where jess ate

This gem of a restaurant is one of the newest additions to Leslieville. Located on Queen Street East, between Carlaw and Jones, Greta Solomon’s (@gretasolomons) is serving up delicious french fare which I’d come back for in a heartbeat!

As we walked into the restaurant I immediately fell in love with the charming space which features two sets of french doors which, when open, make it feel as though you’re eating on the patio despite being inside.

Greta Solomon’s menu is quite small with only seven dishes to choose from including both appetizers and entrees. Often times, I prefer a smaller menu compared to an extensive one with pages of options. It’s tough for a restaurant with a large menu to execute each and every dish well. It leaves me guessing what I should be ordering.

To start the meal, the four of us shared two appetizers. First up was the Escargot Vol au Vent – buttered snails, puff pastry & herbs ($15). I’m accustomed to having my escargot served immersed in butter but these were served on top of puff pastry in four individual bite-sized morsels. It was much lighter (which is very much appreciated in the summer) and proved to be extremely delicious pops of flavour. Highly recommended.

The second appetizer we shared was the Ratatouille – poached egg, courgettes, tomato, pepper, eggplants and olive tapenade ($13). After breaking into the perfectly poached egg, the oozing yolk coated the rest of the vegetables. Served with crostini, this was another great sharing dish to start off the meal.

For entrees, it was the Magret de Canard “Rossini style” – seared foie gras, black truffle, pommes puree, braised cabbage & a port sauce ($22) that caught my eye. Duck, foie gras and truffles? That’s definitely a combination I can’t say no to.

I have to commend the chef(s) at Greta Solomon’s. There were some beautiful plates coming out of the kitchen, including this one. Each component was delicately plated and everything looked incredibly appetizing. The duck breast was cooked perfectly – the meat was moist and the skin was nice and crispy. Topped with a piece of seared foie gras and black truffle shavings, this was undoubtedly a very indulgent dish. The braised cabbage was a nice addition which helped cut the richness. Great value at only $22!

Mike ordered the Filet de Boeuf – seared Ontario striploin, dauphinoise-style scalloped potatoes, broccoli & sauce au poivre ($20). The tender striploin was cooked to a nice medium rare, exactly as requested. He told me he loved the dish, especially the peppercorn sauce. But honestly, judging by how quickly he polished off his plate, sauce included, no words were necessary.

One of our friends ordered A Provencal Classic Dish with Aioli – cod, baby squid, seasoned vegetables & saffron aioli ($18). It’s a delicate dish and while she ordered it as an entrée, it probably would have been better suited as an appetizer, given the portion size.

We initially had plans to eat elsewhere in the neighbourhood but had to change our plans at the last minute when we found out that the restaurant was closed.  It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as we discovered Greta Solomon’s!

At a glance:

• Serving up French fare in Leslieville (Queen East between Carlaw and Jones)
• Open Tuesday to Saturdays for dinner; Closed Sundays/Mondays
• Small menu; portions aren’t huge but great value at the price point
• Had a great experience; would definitely come back
• Highlights: escargot, magret de canard

Ratings (out of 5):

• Food: 4 stars
• Service: 4 stars
• Atmosphere: 4 stars