Le Germain Hotel Toronto Unveils New Look and Menu

TORONTO — Toronto’s original boutique hotel is set to welcome the fall season with a revamped restaurant sporting not only a new look, but a new menu. Nestled in Le Germain Hotel, Victor Restaurant’s extensive makeover highlights a new concept that serves approachable classics while a new café and bar complement the offer, in a chic yet warm setting of this neighborhood go-to destination.

“After the 123 hotel guestrooms were beautifully redecorated last year, the time is right for Victor to write a new chapter,” says hotel GM Nicolas Lazarou. Victor’s new look was created by DesignAgency — an award-winning design firm based in Toronto. The team was inspired to create a modern interpretation of the classic, comfortable American-style brasserie. Victor’s highly fluid space now comprises a stunning dining area, an intimate bar and a coffee-and-breakfast café; each integrates with the other to transition seamlessly with the further-redesigned hotel lobby for a lively feel.

The newly expanded Victor seats 60, with a glass-walled dining room reaching two-storeys high, to complement the open-concept design. The eye-catching 700-sq.-ft. twisted, gold-toned hanging light fixture and meandering banquettes create an intimate and romantic effect. The restaurant, bar and café feature timeless and luxurious details with soft, rich colours, authentic wood and peacock leather. Historic homages come in antique-bronze accents, frosted amber mirrors, playful concrete tiling and soft Salisbury-green table tops. A semi-private table nestled into a discreet alcove is a coveted favourite.

“Victor’s new concept blends the look and flavours of great New York brasseries. It will be the perfect place to have some oysters and a beer before the game, or celebrate good times with friends and family,” says Michael Sullivan, director of Food and Beverage and restaurant partner. “Our goal is to make Victor not only a great hotel restaurant for guests, but also a cozy and familiar neighbourhood spot to come to any time for a great meal and a drink in a beautiful setting.”

The restaurant’s reimagined menu features dishes ranging from chef Lanny MacLeod’s festive seafood towers to his 36-ounce Tomahawk steaks, award-winning house-ground Victor Burger, to Papardelle with green peas, porcini mushrooms and ricotta.

The new Victor Bar will also delight cocktail enthusiasts, offering a curated wine list and classic cocktails with entertaining names such as ‘The Orange Dictator’ and ‘Mercer Boulevardier’ — a nod to the street address. There is even Negroni on tap, a new fun way of serving this all-time favourite cocktail. The white wood paneling and pastel colours of the new Victor Café gives the space a cheerful, casual feel and is accessible from the hotel and Mercer Street; the café serves comforting hot beverages and house-made pastry treats such as lemon tart, dark chocolate cake and cheesecake by the hotel’s multi-award-winning pastry chef Martin Gouthro. Take-away sandwiches and salads are perfect for those on-the-go, while a communal table equipped with convenient power outlets allows locals and hotel guests alike to work while sipping on high-end fresh-roasted coffee.

Responding to popular demand from guests, chefs MacLeod and Gouthro have launched their own home pantry range. Finishing salts made from herbs grown on the hotel’s rooftop garden, Macleod’s strawberry sriracha sauce and Gouthro’s homemade jams, marmalades and varieties of granola are all available for purchase.