Brickyard Bistro in Leslieville Offers New Winter Menu

By Lori Bosworth

The winds are blowing eastward as many restaurant owners are choosing Leslieville to set up shop. Brickyard Bistro at Gerrard Street East and Greenwood Avenue has now reopened as a bona fide lunch and dinner restaurant in the quickly-changing neighbourhood. The bistro just introduced their new winter menu and Torontonicity was invited to sample some of the menu options.

My dining partner and I visited on a recent Friday at noon to try their lunch menu. Several customers were already hunched over their laptops enjoying lattes in the front section of the restaurant.

We chose a table near the back in this well-lit room.

Our server quickly approached and took our drinks order. My dining partner ordered a Flat White to take the chill off while I opted for water.

One of the owners, Eiko, came by to talk about the transformation into the Brickyard Bistro, the menu items and the specials. Eiko highly recommended the Tartine with Wild and Tame Mushrooms so I decided to order that while my dining partner ordered the Crepe Marseillaise.

Co-owner Jesse also stopped by our table to see how we were doing and shared his passion for and knowledge of wine. Jesse is particularly enamoured with many of the wineries in Prince Edward County and, as a result, there are several of the County’s wines on the menu.

While we waited for our food, we admired the warm ambiance in the room created by exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and lots of natural light. The room was tastefully decorated for the season with natural bows of pine and cedar.

Our meals arrived soon after and we were pleased with the gorgeous plating. The Crepe Marseillaise featured a medley of seafood in a dried cherry tomato sauce with Choron. The crepe was delicious if a little thicker than I would have liked, but it contained at least three juicy shrimp inside, as well as several tasty Bay scallops. The Choron tomato sauce was not too rich and perfectly complemented the seafood. The accompanying mixed greens included radicchio and spinach and tasted as if they had been picked that day.

The Tartine with Wild and Tame Mushrooms was way beyond my expectations and I’m so glad that Eiko recommended it. The mushroom, squash and chevre mixture provides a contrast of delicious creamy and chewy textures while the balsamic reduction adds sweetness. The bread forming the base of the tartine was soft and doughy and completely irresistible. You must order this dish if you visit Brickyard Bistro!

We enjoyed our leisurely lunch at the beginning of the holiday season at Brickyard Bistro. If you are in the Leslieville area, I definitely suggest ducking into the bistro to warm up with their sophisticated winter menu.

Brickyard Bistro, 1289 Gerrard Street East, 416-778-4440