Joni Restaurant
Toronto
At a glance
Joni Restaurant, located at 4 Avenue Road in Toronto, offers a contemporary take on Canadian cuisine. Under the guidance of Executive Chef Jonathan Williams, Joni is known for combining clean, precise flavors with thoughtful dish creation. Bringing together over 17 years of culinary expertise, Chef Williams prioritizes sustainability by collaborating with local farmers and integrating impeccable ingredients into his dishes. Each dining experience at Joni is rounded off with expertly paired wines, reflecting the chef's credentials as a certified sommelier.
With a distinctly modern point of view, Joni melds expressive cooking with effortless hospitality to deliver memorable meals in a stylish setting. The atmosphere is elevated by live music performances from Thursday through Sunday, adding an extra layer to the dining experience.
Joni's interior reflects a study in taste and detail. While it caters more towards guests looking for refined dining and a comprehensive gastronomic journey, it remains welcoming and accessible to all who come to enjoy its thoughtfully curated offerings. Whether a special occasion or simply an appreciation of quality cuisine, guests leave feeling both satisfied and inspired by this culinary landmark in Toronto.
Reviews
Wife and I had the afternoon tea. Very nice assortment of food and tea pairings. Was setup like an appetizer, main and dessert. It’s located inside the Park Hyatt. Was a nice restaurant with friendly and attentive staff. Found it to be responsibly priced.
Amazing full 5 course experience, along with bread, snack, segway broth, and pre-dessert - all with Canadian ingredients. Treated well by the service! Great ambiance within a hotel. Live piano and singing in the background, well done but a bit too loud volume for me personally. I was treated well. The only item I didn’t like was the oddly creative scallops, we didn’t receive any grace or special treatment despite informing them we didn’t like it, but perhaps that shouldn’t be expected. The dessert spoon was comically too big for the dessert, and the time between dishes felt like it lacked grace (not clearing the table, not checking on water), could use some more attention in this area. Highlight dishes were ravioli with fresh ricotta, halibut from BC, and duck!! Well done. Overall would recommend trying the chef tasting menu here! More than satisfied for the price point.
A lovely spot with a warm atmosphere and live piano. The food is consistently fresh and well prepared. We enjoy both the New Year’s buffet and weekend à la carte menu. The craftsman high ceiling feels free and outdoor airly even though it’s indoor. Service today was especially thoughtful - despite a longer wait, our server kindly offered an extra egg to keep me going!
House bread with house tomato butter: pretty good. Though it’s super sweet. The pre-appetizer: the trout tartare were the highlight of the meal Scallops: my favourite dish of the set. Refreshing and fresh. Lobster: another super good dish with fresh seafood. Chicken oyster: I found this dish is a bit salty. Seasoned steak: the steak is a bit salty. Dessert: sorry. I don’t like the dessert in this restaurant. Both were extremely sweet for me. I can’t even have a second bite.
I attended the Amazonian tasting event at Joni Restaurant featuring guest chef Felipe Schaedler. The concept of the menu was intriguing and it offered a rare opportunity to experience ingredients and flavors inspired by the Amazon. Some courses stood out. The Codorna (quail) was the highlight of the evening beautifully balanced, flavorful, and confidently executed. The Pão de Queijo was also excellent, and the cocktail was refreshing. The shrimp course (Moqueca de Camarões) introduced interesting flavors, though the texture was not particularly appealing. The scallop (Vieiras) was pleasant but the sauce felt somewhat restrained and didn’t fully carry the dish. The Pato no Tucupi did not work for my palate due to the strong duck flavor. The Black Cod with tucumã purée was creative and unfamiliar, though it didn’t quite translate into a satisfying dish for me. The Quindim dessert had pleasant coconut notes and a nice crunch, but felt somewhat underwhelming as a finale. One of the most memorable moments was tasting an edible ant for the first time surprisingly bright and citrusy, almost like a squeeze of lemon. It perfectly reflected the adventurous spirit of the menu. However, the service did not quite match the level expected for this type of dining experience. Utensils were placed directly on the table, my champagne glass had an odor, and the shared restroom setup felt uncomfortable. Considering the price point of the event, the overall service and attention to detail felt somewhat below expectations. Overall, it was an interesting culinary exploration and I appreciate the opportunity to try something truly different.
