Newly opened late April 2014. A new owner took over space where Steak Frites was and kept the same phone number and much of the same decor. Not to be confused with Pain Perdu on St Clair Ave.
AMBIANCE
This bistro is a bit more casual than Steak Frites. Jeans and a jacket are fine, but definitely not jeans and a T-shirt. This is still upscale. Classic bistro chairs, bar, and "mosaic" tiled floor.
I would not recommend bringing children here, unless they're over 7-8 years old and extremely well behaved. It's too sophisticated.
Plan on a dining experience, so allow 1.5 to 2 hours to eat for a three course meal and good conversation. It is not slow service or "slow food movement" per se, but well paced as it should be. Given some of the classic food preparations, you need to allow this amount of time.
SERVER
At least one of Steak Frites' top waiters stayed on (HOORAY!). Career waiters who add to the dining experience are hard to find. So you can be assured that you can bring an important client or date here and be in good hands.
Select a couple of wines and trust the servers' recommendation. Good offerings BTW. This is a wine type of restaurant, but you can get beer or spirits from a full bar.
MEAL SERVICES OFFERED
Don't let the translation for Pain Perdu (French Toast) fool you. They do an elegant dinner just as much as they do an elegant brunch and lunch.
TV
There is one flat screen TV by the entrance/bar where 3-4 tables might be able to view it if you just can't miss that hockey game. It is not intrusive, though.
WASHROOMS
Downstairs, low ceilings. Not handicap accessible in my opinion, but most washrooms are like this in the old buildings on Yonge St along this stretch.
PARKING
Not great adjacent options.
Park on east side of Yonge St one block up, just north of Ranleigh. There is not much is the way of side street parking for more than an hour on either Ranleigh or Wanless Avenues. Plus there is massive subway construction where Wanless Ave connects to Yonge St that may last until 2016 I think I heard.
You can easily drop someone off at the curb, though.
Closest Green P parking way across the street on west side of Yonge St via Metro grocery store's parking lot (FURTHEST BACK /WEST of 3 parking areas accessible; make sure you park all the way back since Metro has a security guard); you can also access this parking area off of the south side Bedford Park Avenue, where it is a bit more obvious.
There is also Green P several blocks up off of Glenforest Rd behind the pet store off the east side of Yonge St.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Just 3 or 4 doors south of the Ranleigh/North exit for the Lawrence Station (Yonge Line).