Restaurant Spotlight #5: Florette

Florette is a charming little restaurant on Queen Street West, serving innovative modern Canadian cuisine. Its intimate atmosphere and quaint decor makes it the perfect setting for special occasions, such as date nights or small get-togethers with friends.

Bar seating area and arched floral ceiling

We sat right across from the bar and dined beneath a gorgeous floral ceiling. The restaurant is pretty small, mostly set up for tables of two or three, but there’s a larger spot by the window for bigger groups. I loved the dim lighting and unique decor, as it really set the mood for quiet yet nice conversation.

Bread & Butter and Marinated Mushrooms

We started with the Sourdough Bread & Butter and the Marinated Mushrooms. They paired really well together, but I really want to highlight the mushrooms. They were perfectly seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and other flavours I couldn’t quite name but absolutely loved.

Roasted Cabbage

We also got the Roasted Cabbage, which my exceeded expectations. The cabbage was charred to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and topped with a rich, creamy sauce. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would, and we finished all of it within minutes.

Rigatoni

For the first main, we ordered the Rigatoni which I've heard a lot of good things about, and it definitely lived up to the hype. I mean, your mouth should be watering just looking at the picture above. Perfectly al dente and coated in a rich & creamy sauce, its easily one of the best Rigatonis I’ve ever had.

Rainbow Trout

We also tried the Rainbow Trout, and it was just as impressive. The skin was beautifully crispy, the meat was tender, and the unique sauce complemented it perfectly. Plus, the plating was stunning, almost too pretty to eat (but of course, we did).

One of the things I loved most about this place was the menu. Most dishes came in small portions and were meant for sharing, which made it easy to try a variety of dishes. The unique decor, especially the floral ceiling, added to the warm, homey feel of the restaurant. The service was amazing as well, as our server was super attentive and friendly.

Pricing: The total came to around $100 for two, which is on the pricier side but felt reasonable for the experience. This is the kind of spot that’s perfect for a special occasion or just a well-deserved treat when you’re in the mood for a nice sit-down meal.

Overall, I think that the small size of this restaurant makes it a great place for intimate dates and get-togethers, or even a small birthday celebration with just a couple of your closest friends (which I've been considering!).

Dish of the Day: Rigatoni (one of the best I've ever had!)

Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!