A little bit of Paris has arrived in Toronto thanks to the new Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie located in Toronto’s Distillery District. Cluny is a modern French-styled bistro, offering a vibrant, energetic and full-bodied dining experience, based around creative, modern French cuisine and fun, caring customer service. Great customer service with a Parisian twist? Yes, please!

“We wanted to offer our guests a lot more than just great food. We set out to develop an entirely new and exciting approach to the French dining experience, offering a fresh and stimulating journey – from start to finish. That,” says Mathew Rosenblatt, one of the managing partners, “was our raison d’être.”

Cluny’s menu offers a modern approach to French cuisine, beginning with a wide breadth of creative “small plates” for table sharing. From the Buffalo Fried Sweetbreads, to the Salt Cod Donuts, the Roasted Duck Poutine and the Ginger-Chili Fried Frogs Legs – the dishes are innovative, interesting and playful. The menu also caters to the cheese lovers (like myself) with an over-the-top cheesy French Onion Soup, a deconstructed “Grilled Cheese” in which a homemade brioche loaf floats in a warm nest of melted brie, and a fresh fig stuffed with warm Roquefort, honey and toasted black pepper. The Raw Bar and Seafood counter features a variety of tartars and ceviches, such as a tuna tartar “nicoise” and a Lime and Chili Marinated Black King Fish, while the seafood counter offers fresh oysters and seafood, brought in daily. Mouth watering yet?

Cluny also offers a “large plate” section, from which guests can order individually or again share and sample with their table, that way you can try more dishes when you visit! Dishes such as a BBQ’d Bass ‘Almondine’, a Veal Meatball “Tomahawk”, a towering Ahi Tuna and Fried Egg Sandwich, or our favourite, a Pulled Duck and Rhubarb Salad are fun and accessible. An impressive steak frites section features six different cuts of meat, ranging from a hanger steak to a tongue “steak.” This is sure to be a place to bring your friends, coworkers, significant others and even the family!

The amazing food doesn’t just end there. Whether it is the homemade cotton candy atop a bittersweet chocolate truffle bar that you crave or the macaroon ice cream sandwiches or even the large format chocolate fondue, Cluny’s desserts are truly edible entertainment and you’re sure to indulge every time you go. Like the desserts, all bread at Cluny is made in house, in the Cluny Boulangerie and Patisserie. If you’ve ever tasted real French bread, you will know that is basically a desert in itself.

Executive Chef Paul Benallick is no stranger to the city’s diners, having lead some of the Toronto’s finest kitchens over the past 20 years. Chef Benallick is well known in the city for his knowledge, high standards and intense passion for hospitality. He has been working tirelessly with the Cluny culinary team to create a modern French menu that is exciting, innovative and approachable.

“Dining is about socializing, and it is our kitchen’s job to support that dining experience with food that will help people converse, smile and just enjoy themselves,” says  Chef Paul Benallick of Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie.

While the food is important to any restaurant, we can’t forget about the decor that brings the ambiance together. Internationally acclaimed interior design firm Munge Leung was retained to transform one of the Distillery’s old “Tank Houses” into a spectacular French environment, where he was inspired by the ornately appointed dining rooms of Paris, the design blends authentic bistro style with an industrial edge.

See below for images from Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie’s menu and restaurant space. Just try not to drool!

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