What’s on the menu at Frenchy, Hilton Toronto’s new lobby bar and brasserie
It’s the centrepiece of the hotel’s full-scale renovation
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Name: Frenchy
Contact: 145 Richmond St. W., frenchytoronto.com, @frenchytoronto
Neighbourhood: Financial District
Owners: Barney River Investments
Chef: Aaron Chen
Accessibility: Fully accessible
Frenchy is the new jewel in the crown of Hilton’s full-scale renovation, which also included a makeover of the hotel’s lobby and guest rooms. Carrie Wong, complex marketing manager for Hilton Toronto, says the French restaurant was envisioned as the nucleus of the refreshed building, both literally and figuratively.
“Right from the entrance, the first thing guests can see is the bar,” she says. From a morning coffee and breakfast cassoulet to evening cocktails paired with brasserie-style plates, Frenchy’s shape-shifting vibe accommodates the changing needs of hotel guests and locals throughout the day. “We really wanted to create a space that would have something for everyone to enjoy,” says Wong. “We’re trying to create a really energized and lively lobby experience.”
The food
Frenchy’s unpretentious brasserie menu reflects the restaurant’s “something for everyone” mantra. “One of our key philosophies is classics done really well,” says executive chef Aaron Chen. “It’s all about dishes that are traditional, bold and uncomplicated.”
Related: Six of the city’s best new bistros and brasseries
The drinks
For the drink menu, assistant GM Santiago Espinel Otero worked closely with Chen to ensure the cocktail program complements the approachable French ethos of the food. “Our motto: simple is better,” says Otero. Cocktails bring a playful French twist to familiar favourites, whether that means amping up the floral notes to evoke French perfume or adding smoky undertones in an allusion to the Napoleonic Wars. “We know we have to cater to not only the hotel’s guests—which can include people from around the world—but also a local crowd,” says Otero. “We try to have a little bit of everything for everybody while still keeping the identity of the restaurant.”
In keeping with the French theme, wine is also an emphasis of the restaurant’s drink program. Though the list isn’t strictly French, it focuses on grape varieties associated with France—think an Italian Syrah or a Canadian Marsanne. A small wine room off the main dining area highlights the restaurant’s deep vino collection and will host private wine tastings.
The space
DesignAgency led the extensive renovation project, including the curation of Frenchy’s Parisian aesthetic. The restaurant’s centrepiece is a stunning brass-accented bar, which serves as a connection point between the restaurant and the wider lobby.
Curved edges, soft textures and a palette of rich reds introduce warmth and intimacy to the airy space. Eye-catching chandeliers are reminiscent of floating flower blossoms, and a dramatic mural depicting painted figures of women further enhances the restaurant’s feminine feel.
Frenchy will soon launch a regular live entertainment program, including DJ sets and jazz band performances. “The hotel is so centrally located that Frenchy is a perfect stop to meet up before going to an event downtown,” says Wong. “It will become the heartbeat of the hotel and a community hub.”
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Jessica Huras is a freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience creating food, travel and lifestyle content. She’s a content editor for the LCBO’s Food & Drink magazine, and her work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Chatelaine, Toronto Life and Elle Canada, among other publications.
