Nota Bene

180 Queen St. West
Toronto, Ontario
416-977-6400

Type of cuisine: Bistro
Date of Review: September, 2009

Overall Quality Ranking: Excellent

Cost: Expensive
Gluten-Free Menu Options: Good
Gluten Free Diner Comfort ranking: As Relaxed As It Gets.

Description:  This high quality restaurant manages to scream hip while also giving your mouth something to look foward to.  

To begin, I could happily have eaten any of the appetizers, and I have retained the notion of eating ALL them at a go for some future gluten-possible life.  While having to avoid the deep-fried items (due to cross-contamination risk from breaded items) and a couple of soy sauce (and thus wheat containing) items, the selection for the gluten-free eater was respectable.  And when the waiter rapidly identified the celiac issue from our reservation AND rhymed off these often unidentified risks, my gluten-risk radar went nearly blank across the horizon.

As I received the Nova Scotia lobster salad, the waitress added  "with no croutons" and I melted further into my gluten-free happy place.  It was indeed very good, with bits of bacon and a nice light buttermilk dressing.  Others at the table enjoyed the cripsy duck--which might have been a touch piquant--and the deep-fried parmesan zucchini flowers.  For the main, I had a simple dorade on chanterelles with a side of asparagus.  The rest of the team split up amongst the brisket burger, the scallops, and the pickerel.  All were pleased.

For dessert, research demanded a sampling of the flourless chocolate cake and the Quebec yogourt panna cotta.  The first was rich and warm, and should satisfy anyone's chocolate craving.  The latter was light and airy, a breeze of freshness rounded out with little blueberries.  Although nominally a compote, these little berries seemed rather more firm and independent, if still welcome.

I should point out that all of our dishes could have been smaller; let's pass on the type 2 diabetes, shall we?  Yes, I could have passed on dessert, but really now.

The service was warm, crisp, and informed.  The sommelier paid us a visit, which was kind even if it wasn't necessary.  But a little attention might be appreciated in a restaurant as large as this.  The ambience is upscale modern chic, with linen on the tables, clean abstracts on the wall, and square columns of light that add interest while only minimally overstating their cool. 

All-in-all, Nota Bene deserves kudos for making great fare and for making the gluten-free eater feel at ease.