Love Love Love Love Love Brassaii!
I wish it would pack up shop and move to NYC so I could go more often! This place would get 10 stars if I could give it to them! I randomly found them online when I was searching for a place to go to lunch with a friend on my last visit to the T-dot and thought I'd give it a shot. it's nestled pretty far back from the street, so I walked by it a few times before finding it, so make sure you look for the courtyard behind a big wrought iron gate. Set back from the street, there are a few dining tables and a bar outside, mostly used at night to my understanding.
Once inside, the space is GORGEOUS. Breathtaking floor to ceiling windows (almost!) bathe the place in natural light, while a banquette stretches down the left hand side of the wall, opposite the open air kitchen. The decor is spot on - the interior designer deserves a commendation! If I ever had to do an event in TO, Brassaii would be a top pick - GREAT space.... event planners, take note!
So my friend and I arrived for lunch (I was surprised it wasn't busier, but they may have opened recently - this was August 2007) and were seated and got our menus. I guess it's not as customary in TO as it is in NYC to order a bottle of wine for 2 people at an extended lunch (clearly not going back to work!), so my friend was a tad shocked, but he soon got into the swing of things! They had a vast selection of delicious sandwiches (I forget which one I had, but will update this review when I go back!), and I remember their desserts being absolutely scrumptious (I think the bakery is on site?). Check out their menu on their website... Lunchtime entrees are about $12-$15 each, plus whatever else you get, so this isn't a daily stop, but great for reunions with old friends, or perfect for a business luncheon.
I loved my meal so much that at night I met up with a group of friends who I hadn't seen in a while and we were trying to decide where to eat and I was raving about lunch, and it turns out none of them had ever been to Brassaii! So I called them, got a reservation and we were back! Once again, another stupendous meal. Dinner entrees were more in the $20-25 range plus everything else (I think we had 4-5 bottles of vino... yikes!).
Definitely a great experience I think just about everyone would enjoy - very eclectic,bistro-ish menu (their website says it's reminiscent of a New York Diner, but I don't really draw that parallel...). Perfect for lunch, dinner, drinks, etc etc. CHECK IT OUT! Highly recommended ;)