welcome to batifole

COME EXPERIENCE BISTRONOMY

GREAT FOOD IN A WARM, FRIENDLY, AND RELAXED SETTING

BATIFOLE is an intimate French restaurant serving delicious, original and refined food with an elaborate evening menu. Using authentic cooking techniques the ingredients are simple : you just take traditional specialities, add a love of good produce, an artist’s vision, and sprinkle it with creativity. Bistronomy makes haute cuisine accessible by combining bistro culture with gastronomy.

Our goal is also to make you feel at home, help you unwind and have a great time among friends and/or family.

Full Menu

LES entrees

$14

Soupe De Poissons facon
Vieux Port De Marseille
Crab and Rock Fish Soup with Garlic Aoili

Soupe du Chef selon la saison
Soup of the Day depending on the season

Cassolette d’Escargot a ma facon
Escargot Fricasse

Pate de Campagne Country Style Pate

Assiette de Fromages $18/$28
A Selection of Three or
Six French Cheeses

LES Plats

$26

Le Cassoulet Royal; Confit de Canard,
Saucisse Fermiere, Poitrine de Porc Rotie
Rustic Baked White Beans with Duck Confit, Sausage & Pork Belly

$28

Poisson du Jour
Catch of the Day

Joues de Porc confites

Pork Cheeks Confit served with
Mushroom Risotto and Red Wine Sauce

$30

Canard a la Peche
Duck Leg Confit topped with Sliced
Duck Breast, served with a Potato
Galette and Fresh Peach Slices

LES a-Cotes

$7

La Salade Verte
Green Salad

Poele de Verdute a L’Ail Doux
Mixed Green Vegetables Sauteed
with Sweet Garlic

Les Pommes Frites et La Mayonnaise
au Vinaigre D’estragon
Fries & Tarragon Mayonnaise

Gratin Dauphinois
Potato Gratin

LES GOURMANDISES

$12

Chocolate Lava Cake

Souffle Grand Marnier

And Daily Dessert Specials

After Work Apero Menu

(5pm-7pm)

Oysters
$2.80/oyster

Selection of 3 or 6 French Cheeses
$18/$28

Charcuterie Board
(Prosciutto, chorizo,
dry pork sausage
and amber beer sausage)
$24

Today's Specials

Appetizers

Eggplant Terrine $18

Endive Salad with Prosciutto $16

Pan Seared Scallops $18

Seabass Tartare $18

Oysters $2.80/oyster

Mains

Lamb Chop and Medaillon, Oyster and
Shiitaki Mushrooms and
Hazelnut Sauce $45

Filet of Dory served with a
mushroom cream sauce
and vegetables $28

Bourride : Stew of Fish and Seafood $28

Beef Tartare $28 (appetizer $18)

Top Sirloin served with Bordelaise Sauce $30

PHOTO GALLERY : Click on any images below to enlarge the photo and scroll through the full library.

CHEF PASCAL GEFFROY

Cooking since he was 14, Chef-Owner Pascal Geffroy spent years managing kitchens in Nyons and Rhone before moving to Toronto six years ago after falling in love with the city during a visit here with a friend.

“It’s a big city but every neighbourhood is like a little village where people know each other,” he says.

When he arrived he was sous chef to Didier Leory at his restaurant, Didier, and after that spent three years cooking with Jean-Jacques Texier, the original owner of Batifole, before becoming the head chef at Papillon on Front. When Texier decided to sell his baby, Geffroy took the opportunity and has been running the restaurant since October 2013.

“My kitchen is more Provençal and Jean-Jacques was more Brittany where they have more classic Parisian cuisine. Provencal is more oil, more vegetables, more fish, less butter, less cream. It’s lighter,” he says.

For now, most of Texier’s dishes remain on the menu like the cassoulet with duck confit and pork belly, as well as the escargot as Geffroy slowly eases in his dishes.

“I want to keep the idea of Batifole,” he says. “People like it and I don’t want to change it, but now it’s me. The spirit of the house will live on, very casual, not pretentious, and good food. This is my priority”.

[Adapted from the GridTO article by Karon Liu]

reviews

What The Press Has Written

Torontonicity : Batifole in Riverdale Serves Authentic French Cuisine
“Although Batifole serves fine French dining, the east Toronto restaurant’s atmosphere is refreshingly homey and relaxed and reminded me of a bistro I visited on my first night in Paris” – Lori Bosworth, Torontonicity

Torontoism: Batifole Gourmand: The Best French Restaurant in East Chinatown
“Batifole is being modest when it proclaims on its website that it’s “the best French restaurant in Chinatown.” It’s one of the best French restaurants in the whole city” – Michael Zemko, Torontoism.com

GridTO: Batifole Gets a New Owner and Chef
“The spirit of the house will live on, very casual, not pretentious, and good food. This is my priority” – Chef/Owner Pascal Geffroy

Toronto Star: “The food here is superb… Batifole is like a pot au feu simmering in late afternoon..each time you taste it, it gets better.” – Andy Murdoch, Toronto Star

Toronto Life: “It may take its name from the French verb ‘to frolic,’ but there’s nothing frivolous about the food at this bistro. (The) menu of French classics doesn’t disappoint.”

What Our Customers Are Saying

“Fabulous from start to finish. Service was friendly and the food was incredible!”
Reservation date: Thursday, January 3, 2019 06:00 PM

“We were an easy-going bunch, but simultaneously serving a group of 10 is always challenging.The staff were terrific. Old friends and new all loved their dinners. The wines are well-chosen and well-matched to the cuisine. We’ll be back.”
Reservation date: Saturday, December 8, 2018 07:00 PM

“Upon arrival, we received a friendly welcome and were seated and had drinks served quickly. The servers were helpful and professional. Chef Pascal also greeted guests and checked on their meals. Our meals were superb–cassoulet, beef tartare and duck confit avec peches. Dessert was souffles and champagne and birthday greetings were wished to our 29 year old daughter and she was so delighted!! Everything was amazing…service, ambiance, and especially food. We can’t wait to go back! Thank you so much for the incredible dining experience at Batifole!”
Reservation date: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 06:30 PM

“Amazing place, the most authentic French restaurant in Toronto.”
Reservation date: Saturday, October 20, 2018 07:00 PM

“This is the BEST French restaurant. Everything was delicious, we did 3 different desserts yum! Must try this place if you haven’t gone!!!!”
Reservation date: Thursday, September 20, 2018 06:15 PM

“This is one of my favourite restaurants in the city. The food is fantastic, very French, the wine delicious and the service outstanding. It is a quaint, intimate and relaxing restaurant. I would definitely recommend this French restaurant.”
Reservation date: Thursday, August 23, 2018 06:00 PM

“If I could give this restaurant higher than five stars I would. We loved everything. It felt like home and the food was to die for. We left so satisfied. We had French Martinis and wine. We tried many plates on the menu all of which were phenomenal. One of the best meals of my life.”
Reservation date: Wednesday, June 13, 2018 06:45 PM

“We went here for my wife’s birthday and we cannot say enough good things about Batifole. The atmosphere was casual and fun, the service was attentive and friendly, and the food was amazing. Can’t wait to go back again!”
Reservation date: Thursday, May 17, 2018 07:00 PM

“Was recommended this a one of the best hidden gems in Toronto. I’ve eaten all over the world and this was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Everything came together to make an amazing experience, the cozy atmosphere, the service, and by far the food. Average meal came out to about $80 per person for app, entree, side, dessert and 2 cocktails each. Everything is made in house. Was worth every penny. This place was on point.”
Reservation date: : Wednesday, April 4, 2018 07:00 PM

“If I could give a higher score then I would. The food, service and atmosphere was second to none and it always is anytime I go there. My favourite restaurant in the city. Great job Pascal and team!”
Reservation date: Friday, February 2, 2018 06:30 PM

“We had our wedding reception at Batifole and it was perfect! Pascal and his team are amazing and all of our guests had a wonderful time, loved the food and felt taken care of. Pascal made us an incredible wedding cake and we really appreciated the added touches to the décor. We will certainly be dining at Batifole again.”
Reservation date: Thursday, January 11, 2018 07:00 PM

“A gem of a restaurant – an intimate ambiance but spacious seating. Attentive and knowledgeable service with an unobtrusive approach. The menu was imaginative and all our dishes were excellent. While the wine list did have some expensive offerings the more modestly priced were excellent value for their quality. We have had two recent visits since the renovation of the kitchen in the late summer and shall be back for many more meals.”
Reservation date: Tuesday, December 12, 2017 07:00 PM