Batifole Restaurant

I had a fish appetizer and a fish main course, and both were delicious. The quality was high, it was fresh, and skillfully prepped and presented. The bread was baked in-​house, and really good. Even the butter was excellent. The desserts were fine. But overall the portions were small, and I left hungry. I hate when one has to load up on bread in an attempt to get filled up. I had a snack when I got home. I guess I could have ordered 5 or 6 things off the menu, but who wants to pay all that money. Even though the food at Le Batifole is exemplary, if you come ravenous like I did it might be a let-​down.

This is a hidden treasure that you simply must try. Excellent for a special, romantic dinner or dinner with friends. We are from San Francisco and happened upon this wonderful gem of an authentic French restaurant in a Chinese neighborhood. We tried many dishes in several courses as well as cocktails and wine. Not a single disappointment. The wait staff is exceptional, and the chef is a genius. Magnifique!

Ou la la, Batifole is a charming French brasserie on the east end of Toronto. I fell in love with the eclectic French décor the moment I walked through the door! To start, we enjoyed the duck rillette and pork terrine, followed by crab and rock soup with garlic aioli and the duck two ways; confit leg & pan seared breast with calvados sauce, apple confit. After the dinner rush, Chef Pascal came to greet each table. He’s an extremely talented and humble French man from Avignon, France. I felt like he was the type of man with whom you could drink pastis and play pétanque. Allez! Bön appétit!

Its called «The Best French Food in Chinatown» but a more apt nickname for this once great Bistro is «The McDonalds of Chinatown». French food is to be enjoyed and discussed and for many it is a 3 to 4 hour delight. With the previous owner that was the case with a must cheerier atmosphere and décor. The current Chef and Owner changed the décor and attempted to keep Batifole as it was. However, 2016 sees the decline of this once great restaurant in living color. First what they do not tell you is that they book their table in 2 hour increments, and ask you to leave regardless if your meal is finished or not after that two hours or so. If you happen to be that second table you are asked to wait until the table is emptied of guests. On our last and final visit a drunk and belligerent mouthed off to us as he was obviously waiting for our table to clear. As we were paying for the meal, which can only be done by the bar, this guy and his party moved outside. As we were leaving we were attacked by Mr Drunk and his henchmen. Once the fight was broken up they were escorted inside and we were summarily dismissed. We have written to the restaurant to complain but of course we never received any kind of apology or acknowledgement. If you like good french food there are other better run restaurants in Toronto with Batifole on its last leg.

Oh, Batifole, how I wanted to still be in love with you. Hubby and I returned to Batifole on a date night after 3 years and how things have changed.
The restaurant has gone through a remodeling and a owner-​chef change since our last visit. The restaurant was not as dark as it used to be which was a welcome change. But the renovations seemed to have done worse for the noise level and two of us seated at the bar still had to lean in to have a conversation.
We arrived at the over-​crowded restaurant (with a reservation) and sat down at the bar only to wait for another 10 minutes before anyone came to take a drink order. Our server, Sophie, was very congenial and knowledgeable. She assisted us with a wine selection that would compliment both our dinner choices of fish and pork.
The new décor (since the current chef took over 2 years ago as we were told) is still comfortable but the entry was over-​crowded with waiting patrons, we felt a little crammed seated at the bar.
We shared a simple green salad and a dish of fois gras with sweet cakes for appetizer and had dory with sorel mushroom cream sauce and pork chop with raclett cheese and pork belly for our mains.
The simple green salad was too salty and did not make a very good start to the meal. The fois gras with sweet cakes accompanied by caper berry, beet relish and some gooseberry fared better. Since the fois gras was so rich, it was perfect for sharing.
My dory with sorel mushrooms in cream sauce came atop some sauteed zucchini and tomoatoe slices. The fish was light and flaky and it went very nicely with the accompanying cream sauce. My only beef with this dish was that there was no sorel mushrooms to be found in the sauce. Instead, there were some other mushroom (most likely king oyster) chopped up in matchstick styles. Oh well.
My husband’s thick cut porkchop arrived topped with a few slices of thick pork belly and was covered with melted raclett and some sauce resembling a gravy. There were slices of potatoes underneath the behemoth of a chop that was cooked very nicely without being dry. However, beware, diners. This dish is really a heart attack on a skillet. The chop with all the trimmings were so hefty and so rich that my husband who can easily demolish a few hearty slabs of prime rib with no issue had a difficulty finishing this baby. The chop, albeit being tasty, was too rich for our gentle tummies. :p We barely finished our mains and had no room at all to sample the dessert.
The verdict. Will I return to Batifole again? That’s a big fat maybe. Although the dining experience and the food wasn’t really terrible, I just wasn’t as thrilled with Batifole as I was when I first visited.

The restaurant is the perfect size. Not so large, but you don’t feel cramped in.
The server was very knowledgeable on the menu. We ordered the Cheese platter to start, told her what we liked and let her choose the cheese. It was perfect!
For mains we had the crustade of Lamb Confit with Thyme jus and the duck Confit. Both were delicious mains. We got two sides but I think one would have been enough. The potato gratin were amazing. So creamy and delicious.
To top it off, our wine was delicious.
We got the crème brûlée for dessert — you have to at a French restaurant. It was also delicious.
While we were eating, the chef came out which was nice!
All the food was very reasonably priced. We will definitely be going back.

Came here one night for some French food. The food and atmosphere seem very authentic. The food was okay. The servers were very attentive.

Batifole came recommended by a number of friends — two thumbs up. Nice décor, simple yet elegant. Our sever greeted us immediately upon arrival and seated us at our table of choice. Whilst we perused the menu the kindly brought some Rosemary infused water. She then proceeded to provide a very detailed breakdown of the day’s specials, so far so good :)
My partner settled on the duck croquette starter and I on the Pernod sautéed shrimp. As we awaited the started we enjoyed the warm baguette and creamery butter — two thumbs up.
Woohoo, the starters are here. Very nice and as we agreed to share we get to savour a little of each. Both of us agreed they were delightful — 2 thumbs up.
We patiently await the mains whilst sipping on a cold Krononbery — I have to say the choice of beer is pedestrian and uninspiring, c’est la vie!
It’s here :). I found the frites over salted and after consultation with she who must be obeyed we determined they were! No thumbs up. The veal chop and crustade of Lamb confit both were fine but certainly not overwhelming and to a degree over salted — one thumb up
Time for our cycle back to the beach, let’s hope the ride doesn’t make us too thirsty. We’ll have to decide if we wish to return, at these prices it could be risky.

Batifole is a pretty nice French restaurant located in the heart of Old Chinatown on the East End of the Downtown core. The place itself looks more like a residential home on the outside, but definitely a nice intimate atmosphere inside. The place is rather quiet and the décor made it feel as though we were in a small café or bistro as opposed to a fancy pants restaurant.
I came for Duck Two Ways, and damnit, I’m getting the duck two ways. First things first, we started off with the Crab and Rock Fish Soup. The broth is so aromatic and the flavor was present throughout. The bread they gave us was pretty badly burnt though so we discarded it. Crab wasn’t very present, but the soup itself was just so good. As for the duck two ways, it is duck confit with some duck breast slices served atop a bed of muscat grapes. The meat was tender and though the portion was a bit petite, the taste was all there. Girlfriend ordered the Cassoulet with white beans. The platter itself was overall pretty salty and she had picked more at my plate than hers.
Forgive the photos. The place itself was rather dark, combined with my crappy camera lent itself to rather crappy photos. Nonetheless, it also shows just how dimly lit and romantic the place can be. Definitely worth going for a quiet date.

Charming neighbourhood restaurant with authentic French cuisine! Loved the menu, great wine selection and the service was impeccable!

Wonderful French food with authentic French service!
Batifole is one of my favourite restaurants in the city that combines delicious, flavourful food with a wonderful welcoming atmosphere. Every time I visit I end up ordering far too much and sit enjoying the food for hours while sipping delicious wine.
The service is very good and friendly, although typically French. There is no rush for servers to get drinks or clear plates but that is one of the things I enjoy. It is the ‘old way’ of eating out where quality takes time but is well worth it ensuring a consistent, relaxed atmosphere even when the restaurant is full to the brim. The chef/​owner has always come out at the end of the meal to ensure it is enjoyed and to say hello.
Two of my favourite dishes are the veal chop and duck two ways. Both are generous portions and even though I am not a meat lover in general I cannot help but finish the full plate every time. If you are a chocolate fan you should not leave without having the chocolate lava cake served on a bed of caramel. The cake is to die for — perfectly balanced, it is rich and sweet without being overwhelming.
Please note that if you are in a rush, don’t eat here — you would be doing the restaurant and yourself a disservice. Batifole is where you go to savour and enjoy food at your leisure.

OMG — run don’t walk to this delightful French bistro on Gerrard.
What a wonderful spot!
My hubby booked here for my birthday and it was wonderful.
I started with the Escargot Fricasse — which means it is in a Tarragon Broth — so not dripping in fat — and unbelievably flavorful. Loved them!
I had the duck both ways — and if you love duck — do not think about having anything else on the menu… it was sooooo awesome.
My hubby had the Steak Frites and he absolutely loved it.
The chef came out and asked the diners how they were enjoying their meals.
The food and wine were just outstanding. Do check it out, you will not be sorry!

What a fantastic and unpretentious spot to have a delicious meal.
My boyfriend and I went here last Monday and were wowed by the friendly service, simple and cozy setting, and the fantastic food.
He had a veal dish, and I had the flat iron peppercorn steak in a demi-​glacé sauce after we shared the escargot.
The escargot was a fresh take on the original plating and preparation of the dish, but it was a yummy creation for sure.
The only thing that put me off a little was that our plates were very warm-​probably from the use of heat lamps in the kitchen. I usually tend to steer away from heat lamp users-​as it takes away from the freshness of a dish– but otherwise that, I have no complaints.
Beautiful wine list, excellent service, warm atmosphere and incredible dishes-​you won’t be disappointed!

I came here on a Living Social deal for three-​course soufflé adventure. This restaurant is slightly off the beaten track… a French restaurant in Chinatown, but why not?
The FOOD: We started with the soups. The appetizer soups were pretty good, especially with the crab. The tomato soup was rich and had a nice texture. The main course souffles looked beautiful when they reached the table. I had the Gourmand which contains pork belly and swiss… it read as an incredibly rich dish without much textural contrast.
Dessert involved the Grand Marnier and marmalade soufflé. This disappointed me slightly. I kind of think they forgot the marmalade and skimped on the Grand Marnier… i primarily got sweet as the flavor component with just the lightest hint of orange.
The SERVICE: This left a bit to be desired. Maybe they were just a bit busy with demand of being near the expiration of the vouchers, but we did have to ask for our glass of wine 3 times. The meal took a lot longer than it needed to as there were delays getting menus, delays ordering, and delays paying.
The ATMOSPHERE: Tables are close together with some underwhelming décor. It felt homely though in a fairly pleasant way. Not fussy at all.
Overall, it was fairly good, and a bit uneven in terms of food and service. With the voucher, it was so cheap, I can’t really fault them. Interesting enough that I might try it again, but not at the very top of my list.

I’m french and i was homesick then i decided to reach a french restaurant, so I had dinner to Batifole with friends, there’s a big French flag in front of the place: you can’t miss it. We thought that it was quite strange to find such a restaurant in Chinatown East, surrounded by Asian places but it was a wonderful experience!
We appreciated the very fresh and traditional French bread and butter (so important). I had the clams, very tasteful and interesting because it’s unfamiliar to marry it with merguez (lamb sausage) but it works very well. Then I had the duck prepared confit and pan seared, good as well. But the chocolate Crème for dessert was exceptional! The service was really helpful and made us feel welcome. I would strongly recommend this restaurant, thanks again for this dinner experience.
:)

J’adore Batifole!
What a weird location — a French restaurant in Chinatown — hahaha! I love it!
The Cassoulet is soooo good! Absolutely delicious. Hearty and rich and hot — a great meal especially in the colder months.
The duck 2 ways is also a tasty option. Crispy duck confit and seared duck breast is full of flavour.
The dinning room is small and can get quite noisy, but everyone is having a great time so you won’t mind.
The servers have a little bit of attitude… but that’s ok — it’s a French restaurant — it’s expected!
Check it out and bon appetit!

Im not a big fan of the chairs and tables which looked more like a company employee cafeteria
than a bistro.
The food is creative and well executed with real sarrazin crepes and crème au chocolat to die for
! Sad they do the souffles only at lunch three days a week.
Its the kind of place where you’d be glad to return the other menu items (and the crème au chocolat again).

We will definitely go back!
Batifole is a lovely bistro in Riverdale neighbourhood, bordering East Chinatown. If you like soufflé, this place should be near the top of your to-​go list. My orange-​grand marnier soufflé was flawless with a dramatic height, a crusty and delicate top that cracked easily revealing the creamy yet airy centre. It was devoured so quickly it never had a chance to deflate. The savoury soufflés were good too, although you might have a tough time choosing between these and other tantalizing dishes. We particularly enjoyed escargot with chef’s special sauce, which we thought were superior to the traditional version with more depth in flavour.
Décor — cozy, intimate
Service — knowledgeable and attentive
Menu — short and focused, all small plates are priced the same, so are the large plates.
Enjoy!

My actual rating was 3.5.
Batifole has been on my «to do» list for a while. Saturday night my foodie partner in eating crime and I popped in for some eats.
The first thing I noticed is the interior didn’t seem to match the outside of the restaurant, or at least what I imagined it would look like inside. From outside, the place looks really charming and cozy. Inside it was very clean and organized, but somehow I found it could use a little more character. I know it’s maybe unreasonable, but I wanted to feel transported.
We both ordered the lobster and rock-​fish soup which was by far my favourite part of the meal. And the bread they serve is absolutely delish. A perfect compliment to the soup. For my main, I got the beef tenderloin. It was tasty, but it didn’t really knock my socks off. My friend got the cassoulet and she enjoyed it but I didn’t get the sense that she wasn’t wowed either. We shared an order of fries which were good.
All in all, it was a decent meal; our service was very good so that ups my rating.

J’ai restaurant français dans le quartier chinois. Je suis allé récemment et j’ai bien aimé. Batifole fait tant de choses à faire cuire la nourriture très bonne, bon service et prix très raisonnable. Ils ont ajouté bouillabaisse au menu, et que c’était comme si c’était du sud de la France. Le bouillon était parfumé au fenouil, et les poissons et les moules étaient parfaitement cuit.

Un très bon restaurant français situé à l’Est de la ville, pas loin du Chinatown de Gerrard et Broadview. Batifole est un restaurant sans prétention, très fréquenté par les riverains de Riverdale et d’ailleurs et qui propose une bonne cuisine française de qualité. Le chef, Jean-​Jacques Texier, est un grand passionné de la table et il a su créer un petit bout de France en plein quartier chinois. Bravo !

(unspoken thoughts during my meal)
I never eat butter with bread. I never do. It makes people fat. Oh my god THIS TASTES GOOD. This is why people butter their bread! Oh my god I’m going to be so fat AND HAPPY.
My soup! That’s some good timing…
Ah damnit my wine glass is getting empty– WHOA! That waiter was all over it! Scratch that. Back to drinking.
Okay so I went into this thinking I’d be all «on a date» and take like two bites and feign fullness but if that bastard thinks he’s going to try one more bite of my soup? I’ll fucking kill him.
This plate is so gorgeous! It’s so dim in here, goddamnit! I can’t take any good iPhone-​food-​porn pics for Twitter, but man does my date look nice. Everyone looks nice. I bet I look really nice. This place makes me totally want to–
MORE WINE! Yaaaaay! Good thing he’s focusing on how good his stupid-​meaty dish is. I don’t think I’ve looked up since this plate came out.
My good god this is French food; this is fantastic.