The Toronto restaurant scene is about to get a much-needed dose of fresh-and-notable with today’s opening of La Société Bistro. The Colannade, a heritage building on Bloor Street West, has received a major facelift by one of the pioneers of modern hospitality in Toronto, Charles Khabouth. Khabouth, the founder and principle of INK Entertainment – a Toronto company that is noted as setting trends in social style, hospitality and entertainment with their innovative venues and experiences – drew inspiration from his favourite restaurants and lounges in France and New York City to cultivate the experience La Société Bistro would provide its fine diners.
The restaurant is a mix of rich and rustic with sleek and industrial. Built-in furnishings outfitted in rich mahogany, marble mosaic tile flooring, aged leather, stained glass – all are elements that help maintain the flow from the old world to the new. The space was designed by Khabouth’s go-to firm, Munge Leung. The outdoor patio is a calming urban oasis, where patrons can watch passersby as they enjoy the eclectic menu that Chef James Olberg has prepared – a mix of classic Parisian with modern edge, like the fantastic raw bar.
La Société Bistro will undoubtedly be the new hotspot on Toronto’s culinary scene. Khabouth’s goal was to create a space that has cross-generational appeal, and it appears as though he has been able to do just that. La Société Bistro is open weekdays for lunch and dinner, and brunch on weekends, and one very notable aspect is how late the resto’s kitchen will stay open, providing arguably the best late-night eats for Toronto’s night owls. La Société Bistro, 131 Bloor Street West, Toronto.