Restaurant Lucie is proof that French food doesn’t have to be stuffy.
“What makes us stand out is our commitment to French cuisine and hospitality in the purest sense, but without pretension,” says chef Arnaud Bloquel, adding that Lucie’s menu blends classic French techniques with Caribbean flavours, making it uniquely their own.
Your meal may come with a swoon-inducing accent, too: “What is beautiful is that everyone at Restaurant Lucie is authentic — many of us are from France and speak French — and passionate about what we do.”
This French flair translates into Michelin-recommended decadent dishes like butter-poached Nova Scotia lobster (“butter is life,” says Bloquel) with plantain gnocchi and coffee bisque, and their très chic monthly dining series, La Collab, where they team up with storied local chefs to create culinary magic together.
Past guest chefs have included Auberge du Pommier’s John Horne, Quetzal’s Steve Molnar and Hexagon’s Rafa Covarrubias. On Oct. 16, Splendido and Piano Piano legend Victor Barry will craft alongside Bloquel a multi-course tasting menu — accompanied by a glass of champers, naturally. “Through the collabs, I also learn about amazing farms in Ontario and Quebec and form great connections with new chefs and their teams, as I’m still somewhat new in Toronto,” says Bloquel, who moved to the city three years ago. “Working side by side with veterans in the field is enough to keep me on my toes.”
Here are the spots that have already captured Bloquel’s heart during his time in Toronto.
