In Maple Leaf Square at the corner of York Street and Bremner Boulevard, e11even is a new restaurant with private dining from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the restaurant offers a lounge, dining room, and a second-floor event space that holds as many as 55 for dinner or 95 for receptions. The space can also be divided into two rooms designed to accommodate dinners for groups of 25.
The lounge, known as the living room, is just inside the reception area and offers a 20-seat bar, six flat-screen televisions, and a communal table made of hemlock timbers excavated from the site of Maple Leaf Square. The space has a palette of dark grey and brown, with plush leather banquettes, wooden tabletops, antique mirrors, and masonry floors filling the venue.
"The whole restaurant is restaurant is really inspired by Canadiana," says general manager Steven Salm. "It's meant to be very homey and welcoming." The main dining room is elevated and features a lowered ceiling of oak hardwood to create an intimate setting. "Dining here is very warm. It's not presentational," Salm says. When seated, guests receive an iPad, which includes the wine list and cocktail menu. Patrons can also visit the wine cellar, which holds 3,500 bottles and offers more than 600 selections.
The menu—designed by Robert Bartley, culinary director for the company, and executive chef David Isen—includes dishes like crab cakes, jumbo shrimp cocktail, roast chicken, and fresh fish. Dry-aged steaks are complemented by sides like grilled asparagus, creamed corn, and truffled mac-and-cheese. Desserts include favourites like hot fudge sundaes, carrot cake, key lime pie, and cookies and milk.
The restaurant seats 120 in the dining room and 75 in the lounge. The entire venue, which is available for buyout, holds 300.
