George Restaurant

111c Queen St. East
Toronto, Ontario M5C 1S2
416-368-6006

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

Overall Quality Ranking: Excellent
Cost: Expensive
Gluten-Free Menu Options: Reasonable 
Gluten Free Diner Comfort ranking: Comfortable

Description:   George is a very good restaurant, one that makes you conscious of your own good fortune.

The menu is divided into courses.  To look at the prices, you might assume they were all principal plates.  But the portions are moderate, and the firsts and seconds are meant to be part of the trip toward the main third.  Cheese and dessert round out the plan.  Based on the prices of individual items, the 5, 7, and 10 course tasting menus don't seem overly dear.  With the exception of dessert, the menu options are fairly open for the gluten-free eater.

Braised shortrib.  Don't leave George without it.

To start, the amuse bouche of smoked trout and a little stuffed pepper was a lox-like delight.  While the Wagyu beef was declared excellent, the soy sauce addition (containing wheat) left the GF diner happily diverted to an octopus salad with greens and a lively little fruit compote.  They must have caught the slow and soft octopus, because this little feller was fork tender.  Another diner 'firsted' on the lobster roll with lentils, fig, endive, and brussel sprouts.  The happy groans were embarrassing.  For a second, the braised shortrib was juicy, nicely compact, and utterly tender.  The Togarashi scallops also performed well.

For the main, three of the party chose the Nunavut Turbot, an ironclad case for arctic sovereignty if ever there was one.  The rebellious fourth member made out with the bison ribeye, and she didn't look back.

Nunavut Turbot.  Fish can follow meat when it's this good.

With our Lipitor on standby, we shared a very fine Canadian cheese plate.  Canada may be working on a trade deal with the European Union, but we shouldn't be doing it for cheese access.  Our domestic goods are top notch. 

It is unusual to encounter a restaurant where there is absolutely no available gluten-free dessert choice.  But none of the four items, all of which sounded good on paper, made the cut.  This is a bit of a disappointment for an otherwise fine meal.

Service was friendly and crisp.  The wait staff were tolerant of polite verifications on the gluten status of food items.  Dishes were announced as being gluten free as they were delivered.  Water was refreshed and delivery and clearance of food items were often coordinated between pairs of waiters.  The setting is comfortable, if a bit noisy when all the tables were full.  The ironwork gave the otherwise open space the feeling of a somewhat dated Portuguese establishment, but the feeling was warm.

George makes great food.  The faults to be found are minor, and, fate willing, we will return.