Toronto: Marché

BCE Place, 181 Bay Street, Toronto ON, CA

www.richtree.ca

I arrived in Toronto this morning, and got downtown to the Cosmopolitan Hotel at about 03:00. Howie had recommended this place to me last year on one of his visits from Winnipeg, and needing somewhere for just one night (due to my late arrival in Canada), I decided to try it out. Very appealing hotel, suite-like rooms, latest technologies, and the special fixture of a waterfall in each bedroom. Breakfast was of lower quality however, and so I was looking forward to lunch by the time I met with my JW crew. Being downtown, and cognisant of their need to return to work after lunch, one restaurant stood out above all other choices.

Marché is an absolute institution in Toronto. You could bring even the pickiest eater here (and I have), and they would still find something to please. I’ve been here so often since my first visit with Monica back in summer 2004, and I can still see the layout now: bocca-di-verità water fountains on the way in; passing through Indonesian stall, olives and soup, juices, chicken, steaks, omelettes, fajitas, sushi, seafood, the oyster bar, rösti, pizzas and pasta; and the absolute zenith of the experience, the all-important dessert counter. I’ve had breakfast at Marché; I’ve eaten there at 1:30 in the morning; I’ve treated myself to a dozen oysters and a bottle of champagne for a private celebration late last October. I’ve eaten there with just about everyone I know in Toronto, and with everyone who’s ever come to visit me there. I’ve never heard Marché suggested as an option, and thought: nah, not today, not in the mood. The French market theme is attractive and fun, and the prices are so good, they're stunning. But there is one problem…

With a self-service type venture on such a scale, you always run the risk of not being able to make up your mind, and of various diners’ dishes being made available at different times. This time, that loser was me, by a mile – and it was all my own fault. I just could not decide. In the end, I chose Bouillabaise – which I had never eaten here before, but for which I envied Roman the last time he took it. It took 12 minutes to make, but when it was ready, I took delivery of a 12-inch wide, 6-inch deep bowl of fish, prawns, mussels and other assorted seafood in a saffron-coloured broth. It was delicious, though by the time I actually made it to the table with my food, the others were finishing up. They had chosen a variety of chicken and steak dishes, and seemed to enjoy them all. I skipped the dessert option today: it’s such a temptation in this place, and certainly not easy to walk out without sampling the cheesecakes, strudels, Napoleon desserts or even just their ice cream. But I knew there was a big night ahead, and I needed to keep space for what was coming next.

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The Damage (CAD)

• 12.00 Bouillabaise
  

Drinks

• Water (fountain)
  

Total 12.00 (before tax)
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The Score
4.0 Food and Drink
3.0 Service
4.0 Décor
4.5 Ambience
5.0 Value
4.0 Overall Rating