Reviews - Ruby Watchco
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First time here, was impressed with the service and atmosphere. Knew what the food was for that day, and the price, not issues here. Food was excellent, you should expect the noise volume to be a little high, as the restaurant is narrow and long, so the sound bounces. View all feedback.
Reviews from various users
Last update : 14.10.2024
Still Top 10 Restaurants in Toronto to visit. I have yet been disappointed in a meal here in almost 7 years. As long as you like farm to table and don't have a choice in your dinner you will be a happy camper coming here any time. Casual atmosphere with the finish of a 5 start establishment. Everything is done with care and nothing overly complicated. The Staff and owners have amazing pride and joy serving their guests. Booking my next visit already.
Took my wife here for her bday. It's a full set menu with an option to pair with wine. Gotta say everytime from food, atmosphere to service were awesome. I particularly liked the trout they served that night. My only small complaint was that my wife was pregnant and couldn't have the tiramisu so they subbed it with something else, which really wasn't good. I'd totally recommend going there though.
First class restaurant and a cant miss. The menu changes regularly and I don't think you can go wrong with anything they serve. The night we were there was a play on a Cobb salad, followed by steak with three sides, cheese board and a Oreo cheesecake. Each dish was . Service was also impeccable, with the staff taking all precautions with my fish allergy Overall, can't wait to go back!
I'm always a fan of Prix Fixe Dinner as you already know how much you will be spending with no surprises. Have been a fan of food shows and Chef Lynn Crawford is a part owner here along with Chef Lora Kirk. The 4 course menu for $58 changes daily and is posted online on Monday in advance for the entire week. You can also do a wine pairing for $42 extra. I went on the night where they were serving smoked pork loin and loved it. They also support local farms and have great side dishes. Highly recommended if you visit Riverside, Toronto!
I've been meaning to come to Ruby Watchco for quite some time, and I finally visited last weekend. And it was just what I had imagined. We made a reservation ahead of time, so as we walked in, the table was being set up just in time! The menu is pre set, which changes daily. There is a base $54 menu, or you can add $18 for a couple of supplemental items. We went all in without the wine pairings. Each dish was served family style, which really highlights the intimacy of the food and ambiance of this place. Fogo Island Cod Cakes (Supplemental) Small, perfectly cooked. Golden brown on the outside, moist, fresh and flakey on the inside. Great balance. Charred Brussel Sprout Salad with Slegers Living Greens, Romaine Hearts, Roasted Apples, Green Goddess, Pistachios, Honey Mustard Dressing If I could make this, I would have no problem having salad every day for lunch! Just so good! Pork Fried Rice with a Crispy Ginger Egg (Supplemental) Good ginger flavor that pairs well with all the other layers. The fried rice was a little hard for my taste, but good. Slow Roasted Striploin with Smoked Beef Cheek Marmalade Sides. The striploin was cooked to perfection, but putting that aside, the sides were also great. The sweet potato puree/mash was to die for. And the steamed broccoli and carrots were just really well done, although nothing too special. Handeck by Gunns Hill Artisan Cheese with Carrot Celery Salad, Pickled Mustard Seeds How can you say no to good cheese?! Triple Chocolate Brownie with Hot Fudge Sauce, Hazelnuts Sweet Cream This was a struggle after such a good meal. I just couldn't say no... just heavenly. The service was excellent. Everyone was friendly, down to earth and we didn't feel pressured to order anything we didn't want. I honestly have nothing bad to say. Make reservation ahead of time. Make sure to bring your appetite, and friends!
Last update : 08.04.2022
This restaurant is top notch and a must-visit. The menu is constantly changing, but everything we tried was fantastic. We were thoroughly impressed during our visit.
I always appreciate a prix fixe dinner because I know exactly how much I will be spending without any surprises. I am a fan of eating shows and Chef Lynn.
I have been to several top restaurants in Toronto, but I have never been as disappointed in a meal as I was here. It has been almost a year since my visit and unfortunately, the farm-to-table concept just did not live up to expectations.
Great restaurant. Went for a family celebration. Nice atmosphere, the best serving staff ever and delicious food. Family style dinning, good portions and nicely presented. Fixed meal all dependant on whats available and in season.
The highly regarded restaurant critic, Joanne Kates (The Globe Mail), first reviewed Ruby Watchco in Then she gave it a second chance two years ago and wrote: I remain stumped by Ruby Watchco Kates was perplexed by the rave reviews and continued busyness...of the restaurant in the face of what she characterized as mediocrity I could not agree more. But my reasons are slightly different than Kates'. She didn't particularly like the the family-style service, which she felt cluttered the table. She also took issue with a fixed menu that requires everyone to eat the same dishes that evening (the restaurant posts the daily menu on their website at the start of a week). I don't have a problem with a fixed menu nor family-style service – in fact, I quite liked the informality and coziness of both. But I do have an issue with the overall mediocrity of the food. Not only was the food sloppily constructed, it was, at times, positively unappetizing. Heavily-cumin-scented root vegetables, under-seasoned flank steak with a mint chimichurri sauce that lacked any lustre or depth to stand up to the very-so-so quality steak, and an absolutely undetectable flavor in the mushroom sauce on top of the steak (that I assume was an attempt to help out the lack-luster chimichurri) rendered it almost inedible. Most dishes were either heavy-handed or under-served in flavors and seasoning. Not only would I not return based on last night's experience, but I feel guilty having recommended to my best friend that we go. Was this an off night for them? Perhaps. But I have a lot of respect for Joanne Kates, so perhaps we just haven't drunk the Kool-Aid that others have about this place. I think what perhaps Ms. Kates was missing was an appreciation that (owner) Chef Lynn Crawford is very well-liked. I have been a fan of hers for years. But I fear that her presence at Ruby Watchco has become too remote. She needs to keep a closer watch on Ruby Watchco. The reason I am giving it stars, instead of is because the wait staff is absolutely lovely. And the salad was excellent. That's about all I can say positively about this restaurant experience.
