C5 (Crystal Five) - Toronto

J & I have been quite busy these past few weeks visiting my family in Canada - we spent a little bit of time in Toronto and the reminder in Montreal. While in Toronto, we met up with my cousin Angelina where she treated us to a new restaurant, C5. Located in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal of the Royal Ontario Museum, C5 provides a beautiful panoramic view of downtown Toronto. The decor is simple, modern, clean and contemporary. Ceiling to floor windows, artsy sculptures and an open kitchen concept defines C5. The service was terrific where our waiter was both well-versed with food and wine. They have a regular menu as well as a tasting menu. We opted for a la carte dining since we wanted to try as many dishes as we can.

Charcuterie Plate: Smoke Salmon, Pate, Foie Gras Bonbon & Salami with Bread Chips

Excellent starter dish and easy to share - the pate and the foie gras bonbon were delish!

C5 Raw Tasting: Tuna, Hamachi & Hadai Sashimi, Summer Breeze Oyster & Beef Tartare

Fresh fish, beautiful presentation and a great conversation piece

Black Cod with Lobster Hollandaise Sauce over Lobster Lentil Salad

Beautifully seared black cod with a light yet creamy hollandaise. The lobster flavor comes through in this dish without over-powering the cod.

Piglet Trio

J enjoyed this dish, however the pork belly pales in comparison to the one we had at Craft L.A.

Overall, we enjoyed all the samplings from C5. Unfortunately the dessert was not too memorable (no pic and no recollection of what it was). The three of us were mostly impressed by our mains - the complementary bread and amuse bouche were also delicious. Dining in great company overlooking a beautiful city is hard to beat.

Crystal 5 @ the Rom.

100 Queens Park, Toronto (enter from Bloor street, across from Lobby)

416.586.7926

www.rom.on.ca

www.c5restaurant.ca (C5’s site is still under construction)