Against the Grain - Toronto

The restaurant is currently closed for extensive renovations and will reopen with a new name. It is unclear if there has been a change in management.

Nice place to have brunch with friends and enjoy the water scenery from the patio. They also have fireplaces at patio. Food and cocktails are good but a little bit pricey.

Against the Grain is located in the Corus building next to the water. You can access the restaurant by walking around to the back of the building facing the lake or through the building with a reception desk at the front. When we arrived as the first dome diners, they needed time to set up by turning on the heaters in the domes. We were given the option to choose our dome, which determined whether we sat on couches or at a table. The domes' coverings do not go all the way down to the frame, allowing some cold air in, so we kept our jackets on and were provided with blankets. The view from the domes is clear during the day, but at night, you can only see the twinkle lights around. The food was enjoyable, with the intense cinnamon-flavored cider and creamy butternut squash soup as appetizers. The seared tuna main dish had Asian flavors at the bottom, with unique ingredients like woodear mushrooms. Unfortunately, the brownie dessert was unavailable, but the strawberry champagne cheesecake was good, while the churros were hard. One unique aspect of this dining experience is that payment is required upfront, including a 20% gratuity. This is understandable as the server has to navigate between the restaurant and patio, as well as in and out of the dome, which can be challenging.

I booked for the prix fixe menu igloo dining but unfortunately all their outdoor igloos got broken during the recent winter storm, so we just had dinner indoors. To make up for it, they gave us a free cocktail drink and wine glass with our meal, which i really think was a good gesture. The food servings were generous, and one of the best winterlicious menus i’ve ever had. Our server (i forgot to ask his name, he wears glasses and was also looking after the bar area) has been very attentive and helpful which made me decide to give 5 stars instead of 4.

I went for the igloo dining. The view of the water was lovely. The inside of the igloo was decorated. The food was filling and tasted delicious. The portions were generous, I had leftover food to take home. The only thing is the heater was not very warm. But I really enjoyed the experience! I would do it again!