Richtree Market Restaurant, Toronto

Visiting Richtree Market restaurant in Toronto in November was an unforgettable and unique experience for me. There is nothing I know of in Scotland and the U.K. that compares. The experience is difficult to describe by the standards of conventional reviews of eating houses. Make no mistake the Richtree restaurant is a market with a ‘carnivalesque‘ atmosphere. Panache, vibrant colour; heaps, piles and stacks of produce, hustle and bustle that presents anarchy and organisation side by side: these are some of the first impressions gleaned from a visit.
What we have here is a novel concept. Those who put it into practice deserve to be applauded.
So impressed were we with this restaurant that we ate there several times but since Qype rules forbid me reviewing the same business more than once I will describe only one of our visits.
A group of us went there for supper one evening late November. Usually in the early evening you have to queue to be seated. When allocated a table each person is given a swipe card. Then, when you select from a menu an assistant takes your card and the order is added to your account. There is a good variety of very tempting foods. I settled for some soup, beef barley broth, with a main course of some chicken, cooked Cajun style, served with potatoes and vegetables. We shared a bottle of Mundavi wine. The bill was moderate. I think part of the trick eating at Richtree inexpensively is to stick to a special offer or few items as I did. Once you start selecting portions right, left and centre (and it is very tempting) your bill will mount up rapidly.
The service was civil and efficient; utensils not being used are taken away as soon as you sit down. The restaurant appeared fairly popular for families with young children. An eclectic and interesting range of music was played, loud enough to be appreciated but not intrusive. I also really liked some of the music played. I am not knowledgeable of contemporary Canadian music but what we heard that pricked up my ears was similar to the sounds of a band like that of Les Cowboys Fringants: that is a fusion combining folk and country elements with rock music.
When you leave your table your bill is settled by your swipe card at a cash point close to the exit. As is typical in North America since our group comprised at least 4 adults the service charge was included. Since various Richtree employees may have been involved in serving you it may be that a fraction of the service charge will be allocated to each of them through the data processed by the swipe card. This seems fair.
If you have not been to a Richtree Market restaurant then it is an experience that you must try.