Although it was day 1 of their wood fire dinners I feel like there was a level of preparedness that was amiss. For $100pp a full drink menu would be expected, a basic drink menu would’ve even been good. They had neither (they did have an extensive wine list). Our party of 4 has frequented many fine dining establishments in the city so small portions are no stranger to us - small is an understatement. If one oyster per person is course 1, it better be a damn good oyster. Food was mediocre at best, general consensus was that it was bland and thrown together. To be completely honest, the way they played up completely average and basic dishes was kind of insulting. We remained polite throughout service as it’s not the server’s fault. He was pleasant but other staff were pretentious and seemed unapproachable. Lots of improvements to make. This is a good idea that has the potential to create a great experience. Unfortunately it left us with a sour taste in our mouths.

This is in my top 3 best prix fixe places in Toronto. The theme of the restaurant is "cooking in your backyard", and walking into the restaurant you feel it immediately. It's rustic in a good way and there's so much attention to detail in the food. From the mushroom soup and turkey skewers to roasting your own marshmallow by the fire, everything was perfect. It's not an overstatement to say that this has been the best restaurant I've been to that has tried to keep their whole menu consistent thematically and quality-wise. The only downside would be that your clothes will reek of smoke by the end of the night! But that's a small price to pay for the amazing experience.

Reservations are difficult to get but with lots of planning, it’s possible. Took my friend here for her birthday. It was nice that they said Happy Birthday upon our arrival. Unfortunately they didn’t put a candle in her dessert. ☹️ The multiple fires going keep you warm, provides a great ambiance but my eyes started burning 1/2 way through dinner. You will also smell like smoke when you leave but it will remind you of your outdoor dining experience. I’m gluten sensitive & they made substitutions for me which was great! The trust me menu was delicious! The highlights for me was the pine needle birch leaves apple cider with bourbon on the side, pine mushrooms in vegetable broth, the mussels were one of the best ever & the pear dessert with cream 😋! Service was excellent! Thumbs up to all the chefs! 👍🏻🥰❤️

WOW... WOW... WOW... WOW!!! What a wonderful experience here! First of all, what an amazing crew! From the wait staff to the chefs they are awesome. The level of engagement was just right, they are friendly, approachable and really know not to interrupt and ask 'how's your food?' you're in a conversation with your friends. Now that's service! Great to experience the dining outside experience as it's a lovely garden and fall is slowly arriving there was a lit up fireplace to make it extra cosy and I love it! 6 course meal without a menu, I simply love the element of surprise and having that full dining experience. Every dish was really something, very well thought with the sauce, ingredients pairing, and all so fresh and tasty. It really gave me a taste of explosion and didn't feel heavy at all. Can't compliment this place enough and the staff there are so positive, great energy and you really can feel their passion for food.

3.5/5 Flavorful dishes without dish names… Lots of (maybe too much) vegetable components, simple combinations of fresh ingredients yet some were quite good, not too much details in the way they presented each dish as you can in the pictures

Update: 2023 Dec Food is still great however the portions are not enough. I craved to have another full meal after the 7 course served. Especially the main protein, 3 slices of Mutton. We thought that at least the main would be a bigger portion. Delicious but portions too small. We had a fantastic time here. The chef knows what they’re doing. Just show up and eat. You’ll be pleased.

A lovely hidden gem in Toronto where makes you feel like that you are somewhere far from city. Starting with great greeting from kitchen members, unique experience where we all sit outside and you could see how your dishes are prepared. We have added wine pairings and that made our experiences more special. Great place for celebrations!

The special thing about Actinolite is their ability to make connections with farmers across Canada to pull together an exquisite, fresh and unique tasting menu. When you sit down there is only a drink menu, the food comes out one course at a time and they explain not only the dish but the story behind the ingredients. The farmers, the process, when it was harvested. Each course we had we were wildly impressed at how something seemingly so simple could be presented and prepared in such delicious ways. I would strongly recommend the wine pairings, having the right drink for each course enhances both the flavours and experience.

Everything about this restaurant and its backyard bonfire meal was exquisite. The servers were lovely, attentive and friendly. It was fun watching the chefs cook in ways that seemed so simple but tasted so complex. The chefs were also unpretentious and often interacted with the guests, answering their questions, and being mindful of their environment. The ambiance was uncomplicated, quiet, with just enough romance. And of course, the food was the star. Flavours were well balanced, perfectly seasoned, and complimentary to each other. If you’re ever there on a night that they’re serving their elderflower ice cream, savour it.

I would give 10 stars if I could! This was our second time dining here but first time in the backyard. The open fire cooking gave off a homey vibe. Every dish was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. My husband who typically hates eggplant even said the eggplant dish changed his view on this vegetable. Service was friendly and prompt. If you can score a reservation, do it! You won’t regret it.

So this one was a very strange experience. We have waited a long time to get a reservation here and my wife and I were really excited when we finally got a spot. We travel quite often and are very familiar with quirks of tasting menus. When you step inside it’s a beautiful setting in the backyard with the smell of smoke and fires going. We were promptly seated and our server was very friendly. So the start was very good. However, it all went downhill from there. They are charging $125 per person for a set 7 course meal. Out of the 7 courses, one course is bread and another is just a raw vegetable salad. There was just one meat dish (a small steak maybe 6oz) and most of the dishes had no essence of fire or creativity with smoke. Now, in their defence, they do tell you when you sit down that their current menu is very vegetable forward and I have no issues with that. We have eaten at Michelin Star restaurants around the world where some of the best dishes were vegetarian. However, to serve raw vegetables and bread as 2 courses in a 7 course menu priced at $125 is simply outrageous. With tip and a bottle of wine the total bill came to almost $500 and we went home hungry. I’m not sure if this place used to be better or used to serve a different menu which attracted the glowing reviews. In its current form it is probably the most overpriced and pretentious dining experience in Toronto in my opinion. We will definitely not be returning here.

Amazing first experience eating at a restaurant after nearly 2 years. I took my husband here for a milestone birthday. We'd been shut in for most of Covid and both needed a reason to push us back into the world of dining out. Actinolite did not disappoint. We loved the outdoor, firepit/campfire vibe. We were toasty not far from the fire and able to watch the chef prepare the food. A complimentary starter of hot cider containing birch leaves and pine needles was the perfect introduction to the meal. It smelled delicious and went down smoothly, especially with a splash of Jim Beam. Our tasting menu consisted of fresh ingredients in season and each course was a surprise. It included mushroom soup, mussels in a leek broth, and a main of cassoulet with lamb and pork. Dessert was poached pear with Chantilly cream, and the server was kind enough to put a candle in my husband's dessert. I didn't even ask for it. You don't need a reason to book here, and it's not easy to get reservations, but keep trying! The experience and the food are worth it.

Hidden in plain sight, just a short walk north of Ossington station, is this unassuming fine dining location that served us an incredible condensed menu of food so local you can see the chefs going into the backyard for ingredients. The menu felt fresh yet grounded, only further enhanced by the dining experience in the back patio. The only real road bump in the dining experience was the excessive amount of bad drivers on Ossington interrupting our dinner conversation. No fault of the restaurant themselves.

First of all, the food and wine pairing are phenomenal. Every dish was made with quality ingredients at the utmost freshness. The corresponding wines are selected from lesser-known regions and are made from indigenous grapes. However, the tableware had visible damage, with chips on the rim of several bowls and plates. When we brought this to our server, he didn't seem to care and expected us to accept the fact that their dinnerware can have defects. It's just a shame that the hardware and service weren't on par with such fantastic food.

Actinolite has long been one of our very favourite restaurants in the city. We are continually amazed by Chef Justin's creativity, passion and commitment to using only the very best ingredients. Our dinner last Saturday night was stellar in every way. Please try this gem as soon as you can!

I had an amazing meal here. Went with a friend and we did the 7 course tasting menu which at $110 was great value. The $60 addition for the wine pairings was well worth it (which is kinda rare). Some of the things I liked (pics speak for themselves): Some restaurants really get "creative" with what counts as a "course". But in this case, if you count the various little courses and the awesome bread with a miso butter, we were given closer to 11 dishes. The owner will come out at various points to discuss his vision for the restaurant, and even helps bring out the dishes. The food is SUPER local--some of the smaller items like berries and edible flowers are even sourced from surrounding neighborhoods. At least 2 of the pairings resulted in tangible improvements to the food, which despite the fact that's the purpose of pairings, is exceedingly rare. Lastly, there was nothing stuffy about the ambience or pretentious. Just good honest food in a comfortable setting. I can't recommend this place enough.

What an amazing food and service experience! Food was delicious and the staff on top of their game. Made it a perfect Friday night out with friends. Price is in the upper range but will gladly pay it again!

It was an amazing experience! I went for my pre-birthday meal and the food was delicious. A lot of interesting tastes and the service was great too. The ambience was nice and I have nothing to complain about.

Excellent food, great staff, and unique experience. Highly recommend!

Fantastic tasting menu where the vegetables are just as good as the meat, roasted carrots is a perfect bite. Amazing dishes throughout and the wine pairing went very well with all of them. Some interesting tastes from all around the world. Will definitely come back.

The food, service and atmosphere is definitely top notch at Actinolite. We had the chef's menu and for us, it was very focused on high quality veggies from Ontario. They were very delicious and the staff did a great job with the explanations. The only downside that I found was that it's very expensive for what you're getting, it was a 7 course meal and it was filling but you're paying almost $200 per person with everything included. And we were pretty much just served veggies and some pork pieces. It's a very nice date spot though, with a comfortable vibe. TLDR - delicious and comfortable but not totally worth the large price tag.

Great service and atmosphere but the food was disappointing. Experimental dishes are always appreciated, but the flavours weren’t quite there. Most of all, the quantity of food was meagre leaving us still hungry at the end. Not a result your hoping for when you’re paying for one of the most expensive set course meals in Toronto. I know previous menus have had more filling meat courses (we had fish & a small piece of rabbit). They just need to get the balance right to ensure guests are leaving satisfied.

I don't know if this makes sense but their vegetables simply taste so much better than anything you can get from the grocery stores. With such great ingredients, the dishes are only lightly seasoned yet super flavorful. Besides the vegetables, another highlight of the dinner is the cod. It tastes nothing like the flaky, lean fish that I am used to but more like the buttery black cod or even reminds me of the texture of a perfectly cooked lobster. Easily one of the most memorable meals I've had, especially considering that it uses none of the ingredients that are usually associated with fine dinning. Everything looks simple and unpretentious.

Outstanding. The tasting menu was superb, featuring a well-curated selection of dishes that highlighted the vibrant flavours of in-season products. The wine pairing complemented each course beautifully, with thoughtful selections that enhanced the dining experience. The service was top-notch, with knowledgeable staff offering great wine suggestions that perfectly matched the menu. I really enjoyed the entire experience and am very much looking forward to returning to more of their seasonal offerings!

One of the most incredible dining experiences I've ever had. The amount of care and thought given into putting together and executing tasting menu is unmatched, and the end result was delicious. Check for reservations often as they book up quickly

I don't take the time I normally should to write a lot of reviews but I would definitely recommend an experience at Actinolite. We went for the prix fixé in summer outside and it was so worth it. We dropped $520 for 2 people including 2 fixed menus, the wine pairing, tax, and tip so it's not inexpensive, but we came away feeling like it was money well-spent. The only thing I would say is that although ingredients are fresh and the dishes are creative and interesting, they have to cater to everyone so if you're looking for ultra adventurous cuisine this may not be the place. It is, however, really fun to just sit down and have them take care of all the decision-making since there's no menu. They just bring good food and well-paired wine and explain what you're getting as it hits the table. Overall a really great experience!

The food was inventive and tasty, especially the cured and wood fired pickerel, or the scallop roe, or the buttermilk sauce for the beef. The enthusiastic service, outdoor dining, local ingredients and smell of wood smoke made this special.

Easily one of the most overlooked tasting menus in the city. Staff are incredibly knowledgeable, wine pairings were spot on. The food truly felt like tasting Ontario on any given day and with a constantly changing menus it's always a surprise and delight. A top 3 restaurant in the city for me.

Outstanding 7 course testing menu. Tonight featured asparagus and tayberry. The two photos are first and last of the evening. Rhubarb dessert and small shell clams from Newfoundland.

So happy to be able to celebrate a special occasion at Actinolite. Justin and team looked after us fulfilling all our senses. The wood fire welcomed us into the backyard patio, the staff were friendly and attentive, the food was creative and delicious. I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing dining here.

One of the best dining experiences I've had in Toronto. Verrrry delicious. Service is amazing too. They bring out a dish for you to enjoy and take your time. No hustling or overbearing servers. Few things to keep in mind before coming: best to have reservations, a pre-fixed menu, and red wine by glass is very limited. Prices are very reasonable, especially considering how pleasant the whole experience was. Highly recommend for both special occasions and casual. Toronto needs more places like this.

Bravo! The food, the ambience, the bonfire cooking on the spot. We came in with no expectation and left with huge satisfaction.

Our meal at Actinolite was the best meal of 2021 hands down. I wish I could give six stars. Everything was fresh, foraged, or grilled on a nearby wood fire. The food was inventive and prepared with care on handmade ceramics. The wine was just right, the weather was perfect. Ahhh! Such a lovely, lovely place. Follow them on Instagram and grab that reservation as soon as it appears!

Amazing food. I was blown away by the quality and flavours. Definitely recommend the experience.

Incredible food and service in a beautiful setting. Every course of the set menu was divine. So fun to watch the chefs cooking your meal outside on open fires. Hidden gem.

Wonderful food. I went here last summer and I was just blown away. The oysters were a stand out and the home baked bread was so special. All the ingredients are sourced locally as well. Truly worth the money. If you have something to celebrate, this restaurant is the choice!