Parquet

What is Parquet? Anchoring 97 Harbord Street in Harbord Village, Parquet translates classic Parisian bistronomy into a sharp, breezy Toronto vernacular. Co-founded by law school friends Daniel Bernstein and Matt Cohen, the room balances warm amber lighting and geometric parquet floors with Calacatta verde marble and rich rust leather banquettes. The intimate 50-seat dining room expands onto a seasonal sidewalk patio, complemented by a buzzing front bar that caters to casual drop-ins.

Parquet Menu & What to Order The kitchen refashions bistro staples with dynamic global accents, best showcased in a rich cassoulet layered with duck confit and pork belly simmered in a ramen broth, or pan-roasted miso sablefish paired with Vadouvan curry Brussels sprouts. Traditionalists will appreciate the steak frites alongside vegetable-forward plates like charred broccolini with salsa macha, while dessert should always be the apple tarte tatin with Bénédictine anglaise. Sommelier Lexi Wolkowski manages an adventurous, low-intervention French and Ontario wine list, supported by spirited cocktails like the absinthe-laced Mort Subite.

Know Before You Go Dining room tables book up weeks in advance via OpenTable, though the marble bar counter remains accessible for spontaneous walk-ins wanting drinks and light fare. Peak dinner service runs Friday and Saturday evenings between 7:00 and 9:30 p.m., making early seatings or mid-week visits ideal for a quieter meal. Street parking is available along Harbord, but the restaurant is also a quick stroll south from Spadina subway station.