Cafe Nina

Good food, fresh ingredients, mediocre to poor service if you don't know the staff. We got a bar seat, right by the door probably the worst seat in the house. We came right on time for our 6:15pm seating time and was immediately "pointed" to our seats and told that the coat rack was behind us. Other than being over crowded in where we were, we were given a single menu and had to ask for another. In the same bar area, there were small tables available but clearly for the restaurants friends since people showed up late to their reservation and yet got better seats. We ordered a few courses and they came sporadically throughout the evening. They cleared plates after each course and refilled water/wine when appropriate. However, the staff felt pretentious and cold. Then when they had people they knew at the door, were rowdy and spent more time socializing than actually serving. Overall, the food was well balanced and had nice flavour, ingredients were fresh. Simple and elegant. However, for $250+ for your meal, you'd think you'd get a much better experience.

I came here with a friend, and we were excited to get reservations at 20 Victoria three weeks later. Before arriving for our experience, a survey was sent before asking about any dietary restrictions. Our experience started with our reservations at 5:30 pm. We were immediately greeted and led to our seats in a corner in the back. My friend ordered a glass of wine, and I ordered a cocktail that was an elevated Aperol Spritz. They had two cocktails to offer with a more extensive wine list. Our meal started strong, with dishes with robust flavours and attentive service; however, as the night got longer and the restaurant became busier, the plates became saltier, and we were not impressed by the combination of flavours; we waited longer for service. Our least favourite dish was the desserts, which could have been a better finish for our dining experience, and we could not finish. As we had already pre-paid for our meal online which includes tip and tax, we still needed to pay for our drinks which included a 20% service fee + HST. After a long meal, we went to look for our jackets, among many other jackets, on a coat stand. The server saw that we were trying to find it and said we would have to search around for it - not something we would have expected for a fine dining experience. The menu changes daily, and the restaurant uses fresh and seasonal ingredients. The dishes can look simple, but the restaurant uses different techniques to deliver a well-executed meal with complex flavours. However, we had high expectations and were not impressed with our experience towards the latter end of our dining experience. We left at 8 pm, which we felt was too long.

The experience starts as soon as you arrive. You’re immediately welcomed and escorted to your seat. A fantastic selection of wine and food options are presented to you. We asked our server to create the experience for us and that she did. Incredible wine and food pairings appeared throughout the evening and the service was impeccable. From the Champagne to the Iberico pork you’ll be hard pressed to beat this experience. I highly recommend 20 Victoria and can’t wait to go back!

Superb dining experience with a wine pairing that is worth the price of admission. Was recommended this place by a friend and it did not disappoint. Since the menu changes almost daily, whatever specific comments I make about the food will likely be outdated by the time someone reads this. Just know that all the dishes incorporate fresh, seasonal ingredients, and are executed in a manner that while they appear simple, the technique is nuanced and complex e.g. a dish of just chicken breast and grilled ramps but with a lobster jus that takes hours and hours to reduce. I usually don’t get wine pairings at many restaurants, as they tend to be disappointing money grabs and I’m not sure what prompted me to get it here on a whim but it was probably the best decision of the night. The wine selection was stunning, each subsequent bottle surpassing the former. It was so good to the point that I think for anyone dining here, the wine pairing should be mandatory. Service was impeccable- on point, courteous, friendly, and with just the right amount of table side chit chat. The restaurant itself is a smaller space but stunningly clean in both design and tidiness. Really the only minor gripe I have with this place is the high cost of dining, at a price point that makes it one of the most expensive in the city, and on par with 2- and even some 3- Michelin star locales around the world. It also is a bit of a pain to reserve ahead of time and it’s cancellation policy or lack there of is pretty unforgiving. However, for a special occasion, and an evening to remember, this place checks all the boxes.

I think this place needs a point of sales system, better management overall, and better wait staff. Food was good, but nothing spectacular, and same with drinks. I'd give them another shot as they seem to change their menus almost daily. Overall an average experienceFood: 3/5

If you love tasting menus like I do, Twenty Victoria likely offers one of the most affordable ones in Toronto. Through a prepayment on Tock, the non-refundable six-course meal is set at $175 per person and is inclusive of gratuities but before taxes meaning the only thing that needs to be settled at the restaurant are drinks beverage menu prices also includes gratuities. The first dish, kanpachi and oca root, combines slices of raw fish with a root vegetable that’s described as “a cousin of the potato” and tastes like a starchier jicama. While it looks like sashimi, when the kanpachi is mixed with the crunchy diced oca root, olive oil, citrus, and basil seedlings, the dish tastes more ceviche. It was a vibrant starter that happened to coincide with tropical music being played in the dining room a mere coincidence, the happy music putting us at ease that it wouldn’t be a stuffy meal. What seemed like A LOT of sauce arrived with the trout and egg. Yet, the whipped hollandaise-like sauce carried a lightness that didn’t overpower the rich fish and even worked solo with pieces of fallen fish roe. Ultimately, throughout the menu, we found the balance of richness and lightness was what made Twenty Victoria excel – serving a decadent ingredient with something refreshing or at least restrained so that you can continue through the menu without feeling gross. Pairing chopped walnuts with scallops wouldn’t have been my first choice, but it wasn’t terrible either. The slightly cooked through nuts added a bit of texture against the soft scallops, which were perfectly seared and served with a lovely creamy sauce. In this dish, the raw celery ? leaves provided a bright element to counteract the buttery condiment. With the scallops comes their bread course, a magnificent loaf that needs to be sold to go. Hot and crispy, the dark brown crust breaks away to reveal a milky airy centre. It’s their version of Japanese milk bread, which makes complete sense after the explanation as my husband found it resembled a lighter brioche while it tasted like a richer pain au lait for me. Regardless, I only wish I didn’t devour it all as the bread would also go well with the next dish. My advice for you, save a quarter. This is a long review, for the rest go to Gastro World.

The owner of this place was an absolute joy. So polite, so accommodating. Since my friend didnt have his covid passport, we couldn't dine inside but they set up a table for us outside which was very sweet. The tasting menu the walk in samples you can order was so delicious that we requested a reservation for the whole experience. He said there's a month waiting list but we didnt care, we set up a reservation for next month. The beer and cocktails were amazing as well. If I could give this place a higher rating I would.

This is the first meal we've had our in a long time and it was lovely! The staff were attentive and great. Only a few small areas of improvement but otherwise a very lovely meal.

We were late for our reservation due to an Uber issue, but we called to inform the staff and they were more than gracious.This was- unquestionably- the best meal of my life. Everyone here seems to love what they do and it absolutely shows. The wine pairings were perfect. I'll be dreaming about the smoked beets with oyster cream for a long time.

Enjoyed a great meal here last night. The restaurant has a lovely vibe with great music and a relaxed atmosphere. The service was fantastic and reflected the atmosphere of the restaurant — attentive, yet relaxed. I would highly recommend the wine pairing with the meal. Delicious!