After living near College and Bathurst Streets for over two decades in three different and rather spectacular adaptive reuse conversions I sold preconstruction, I made an unplanned move across the City after buying a 1960s purpose-built duplex in Riverdale – on a whim.
I was listing it for a client at the time, but as I stood in one of the units gushing with enthusiasm for all of its potential amazingness, I realized I was describing the very qualities I had been searching for within the boundaries of my Little Italy neighbourhood for the past four years to no avail. By the end of that day, I had bought the property from my clients for its asking price and realized I would soon be starting a new chapter of city life that I had never intended. The prospect of discovering an entirely new quadrant of the city was exciting, and all that it required was walking out my new front door, and seeing where curiosity took me.
Even though I consider myself rather familiar with Riverdale – it’s one of the 48 city neighbourhoods I’ve sold property during the thirty years I’ve been a realtor and several friends have called it their home – the truth is that you never know a neighbourhood until you’ve strolled through it countless times over an extended period of time. Knowing it comes from walking it, where you can see, hear, smell and even feel the synergetic nuances of a place as you pass through and, over time, come to recognize it when its familiar and when it’s in a state of flux.
Located east of the Don Valley to Pape Avenue, this relaxed friendly central east-side residential enclave runs south of The Danforth to Gerrard where it abuts the formerly named South Riverdale – now Riverside – neighbourhood. Home to a collection of lush tree-lined streets containing an eclectic range of Victorian and Edwardian residences primarily constructed between the 1880s and the Great Depression, it’s long been a bastion of middle-class respectability with the occasional pomp and circumstance.
Not to mention some excellent shops and restaurants!
Batifole Is On Gerrard Street, East Of Broadview
Amidst the Chinese storefronts on Gerrard Street East is the French bistro Batifole, which, like the neighbourhood, has an intimate scale and relaxed vibe. Open since 2004 (almost unheard of in a city where restaurants come and go as quickly as a summer storm), this comfortable pretense-free bistro has been consistently celebrated for the classic flavours of its Gallic cuisine and a spectacular selection of French wines.
And I do love a tart glass of red!!
Sipping our Pernod and pastiche in the simply decorated dining room – seating around thirty – the French music and fresh baguette with salted butter reminded me of the homespun magic of Parisian cafes. I wish I could articulate it better, but there’s a “je n’est sais quois” about the place that seems perfectly authentic and engagingly romantic. In fact, I can see why Toronto Life once called it a “Best ‘First Date’ Restaurant”.
Chef Pascal Geoffrey – who has run Batifole since 2013 – does a superb job with his well-curated menu. The lentil salad with crunchy cucumber tossed in a maple & thyme reduction and topped with warm double-smoked crispy pork belly was textural and tasty. The filet sautéed in butter and finished with tarragon cream sauce was a delicate composition of flavour, in contrast to the Ontario Angus beef tenderloin topped with melted blue cheese & a red Dubonnet demi-glace which was bold and hearty. And the crab? Perfection! The pomme frites and mixed green salad we choose to accompany our mains were bang-on francais. The plating is outstanding on all dishes!!
Here’s a lovely video diary from their YouTube page, entitled ‘Food is (He)art‘:
Batifole has all the elements that make me want to go back. Attentive service without being precious, the intimacy of a cozy dining room that’s open enough to unobtrusively people-watch, and stellar food for a reasonable price that says “you’re special” without having to empty your wallet.
It’s one more reason to dine east!
774 Gerrard Street East
Tuesday to Saturday
5pm -10pm
416 462 9965
Ooo la la! How fab would it be to have top-notch restaurants like this one, just a stroll away on a lovely Spring day?
Take a peek at this listing we SOLD in Leslieville. We call it: So Sweet Ya Gotta Brush Yer Teeth – On Colgate Avenue In Leslieville.
This sun-kissed ground floor unit – one of only two 2-bed units on this level – has a premium patio with south exposure. Seriously, whether you’re in the bloom of youth, baby-making, giving your boss the Freedom 55 finger – or just YOU being YOU – when you live here life will be more dynamic, people will be more engaging, and everything that matters will be within walking distance!
Also nearby:
A Smash Hit Trophy In The Making On Tennis Crescent In Riverdale – NOW SOLD!
Well-situated, well-proportioned, and welcoming, this family-friendly residence is an ideal opportunity for those seeking customizable space (and a lot of it!) in a superb coveted neighbourhood. Check it out!
We called it: Living Well & In Wonder In Leslieville, now SOLD!
This semi-detached brick and frame dwelling, constructed in 1928, has a classic unassuming Edwardian facade that belies its modern interior reinvention that makes contemporary life more convenient and effortless. With significant capital improvements and upgrades since 2014, one might say this makes it a study in contrasts and comfort!
Here is a great loft we also SOLD in the Riverdale neighbourhood: A Sun-Kissed Contemporary Loft In Riverdale’s Printers Row
Substantially renovated from top to bottom in 2011, the comprehensive retrofit designed by Coz Design introduced a space plan that maximizes efficiency, a selection of materials that are of a high standard, and an aesthetic that is both contemporary and timeless. The result is a loft that is warm, welcoming and visually cohesive!
This place is special!
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