Introducing: The Chase, a swishy new penthouse restaurant in the Financial District
Name: The Chase
Contact Info: 10 Temperance St., thechasetoronto.com, 647-348-7000, @TheChaseTO
Neighbourhood: Financial District
Owner: Steven Salm, who also owns The Chase Fish and Oyster on the main floor
Executive chef: Michael Steh, who used to be the executive chef at Reds
Chef de cuisine: Amira Becarevic, former chef at EPIC in the Fairmount Royal York
The Food: Contemporary Canadian food with a focus on seafood, seasonal produce and handmade cheeses, like house-whipped goats’ milk ricotta. Family-style entrées include halibut with brown-butter tartar sauce and a foie gras–stuffed roast chicken. For lunch: salads and sandwiches, like pesto chicken on brioche with Parmesan-truffle fries.
The Drinks: A 300-long international wine list curated by sommelier Anton Potvin.
The Place: The brand-new Dineen building penthouse oozes casual elegance with white crown molding, crystal chandeliers and fabrics designed by Ralph Lauren. The space is divided into three separate areas: a 75-seat rooftop terrace, a corridor-shaped wine bar and a cozy dining room with grey tufted banquettes and views of Lake Ontario.
The Numbers:
• $25,000 for two ovens used exclusively for chickens and flatbreads
• $4,000 for the most expensive bottle on the wine list: a Pingus Ribera del Duero
• 550° to roast a whole foie gras–stuffed chicken (the scorching heat helps the foie melt into the chicken flesh)
• 270° view of downtown Toronto from the terrace of the library bar
• 5 months to build
• 1 elevator ride between The Chase and main-floor seafood bar The Chase Fish and Oyster
227327 The entrance hallway leading to the library bar (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-02/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227328 The library bar (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-03/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227329 The Chase’s rooftop terrace overlooks the Cloud Gardens Conservatory, the little park wedged between Richmond and Temperance Streets (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-04/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227330 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-05/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227331 The narrow wine bar connects the library bar to the main dining room (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-06/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227332 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-07/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227333 The restaurant was designed by Gianpiero Pugliese of Audax Architecture (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-08/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227472 The space oozes elegance with white crown molding, crystal chandeliers and Ralph Lauren fabrics (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Chase-new-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Chase-new-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Chase-new-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/chase-new-intro/ chase-new-intro 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227335 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-10/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227337 Poached crab gnocchi with carrots and leeks ($21) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-12/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227326 A whole roast chicken stuffed with foie gras, apricots, pistachios and brioche (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-01/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227336 The roast chicken is carved tableside and served with sides like wild mushroom gnocchi and steamed asparagus with Parmesan ($71) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-11/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227338 Poached lobster with handkerchief pasta, cow’s milk curd, crushed tomatoes and steamed asparagus ($46) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-13/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
227340 Strawberry-vanilla cheesecake sundae with meringue, almond praline and whipped cream ($11) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: The Chase Introducing: The Chase https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-15.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-chase-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-chase-toronto-restaurant-15/ the-chase-toronto-restaurant-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
can u really be that blatant copying daniel humm’s chicken? sort of lame, no?
Mmmmm…..Can’t wait to eat here!
I want to eat here just so I can have a chicken with a bouquet in it’s bum.
The Chase was an exquisite and elegant experience! Enjoyed the Avocado appetizer however the Lobster appetizer had a few too many drops of Truffle Oil which interfered with tasting everything afterwards. The Roast Chicken for Two will forever be remembered as it was truly decadence! Expensive wine list but the food priced very reasonable, interior decor very nice, staff were of highest calibre knowing when to touch your table and when to clear or refill. View? Meh, you are only on the 5th floor with construction (temporary) and monstrous skyscrapers swarming you, however the realization of being in a penthouse restaurant makes up for it. All in all 4.8/5 in my opinion