To my delight, Merlot captures these qualities. You’ll find the traditional French favourites on their menu like escargot and steak frites, as well as interesting dishes like the “St. Tropez” fish soup ($15.50). The broth has a bouillabaisse feel spiked with more saffron and thickened with pulverized fish - personally, I would have preferred if the fish was left in chunks, so it’d feel less like eating savoury baby food.
The texture improved once I
dropped in bite-sized pieces of the toasted baguette topped with creamy rouille
(a garlicky lemon and saffron aioli) and grated Emmenthal to each spoonful. Think
of it as a lighter French onion soup that swaps out the onion for fish.
If there’s duck confit ($32.50) on the menu, most likely it’s
what I’ll order. Interestingly, the duck leg arrives with no sauce giving it a
lovely rustic homemade quality. You can certainly taste the duck and without
sauce the meat has nowhere to hide, it needs to be done perfectly to taste
delicious. In this case, it was.
Yet, it was the caramelized sautéed garlic potatoes that stole
the show. Cooked in duck fat until a sticky and crispy crust forms, the spuds
made me swoon with delight. Never swap these potatoes for fries.
The meal ended perfectly with a shared slice of tarte aux
pommes ($13.50). The thinly sliced apples sat on a bed of apple sauce and a
perfect pastry crust. Likely the apple sauce helps to add moisture without relying
on syrup, which keep the tart light. While there’s nothing wrong with the apple
sauce, using crème anglaise or some sort of custard give it a richer element.
And get rid of the fruit coulis, it makes the plate pretty but takes away from
the lovely apple flavours.
When I saw the handwritten check, I knew we were in the right place. I truly hope traditional restaurants like Merlot continue to thrive as they have such a lovely charm.
As we get into the summer, I’ll be returning
to enjoy their patio, which hopefully will transport me to a Parisian café.
Address: 2994 Bloor Street West
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
Is That It? I Want More!
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