you need to add veal parm sandwiches to your trip!!! The style is unique to Ontario. Uno Mustachio in the St Lawrence Market, California Sandwiches (Queensway or Claremont locations) or Mama Rosas in Woodbridge
@@christophersuchy3632 yes, a veal sandiwch is a must. He also has to try Mandarin Buffet in 238 Biscayne Crescent, Brampton, ON. Don't leave Toronto without those two done for sure
I’ve been a doorman in Toronto for the past 29 years. The current top steakhouse’s in Toronto in my opinion are Harbour 60, Hy’s, Black & Blue, Jacob’s & Co. and Bluebloods. I ate at Barberian’s 20 years ago, back then it was definitely in the top 3 in Toronto. Their 60 plus years of history as a Toronto high end steakhouse what gives them notoriety. As listed above there are many more options to choose from. Great review and I think you were pretty accurate. I have a channel trying to find my footing Toronto & Beyond with Sean.
Bro, Black & Blue uses stainless steel utensils on a non-stick pan when they are doing some of their table side cooking e.g. steak sauce or a flambe for one of their desserts. Blasphemy, when I saw that, that place was banned off my list. At the prices they charge, that's not acceptable. Raises an ire of suspicion of how they operate in the kitchen where nobody sees.
I like harbor 60 a lot but it's pretty pricey. My least favorite really is Jacob because they do not put butter on the steak and you can't have a peppercorn sauce I think and they're really annoying people.
Toronto definitely has a few masters of their craft cooking in a few different styles of cuisine. Barbarian's has old school flavor as soon as you walk in. I make steak at home. Its one of those things where it doesn't take long to learn how to make well at home.
Nobody likes “dude you have to go here” guy, but at risk of being contradictory, it’s about time for a BBQ crawl through Oklahoma and Texas…the hospitality is as amazing as the scenery. Great vid dude as always
I will back you up on this, this dude really has to experience Oklahoma and Texas barbecue. When I was in the Army and stationed in Texas, the barbecue made up for the hot as hell days and driving for hours just to get to a place lol
@ Texas bbq isn’t cheap for the best stuff but I’d rather have incredible bbq than an incredible steak. Also most top bbq places have incredible sides. I’d love to go to Goldees, Snows, Franklins and Barbs B Q. These are all dream places and really fun experiences to visit. UA never seems to socialize but it would be fun to see him in lines talking food. But unfortunately, he’d probably not enjoy that part. The waiting is really part of the experience
I could not imagine how much he would complain on the price of barbecue That would literally be half the video but that being said I would love to see homie come out here and try it
@ I know the best places aren’t cheap but you sure do eat like a king for $50. 1/2 lb brisket, 1 lb ribs- I’d rather eat that from a top bbq (such as Cattlerack or 2M) than any steak that’s ever existed. I love Texas bbq (but only at the best places). To be honest, you got to trust the experts and go to good place’s otherwise I’ve definitely been disappointed before. Thankfully Texas Monthly lets everyone know who’s the boss
the key to great steakhouse fries is frying them in beef tallow. Even better if you do a quick first fry, let them relax, then fry them again. In the UK they've mastered this technique and are famous for their "triple cooked chips" which are french fries that are fried three times so they're crispy outside and mashed potato inside.
Whoever "everybody" is that told you Barbarian Restaurant was the best in either Canada or Toronto! They lied to ha, U A! Sorry you've been misled! @@uaeats
So it’s about $14. Most likely about $3 worth of Indrigents . Restraunts want food to be less than 20% cost to include for the staff to make the food and overhead. It is what it is. You couldn’t make that at home for $1.20 unless you made 10 of them.
Another nice job, UA! Keep up the good work! 22:31 I appreciate your honest opinion. You come across as a sincere, affable and very nice guy. One minor suggestion for wine drinkers like me. If it’s not too difficult or overly time consuming for you it would be much appreciated to do a camera pan through the Wine List. I’d love to get a sense of the selections/prices. Often restaurants have their menus on their website but not their wine lists. It would be great to get a look at the Wine List similar to the way you pan the camera through the menu. Just a minor suggestion. Congrats on another fine and frank review!
Ay welcome to Toronto dude, been waiting for you to come. I've lived here my whole life and have lowkey never heard of this place lol. If you're still in the area I would definitely recommend checking out Jacobs, Black + Blue, and even Cote de Beouf. In any event hope you enjoy/enjoyed your stay! EDIT: Holy shit how did I forget to mention The Keg. I know it’s a chain but one of the best steaks I’ve ever had was from The Keg
Great channel & content-new subscriber here. As a true steak lover, in moderation these days, and a lifetim native of Toronto, Canada, I can certainly provide some brief commentary on this spot and highlight a few of my tier faves. Interestingly enough, the owner of Barberian, who surname acts as the name in traditional Armenian nomenclature, is a close friend of my brother in law, so we actually celebrated my brother's bachelor party dinner in a private room in rhe establishment, followed by some nice stogies and a glass of port on the rooftoo. That visit was 9/10, being very memorable and the steak frites, from what I remember was super flavourful and cooked to medium-rare perfection. I did visit it again on a date night a few years later and I distinctly remember the steak coming out extremely rare this time (much more wqqthan displayed here, and borderline mooing on the plate)...I believe I returned it and it was thrown back on the grill and returned almost identically....at this point, we were well over an hour in , and at that point, I did have my meal comped. Needless to say, I haven't returned since,,,,here is a quick list of other Toronto steakhouse visits I can remember right now: - Morton's-Classic steakhouse feel, great prep, no frills - 8/10 - Harbour 60-upscale steakhouse feel, very pricey, delicious bone-in - 8.5/10 - Jacobs-extremely pricey, more hip/contemporary vibe, unforgettable steak - 9/10 - Ruth's Chris (downtown/Markham)-moderately priced for a high-end steakhouse chain, Markham visit was within last two weeks for my birthday and was incredible-9/10 - STK: Loud, trying to be too hip, overrated food, extremely expensive, poor value relatively speaking- 6/10 -Sleeper steakhouse: House of Chan-old boss was a steakhouse aficionado...fusion asian sides with classic steaks which was incredible-8/10 -Next up: Want to visit Blue-Blood, Black+Blue, J's Steak Frites #DrusViewz
You’re so right about Barberian’s, I think it’s mostly a nostalgia steakhouse now and by no means the best. Jacobs or Harbour Sixty are better. Black and Blue also.
Very balanced and honest review. Excellent job. Looking for your Jacob's review! Keep up the amazing work. Hopefully you can visit Takja BBQ (Korean) in Toronto next time. New joint that just opened and solid reviews.
Also from Toronto and I'm glad you made the visit. I am actually planning to visit Barberian's soon but after this I'm not sure. I have also tried Jacob's and Co, while a nice place to drink and hang out the price is totally unreasonable for what you get. The steak was not even close to the pricing, especially since the sides were extra on top of the steak. I think I will still try Barberian's to knock it off my list. I am curious to see what other steakhouses you checked out while in Toronto. Keep it up, great work!
Prices in CDN at 5:19. I live an hour outside of Toronto. Those prices are high compared to my local steak houses. Barberian's menu prices may be due to rents and other costs of doing business in Toronto
A $100-steak steakhouse should have their cooking time set perfectly and finished with a thermometer. If I go to a local steak house/pub, I always ask for one level extra cook because they always take it off the fire too quick. But a good high end steak house cooks it exactly how you ask for it. This was a rare steak not medium rare.
UA! You hit the bell on steaks at Barberians! Im so glad you’re in my city! I hope you do a fan meet and greet some time. Be sure to come up to northeast area where Midland/Mcnicoll area has a TON of asian food and so does Markham/Richmond Hill! Also try Kennedy and Highway 7 area as well! Can’t wait to see what you think of Jacobs! Also do a meetup here! Definitely have to meet the steak king himself!
Welcome back to Toronto! I just wanted to explain that Canadian beef has a much milder flavour than American beef. Trust me, you can't buy that quality in your average supermarket. I've eaten in almost all the steakhouses you've reviewed in NYC, American beef has a completely different flavour profile. We feed our beef cattle differently than you guys, and graze them differently too. Anyway, I did enjoy your review of "Barbarians Steakhouse" and gave you a 👍 as usual. By the way, I'm a Canadian fan...
At 21:50. Barberian's Steak House has a legendary wine cellar. It would have been nice if staff offered to give a quick tour. They are a common place to go to entertain, have a special occasion, or do business. Steak Houses in Canada have a tradition going back decades. Most also serve seafood. When I moved to my city in the mid-1970s there were probably 30 family owned "surf and turf" restaurants. Today in 2024 there are maybe five that still survive. The others are "steak house" chains like Montana's, The Keg, Jack Astor's, and Outback. Downtown Toronto has other steak houses worthy of review. I look forward to your review of Jacobs and Co. They are an amazing steak house.
So iconic that no one outside of Toronto has ever heard of it, and when I asked former Torontonians about it, their recollection is that its far from iconic or even good. lol
My friend's son finished his business degree and got hired on Bay Street in investment banking. After a couple years he was making serious money. He and five of his friends went to Jacobs & Co. and ordered one of everything off the whole menu for sides and mains. The bill came to just over $9000 with tax and tip.
Mortons and Hy's are not really any better than the Keg. Not for the premium they charge. Getting a tableside caesar salad is fun, I guess, but the steaks are super mid.
I'm not getting the option for English audio watching on TV again, UA. You might want to look into that on the back end since it seems others on the previous video had the same experience.
I know this may sound crazy but I don't have any idea what the bottom of a pepper grinder looks like and I never once bothered to look for it. At least 9:26 gave me a glimpse. Thanks UA!
UA welcome to Toronto, I recommend you try La Castile Steakhouse next. It's actually on the border between Toronto and Mississauga, a bit of a way out but well worth it. Also try The Queen and Beaver, it's on Elm St.
Here from Toronto and it's my first time watching you. I live here and I have NEVER heard of that place being the best. Even google doesn't list it. That is expensive even for Toronto (where everything costs more) and maybe it was soo soft because it wasn't cooked as much as you would have liked it to be cooked. I think you need to come back and try some of the top places like Black + Blue, Jacobs & Co. or Hy's Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar. Thanks for the review. Subscribed!
I've been to both steakhouses. It's not a fast food joint and cheap prices. They have $180 bucks - $40k bottle of red wine. It's the atmosphere, services, and they cook the steak just the way you wanted. After all things said and done with a nice bottle of wine. $500. Most importantly, have the right company. For those who complained about the price. It's not a no frill low value food and drinks place 😂
Welcome to Canada, UA! 🇨🇦 Thank you for your honest review. Looking forward to what you have to say about Jacob’s. Perhaps the premium of all steakhouses in Toronto is The Butcher Chef, which isn’t quite as well known as many others. Check it out on your next visit.
One of the biggest eye-openers reviews that a grillmaster or a steak-master at a high end restuarant can get is "your steak tastes like it was out of a grocery store". Ouch. Thank you for the honest review!! I even wonder if the chef seasoned it properly. Some of these steakhouses use their own "seasoning rubs" when they should just get back to the basics and use Kosher Salt and Pepper. That's it. Let the flavor of the beef do the talking. Thank you again for your review. I subbed.
The restaurants were levelled to make way for the Princess of Wales theatre. Ed Mirvish owned all the land housing 3 restaurants. The theatre is now 31 years old.
UA, if you ever find yourself in Jacksonville Florida you should come try a place called Cowford Chophouse. one of the highest regarded restraunts in the city. also highly reccomend the breakfast spot Metro Diner. it's the pride and joy of our food scene.
I ate at Barbarian's once when a guy that I was dating was trying to impress me. I also found the lighting to be extremely dim and my steak to be undercooked. I like medium rare and I remember it was almost raw --- or I guess, blue. However, I recall that the food was good and the service superb. I 'think' that they used to have baked potatoes as a choice for the side, but I could be wrong.
I’ve never even heard of Barbarians but then again even though I live close to Toronto I never waste much time there. Try Montreal next time and visit the Queue de Cheval Steakhouse. Thank you for your videos and I appreciate your nice table manners. ❤️
Escargot are not really shell fish. However snails are tricky since many people are allergic. There is also the sand and e-coli issue to deal with. Some suppliers don't clean snails properly.
The steak was broiled from above, the grill marks on the other side are caused by the steak being on a grill, with the ambient heat cooking the steak like an oven.
I do business dinners in Toronto often. Barbarians is good - your stk looked mr to mee on the screen anyway. Jacob’s is my favourite. Stk, black and blue, and hy’s are really good also. I’ve had harbour 60 but was disappointed- really high price and wasn’t great. We always get a few steaks cut on a board and we share. Del frisco double eagle is my go to in nyc. Love the vibe there.
Yum on the salad cream. Now that I’m an expat I have to order it online, along with golden syrup, mustard. I’ve tried making it and have come close, but not really the same. Cheers!
Thanks for your review. I was surprised when you were listing it as one of the best steakhouses in Canada. It barely made the top ten in Toronto let alone Canada. In Toronto I would go to Jacob and Company, Hy's or Black+Blue steak houses before going to Barbarian's. For the best steakhouse's in Canada you must go to either Calgary or Montreal.
Legendary? 🤔 It’s good for sure with a very cool wine cellar. Give me Jacob’s. And only for Toronto. Alberta has some epic steakhouses! Tough to say what’s best in all of Canada
I've lived in Toronto my entire life and I've been to a tonne of steakhouses in that time, but I've never even heard of this place. Where are you getting your information?
You must come back in February for the Steak Festival at Allen’s restaurant on the Danforth, there are over 50 different steaks 🥩 on the menu and are awesome
New subscriber here 👍🏻 I noticed you haven’t done Fogo de Chao yet; would like to see a review someday… it’s a goto spot for me for a special occasion ; quick tip ….lunchtime is a a pretty good deal for the “Churrasco experience “
If you're still in toronto, go to J's Steak frites on queen st. My gf took me last week for my birthday and it was life changing. Despite only serving steak frites, i would quite call it a steakhouse since i prefer cuts oin the bone, however....their striploin was perfection and the fries were not only fantastic, they were all you can eat.
Barberian's used to be the top, but I think a lot of newer and higher end steakhouses have come in over the past decade or two, and inevitably, taken some of Barberian's business away. That may have lead to a little lower quality and consistency on their part as they may not have been able to hold on to all their chefs, or even suppliers.
Hey man serious question, has anyone provided feedback suggesting that when they watch your videos on a Roku app lately that the language is not English I can watch the same exact video on my phone and it's normal but on the Roku app for the last 3 days all of your videos have been in foreign languages
I used to go to Barberians all the time. But they jacked their prices up after covid and the quality of food went down. . They have a reputation for under cooking their steaks. This place is not even on the list of good Toronto steak houses. The name of the restaurant is the family name of the owner who has lost touch with his customers.
That is clearly a peppercorn crust 14:05 That ought to have been indicated on the menu. I've browsed photos of their other steaks online, most have a regular and well executed sear crust.
i gotta question your palate if youre getting no dry age flavor but at the same time need that much horseradish (which wasabi is at any normal sushi place. only the highest end will use actual wasabi). and that cook was perfect wall to wall pink. most people are confused on how a proper med or med rare steak should look. rare would be straight purple.
To be fair.. the guy did ask if you wanted the horse radish on the side.. He would have put it on top of the steak if you would have asked.. just a thought.. Great Review!
Barbarian's has the most awesome wine cellar built over the decades! Started dining here when it opened. It's competition was Carmen's restaurant which is now closed. Both restaurants used to vie for the best beef at the Toronto Stockyards.
Hi UA, I have been subscribed for 2 years and love your work!! I'm not sure where you heard that Barberian's is one of the best in Toronto but you were steered wrong. It's terrible. Over priced, living off their reputation, pompous wait staff, gross decor. I have eaten there 40 times, mostly for business functions. Your review is on point.
I hope you will do more Toronto reviews . I want to see if the food scene is really that bad quality wise and that expensive. Living here I only eat Costco because everything else is just bad quality that I know of.
Another great review, UA. Harry Barberian was the first restauranteur in Toronto to serve high-quality char-grilled steaks; previously, Toronto steakhouses fried their steaks, then seared grill marks into the meat! When I lived in Toronto years ago, my work friends and I would make the rounds of the better Toronto steakhouses at that time: Barberian's, Hy's, Ruth's Chris, House of Chan, and my personal favorite, Senator Steakhouse (sadly closed in 2005); with its old-school waiters, private curtained booths, and adjacent jazz club, it was like dining in the 1950's. Like you, I found Barberian's disappointing, but it was close to where I worked and was quite a bit less expensive then, so I ate there more often than I otherwise would have. It seems terribly overpriced now. There are many better choices in Toronto currently.
😀😀Great Video UA. That Steak looks Real Real Pink inside...I Prefer My Steaks Little Well Done. Don't Get me wrong about the Steak it's self. The Steak looks Great!!
I'm sure Barberian's was the best in T.O. at some point in time. But there is more competition now, and leaning on history and tradition can only take you so far. It's too bad you have the shellfish allergy. Would've loved to see you review of one of the Chinese restaurants with the lobster/crab tower up here. Or the fake Din Tai Fung.
Great to make vids in Canada again! This time a Toronto series. Expect 3 more Toronto reviews!
It's not ToronTo. It's Torawna
Hope you come back for more! My home is your home!
you need to add veal parm sandwiches to your trip!!! The style is unique to Ontario. Uno Mustachio in the St Lawrence Market, California Sandwiches (Queensway or Claremont locations) or Mama Rosas in Woodbridge
Tropical Joes in Gerrard Square for a hiddem gem Jerk Chicken spot!
@@christophersuchy3632 yes, a veal sandiwch is a must. He also has to try Mandarin Buffet in 238 Biscayne Crescent, Brampton, ON. Don't leave Toronto without those two done for sure
I’ve been a doorman in Toronto for the past 29 years.
The current top steakhouse’s in Toronto in my opinion are Harbour 60, Hy’s, Black & Blue, Jacob’s & Co. and Bluebloods.
I ate at Barberian’s 20 years ago, back then it was definitely in the top 3 in Toronto.
Their 60 plus years of history as a Toronto high end steakhouse what gives them notoriety.
As listed above there are many more options to choose from.
Great review and I think you were pretty accurate.
I have a channel trying to find my footing
Toronto & Beyond with Sean.
Bro, Black & Blue uses stainless steel utensils on a non-stick pan when they are doing some of their table side cooking e.g. steak sauce or a flambe for one of their desserts. Blasphemy, when I saw that, that place was banned off my list. At the prices they charge, that's not acceptable. Raises an ire of suspicion of how they operate in the kitchen where nobody sees.
I like harbor 60 a lot but it's pretty pricey. My least favorite really is Jacob because they do not put butter on the steak and you can't have a peppercorn sauce I think and they're really annoying people.
been to Hy's as well. They had the best Shrimp Scampi I ever had. And I have had it 5-6 times over the years but not recently.
Second Harbour 60, although it's expensive. Haven't been to the others.
Toronto definitely has a few masters of their craft cooking in a few different styles of cuisine. Barbarian's has old school flavor as soon as you walk in. I make steak at home. Its one of those things where it doesn't take long to learn how to make well at home.
Nobody likes “dude you have to go here” guy, but at risk of being contradictory, it’s about time for a BBQ crawl through Oklahoma and Texas…the hospitality is as amazing as the scenery. Great vid dude as always
I’ve posted the same thing a bunch of times! A top 10 bbq tour of Texas would be epic
I will back you up on this, this dude really has to experience Oklahoma and Texas barbecue. When I was in the Army and stationed in Texas, the barbecue made up for the hot as hell days and driving for hours just to get to a place lol
@ Texas bbq isn’t cheap for the best stuff but I’d rather have incredible bbq than an incredible steak. Also most top bbq places have incredible sides. I’d love to go to Goldees, Snows, Franklins and Barbs B Q. These are all dream places and really fun experiences to visit. UA never seems to socialize but it would be fun to see him in lines talking food. But unfortunately, he’d probably not enjoy that part. The waiting is really part of the experience
I could not imagine how much he would complain on the price of barbecue
That would literally be half the video but that being said I would love to see homie come out here and try it
@ I know the best places aren’t cheap but you sure do eat like a king for $50. 1/2 lb brisket, 1 lb ribs- I’d rather eat that from a top bbq (such as Cattlerack or 2M) than any steak that’s ever existed. I love Texas bbq (but only at the best places). To be honest, you got to trust the experts and go to good place’s otherwise I’ve definitely been disappointed before. Thankfully Texas Monthly lets everyone know who’s the boss
I've never ever heard anyone say it's the best steakhouse and I've lived here for 46 years
Lol yep, it’s definitely nothing special and not worth the price
Yeah, I lived here for about 40 years in Toronto. Never heard of this place my to go to places are Harbour 60 and the octagon for steaks.
Same here.
@@tomsagos79
Harbour 60 is a great choice, but Octagon kind of sucks in my opinion.
It's coasting on its reputation from the 70s when Richard Burton once proposed to Elizabeth Taylor there.
the key to great steakhouse fries is frying them in beef tallow. Even better if you do a quick first fry, let them relax, then fry them again. In the UK they've mastered this technique and are famous for their "triple cooked chips" which are french fries that are fried three times so they're crispy outside and mashed potato inside.
Beef tallow is the key.
duck fat fries are good
@@DabsDad I had duck fat fries the first time in Montreal. They were delicious.
I am from Toronto and a HUGE fan of UA; wish he had done a meet and greet.
Thank you for your support! If enough people want meet and greets maybe we can do them someday in the future!
@@uaeats I would drive down to NJ just to meet you, UA!
UA Should have at least 200k subs by now
Whoever "everybody" is that told you Barbarian Restaurant was the best in either Canada or Toronto! They lied to ha, U A! Sorry you've been misled! @@uaeats
Yes I'm from Toronto as well but living in another province, glad you can come and enjoy!
The prices restaurants are charging for a wedge salad these days is ridiculous. $1.20 worth of ingredients for twenty bucks. Insane. No thanks.
I would imagine those prices are Canadian. It’s about 3/4ths of those actual prices for US dollar.
So it’s about $14. Most likely about $3 worth of Indrigents . Restraunts want food to be less than 20% cost to include for the staff to make the food and overhead. It is what it is. You couldn’t make that at home for $1.20 unless you made 10 of them.
Or a small Caesar salad. I saw one place charging $25 USD for one small bowl.
And idiots keep giving there money up to them getting robbed. Don't buy and stop being a sheep...simple as that
You won’t be in business very long charging people cost lol.
So proud that he is making money with sponsors!!! Good for you man
GET THAT BAG UA!!
New Drinking Game: Everytime UA mentions his seafood allergy, you have to take a shot
Or the poor lighting
Too bad I tend to watch these in the morning. Sounds like fun!
Great. I’ll be drunk very quick. 😅
UA does not take his seafood allergy, seriously. He really should, why mess around with trying to eat food that can kill you?
Too slow for me! 🤣
I have been to every major city in Canada multiple times , Hys steakhouse in Calgary is my top spot, aged Alberta beef makes the difference.
Steak Pit on avenue Rd was tops when i was young but its now a condo
Welcome to Canada! Love the videos, UA!
Fries with $ 130 steak seems odd. Mashed or potatoe with butter chives and fresh cracked pepper. Maybe 4 hertiage carrots stem on.
i like how the waiter talk to you, very casual but respectful
GG on the sponsor! Also yes Diablo II is amazing, I just got it on Switch on sale so I can play it wherever.
Great video! Definitely gonna watch more of you
This place dates back to the blood rare steak and 3 cocktails lunch’s of the 1950-60’s. It’s iconic for the power lunch concept
Another nice job, UA! Keep up the good work! 22:31 I appreciate your honest opinion. You come across as a sincere, affable and very nice guy. One minor suggestion for wine drinkers like me. If it’s not too difficult or overly time consuming for you it would be much appreciated to do a camera pan through the Wine List. I’d love to get a sense of the selections/prices. Often restaurants have their menus on their website but not their wine lists. It would be great to get a look at the Wine List similar to the way you pan the camera through the menu. Just a minor suggestion. Congrats on another fine and frank review!
Ay welcome to Toronto dude, been waiting for you to come. I've lived here my whole life and have lowkey never heard of this place lol. If you're still in the area I would definitely recommend checking out Jacobs, Black + Blue, and even Cote de Beouf. In any event hope you enjoy/enjoyed your stay!
EDIT: Holy shit how did I forget to mention The Keg. I know it’s a chain but one of the best steaks I’ve ever had was from The Keg
Agreed. Morton's as well on this list
@@bencohen3567morton’s dry aged kc is amazing
Imagine saying you've never heard of it as a flex lol, dummy
@@Taureg I think the point is that it's a bad representation of the steakhouses in the area. It's not one of the best at all.
Great channel & content-new subscriber here. As a true steak lover, in moderation these days, and a lifetim native of Toronto, Canada, I can certainly provide some brief commentary on this spot and highlight a few of my tier faves. Interestingly enough, the owner of Barberian, who surname acts as the name in traditional Armenian nomenclature, is a close friend of my brother in law, so we actually celebrated my brother's bachelor party dinner in a private room in rhe establishment, followed by some nice stogies and a glass of port on the rooftoo.
That visit was 9/10, being very memorable and the steak frites, from what I remember was super flavourful and cooked to medium-rare perfection. I did visit it again on a date night a few years later and I distinctly remember the steak coming out extremely rare this time (much more wqqthan displayed here, and borderline mooing on the plate)...I believe I returned it and it was thrown back on the grill and returned almost identically....at this point, we were well over an hour in , and at that point, I did have my meal comped. Needless to say, I haven't returned since,,,,here is a quick list of other Toronto steakhouse visits I can remember right now:
- Morton's-Classic steakhouse feel, great prep, no frills - 8/10
- Harbour 60-upscale steakhouse feel, very pricey, delicious bone-in - 8.5/10
- Jacobs-extremely pricey, more hip/contemporary vibe, unforgettable steak - 9/10
- Ruth's Chris (downtown/Markham)-moderately priced for a high-end steakhouse chain, Markham visit was within last two weeks for my birthday and was incredible-9/10
- STK: Loud, trying to be too hip, overrated food, extremely expensive, poor value relatively speaking- 6/10
-Sleeper steakhouse: House of Chan-old boss was a steakhouse aficionado...fusion asian sides with classic steaks which was incredible-8/10
-Next up: Want to visit Blue-Blood, Black+Blue, J's Steak Frites
#DrusViewz
You’re so right about Barberian’s, I think it’s mostly a nostalgia steakhouse now and by no means the best. Jacobs or Harbour Sixty are better. Black and Blue also.
Very balanced and honest review. Excellent job. Looking for your Jacob's review! Keep up the amazing work. Hopefully you can visit Takja BBQ (Korean) in Toronto next time. New joint that just opened and solid reviews.
Also from Toronto and I'm glad you made the visit. I am actually planning to visit Barberian's soon but after this I'm not sure. I have also tried Jacob's and Co, while a nice place to drink and hang out the price is totally unreasonable for what you get. The steak was not even close to the pricing, especially since the sides were extra on top of the steak. I think I will still try Barberian's to knock it off my list. I am curious to see what other steakhouses you checked out while in Toronto. Keep it up, great work!
Prices in CDN at 5:19. I live an hour outside of Toronto. Those prices are high compared to my local steak houses. Barberian's menu prices may be due to rents and other costs of doing business in Toronto
A $100-steak steakhouse should have their cooking time set perfectly and finished with a thermometer. If I go to a local steak house/pub, I always ask for one level extra cook because they always take it off the fire too quick. But a good high end steak house cooks it exactly how you ask for it.
This was a rare steak not medium rare.
Med-rare is pink but not bloody. The cook was perfect.
UA! You hit the bell on steaks at Barberians! Im so glad you’re in my city! I hope you do a fan meet and greet some time. Be sure to come up to northeast area where Midland/Mcnicoll area has a TON of asian food and so does Markham/Richmond Hill! Also try Kennedy and Highway 7 area as well!
Can’t wait to see what you think of Jacobs!
Also do a meetup here! Definitely have to meet the steak king himself!
Welcome back to Toronto!
I just wanted to explain that Canadian beef has a much milder flavour than American beef. Trust me, you can't buy that quality in your average supermarket. I've eaten in almost all the steakhouses you've reviewed in NYC, American beef has a completely different flavour profile. We feed our beef cattle differently than you guys, and graze them differently too.
Anyway, I did enjoy your review of "Barbarians Steakhouse" and gave you a 👍 as usual.
By the way, I'm a Canadian fan...
At 21:50. Barberian's Steak House has a legendary wine cellar. It would have been nice if staff offered to give a quick tour. They are a common place to go to entertain, have a special occasion, or do business.
Steak Houses in Canada have a tradition going back decades. Most also serve seafood. When I moved to my city in the mid-1970s there were probably 30 family owned "surf and turf" restaurants. Today in 2024 there are maybe five that still survive. The others are "steak house" chains like Montana's, The Keg, Jack Astor's, and Outback.
Downtown Toronto has other steak houses worthy of review. I look forward to your review of Jacobs and Co. They are an amazing steak house.
So iconic that no one outside of Toronto has ever heard of it, and when I asked former Torontonians about it, their recollection is that its far from iconic or even good. lol
While watching this on my TV using the inbuilt TH-cam app there's no English audio! Yet on my phone there is! Very odd😃
So excited for you to do Jacob’s. Been dying to try it.
My friend's son finished his business degree and got hired on Bay Street in investment banking. After a couple years he was making serious money. He and five of his friends went to Jacobs & Co. and ordered one of everything off the whole menu for sides and mains. The bill came to just over $9000 with tax and tip.
Been dying? sorry to hear that brother.
UA, welcome to Canada. I hope you enjoy our hospitality.
Thanks for the episode UA. You have officially rated the probably 9th best steak restaurant in Toronto.
As a Canadian hearing the price differences, my brain went into 1986’s Platoon’s cover art stance
Ate there in the sixty’s when it was still just a house,so delicious I still remember I’m 81 now,
Food and wine winner is Morton's Steakhouse here in Toronto. Expensive, but the awards speak for itself. 🏆
Mortons and Hy's are not really any better than the Keg. Not for the premium they charge. Getting a tableside caesar salad is fun, I guess, but the steaks are super mid.
I'm not getting the option for English audio watching on TV again, UA. You might want to look into that on the back end since it seems others on the previous video had the same experience.
Thanks for the video. Stock is my favourite steakhouse in Toronto
I know this may sound crazy but I don't have any idea what the bottom of a pepper grinder looks like and I never once bothered to look for it. At least 9:26 gave me a glimpse. Thanks UA!
UA welcome to Toronto, I recommend you try La Castile Steakhouse next. It's actually on the border between Toronto and Mississauga, a bit of a way out but well worth it. Also try The Queen and Beaver, it's on Elm St.
Thanks for the rec! It looks like a pretty good spot. I'll definitely be back in Canada and Toronto specifically again!
I agree La Castile was the best steak I ever had I need to go back again sometime. My second favourite is old Ed’s
Here from Toronto and it's my first time watching you. I live here and I have NEVER heard of that place being the best. Even google doesn't list it. That is expensive even for Toronto (where everything costs more) and maybe it was soo soft because it wasn't cooked as much as you would have liked it to be cooked. I think you need to come back and try some of the top places like Black + Blue, Jacobs & Co. or Hy's Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar. Thanks for the review. Subscribed!
I went there once for my birthday and was so excited. Steak ended up being burnt to a crisp on the outside and raw on the inside.
I've been to both steakhouses. It's not a fast food joint and cheap prices. They have $180 bucks - $40k bottle of red wine. It's the atmosphere, services, and they cook the steak just the way you wanted. After all things said and done with a nice bottle of wine. $500. Most importantly, have the right company.
For those who complained about the price. It's not a no frill low value food and drinks place 😂
Welcome to Canada, UA! 🇨🇦 Thank you for your honest review. Looking forward to what you have to say about Jacob’s. Perhaps the premium of all steakhouses in Toronto is The Butcher Chef, which isn’t quite as well known as many others. Check it out on your next visit.
One of the biggest eye-openers reviews that a grillmaster or a steak-master at a high end restuarant can get is "your steak tastes like it was out of a grocery store". Ouch. Thank you for the honest review!! I even wonder if the chef seasoned it properly. Some of these steakhouses use their own "seasoning rubs" when they should just get back to the basics and use Kosher Salt and Pepper. That's it. Let the flavor of the beef do the talking. Thank you again for your review. I subbed.
My Parents got engaged there in 1971, Have been a few times in my life. Can't beat it.
Love this channel! I actually love horseradish on the side with my steak. Just a small dab adds so much to the bite of beef.
If you’re still in toronto go to Blue Blood steakhouse at Casa Loma. Also La Castile is a good place to check out in Mississauga.
Is Ed's Warehouse still open in Toronto?
The restaurants were levelled to make way for the Princess of Wales theatre. Ed Mirvish owned all the land housing 3 restaurants. The theatre is now 31 years old.
Barberians is my favourite steakhouse in Toronto, best food and service, the waiters are pros
thanks for the video. i miss that place. can't believe the prices have doubled. that place has always been fantastic.
UA, if you ever find yourself in Jacksonville Florida you should come try a place called Cowford Chophouse. one of the highest regarded restraunts in the city. also highly reccomend the breakfast spot Metro Diner. it's the pride and joy of our food scene.
You should have a look at what Spain has to offer regarding steakhouses. There are some amazing places there, you would really be surprised.
I ate at Barbarian's once when a guy that I was dating was trying to impress me. I also found the lighting to be extremely dim and my steak to be undercooked. I like medium rare and I remember it was almost raw --- or I guess, blue. However, I recall that the food was good and the service superb. I 'think' that they used to have baked potatoes as a choice for the side, but I could be wrong.
the dude that looks like Shakespeare from the menu photo is Samuel De Champlain. the guy who founded Quebec
I’ve never even heard of Barbarians but then again even though I live close to Toronto I never waste much time there. Try Montreal next time and visit the Queue de Cheval Steakhouse. Thank you for your videos and I appreciate your nice table manners. ❤️
Great video, thanks for the special vip experience. I’m looking forward to your Canadian videos, northern exposure
Appreciate your honest review !
Barbarian steak spice is absolutely a must on anything that was alive.
UA, if you make it back to Montreal, there are some great steak places there too, including Le Queue de Cheval!
What’s the connection between escargot and shell fish? Ones a land based creature…
Escargot are not really shell fish. However snails are tricky since many people are allergic. There is also the sand and e-coli issue to deal with. Some suppliers don't clean snails properly.
The steak was broiled from above, the grill marks on the other side are caused by the steak being on a grill, with the ambient heat cooking the steak like an oven.
I live in Toronto and I have been to Barberians…I remembered when I saw your video; I guess that says it all about my experience, lol,
Welcome to Toronto! Love your reviews
I do business dinners in Toronto often. Barbarians is good - your stk looked mr to mee on the screen anyway. Jacob’s is my favourite. Stk, black and blue, and hy’s are really good also. I’ve had harbour 60 but was disappointed- really high price and wasn’t great. We always get a few steaks cut on a board and we share. Del frisco double eagle is my go to in nyc. Love the vibe there.
Try some Salad cream which we get in Ireland on your salad it's amazing
Yum on the salad cream. Now that I’m an expat I have to order it online, along with golden syrup, mustard. I’ve tried making it and have come close, but not really the same. Cheers!
Thanks for your review. I was surprised when you were listing it as one of the best steakhouses in Canada. It barely made the top ten in Toronto let alone Canada. In Toronto I would go to Jacob and Company, Hy's or Black+Blue steak houses before going to Barbarian's. For the best steakhouse's in Canada you must go to either Calgary or Montreal.
Legendary? 🤔 It’s good for sure with a very cool wine cellar. Give me Jacob’s. And only for Toronto. Alberta has some epic steakhouses! Tough to say what’s best in all of Canada
Prices are out of whack there! If you ever make your way more north to Montreal please let me know. love your show!
I've lived in Toronto my entire life and I've been to a tonne of steakhouses in that time, but I've never even heard of this place. Where are you getting your information?
You must come back in February for the Steak Festival at Allen’s restaurant on the Danforth, there are over 50 different steaks 🥩 on the menu and are awesome
Allen's is the only restaurant , in my life, that I've walked out of because of the extremely poor service.
New subscriber here 👍🏻 I noticed you haven’t done Fogo de Chao yet; would like to see a review someday… it’s a goto spot for me for a special occasion ; quick tip ….lunchtime is a a pretty good deal for the “Churrasco experience “
If you're still in toronto, go to J's Steak frites on queen st. My gf took me last week for my birthday and it was life changing. Despite only serving steak frites, i would quite call it a steakhouse since i prefer cuts oin the bone, however....their striploin was perfection and the fries were not only fantastic, they were all you can eat.
Barberian's used to be the top, but I think a lot of newer and higher end steakhouses have come in over the past decade or two, and inevitably, taken some of Barberian's business away. That may have lead to a little lower quality and consistency on their part as they may not have been able to hold on to all their chefs, or even suppliers.
My go to is always Morton’s in Toronto. Can you check out the Prime steak and seafood restaurant? I haven’t been there yet, owned by Matty Matheson
Hey! You coming back to Montréal?
Hey man serious question, has anyone provided feedback suggesting that when they watch your videos on a Roku app lately that the language is not English I can watch the same exact video on my phone and it's normal but on the Roku app for the last 3 days all of your videos have been in foreign languages
When your videos play on my smart TVs or fire stick the audio is in different languages. When I watch directly from my phone then it's in English.
You should have asked for more bleu cheese, I’m sure they’d be happy to accommodate you.
Well said about the iced relish dish - thanks for sharing!
Awesome video UA!!! 🔥🔥🔥
I would love to see what you think of The Keg while you’re in Canada
Linny's restaurant, New delicatessen steakhouse on Ossington. You gotta try it. If you can get a spot.
I used to go to Barberians all the time. But they jacked their prices up after covid and the quality of food went down. . They have a reputation for under cooking their steaks. This place is not even on the list of good Toronto steak houses. The name of the restaurant is the family name of the owner who has lost touch with his customers.
That is clearly a peppercorn crust 14:05 That ought to have been indicated on the menu. I've browsed photos of their other steaks online, most have a regular and well executed sear crust.
Is Lindy's still on Younge Street? They were a great steak house
i gotta question your palate if youre getting no dry age flavor but at the same time need that much horseradish (which wasabi is at any normal sushi place. only the highest end will use actual wasabi). and that cook was perfect wall to wall pink. most people are confused on how a proper med or med rare steak should look. rare would be straight purple.
To be fair.. the guy did ask if you wanted the horse radish on the side.. He would have put it on top of the steak if you would have asked.. just a thought.. Great Review!
Barbarian's has the most awesome wine cellar built over the decades! Started dining here when it opened. It's competition was
Carmen's restaurant which is now closed. Both restaurants used to vie for the best beef at the Toronto Stockyards.
Considering the cost of the meal, I would have asked for more, or a different dressing.
Hi UA, I have been subscribed for 2 years and love your work!! I'm not sure where you heard that Barberian's is one of the best in Toronto but you were steered wrong. It's terrible. Over priced, living off their reputation, pompous wait staff, gross decor. I have eaten there 40 times, mostly for business functions. Your review is on point.
Klee - why would u eat there 40 times then 😅😅😊. Even for buisiness functions would u tell people that it's S let's not go there ? 😅😅😊
And what steakhouse doesn't have pompous staff ? Their steakhouses 😅😊😊
Bro making advert money now...awesome to see this man's climb
I hope you will do more Toronto reviews . I want to see if the food scene is really that bad quality wise and that expensive. Living here I only eat Costco because everything else is just bad quality that I know of.
Another great review, UA. Harry Barberian was the first restauranteur in Toronto to serve high-quality char-grilled steaks; previously, Toronto steakhouses fried their steaks, then seared grill marks into the meat! When I lived in Toronto years ago, my work friends and I would make the rounds of the better Toronto steakhouses at that time: Barberian's, Hy's, Ruth's Chris, House of Chan, and my personal favorite, Senator Steakhouse (sadly closed in 2005); with its old-school waiters, private curtained booths, and adjacent jazz club, it was like dining in the 1950's. Like you, I found Barberian's disappointing, but it was close to where I worked and was quite a bit less expensive then, so I ate there more often than I otherwise would have. It seems terribly overpriced now. There are many better choices in Toronto currently.
You should try Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse, 12 Brant Street Toronto
Quiznos in orange ct that you went to has closed . I live near there
😀😀Great Video UA. That Steak looks Real Real Pink inside...I Prefer My Steaks Little Well Done. Don't Get me wrong about the Steak it's self. The Steak looks Great!!
Well done? I’m going to ask you politely yet firmly to leave.
I'm sure Barberian's was the best in T.O. at some point in time. But there is more competition now, and leaning on history and tradition can only take you so far.
It's too bad you have the shellfish allergy. Would've loved to see you review of one of the Chinese restaurants with the lobster/crab tower up here. Or the fake Din Tai Fung.
I really wanted you to try the pastrami.
Bang for Buck...your still not beating Kegs top sirloin in Toronto. And the twice baked potato is fantastic