The Ace (restaurant)

The Ace
Restaurant information
EstablishedDecember 1, 2011 (2011-12-01)[1]
Owner(s)Rafael Badell[2]
Maggie Stackpole[2]
Head chefRafael Badell[3]
Food typeGastropub
RatingBib Gourmand
(Michelin Guide)
Street address231A Roncesvalles Avenue
CityToronto, Ontario
CountryCanada
Websitewww.theacetoronto.com

The Ace is a restaurant and gastropub in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto's West End.

History

The restaurant was opened in fall 2011 by local couple Greg Boggs and Maggie Ruhl, occupying the former location of the Ace Chinese Restaurant and retaining the name, with "Chinese" dropped from the title.[1] The couple kept the predecessor restaurant's 1950s diner aesthetic, and updated the menu to serve 'homestyle comfort food and French classics.'[1]

At opening, the restaurant's kitchen was headed by Chef Peter McKnight, serving items like steak frites and fried chicken with collard greens.[1]

The restaurant closed and was put up for sale in the summer of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] In December 2020, the restaurant was sold to present owners, husband-and-wife couple Rafael Badell and Maggie Stackpole.[4][2] The couple re-opened the restaurant in January 2021, with Baddell taking over as the business's executive chef.[3][2] Baddell's culinary background is as a baker, using his prior experience to make much of the restaurant's bread in house.[3]

Recognition

The business was named a Bib Gourmand restaurant by the Michelin Guide at Toronto's 2022 Michelin Guide ceremony,[5] and retained this recognition in 2023 and 2024.[4] A Bib Gourmand recognition is awarded to restaurants who offer "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." Michelin cited the restaurant's brunch offerings as the highlight, including the duck confit and wild mushroom toast served on sourdough.[4] Additionally, Michelin praised the restaurant's French toast, served with caramelized pears, vanilla bean whipped ricotta and toasted pistachios, calling it "likely the city’s best."[4] The owners attributed the Bib Gourmand recognition increasing business to the restaurant, helping it recover and stay in operation following the pandemic.[5]

In 2013, the restaurant was featured on Guy Fieri's television show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, with Fieri commending the business's mac-and-cheese burger and deep-fried pork belly.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Aksich, Caroline (13 December 2011). "Introducing: The Ace, a classic Roncesvalles diner reborn". Toronto Life. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Liu, Karon (18 January 2021). "New owners of beloved Roncesvalles diner The Ace ready to reopen and serve the neighbourhood again". Toronto Star. TorStar. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Little, Olivia (10 May 2021). "The Ace - Review". BlogTO. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "The Ace - Toronto". Michelin Guide. Michelin North America. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b Mendes, Sonia (17 October 2022). "How Michelin's Bib Gourmand award turned a struggling restaurant around". Macleans Magazine. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  6. ^ Reddick, Michelle (1 April 2013). "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives recap: The Ace edition". Toronto Life. Retrieved 8 October 2024.