Carens Wine and Cheese Bar

I was only just introduced to Caren’s this past summer and have gone three times since. They have a cozy patio out back and a small one out front.
They have a small menu and everything looks good. The Mac and cheese is to die for. I opt for the gluten free version and have added lobster for additional decadence. I tell myself I’ll eat half and take the rest with me and the next thing I know I have eaten the whole thing.
They are incredibly accommodating for gluten free needs and adapt wherever they can. The eggs Benedict on tomato (instead of the English muffin) is highly recommended.

We sat upstairs and ordered the Yorkville cheese plate to start. The blue cheese was the best of the pack. Outstanding. The lobster Mac and Cheese is a must. Our lobster pieces were larger than the one reviewer mentioned but still not abundant. In any case, it was still fantastic. We would come back here.

I have dined at Carens Yorkville several times throughout the years, and have also tried their new Rosedale outpost. To date, the Yorkville location remains my go-​to spot in the city for a great selection of wine and cheese.
While I’ve tried their other more substantial dishes, I would suggest ordering what they do best — cheese. I quite enjoy the different platters offered on the menu, which take the guesswork out of the selection process (and thus minimizing the time until I can eat)!
I’ve had the same server pretty much every time I’ve dined here, and while not overly friendly, he is knowledgeable and accommodating.

This restaurant is located in Yorkville across the street from lululemon. They have a small patio outside in the front and a larger patio in the back. We opted to sit inside as the weather in TO was muggy and windy. To start, we had raw oysters for an appy that was on special — 9 oysters for the price of 6! The service was really good, our server was jovial and made our dining experience pleasant. He was attentive and made sure we always had wine and water filled. I had the lobster tagliatelle dish. It had large chunks of lobsters in my pasta dish. The sauce was a vodka tomato cream sauce which was not too heavy and just right. Overall the experience was very nice. I would like to come back and check out the patio in the back!

I always want this place to work and every time I go it’s missing a je né sais quoi.
The hidden patio is truthfully what makes this place a hidden gem. I recommend you come here for drinks and maybe have some cheese and charcuterie and stop there. Entrees are just ok. It’s a bizarre mix of italian, french bistro and other randomness. Staff while friendly just don’t have the polish that I expect from a yorkville address. I sometimes feel like everyone who works there are actors or extras hired to pretend to be waiters for the night. I will probably end up back here and still leave with the same «i don’t get why this place can’t be better» thoughts.

The staff is so accommodating and funny, the ambiance on the patio in the back is rejuvenating, and the wine is lovely. The menu isn’t really that incredible, but I’ve only been during the brunch and lunch hours so I’ve still to explore the dinner menu. This is becoming one of my «Happy Places» in the city but I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it in the colder months when the patio is closed.

The food here is amazing! I really recommend the blue and Brie fondue. But just make sure to read your receipt. We were overcharged on our wine, and when we called our waiter out, we were told it was a $ 1-​$ 2 difference when it was really $ 16.

I have to say my experience was… weird. I think it was an off-​night and I got a really bad vibe from the start.
My girlfriend and I were in the area for a second bridesmaid dress fitting and I wanted to try this place. I called to say 2 people would be there within 5 minutes and the man responded they only had the upstairs or the patio. I was thinking, wow, the main floor must be something special, but in fact, when I entered the restaurant, the main dining area is tiny. One table is right in front of the stairs, so the awkward position means one person is always hit as people walk up and down the stairs. The upstairs level is much more quiet and romantic, and I am glad we sat there.
Service is slow. Our waitress was nice, but that’s it. My duck was, disappointingly salty. My friend ordered this lobster risotto dish and the way our waitress explained was as if it would be big chunks. The reality was that the lobster bits were pea-​sized.
The time between our appetizer and main felt forever, which is why when my main came, it was sad that I had to wait for something salty.
Glad I came so this place can be checked off. Won’t be coming back here again.

Whoa. Service is absurdly slow here for large groups. Soooo slooowww that it makes a snail look like Usain Bolt. Granted we were a group of 8, but the kicker was that we waited for over an hour for them to bring out 2 ITTY BITTY APPS (and not even complicated apps — we got 2 warm Brie rounds). Isn’t the point of appetizers to have a slight nosh to tide you over while your mains arrive?
Anyways, FAIL Carens, super super fail — In the time that we waited for the Brie, 2 of us got Hangry (a wonderful mix of symptoms caused by low blood sugar that turns you into an emotional monster that is always a minute away from banging the table like a heathen and demanding «WHERE IS MY FOOD. BRING ME MY FOOD. ME WANT FOOOODD.») And I 100% had stomach grumbles as we waited for the Brie, which has never ever happened to me in a restaurant. THE HUMANITY. Anyways, we finally all got our share of brie and scarfed it down like animals (cute animals always, like baby red pandas). About 10 minutes later our mains arrived, but not that the same time, the server only carried 2 plates each trip she made up the stairs. The wait in between the deliveries wasn’t anything absurd, BUT, after waiting for an hour and a half for food, it would have made sense to use a second server for all of 2 minutes to have everyone served at around approximately the same time. BUT WHATEVER, this is ~French Dining~ so obviously, in order to cultivate ~chic-​ness~ and a ~relaxed atmosphere~ food comes when the CHEF thinks it ought to come (which feels like NEVER).
I’m kidding. I love the French. Do whatever you want to me as long as its drenched in butter and pork fat.
One of our diners ordered her steak sandwich medium and it came well done, her meal was comped thankfully.
The servers weren’t rude or sassy perse, but if the service was faster, it would have put the experience over the top because my baked mac and cheese was TO DIE FOR. It was a ginormous portion, the roux was a touch on the watery side, but the flavor was magnifique. I also had them add some Chorizo in there which set flavor blasters to level ELEVEN. All around, the dish had a nice subtle kick to it and I basically wanted to smash my face into the bowl like a lil’ piggy like Randy from a Christmas Story.
Love the food, hate the service :(

Great location for slow service, sassy waiters, and a 5% unexplained tax upcharge on your total bill. However, you’ll get to enjoy all of this in a pleasant backyard patio.
Oh yes, the food review:
Warm Organic Salmon with Lobster Croquette– $ 20 (3/10)-the three pieces of fried pastry covered in beet dressing overpowered the warm salmon slivers
Short Rib Ravioli — $ 18 — (⁴⁄₁₀) — The sauce and short ribs were well prepared, however there was 3x the amount of sauce needed for the soggy pasta included in the small portion size
Wild Mushroom Risotto — $ 22 (³⁄₁₀) — Risotto is a hard dish to master, you won’t find the master here
Rating Summary:
Food: ³⁄₁₀ — uninspiring, overly sauced, small portions
Atmosphere: ⁸⁄₁₀ — pleasant backyard patio furniture with lots of natural sunlight
Service: ⁰⁄₁₀ — the service was so terrible it likely skewed my rating for the food

I have been to Carens a couple of times and i enjoyed tge atmosphere and the delicious food. The service was always great.
The Tuna Rothschild appetizer is delicious along with a side of Guyere cheese plate.
On my first visit, I ordered the Risotto and my friend ordered the Mac & Cheese. When both entrees arrived, I had a taste of the Mac & Cheese, and it was sooo delicious. I must say the best for me. However, my Risotto was too salty that I had to ask the server to also get me a Mac & Cheese instead.
I was so happy. Cheesy and a little spicy which was perfect.
The Entrée size was big enough for 2 so opt for the side portion.
On our second visit, my friend wanted to order The Stinton Burger but it was sold out that evening. Must be popular.
Hoping to try that next. They also have great wine selections. We had the Cote Du Rhone. delicious! Great summer dining venue. A little on the pricey side but it is Yorkville.

I’ve eaten here about half-​a-​dozen times, and have always had a good experience. The servers have always been helpful and informative when needed, but never intrusive and never interrupting the conversation at the table.
The selection of wines and cheeses is very good, and there are a lot of good bottles under $ 70.
The atmosphere and décor are warm and inviting, especially on the back patio.
The only reason not to give 5 stars is that the menu is very small, with just a few mains to choose from. Everything I’ve eaten has been very good, but a little more variety would be the final element to take it to 5 stars.

One of the worst experiences I have had in recent memory at a restaurant. We arrived for our 9pm reservation last Saturday and were seated in the back patio. The décor was nice and we were looking forward to a three course set menu.
The waitress was slow to greet us and provide menus. So much so that after 10 minutes the hostess stopped by to see if she could offer water. In the interim we observed two unhappy tables. One table directly to our right was trying desperately to get the attention of staff to advise she was served the wrong entrée. The girl finally brought her food back to the kitchen herself as her companions had almost completed their meals. The table diagonal to us was upset as half the table was served their appetizers and the other half had been waiting for an extended period of time.
After 20 more minutes our waitress stopped by with one menu to“share” and took an order for a pitcher of sangria. The drinks arrived shortly after at which point we were advised the kitchen was out of all entrée choices with exception of the Mac and cheese. We were still agreeable at this point of time as we understand things happen. Little did we know that was the start of a 3.5 hour ordeal.
It began with the appetizers coming out incorrectly for my date– soup instead of salad 40 minutes after we had ordered originally. We did not see hide nor hair of our waitress during this time. We had finished our drinks and were looking to order additional beverages or at the very least get a refill on the water. When we finally saw our waitress — 50 minutes after we first arrived we were able to order a glass of wine.
It was another 54 minutes after this our dinner arrived. Again, during this time our waitress was MIA. During this time, we were left trying to flag down one of the other servers to try to find out an eta on the main course. The lovely blonde waitress on the other side of the back patio was apologetic and promised to send back our waitress as soon as she could find her. When dinner finally arrived, it was sub par at best. The meal was hot but relatively un-​impressive after the wait. Again we were not offered the opportunity to order another drink or ask any questions.
It was another 45 minutes before our waitress stopped by. We asked to box the remainder of the meals to take with us, asked for desert, and the cheque. At that point the waitress advised us that they were out of both the cheesecake and chocolate cake we ordered at the beginning of the meal. We asked what our options were and she said she could provide a chocolate truffle dish as an alternative if «we really needed dessert».
30 minutes later — 1 plate arrived to share with what looked like 4 frozen individual chocolates for the two of us. The plate arrived without forks and again the waitress quickly disappeared without an offer of coffee or tea.
The bill arrived approximately 15 minutes later. The waitress was kind enough to inform us and provide us a bill with a hand written tip amount of 18% written in and then manually calculated to include the combined tip and bill amount. It was distasteful at best. When I called her back loudly as she left with the intent to discuss — she glanced over her shoulder at us and then picked up the pace and left the area.
Needless to say we did not leave the 18% as indicated. As a side note we generally tip a minimum of 20% for service and 25% for great service. Ultimately, the appalling way we were treated by the waitress, the reduction of available menu items, and the wait time without apology was truly disappointing and will ensure we will not be returning.
On a high note– it was wildly entertaining to listen to the group of four seated diagonal to us muse loudly as to the whereabouts of our missing waitress and to ponder why a chocolate lava cake and apple pie took over an hour to appear. The delightful storytelling was a laugh to listen to.

Not unlike the most popular senior back in high school who suddenly asked me out after I gave my weird Grade 10 self a «She’s All That”-style makeover (hi Chad!*), Carens is very good-​looking and… well, that’s about it.
The menu sounds great on paper, but the food is underwhelming and overpriced. Spicy Baked Mac & Cheese ($ 16, $ 21 – 32 with additions) is tasty as cheese-​drenched starch generally is, but has none of the spice it advertises — it’s just normal. I don’t even like spicy food and I still thought it needed a kick. It does come piping hot in a respectably-​sized dish, but without any sides to speak of, it leaves something to be desired. You’ll likely need to order one of the salad appetizers to balance it out. Unfortunately, even a usually reliably flavourful standby like the Niçoise ($ 18) is pretty bland here.
Crabcakes ($ 16) and ravioli ($ 15) come 2 and 3 pieces to a plate respectively, so plan accordingly or be forced into an accidental diet.
Service is as slow as Chad, even if your party is one of only two groups having lunch, which was the case when I was here earlier this week. If you’re seated upstairs and your server goes downstairs, I hope you’re not in a rush.
*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Far too expensive for what’s provided.
A friend treated me here for a birthday dinner quite recently… a gesture I really appreciate given just how expensive this place is.
The FOOD: We both had the steak frites. The fries were incredibly well done and were quite complimented by the bacon aioli. The salad had a nice mustardy vinaigrette. The steak, however, was NOT cooked to order. Medium rare, by any definition requires a pretty substantial amount of pink… red even. The definition from The Keg (which knows how to cook a steak):
«Medium rare: Warm centre, red throughout.»
We instead received a steak with mostly a grey centre and a small trace of pink in the thickest part… that would be Medium Well to Well Done. My fundamental point is that at $ 27 for steak frites, you had better cook your steak properly. My friend also found some parts so full of gristle that he had to spit them out. Yikes!
The WINE: They have a great selection by the bottle and by the glass. They also offer things by the ½ litre, although it’s not advertised. Pretty expensive.
The SERVICE: Our server was rather cold and awkward throughout the evening. I knew from her response of «tap, please» to her question of «still and sparkling» that we were in for trouble. The barely suppressed frown was noticeable. Specials were quoted without prices… a pet peeve of mine. No joy was shown in serving us. Water glasses were refilled, but not much else.
OVERALL, given what I’ve seen from the steak and the service, I have little to say to recommend Carens. Had it not been someone treating me for my birthday, I certainly would have complained about the steak. Maybe come for a glass of wine and some cheese and call it quits.

I was invited to a blogger night at Carens Wine and Cheese Bar on Wednesday evening.
First up was goat cheese, almonds, apricots and bread. I’m not a fan of goat cheese but Gord said it was good.
Matt took care of us (he’s been with Carens for eight years). He explained the wines as they paired with the food.
Next was Tuna Rothschild. This was Gord’s favourite course (I didn’t have any as I don’t like tuna so he had mine).
Next was French Onion Soup. I’ve never had it before and it was good.
Then came the Mac and Cheese. I only tried the prosciutto one (not a fan of lobster or truffles) and it was my favourite course of the night. Gord’s favourite
The fondue came next (Swiss and gruyère fondue with apples and pear and Brie and blue cheese fondue with figs and walnut bread) … I’ve never fondued before. The Swiss and gruyère was the favourite of our table.
The last course was dessert (raspberry ice cream and a panacotta) and it was delicious!
When we were leaving, we were given gift bags with a Carens wine glass, a wine bottle opener and some smoked cheese. Thanks!
The food and wine were good and it was a fun opportunity to check out this restaurant as I’ve never been before.

A Yorkville gem. Tucked away from the rest of the neighbourhood. The back patio will make you want to stay forever.
Best bet is the cheese fondue to share.
Other highlights include the burger with blue cheese and the Mac+cheese.

Randomly walked in there with my friend for a girls night out. Immediately fell in love with their outdoor patio. It’s absolutely gorgeous! Inside it was also nicely decorated to create an upscale vintage vibe. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable!
We ordered 2008 Italian Chianti, which we complimented with a cheese platter. Afterwards we ordered ice wine and chocolate fondue. Fondue was served with cookies, applies, marshmallows, and strawberries and was absolutely yum!
It is on the pricey side, which is not surprising since it is in the heart of Yorkville, however, paying $ 8 for a water bottle I found outrageous.
Everything else is absolutely great, and I will certainly visit again!

Had lunch on the beautiful back patio here. Décor/​ambiance back here is 5*, it’s very beautiful plus it’s covered in case of rain.
The interior is less impressive.
The lunch prices are reasonable (most entrees in the $ 15 range). Food is good but nothing unique or outstanding. Basic offerings, some pastas, sandwiches and salads. I had the tuna nicoise ($ 16) which was pretty nice, and healthy. Coworkers had the lamb burger, the mac & cheese, chicken penne and a chicken sandwich of some sort. The food is good just honestly — nothing special.
Service was friendly and efficient. Food took a smidgen too long but that’s just me nit-​picking. The dinner prices were higher so I can’t really recommend it for a dinner spot — there are other places nearby with more interesting food.

If I would have know better… I would not have order that Canadian Cheese Platter ($ 36) to share with my Unilocal Drinking Buddy at Carens Wine and Cheese Bar!
No way the 2 of us can finish that and have room for a 3 course dinner later in the evening…
It was a nice warm summer evening… sipping some white wine in the front patio and people/​car watching in Yorkville was enjoyable!
I have yet try the food from the kitchen yet… or that amazing BACK Patio! I guess I have to be back?!
But no lunch specials? Just the same pricing but with less item selections?! How disappointing… but Carens is located in Yorkville after all…
Oh Wait! Happy Hour Specials with $ 1 an oyster… that’s sounded more like my kind of place! Oysters! Anyone?!