Sassafraz Restaurant
100 Cumberland Street, Toronto, ON, M5R 1A6
416-964-2222 | Website
A fire might have caused millions of dollars in damages, but Sassafraz is back, and it’s better than ever.
Category:
Restaurants
What:
| Cuisine Type | | Bakeries |
| Ambiance | | Star Sightings, Trendy |
| Amenities | | Must Reserve, Wheelchair Accessible |
| Pricing | | $31 - $40 |
| Payment | | Diner's Club En Route, Interac, MasterCard, American Express, Visa |
Where:
| Cross Street | | Bay and Bellair |
When:
| Mon-Sun 11:30AM-2AM |
Profile Last Updated: December 11, 2008
Destroyed by Fire, Rebuilt Better
Despite being recently gutted by a catastrophic fire that caused $5 million in damages, Sassafraz is back, and better than ever. The Yorkville Landmark was rebuilt over 10 months, and while the exterior of the building was created to look exactly like it was before the fire, a few things inside, namely the menu, have changed. The restaurant is starting down a new road from being known as a see and be seen spot for celebrity watchers, to a true foodie heaven.
Attention to Detail Pays Off
The new menu shines, from appetizer to desserts. Even salads, which are often some of the simplest affairs, are expertly prepared with an unusual amount of attention and detail. Appetizers include bison carpaccio and market fresh oysters in pear vodka mignonette. The principal dishes portion of the menu includes just eight items, including chicken stuffed with foie gras, maple-glazed sablefish, and seared beef tenderloin. Selected appetizers are also available in larger, main-sized portions. Desserts are prepared by an in-house pastry chef, and include warm chocolate croquettes, and sweet risotto, a unique interpretation of rice pudding. Since the fire, Sassafraz has made strong strides with their wine menu. The bigger and better wine collection is stored in huge, custom-made cellars in the dining room, and servers can suggest perfect pairings with entrees.
Inside the Space
New additions include a baby grand piano for jazz nights (Thursday-Sunday evenings), and a soaring 30 foot living green wall with a water feature in the main dining area, which brings the nearly century-old building to the forefront of modern design.
Despite being recently gutted by a catastrophic fire that caused $5 million in damages, Sassafraz is back, and better than ever. The Yorkville Landmark was rebuilt over 10 months, and while the exterior of the building was created to look exactly like it was before the fire, a few things inside, namely the menu, have changed. The restaurant is starting down a new road from being known as a see and be seen spot for celebrity watchers, to a true foodie heaven.
Attention to Detail Pays Off
The new menu shines, from appetizer to desserts. Even salads, which are often some of the simplest affairs, are expertly prepared with an unusual amount of attention and detail. Appetizers include bison carpaccio and market fresh oysters in pear vodka mignonette. The principal dishes portion of the menu includes just eight items, including chicken stuffed with foie gras, maple-glazed sablefish, and seared beef tenderloin. Selected appetizers are also available in larger, main-sized portions. Desserts are prepared by an in-house pastry chef, and include warm chocolate croquettes, and sweet risotto, a unique interpretation of rice pudding. Since the fire, Sassafraz has made strong strides with their wine menu. The bigger and better wine collection is stored in huge, custom-made cellars in the dining room, and servers can suggest perfect pairings with entrees.
Inside the Space
New additions include a baby grand piano for jazz nights (Thursday-Sunday evenings), and a soaring 30 foot living green wall with a water feature in the main dining area, which brings the nearly century-old building to the forefront of modern design.
