Review Lake Inez - Toronto

From the outside it doesn’t look that nice or interesting, but the reviews are correct! Lake Inez is a very nice spot in Gerrard st. The atmosphere is warm and romantic. That’s what we needed to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The drinks, varied and well prepared. And the food… oh the food! The perfect combination of flavour, kick, and size. The perfect flavour for the size and the bites. We ordered the salmon, the crunchy salad, and the clams in brodo. Great flavours!! 100% recommended.

We had their takeout tasting menus during the omicron lockdown and it was fantastic. They give you all the ingredients separately and give very detailed plating directions. Would definitely do again.

Thought that was a super interesting restaurant with a short menu, good wine list, and surprisingly spacious spot. The flavours are bold, the dishes are interesting, and there's some great personality in the restaurant. The fennel was a wonderful surprise, with the different flavours (hello pistachio) and textures working well together. Nachos were certainly more than just nachos. Tempura eggplant parm? Very interesting. Good level of spice too. Pavlova and salmon were surprisingly the closest to average, but that's alright since those are already crowd pleasers. Will be super interested in trying their tasting in the future!

Came for a date on Saturday and really enjoyed our time sitting at the bar. The service was excellent and we really loved how creative all the dishes were- totally unexpected twists on the classics. We had the tartar which was surprisingly served with nori rather than crostini and it had an Italian/Asian flavour combo. Making the hand rolls was fun. We then had the chicken liver mouse topped with asparagus and served with those Asian sweet/water crackers. The mouse reminded me of a Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it was savoury and decadent. We had the fennel dish which I think was my favourite, I don’t even know how to describe it. The eggplant Parmesan was my husbands favourite. It was a whole roasted eggplant with a really crunchy Parmesan topping and delicious tomato sauce. The meal and cocktails were perfect. We’ll be back :)

Had dinner here a thursday evening and it was quite enjoyable. We had a reservation, and it got quite busy at around 7pm, so would definitely recommend getting a reservation. Restaurant is very quaint with very unique decor choices and and overall easygoing atmosphere & vibe. Service was pretty good, but they're definitely short-staffed. As it got busier, service became less attentive. They had 3 servers running around doing everything, including bartending; so patience will be important. The food was overall very good! My favourite was definitely the chicken liver mousse and Nachos. We ordered 4 dishes from the dinner menu (they recommend 3-4 for a table of 2). Fennel moment - this was sort of like a fennel sour cream dip with thin crisps to smear the dip on. It was pretty good, but I was hoping for more fennel and fennel flavour as fennal has a strong licorice flavour if eaten raw. Chicken liver mousse - my fav dish of the night. If you've had chick liver mousse before, it can be very heavy and rich. by adding the sour cherry and hazlenuts, it was the perfect combo and when served on the rice crackers, it was delicious! we are depressed thus: nachos: definitely order this, it was VERY cheesy (in a good way) and so delicious. it's slightly spicey but not to the point where you actually feel it... so people who don't enjoy spice (which is unfathomable to me!) can likely still eat it without being torched. wild watercress clams in brodo: this was pretty good, especially the black bird bread and the broth! BUT I wish it was mussels instead of clams, simply because there were about 12 or so clams, and it seemed like a tiny portion after you remove the shells... Clams are expensive and have a tiny yield. Mussels are relatively cheaper and much meatier. The sauce is 100% the star. Lastly, their drinks were quite good. Yuzu margo cocktail was refreshing and unique, and the nothing lasts forever cocktail definitely had a good amount of Johnny Walker black & lagavulin so that you can actually taste it. Big wine selection as well Overall really enjoyed Lake Inez and very solid 4 stars.

Hi Inez! I just wanted to say thank you so much for the wonderful NYE meal. It was so well done and easy to prepare and the wildly delicious and vast flavouring of the foods was decadent! We have two little kids and haven’t been out for a nice meal in a very long time so this was a beautiful way to bring in the new year. Thank you.

A late review but went here a few months ago with three friends and was really impressed. I haven't stopped recommending Lake Inez to friends since and have been dying to get back. The atmosphere is perfect - great for a group of friends or a date night - moody and well designed without being overdone. Love the dim, cozy lighting. The FOOD was amazing and very interesting. It was so tasty and a great take on classic items with some ingredient pairings I'd never seen before. We ordered almost everything on the menu and every dish was delicious. Haven't tried cocktails but they also have good and reasonably priced wine, so it's easy to get a bottle or two for the table (along with bin ends for even better deals, which is great to see!). The service was exactly what you want and it helps that it's not a very large restaurant - just big enough to feel lively and small enough to keep the quaint vibe. Attentive and informative but not overbearing. Highly suggest and will be coming back!

The food is absolutely incredible. I don't eat gluten and I was told they can modify all the dishes except one. We ordered the nachos and the clams -- both were spectacular. The flavours are incredible, and the size and temperature of the dishes are spot-on. The service was very attentive and the wine list is excellent. Don't miss out on this gem.

Not only is the food superb with so many succulent and nuanced flavors, but the vibe is really the full meal deal. The mix of cozy and warm english pub, with a lush french flavor makes one feel like they have travelled to an experience overseas with just the price of a fine red wine. Delectable, scrumptious, and thanks to the lovely staff.

We will be going back. Food was spectacular. Had no idea what to expect, went based on strong (very strong) Recomendations from many different/groups of people. Really nice and original menu, South Asian/Philippino ??? inspired. contrast to what a lot of restaurants are doing right now; breath of fresh air. Service was great, nice vibe, wasn't too hipster. Great spot, top of the heap for the east end They use that lame online reservation system (understandably in a small restraunt like this, can't realistically have staff on the phones all day) booked online, when we got there we didn't have a reservation. Staff very graciously found us a table. Prices are very reasonable given the quality of the food

This place rocks! Always excited to eat here. Delicious and creative food! Amazing beer and wine list. Servers are awesome! Always welcoming! Beautiful mosaic tile art in the background!

Terrific staff and delicious food. Perfectly flavoured and spicy Asian inspired dishes. Highly recommend the brussel sprouts and sunchokes. Extensive craft beer options on tap which I'm told are rotated often. Looking forward to going back. Highly recommended. The stained glass mosaic at the back is worth a visit on its own.

Great food & selection of unique cocktails. Their customer service was fantastic. I highly recommend their squash salad and 5 spice steak.

Food, drinks (cocktails and local beers), service and vibe were all perfect. The stained glass mural behind the bar is quite spectacular and a fair indication of how much these folks care about their shop. Loved it and will definitely bring people back.

what a place! the wine! the beer! the food! the service! take a plunge you will not regret. meet you at the lake.

Love love love this place! Warm and cozy, lighting and atmosphere are spot on. Food is Fantastic. Staff great. Beer menu extensive. But please don't go, just take my word for it - then maybe it won't be so packed and I won't have to wait for a table! 😉

Super lovely vibe, great staff and wonderful beer selection. Amazing food, the chiffon cake almost killed me it was so good. Will definitely be back :)

This place is fantastic. The decor is cozy and welcoming, yet also has a certain elegance. It has a great overall feel, really delicious food (we ate there two nights in a row!), and the staff are lovely. New favourite place!

Great food and great atmosphere! We loved the decor and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. Looking forward to going back to sample the rest of the menu and all the local beer on tap!

What an amazing experience at Lake Inez! This place is like walking into a beautiful, warm, unique, quirky wonderland. Amazing beer selection and an awesome staff made it such a memorable experience. We'll be back for sure.

One of the best restaurants I have been too. Food was amazing! Highly recommended, do not be intimidated by the menu, truly a dinning experience.

Amazing food, excellent service. I would go back and take all my friends and family. Highly recommend.

Remarkable service, delicious and inventive food. One of the best restaurants I have been to in the city.