The rebranded eatery—an elegant space designed by Brian Brownlie of du Toit Architects—has received rave reviews from publications including The Toronto Star, Eye Weekly, and toronto.com in recent weeks.
Although the menu includes several familiar dishes, Mildred's has a different feel from the original venue (which was named after the book and 1945 Joan Crawford film Mildred Pierce). Mildred's has floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of the railroad tracks, a semiprivate dining area with a communal table that seats 30 people, and a spotless open-concept kitchen.
The restaurant seats 110 and can hold as many as 210 for receptions. The space is filled with solid walnut tables and cream chairs by Knoll. An acrylic wall designed by Mark Littlejohn provides a dramatic backdrop for the bar, and artwork by Montrealer Alice Jarry decorates the restrooms. The owners play an eclectic mix of music, including the theme song from The Price Is Right and Nancy Sinatra's “These Boots Are Made for Walking.”
Dooher, who is also the executive chef, and Gallagher installed a water filtration system to provide customers with still and sparkling water, and the menu features dishes made with locally sourced products. Appetizers feature dishes such as handmade ricotta gnudi with Berkshire bacon, fried sage and caramelized onion, and main courses include crisped pork belly prepared sous vide with potato dumplings and bourbon jus.
Mildred's is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch on Sundays. The restaurant is available for private bookings.
