blu restaurant &bar Reviews

Classy restaurant with great food. I had the lobster and shrimp pasta. Nice place to go on a date due to the atmosphere. They have live music on weekends. Recommended.

Cozy, warm ambiance, attentive service and excellent food.

Good food. Prices fair / high. I needed a microscope to see my tuna tartare appetizer. Valet $15 parking. Very noisy. Default tip is 18% compounded ON TOP of the taxes which is about 36%, that s sleazy, especially since our waiter had many tables and we only saw him occasionally. NOT recommended!

Chef Eric is amazing and he truly loves his craft. Everything was wonderful and my wife and have made this our go to location for Downtown Toronto. Keep up the great work!

Pricey but high quality food and service. Live music was a bit loud for conversation while dining.

I can definitely say that the food here is premium quality and the service is excellent. It was difficult selecting items because the entire menu looked good.

Waitress was meh, food and atmosphere was awesome. Also, their still/spring water is $7.5, be aware of that

I really wanted to like this place, since my sister picked it for her birthday tonight. This is my first review of a restaurant. I don't usually waste my time sharing bad experiences, but wanted to give a heads up to anyone thinking about dining at this establishment. So here's a quick summary regarding the Food and Service.

Food: Very nice presentation, flavorful, I thought the portions were decent, but terrible texture. Seafood overcooked and rubbery, lamb(medium rare) tough on the outside but raw in the center..not consistent or even at all, same with the duck breasts. Its decent food, but not a good value at all considering the price range. Spend your hard earned money elsewhere, or better yet cook at home with better results.

Service: Inconsistent. It's too bad because most of the servers were amazing, but few others are just downright rude, moody and inattentive. The few bad apples ruin the entire experience, they know who they are and should be ashamed of causing the rest of the dedicated and hard working team to lose some of their tips.

Verdict: Come for the "atmosphere" and location if you really want to, but smart consumers should know that the food and inconsistent service is subpar at this price range..actually the service is subpar at any price range, had better experiences at AYCE sushi.

Nice restaurant, live the atmosphere and the live music. The food was average, nothing special.

Best restaurant ever! If you want to go to a fancy restaurant but you don't want to break the bank, this is the place to go.
The food is amazing! I would specifically drive to Toronto just to go to this restaurant again.

atmosphere is very visually appealing, food was incredible I will return

This is my Yorkville go to restaurant. I love the atmosphere in here, great for intimate dining and also great for hosting large groups. They have hands down the best beef capriccio I ve had, it s a must order. Waiters also give great wine recommendations and great service. Whenever I m hosting anyone, I love to bring them to this gem restaurant to show what Toronto hospitality is really like. Highly recommend!

I absolutely loved this place! I was so impressed with their cocktail and dinner menu and the service was amazing. Their food is impeccable and I cannot wait to go back. I started with a kale salad and wow, it was a bed of kale. I then had the seafood platter and devoured it within minutes. To finish I had their parfait, at first I was skeptical but as it was better and better with each and every bite. They ran out of their chocolate espresso cake, which is one of the reasons of me going here however everything was top notch. I was definitely suggest this place if you are venturing around town and want something close!

Amazing live music, great food, friendly customer service...great Mother s Day dinner at the BLU! Beautiful restaurant

Very surprised with the atmosphere and decor used in this restaurant considering it seems hidden! Very nice live music at a nice volume & service being very nice & very informative when I had questions, I was impressed. Additionally and most importantly, food was delicious and arrived perfectly on time! Celebrated my anniversary here and they surprised us with a complimentary dessert!!

Fantastic. Food never disappoints, valet car service to make things easier for guests, excellent service, live music (Matt Von is a new favourite), reasonable prices for experience, good location. Please bring back the BEET RISOTTO!

My husband and I went there for our anniversary. We had an amazing experience - attentive staff, beautiful setting and delicious meal. Wish we arrived a little later to enjoy the live music that starts at around 8ish. Would certainly recommend the place!

Scrumptious, Romantic and quaint in the heartbeat of Toronto's downtown #Yorkville area - where high fashion designer stores meet the Olympian tasting Italian cuisine with Harmony We at the Blu

Great interior with customer service but the food wasn't amazing than expected

Great place to take a date. The ambiance is absolutely amazing and the live music was fantastic touch. Just the right level to enjoy your company and the music. The service was above my expectations. Fast, personable and friendly. The food was great. The food was not as expensive as I thought it would be. It was very reasonable for the quality. But the drinks are very expensive. Overall a great experience and I would highly recommend for a date or special occasion. Live music is on Friday night and Saturday night.

Not worth the money and too noisy to carry on a conversation.

Nice atmosphere in a " waiting to be posh again " area of Yorkville.
Good service supports excellent food. We had the baked salmon and haddock ; perfectly prepared.
A bit on the slightly overpriced side so Blu may not become a regular spot for my budget but if $ is no problem, the overall experience is worth the price.

Excellent food & waitstaff. Was very surprised with the portions as they are quite a bit larger than what I had expected. Our server was charismatic and made sure we were well taken care of.
The food has a little bit of a modern twist on traditional Italian dishes which I find gives you a new experience even trying something you may have thought you've tried before. Pricing is on the higher end but it's to be expected with fine dining and worth it for this spot.
I will definitely be returning as it was a great experience overall.

Very average establishment. Definitely not worth the heavy price tag. Service was also underwhelming, pepper scattered around on the table. Server was fine, his helpers were quite rude.

It says its suppose to close at 10:30 but when I got there at 8:50 it was closed already.

I have been here before and as always the ambience is just amazing, great service right from the word go. If you want to enjoy an authentic Italian cuisine, please visit this restaurant and the food is very delicious. They have specials every week, also try their coffee specials & desserts, so yumm!!

The menu is so well thought out and peppered with surprises. Foods is very sophisticated. Sommelier and server are also marvelous .

My boyfriend and I have come to Blu for our anniversary two years in a row now and we still can t believe how amazing it is. The food is delicious and the service is impeccable!

What a gem in the middle of Yorkville. It is hard to find a fault with any aspect of our experience at the restaurant as the evening was perfect. The ambiance, quality of food, and service scores full points. On a Wednesday evening the restaurant was about half full and my friend and I had a wonderful evening in this beautiful restaurant with great food and service. I ordered the salmon which was cooked to perfect.

Great Italian restaurant. Loved what I ordered. Service was fast and on point. 5 Star all the way

Fantastic vibes and super amiable service. The meals were fresh and enchanting. Will absolutely recommend this restaurant to friends and family. Affordable prices and big meals. Keep up the great work.

Amazing food and service!! Vegan options available ... wide range of cocktails ... pricey ... but worth the price ! #candlelightdinners #cozy #lovelyambience #deliciousfood #veganoptions

Nice intimate place with a live piano player for dinner when we were there on Saturday. Very well done dishes, with a good selection of wine and cocktails. Very efficient and professional service without being intrusive. Expensive but not outrages for the area. Worth the price.

It was my first time at Blu Ristorante, but definitely not my last. Exquisite food complimented by polished and personable service made for an amazing experience.
Two thumbs up!

What a fabulous restaraunt!

All I can day is, everything was just perfect.!
From the Decor to the food to the service.

Will be coming back...

Not good , wont try again. Went with my two friends, none of us liked the food, plus they are stingy!

amazing food and great ettiquette is always desirable. Cody and Alfredo took care of us like royalty. We'll be back.

Went to Blu for my partner's birthday. It was an amazing experience. Food was wonderful. Their patio with is marvelous. Would definitely go there again.

Beautiful and romantic decor, friendly service, and creative dishes! The food was tasty and there was a wide selection, and although it was slightly pricey, we definitely enjoyed our date here.

Great restaurant. The food was delicious, although one of them came kinda cold. The atmosphere and the live music was great. Prices okay compared to the service

Food and service is phenomenal. We booked here for a private lunch (group of 11) on a Sunday for a surprise party for our friends, and we were not disappointed. Customer service is top notch, very friendly and efficient. We did a pre-set menu and everyone absolutely loved the food, no complaints. Most of the group got the black kale Cesar salad, and raved about it. The anchovy funny enough was their favorite part of the salad. I got the chicken and it was amazing, very moist and flavorful. I think chicken is tricky and most times can be over cooked and dry. Not a single complaint from anyone who ordered the chicken, it was cooked to perfection. Desserts were a hit with everyone. I got the tiramisu and it was the best tiramisu I ve had. Also sampled the coconut lime cannoli and it was also very good. Thank you Blu Ristorante for the experience, wonderful food and service. We will definitely be back.

The food is OK but not spectacular, I really liked the beef carpaccio , but the grilled calamari were boring, and the steak was average. The panna cotta and tiramisu were pretty disapointing. The food is not worth what they charge, there are better Italian restaurants in Toronto, with more reasonable prices.

I went to try out the winterlicious menu. The restaurant was quite packed after 6 pm, therefore the waiters weren't as attentive. But the food was served fast. The lamb shank was very tender and delicious. The salmon and confeit duck my friends ordered were very flavourful and cooked just right. I enjoyed my meal!

Amazing. I am vegan so wasn't expecting much but the vegan option on the menu was SO GOOD and I had leftovers for lunch the next day. Would definitely recommend!

Great food and service. They offered to pay our appetizers when they ran out for one of the main course we initially selected.

Good service. I don't like the taste of some dishes, but most of them are great.

Great ambiance. Expensive $$$$. Starters and cocktails were amazing. Ahi Tuna Tartare is . Main courses were a bit uninspired and lacked flavour. Come here to hang out, drink and eat appetizers, that's it.

We were there for NYE. We enjoyed a 4 course meal incl. starter and dessert. The food was just amazing and really something special (duck, cheeses, gnocchi). As well the presentation of the food was very appealing. The romantic ambience was underlined by a live singer on the guitar that was just loud enough not to disturb. Have your golden Amex ready to foot the bill, as the unique experience comes with a hefty price tag.

The entrance to this restaurant isn't too flashy, and more on the subtle side - something that suits its ambiance. It is an ideal setting for a more intimate time. You would want to dress up a shade more than a regular restaurant if you're coming here for dinner. The bar looked out of this world, and seems like a place that is a must-try. It was also quite empty because most people were sitting at tables, meaning that the bartender would be able to attend to all your needs without having to wait like in other restaurants.

The food is fantastic, though when I went they ran out of the salmon. The waiter was very accommodating and told me instead that the chef would make any sort of pasta for me, with any sauce I wanted. The sincerity of the waiter to help accommodate for this inconvenience did not go unnoticed in the slightest.

Had a wonderful time and the food was amazing!! Great service!!!

We went here for dinner last Saturday. The layout and ambiance was lovely with live music and good lighting. The food was good. My salad was just alright but the main course was exceptional.

However what really dampened the experience for us was when we received our bill and noticed we had been charged for water. This place is very pricey and we came here knowing that. However I still did not expect to be charged $3.75 each for plain still water without being informed. I am happy to spend money for good food in a nice upscale environment; however I do not want to feel as though I am being tricked out of money for something as basic as water. I will go elsewhere next time where the food is just as good but the water is free.

Second time going and the experience was just as great as the first time. The service is top notch and the food is amazing. Highly recommend!

Great Ambience! Good food and presentation, but quite pricey!! Waiter was not as courteous as rest of the staff.

We came here for dinner with some family. Service was really good, and food was great. The only a thing i did not like was the tenuous light.
Some people who came with me would have given 5 , but it is me who is writing the review.

The staff is friendly, the food is good and the restaurant is cozy with a nice ambience. The only negative is that some of the patrons are very underdressed running shoes, sandals, jean shorts!? I felt that they were grabbing a burger instead of enjoying a fine meal. This is not the restaurant's fault, but it may bother some people.

Went for my bf's birthday. Loved it...great food, great service and nice atmosphere. It wasn't dead quiet nor was it dead loud. The waitresses were helpful and nice...I was very proud of my choice of restaurant for his birthday in the end and he enjoyed his steak and desserts.

My new fave restaurant in Yorkville. Atmosphere and calm, spacious and cozy. It feels high quality but without feeling pretentious. The staff is always nice and really attentive. I've been multiple times and our waiters (different each time) were always great, always checking on us, checking up small things like the brightness of the candle or the folding of the napkins. The food is absolutely delicious, I couldn't wait to go back after the first time. And the live musician in the background is just a cherry on top. Love it. and I'm picky.

Great place for Italian food. We went there fo Summerlicious and it was great ambiance. Only thing is that they literally kicked us out- bill was brought to our table without requesting it. Kind of forcefully, if you ask me.

Food and atmosphere is great, waiter is nice and friendly even the newer one seem to be well trained too. Except at the end I told a young waiter to clean everything and just leave the bread, 3 minutes later another waiter pass by and crab the bread without even looking at us........ Not a big deal just a little awkward.. Doesn't seem very professional but in general is still great I will give it a 4 stars.

It's indeed the best Italian restaurant in town. Live music was cherry on the cake with good food. The chocolate cake is a must have!!

My wife and I took our son and his girlfriend out for dinner to celebrate a birthday. The ambiance is pleasant. The portions are very small (appetizer size) but very expensive (approximately $215 for four with no drinks or dessert). My wife and I shared Ahi Tuna and Sea Bass. We both got violently ill and had a very unpleasant night. This was a disappointing experience for us.

By far the best restaurant I have been to yet! The food was amazing!! I highly recommend this place!

Awesome ambience ! Fantastic food and exceptional service by Cody ! Highly recommended!
Super classy !

Great music, good service, excellent food.
10/10 piano player/singer. Lobster a little chewy and one of the sauces did not component the octopus (the other sauce was divine).
The fritters and freshly baked chocolate cake were fantastic.

Good food and a great environment. The music is also great.

Staff is very attentive but some of their selections are boring.

Very good Italian food, a little bit expensive but so fancy.

Spent our Anniversary night there, and Wow! Have to say the staff was extremely friendly. Everyone from our waiter Michael to the person that poured our drinks wished us for the day. Food was delicious and the ambience brilliant! Thanks guys for making our day. We will be back!

Absolutely fantastic food. Super friendly and professional staff. I would highly recommend this place to anyone.

My partner and I decided to throw an intimate Bridal Proposal party and needed to find a reasonably priced venue, with a great menu and separate seating area. After reviewing over 10 different restaurants in Toronto, we opted for Blu due to Alfredo s (owner) great efforts in fulfilling our demands and needs.

They opened up their restaurant for our event (we didn t know that they re normally closed on Sunday for lunch) so we were the only party there! The service was excellent. Brian and his assistant were so hilarious, professional and accommodating. Food was spectacular.

We will definitely recommend to all our friends to have their private events or meetings here. We are so glad we ended up at Blu!

Disappointing for the high price. Calamari was just ok. Ahi tuna main lacked seasoning. The salad was difficult to eat and needed seasoning. Main server was very good. Others didn't know who was eating what dishes. Acceptable at Swiss Chalet but not fine dining. We were in a large party and only rave reviews were for the gelato. Not good enough

Food was mediocre. We have been clients there a few times. The servers must have noticed how little we ate. Staff were attentive and polite. Food disappointing.

This place has a good vibe but honestly it is overrated. Food is average and service is not what I would have expected.