Fishbar

We had left several messages for reservation with no response. Decided to go anyway, just assumed way too busy to return calls. They are CLOSED… since June 2015… one star since the answer system states open for business…

Cool vibe here. However, beware, as the name implies, this is a hard core fish spot, and ALL items are seafood oriented. That being said I’m a seafood lover so I really enjoyed the bites of the dishes at our table. Itis w very intimate setting where all the tables close together and it can be quite dark lighting at night. I love how they open up to side window open on nice days and you can have fresh air and hear the coming and goings on the street.

The time we spent last Friday evening at Fishbar was a toda madre!!! Awesome…
I could feel the smoothness of the summer breeze inside the restaurant (the place is open in the in front, and for the first table gives the impression of been hanging out on an European terrace… People walking thru, would stop to ask us if the food was good, and while chewing with guilty-​pleasure faces, we would just made positive signs with our thumbs).
The quality, flavor, consistency and presentation of the food was impeccable. They gave time for enjoying each curse without been pushy. The service was fast, extremely friendly, and attentive without been around too much (they give space to the couples that were the main concurrence… just a dude was sitting in the bar, but maybe he worked there…)
Because the ambiance is chilled-​relaxed-​romantic, this place could be use or it’s been used for couples to enjoy flirty moments, after all, we all know what the oysters and seafood are famous for, right? wink, blink! So guys, this do is a special date spot to pamper girls, or for setting the mood for the night…
We ordered 3 different kind of oysters (the Shigoku from BC were choby, firm, similar to those plane shelled gallego oysters). They came with horseradish, and 3 really original and cool toppings: red salsa (spicy home made), echalote wine vinaigrette (a lil too sour), and the winner, vodka with chilies (Mateo made vodka oyster cocktails with it instead… ay Mateo…).
The smelts were really meaty, crunchy, and I think they are the perfect summer guilty free tapa… omega3, olive oil, and healthy stuff… Apparently, if you want to captivate a Portuguese guy, this are a must along with Sardines (Mateo’s eyes were orbit outed, he was smiling while watching them, and he was rubbing his hands).
The grilled octopus and the tuna tartar came afterwards… OMG!!! I was feeling the love in every bite, not only for the chef who executed such delicatessens, but also for this amazing husband, who invited me here to celebrate his new job!!! Speaking about that octopus… There are places in this city that serve it under cook, chewy-​not swallowing style, or over cooked, like disintegrating-​watery in your tongue, but this joint served it al dente, crunchy but smooth, and those veggies who accompanied it were succulent as well. The tartar came with a guacamole and crispy plantain or something… it was buttery, creamy, exquisite.
Everything was accompanied by a bottle of perfectly chilled Alvarinho.

LONGEST WAIT. We arrived at 7.45, took 30 minutes to get a drink, took 30 minutes more to get a few (very small) oysters, then took another 30 – 45 minutes to get our tapas style mains. My margarita was the tartest margarita I’ve ever drunk, wayyy too much lime. My lobster mac and cheese was worse than kraft: although I think the cheese sauce was just truffle oil. so maybe that’s why it cost $ 17?! Only a couple pieces of lobster on top. My friend could only eat a couple of bites of her mac and cheese. It took forever for everyones food to come out of the kitchen, we understand that food can come out at different times esp. as it’s «tapas style», but this was ridiculous. Also tapas style… who offers fish and chips and mac and cheese as tapas? Had to walk up to the bar to get more water. Passive aggressive waitress, very awkward… honestly the worst service I’ve had in Toronto. I have to say that this was the first time in… well ever, that I haven’t tipped. The manager was the only good thing about this place… took a while for him to come over, but he offered free desserts (which we declined, we’d already been there for over 3 hours) and drinks. My friends were still hungry post meal, so they went across the road for burgers!

Perfectly prepared fish. Had an amazing experience time. Well worth the money, if my pocket book could handle it I would be a regular. Cocktails were also amazing. It was a great date.

Unfortunately, we came here the day their furnace broke. The place was very cold, not much they could do about it other than apologize for the circumstances.
We stayed for apps and ordered the battered calamari and fried smelts. The calamari was fresh and tasty, and the fried smelts were decent.
We did not stay for dinner, it was much too cold. We’ll try again in the summer.

$ 17 for few prices of frozen lobster semi-​thawed on low quality sound spaghetti — not amused. Terrible price to quality ratio, do not recommend.

Came here because All Saints next door was too busy. We chose this place because we were craving oysters and they did not disappoint!
For $ 1.50 an oyster, they were fresh. We also ordered fish and chips, lobster mac and cheese, fried clams, and bloody Caesars.
Fish and chips: good portions, nice crispy batter, moist fish.
Lobster Mac and cheese: love! Lots of lobster pieces. The flavour pairing of the cheese and lobster were great. I wish there had been more cheese and perhaps make it more saucy.
Fried clams: these are to die for! Nice small fried clams with phenomenal flavours. The little crunch you get when you pop them in your mouth will get you addicted. Great to share with friends and a round of beer.
Overall: The food was great, atmosphere was hipster-​y but playful, service is amazing, and the price was affordable. Would definitely come again. :)

So, the atmosphere is lovely. The staff is quite friendly and very accommodating. We had onion rings (very tasty), octopus (delicious), shrimp diablo (very tasty), tuna tartar (it was okay, the yucca chips were chewy), crispy calamari (I would not recommend as they were just okay and for $ 10 — just okay, does not cut it), fish and chips (fries were delish, fish was not at all), and we had oysters (those were very nice and fresh).
The wine was expensive for what it was and disappointing. They did not have anything interesting non-​alcoholic cocktail options, which is a shame.
For our bill, which was $ 140, it was not as good as I had hoped. I was disappointed.

Amazing seafood is very hard to find this far from a coast but Fishbar does a good job. They have a great selection of oysters and have an eclectic range of dishes that range from ceviche, to grilled octopus to lobster mac&cheese. I list that range because I happen to really like each of them. Each are well prepared and are clearly sourced from somewhere with high quality, fresh fish. No its not the East Coast, but it is one of the better seafood options in the city.

I was here with a group of friends a couple of weeks ago. Atmosphere and service were great. The food was delicious, grilled octopus is to die for, we ended up ordering a second order, very delicious. The tuna tartar was super tasty. I would definitely go back. The only reason why I am not giving it 5 starts is I feel it’s a bit overpriced for what it really is, drinks in particular.

Very average seafood establishment. Maybe I’m just used to the real deal East Coast stuff in a past life but I wasn’t terribly impressed with the food. The food is not terrible but just not great. The fish & chips were small and the fried pieces had too much batter. I can easily think of several places in the city that does Fish n’ Chips much better. The maple glazed salmon is something I could easily make at home. The Brussels on the side were decent but nothing mind blowing. The fish taco was alright. It had a bunch of stuff in it so that the fish was not the centerpiece of the flavor. I didn’t order any of the $ 1.35 oysters, which might of helped the experience, assuming they were fresh and tasty.
Overall, I found this place very average at best compared to other seafood spots I’ve tried in many other cities. But in all fairness, it is hard to pull off great seafood in TO given it’s landlocked nature. Fishbar does fill a good niche on the Ossington Strip.

Great food, great service and great atmosphere!
The grilled octopus was AMAZING. The tuna tartare, grilled sardines and oysters were tasty too. All seafood was fresh and seasoned perfectly.
Only downside was how close we had to sit to our neighbouring tables.
I would definitely recommend this place to family and friends.

Went here with some friends tonight and shared about 8 dishes. Most were pretty good. The fish tacos were excellent. Ceviche style with a hard corn shell. The oysters were tasty but a bit on the small side. The highlight was probably the Shrimp and Lobster Roll. Service was spot on. All in all some good eats. I will be back for sure.

I had dinner here (for a birthday celebration) recently on a Sunday evening. I made reservations but didn’t need them as the place wasn’t full at all — I’m sure they are though Thurs-​Sat.
The menu is tapas-​style, meant for sharing. There were some stand-​out items, and some ho-​hum items:
Stand-​outs:
The $ 1.35 oysters! You can’t beat that. And they come with fresh horseradish, which I enjoy. The fish & chips are also very good: they were served to us immediately after coming out of the fryer, and so the batter was very crisp and hot. The portion was just perfect; enough to satisfy but not weigh you down. The fish tacos were also excellent — the filling was a nice ceviche.
The only item we weren’t that pleased with was the grilled calamari. It was quite mushy, not cooked quite right.
The drinks situation could use a bit of improvement:
For drinks I tried the Cucumber Gimlet Martini — the menu advertised it as having cucumber, gin and vermouth, but when it arrived it came in a rocks glass with ice, AND it was sweet! I asked the waiter about it and he said they add simple syrup which wasn’t indicated on the menu. I don’t really enjoy sweet drinks and was disappointed at the false advertising. The waiter did offer to re-​make it, but my husband seemed to enjoy it as is (and so he drank the rest).
Some friends came to join us for a drink after our meal. One of them was driving and wanted a non-​alcoholic drink. She asked for an orange juice, but the waiter didn’t even register this; he brought her a food menu. She then had to explain that she wanted a non-​alcoholic drink, of which he just offered her cranberry juice or tonic water. Not everyone drinks, and it’s unfortunate that there weren’t more choices for her.
The staff was attentive and courteous without any cloying ‘over friendliness’.
I’d definitely come back to try some of the other items on the menu. Overall, it’s a cute place, with good food and a nice cozy atmosphere.

Aside from pork, fish and seafood is front and centre in Chinese cuisine. Just go to a Chinese wedding and you will feast on an abundance of abalone, lobster and steamed fish, granted the selection is not always pro-​sustainability. We’re also very particular about our seafood. After having dined on many a seafood dish at a bounty of restaurants a few years ago that were overcooked to the point where the albumin rears its ugly head — I had taken an oath to veer away from seafood and stick with my steak frites and duck confit.
But when Fishbar first opened its doors and having read many rave reviews about it, I decided to give it a try. To make my experiment much more fruitful was the fact that the restaurant is Ocean Wise certified which means that you’re supporting sustainable fishing.
Being a food blogger, it takes awhile for me to circle back to tried-​and-​true favourites because shiny and new restaurant reviews always get lots of eyeballs. I had been meaning to revisit Fishbar after having seen tweets about B.Y.O.W Wednesdays, where for a $ 2 minimum donation to Ocean Wise you can bring your own wine. But considering that corking fees start at $ 20, I encourage you all to give generously.
When my foodie friends over at View the Vibe invited me to preview the new Spring/​Summer menu and to celebrate the 2 year anniversary of Fishbar — I just couldn’t resist.
While the fried smelts and lobster mac ‘n cheese (temporarily retired from the menu) didn’t make an appearance, I was introduced to some new favourites.
Owners William Tavares and Renata Andreazza were great hosts and provided explanations of each of the dishes we sampled. In addition to the delicious seafood samplings we sampled a stiff Octopussy Martini (eating the vodka-​soaked oyster is not optional), and a few great wines.
Before sitting down to dinner we noshed on a selection of Malpeques and Village Bay oysters.
Some of the highlights of the night for me were:
White Anchovy crostini with caramelized onions, olive & lemon gremolata ($ 10) — This was a well-​balanced trio of salty, sweet and citrus; loved noshing on these while sipping on a glass of Portuguese 2011 Deu La Deu Alvarinho Vinho Verde.
Tuna Sashimi with mango soy glaze, toasted almond, mango and seasame salad ($ 14) — The vibrant colours of this fruit leather-​esque dish was only a teaser to its taste. A light, refreshing dish that would be perfect in the summer. It’s great to see sashimi presented differently than your usual Japanese restaurant fare.
Spiced Lentil Salad with lobster crème fraîche, micro greens and crispy papadum. This was definitely the most unique dish and texturally impressive. Large chunks of lobster, soft lentils and crispy papdum (Indian origin, and are traditionally made with lentils, black gram, chickpeas and rice flour).
Pacific Salmon Tartare with pickled ginger & cucumber, tempura white onions, basil aioli ($ 13) — Yes, another raw fish dish. What can I say? When the fish is fresh, this is the best way to eat it? While the tempura-​battered onions were a tad oily, the tartare really brightened the palate.
Baja Diver Scallops with apple butter, Pancetta crisp ($ 18) — The biggest scallops I’ve ever seen, perfectly browned with Pancetta instead of your usual boring bacon, fatty pork belly and some apple butter to cut the richness and salt. Yummy!
Grilled Maple Miso glazed Salmon with asparagus tips & sweet pea butter sauce ($ 16) — Perfectly tender and flaky salmon with a nice sweet glaze made this dish a hit. Nothing worse than eating a maple Miso glazed salmon that is drowning in syrup. This one was just right.
Sicilian Gnocchi with Spot prawns, shitake mushrooms, arugula, white wine, garlic ($ 16) — Not your average gnocchi! This had the mouth-​feel of a Korean rice cake and was less starchy, but I totally loved it!
We also sampled a dessert trio consisting of a gelato, deconstructed Tiramisu (with whole coffee beans tossed in sugar — amazing!) and my favourite, Lemon Curd Parfait ($ 9). All this with a glass of Quinta Serra d’Ordens White Porto, which was not too sweet and just right.
A special thanks to View the Vibe and Fishbar for having me. I will most definitely have to come back for the Fishbar Taco (halibut & shrimp ceviche, guacamole, birds eye chili, corn tortilla), a customer favourite.
*Meal was complimentary courtesy of Fishbar, views and opinions expressed are my own*

Fishbar was on one of my bookmarks-​to-​try so I was very excited when my bf suggested going there with two other friends. Reservations were easily made on Opentable and when we were running 15 minutes late behind, we called and they had no problem holding our table.
When I read other reviews, my benchmark was already set very low. I was imagining a small, cramped space where I wouldn’t be able to hear anything because it was so loud and food that was good… or bad… depending on who reviewed it. In other words, reviews weren’t consistent, but I still wanted to try the place out.
8:45pm and the place was packed, but the ambiance was nice. Long and narrow and we were seated by the wall. Our waiter apologized for keeping us waiting but we didn’t mind. We started out with a dozen oysters which were excellent. Then, our table shared:
Fish Tacos — Not what I was envisioning. Cold cuts of seafood in a hard, taco shell. Nothing special
Sardines — Ick! I couldn’t take one more bite… I don’t think it was how they cooked it, but the fish itself
Tuna Tartare — This dish came with a crunchy chip, but I ended up eating the whole dish myself because no one wanted it… nothing special
Fried Calamari — Can never go wrong with fried rings.
French Fries — By far the best dish! We loved it so much we ordered two more
Grilled Spicy Shrimp — WOOT! It definitely is spicy
I had two glasses of white wine and the table share a bottle of sake. Total damage for shrimp and French fries came out to be $ 230 which is not cheap. Portions are meant for sharing.
Overall, I am glad I experienced it, but nothing special. The food was good, but its shrimp… its fries… it’s a taco. I mean, I can’t rave about how fresh a taco is… The fact that its sustainable means I can eat with a guiltless conscious, so a star there. Our server was great — no complaints there. As for the noise level, it was okay with my friends… I didn’t need to shout and the space was not cramped. In that regard, another star.
I would love to come back for Happy Hour, especially now because when you check in, you can get a deal on oysters. Nice place to drop by for drinks and nibbles, but I can’t see myself coming back here soon for a serious and mean seafood dinner.

It’s not a happy birthday for me until I get to stuff my gullet with seafood so we decide to check out Fishbar for dinner since it was a carry over from my 2012 to-​try list.
Reservations were made easily online but I have to mention — their website was a hot mess. The menu was very difficult to read. I just checked back and looks like they are working on improving it.
Our group of 4 arrived around 7pm to an empty restaurant — oh goodie, a private dinner.
Started with a round of drinks, a bottle of riesling, a dozen PEI oysters on the half shell ($ 2.50 each) and the smelts ($ 8).
We also ordered a variety of tapas from the menu to share — tuna tartar ($ 16), fish tacos — 2 per order ($ 12), anchovies on crostini ($ 8), scallops with apple butter ($ 16), seared tuna ($ 16) and fries ($ 6).
The highlight of the meal was definitely the tuna tartar and the fish tacos. Both tasted super fresh and amazing. We actually had to get a second round of both!
Low light was the smelts. I’m from Northern Ontario so I know how easy it is to catch and prepare smelts… it was a staple in my childhood diet right along with Labatt 50 and maple syrup. The Fishbar smelts were super fishy tasting which signals to me that they were probably frozen and not fresh. They were soggy and flaccid (deep fryer not hot enough?). I’ve definitely had better at highway truck stops.
Service was adequate and I was comforted when a few more diners showed up about half way through our meal.
Fishbar was definitely a treat since I couldn’t very well go fishing for my own seafood at this moment. Would consider returning next time my fancy turns to fish.

Happy Hour Friday/​Saturday/​Sunday from 3:30 — 5:30!
House Beer 15oz for $ 4 which is a Steam Whistle! Or if you are like me, prefer a glass of white wine $ 5.
Oysters from $ 1.35 each or $ 16 for a dozen… We opted for the French Kiss which is $ 1.75 each or $ 20 for a dozen instead…
There are also other cooked seafood on the menu if you are not into oysters.
Most items are $ 1 or $ 2 less than what they charge on the regular menu, so not really a huge difference in prices.
Fishbar is definitely a good place to have a drink or 2 and chill out a bit in between meals. Since it was a Sunday late afternoon, the restaurant was really quiet with just our table at 5 pm.
Service was ok, we get what we want but did feel a little rush since the staff were prepping for dinner rush.
$ 4 for a beer is really a good price… I will be back!

Long, narrow space with a chic vibe… friendly if slow service… and the bench seating against the wall could definitely be more comfortable (back pillows perhaps?)
Oysters were pretty fresh, fried lake smelts (with sea salt and lemon) were very tasty (for $ 7 you get a nice amount, almost too many for us), crispy calamari was super battery and crispy as promised, and seared crusted sesame tuna was a lovely dish – recommended. But the definite highlight was the Fishbar Taco (halibut/​shrimp ceviche with guac and chili).
Worth a go!