Los Colibris

Had rajas poblanas (a creamy chicken taco) and gallina de chocolate (chicken mole).
Rajas poblanas were amazing. One of the best if not the best tacos I’ve ever had, but it’s more of a tasty chicken with a tortilla you can make a taco with.
Gallina de chocolate — not the best mole I’ve ever had. Solid flavors, good balance of vegetables, but the mole was a little more sesame/​chocolate and less spice than I’m used to.
Guava margarita also pretty good but not spectacular.
Service, however, was spectacular. Attentive, multiple people came to check in (genuine, not just a forced question). I think overall a very good restaurant experience.
It’s hard to have a high-​end Mexican place, but Los Colibris does it pretty well. If not for the amazing service, I would say it could be a solid high-​end but not fancy restaurant. But with the service this good, it could probably do well just to have a bit more creativity in plating.

Ambiance– 4 stars. The place looks cool, and definitely mexican. Arched ceilings, wood beams, white stucco walls.
Service– 2 stars. three times we were asked «do you want water?» Each time we said yes, but nobody brought us any. Bit of a tease that. The people working there were friendly enough, but not exactly skilled. Oh, and when we left, the coat check had been abandoned, and there was a group of about 15 customers at the front waiting for their coats. One lady in her 60’s said «to hell with this» and went behind the counter and got her own coat. That lady was really cool… I wish she worked at this restaurant.
Food– 2 stars. Some stewed lamb served on top of what we figured was banana bread (???), guacamole & chips, ceviche & chips. The best thing was the guacamole and chips. They do have some colourful cocktails, so they get points there.
I would definitely come back here for drinks after a show or something like that, but not to eat.

I’ll have to admit, I didn’t have big expectations coming into this place, but I really liked Los Colibris. Being in the entertainment district where most restaurants are tourist-​focused, I really didn’t think it was going to be as good as it was. I dined with 5 other people and everyone was quite happy with their meal and the service provided.
I ordered the following:
El Golondrino: rice tamal, lamb mixiote, chipotle-​ancho adobo sauce, queso de hoja, salsa verde cruda
This was an excellent dish — I would definitely recommend it. The lamb literally would melt in your mouth. I suggest adding the hot sauce that accompanies it — spicy but flavourful…
My dinner companions ordered the below items and all had very positive things to say about them:
Chipotle Arrachera con Frijoles — chipotle marinated flat iron steak, pico de gallo, refried black beans, chorizo sausage, handmade corn tortillas
El Jardin de Wookie — roasted seasonal vegetables in tlatonile and mole sauces
Pescado en Pipian Rojo y Berros — daily whole fish (served filleted), pipian rojo, pickled beets, celery root, watercress and crispy papas bravas
Additionally, their guacamole was really good as well…

This place has amazing atmosphere and knows how to treat their customers. Karen is awesome behind the bar and Manager James took care of a minor issue (cracked glass) with customer service skills far beyond any service I expected or have ever had in the past. We visited two nights in a row and WILL be back!

In short: Really really good food, classy environment, and attentive service.
In detail: Started with Guac & Chips which had a very interesting flair of pomegranates which added a really nice flavour combination. Then moved on Rajas Poblanos which is was also very tasty, especially wrapped in the home made flour tortillas. The problem with both these starters was that they give you too few chips and too few tortillas to actually eat the whole dish. This is something I’ve noticed in restaurants lately that really bugs me. You know I’m going to need more than the amount supplied, why nickle and dime for the additional items required to enjoy the dish?
Moving past that, I had the Chilies en Nogada for a main which is a pepper stuffed with pork and walnut sauce over rice and veg. The best part of the pepper was after stuffing it they actually lightly deep fry it. I have zero complaints about this and would recommend it to anyone.
Cocktail menu is tequila heavy, and the beer options are all Mexican including a couple of Mexican craft beer options.
Overall, I really enjoyed Los Colibris. It might just be the most expensive Mexican food in the city, but with the white tablecloths, attentive service, and higher level ingredients, it’s easier to see where the money has gone by the time you’re paying the bill which lightens the burden.

I was so pleasantly surprised
1) they let me make a reservation on a Saturday night for a group of 16 with short notice
2) the food was really good. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal (the steak was awesome!)
3) the waiters were attentive but didn’t get in the way. All out orders came out at the same time and were nice and hot
4) drinks were delicious too
I am definitely going to be a regular customer here

Sat in their lounge so my friend and I only didn’t try their entrees but their appetizers were some of the best I’ve ever had.
We had the rajas poblanas, tostada de atun, camarones a la diabla, guaraches de pulpo en su tinta, and el golondrino.
The rajas poblanas is very creamy and cheesy with lots of onions and chunks of chicken. Love the cherry consistency of the flour tortillas that accompany the dish. I was told this is one of their heavier appetizers. I must say that it is quite filling.
Tostada de atun has an amazing avocado cream and the tuna is tender and flavorful.
The guaraches de pulpo en su tinta has an amazing sauce with an arm of octopus. Octopus was firm and the piece was bigger than expected.
El golondrino has very tender lamb with a mild to moderate gamy flavour.
Very relaxing and classy atmosphere. Great place to sit and chat with friends.

I was in the mood for Mexican food, but more upscale than a standard taqueria, which aren’t that great to begin with in Toronto. I stumbled across Los Colibris in my Unilocal results and decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did: It was one of the better meals I’ve had in Toronto.
Los Colibris takes traditional Mexican dishes and adds an element of sophistication and subtly to them. I had the traditional ceviche, which was marinated in just the right amount of lime juice (most restaurants tend to make it too citrusy). It had a bit of heat to offset the slight acidity of the lime and tomatoes. For my main, I went with the chiles en Nogada. The pork was cooked just right while it had a perfect balance of a subtle sweetness with the savory, nutty undertones. The ingredients in both dishes were fresh while the food had great presentation. And even though I didn’t drink, the tequila list was quite comprehensive and impressive. The bartender knew quite a bit about the varieties and tastes of tequila and mescal.
The ambience at Los Colibris was upscale and modern, although it wasn’t particularly lively or boisterous. There was a good mix between suits and those on dates. I could see Los Calibris being a good destination for date night at one of the tables at the back: the lighting is dim, white table clothes, and a number of 2-​seater tables. And I can’t speak enough about the great service: Meals were delivered efficiently yet paced correctly. I sat at the bar and the bartender told me all about tequila, traditional Mexican food, and Mexico City. If I had to ding Los Colibris on anything, it was the lack of off-​menu specials. That would have added another unique dimension to their plates.
Overall I’d give Los Colibris 4.5 stars (if Unilocal allowed for a half point). Judging by my meal and the service, I will definitely return.

Nothing to say but great authentic Mexican. I love some of the reviews from people who consider Houston as the meca of authentic Mexican. How about mention an actual Mexican city.

A friend from out of town insisted that we try Los Colibris. It had met with rave reviews and was regarded highly by people who seem to know a lot about this sort of thing.
Well, I wouldn’t say skip it, but I won’t be back too quickly. If you find yourself heading down to this restaurant…
1. The margaritas are average.
2. The wine list is good, but many of the wines are a bit young and need to be decanted.
3. The small plates are not exactly small. The Rajas app could be a slightly too salty meal by itself.
4. The empanadas are reasonably good.
5. The beef ribs are well-​cooked and served with potatoes and beans. It is a huge portion.
6. The lamb dish is downright bad.
7. Service is attentive, though chaotic.
8. The place is white table cloth, which is nice in a town where much isn’t.
Conclusion– Toronto is not a great Mexican food city. Los Colibris is a decent option for those who want higher end Mexican food with the awareness that Toronto is not yet Houston.

The service at this gourmet restaurant is FIVE star! Upon checking in on Unilocal I also received a FREE large Chicken with cheese and peppers with four tortillas appetizer (going to write every thing in English because my Spanish is not all that well)…I ordered the tortilla soup, also Chicken with Chocolate Sesame Seed sauce and rice for my entrée…All I have to say is everything was finger licking GOOD… it is on a pricey side with all mains ranging in the high $ 20s and $ 30s but it is worth the experience! Yum!

I went to Los Colibris on Thursday night with a group of 4. The Restaurant is larger than I thought with an entire hidden second half. Surprisingly it was only half full.
The service was excellent. Our guac came out within 1 minute of ordering it. Our server was extremely friendly and knowledgable.
The food was, for the most part, fantastic. Los Colibris takes traditional Mexican flavours and transforms them into complex, imaginative dishes.
We had:
Guacamole — ⁵⁄₅ WOW! Not your typical guac. It was heavy on the citrus and topped with pomegranates. I loved that there were taro chips along with the corn chips.
El Golondrino — ⁵⁄₅ OMG YUM! This is a lamb tamale. A perfect blend of chewy textures and sweet flavours. I highly recommend this dish. All 4 of us loved it.
Ensalada de Betabel — ⁴⁄₅ this salad has beets, carrot, lettuce and guava. It’s refreshing with a tangy herb that I couldn’t place but really enjoyed.
Chilies en Nogada — ⁴⁄₅ I loved the presentation and the depth of this dish. Also loved the cinnamon.
Gallina de Chocolate — ⁵⁄₅ best chicken with mole I’ve had.
El Jardin de Wookie — ⁵⁄₅ a huge portion of seasoned grilled veggies in 2 delicious sauces.
Where they fell short was the Rajas poblanas which to me tasted exactly the like the Tostidos spinach dip. It was really nothing special ¹⁄₅
and the desert:
Tres Leches — ²⁄₅ a coconuty moist cake with some lemon sorbet which I thought was okay but another person in the group that was jarring. I really didn’t care for the mushy texture of this dish. Nobody ate more than a spoonful.
I will definitely return to Los Colibris next time I feel like Mexican and highly recommend it to anyone who wants an unusual and delicious dining experience.

AMAZING! Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Highly Recommend. Server was super knowledgeable and very friendly.

Had a great time here. First «upscale» mexican restaurant i’ve been to in toronto — it may be the only one in toronto. The décor is classic (white table cloths, older furniture), not trendy. The crowd was typically older…“theater” crowd i suppose.
The front of house was kinda cold/​unfriendly. Maybe because I wasn’t dressed up? I was in a field jacket, jeans and sneakers. She told me she could only seat me if i left by a certain time. Why do restaurants threaten their guests like that. Are you really going to kick me out mid bite? I’m not one to linger… I’m out the door as fast as you can feed me.
The waiter was super nice and explained how the menu worked, what is popular, and what his favorites were.
We got the: Rajas Poblanas, Chilies en Nogada, El Golondrino. All were very good. The portions were huge so we were extremely full.
The rajas poblanos was cream and had a kick. Portion is big enough to be an entrée. Its super rich, so its good to share. The chilies en nogada was very tasty, though a bit too sweet for me, and i usually like sweet and salty food. The el golondrino is a lamb tamale, and was my favorite dish of the night. Overall the food was delicious and waitstaff were very friendly and makes up for the weird start.
When we left an hour and 15 minutes later the restaurant was pretty empty.

First time trying an upscale Mexican restaurant and if talking purely on food sans fancy linen and dim candlelight ambience, we had a decent meal but nothing that really stood out to have us excited for a second visit.
— Pink guava margarita: I think I may have a thing for guava but this is worth trying — light, fragrant and not overly sweet or strong.
–Tijuana Caesar: this was a surprising one because I didn’t expect much from a Caesar salad but the combo of sour cream with warm spicy minced pork really worked and may have been the best thing I liked that night.
— Grilled octopus with tortilla: octopus was tender and the warm tortilla had an interesting thickness and chewiness to it. Could use a little more flavouring though.
— Guac: who doesn’t like guac but i think they can be more generous on the guac as there was way too much tasty taro chips for the small amount of guac.
— Tortilla soup: Didn’t taste much beyond the basic sour and tomatoey flavour. Would not recommend.
— Ceviche tamarindo: this was definitely the biggest bummer. I love ceviche but the ceviche here just didn’t sing to me. It needed more acid and the fish didn’t taste that fresh.
Service was attentive and ambiance of the place was intimate and maybe a tad too dim — although some might prefer this since everyone looks a little better in dimmer lighting right.
Going in with realistic expectations is probably the best way to enjoy this place. But with the price you pay for an upscale restaurant why go in with realistic expectations?

Went for dinner last night for a double birthday, group of 7. When we arrived I didn’t find the hostess particularly friendly. When the waitress came to the table I didn’t find her particularly friendly either and as the night progressed she was clearly a … Our group was not obnoxious or rude, we were laughing loud and enjoying each other’s company, nothing out of the ordinary. Food was not stellar but really good. But because of the service, I will not go back.
Oh yes, the bathrooms were not impressive and incredibly dirty.

Dinner
Overall: 3.75 (Good)
Food & Value: 3.75÷5 (Tasty but not necessarily memorable)
Ambience & Service: ⁴⁄₅ (swarmed by TIFF goers, staff were still friendly and helpful)
Repeat: Not in a hurry, but can see ourselves dropping by.
Final word: Believe TO has fab (overpriced) tacos and guac & chips served with a heaping of pretension (not at this locale) but beyond that we still have a longway to go.

I was extremely excited to eat here. I have read that this restaurant was amongst the best new restauranst of 2014.
I must say the Coconut Ceviche was probably the biggest dissapointment of the night, it lack that citrus kick I love about it.
The rest of the food was alright nothing really stood out to me.
The prices are quite high for the portions you are served. It is definetely not your $ 3.00 taco place
The service on the other hand was great and I really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant but I don’t need to go back anytime soon.

A nice fine dining alternative to the many fast-​food type Mexican restos serving up tacos and enchiladas. Ambiance and service was top notch. Hosting and wait staff were professional and friendly, giving great recommendations to those who are not used to eating Mexican food. The cocktails were nice. I had the coffee infused one (forget the name) — it was different in a good way.
Unfortunately, the food was more miss than hit. For starters, I tried the ceviche blanco as it caught my eye, using shrimp and coconut. It was good, but could have been more tart. I also split the pulpo a la parrilla (octupus w/​corn tortillas). The corn tortillas were made in house and amazing. The octopus on the other hand was bland and tasteless. The tortilla soup was heavy on the salt as well.
The mains fared marginally better. I had the chipoltle arrachera con frijoles which is essentially a steak with thick sauce consisting of refried beans. The steak was cooked nicely, however the sauce was on the salty side. Portion size was good. Overall, OK. The Cerdo en Macha Mantel (pork belly) was very good. The pork was extremely tender and the pineapple salsa really gave it a nice kick. It also comes with a fritter that was very tasty. I shared the flan de chocolate at the end, which could have seriously bumped it to 3 stars… alas I was expecting something a bit more decadent. I wasn’t in a rush, but the kitchen was very slow. Our whole meal took over 2.5 hours, and I was not taking my time. Understaffed perhaps?
Overall, Los Colibris is a good restaurant for the area (tourist trappy king west, across roy thompson). It has the ability to seat large parties and would be great for a business dinner. The menu is refreshing, but the food is mediocre and expensive. I can see what it is trying to be, but left feeling disappointed.

Very likely, one of the best — the very BEST — restaurants that I have EVER been to in Toronto. Without a doubt, this is very quickly going to get on every list of Where to Eat in the city.
Went here for a Valentine’s Day prix fixe menu last night for the first time. Every detail of their delivery just blew me away. A few details… Location is in the entertainment district, right beside the theatre. You’d think its a tourist trap, some kitschy little spot that caters to overdone theatre goers who are looking for any remotely satiating food. Not in the least. The restaurant is so beautifully done on the inside, and if you can ask to steal a look at the private dining room look up at the chandelier. You’ll see how the «hummingbird» theme weaves itself through the décor.
The staff… We had a 10:30pm reservation. Grave yard shift for Valentine’s Day. Last seating of the night. And yet, everyone, from the person at the check in desk, to the shift manager, to the bartenders, to the busboy, to the waiter were super energetic, friendly, chatty, professional, upbeat, everything. From a management perspective, something very right is happening in your human resources department. How a place can successfully hire an entire staff where every single person delivers the exact same positive experience is amazing to me. (Really… How do you screen for hospitality like that in an interview?).There were probably about ten to twelve staff that we interacted with during the night and they were all consistently on their A-​game. Super professional service. It is noticed.
The food… Christ. If it wasn’t Valentine’s Day I would have proposed to my plate. It was just so, totally delicious, and for a prix fixe menu at that. The guacamole and tortilla chips, taro chips, lightly salted, with pomegranate seeds in the guac. Amazing texture, perfectly salted, and there was this light spice on the taro and corn tortilla chips that were amazing. I could have had a bowl of these for myself.
The Camarones a la Diabla. Huge, delicious, shrimp just fell off the shell, perfectly marinated, not too greasy, filling, generous portions.
This dish, which I cannot find on the menu now, but you need to ask the waiter about… A cast iron skillet with cheese and meat sort of stuck to the pan, which you smear onto this ultra soft tortilla. I’ve never had anything like it but I was smiling as I was eating this the entire time. How a dish can make you feel (and even before I drank my cocktail :). Totally amazing.
The main course… Chipotle Arrachera con Frijoles. Also, just amazing. The cast iron steak pieces are just perfectly cooked, and the accompaniments you can stuff into a tortilla are so satisfying. There was also a bowl of, I think, sopa del dia with beans. The weather outside was around –31 Celsius with windchill, and I think we may have tried to smuggle a bowl back to our car to eat on the drive home! Warm, satisfying.
Finally, for dessert, I’m pretty sure it was this concoction that may have only been there for Valentine’s Day, but another dish worth asking for. Churro ice cream sandwiches. Really? How much do I love the entire Latin culture and the creator of churros at baseline? And now an ice cream sandwich in that? Presentation was beautiful. A stick of edible raspberry flavored marshmallow, and a stick of dark chocolate Valentine candy. Why? Just because it adds to the flavors and presentation.
The drinks, we had one pisco tequila and another pink colored tequila cocktail. Delicious. Perfect, and the pisco one smelled as good as it tasted. Final touch? The check, such a creative way it’s presented.
It’s the details. The attention to service, presentation of the food, the manner of the people in the restaurant — like it’s their home, even when it’s the last seating on a busy night.
I can’t say enough about this restaurant. The cost: 30 minute drive, –31 Celsius weather, 10:30pm reservation, finding parking downtown, $ 150 bill for two with drinks… But truly, truly, worth every cent.