After more than a decade of experience in leading Canadian kitchens, notably The Fairmont Royal York's "Epic," Chef de cuisine Jean-Charles Dupoire heads the open concept kitchen at Loire.  Here he dishes out his traditionally inspired French fare, with very seasonal and very Canadian flare. Jean-Charles brings his experience, as well as his vision to the forefront, creating dishes that are both art piece and fine-fare with a reasonable price-tag.

The menu is ever evolving, changing with the seasons. Striving for the most fresh and excellent, Loire's menu never remains static. The kitchen there is always changing, growing into something new each day. Popular dishes adapt and bend before being reintroduced in their familiar form weeks later, which makes visiting Loire on a regular basis both interesting and rewarding for those looking to escape from the routine. If you love food and love to be surprised, or perhaps simply spoiled, than Loire is certainly worth checking out.

Seasonal ingredients are introduced to dishes thus creating an evolving menu, which stays true to its French roots and pays homage to its Canadian grounding. Chef Jean-Charles Dupoire honed his skills in several international kitchens, most notably at EPIC, where he was executive chef. Loire has received great reviews over its lifespan, and the food and service are top-notch.

The owners of Loire have recently opened a Bistro and Rotisserie on Augusta Street, in the heart of Kensington market.  It has also been met with positive reviews and features a more intimate setting, with more accessibly priced food items. Le Kensington also has a great selection of wine, which is to be expected, as the wine list has been selected by Mr. Brissonnet, who is a seasoned restaurant veteran.

Loire brings the flavours of the Loire valley to the Toronto area, with a menu comprised of a cornucopia of dishes that really let the flavour of the ingredients shine through. Popular items include a scallop and frog legs duo entree, and trout tartar appetizer, with house made teriyaki and dill sour-cream garnish which is arguably one of the best tartars I’ve ever tried. Ingredients are fresh and typically seasonal.

Loire has an inspired wine list including a number of gems that are designed to please fine fare appreciators. They have a selection of international wines, as well as Canadian vineyard offerings, and the service staff are highly knowledgeable about their product.  All in all Loire is a great find and an excellent example of a restaurant that marries fine food with fine wine, and does it well.