French cuisine has long been one of the most influential – and awarded – cuisines in the world. With its thriving restaurant scene, it’s hardly surprising that Toronto has its fair share of amazing French restaurants. From rustic comfort food to the ultimate romantic meal, the city’s French restaurant scene boasts cosy bistros, Parisian-inspired brasseries and contemporary fine dining gems.
Bite into an earl grey chicken liver pate at a fine French restaurant that makes everything from scratch. Embrace a sweet chocolate pie with hazelnut praline next to a wood-burning fireplace. Sip a cocktail made with ingredients from Wayne Gretzky’s own estate in a leisurely vineyard setting, and dine on beef bourguignon in a historical downtown mansion in The Village.
Whatever the occasion, Toronto has the right French restaurant for your next meal. Read on for a guide to 10 of the best French restaurants in Toronto and book your next meal out on OpenTable.
The 10 best French restaurants in Toronto – read on for a guide
For classic French cuisine with stellar wine pairings – visit Le Select Bistro in King West
With dining room decor that will whisk you away to Paris, Le Select Bistro awaits with over 1200 wine labels to pair for the perfect French meal. Start your table off with an appetizer from the sea and order the smoked whitefish poisson fumé with crème fraîche and cucumber on a toasted baguette. Order the house burger for a French-style burger with maple bacon, brie, and crispy onions, served with salad or fries and don’t skip the confit duck leg in red wine jus with white bean cassoulet for a truly special French taste. If you’re stopping by for brunch, you can’t go wrong with the steak and eggs. At the end of your meal, indulge in a vanilla bean crème brûlée custard with berries for a bite of French dessert mastery. Fast and friendly servers offer helpful suggestions for a fabulous experience all around, and a spacious covered patio makes for the perfect alfresco meal on warmer days.
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For French fine dining made from scratch – don’t miss Cluny in Distillery District
With a menu of modern French cuisine made almost entirely from scratch, it’s easy to see why Cluny is one of the best French restaurants in Toronto and has won many accolades, including the award of the Best French Restaurant In Toronto according to BlogTO, Top Choice, and USA Today. The dining area at Cluny will stop you in your tracks. An intricately detailed ceiling soars above mood-enhancing lighting and brick interior walls offers the perfect setting for a romantic date night. Order small plates to start your experience off with variety, such as the earl grey chicken liver paté with lemon marmalade and bergamot gelée. If you’re feeling adventurous, order the escargot snails and beef cheek tartine with sourdough, pickled shallots, and peppercorn jus. When you’re in the mood for a bold brunch, have the lobster benny with black tobiko and poached eggs under a hollandaise sauce. MNake sure to leave room for dessert: the roasted pineapple with lime mousse and meringue offers a fantastic kick of sweetness and originality.
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For the best French restaurant near Toronto – go to Ce Soir Brasserie + Bar in Oakville
For French fare that your friends and family will love, go to Ce Soir Brasserie + Bar in Oakville. Start with adventure and order the escargot in boiled bone marrow broth for a flavorful way to enjoy snails. Bite softly into the mushroom ravioli with gorgonzola, walnuts, and breadcrumbs and satisfy your pasta craving. Brown butter sage coats the lobster tail in the lobster mafalda with chilies and cherry tomatoes. The signature burger is a USDA prime chuck and short rib topped with caramelized onions and cheddar for deep-tasting tenderness in a fresh bun. Hopefully there’s still room for dessert to grab the strawberry clafoutis rhubarb compote. Wash it down with a barrel-aged Ce Soir rye tinted with lemon, thyme, and brown sugar for a tasty drink to pick you up after the feast. Warm lighting graces interior decorative brick in a newly renovated dining room that is sleek and modern. With an ambiance designed for long conversations with friends old and new, Ce Soir offers Oakville a classic European dining experience.
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For one of the best French restaurants in Toronto to celebrate fine French cuisine – go to Maison Selby in the Village
Executive chef John Horne presents timeless French cooking in a menu that will appeal to diners of all tastes and for any type of occasion, from an intimate date night to a group get-together. Housed in a historical Toronto mansion with a spacious patio, Maison Selby is set to impress. When it’s time for brunch, order the French onion beef chuck burger for tender meat with gruyère cheese and frites. The truffled mushroom soup is a great choice to start your meal with umami flavor and the scent of parmesan and roasted mushrooms. Enjoy the rich traditional French stew known as beef bourguignon, where tender morsels of beef swim in gravy sauce beside crispy onions and pomme purée. Torched meringue and frozen raspberries top the brulée lemon tart, a bright dose of sweetness to complete a fabulous dining experience. Before or after your meal, sip on a house-designed cocktail in the lounge area to perfect the experience.
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For an incredible fine dining experience at the best French restaurant in Toronto – book a table at Auberge du Pommier in Midtown Toronto
Join executive chef Solomon Mason for a journey through French fare at Auberge du Pommier. With real wood-burning fireplaces, the ambience is classically gorgeous. Start the journey with the bacon quiche with spinach, gruyere cheese, and mushrooms for a famous French favorite. Pasta fans will fawn over the agnolotti a la ricotta cheese-stuffed pasta with butter and burgundy truffle. For meat that melts off the bone, savor the lamb chops and braised lamb belly with pine nuts, smoked eggplant, and tomato. Top off your stellar French meal with the chocolate pie with hazelnut praline, raspberries, and whipped chocolate. Spacious tables with cloth coverings sit beneath lovely interior brick detailing, and a covered plant-filled outdoor patio is available when weather permits.
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For a charming Parisian bistro – try Biff’s Bistro in the Financial District
Step into the world of 1930s Paris when you dine at one of the best French restaurants in Toronto – Biff’s Bistro in the Financial District. Chef Trenton Pajuluoma presents a menu of rustic French fare featuring fresh seasonal ingredients and old-world quality. Start with an unforgettable French onion soup, covered in melted gruyère cheese and served with a slice of baguette. Seafood fans will enjoy the seared trout almandine with brown butter and almonds, topped with creamy polenta. When poultry cravings strike, experience tenderness with the coq au vin braised chicken in red wine jus. For vegetables prepared French style, have the ratatouille gratin with cheese and hints of rosemary and try the lamb gnocchi with braised lamb shoulder. The dining room is adorned with photos over elegant tables and lush seating, with a street-side patio available on warm days.
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For creative French cuisine served on a gorgeous vineyard – visit Oaklands at The Riverbend Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake
For amazing French food with a vineyard view, visit Oaklands at The Riverbend Inn in Oaklands at The Riverbend Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Chef Andrew MacNeil presents a delicious take on French fare in a sophisticated dining room under a dramatic chandelier. Soak in breathtaking vineyard views in the morning hours and enjoy farm freshness with the wine country breakfast: eggs are prepared in any style you like, accompanied by sourdough toast, hash browned potato, and your choice of tofu, sausage, or bacon. Share a plate with friends and order the artisanal Canadian cheese plate with a three-cheese selection, crostini, crackers, and fruit with a truffled honey sauce. Sip an espresso martini made from Wayne Gretzky Estates ice storm vodka with Kahlua and Canadian cream liqueur from perhaps Canada’s greatest hockey player ever. For a one-of-a-kind pasta dish, order the wild boar ragu tagliatelle. Enjoy poached pears for dessert with vanilla ice cream and rosemary shortbread crumbs.
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For an award-winning French restaurant with panoramic views – book Scaramouche in Midtown Toronto
Executive chef and owner Keith Froggett serves up traditional French cuisine for a dining experience that won the MICHELIN plate award 2022. Classic French fare is served overlooking the Toronto city skyline at Scaramouche, an elegant gem with a celebratory feel. Share an order of parmesan fries with your table for European umami flavor, order the terrine of foie gras with triple crunch mustard and a sour cherry reduction and bite into juicy tenderloin with the filet mignon served with roasted maitake mushrooms, beets, and toasted walnuts. For vegetarians, don’t miss the truffled mushroom toast with brown butter sauce, shaved winter truffles, and sautéed mushrooms on brioche toast. You can’t skip dessert when you’re enjoying award-winning quality over the Toronto city skyline. Embrace sweetness with the coconut custard cream pie with white chocolate and Chantilly cream in a dark chocolate sauce.
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For a bistro-like French dining experience – try Le Baratin in Parkdale
With all sauces made in-house from veal-based stock, Le Baratin in Parkdale is the ideal spot to share a meal with friends. The menu highlights quality ingredients in traditional French cuisine infused with freshness and a modern twist. Start with an appetizer of homemade cured gravlax salmon with sourdough toast and boursin. For brunch try the croque monsieur sandwich with black forest ham, bechamel sauce, and cheese. Don’t miss the marinated striploin AAA steak frites served in shallot sauce with greens. The roasted pork chop is a filling feast served with Dijon mustard sauce, braised vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Enjoy a new type of lasagna with slow-cooked ratatouille vegetables, ricotta cheese, and tomato caviar. Chocolate mousse with amaretto makes for a very French dessert overflowing with chocolatey taste.
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For the best French restaurant near Toronto with Parisian fare and seasonal produce – go to West Plains Bistro in Burlington
For a magical meal crafted from fresh ingredients, stop by West Plains Bistro in Burlington. Order the bistro burger with braised beef and ground beef on a pretzel bun, topped with gruyère, caramelized onion, and aioli. Step outside of the ordinary and try the chicken liver paté with fleur de Dijon, fig compote, and charred baguette. Crab cakes are always a hit with shrimp mousse and a hint of lemon and red pepper. When creaminess is what you crave, order the creamed barley risotto for a wholesome meal with red beets, carrots, and brussels sprouts. Complete the memory and order a slice of the lemon cheesecake for a light texture and a powerful sweetness. Stained-glass lamps rest on each table beside a bouquet of fresh flowers, creating a vintage ambience. On warmer days, the patio is open and is designed to look like a street in Paris.
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Fans of French cuisine will find themselves at home in Toronto. With choices available all around the golden horseshoe, the Greater Toronto area can accommodate every taste and special occasion. Choose a bottle from the largest wine collections in Canada for a sip of something special, enjoy truffled mushroom toast at a MICHELIN plate award winner, step into 1930s Paris and grab an unforgettable French onion soup or try escargot in bone marrow broth in Oakville. From fine dining gems to Parisian brasseries, the best French restaurants in Toronto showcase the world’s most famous cuisine perfectly.
