A quiet, green, tasty oasis in the heart of the city.
If you love outdoor dining and the action of downtown Toronto, but you’re not a fan of noisy traffic and automobile exhaust, the patio at Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square is the perfect place for you.
The patio is surrounded by small palm trees and thriving, colourful begonias in shades of pink and salmon. It’s a lush retreat that was pleasant and cool on a recent, warm summer evening.
Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square is across the street from the Scotiabank Arena on Bremner Boulevard. The eastern end of Bremner isn’t closed to traffic, but it’s a one-way road once you get to the arena, so you’ll find very few cars passing by. Because you’re right next to the arena and steps from the southern exit at Union Station, you’ll get tons of foot traffic at night. That makes for great people watching, which is one of the joys of a summer night in the city.
The patio at Hotel Le Gemain Maple Leaf Square in Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTOLe Germain chef Johnson Wu has come up with a nice, varied menu in what the hotel refers to as “Wusian Fusian.” For example, the barbequed pork belly has atchara and banana ketchup. Wu also makes a lemongrass chicken leg and adds parmesan furikake.
“Patio time is play time for me,” Wu says. “It’s when I get to experiment with a lot of different flavour combos.”
The patio also has a set of lovely signature cocktails developed in collaboration with Romeo’s gin, out of Montreal.
My wife raved about the Romeo Spritz, with Romeo’s X Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, Prosecco and a generous dollop of grapefruit. “A perfect summer cocktail,” she said.
A Romeo’Spritz cocktail at Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square in Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTO
I went for a Kentucky Mule, which is a Moscow Mule with bourbon instead of vodka. It’s not on the menu, but they’re happy to make you one, and it’s delicious.
Our server was friendly and helpful, and it was a gorgeous night. I even spotted Chris Boucher of the Toronto Raptors walking through the Jurassic Park fan region.
The patio bar serves up four white wines and three reds by the glass. We sampled a nice Callia Malbec from Argentina and a lovely, not too jammy Cabernet Sauvignon from Cartlidge and Browne, in Mendocino County, California.
The popcorn chicken with sweet chili sauce, aioli and sliced green onion was terrific; moist and flavourful but not too spicy. The edamame with miso powder and togarashi was a nice, healthy snack.
We also enjoyed a very good steak with a nice spice rub. It was grilled perfectly and came with terrific fries with herbs and parmesan cheese. I’d add a bit more dressing and a little more garlic and lemon to the Caesar Salad, but it was fine.
Popcorn chicken and edamame at Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square in Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Other menu options include grilled corn with a ginger sesame glaze, Kimchi focaccia, charcuterie or cheese plates and burgers.
The hotel is one of the best in Toronto, with tremendous design and sleek, stylish rooms that feature graceful, powerful photos of athletes. Their breakfast buffet is marvellous.
And it’s tough to beat the location; a mere half block from Union Station and crawling distance from the Scotiabank Arena. You’re also a very short walk from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Ripley’s Aquarium and the Rogers Centre, not to mention the Hockey Hall of Fame and Harbourfront.
Very good food, and a tranquil setting in the heart of the city. This might one of the best patios in Toronto.
