Batifole – 744 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1Y3
Country: France  
Seating: Indoor with two tables outside. 
Must-try dish: Beef Tartare 
Dinner guests: Jacq in Paris 
The high: Very affordable for the quality of the food in a chic atmosphere.
The low: French vibes, but you’re not actually in France. 

With France attempting to make history today by winning two World Cup titles back to back, we thought we’d throw our support their way in the game against Argentina. Although both countries are champions in their own right when it comes to cuisine, French food has a broader range, and simply put, no one ever complained about eating a duck confit. 

Surprisingly, there’s a large French population in Toronto, which is immediately evident with the exceptional quality of French restaurants. There are however fewer French-style bistros that are a staple across France. Batifole in the city’s east end comes to mind when reminiscing about afternoons in Lyon or Bordeaux watching the world go by with a glass of red and a plate of escargot. The concept of a French bistro is more relaxed than a restaurant, and there’s terrific food and wine that won’t break the bank. 

Batifole is casual yet elegant, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy food and good company. The decor takes you back to another time, and another place, and so do the dishes. It’s also not uncommon for the owner and chef to come out and chat with the tables still in his apron in either of Canada’s national languages. 

With the atmosphere and service being on point, let’s get to the tasty stuff. We started with half a dozen oysters (Huitres) from Prince Edward Island that were larger and meatier than usual. This didn’t detract from the taste if you’re wondering. 

Following this amuse-bouche, a small plate of beef tartare (Tartare de Boeuf) with crostinis and an appetizer sized cheese board were delivered to the table alongside a chilled red wine. The chunks of beef were marinated in dijon mustard and mixed with capers, it was exquisitely balanced in flavour, so much so that a second order of tartare was made for dessert. The cheeseboard (Assiette de Fromage – Petite) has a revolving roster of three, and on this particular evening the stars were Munster, Abondance, and Queso Iberico(Manchego). Although all three cheeses were adored, the soft Abondance was the favourite. 

The duck confit (Cuisse de Canard Confite) is a generous portion of meat that falls off the bone served with rich potatoes cooked in garlic and butter and caramelized apple. The sweet and savoury component in this dish really knocks it out of the park. The Cassoulet Royal accompanied the duck leg for the main course. If you’re new to the world of cassoulet, then you may forget life before ever trying it. It’s served as a stew with white beans, duck confit, pork sausage, and pork belly. It’s hearty, and the portion size is best to share. 

The wine list is accessible for all budgets, and it will certainly please any French wine connoisseur, but for those who are looking for something with a little more character, there’s a stacked bar that allows for the creation of a number of cocktails. 

As for dessert, you can stick to cheeses or go somewhere sweeter with an éclair, a soufflé, or a “délice au chocolat”. With our servers recommendation we opted for the Grand Marnier Soufflé, it takes 25 min to bake but the creamy moist cake is a perfect way to end a French feast.

Batifole is the type of place that attracts its neighbours, but also clientele who will travel across the city for a relaxed vibe and good food because at the end of the day, that’s all we really want in life right? 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)