HOTHOUSE image

HOTHOUSE

Restaurant Bar Italian restaurant Family restaurant Catering service Event venue Wedding venue Coworking space Canadian restaurant

One of the Most Reviewed Catering services in Old Toronto


Address

35 Church St, Toronto, ON M5E 1T3, Canada

Website

www.hothouserestaurant.com

Contact

+1 416-366-7800

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.20 (4.4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Monday: 11:30 am to 9 pm
  • Tuesday: 11:30 am to 9 pm
  • Wednesday: 11:30 am to 9 pm
  • Thursday: 11:30 am to 9 pm
  • Friday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 10 am to 10 pm
  • Sunday: 10 am to 3 pm, 3:30 to 9 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (26) good (24) service (22) brunch (19) nice (14) patio (13) time (12) area (11) restaurant (11) server (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 flo m. 2 years ago on Google
    Went for brunch. Great experience. Would be 5 stars, but coffee refills had to be requested. Best roast beef I have had for a long time. Ate too much. More expensive than before, but that is dining out everywhere. The staff were exceptional, especially the bus persons. Very quick to clear, very polite. They did a great job sanitizing in between parties.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Yasir A. 5 months ago on Google • 394 reviews
    If you're looking for a brunch buffet in downtown area then Hot House is the place to go. The service and atmosphere is great. The food is really good as well. Hard to find a buffet with such a large selection.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Simarjot S. 1 year ago on Google
    Normally don't give bad reviews, but this deserves a say. Expect to eat somewhere else afterwards due to the tiny portion sizes. Although warned about the size of the ravioli dish by the server, it was still comically small when it had arrived. At the very least, the plates should be sized similar to the dishes. The taste was okay, but there was not enough even to share. Meals are far too overpriced for what they deliver. The friendly server bumps it up a star. But overall, would not recommend this restaurant.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vivian Lee Alex T. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely amazing! Live music, great patio decoration, all the food are cooked in perfection. There’s nothing we can complain. It’s not like normal buffet where you see huge selections, then the food is so so, that you don’t feel satisfied in terms of quality. Everything we tried is like a la carte, great quality! For sure, we will go again!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 J B. 2 years ago on Google
    Upon arrival the front carpet/floor was dirty. I must say the staff are very nice. Onion soup - tasted old Burger - was totally burnt and when we got a replacement some of the toppings were missing (they didn't charge us for that). Gnocchi - was good Fries - good Steak - asked for medium and got well done. Beans - some were undercooked and some too cooked. Men's washroom - was clean Women's washroom - was dirty The waitress didn't refill our water during the meal or took the plates off the table after we finished the meal but she was super nice and did offer to refill the pop. I don't think we will eat here again.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 IVY K. 2 years ago on Google
    Came here for a date night and we enjoyed every moment. They have a wide selection of food here so there are lots to choose from (that is, from pasta to curry… it’s really diverse)! I had the salmon with noodles which I believe was from their ‘global inspiration’ menu and it was so delicious. Truly perfection!!! Ambience was also lovely.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kyle B. 3 months ago on Google • 273 reviews New
    Show me a better family restaurant downtown for this value. I challenge you. Well trained staff. The food is very good! I’m not joking! Look at that Cobb salad! Great coffee (had a cappuccino). The old lady foursome even gave me a hard time for fun like you want old ladies to. I see your martinis, Margaret. Good for them. Full meal tax and tip $60. Oldies playlist on the stereo. Nice patio in summer. It was perfect. My 3 year old would like to go back too.

  • 5/5 Elhgyne A. 10 months ago on Google
    Will come back with fam. Live jazz on a Sunday brunch. I wasn't able to taste everything, I stuck with the breakfast menu and couldn't breathe anymore. So many selections. Omelet, meat, cheeses, pastries, fresh whipped cream, smoked salmon, unlimited cakes, fresh waffle. Just for breakfast. Lunch items are amazing and my friends were raving about it so I definitely need to come back and try it all. Mimosas are 2 for 12. What a steal! And the service!!! Top notch.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Nimra N. 1 year ago on Google
    We visited for a birthday brunch and were overall satisfied with the food and service. The food was not as good as expected, we got the forest mushroom pizza that had a very stiff base and the French toast was a bit soggy. Hopefully we get to have a better experience next time.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Rach 11 months ago on Google
    Saturday Breakfast at Hothouse is a must! I love any excuse to have a mimosa before 12 pm, but their 2 for $10 mimosa special with breakfast is a steal. I have tried their Bistro Omelette and Hothouse Croissant Sandwich and they were both delicious. I found the omelette a little small for the price, but delicious none the less. Breakfast and Brunch at the Hothouse is popular, so a little wait may be expected. I would definitely come back, especially with that mimosa deal!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Master i. 2 years ago on Google
    When in doubt, hothouse! This venerable eatery has been around for ages and it still delivers. Whether its a weekend brunch or a coffee and a dessert after a show, it never dissapoints, there always seems to be a table in its expansive dining area and service is consistently good. Their fries are excellent as a side, worth the added calories! Back in the day the mushroom soup alone was worth the buffet. The hothouse is an institution in the st Lawrence market neighbourhood.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ryan C. 2 years ago on Google
    I loved this place! My seafood pasta was delicious! They could’ve added a few more shrimp & scallops though. Carrot cake is flavourful and moist. Lots of variety and reasonable prices. They provide free bread, which is a service I always appreciate. Our server was very nice, orders correct and quick. Really big restaurant!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Alice L. 4 months ago on Google • 93 reviews
    I went there for a company event dinner. The appetizer caprese salad was nice and refreshing; the entree New York striploin was overcooked, so it was more chewy, when it was supposed to be medium well (couldn't ask for medium rare due to the event); and chocolate pot de creme was good. Really nice atmosphere. Our service was a bit slow due to the party size.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 A C. 3 months ago on Google • 144 reviews New
    This was my first time doing the brunch buffet and I had expectations, not high expectations but expectations because I heard good things about it. The food wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t say it was anything special. I do really like their lasagna and pastas but I found the chicken sausage really tough. I didn’t take to anything on the side closest to the front door. The mimosas were also really flat…and we had to send it back. The place was super busy, and it felt chaotic, though I do understand since it was their New Year’s Eve brunch. I’d be a returning customer but probably not for the brunch buffet.

  • 4/5 Paulina N. 2 years ago on Google
    I’ve visited HOT HOUSE a few times and I always enjoyed the food. The restaurant is cozy and perfect for a family dinner or lunch. Last time I visited the hot house was for thanksgiving dinner. Big thank you for being open on thanksgiving Monday. They have served a special pumpkin cocktail that was extremely delicious! Like an ice cream dessert! I had a small issue with shrimp (weren’t well done and cleaned properly) but the writer and manager took care of it and replaced the shrimp with new ones.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andy P. 1 year ago on Google
    Visited the restaurant for lunch with my coworkers and it was great, the menu has options for all type of preferences, peanut free, vegan, gluten free, etc. This pic is the Thai Noodles Bowl, it was delicious. The portions are great too. There are promos daily, Thursdays are $9 martinis all day. ☺️👌🏻
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Neil D. 1 year ago on Google
    Loved the brunch. The place was bustling with people but at the same time you had your own space to sit, eat and have a conversation. Wonderful band playing. The stations were spread out to avoid overcrowding in one area. All the food that I had eaten were 10/10 for quality of ingredients and taste. The staff were amazing, helpful and attentive to all guests and colleagues. Definitely will be returning back. I didn’t see a pizza station but that would have been a great addition, good old wood fired pizza slices. And consider nutmeg in the bread pudding. Thank you for the warm hospitality and equally warm food 😊
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joel 10 months ago on Google
    Been here a couple times and the service is great. In general the food is good but not amazing. The prices are super reasonable for the area though, the breadth of the menu selection is helpful if you're with picky eaters, and we can always find seating without worrying. The inside atmosphere is good but the outside area is really nice to have in the summers. Good selection of drinks and generally speaking the helpfulness of the staff goes above and beyond when needed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kristina L. 1 year ago on Google
    Mushroom pizza and Mediterranean platter were delicious, Seafood pasta could have more shrimps in it. The hostess wasn’t that friendly but we had a very attentive and nice server. Overall, it’s a decent place but prices are slightly too high.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TPMT A. 11 months ago on Google
    Very happy with the service that I got here. My server was excellent and very courteous. I definitely would come back if I am ever in the area. The jambalaya was excellent. The only issue from this hot plate was that though everything was hot, the chicken was cold amongst the plate. I didn’t mind but I could see how it could be an issue for some.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marc R. 10 months ago on Google
    Had a lovely pizza here on my recent work trip to Toronto. Good selection of food and drink and options to sit both inside or outside. Location is very central so easy to get to from the financial district. Would recommend if you are in the area sitting outside is nice if you enjoy watching the world pass by whilst you eat.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mary M. 1 year ago on Google
    Came by for lunch with colleagues not knowing what cuisine they serve. The location is great, not much parking around (street parking only). Once you enter, they have a grocery fridge where you can pick up your favourite soup to take home. The multilevel restaurant was fairly large with ample amount of seating. They have a bar situated right in the middle. The menu consist of pastas, pizza, Indian curry, jambalaya & etc. We started with the cod cakes, they were small but delicious. Onto the main, the forest mushroom pizza came out fresh and was tasty. The service was quick, our food arrived in a timely manner.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Great E. 9 months ago on Google
    Lovely patio with good food and service. Food doesn't not come fast, but it's tasty. They have a great deal for wine on Tuesdays! Host staff, server and manager seems really nice as well.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 CoCo S. 2 years ago on Google
    Great time for a birthday brunch on a Sunday! It's best to make reservations if u can. Omelette station, meat carving station And some great other options like pastries, fruit and desserts. Our server was GREAT we had a big party of about 20 and we were in a room. Would recommend
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Rana b. 1 year ago on Google
    My first experience at Hothouse was great. Our server was super nice and attentive. Food was tasty but we didnt like our appetizer much. Also just a small thing is it would be good to have coasters for drinks.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Victoria R. 2 years ago on Google
    I came here on the weekend for brunch with friends and was impressed by the sheer amount of space available, particularly on the patio. I had the avocado toast and my main thought was that I could've made something about as good at home. I also had the home fries which I think were both underfried and underseasoned. I asked my friends about their meals and they loved them, so it bumped my review up a bit. It's definitely a great spot for sitting on the patio with company, but the food is mediocre. I also thinking they're lacking a bit in creative vegan and vegetarian options.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Taylor C. 2 years ago on Google
    What an absolutely amazing, beautiful, and stunning evening. The food was phenomenal, all our appetizers were to perfection, and our mains were out of this world! Jen our waitress was super friendly and very professional! She really did make the experience 5 star and we couldn't thank her more for that! Working with her must be a pleasure! Cannot wait to experience the indoor dinning once available! Thanks you again for the amazing, food, service, and atmosphere!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tene C. 2 years ago on Google
    The food was good and I enjoyed my drinks, but they were a little weak, but when we advised the next ones were better. The service was great and it's the service that will keep me coming back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mike K. 2 years ago on Google
    Great restaurant in St.Lawrence market with no-nonsense food, wide selection of cocktails, wines and beers. Large patio is one more reason to stop by, recommended.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 B L. 2 years ago on Google
    Great amazing brunch Sunday buffet experience. So glad they brought this back since the pandemic lockdowns. Service was excellent and always friendly. Omelette station was a treat as well as the big meats. Large variety of buffet style foods ranging from traditional western breakfast to Italian lunch pastas and baked goods. Dessert station was also no slouch. Mix of delicious treats and sugary goodness. Would visit again soon. Live jazz band extra touch!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Wei He (. 2 months ago on Google • 102 reviews New
    Brunch vibes at this spot were top-notch! Cozy seating and a friendly atmosphere set the tone. Tried two omelettes - one with Spanish sausage and the other with bacon - both perfectly portioned for around $18 CAD each. The potato chunks were a hit! Service could be even better, but overall, can't wait to come back!

  • 4/5 Roshni R. 3 months ago on Google • 76 reviews New
    Good place for a brunch or dinner with friends and family. Service and ambience really good, prices on the upper side but justifiable given the fine dining experience.

  • 2/5 Charles 2 months ago on Google • 42 reviews New
    Dinner reservation and seated at 5:45pm, 4 people in total. Did not receive entree until 6:55pm. This place is great in the morning for brunch, though dinner service is abysmal. The atmosphere is fantastic, though if you'd like waiting more than eating food this is a place to be. The restaurant didn't look busy so my family and I were wondering why our food is taking so long. Last time we're dining here for dinner service! Also, the Kofta looked quite sad. Plating is great, though not worth the wait. Salmon was amazing though! However, is the salmon worth close to an hour wait? I don't think so!

  • 3/5 Saba Z. 2 months ago on Google • 14 reviews New
    Not bad! I didn’t like most of the buffet food, except for a few options. I liked the atmosphere and service was good. Price was higher than I expected from the quality of food.

  • 5/5 Kara D. 2 months ago on Google • 14 reviews New
    We went for Sunday brunch on the recommendation of a friend. Loved the complimentary mimosa included with the brunch. We were a bit disappointed not to be seated where we could hear the live music, but that area seemed to be reserved for larger groups. We did have great seats overlooking Church Street (we enjoy people watching). The food was delicious and the service was absolutely fantastic! We'll be going back again, for sure.

  • 4/5 Ciara M. 2 years ago on Google
    I’ve been to this restaurant a couple of times. Only once for dine in as a result of the pandemic. I really like it! The menu is quite diverse. The pasta dishes, pizza, and burgers are good! I would recommend it!

  • 5/5 Ashleigh S. 2 years ago on Google
    This has to be one of the best patios in the city - a gorgeous spot with plenty of atmosphere. But also, all the buzz around this place absolutely stands up. Great food and great service with friendly and affable staff - and massive portions. Add it to your list of must-visits!

  • 3/5 Norah N. 2 years ago on Google
    Ate here for lunch today and the patio was packed but we were seated quickly. It took a while for our order to be taken and for the food to arrive because they were so busy. We got some cold rolls for appetizer and they were mushy and fell apart when you tried to pick them up. I ordered the Thai noodle salad (basically Pad Thai). It came with the smallest slice of lime that I could only squeeze about 5 drops of it on my meal! The Thai noodles were salty and needed something sour to cut the salty/fishy taste, something tasted off about it. My dad loved his ruben and sister liked the mushroom pizza. All around okay place, lots of vegan/vegetarian options but nothing really unique or different, pretty basic options.

  • 4/5 Robin K. 2 years ago on Google
    Has everything from pasta, pizza, salad, burgers, soup, fish, etc etc etc. Drinks are okay. Very easy to get indoor table.

  • 5/5 Diana L. 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice quality ingredients in every dish. Loved the extensive greenery around the patio

  • 3/5 Daniel T. 2 months ago on Google • 5 reviews New
    Visited for Winterlicious while in the area. Went for the $45 set menu. Salmon dish was good but the Chicken, tasted good, left you hungry... plate was far too large for the serving. The tiramisu was the size of the fork. I guess this combo was meant as a sampler.

  • 5/5 Kim H. 9 months ago on Google
    We had egg benedict for brunch on Canada day, food was great, service was prompt, we had nothing to complain about. The table outside in the patio has great view to the Gooderham building. Great place for a relaxing brunch on the weekend! Highly recommended!

  • 5/5 Viduttam K. 2 years ago on Google
    Very good service, cozy ambiance and good food! Nice place for family dinners too!

  • 4/5 Hamza R. 6 months ago on Google
    The experience was solid. I would say that this is one of those must try places but you can’t make it a multiple time thing. The ambience is great but there’s an outline of the things you can get for brunch and you won’t find specifics. They dabble with having a variety of everything. Good place must try!

  • 5/5 Michael S. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice place with friendly staff. Everything we ordered was good and tasty. One of the dishes was a Mediterranean plate. I can especially price the humus that was very fresh with a nice texture like home made humus should be.

  • 4/5 Alissa 7 months ago on Google
    This place is good, but nothing special for me so that I want to come back frequently. It was a course menu with Caesar salad as a starter, filet mignon as a main, and cheesecake for dessert. Since it was a big group, I guess the server forgot to bring the sour cream for the steak for some of us, and they didn’t have time to fill the water bottles. The steak was regular, they didn’t ask about what degree of doneness we want (I guess because it was a very big group of people) so they made medium well for everyone. The cheesecake was super sweet for most of the people in the group. But need to say that the server of my table was very kind and even offered the different types of tea to choose although it wasn’t supposed to be a tea of choice.

  • 4/5 EelamRose C. 1 year ago on Google
    We went in for dinner, it’s great place to gather with family and friends. Ambience is wonderful. Service was great. Food was ok. We had the sea food pasta $30 large portions literally had 3 shrimp and 4 scallops. Was it worth it for the price, definitely NO. We also had the vegan burger it was bitter not sure why. Other two vegetarian items were great. Both of my friends loved it. I have to say sweet potato fries was amazing. Over all it’s not bad, it’s a beautiful restaurant food could be better.

  • 3/5 Richard Tung (. 11 months ago on Google
    Went downtown on a bright and sunny Saturday and it was a great time to have a our first lunch out on a patio. We were in the the St Lawrence Market area and decided to try Hothouse. I have not been here for over 10 years and the the food was great then but no Google reviews at that time so here's one now. There was seating inside and on the patio and we were seated immediately when we got there. We ordered the Hothouse croissant sandwich from the breakfast menu and I had the Hothouse Diner burger. Service and the kitchen were a bit slow or they wanted us to enjoy the nice weather on the patio. Both the sandwich and the Diner burger tasted average and sizes was a bit small for the price (croissant $18, burger $21). I think we enjoyed being outside more than our meals sorry to say but also it's a tourist area so we should expect to pay a bit more.

  • 4/5 laleh f. 1 year ago on Google
    I went there for our end-of-year team dinner with a big group. The service was pretty fast and they even did separate bills for us. The restaurant has a nice environment and we were seated at a separate space which was ideal for a corporate dinner. I ordered a chicken pasta and it was fine but not one of the best ones I’ve had.

  • 5/5 Shawna B. 9 months ago on Google
    Lovely space and friendly service team. Ate on the patio which had both shady and sunny options. Enjoyed the mediteranean salad which was chock full of feta. Delicious 😋 This location is also accessible for those using mobility aids


Call +1 416-366-7800 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Paid parking lot
    • ✓️ Paid street parking
    • ✓️ Paid multi-storey car park
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Salad bar
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ All you can eat
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
    • ✓️ Private dining room
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Kerbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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