Chantecler

Every bustling urban district is improved by having a top-tier neighbourhood bistro to lean on — and for Christie Pits, in Toronto’s Bloor West neighbourhood, that’s Chantecler. The décor is simple and understated, and the mood convivial — and made more so by the long and invariably full bar that runs down the left side of the room. Apéro hour means an array of modestly priced snacks (oysters, pissaladière, steak tartare, and mini duck pithiviers, to name a few). Imaginative and expertly mixed cocktails, beers on tap, and a small but enticing list of wines by the glass round out the offer. By 6 p.m., the place is hopping. The dinner menu is replete with bistro classics, but Ecuadorian chef Diego Reyes cannot help but give them a smart, international (often Latin, sometimes Asian) twist. Pan-roasted scallops come plated with hard-seared cauliflower fleurets, cauliflower purée, emulsified gochujang butter and a brightening sprinkle of coriander. Boles de picolat — beef, veal and pork meatballs — with tomato-braised northern white beans are a must. Tender duck confit accompanied by its crisp-skinned breast, soubise and cranberry-infused duck jus is irresistible. Service is competent and ultra-friendly. And when you add all this up, evidently Chantecler exceeds its intended purpose as a neighbourhood destination — because it received enough votes from far and wide to be anointed our People’s Choice Restaurant of 2026.
798 Bloor St. W. Toronto, Ont. • chanteclerto.com