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Paint Box Reviews List
Paint Box
Paintbox cuisine is a playful celebration of local bounty , full of inspiration from the community, a balance of sound culinary technique and whimsy, and featuring intense, earthy flavours and naturalistic presentations – simply beautiful.
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37 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Rating Breakdown 37 reviews
5 stars
(5)
4 stars
(23)
3 stars
(8)
2 stars
(0)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- neighborhood gem(28)
- fit for foodies(18)
- good for groups(14)
- great for brunch(6)
- special occasion(6)
- hot spot(5)
Paint Box Reviews List
Review 1 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Review
OpenTable Diner Since
Dined on 6/15/2013
2013
Dined on 6/15/2013
2013
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The food was amazing.
Archie and his band Kolage was amazing.
We truly enjoyed ourselves."
Dined on 6/15/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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Review 2 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Fabulous food!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Was pleasantly surprised at the superb quality of the food at Paintbox Bistro, comparable with the best restaurants in the city! Small menu, but great attention to detail and high quality of food and presentation.
The Sat evening jazz performance was an added bonus!
Really, really enjoyable experience!"
Dined on 6/08/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
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Review 3 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
service
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Our waiter was great -- enthusiastic and funny."
Dined on 6/02/2013
Special Features: great for brunch, special occasion
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Review 4 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Unique
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Cute little spot in a developing area. With all the new condos going up, this place will surely become the new IT spot. Its bright and warm with a large patio. The room is divided into two and apparently they have live music on certain nights. Service was friendly and they aim to please! Food was tasty and the portions were generous. The buttermilk mash with the hanger steak....I'm still thinking about it :)"
Dined on 5/24/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, great for brunch, neighborhood gem
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Review 5 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
What a Gem!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I returned to Toronto for the first time in three years. A coworker in Calgary recommended the Paint Box and told me the background. He explained how the organization was helping to empower Regent Park, while building a successful enterprise in the process.
After an evening at the restaurant, I say without hesitation: the only thing better than the feeling Paint Box's mission gives you, is the food. During this business trip to Toronto, we ate at several of TO's best know establishments. My group and I all agree that the Paint Box had the best food.
I had the best plate of duck I have ever enjoyed (and duck is one of my favorites). My dinner companions raved about their steaks and seared tuna was outstanding.
You must go!"
Dined on 5/22/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 6 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Great dinner and wonderful jazz on April 27 with friends. Enjoyed creative beet salad, excellent hanger steak and potato salad and veg, plus banana treat for dessert, followed by jazz with Joe Sealy, Paul Novotny and Daniel Barnes. Great venue!"
Dined on 4/27/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 7 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Pleasant experience, excellent
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Pleasant experience, excellent food and lovely entertainment. Overall a great evening."
Dined on 27/04/2013
2011
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem
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Review 8 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Excellent food, a Regent Park pick
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Paint box is an example of the transformation occurring in Regent park. It is 'fine dining' with a social conscience. Building on the lead of the like of Jamie Oliver in the UK, Paint box provides an opportunity for residents of Regent Park to learn and pursue a career in the restaurant industry.
We choose to have dinner at Paint Box because it is right next door to the new Spectrum Theater. Overall our experience at Paint box was very good. The decor is simple, modern and refreshing. The food was excellent and certainly worth the visit. There was a good selection on the menu. The wine list was limited and too heavy on Ontario wine. The staff was friendly but slow and are lacking quality mentoring on what good service really is."
Dined on 26/04/2013
2004
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 9 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
website menu is completely wrong
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Absolutely nothing from the menu on the website was available. It was a completely different menu and everything was much more expensive. At $25+ per entree it's way overpriced. The decor is nothing special. Service was OK. Portions are small. It was a bad experience because we felt the menu on the website completely misrepresented what was actually available. Would never go here again."
Dined on 19/04/2013
2012
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Review 10 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
There are pros & cons here.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"It's hard to judge the service here as all the workers are clearly just learning & still lack the 'finesse' that comes with experience. That being said, the staff were sweet & well intentioned. I would hope with time they'll be able to answer more questions about the menu & grow their confidence. The space itself was the most disappointing. It's remincent of a cafeteria which would have been fine for lunch but for a Saturday night dinner date, it was cold & casual & definitely lacking any sort of ambience. The lounge was more inviting but apparently they only serve bar snacks in there & it isn't available to dine in.
The great news is the food is tasty, fresh & creative. The fried shrimp were fantastic! I would return for lunch."
The great news is the food is tasty, fresh & creative. The fried shrimp were fantastic! I would return for lunch."
Dined on 23/03/2013
2005
Special Features: neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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Review 11 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Good food and good service
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Good food and good service (immediate response to request for bread basket for the diabetic in our party who needed food - this often takes a long time in our experience. We were very grateful). Great new restaurant for this locale."
Dined on 09/03/2013
2012
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 12 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Needs work, but lots of potential
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Some of the menu is curious as to combinations - Red Fife Sweetbreads were done well, but the green pea mousse and coddled egg were heavy plus large halves of artichoke which were difficult to eat. Duck suckers (skewers) and Gravlax were better as apps. Wine list was modest, but some gems. Both steaks were overdone. My cornish hen - roast and confit leg was well cooked, but the turnip mash it sat on had a rubbery texture from perhaps too much working the starch. Competent desserts. If felt the plates were rushed to clear when we had not finished really, and then a long wait for mains. However, I think it is a good thing for the community - there was a show that evening with no cover and it was very lively. Great look / open."
Dined on 02/03/2013
2005
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 13 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The Paint Box is a beautiful
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The Paint Box is a beautiful restaurant and worth checking out in Regent Park. The pricing of the menu items is a little high for the food.
However, great spot to check out and they have a lot of unique events going on there."
However, great spot to check out and they have a lot of unique events going on there."
Dined on 26/02/2013
2013
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Review 14 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Paint Box Palette is Vibrant
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Three of us went on the Tuesday night of a pending storm, and so the restaurant was nearly empty, but the welcome was attentive and friendly, the food was brilliant, the presentation was attractive and clean, and the service was friendly if a bit disorganized.While Regent is still undergoing reconstruction, the restaurant is a bit isolated, but it is worth the trip. It is next door to Artscape's Spectrum. The street car passes right in front and there is underground parking in the building.We would definitely go back."
Dined on 26/02/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 15 for Paint Box
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
It was bright and cheery,
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"It was bright and cheery, maybe not that romantic a spot....lighting was very bright...on the up side I could read my menu, on the down side....the ambiance did feel like I was in a brightly painted children's paint box....but I guess that's the point right?"
Dined on 22/02/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Paint Box
Based on the average of (22) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
5 out of 5 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic