Rosedale has a new destination for tapas-style dishes and a wine list that runs deep (300 plus bottles) with the launch of À Côté. The sister restaurant to Toronto’s storied French eatery Sorrel, À Côté — translating to “next to” in English — is, indeed, conveniently located right next door.
Sorrel partner, general manager and sommelier, Sarah Pearson says that she and chef/owner Faro Chiniforoush had been eyeing additional
space for quite some time.
“The opportunity just never presented itself until neighbours to the south of us left during the pandemic and our landlord offered the space
to us,” she says.
Pearson describes À Côte as a more laid-back complement to Sorrel, serving multiple purposes.
“It’s a day-to-day space that the neighbourhood can walk into — we don’t take reservations,” she says. “It’s also a spot to meet with friends for anything from casual drinks to a light dinner.”
During weekends, the space accommodates Sorrel guests before and after dinner, also functioning as a private dining room for groups of up to 20 for seated dinners and 35 for standing parties.
The restaurant offers a weekly rotating menu of small plates, featuring dishes like east coast lobster, salmon crudo and steak tartare served with a quail egg and grilled baguette. Just like at Sorrel, Chiniforoush and sous chef Amy Israt oversee the kitchen and menu.
Pearson’s goal was to cultivate a warm, upscale atmosphere, offering a welcoming space for the community to convene and indulge. The restaurant features eight bistro tables, nine seats at the bar and a ceiling cove that bathes the area in a radiant golden glow, adding an extra touch of elegance.
Celebrating a decade of success in Rosedale in March, the Sorrel team couldn’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than with their new space.
À Côté is located at 1158 Yonge St.