"Valerie, perched elegantly on the 27th floor of Hotel X, promises a dining experience as breathtaking as its panoramic city skyline views.

The restaurant's design is stunning a sophisticated setting. The commitment to guest experience begins immediately.
Gabriella, was a true gem: professional, genuinely enthusiastic, and wonderfully informative. Her detailed explanation of the menu and concept, coupled with a generous property tour, was highly appreciated and set an immediate, positive tone. The service, executed flawlessly by both Kenia and Gabriella, was truly exceptional—attentive, knowledgeable, and responsive, even successfully navigating a bespoke cocktail request. If service alone were the metric, Valerie earns a resounding six out of five stars.

The menu offers a Japanese inspired approach, executed with varying degrees of success.

Corn Tempura (9/10):
A playful and delicious start! These were perfectly executed, crisp, and flavourful—a joyful little bite that, funnily enough, evoked the delightful absurdity of Futurama's "popplers." My only minor note would be the addition of a complimentary savoury dipping sauce to elevate it further.

Ice Cream Sandwich (10/10):
This dessert was the absolute culinary pinnacle. A masterclass in texture and flavour: a puck of vanilla ice cream atop a thin, chewy chocolate chip cookie and salted caramel, all encased in a snappy milk chocolate shell. Following Gabriella’s recommendation to eat it like a sandwich, the snap of the chocolate followed by the rich, balanced interior was sheer bliss.

Sesame Cheesecake (9/10):
For any pastry aficionado, this is a refined finish. It beautifully delivered the toasty, nutty depth of black sesame while retaining the classic smoothness and creaminess of the cream cheese base.

Curry Poutine (6/10):
Conceptually fun, this dish suffered from a lack of 'umph.' While the fries were well-made and the cheese curds ample, the Japanese curry sauce was too light and thin. It lacked the necessary intensity to cut through the richness, and critically, it was not served hot enough to melt the curds, missing that classic poutine textural element. It leaned too close to the mild flavour profile of a British chip shop curry, needing a significant depth and richness boost. The addition of green onions and togarashi was a nice touch that provided a welcome visual and textural counterpoint, but they couldn't overcome the core issue with the sauce's temperature and body.

Chicken Robata (5/10):
This was a significant miss. The chicken skewers arrived cold, leading to a tough and dry texture. The flavour profile was also disappointingly mild, suggesting a need for better temperature control and a more assertive marinade.

House Fried Rice with Chicken (6/10):
A foundational dish that fell short. The key flaw here was the rice itself—it felt too 'fresh,' rather than the slightly drier, day-old rice crucial for proper fried rice texture. Furthermore, the seasoning veered into being noticeably salty.

The Valerie Maki (7/10):
A creative composition with the unexpected addition of yuzu and apricot jam. However, the enjoyment was hampered by temperature issues: both the shrimp tempura and the sushi rice were served cold. For a dish built on contrasting textures, having the star components warm would have dramatically improved the delivery.

Valerie is an undeniably beautiful venue with genuinely world-class service. The professional, warm, and highly-attentive team is its greatest asset. While the dessert course shines, suggesting strong talent in the pastry section, the savoury dishes demonstrate a need for greater consistency in flavour intensity and, crucially, temperature control.
The restaurant is an ideal spot for a special occasion where the view and service are paramount. With some focused culinary adjustments, particularly in ensuring dishes are served at the proper temperature and boosting the flavour profiles of key items, Valerie could easily move from being a 'great experience with okay food' to a true Toronto dining destination."

Ali k

"Myself and Husband made reservations for our five year anniversary at the Valarie. The place had an elegant chic vibe. We didn’t wait long but got to enjoy a beautiful view of the CN tower as we waited. Our server was Dylan , the service was amazing , we were given champagne at first to toast to our anniversary. I found that very special and meaningful. Dylan gave us excellent recommendations when we asked for advice on the menu, overall all the food was delicious and fresh quality. Dylan recommended the Valerie sushi roll and I have to say it was the star dish of the night! For dessert we got the vanilla bean chocolate covered ice cream sandwich with caramel. I know you’re probably thinking, really an ice cream sandwich but let me tell you it was the best ice cream sandwich I’ve ever had. My husband doesn’t like chocolate and loved every bite! The price for food and drinks was more affordable than I expected. Overall I would definitely come back to enjoy another delicious meal and wonderful experience!"

Vanessa N

"Very surprised by the affordability. The staff are lovely, they go out of their way to replicate high-end service. The views of the city, airport, and lake are amazing. We went on a quiet day, and it had a great energy. The cocktails we had were tasty, although the strawberry drink has way too much ice and not enough liquid, and unfortunately they still advertise a banana colada on their website and menu, but this and some other drinks are no longer available."

Jeevan D