The new semi-private dining room at Victor Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room-2.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/dining-room-2-3/ dining-room-2-3 0 0
The new semi-private dining room at Victor
65741 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) The semi-private dining room features Escher-like floors Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dining-room-3.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/dining-room-3-2/ dining-room-3-2 0 0
The semi-private dining room features Escher-like floors
65744 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) A casual lounge space adjoins the semi-private dining room Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/lounge.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/lounge.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/lounge.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/lounge-3/ lounge-3 0 0
A casual lounge space adjoins the semi-private dining room
65748 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) From Richmond Hill’s “Japanese Village”: sushi pizza, albacore sashimi, lobster, roe, wasabi mayo Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sushi-pizza.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sushi-pizza.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sushi-pizza.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/sushi-pizza/ sushi-pizza 0 0
From Richmond Hill’s “Japanese Village”: sushi pizza, albacore sashimi, lobster, roe, wasabi mayo
65747 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) From Chinatown: seared scallops with guy lan and black bean sauce Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/seared-scallops.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/seared-scallops.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/seared-scallops.jpg 333 500 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/seared-scallops/ seared-scallops 0 0
From Chinatown: seared scallops with guy lan and black bean sauce
65745 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) From Little India: pappadums and mango chutney Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/papadams-and-chutney.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/papadams-and-chutney.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/papadams-and-chutney.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/papadams-and-chutney/ papadams-and-chutney 0 0
From Little India: pappadums and mango chutney
65743 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) From Korea Town: glazed shortribs and kimchi hand roll Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hand-roll.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hand-roll.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hand-roll.jpg 333 500 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/hand-roll/ hand-roll 0 0
From Korea Town: glazed shortribs and kimchi hand roll
65739 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) From Little India: channa masala Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/channa-masala.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/channa-masala.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/channa-masala.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/channa-masala/ channa-masala 0 0
From Little India: channa masala
65738 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) From Kensington Market: arepa with carne asada, salted onions, avocado, pepitas Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/arepa.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/arepa.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/arepa.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/arepa/ arepa 0 0
From Kensington Market: arepa with carne asada, salted onions, avocado, pepitas
65750 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) From Little Italy: tiramisu Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/tiramisu.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/tiramisu.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/tiramisu.jpg 640 426 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/tiramisu/ tiramisu 0 0
From Little Italy: tiramisu
65746 (Image: Ernesto DiStefano/Pimentel Photo) Pear and apple Fizz cocktail Inside the renovated Victor https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pear-and-apple-fizz.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pear-and-apple-fizz.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pear-and-apple-fizz.jpg 333 500 [] https://torontolife.com/food/take-a-look-inside-the-redesigned-victor-restaurant-at-hotel-le-germain/slide/pear-and-apple-fizz/ pear-and-apple-fizz 0 0
Pear and apple Fizz cocktail
Victor Restaurant , 30 Mercer St. (in the Hôtel Le Germain), 416-883-3431, victorrestaurant.com