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CLOSED: Commensal
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Closed
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Veg-options
Serves meat, vegan options available. In Oct 2012 this previously all veg buffet restaurant chain switched to flexitarian and offers fish and poultry in a separate case. Several locations. Features a large self-serve hot and cold buffet spread that includes soups, pate, main entrees, desserts, many of which are vegan-friendly. Food is priced by weight. MAY 2013 REPORTED SHUT DOWN/CLOSED.
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655 Bay Street (at Elm St, Yonge subway line to Dundas Station), Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2K4
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Last update on 30 Nov 2018 by Guest
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28 Reviews
First Review by mephitine
Teknotribes
Points +134
beware... - Edit
This place has a buffet style layout and a crusty cafeteria atmosphere. It features bland, starchy, mushy meals that are sit throughout the day in steam trays. They operate on a plate weighing system so for a decent sized meal, expect to pay ALOT... Unless you load up on something light like salad. Not recommended.
Read morePros: none
Cons: expensive, not tasty, bad atmosphere
Guest
yvettexo
Points +73
Very Sad; Will not eat there again - Edit
The food never blew my mind to begin with, and it has the ambiance of a hospital cafeteria, and now that they serve meat I have no desire to go there at all. The appeal was that they were an all vegetarian buffet, which was a unique experience and worth supporting. It was also overpriced and kind of forgettable, so it shouldn't be too hard to....well......forget about it.
Read moreCons: Cafeteria-like vibe, No longer vegetarian, Mediocre food
Guest
Poundie
Points +16721
Flexitatian now - Edit
This a buffet eatery chain. You get a lot of food for the money, and much of the food is quite tasty and healthy. Because it is buffet, you get a lot of choices, and don't have to wait a long time for your food. I enjoyed my dinner there, though I am disappointed that Commensal is no longer pure vegetarian. The labeling of what is not vegetarian on the buffet is not as clear as it could be, so watch out. Also, one day I went there for breakfast, thinking that it would be somewhat like its lunch and dinners--but it was not: the breakfast is eggs, toast, muffin, and the like: in short, nothing that distinguishes it from a typical diner.
Read morePros: Good lunch and dinner, buffet, lots of variety
Cons: Terrible breakfasts, serves non-vegetarian food
Guest
mirandaconnelly
Points +61
Disappointed its no longer veggie - Edit
I used to come here frequently for lunch, willing to overlook the high prices to have a guaranteed meat-free meal, but no more since it stopped being vegetarian. For me having meat on the buffet table defeats the purpose and I may as well eat at any meat restaurant.
Read moreCons: Meat served on the same buffet table
Guest
janeh
Points +51
They sold out to the meat eaters of the world - Edit
Went there last night and discovered that they have gone "Flexitarian" well - that will be the last time we go. The whole point of having a vegetarian restaurant is that you can feel comfortable eating there without having people eating animal flesh on the next table. Plus the hot food was cold, that i could overlook but selling out I can't overlook.
Read morePros: Has veggie options
Cons: Is no longer a veggie restaurant, Serves meat and fish, Hot food was cold
Guest
maulydaft
Points +684
I still go every once in a while - Edit
When I first came to Toronto I loved this place. Yes, pay by weight is overpriced, but I was going to school at Ryerson, so it was convienent. I go back every once in awhile. You can eat just a little bit, get in and out fast. Or you can stay a real long time. It's very casual. That's what I like best about it.
Read moreI was REALLY unimpressed when I heard they ship all the hot food frozen from Montreal. Kinda crazy. But I still eat it. They now have some sweet 30% off days for students, seniors, health workers etc. Check website for what day fits you.
Pros: causal dining, eat as little as you please, some great seiten dishes
Cons: expensive, frozen food, staff is often not friendly
Guest
saveur
Points +1168
Expensive and not tasty - Edit
You think this would be a bargain - priced per weight - but even the smallest amount of little dishes certainly add up. And the sad part is that it doesn't even taste that great. Maybe my mistake was heading their for supper, even though I figure most soups and salads would still be good a few hours. Will not return.
Read moreGuest
KD
Points +75
Fast and convenient - Edit
I decided to try this restaurant when visiting Toronto after seeing all the reviews. There was lots of selection, and it was quick and easy. The food wasn't piping hot, but it was warm and pleasant. I had a number of dishes; the ginger tofu was out of this world!
Read moreI chose my food carefully, based on the comments about pricing, and my bill came to about $13, including dessert. I was full and satisifed. Ice water was available free-of-charge.
Pros: large selection, fast, convenient to downtown hotels
Cons: expensive for very large appetites, food is warm but not piping hot
Guest
unschooling mama
Points +25
not so much!!! - Edit
My family and I went backpacking across Canada this summer, what a great chance to try out all the different foods.
Read moreWe stumbled upon the Commensal, quite excited to try this place. The service was horrible. The woman seemed suspicious of us. Because we were leaving a running tally she requested a 100.00 dollar deposit(probably a sign that she also believes that it is tooooo expensive). She was unfriendly and rude. The cost was outrageous!!! close to 100.00 to feed my family, they were careful about amounts, and we left hungry. However the food itself was fun and different, we tried a smattering of things,(stews, noodle, desserts) liked some, and disliked others. Overall, we wouldnt go again. It is only cost efficient to go as a couple to have a special dinner, and nothing quite says romance like 20 dollars a plate(that you had to be careful not to take to much), serve yourself buffet, with a crab at the till and a deposit!!!
Oh, and they want tips...
Pros: veggie choices
Cons: cost , service, atmosphere
Guest
RobynLewis
Points +37
Went there once for my birthday! - Edit
So I have only been there once, for my birthday, but the food was very good! They have quite a bit of selection, and I did enjoy my meal. The food is quite pricey though, as they weighed each of our plates to determine how much it would cost.
Read moreI would definitely go there again, as long as someone else was paying! :P
Pros: good food, nice staff
Cons: expensive
Guest
Stevie
Points +11765
Le Commensal, Toronto - Edit
This place was close to my hotel in Toronto and I was happy to eat in this place for most meals. Bags of choice for me as a vegan, decent tasting food also. With the buffet being there waiting for you it's just a simple matter of getting stuck in.
Read morePros: Plenty vegan veggie choice, Tasty food
Cons: None
Guest
JamieWilliams
Points +1202
So many heatlhy options - Edit
I stayed at the delta chelsea hotel and this was right next door so I ended up eating there every night. You pay by the weight of food so there is no waste and you pick from the buffet which has so many healthy options. This rates as one of my favourite places. There is music some evenings. The setting is informal and because it is a help yourself there is no waiting. Dishes move quickly so the food is always fresh and hot. Many added extra's such as sprouts, grains, seeds etc. Would and do go back whenever I am in Toronto.
Read morePros: Many Options, Pay by Weight, Tasty Food
Guest
melskunk
Points +94
good selection - Edit
The weight-to-eat buffet policy is I think unique to this chain, and I can't say I particularly like it. I love the selection available, which has a lot of Western foods and fantastic desserts, but in going out for dinner even a reasonable amount(one plate of dinner, one plate of dessert, one drink) ended up costing me almost $30. To be honest if I was going to pay that much I'd go to a sit-down restaurant rather than a buffet. Or pay that much for a typical buffet and enjoy multiple trips.
Read moreThe quality of the food is nice, and I enjoyed their salads. But I've been so turned off by the price (and by not being sure how much I'm really spending before getting surprised at the cashier) I can't say I'll go back unless I'm in the neighborhood and no other option presents itself.
Pros: Tasty, Selection
Cons: Price, "Weight"pricing scheme
Guest
Ken4057
Points +1200
Where else can you try 15 items on one plate? - Edit
As most reviewers have pointed out, it's a pricey weighted buffet/cafeteria-style chain. Most don't note that the food is discounted after 830 pm, when the restaurant becomes quieter and more reasonably priced. And bread is free!
Read moreAll vegan dishes are clearly marked, and they vary day to day.
Highlights for me are the seitan Bourguignon stew (soooooo hearty and good), the seitan curry, the vinegared arame and the tofu cheesecake.
I love this place and have grown to tolerate that moment when you wince at the cash register. ;-)
Pros: tremendous choice, tasty tasty tasty
Cons: very overpriced
Guest
Roubiere
Points +36
Highly recommended - Edit
This is a great place with lots of choice and ideal for when you're not sure what you fancy or if there's a few of you who can't agree on what sort of food to have! It's canteen style but it all looks (and tastes) so fresh and delicious. There's loads of different salads, lots of entrees, and lots of great desserts. You can pick whatever you want and however much you want so you can pick and mix. Then your plate is weighed and you pay by weight. Everything vegan is labelled so you can choose easily. I'd definitely recommend Le Commensal to anyone.
Read morePros: choice of food, fresh, tasty
Guest
dagny70
Points +314
Quick and Easy - Edit
We ate here on a recent trip to Toronto and found it to be pretty good. There was a lot of choice, clearly labelled, and it was a good way to try small portions of lots of different things. The food may not have been piping hot, but you kind of expect that with serve-yourself buffet style. We knew that it was 'pay by weight' and so were careful not to over-load our plates with too much. Maybe I'm just easily pleased, but, after a long day sight-seeing, this was a good place to grab some quick and tasty veggie food.
Read morePros: Quick, Tasty food, Centrally located
Cons: Pay by weight
Guest
VeganJo
Points +336
commensal - Edit
I will probably eat in Commensal again because it's convenient for me. The food is not very hot and you don't know what you are paying until you get it weighed. You have to be careful if you don't want to end up paying $20+ for a plate. The salads are good though. There are many vegan options: mostly tofu and seitan based dishes, they could do with making some "creamy" or "cheesy" style vegan dishes. However I have enjoyed my desserts there, especially the vegan chocolate fudge cake.
Read morePros: Good salads, Lots of vegan options, Good desserts
Cons: Cold food, expensive, Vegan options mostly tofu or seitan
Guest
sullivusb
Points +305
Good Food, lots of variety - Edit
The buffet was great... Tons of variety (lots of vegan options) and all but one of the items I picked out was great. Watch out though, as they charge based on weight and the food adds up quickly. My plate cost about $11, but my boyfriend's meal ended up costing about $22. If you go after 9:00 pm though, they do offer a 20% discount. Definitely worth checking out!
Read morePros: Lots of variety, very tasty, healthy options
Cons: Can be pricey
Guest
sherill
Points +128
Good buffet style veg food if you're in a hurry - Edit
We've been to Commensal many times over the years and it is consistently good, though not every item is terrific. It's a good place for a relatively quick meal if you're busy or in a hurry due to the buffet, self-serve style. Lots of variety and vegan options. It it quite expensive for what you get, but the convenience factor makes it worthwhile sometimes. I've eaten at comparable restaurants elsewhere in the world that are equally or more expensive.
Read morePros: healthy food options, lots of variety, quick meal choice
Cons: expensive, more vegan dessert options would be nice
Guest
veganstastebetter
Points +205
cha-ching - Edit
With so much to choose from and it all looks and tastes so good, you cant help but load your plate up. You know its gonna cost a fortune, but you do it anyway. When you cash out, well the price makes the food hard to swallow. Probably the most money I have ever spent on a plate of food and the last time Ill do that. Way too expensive for a buffet, it feels like a school cafeteria, not a fancy restaurant.
Read morePros: selection, taste
Cons: expensive
Guest
Keith_Thode
Points +717
A Favorite - Edit
With a salad bar, including several kinds of sprouts, a hot bar, including ethnic dishes, a desert bar, soup, white and brown rice, apple and carrot juice, and all of it great, what's not to like.
Read moreGuest
Digital Ghost
Points +50
Good restaurant for vegans as well as vegetarians. - Edit
All items are labeled with what they contain and they prepare food all through the day if you need a late lunch or take away. All items are labeled so its easy to know what's vegan and what isnt - everything is vegetarian.
Read moreThey have a dessert buffet as well as a hot buffet section, cold salad buffet, soups, drinks and fruit juices - all with some vegan options.
It's a nice place to go if you want to try a small amount of various different dishes as you just pick what you want and pay at the end.
There is free water as well as live music on some nights - you can also get one slice of bread free with your meal but as another reviewer said sadly there is no vegan butter.
Pros: pay by weight, vegan options marked, atmosphere
Cons: no vegan butter
Guest
kennyp353
Points +1717
Great buffet choice - Edit
Close to the centre of town. Buffet style, sold by weight. I've just returned from Brazil and have been to (and reviewed!) tons of these style places - and this is far better than any of 'em. Dozens of choices, far more than I could even sample in one sitting - although I tried my best, spending CA$23 with a can of soda. Some reviewers have said food is warm but not hot - true, but it's always closer to hot than cold - and whoever said their food was cold by the time they sat down was probably referring to the salad ;)
Read morePros: Wide variety, Variety and taste, All vegetarian
Cons: Pricey
Guest
tragedia
Points +43
Quite the pleasant surprise - Edit
I've been eating at Le Commensal in Montreal, Quebec, for almost five years. Over these five years in Montreal, I have seen very few menu changes, especially with regards to the selection of vegan desserts. However, I was most pleasantly surprised to see what a vastly different approach to veg*n dining that the Le Commensal in Toronto has: vegetarian breakfast in the morning, personable service (unlike in Montreal where you scarcely have any contact with the human beings behind the delicious meals), a small grocery area that offers not only Le Commensal's products but also other health-food products, and varied menu items (including THREE [!] vegan dessert items instead of the same two in Montreal). The vegetarian brunch was delicious, despite the fact that vegan butter isn't offered for toast. Nevertheless, I ahd a very pleasant experience at Le Commensal in Toronto. Thank you!
Read morePros: personable service, menu selection, taste
Cons: no vegan butter
Guest
crkdjwlr
Points +25
anways enjoyable - Edit
Myself and two friends always stop by for dinner after a day in Toronto. My one friend is in a power wheel chair and the restaurant it totally accessible. The only thing that they need to do is move the table in the ladies restroom to make more room for wheelchairs. The food is always great and we always find new selections every time that we go. Not a lot of vegan options every time but that is ok with me. The price is a little high but we always are ok with that. The staff is friendly and helpfull. We always leave satisfied. Can not wait until we go to the city again and join them for dinner.
Read morePros: good food, always a variety, no waiting
Cons: non for food, need to move table in ladies restroom
Guest
veggiewoman
Points +374
Nice variety, very casual - Edit
I had heard Le Commensal was an asian buffet and this is not at all the case. There is a large variety of foods, all labelled vegan, lacto, ovo, etc. Pay by weight. Nice, clean atmosphere, although I wouldn't recommend taking a dinner date here. Try the vegan quiche!
Read moreThe buffet style is quick and you can also pick up grab n' go food if you're in a rush.
Pros: fast, variety, food labels
Cons: a tad pricey
Guest
dkingdesigndotcom
Points +88
Defenately Not Suitable for Budget Travellers - Edit
We are budget travellers so 18 CND (excluding gratuity) for two small plates of foods is higher than our average budget. The place was nice though. They also have a 20% after 20:30 on some nights (could be on Tuesday/Thursday and Sunday night). You need to remain the cashier about it though, since our cashier had forgotten to discounted our bill. Luckily he finally did so after we have pointed out to him that it was then 20:48.
Read morePros: atmosphere
Cons: not many vegan options, none of the pies are vegans?, only 1 choice of veg ice cream?
Guest
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