Catering to the Bay Street crowd and those who frequent the ballet and opera at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is the aim of Forte Bistro, a new restaurant on Richmond Street West. The bistro, which launched in mid-December, hosts its official opening tomorrow. “I love the location because you have two hotels and the Four Seasons Centre right beside you, and Bay Street is just a block away,” said managing partner Hieu Nguyen, who also owns Cru in Bloor West Village.
“I love the space and the angles...it all connects together,” he said of the restaurant, which has two entrances—making the venue suitable for a range of private events. The York Street entrance opens into a lounge featuring grey stone walls and glossy black tables with red chairs, while the Richmond Street entrance, adjacent to the Four Seasons Centre, is decorated in a lighter palette and boasts several musical influences, including a series of wood sculptures that resemble sheet music and hold tuning forks for pianos.
“Forte is a musical term. It means you play strong,” Nguyen said. “There is a lot of music around here but it is very subtle.” The wall surrounding a circular booth is reminiscent of the acoustic panels used in a recording studio, and piano keys inspired the glossy black and champagne tables in the lounge. Walnut paneling surrounds the the bar, adding a theatrical feel to the space. The interior design firm Mackay Wong designed the space.
Executive chef Greg Argent (the former chef de cuisine at Rain) and pastry chef Brittany Peglar's menu offers a modern twist on traditional bistro fare. Entrees like saffron-stained scallops and mushroom-crusted black cod are less than $30, and most of the wine on the menu is priced at under $75 a bottle.
Forte Bistro can accomodate up to 150 people. The main dining area on the Richmond Street side can hold up to 50 for a sit-down dinner, and the lounge can hold as many as 100 for cocktails.
