Embraced by critics and fans alike since 2002, Célestin is a contemporary French restaurant with an elegant, easygoing atmosphere. Chef Ivan Tarazona's menu reads like no other: innovative, exciting and intensely flavourful. He complements it with a passionately researched wine list that has earned the Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence. Creamy walls and black-and-white tiles transform the 1920s-vintage bank building into a stunning backdrop for any special evening. Savvy staff, who know their way around the stellar wine list, go out of their way to make your dining experience flawless.
"It was Sunday 12:30. We arrived on time but we were warned about a group ahead of us with a different menu. We think we got our orders in on time (server had to go and ask the chef a couple of questions as she wasn't sure about some ingredients) Placed our order and then we waited...over 45 minutes for food to appear. No one came to offer us anything, no apologies. chicken salad with potato and asparagus. We played a game; find the asparagus: 1/3 stalk had been slivered making this a potato, chicken and asparagus salad! Tasty. Isn't it time for "sophisticated" restaurants to offer dairy free or gluten/wheat free alternatives? It's 2013. But nothing excuses 45+ minute wait. Won't go back."
Dined on 5/19/2013
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"Probably the busiest brunch day of the year....so we waited a while for our food, but it wasn't a problem. All the staff were very attentive. We all had the croque monsieur with frites. Was good - but not outstanding, and not what I expected. In Paris I find the CM's are baked in the bechamel sauce - however the one at Celestin was quite dry. Also the 'frites' were somewhat fat. What I would call 'chips' not frites (which are much skinnier). My quest for the perfect Croque Monsieur in Toronto continues...."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, great for lunch, special occasion
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"I am a regular at Celestin, visiting the restaurant on many occasions for dinner and brunch. Recently I was there for Mother's day brunch. We were a party of three. In this occasion it was a bit noisier than usual (many small children) but as usual the food was excellent and service exceptional. Our server was extremely friendly and knowledgable as usual.
The only disappointment in this occasion was that they ran out of their "Le Panier" basket. The server offered Croissant instead but later we found they are out of it as well. We were offered bread instead which was piping out and delicious but came too late and along with our food and not ahead of it."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem
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"My wife and I arrived just after 830 for dinner (830 reservation) and were told our table would be ready "in a moment". Fifteen minutes later - during which time we were not offered a drink or asked if we would like to wait at the bar - we still had not been seated, despite a couple who arrived after us being shown to a table and the fact that there were several empty tables. We were eventually shown to a table that had been empty since the time we arrived. The host gave us a cursory apology and left without asking if we wanted anything. We asked the diners next to us how service had been - they had been waiting an hour for their mains. Deciding to cut our losses, my wife and I left and went to Mogette (which was excellent)."
Dined on 5/11/2013
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"We have driven by Celestin may times and decided to try it out for our anniversary dinner. I had mentioned that it was our anniversary at the time of booking only so they would put us at a private table. Not being familiar with the restaurant, we weren't sure of the layout. From the moment that we walked in the door, we were made to feel very welcome and that carried through the whole evening. The service was excellent, the food was excellent...we will definitely be back! My husband had the ravioli appetizer and the veal, I had the beet salad and the sea bass. We were both pleased with our choices. Glad to have such a great restaurant in the neighbourhood!"
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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"I went there with my husband and really enjoyed the food and friendly service .the only downside of sitting outside i would have to say was the noise of the cars passing by but generally the food was so good and the price of the lunch th.at i would definitely go back"
Dined on 5/02/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Tried the tasting menu - 5 courses. Two hours in, still waiting for the second course. Excuse was the substitution for a beet salad (which was bland). Then were told that they would pick up the pace FOR US - as if we were unreasonable expecting to have more than one course per hour. Brought our own wine which was badly decanted then overfilled the wine glasses. Waitress did not know how the veal was cooked and then did not know the cost of the tasting menu. As for the food, not worth the wait, the main course was pork wrapped around a fig dressing topped with sweetbreads. The pork was tough and dry - should have been brined first. The crawfish bisque was salty and the crab was tough enough to use a knife - which was taken away for this."
Dined on 27/04/2013
2010
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic
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"The staff were fabulous and the food delicious. The mushroom tart app was succulent. The fresh pasta was tender and flavourful. Portions were generous. Definitely a place to return to!"
Dined on 25/04/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"We went to Celestine to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday on April 20, 2013. We had a prix menu from Wagjag for $69 for a 3-course meal. The food and the service were absolutely fantastic. We both had the salmon tartar for appetizer. He had lamb and I had gnocci, my favourite pasta dish. It was really superb, and I have eaten home-made gnocci before. This was prepared on an exquisite butter sauce. Dessert was priceless, in my case a chocolate brownie topped with dulce de leche and white chocolate ice cream. We will definitely come back, maybe for the 3-course meal lunch for $19.50 - We also liked the atmosphere. Thank you James and the rest of the staff for making our dinner so perfect."
Dined on 20/04/2013
2012
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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"had brunch on a Sunday. The overall quality was good but bland. The quiche portion was incredibly small portion and the salad was also skimpy..a few leaves and dressing. I have had much better brunches at other restaurants."
Dined on 14/04/2013
2009
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"3 course fixed price lunch is amazing and worth every penny. (Only available Monday-Friday but their weekend brunch is great too!). Steak frites and quiche are always delicious. This time we had the soup and beet salad with goat cheese and were very pleased. Lemon tart was amazing but we were less impressed by the bread pudding. Instead go for the creme brulee. We have had creme brulee here several times and it's always perfect."
Dined on 29/03/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
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"We had a such a great dinning experience at Celestin. We indicated upon reservation that we had two children under the age of two and they were very considerate to accommodate us and gave us a private dining area. The food was excellent and everything was made just right. Although they did not have a kids menu but the kitchen was able to make some kid's friendly food like fries or smaller portions of steak Frits. Service was great, very friendly staff."
Dined on 06/04/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
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"Celestin is one of those restaurants you wish just tried a little bit harder. The ambiance is lovely, location perfect, clientele fine, service good, but it just doesn't reach the level where it wants to be positioned. For the price tag, we expected better execution. The table next to us returned dishes since they were cold. A $19 appetizer we ordered was just plain tortellini (where is the twist that makes it worth the pricetag?). Seabass filet was ok, but just that - a filet with lemon and a few leaves of radicchio. The sweet potato puree from the description was a smear on the plate. Overall, our group had a nice evening, but we wished the execution matched the potential."
Dined on 14/03/2013
2013
Special Features: romantic
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"Overall, this was a disappointing dining experience: menu was overly restrictive (1 of us was vegetarian, and only had 1 app and 1 main to choose from. Another of us was lactose intolerant, and also only had 1 main and 1 app to choose from. Kitchen did not appear too flexible to accommodate--and it was not busy). The portions were ridiculously small--especially the fish mains that were appetizer-sized. Few options for dessert--only lactose-free option was sorbet: the server also suggested the cheese plate!! The two of us who had no dietary restrictions were equally disappointed with serving size and lack of dessert options: the pineapple-basil meringue did not appeal. Wine list was good. Left feeling overcharged."
Dined on 13/03/2013
2008
Special Features: notable wine list
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"we enjoyed a delightful 3 course prix fixe menu, very reasonably priced. i had asked for a "birthday" dessert in my Open Table reservation and was very pleased with the result. even though i had not mentioned my guest's name specifically, the server obviously overheard it and the Happy Birthday wish was personalized."
Dined on 07/03/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
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"The service was slow because of issues in the kitchen. The waiter said it was because the chef was debuting a new menu. That shouldn't have been our problem. Everyone in our vicinity had the same experience. One table waited so long for their desserts that they had finished their coffees and paid for the meal before dessert arrived. When I pointed out that the people next to us had arrived after us but had their main courses first, we were told that was because they hadn't ordered appetizers!! Makes no sense to me. Arrived at 7:15 and got our main courses at 9! The food is very good, but not worth the wait."
Dined on 09/03/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"it took over an hour to get our appetizer. The food was mediocre but the staff did try to push things along. Not impressed especially because the price point would suggest better quality prep."
Dined on 02/03/2013
2011
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"The place is clean and tables are separated well from each other. Staff was friendly and attentive. Fixed price menu had a good selection but as it was the day after Valentines day, they were out of Foie gras and a white wine. Food was in good portions but lacked that extra taste sensation. Tiled floor in dining areas was very Parisian as well as in the washrooms. Very nice ambiance overall."
Dined on 15/02/2013
2012
Special Features: romantic, great for lunch
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"The food was delicious. The drinks and cocktail selection were also very good. The restaurant let itself down by having a very slow food service. We waited nearly an hour for our appetizers after ordering them. This was excused as a system error; given it was Valentines we weren't in the mood for complaining but it would have been nice to have had some acknowledgement (and the bread could have been delivered in that hour not with the starter)"
Dined on 14/02/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list
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"Their lunch menu is absolutely my favourite for this winter 2013. The beets with goat cheese and the steak frites with herbed butter are so delicious! I only wish they would offer the lunch menu more often for those of us who are not free all the time to visit the restaurant."
Dined on 09/02/2013
2011
Special Features: great for brunch, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
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"Enjoyed a wonderful lunch, service was very good and friendly, as was the french cuisine. I'm going to go back again for lunch and will also try it a dinner time."
Dined on 24/01/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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