Parisian Splendour: A Lunch Date At La Société

Paris holds a very special place in my heart. So when I find a restaurant in Toronto that can whisk me away to La Ville-Lumière, I get really really excited. Back in 2011, I found one such gem: La Société. And I’ve been hooked ever since. Inspired by La Fontaine de Mars, the Charles Khabouth venture brings French charm to the bustling Bloor/Yorkville neighbourhood. The exquisite stained-glass ceiling, mosaic floors and banquettes are reminiscent of a 1920’s Parisian brasserie…

I’ve devoured plenty of dinners at La Société, but this week I dropped in with my photog to try their lunch menu for the first time. We kicked off our date with the Roasted & Pickled Beets Salad ($14). It was a colourful and appetizing dish. I loved the chevre and thought the ice wine infused cranberries were a nice touch.

I then moved on to the Tuna Tartare ($22): a very generous portion of yellow fin. While it was a bit over-salted for my palate, I thought the apple and pine nuts added great flavour and crunch to the dish.

I had to try their fresh oysters. The horseradish and lemon were the perfect accompaniment for the mild, sweet flesh. They’re usually $19/half dozen, but on Thursdays after 5 pm you can order them at the bar or lounge for $1 each!

My photog (who is a vegetarian) ordered our server’s favorite dish: the Open-Faced Omelette ($19). I thought the fresh pear salad really elevated the dish. Oh, and the omelette is made with one of my favourite cheeses: La Sauvagine. Yum!

For my main, I had to order the Tuesday special: Coq Au Vin. I’ve been searching for a great Coq Au Vin in Toronto for years and this is the best one I’ve tasted so far! The red wine sauce was rich, the chicken was incredibly tender and it had just the right amount of pearl onions and mushrooms. It was a dish Julia Child would be proud of. And it took me right back to a little bistro that me and my photog dined at in Montmartre years ago. Le sigh…

To polish off our gluttonous lunch, we ordered two desserts. The Classic Creme Brulee ($12) was my fave (mainly because I take great pleasure in smashing the crisp shell). The fruit provided just the right amount of acidity to breakup the spoonfuls of rich, smooth custard. On the other hand, I thought the maple pecan ice cream was a bit distracting and didn’t add much to the dish.

Last but not least, we had the Apple Croustade ($12). The dessert was a stunner, but it didn’t even come close to the Creme Brulee in my opinion!

If you haven’t dined at this Parisian oasis yet, I highly recommend you give it a shot. Whether you go for brunch with close friends, suck back a few oysters with colleagues after work or have an intimate dinner with your chéri(e), I think La Société will whisk you away! Bon appétit.

Special thanks to La Société for hosting us. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely our own.