Amidst the relentless urbanization of North York, one humble abode stands defiant. Located on Yonge St, just north of Sheppard Ave., Chez Laurent has survived the test of time and remains a lasting vestige of the region's suburban past. Inside the modest, two-story home, one can enjoy a delightful selection of French and Italian dishes.
Tiff and I took our "French-Italian fat trip" to Chez Laurent on an abnormally chilly Summer evening. We had placed our reservation by phone earlier that day. We were glad we did because when we arrived, the restaurant was buzzing with activity. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by a woman who appeared to be the owner of the establishment. Inside the restaurant, we were given a table near a window in one of the three dining rooms. Unfortunately, we didn't snap any photos of the interior this time.
Zurichioise ($14.95)
Strips of chicken breast & sun-dried tomato in a rose sauce
The first of our mains was a fantastic fettuccine in a rich rose sauce. It arrived piping hot and looked absolutely scrumptious. The homemade fettucine had a refreshing texture and eggy taste, enhanced by the pesto sauce in which it is lightly-coated. It's presentation was uncomplicated but the flavours of the dish more than made up for it.
Lasagna ($11.95)
Homemade beef lasagna "best in North America"
Chez Laurent's lasagna was probably one of the best lasagnas I have ever had in a restaurant (from my limited experiences). The sauce was so jam-packed with tasty, I couldn't help but lap every bit of it up. Claiming to be the "best in North America" is a tall-order but the claim doesn't diminish the fact that the lasagna was amazing. There's no twist to this Lasagna, it sticks to the basic ingredients. However, the execution shows nothing but perfection, from layer to layer.
Tartufo ($6.95)
Italian ice cream.
The tartufo is an interesting dessert option that is rarely found in Toronto. While Chez Laurent offers a small assortment of flavours, we opted for the chocolatey option - milk chocolate with a powdered dark chocolate coating. Unlikely the soft-serve ice cream that we all know and love, the tartufo comes frozen. Getting the dessert into our mouths took a bit of work (or time to thaw) but the rich and intense chocolate flavours were more than worth the effort.
Crème brûlée ($6.95)
Cream based custard topped with crusted sugar
The crème brûlée is one of our favourite dessert options and the opportunity to try Chez Laurent's version of this delectable dessert was not to be missed. The sugar crust was just the right thickness and the custard could only be described as tasty. It's also a great option for those looking to share thanks to its fair portion size.
Food (4/5)
There's a touch of home to every dish that's prepared at Chez Laurent, a personal-touch that is very much welcomed. Of course, it helps that the food served is not only fair for the price, but delicious.
Service (2.5/5)
It's a relatively small restaurant with only one server and one waitress. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to get any attention. I don't doubt that that could be attributed to the layout of the restaurant though, where visibly can sometimes be limited.
Decor (1/5)
I suspect eating out on the patio on a nice summer day would be a relatively pleasant experience. Inside though, the age of the house shows.
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