Assembly Chef's Hall

111 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2G4

(647) 557-5993

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Toronto has become a beacon for food lovers everywhere and nothing showcases it more than the recent opening of Assembly Chef's Hall.

The two-storey, food court-style hall features 17 of the best restaurants in the city including Tokyo Smoke, Reyna, Hibiscus, Dailo, Ramen Isshin, The Good Son, Bulldog Coffee, Tachi, Little Khao, Cherry Street Barbecue, Mira Mira, Resto Boemo, Shari, Nutbar, Love Chix, Colibri and Bluenose Lobster and Short & Sweet.

As far as Toronto food trends are concerned, Assembly Chef's Hall seems to have it all. Between the eatery's concept to the restaurants and menus, customers get a unique dining experience. Unlike their bricks and mortar location, most of the participating restaurants have a limited menu, with some offering breakfast or brunch options. Since opening at the end of January, the hall's operating hours were recently extended to include Saturdays with plans to run seven days a week.

The first time I went to the hotspot, I made the mistake of going during the Saturday dinner rush. By the time my boyfriend Sean and I got there many of the restaurants sold out of food. We were told by the guys from Cherry Street Barbecue that they got slammed during lunch. Sean and I both ended up opting for Love Chix, which neither of us regretted. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich with a side of roasted brussel sprouts, while Sean ordered fried chicken pieces. My sandwich was perfection. The chicken was crispy, smothered in a honey hot sauce and topped with a creamy ranch dressing and arugula. I'm a sucker for spicy/sweet foods so this sandwich made me really happy. Sean's fried chicken was also topped with the honey hot sauce with the ranch dressing on the side.

Our second trip to Assembly Chef's Hall was a little more successful. We decided to go earlier in the day for lunch to avoid sell-outs. We happened to show up while some of the restaurants were still serving brunch, which I couldn't pass up. I ordered the lobster eggs benedict from Bluenose Lobster, while Sean finally got his barbecue fix and ordered the brisket sandwich with a side of potato salad from Cherry Street Barbecue. My eggs benedict was pretty good but I found the lobster was a little chewy, which could have been a product of me getting the last eggs benny of the day. Being the meat-eating caveman that he is, Sean loved his simple but really tender brisket sandwich. We decided to follow our brunch/lunch with some sweet treats from Short & Sweet. I got alfajores, which are shortbread-style sandwich cookies from South America that are filled with dulce de leche (a.k.a. caramel) and coated with flakes of coconut and Sean got an Oreo sammy - a sandwich cookie with bits of Oreos in it and filled with a creamy icing. Both treats were the perfect way to finish our meals.

For those planning to head over to Assembly Chef's Hall it should be noted that all of the restaurants, with the exception of the bar, do not accept cash for payment. Sean and I were unaware of this the first time we went. Although I was a little annoyed at first, I understand why they only accept debit or credit as cash would likely slow down service and NOBODY likes lineups.

Given that Assembly Chef's Hall is set up similarly to a food court, accessibility might be a bit of an issue for people who are unable to carry their food. Luckily, the staff are extremely helpful and are more than willing to assist with carrying food to your table. The building (which shares its space with Google Canada) is equipped with automatic door buttons and a lift (not a traditional elevator) so that customers with mobility issues have full access to both levels.

With so many food options and cool atmosphere be prepared to make multiple trips to Assembly Chef's Hall. After two trips I already have plans to go again and try different dishes. Next up: the peking duck wings from Dailo.