A quick work trip into Toronto led me to having dinner at Bymark, a popular spot for Bay Street bankers and foodies alike.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Bymark is home to the “Truffled Bymark Burger”, which, when it first came out almost two decades ago, cost $35 and earned the title of the most expensive burger in Canada.
Bymark – About the Restaurant & Chef
The restaurant is part of the McEwan Group founded by Mark McEwan, a well-respected celebrity chef based out of Toronto. His most notable television appearance was on The Food Network’s Top Chef Canada, where he held the title of head judge.
If you frequently travel through Toronto Pearson International Airport, you may have eaten at Nobel Burger Bar or Fetta and unknowingly eaten dishes curated by Chef McEwan himself.
The McEwan Group portfolio is also home to other upscale restaurants in the GTA, such as North 44, One, and Fabbrica. Chef McEwan is one of the founding fathers when it comes to the Toronto food scene, and has been well-recognized for his culinary innovations.
Bymark – Booking
While a reservation may not be required, as a general practice I always advise making one – even if you intend on dining the same day.
Reservations can be made directly on Bymark’s website or using the OpenTable platform. Personally, I made my reservation at Bymark using the American Express Platinum Concierge service.
The phone call with American Express took 30 minutes, which is more time than I would have liked to spend in exchange for a free glass of prosecco. That’s a factor which I’d need to weigh heavier when deciding on whether to make future use of the concierge service.
Bymark – Location
Bymark is located in the Toronto-Dominion Centre. At street level, you can walk into Bymark’s bar area, a swanky room with tall glass windows that gives views to the busy Financial District in Downtown Toronto.
The dining room, located downstairs, is a playful mix of modernism and creativity.
It was designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the mastermind behind the interior design of the Four Seasons in both Toronto and New York, as well as many other high-end restaurants and hotels worldwide.
Alternative access is also available through Toronto’s underground pedestrian walkway, the PATH.
For those driving in, complimentary parking is available at 66 Wellington St. Just be sure to ask the hostess to give you a ticket for validation on the way out.
Bymark – Dinner Experience
Nicole and I arrived with an appetite, splitting three appetizers and two mains for dinner.
Overall, we were very pleased with our meal at Bymark. The food was delicious, creative in presentation, and portioned well.
As someone with a fondness for spicy food, I have come to appreciate when a chef is able to integrate spice and still maintain a good balance of flavour.
The food at Bymark found that balance and executed it on every single dish, which was a pleasant surprise from continental food, which in my experience is usually more timid in the spice department.
Let’s dig in.
Ontario Burrata
A decadent Italian cheese served with a generous portion of olives and artichokes, with fresh olive oil and aged balsamic drizzled on top and served with a grilled ciabatta.
This dish let the ingredients speak for themselves; the delicate but rich cheese was elevated by the savouriness of the olives and artichokes, while the playfully sweet aged balsamic tied it all together.
The bread, in my opinion, was burnt after spending too much time on the grill, which gave a harsh bitter taste to an otherwise delicate dish.
Steak Tartare
Steak tartare is one of my favourite dishes, and I order it anytime I come across this item on a menu. This classic appetizer can be customized and interpreted in so many ways, so I like to use it as sort of a viewfinder into the chef’s mind, if you will.
Bymark seemingly followed a classic recipe, and executed on it flawlessly. I was particularly intrigued by the jammy poached egg yolk, as it added a unique element to the texture of the dish, and is something I have only come across a handful of times.
Grilled Octopus & Calamari
Both the grilled octopus and calamari were cooked perfectly tender, with a crispy outside. The creamy coconut cashew sauce and airy citrus crème fraîche complemented the smokiness of the grilled seafood.
This dish was my favourite for the night, and I would highly recommend ordering one for yourself!
Pan-Seared Halibut
The pan-seared halibut was tender with a subtle sweetness. The dish took inspiration from Thai cuisine, with notes of ginger, sesame and miso coming from the broth.
While this was well put together, I didn’t find it too exciting and wouldn’t rush to order it again on my next visit.
Grilled Swordfish
I think swordfish is a highly underrated protein, and I was happy to see it on the menu.
I was completely blown away by the jerk-style butter that melted onto the fish, as it added a bold dash of flavour to this otherwise delicate fish.
In line with the Caribbean inspiration of the dish, it also came accompanied with crispy plantain, which provided a nice contrast of texture and recalled memories of sitting on a tropical island – a nice touch considering it was very cold outside.
Bymark – Service
I aim to be as objective as possible when judging a restaurant, and grade in response to the style and type of restaurant I am dining in. Bymark, without a doubt, positions itself as a fine dining establishment and was held to the highest standards in this review.
The service came in bursts, with elongated periods of absence in between. The server and the floor manager would check in on us in rapid succession, only to disappear, leaving dirty plates and empty glasses on our table longer than what I would deem appropriate at a high-end restaurant.
In my opinion, communication is essential in any team environment. During my time working at various fine-dining establishments, communication with my co-workers would come in the form of hand signals, code words, and written instructions.
Finding the right balance with your team and table is more of an art than a science, in order for guests not to feel overburdened with your presence or be in a state of need throughout their meal. Bymark’s execution on this aspect of service could’ve been better during our visit.
That’s not to say I had a bad service experience. The team at Bymark provided professional service and a hospitable environment, and were passionate about their menu.
I will give a high level of praise to the staff for their level of discovery when I was asking for recommendations, both for food and wine.
I find very often when asking for recommendations, it is very easy to hear “You should try this…” or “I really like this…”, and those items are usually favourites in the restaurant, or an expensive item you are being sold and may not take into consideration what you as the guest are looking for.
What stood out to me at Bymark was the questions that were presented to me, to make sure that any recommendations brought forward were to my personal tastes and preferences.
Overall, I was pleased with the level of service provided at Bymark, and only a particular diner or someone with a keen eye for restaurant hospitality would notice any areas for improvement.
Conclusion
I had a great evening at Bymark. The venue is perfect for a dinner with a loved one or for a professional outing. The service was welcoming, and the atmosphere opulent. They also scored some bonus points from me because the venue was featured on an episode of Suits, which I thought was nifty.
The biggest highlight for me were the subtle amounts of spice that the chef was able to naturally integrate into the continental style cuisine of the restaurant.
I look forward to dining at Bymark again in the future, and am excited to see how their seasonal menus continue to develop.