Sara - Toronto, Ontario

Came here for my birthday with my friend and ordered the Wednesday Prix Fixe Menu and for the first 5 courses the dishes were good especially the Ikura Latke but once the main (Sea Bass) came out it fell very short. Unfortunately the plantain side was extremely bland and lacked ... in any sort of flavour unless that was the intention and the fish with jerk spice was mediocre at best. Perhaps the fried chicken would have been the better option if that had more flavour/seasoning. The Rutabaga(?) that came as another course was also quite disappointing. Just lots of what tasted like radishes with cream lol. But I will say the redeeming part of this tasting menu would be the dessert (Profiterole) and I would absolutely come back just for that alone :) The atmosphere of this restaurant is excellent with their unique interior design. Also the servers were very attentive and kind to whenever serving us. Unfortunately will probably not come back unless take out for those profiteroles. Read more

My wife and I purchased a voucher around Black Friday for a tasting menu plus house wine. Food was terrific, really well cooked and put together. Only wish the portions were larger but otherwise it was an experience more on the elevated side. What they, did they did really well. ... The coat check was a nice additional touch of service and also the bathrooms were equipped with Japanese smart toilets. Very impressive! Considering the price paid for the voucher and the experience we had it was more than worth it. Read more

I have nothing but positive things to say about this restaurant. I came here to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriend and I had a night I won’t forget. From the ambient, the service, to the food everything was great. Our server was very cordial and friendly and we really ... liked the vibe. We tried the tasting menu and we were both really surprised with the quantity of food that came out. Perfect portions! We got to try so many new dishes and everything was absolutely delicious. Also don’t worry if you have dietary restrictions as they can accommodate for anything.They were also very accommodating as my girlfriend got me a cake and they were able to bring it out as well for a very reasonable fee so no complaints from me. We both talked about how we were definitely gonna come back to try some different dishes and enjoy our time again here. Thank you everyone such a nice night! Read more

I had an amazing birthday dinner at SARA. We used a travelzoo voucher and it was well worth it. Each dish was delicious, it was hard to decide which was my favourite although I think I'll go with the Ikura Latke. Service was great, and since it was my bday ... they added a sparkler to my dessert to make it more special. Highly recommend doing a tasting menu so you can taste a bunch of different dishes. Read more

I visited Sara on Feb 1, 2024 with a Wagjag voucher for their six dish tasting menu. Wagjag related information is added at the end. Overall, I enjoyed this vegetable heavy meal with a great variety. The ingredients and cooking techniques are pretty simple without complex flavours and high technicality but ... well balanced and great for its price - at its regular price though, I would’ve expected a higher level of craft. With ‘safe’ dishes, there was no ‘miss’ for me, which is why I am giving 5 for food (4 at the regular price), but I do question its validity to be on Michelin’s guide especially in comparison to other cities’ lists. Portion wise, though we were served Ikura Latke twice by the restaurant’s mistake, I was starting to get full after their third course, Chopped Salad. By the time main course (Fried Chicken and Delicata Squash) came around, I was stuffed. I’d also like to note that Fried Chicken portions are not consistent. I assume and hope they try to keep them consistent, but from other review pictures and social media stories/posts, you can tell that their portion varies. In terms of atmosphere, from its brick wall exterior to its minimal and tasteful interrior, the design was enjoyable. Washrooms were also great - single units, clean, Aesop handwash. The only miss is that the tables are very close to each other, which can have a big impact on your experience depending on who’s sitting next to you. Service was the most questionable part about the evening. While timing of the dishes coming out was perfect and our server was polite, she was inexperienced, not personable, and scatterbrained, which made some encounters awkward at best. Other waitstaff will run your dishes and fill up water, but there was absolutely no check-up during the service. One of the waitstaff would also abruptly drop the dish onto the table making an unpleasant sound with no explanation of the dish, bringing us back to a nofrill place in Chinatown or an university cafeteria. Other than taking the order, bussing the plates, and bringing the bill, there was no service, yet we were charged 18% auto gratuity for 2 guests, which was not mentioned anywhere on the menu, Wagjag website, Sara’s website, or before/during/after the service. Yet when I was paying, the machine still asked for an additional tip. Giving 3 star for service - again for its voucher price - but at the regular price and considering its Michelin status, I would normally give 2, not a pass. The voucher came to $108.09 with a 10% off promo on Wagjag. This was a great deal for two people including a glass of house wine each, which could be substituted for beer or mocktail. Wagjag advertises it as $177 value, but it would be added up to $171 assuming that portion sizes are the same as a la carte, which I cannot speak for. At the restaurant, they will charge for tax, tip, and anything else you add on. As mentioned earlier, there is an automatic gratuity of 18% - even for our table of two, which was not mentioned anywhere and at anytime, leaving not the best last impression unfortunately when the overall evening went decently. If you have membership with Somm, you can get a free ‘Kefir & Courage’. Read more