Sparrow

UPDATE: The following review is for Sparrow /​Le Moineau in the Plateau and it is very much open.
I think I’d been here years ago for drinks at night, but this was my first time brunching at Sparrow. A savoury brunch for two. This is a charming yuppie brunch — everything is pleasant and rustically refined with pops of whimsy.
A nice reminder of some past summer travels, I opted for the turkish breakfast: olives, feta, eggs, walnuts, apricots, veggies, flatbread, sour cherry jam, fig jam and merguez sausage on the side. Visually appealing and good for people who like to pick on a little of this and bit of that. Nothing too standout in terms of taste. It makes a great photograph for all you IG/​Yelp types!
Likely to appease me (I had mentioned that this dish looked great), my fellow bruncher got a near perfect savoury dish with hints of sweetness that consisted of house smoked trout with spinach and green onion pancake, beet salad, soft boiled egg and whipped crème fraîche. I preferred this dish and we shared both plates.
I wouldn’t wait in line for this (and thankfully we didn’t) but I would recommend it if you’re looking for a solid brunch spot in the mile end.
This is a bar and so definitely order some boozy brunch cocktails while you’re at it!
Correct Unilocal listing:
Chirp derp.

Came here today for Sunday brunch with a best friend. We actually wanted to go to Good Fork but an hour wait wasn’t something my stomach could hold any longer.
We were seated right away and water came shortly after. Service is great here.
Candied Trout Salad (14)
I really, really liked this. It was a bit on the pricey side though. The trout was good quality and the feta complimented the fish.
Mushroom Frittata (14)
My friend seemed to really like it and actually couldn’t finish it! It comes out in a skillet actually and for the portions they gave, it’s worth it.
The dishes were really well made and care was clearly taken to make it. The only thing is that it’s a bit pricey for brunch, but I guess the $ 5 Caesars/​mimosas make up for it…
Oh and visit the washrooms! (You should be a good kid and wash your hands before you eat anyways.)

This is such a cute and charming place ! But the food is what makes a restaurant and this is definitely a great restaurant! We all chose, in our party of four, different apps, entrees and desserts just to be able to try different menu items cuz we just couldn’t make up our minds what to try and everything we ordered was so amazingly delicious! We are determined to return and eat our way through the whole menu! Love the array of locally sourced food on the menu! Also a great place for drinks and sharing plates if you don’t want a full meal! And the desserts… ! Love places that make their own desserts from scratch! I can’t say enough about this place! I definitely give it a 4.5 star rating!

Excellent spot in Bloor West Village. Superb food quality and laid back yet attentive, first class service. We had virgin cocktails — my caesar was delish! we shared the beet salad, which was very good, but the scallops stole the show — hands down. Perfectly cooked, golden and crispy on the outside, topped with pancetta bits, served with veggie pâté. Best!
Two thumbs up Sparrow!

I would actually be giving 3.5÷5 stars if I could, but I’ll bump them up .5 stars because out of the 3 or so times I’ve been, they’ve been mostly good rather than not.
The food has always been pretty delicious — oysters, charcuterie, tartare, chicken wings, fries — all really solid quality.
Price-​wise, it’s on par with what you’d find in the downtown core, which is a bit disappointing considering rent MUST be cheaper over here in Bloor West Village/​Etobicoke.
BUT that’s mostly made up for by the service, because it’s almost always been great, and count on the fact that you’ll never deal with hipster-​restaurant-​lineups here.
The Nest also just opened up recently, which is an awesome more loungey, bar-​like atmosphere upstairs (owned by the same people), with a giant flatscreen playing sports, comfy seats and most importantly BOARD GAMES. It’s such a nice comfy not-​loud place to relax on the weekend.
One thing that happened today that was pretty unacceptable (especially because my boyfriend and I LOVE cocktails and by now, know our shit when it comes to good cocktails): the girl bartender made me a negroni that was ONE OUNCE. She put in ¹⁄₃ of each of the ingredients of a negroni. Fine fine, if she was going to: a) charge me a lot less or, b) acknowledge her mistake after we politely asked her to clarify how she made her negronis. But no, she was really, really rude to us and after we corrected her (us: actually, negronis ARE 3 oz. drinks, or at least 2.5 oz, and most definitely NOT 1 oz. drinks), she basically ignored us. It put a damper on what was a great night until then.
Anyway, we spoke to the manager or owner, and he was super awesome about it and promised that wouldn’t happen again (and assured us his negronis were 2.5 to 3 oz, of course), so that’s that. But hey, a lesson for bartenders who don’t actually know their shit: don’t act like you automatically know more than the customer when in fact you do NOT. And most definitely don’t be rude to us for pointing out your errors.
Bartender aside, we still plan to go back :) the server we had while eating downstairs at The Sparrow was AWESOME and we live in the area, so it’s still on our list!

Cute little restaurant along the Bloor strip. Decided to walk in for brunch today after discovering massive line ups at our usual spots. We sat right along the window which is great for a coffee and people watching. Server was friendly but not overly attentive. Ordered the pulled pork hash and was sadly disappointed. Portion size was good and potatoes were really tasty however just found the dish dry and a little bland. Wish I could say better things about this little cutie but unfortunately this place won’t be added to the brunch hot spots.

The calamary were pretty tasty. I like their Irish nachos and desserts: Crème Brulee Cheesecake and especially Salted Caramel Lava.

Went for ½ price mussels night, 7 $ for a large bowl of mussels and frites. They were Great! Maybe one of My favorites since coming to the city. I will make a point to come back just for these. My boyfriend had the steak, and said it was good, maybe just overpriced for what it was.
As great as those were, the grilled romaine was terrible and flavorless though (salt please!). The service was great, food came out quickly, and there were some other interesting items I’d look forward to trying. I’ll be back… Just not for the romaine.

I had had a very rough day before happening upon the Sparrow and boy was I ever glad that I chose to stop in! Top notch service, very friendly, and excellent drinks and food!
I sat at the bar and badly needed a drink or two, so I was happy to discover that the Sparrow had a decent variety and great selection! The food really won me over: I had the mussels and fries, absolutely delicious.
The space was recently renovated and it looks amazing! Think high end steam punk. Additionally, they have private washrooms for each guest downstairs. Brilliant concept! If you’ve ever been to the VIP Cineplex theatres, then you will know what to expect at the Sparrow. And they’ve just opened up a second floor with games and an even more fun atmosphere to boot!
Great experience, great food, great décor and ambiance, and fast, friendly service. If you don’t stop in here, you don’t know what you’re missing.

We were at nearby high park and wanted food nearby. Stumbled on Sparrow. We got in just after brunch had ended on a Sunday so we had he «Snacks» menu — which has poutine, fries, charcuterie, etc. Price ranges around $ 6-​$ 15 for snacks
Got the Assorted Pickles plate and the Fries. For $ 6, we got a decent amount of fries. Enough for two people to split. Comes with ketchup and mayo – which I think were made in house. They tasted like it. Loved the mayo.
The Assorted Pickles plate is pretty good. Several pickled veggies (pear/​apple?, cauliflower, garlic) as well as actual pickles.
The beer menu wasn’t very large and was on the more pricey side ($ 7 and up). Felt it was overpriced for the selection.
I feel like we didn’t hit this place at a great time so I feel biased, I bet brunch is better. But a satisfying spot.
A surprise: Cool bathrooms downstairs!

I was a huge fan of the late Dr. Generosity, so when I found out that The Sparrow was taking over the beloved restaurant’s vacated spot, I had mixed feelings. After having brunch there yesterday, I can proudly say the tradition of amazing brunch continues.
The space has been revamped with industrial décor, and it seems a bit brighter, which is definitely a welcome change. Somehow it still reminds me of Dr. G’s though.
The menu is succinct, hitting the important brunch milestones. I settled on the eggs Benedict, which comes on a cheesy biscuit and swaps the usual hollandaise for a maltaise. I had never heard of a maltaise sauce but didn’t give it much thought. Verdict: maltaise sauce is my new lover. A quick google search told me it’s a hollandaise made with a splash of blood orange. Delicious! That combined with the cheesy biscuit actually took my breath away.
The only weak spot was the coffee. First cup was lukewarm, second was piping hot but a bit bland.
Don’t let the coffee or the nostalgia for Dr. G keep you away. The Sparrow is awesome!

Will definitely return! Not a fan of venison though but everything we ordered was amazing.

Came for brunch on a Sunday morning. Hostess and waitress very friendly and professional. Ordered the frittata and the stuffed french toast, both were amazing. Service was quick but not rushed, which was great. The atmosphere was nice and cozy on a frigid morning. Will definitely be back to try the lunch and dinner menus!

Server was not knowledgable about the wine, could not describe the two we were choosing between nor make a recommendation based on what we were ordering. However was very pleasant and checked on us. Gnocchi was a highlight, burratta odd — why pair a delicate, fresh creamy cheese with a heavy poppy seed cream sauce? Duck tough though tastey. Beautiful space. Might go back and order other dishes since it is so conveniently located; on the other hand, much MUCH better available in the west end for a better price point (Zeze Food and Drink comes to mind, Fat Cat Wine Bar)

Great food, great service, loved dinner here tonight.
Lady who owns the place is very hands on and enthusiastic, which may be off putting to some, but i found it endearing. She loves to discuss the menu, drinks, talk about what they are trying to do with the place, asks how you like your dishes, likes to point out interesting tidbits about what the chef does for your dish, etc
She also asks if you have a time limit, which we did as we were going to catch a specific showing of a film at the humber theatre down the street, and made sure to accomodate that, bring the bill early, etc
Ordered oysters, scallops, sweetbreads, and the duck. All were great, especially the duck. Having a go to place for oysters and duck in the b-​dub is a godsend. Red hot margarita was tasty, btw.

In a neighborhood that is rapidly becoming unaffordable Sparrow is a welcome change from it’s predecessor. The new décor is a refreshing change of pace — cleaner and more elegant than the prior space — while keeping accessibility and family friendly practices in mind.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the scallops are buttery perfection (especially when paired with a spicy sharp chorizo, snappy Jerusalem artichoke chips and a verdant pea purée), or that the salads pair bittersweet grapefruit with tender watercress & crisp fennel in a clean, well balanced way, or that the tender forest mushrooms blanketed in breadcrumbs and a judicious amount of Parmesan benefit from a luxurious veal jus bath.
Stay for dessert if you can. It’s worth lingering over — especially for the classic rock soundtrack!

Yikes — want to like this place so badly because I live in the neighborhood but it’s just very average!
We came in for brunch. Maybe their specialty is dinner.
Friendly service, menu is decent, food is average but it ends there. The décor confuses me. Exterior vs Interior. Which crowd are you trying to appeal to? Again, maybe it’s more obvious what this place is about during dinner service.
Ordered the traditional breakfast. Everything was decent. Asked for ketchup and was told there would be a charge for the special home made tomato sauce. No thanks — I will take the Heinz. If you want to appeal to fancy schmancy brunchers and stand out on your «traditional breakfast» dish — throw in a spoonful of this tomato sauce so there is something worth talking about.

Very cool resto in Bloor West Village. The sharing plates seem small but you realise after four courses that you’ve consumed a feast. The flank steak is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten!
Be sure to save room for dessert, the dishes are unique and creative… Not to mention delicious.

Great brunch, good dinner. Brunch is the best of your classics with additional delicious smoothies and coffee.
Dinner is more of a tapas style of ordering, good food but a little too pricey for what you get. We had a half dozen oysters, beef tartar, scallops (unbelievable), and the barrada (cheese) salad with two glasses of vino. Everything was tasty, but in the end we paid $ 100 and were still hungry.
Overall, great service and we will be back for brunch. Very gluten free friendly!

I came here thinking it was still Dr Generosity’s. I was sadly disappointed. So sad.
Our waiter was a very nice young man, and he was obviously not properly trained, seemed nervous and made far too many mistakes. Did not know prices or ingredients (ie, the baked beans are not vegetarian). The menu had prices for some things but not everything. Pretentious or bad proofreading?
I ordered a smoothie to start. It was a green smoothie with kale, peaches, ginger, etc. My hubs ordered a dill pickle caesar with extra pickles. His caesar came about 10 mins later with zero pickles, and no smoothie. He inquired about the pickles and smoothie and 10 mins later 3 slices of pickles arrived, 5 mins later a beige smoothie appeared. I took a sip to find it had no gingery zing, it obviously had no kale in it, and it had pineapple (I’m allergic) in it. I sent it back, and he came back with in with the promise there was no pineapple in it and they had ran out of kale, which is why it was not green. «I hope that is ok». I sent it away and just stuck with water.
4 of our friends have arrived by this time and placed a few drink orders. Frazzled, the waiter went away and came back 2x to re-​confirm the drink orders. The drinks eventually came.
The waiter recommended the cured salmon salad to our vegetarian friends. What? After a 20 min wait the meals came out. Small portions borderline tapas, which I am fine with, but be aware, heavy eaters will not be satisfied. The meal was fairly tasty — there were missing ingredients in most of our meals. I am pretty sure my grilled cheese was suppose to come with icing sugar and maple something, but instead it was sprinkled with ash — a server gave some weird explanation about the history of morbier and ash, whatever. I brushed the (cig?) ash aside and finished eating.
The staff (managers? owners?) we’re having all sorts of conversations and walking back and forth from the front to the back of the restaurant.
The bill came. We presented our AMEX which he swiped unknowingly that this establishment did not take AMEX. We paid cash.
The dinner menu looked pretty interesting. But I won’t be back to find out.