General Public Restaurant is located at 201 Geary Ave in Toronto , ON and serves great food and drinks in Toronto
General Public is inspired by trying to imagine what an upscale English pub would be if it had the heart of an American brasserie (and was open 11 to 11). It’s also going to signal a little bit of steakhouse, but not too much. And finally, it will look behind itself at The Black Hoof, because too often we forget all the paths we took to get where we are — a small chop of nostalgia is always welcome, but we won't ever overwhelm with the whole pig — some things, like a poorly functioning home hood and no credit cards are best left to our memories. In terms of vibe, the main floor is ‘everything’s gone green’, with lush banquette seating, warm wood, and barstools designed for long conversations over many cocktails. Upstairs you’ll find a completely different space that transports you to a peachy 80s dream. Somehow these two halves make perfect sense, and complement each other in a seamless conversation, where neither wins the argument, but you really do have to see it!
We visited General Public for happy hour and were immediately struck by the beautiful interior. The burger was stacked with a hearty patty, melted Red Leicester and cheddar, caramelized onions, and a punch of tangy Branston pickle. The fries were perfectly crisp on the outside, tender inside.
We found the service attentive and friendly. Altogether, an enjoyable visit
Service and ambience was fantastic however the food for me left more to be desired for the price point. Blue fin tuna had these cheese crips which I swear are from Costco. Lamb tartar was very gamey and texture slightly slimey. Chicken pot pie had a very strong cheese I believe which left a weird after taste.
The best thing was probably the fries. Super delicious.
Interesting food to try out, but not something I'd rave to my friends about.
Went here for Valentine’s Day. What wonderful staff and meal. They really took care of us the entire night given dietary restrictions.The drinks were novel and tasty. Had the bubbles and bump caviar for a tiny luxury. Ribeye steak melted in your mouth and we shared it. Will definitely come again for special event. Absolute class…
Went for brunch. Service and decor excellent. The pace of the meal was very slow. Waited 30 min for a roast beef sandwich and my eggs Benny. Which was overcooked and had to send back. They were gracious and got me another. Sadly the home fries were inedible. So greasy. The coconut hollandaise was also gross. It was probably the worst benny I have ever had. Sweet? Could have used some sort of bacon as well to balance it. Just soggy greens. The roast beef was nicely cooked but very soggy on the bottom. Again the fries were very greasy. Not my taste. Sadly I don’t think I’d return.
Love this place! Don't miss out on their breakfast menu, especially their breakfast sandwich (which is topped with a hashbrown and silky delicious Red Leicester queso) and my favourite, their bruleed porridge. The porridge is totally unique to anything I've ever ordered in a restaurant and it's phenomenal! It's a must get. I've also had the masala eggs and can vouch they're also very good.
The restaurant is beautifully designed and decorated from top to bottom, down to every last detail. The service was also great! Can't wait to come back again soon.
Finally made our way to GP last night for dinner. Firstly, I am obsessed with the mascot and need them to sell merch - I would buy it all. Ambience was amazing though a little loud at times for table conversation (but just squished a little closer in our booth to solve the problem). The black cod as promised was the standout dish. We tried several of the cocktails and found they all had their own unique twist - I had a very hard time deciding each round. My only minor complaint is that all the meaty large plates were ice cold (steak and pork chop) not sure if that was the intention. Fries were also a must try based on the reviews I read and did not disappoint. Both desserts were exceptional and I would be remiss not to mention the bathroom lighting and decor. An earlier reviewer suggested bringing your phone to the bathroom for a must-have selfie - thank you random reviewer 🙏🏻
Wonderful restaurant! The happy hour burger was exceptional. Skate wing was seared perfectly. Flavour of the chicken bacon pie filling was not my cup of tea but the crust was nice’n flaky. English pudding was good, simple classic flavour. The lemon posset dessert exceeded expectations. Good meal overall with some interesting flavours. Our waitress was friendly & took great care responding to questions & feedback. Efficient service team. Beautiful space.
Arrived early, sat at the bar and had two fantastic mixed drinks. The bartender is personable and passionate about her profession. The wait staff was amazing and provided great service despite a packed restaurant. The oysters were fresh, the fries were incredible and the rest of the meal was good. The prices are on par with the TO food scene.
I stopped by General Public last Thursday, August 7, for their happy hour, and I’m so glad I did. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of wonderful.
First, the food, I ordered their burger and salt and vinegar french fries, and they were absolutely fantastic. The burger was perfectly cooked, juicy, and packed with flavour, while the fries were golden, crisp on the outside, and soft and fluffy in the inside. Seasoned just right. Simple classics, but executed at a level that makes you appreciate them all over again.
Our waiter, Fraser, deserves a special mention. He was incredibly lovely and attentive, always checking in at just the right moments without ever feeling intrusive. You could tell he genuinely cared about making sure we enjoyed our visit.
One thing I didn’t expect was how nostalgic the evening would feel. They were playing 50’s and 60’s music throughout the restaurant, and it instantly brought me back to Sundays with my late uncle, who would put on those same tunes while preparing family lunch. It was such a warm, comforting memory, and it added a special layer to the whole experience.
Thank you, General Public, for the amazing service, delicious food, and for unknowingly giving me a beautiful reminder of my uncle. Keep up the great work, I’ll definitely be back!
As a solo female traveler who loves indulging in Michelin star goodness this spot ended up on my must do list after chatting with some locals while I was at the Ace hotel. As a dairy free diner, I felt a bit restricted, but my server was fabulous in helping me navigate and include all options possible lol still honoring the chef’s intentions with the dish. She was incredible. Attentive, grounded, playful, knowledgeable, and fun. It’s been about a month since my trip, I believe her name was Kathee. The restaurant offered half portions on items to enable diners to sample more of the menu facilitating a fun little culinary adventure. Everything was flavorful and fabulous.
We came for a birthday celebration and had a great experience. Food was delicious. We loved every dish we had, but highly recommend the burger and the cod rosti. The cocktails were amazing as well. The food was on the expensive side, but that’s to be expected these days. Our server was also great; attentive but not overbearing whatsoever.
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