Flor do Ave Restaurant (1654 St Clair Ave W, Toronto) - Portuguese Cuisine

Perfect food. Perfect service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent Food and friendly service, we had octopus salad, filet mignon, arroz do marisco, freshly grilled tender octopus and chicken pasta. Everything highly recommended

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Nice place, very good food and good service from the staff, Barbara's recommendations are always accurate. Highly recommended.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Flor do Ave: A Hidden Culinary Treasure

Who would’ve thought that one of the best meals I’ve had in ages would be just around the corner from home?

Craving something special but not wanting to venture too far, I came across Flor do Ave, a cozy Portuguese restaurant that quietly delivers what many big-name spots only promise: incredible food, warm service, and flavors that make you close your eyes and say yes, this.

We started with flaming chorizo and clams—and let me tell you, that clam sauce was so good I had to ask for bread just to mop it up. The clams were a little on the slim side (clearly watching their figure 🤣), but the taste more than made up for it.

For the main course, it was grilled sea bass for me and a perfectly cooked steak for my dining partner. Both dishes were Michelin-star worthy. The sea bass was tender, kissed with charcoal, and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt so delicate I asked where it came from. The answer? Just “sea salt.” Whoever’s sourcing it—bless you.

Out of curiosity, I googled the chef and nearly dropped my fork—Paula Da Silva, runner-up on Hell’s Kitchen Season 5, trained under Gordon Ramsay himself. He praised her for her near-perfect execution and calm intensity—and now I understand exactly why. Her touch is all over that kitchen.

Dessert? All were delightful, but the passion fruit mousse absolutely stole the show. Light, tangy, and smooth—it’s a dessert you think about long after the spoon hits empty.

And a special shoutout to Barbara, our server, who made the entire evening even better. When asked how she did, someone at the table quietly said, “She deserves a five-star review.” And honestly? She does.

We’ll definitely be back. Probably more than once.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We saw the indoor restaurant and it looked very cozy. When we arrived, there was also a cute outdoor patio, so we sat there. From the welcome/greeter, to the server, to the chef, there were only genuinely big and friendly smiles, while continued throughout our meal. Very welcomy staff.
After being seated, we had placed on our table a bowl of olives, a variety of fresh bread, olive oil & balsamic vinegar, and this outstanding home-made cheese, to enjoy while we scanned the menu. We ordered two different fish plates, and each was succulent, and good-sized portions. Dessert, a pistachio mousse, topped off our charming and blissful experience.
We're definitely returning, and bringing other friends with us!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Muito bom serviço e o melhor leitão de Portugal ☺️

O melhor Leitão de Portugal!!😍😍

Muito bom!O melhor Leitão do mundo!!

BEST food I’ve had in a long time. Made with so much care. Service was amazing. So friendly. We will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hello everyone - I recommend this restaurant for three reasons,
1st - for the quality/presentation of the food

2nd - for the personalized service (friendliness and attention, for me, it's top)

3rd - for the harmony and joy that you find inside the restaurant

Thank you for always being well served!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent food, excellent service and nice dinning atmosphere!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had an amazing dinner with a group of 14, and it was nothing short of fantastic. The food was top quality, and the polvo was some of the best I’ve had locally! The service was incredible, with the staff being attentive and accommodating, and they struck a perfect balance between Portuguese and English—many of us learned a lot. Such a gorgeous and cozy atmosphere for our group. We’ll definitely be back for more!

Flor do Ave offers a little taste of Portugal with a fantastic variety of classic dishes like bacalhau, francesinha, and octopus, all prepared to perfection. The wine selection is impressive, and the staff enhances the experience—our server, Sabrina, was courteous and attentive, while bartender Gil helped us pick a great bottle of wine. Highly recommend and would definitely return!

Having been to Portugal more than once, I have a soft spot for Portuguese cuisine for its authenticity and lack of complications. To me, Portuguese food is forever associated with warm people, welcoming atmosphere and great company.

Flor do Ave delivers all of the above from the moment you set foot in the restaurant. It is a little slice of Portugal with its handmade tiles, wine bottles and other decorative touches.

Our experience tonight was outstanding. The simple menu was complemented by a rather extensive list of specials. We had the white wine clams and octopus salad as appetizers, and monk fish rice and skewered beef for mains.

Let's start with the biggest surprise, the skewered beef! The quality and taste could go toe-to-toe with the best Brazilian churrascaria any day! The meat was seasoned beautifully and grilled to perfection.

The monk fish rice brought me back to many monk fish stews and rice dishes I have had in Portugal. It was rich and aromatic. The clams were served in a flavourful and flagrant white wine sauce. The octopus salad transported me back to the Algarve instantly.

The cocktail was outstanding and the after dinner espresso hit the spot just right. Seeing all the families and friends dining together in this intimate restaurant just made the meal that much more enjoyable.

The word 'exquisite' isn't strong enough to use for the fabulous anniversary dinner tonight. I had the filet mignon w/risotto, my hubby had the striploin with fries n egg. Cooked to perfection. Even with leftovers, we had to try the chocolate mousse and the passion fruit mousse. Every bite was a slice of heaven. Definitely back to try the seafood specials. Thank you!!!