Review The Senator Restaurant - Toronto

Not worth the price at all. I was totally disappointed with the food. I'd heard great things about their brunch, but the dinner was horrible. The best thing out of everything we'd ordered was the fries. The chicken sandwich lacked flavour, the veggie burger looked horrifying and the bun was so dry. If you're looking to grab dinner with friends, I'd look else where.

This place is in one of the oldest original houses in T.O, the food is priced well for area and is super fresh and homemade. Jams good:) Has been closed with signage on since pandemic with little sign it will open soon though Hope so it's missed!

Restaurant with a history - read about it on the front page of the menu. As for the food, the pancakes are superb! French toasts are not bad too. And they make their own honey! Very nice service and friendly staff. Very nice experience having brunch here.

Their bread and jam was so delicious! Other food was average. A bit pricey for a brunch, but still affordable. +their homemade chili sauce was spicy, and I loved it!:) Please press thumb up below if you think this review was helpful😊 and hope you have a wonderful time here!

Cozy diner with a lot of history behind it. Convenient location in the downtown core. I came here for brunch/lunch on a Saturday. Our server was very friendly. The food was good, not great but I'd say very average for the price you pay. There are plenty of other brunch places in the city that offer the same (or better) quality of food at a lower price point.

Always wonderful. We enjoyed the patio for the last warm day of the year. Great attentive service and great diner food. The patio will be open through October we were told, weather permitting. The peach French toast was amazing.

Nice spot tucked in by Young-Dundas square. I was kind of expecting more for a place that’s been around so long. Food and service were good. The club sandwich, while having all the right intentions, fails with its broken pieces of challah bread and giant, jaw-stretching hunks of chicken. Not to mention the paltry serving of coleslaw. Seriously, there are other ways to make this sandwich classic something special, without making the customer work to eat it.

The place is really nice, the fact that is old and kinda classic is great. We had breakfast and it was delicious.

This restaurant is my daughters favourite place for breakfast we come all the way from the west end to take her for breakfast.... their pancakes are the best we have ever had. If we could we would have breakfast there every week. Love the atmosphere, not a commercialized restaurant very homely feel. The staff are amazing and friendly. It can get very busy for breakfast but they are pretty fast. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for breakfast.

Our last stop before making our 7.5 hour journey home....This place is so awesome, one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever eaten. I’ve never had a bad meal at this place. Every time I go to Toronto, I eat here despite having Free breakfast at my hotel. This place makes me want to move to Toronto

Cute diner place. Was expecting some nice diner breakfasts! But instead got this hipster style menu. Fine, I can adapt. But 14$ for 2 poached eggs, bacon, English muffin and 10 home fries? A bit much. It was good, but eggs were not runny they were solid inside. Then, I get my bill and see that they charged me 3.25$ for a coffee. That's absolutely nuts! I don't know if this is a norm in Toronto but in Montreal breakfast places don't charge for coffee! It's included in the breakfast and 2$ would have been Ok. But 3.25$? Ridiculous.

Dropped in for a bite to eat before the show across the street. My daughter ordered the "Caesar Salad", I ordered the Crab Mac & Cheese. Her "caesar" tasted strange...that's because the dressing was Pickled Zuchini!!! Who puts pickled zuchini dressing on a caesar salad? It was disgusting. When we told the waitress, she took it from the table, put in the garbage, and still put it on our bill. My dish was delicious. However I spent most of my time during the second half of our show in the ladies room, had to stop a couple times on the road home, and spent half my night in the bathroom at home. Considering this was the only thing I had eaten all day except for a few crackers, I know what made me ill. Outrageous bill for food that was subpar. Save yourself the trouble, go next door, or down the street, around the corner, anywhere, but run, don't walk, or you'll be running the rest of your day.

This is a 5 star restaurant . The atmosphere was so up lifting . The food was so delicious ,everything tasted fresh . Oh if you like Cesar salad you got to have it here , the way they do it up is so different and so delicious . I highly recommend this place .

Highly recommend this place. We ate dinner here before attending the Bodyguard Musical. Old school dinner style with amazing food and wonderful service.

Not a place I’ve been to regularly, but I know about it and I enjoy the atmosphere and the food when I do go. I loved that I could get a negroni and it was perfectly mixed.

The food was like mothers use to make Service was great Would recommend Hard to believe old time charm in downtown Toronto

The place got a lot of history to it. The staff here is very kind and friendly and the food is absolutely delicious.

Quaint place with some awesome food. Would definitely recommend it

We stopped here to grab a quick dinner before a show. The place was hopping and we had to wait but they promised to get us out in time for our show. Service was fast and friendly. Food was good and fresh. Price was reasonable. It is an old school diner with style. I like it and would go back.

Amazing restaurant! Home-y style food downstairs & upscale dinner fare in their new (and gorgeous) upstairs space, which is a MUST try!! You can't go wrong with the food or service at the Senator. One of my favourite restaurants in Toronto :)

Great food and fantastic atmosphere which is topped off by their friendly staff. Thanks Andrew for getting us out on time for the show!

Stopped here for Sunday brunch. The place is so cute! Service was excellent and the food was delicious! Highly recommended!!

The food is good & the portions are good. The staff are very friendly. It reminds me of a neighbourhood diner.

Great food and great service! We come here when we are in Toronto for breakfast. Always good!

Yet another 5 star experience at the Senator. Can say enough about the freshness and attention to quality they have here. The very old diner style genuine atmosphere is a great bonus!

Amazing ambiance and terrific food<br/><br/>Amazing ambiance and great service combined with fresh and delicious food<br/>We had the latke with smoked salmon and soup for appetizers. Followed by eggplant in a tasty sauce and melted cheese. We would have had more but we’re going to the theatre across the street. We will definitely return to this great restaurant

We were looking for a good place to have breakfast during our short stay in Toronto and the Senator was highly recommended on the internet and certainly did not disappoint us. Only one thing what is still confusing happened when the bill came. The friendly waiter was helpfull with how to process the payment with the machine and creditcard.  As a foreigner you have to get used at different money.  But as  I was being asked to put down the pincode, I looked with surprise at the amount of money as at was 490,10 instead of 49,10..  I let it time out and the next time the cash amount was correct.   So maybe it was a mistake or maybe not?? Only know that the waiter knew that we were foreigners who were travelling..

Poor<br/><br/>Dropped in for a bite to eat before the show across the street. My daughter ordered the "Caesar Salad", I ordered the Crab Mac & Cheese. Her "caesar" tasted strange...that's because the dressing was Pickled Zuchini!!! Who puts pickled zuchini dressing on a caesar salad? It was disgusting. When we told the waitress, she took it from the table, put in the garbage, and still put it on our bill. My dish was delicious. However I spent most of my time during the second half of our show in the ladies room, had to stop a couple times on the road home, and spent half my night in the bathroom at home. Considering this was the only thing I had eaten all day except for a few crackers, I know what made me ill. Outrageous bill for food that subpar. Save yourself the trouble, go next door, or down the street, around the corner, anywhere, but run, don't walk, or you'll be running the rest of your day.

Came to the Senator Restaurant with my son for a hearty breakfast as it was highly recommended on Zomato. The waiter attended to us quickly and took our order, however after 20 mins of waiting our order didn't materialize . The same waiter came along and said he's sorry that there has been a mix up and our order was given to someone else . Had to wait for another 15 mins for the order to come. All in all a very bad experience !!

Featured on "you gotta eat here" decided to make a stop by at this old diner for some late breakfast. Disappointed that they've taken the buttermilk fried chicken off the menu... I decided to be boring and order normal breakfast stuff. Disappointed that the pouched egg was over cook, and the open-faced salmon omelet was extremely salty. All together with 1 order of coffee for 2 - $35.00. Food - disappointed

I found this place a week ago, and was so impressed with the friendly service that I took my boyfriend, even though I hadn't been too impressed with the food.<br/>The second time I was met with a sarcastic, bordering on outright rude waiter. We're traveling from Australia, and the waiter made me feel stupid for using terminology that is different to what is used in Canada. Also, he couldn't get away from our table quick enough after taking our order and delivering our coffee/ food. A couple of times I had to yell out to him for basic things like milk as he was running off.<br/>The food was very average as well, we had a much nicer breakfast across the road at Fran's restaurant a couple of days earlier (and much better service!)

Great coffee and Eggs Benedict. There was about a 25 minute wait for brunch this morning but it was absolutely worth it. Friendly staff and owner. Various alternatives for all tastes and long tradition of classic Canadian food. Would come again for sure.

We had more than a meal.. We had an experience!<br/>Went here with a couple of dining friends before a show. If you are going to the Ed Mirvish theater it is across the street from front entrance.<br/>Atmosphere- Opened in the 40s as a diner and it appears the decor has stayed.  Cute, Cute cute, but very deceiving. When we opened the menu we thought it would be full f burgers and fries etc. Not this place.<br/>Food- We had- 1) Arugula and berry salad- great but small. 2) butternut squash soup- excellent flavour 3) chicken pot pie- not your typical pot pie. It came in a mini soup terrine.  4) Mushroom crepes in a cream tarragon sauce- Excellent sauce, mushrooms were tasty but I would have preferred traditional white flour crepes- buckwheat made the crepe have a texture I did not enjoy. 5) All of us had the chocolate pie- Wow<br/>! It was amazing.  The chocolate topping and the creamy center was the piece de resistance !<br/>Service- Our waiter  pushed this to a total experience. His humour kept us laughing every time he came around. <br/>Impression- I will be back again when we go back for a show. . Food was good but dessert was a star performer. I hope next time I am there the comedian who works there is working.

Nice restaurant. Has an old world charm to it. As expected had very few veg options. But I liked what I had - Mac and cheese pasta. The ginger ale was also nice.

Went here for the first time this morning and I must say I was very impressed! Me and my boyfriend are on day #5 of our vacation so our trip has consisted of many meals eaten out and I must say this may be the top of the list so far. I was amazed by the speed of service, and how quickly our meal came out.<br/>I wish I kept our receipt so I could give a shoutout to our server who also rocked!<br/>As an server myself I am not usually a easy to please customer.<br/>Would definitely recommend!

Food was really good. It is best described as upscale dinner food. Prices were a tad on the expensive side but not unreasonable. Service was good.

What a lovely place! And the staff is amazing. The prices are a little steep but it's cool cause the food is absolutely brilliant. Would definitely recommend.

This is the cutest, and less well known diner style restaurant in the city. This restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. I ordered eggs Benedict Popeye (eggs Benedict with spinach). It was excellent & I will be returning to try the blueberry pancakes.

I've been here about four times, mostly for convenience. Today I had the senator breakfast which is really great, the toast is my favourite part. It comes with baked beans which is nice. I've had other brunch meals here which unfortunately weren't as exciting. The macaroni and cheese is a miss for sure. Overall it's good enough.<br/>

The Senator is a very interesting throwback to a bygone era. The dark wood booths, the red and white checkered floor, the old-time counter, the antique mirrors, equipment and artifacts scattered throughout. The place has gotten old enough to be really cool. However, it is still a diner. A popular diner at lunchtime; there was a perpetual lineup waiting for tables.<br/><br/>Since I was at a diner, I chose their Senator Burger ($11.95) and added Swiss Cheese ($2.00). Although I really wanted the fries, I was a good boy and chose the salad instead (included with the burger). The burger was flavourful and the caramelized onions added a nice touch.

For that day I somehow had some craving for baked beans so I opted for Berkshire Bacon (but of course) and eggs that came with a side of maple baked beans, home fries and toast. Abe went for Salami and eggs and just like me, he had the maple baked beans, home fries and toast on the side. What we surely both loved was that their coffee was REALLY good! Smooth, creamy, warm and regularly refilled, I lost count on how many I had for breakfast. LOL.

A group of 4 of us dropped into The Senator on Monday for brunch. After a short wait, we were seated into the booth and served quickly. I had the Huevos Rancheros ($13) which came with two eggs, chorizo, avocado, black beans, salsa, and cornbread. I added a side of hot sauce and it was complete! The rest of my group ordered and enjoyed the Senator Special ($10). One of my friends proclaimed it was "one of the best" breakfasts he has ever had. High praise for this old time historical establishment. Very cool interior. Pleasant staff.

Really good breakfast from a really inconspicuous place. They have a good cup of coffee and a nice staff. The space is a little small, but what do you expect from a place downtown? They do breakfast/brunch and they gave us licorice for free when we paid. Awesome.

An old-school diner never goes out of style - <br/>"With all the indie places and trendy cafes on every corner, there is a still a tasty piece of history waiting for you right in the heart of Toronto."<br/>Just a bite from our full review..

I haven't blogged about a brunch place in forever! So here is this one - brunch at one of the oldest restaurants in Toronto. Walking in on a Saturday morning, I was super happy to know that there wasn't a line. Besides the cute diner area in the back, there is also a coffee bar and a mini patio area outside. <br/><br/>We opted to sit inside though, in one of their little nooks.<br/><br/>D ordered the Senator Breakfast that consisted of bacon, eggs, toast, and home fries - a classic breakfast choice. They had homemade jam at the table for the toast, but it looked like it had been played with so we didn't bother touching that lol.<br/><br/>I got the Salmon Eggs Benedict. It comes with 2 poached eggs and smoked salmon with hollandaise on a homemade biscuit. It was also served with a salad or home fries. I decided to go with the salad, since I already knew I'd need something 'light' to balance out my hearty meal.<br/><br/>:9 yummy yum yum.<br/><br/>Overall, breakfast was great. The service was alright - they weren't too attentive but I've experienced much worse. We weren't rushed to leave although there was quite a line when we left. Food was great though, and we both devoured our meals. I would definitely recommend visiting Senator for brunch if you are in the area!

I was extremely disappointed with my brunch at the Senator. How can this restaurant receive 4 to 5 stars on Yelp? Seriously, the food was below average and considered the taste, it was definitely expensive. Moreover, my server spent all her time talking to other customers and servers instead of checking up on us. We didn’t receive our water until an old man noticed and gave us halfway through the meal. Will I come back to the Senator? Never. I can’t stand rude server, dirty restaurant and overpriced dishes.

Each of the individual small salads is tasty. It’s nice having a dairy free potato salad option. I like the butteriness of the bean salad, and the tart taste of the cabbage coleslaw.

Great spot for brunch! Had the loveliest server and a super delicious plate stacked with caramelized banana pancakes and crispy bacon. My friends had the eggs benedict and the omelette and said they were both yummy. We also ordered a round of caesars but they tasted super watered down and boring so we will stick to food next time. Loved the look of the place as well, very old school and classic :)

I have a thing for restaurants that have been around a long while. I figure if they're in business that long they must be doing something right. So I googled and found the Senator Cafe was one of the oldest in Toronto. The interior was just as I like it - right out of a bygone era and nearly perfect in every detail. The lighting just right - not to dark - not too bright. The waiter and waitress were both prompt, very friendly, smiling and helpful. The menu looked good. I ordered a caesar salad for $10.00 their signature buttermilk chicken with mashed potato and gravy for $20.00. How Disappointing. <br/><br/>The caesar was ok but things went rapidly downhill The batter crust of the chicken was thick, tasteless and hardened - to the point of having difficulty getting a fork into it. The outer layer of chicken was dry and close to the bone (horror) the chicken was pink and seriously undercooked. That goes beyond taste and into the health danger zone. The mashed potatoes were crumbly, watery and seemingly without butter, milk or salt. The light brown gravy, served in a small ramekin, though the proper consistency, was similarly tasteless. <br/><br/><br/>Dessert was carrot cake, $7.95, served with vanilla ice cream. It looked good however upon closer inspection the bargain basement ice cream had clearly thawed and been re-frozen as it was flakey and full of small ice crystals. The frosting on the carrot cake tasted and felt like a 50 -50 mix of margarine and cream cheese. No - I didn't send my meal back. I quietly paid, thanked my servers and took a long walk. I'd advise you not to make the same mistake I did. To me it's sad that a restaurant can get everything right but the food. Particularly here where the menu is small, and very straightforward. Wish I had found otherwise.

Nothing special. Service was slow despite the fact that the restaurant wasn't full. We were first in line for a table of 3 at around 11.00am but it took a while to be seated. It took another 15 minutes before the server came to us. Prices were reasonable considering the location but food and service not particularly good. Won't be returning.

If Harper ever abolishes the senate, he should abolish this restaurant along with it. I came here for breakfast with my gf on a nice Sunday morning. we got the senator breakfast and the yogurt/fruit. i always look forward to good home fries, but these were tiny, burnt, and generally disgusting. the best part was the toast and homemade strawberry jam. the yogurt and fruit was decent. however given the cost of our meal ($30), overall this was not worth it... senator prices for a less than senatorial meal.

Ordered the Senator's breakfast. Food is good but service is terrible. the staff are not friendly at all. They're not really listening when you order and they don't come back to ask if everything is okay. I requested for three things: over easy eggs, soft bacon and lightly toasted bread. Eggs were good but then the bacon was hard and the bread was darker than my friend's while he didnt have any requests on the bread. The only reason I would come is for their jam which I believe is home-made. Otherwise, a definite no for this place.

One of my worst meals ever. Last night at the Senator, we ordered fish and chips. Fish was over-cooked, over -battered, chips limpid.<br/>the most interesting thing about our dinner was the over-priced art on the walls.<br/>would never go back, would never recommend. <br/>$47. for dinner for two. Would rather have eaten at a hot dog stand.

Turned away. I stopped by the Senator, when out to see a show recently; it was just before 7 p.m. I was told by a waitress that I couldn't get a table, because all the people in the restaurant were going to the show, and they need to get them out to the show. Despite the fact that there were several empty tables and empty seats at the counter. Of course I was a bit puzzled by this, and it really made no sense to me, since they all looked like they were in the middle of dinner; and the restaurant wasn't closed. I won't be back.

Challah bread for the French toast was great. If its between this place or Fran's in the neighbourhood, Senator wins hands down.

Went there for breakfast - I had the smoked salmon omelette which was delish! Not too many tables for the weekend morning crowd so found we were rushed out of there - which was disappointing. Food great, Prices decent, wait staff just okay - not very attentive.

Delightful. I had a wonderful dinner, enjoyed the liver and salad. The desert was sinfully good. The service was top notched. Mike our server, made our evening. Will be back next time we are in the area.

The food is decent but the atmosphere lacks character and charm. The servers looked like they would rather be anywhere else. I had the 2 egg breakfast which was prices fairly (6.95). I'm not sure what all the hype is about.

Great Bran Muffin.. Our first visit, she love the bran muffin so much we went back for our three day vacation.<br/><br/>second visit we both had the typical <br/>2 eggs, bacon, beans, potatoes and toast<br/><br/>Impressions, M'eh. - neither liked, nor disliked.<br/>Eggs, bean and jam were great, the potatoes, coffee and bacon were over done.<br/><br/>I'd go and try another dish. but won't drive from Ottawa just to visit this place again.<br/><br/>Loved the staff and decor. Oh! and the history.

Fantastic pre-show dinner! Carrot cake!!

Too expensive for what you get. That's all.

Fabulous. The club is to rave over. Cobb salad divine. Grilled cheese is wonderful. Small bur has a great deal of character. Their huge chocolate chip cookies are a must

The Senator has got to be my absolute favourite restaurant to go to.  If I could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, I gotta say I think this would be it.

The famed locale of an American Pyscho set is not really worth going to and certainly not worth waiting in line for. Tasteless scrambled eggs, uncharred bacon, too-sweet beans and wonder bread.

The Senator is one of the most iconic restaurants in Toronto, located just kitty corner to Yonge and Dundas Square on Victoria Street across from the Canon Theater. The house at 249 Victoria Street that has become The Senator, Toronto's oldest restaurant, dates back to the 19th century. From 1984, it expanded from a family restaurant into one of the most renowned hospitality operations in the city. As soon as my dad walked into the place he commented that he felt he was in a New York City based mafia film (and I sorta hoped Woody Allen was slouching somewhere over a basket of wings in the back corner). This is an amazing spot to go on a date, such fantastical ambiance! We ordered: Classic Chicken Cob Salad with Balsamic Dressing Slow Braised Short Ribs in a Red Wine Sauce Mac and Cheese #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption

Is boiling burgers a thing? Is that something that they do? I didn’t think so, but I really don’t know how else to account for the lifelessly pallid, colourless patty they put in front of me.

Having been in business for over 80 years, I’m a little ashamed that I only stopped by The Senator (@TheSenatorTO) for the first time last week. Conveniently located a stone’s throw away from the Eaton Centre on Victoria street, they recently introduced a new dinner menu inspired by Canadian classics.

When it comes to food options there is really not much "personality" or "character" happening in the Yonge & Dundas area. Next time you find yourself in the vicinity I highly encourage you to take a very short walk to 249 Victoria Street because tucked away and hidden in the shadows of all those corporate giants you will find the Senator, the city's oldest restaurant.

The Senator is Toronto’s oldest restaurants, which can date back to the 19th century. It is located close to Dundas Square and is quite popular for breakfast. Dre from Bite Me Food Blog was kind enough to take CanuckGirl and I here. It is slightly hidden, so you need to look around for it. The interior is very narrow, but they can still fit a decent amount of people here. We came at around 9:30am and the place was quite packed when we arrived. French Toast ($10.25) has thick slices of challah bread dipped in egg Batter & served with maple syrup & seasonal compote. Senator Breakfast ($7.95 Before 11:30am) comes with bacon & eggs with challah toast, beans & home fries. Also your choice of tea or coffee. It was a good standard type of breakfast. I enjoyed it and so did CanuckGirl. House Blend Coffee was much needed since 9:30am Toronto time is 6:30am Vancouver time. Overall, good for breakfasts and has a cool diner feel to the interior. The breakfast selection is under $10 and has great v

dre @ Dundas & Victoria: Diana from foodology.ca was in town, so I met up with her to have brunch. I found this place from Urbanspoon, and also from googling "Toronto's best pancakes". This place showed up on one of the forums I came across. I checked the menu, and it seemed yummy, so off we went. It was pretty busy when we got there and there was a short wait. I liked how some of the booths were made for three people. I wonder if they did some case study where they can fit in more people if they had 3-person booths. Anyway, Diana ordered the Senator Breakfast which comes with a coffee, 2 eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast. I tried some of her hash browns. They were tasty. After hemming and hawing for a while, I was torn between getting pancakes or French toast. I asked the waitress what she recommended and without a blink, she said French toast. So that's how my coming here for pancakes changed to French toast. The French toast was really good. They used a thick piece of toast an

My overeasy eggs in the All Day Breakfast were done perfectly to order, the challah toast imprinted with lovingly even grill marks, the bacon was thick and juicy, and the home fries crisp. The baked beans I make at home are sweeter and softer than what th

This funky diner has been around forever in downtown Toronto and deservedly so. It is a funky old diner filled with booths and the requisite counter with stools . The service is good but also laid-back - if the place isn't busy they are happy to let you s

The menu is pretty brief, but I still had a hard time deciding. They did have a very extensive drink menu and one of my favourite beers (Lug Tread) on tap so I was happy. I decided I really wanted the crab cakes but that was actually an appetizer so I added a side of mashed potatoes. My crab cakes were really good, they were very meaty and the tartar sauce was great. They are also served with guacamole but I asked them to hold it. My mashed potatoes were a little lumpy, they weren't the best potatoes I've ever had. My friend I was dining with had the burger and fries, I stole a couple of fries and they were really good - I'd recommend them instead of the mashed (not normally a move I would do).<br/><br/>I was so excited to have crab cakes I forgot to take a picture before digging in. Better than the dessert faired though, I ate that so fast there's no photos. I got the apple blossom which was the size of my head and the carrot cake which was the size of his head. It was so unnecessary but so delicious.<br/><br/>I would recommend The Senator if you're in the area looking for something different than the chains in the square.<br/><br/>Senator Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Having been in business for over 80 years, I’m a little ashamed that I only stopped by The Senator for the first time last week. Conveniently located a stone’s throw away from the Eaton Centre on Victoria street, they recently introduced a new dinner menu inspired by Canadian classics.<br/><br/>But before I get to the food, let’s talk history. Located at 249 Victoria Street, The Senator used to be a house which was converted to the “Busy Bee Diner” just prior to the Great Depression. The Busy Bee Diner was a small space which only consisted of a counter and open kitchen. In 1948 the diner was sold, renovated and renamed to “The Senator”. The fixtures and styles from the initial renovations are still in place to date.<br/><br/>Upon entering The Senator, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. I loved the old diner feel of the space. The front of the restaurant features a bar with counter seating and booths filling up the rest of the space.<br/><br/>As I mentioned, the restaurant recently launched a new dinner menu. With Executive Chef Andrew Taylor at the helm, the new menu is a blend of modern techniques, old world dishes and Senator favourites. They offer 3 course-dinners for $32 but if you want to order a la carte, starters are $8, mains are $18 and desserts are $8.<br/><br/>There’s no shortage of choices. From the appetizer section, you can choose from a selection of salads, lighter fare or comfort food classics like mac & cheese. Mains include items such as steak frites, fish & chips, green curry veg stew and an 8oz Cumbrae naturally raised beef burger. They really take pride in the quality of their ingredients and are committed to using locally sourced ingredients and organic products, where possible.<br/><br/>We started off with the Maryland Crab Cake – with citrus remoulade and a sesame seedling salad. Made with real crab, you won’t find much filler in this bad boy. The crab cake had a nice crisp exterior with a fluffy interior that was packed full of crab. It came with a (very) citrusy remoulade but I found the crab cake to be quite flavourful on its own – no sauce required!<br/><br/>Since it was freezing out, the other appetizer we shared was the Potato and Leek Soup which was another excellent starter. It came out piping hot, was velvety smooth and seasoned well.<br/><br/>One of the entrees that caught our eye was the Braised Boneless Shortrib of Beef – with mash, honey mustard glazed root veg. The meat was incredibly tender and fell apart with the touch of a fork. Short ribs are one of my favourite winter dishes and the Senator’s didn’t disappoint!<br/><br/>The other entrée we ordered was the Crisp Muscovy Duck Breast – with mashed Yukon gold, quince and cran compote. It was quite the hearty portion – a large duck breast and a mountain of mashed potatoes and veggies. They certainly don’t skimp on the portions here! The duck breast was well cooked and the sauce complimented the meat nicely. It was a tasty dish but we both agreed that the braised short rib stole the show.<br/><br/>With desserts like a chocolate brownie sundae and apple caramel crumble, reading the dessert menu here will bring you back to your childhood. I couldn’t resist ordering a slice of Chocolate Cake which came with a scoop of ice cream (my choice was vanilla) and seasonal berries. It was wonderfully moist and was pretty darn satisfying. I don’t know about you but there’s just something so comforting about a simple slice of chocolate cake!<br/><br/>The other dessert we ordered was the Pecan Pie which we had with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was an incredible piece of pie. I loved the sweet filling with the slight crunch from the caramelized pecans and the crust was perfection. While they make some of the desserts in-house, the two desserts we tried were purchased from the same suppliers that they’ve been using since the near beginning. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?<br/><br/>Even though we were beyond stuffed by this point, we were talked into trying one of their spiked milkshakes. I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of dairy/alcohol combinations but the Spiked Milkshake we tried was phenomenal. It was a drink the bartender was working on which consisted of fresh orange juice, vanilla ice cream and vodka. It reminded me of an orange creamsicle… so delicious!<br/><br/>I couldn’t think of a better way to end the meal. After all these years, it’s no surprise The Senator is still in business!

Known for attracting an early morning audience, your cuppa-Joe will be brewed from a custom roast by Dark City Coffee. Later in the day, lightly liquored milkshakes inspired by 1920 soda jerks are smoothed with organic milk from Sheldon Creek Dairy in Caledon, ON. Antiquated dinner items have been replaced by savoury braised beef and chorizo tostadas with queso fresco and chipotle crema, refined rainbow trout with white bean ragout and shaved fennel, and seasonally inspired crisp Muscovy duck breast with Yukon gold mash and quince.<br/><br/>As night falls, post 9pm, a new Bar Senator “After-Dark Menu” comes into effect until midnight. Sip on craft cocktails built with organic Earl Grey-infused Dillon’s gin, like in their Senator Derby, or the Mimosa Senator spiked with a housemade lemon-rind tincture.<br/><br/>They’ll be pouring out pints of local craft beer from Beau’s and Amsterdam Brewery to swig alongside an impressively seasoned Cumbrae’s naturally raised beef burger. The buttery mini crabcakes, despite being made from “the fake stuff,” weren’t anything to scoff at either. They were a hit with my shellfish averse friend.<br/><br/>Eighty-five years-old and The Senator is just starting to catch up with this decade, culinary speaking. The charm of the wood paneled cubbies and antique fixtures, however, are timeless. Perhaps the oft-forgotten Victoria Street staple was ripe for a renewal? Consider yourself lucky that you’re around to revel in its hopeful renaissance. Upon exit, my dining partners and I all agreed that The Senator was a truly renewed gem in an area of Toronto that is terminally digging itself into the edible trenches.

When it comes to food options there is really not much "personality" or "character" happening in the Yonge & Dundas area. Tucked away and hidden in the shadows of all those corporate giants you will find the Senator, the city's oldest restaurant.<br/><br/>The Senator is Toronto’s oldest restaurant, dating back to 1929 when it was just a house at the very same address. Since then it has became a Toronto landmark under the guidance of Bobby Sniderman. <br/><br/>The restaurant is focused on using locally sourced ingredients as much as possible (i.e. beef from Cumbrae’s Farms and organic milk from Sheldon Creek Dairy). They also have a commitment to only use organic wherever possible. The Senator makes their own fresh-squeezed orange juice, stocks, sauces, and batters.<br/><br/>By the way it's funny how new restaurants these days strive for the retro / diner look while the Senator achieves this effortlessly. Love it!<br/><br/>I dropped by the Senator this week to check out their new dinner menu. Inspired by old world dishes, Senator classics alongside modern technique, chef Andrew Taylor (formerly of Langdon Hall, Sequoia Grove) revamped the restaurant's dinner menu for a whole new look.<br/><br/>Julia and I were more than satisfied with our three-course dinner at the Senator. Great value, quality ingredients and generous portion size...what more can you ask for? Especially in the heart of Toronto's shopping district? My favourites that evening were the Maryland crab cakes, the Cumbrae beef burger and the chocolate brownie sundae. Although not the prettiest of plates the crab cakes, with a crispy outer crust, were delicate and not too packed nor dense. The tangy remoulade went really well with it. My burger, cooked medium, was thick, juicy and really tasty...the side of fries were also dangerously addictive. Julia was very happy with her entree as well; just looking at those succulent pieces of duck breasts makes me drool. Despite it being slightly more moist in the middle, the sticky toffee pudding was unfortunately on the dry side (it could also be a lot more "sticky" with more toffee). The chocolate brownie sundae with chunks of moist, decadent brownie underneath those three huge scoops of vanilla ice cream was so simple yet so good.<br/><br/>*This meal was complimentary. The opinions and views expressed on this post are my own*

I love this place! Unless you're looking for it on Victoria street you might blow right by it just as I've done about a million times. It wasn't until actually had to pop my head in one afternoon that I realized how cute this place was (and how big it is too!) One of the oldest restaurants in Canada, The Senator has maintained its 20s diner feel. The food, however, is not your typical greasy spoon cuisine that you might expect to get. All the food is organic, local and pure. (They use Cumbrae's beef for their burger!) And what a difference this detail makes! What we ate:-8oz burger with fries-Eggs Benedict (classic)-Pecan pie 

A true American diner, this is a great place for breakfast (though a bit pricey). The salmon platter is amazing, the oatmeal with fresh berries as well. You can also get fresh grapefruit juice :-) Be careful with any egg/toast type plates, butter comes in abundance ;-0 <br/><br/>Wifi works great, a nice place to catch up on work. Food comes out quick, though service isn't the friendliest. Be sure to reserve at night as it's located in front of a theater and tends to get quite packed!