"This evening I opted for Toqué’s seven-course tasting menu, and while the service was nothing short of exceptional, the experience unfortunately fell flat where it mattered most—the food. I wanted to love Toqué so badly, and I was excited to see if the restaurant lived up to its reputation. To be clear, It’s not that the ingredients were bad. They were fine—perfectly average, even. But we came expecting culinary fireworks, and instead, it was more of a damp sparkler moment. The dishes were neither memorable nor particularly flavorful, leaving little to linger on the palate or in our minds. For a tasting menu at this price point, we anticipated an experience that would excite and surprise, but instead found ourselves with courses that were forgettable and uninspired. Not a single course left me wow’d and despite the modest portion sizes, many of the plates left our table largely untouched. The flavors just didn’t inspire the kind of enthusiasm that draws you back for that next bite, and ultimately, it spoke volumes about the disconnect between expectation and execution. Montreal is overflowing with incredible food, and I’ve long believed it can hold its own against some of the best food cities around the world. With that in mind, I couldn’t help but feel a little deflated. There are so many gems in this city that bring creativity, heart, and an actual punch of flavor—Toqué just didn’t do Montreal any justice tonight."
