Carman’s—the ivy-shrouded steak house in the gay village—is closing its doors for three months starting in June. The closure piqued our interest for two reasons: it was announced via radio, and it comes in the middle of the restaurant’s 50th anniversary year. We spoke with one staff member, who said the place has previously shuttered during the summer months and assured us that the scheduled closure isn’t recession-driven—it is meant to “give everyone a break.” Further phone inquiries were met with suspicion and more than one hang-up.
The steak house and former club, where most mains are priced above $50, is a bit of an anomaly in its neighbourhood and on the Toronto dining scene. Carman’s golden age was back in the ’60s and ’70s—a heyday memorialized on the menus with grainy photos of Nat King Cole and Lorne Greene posing with then-youthful owner Arthur Carman (who, after 50 years, still runs the place). As a hard-working young chef, Arthur opened the restaurant at its current Alexander Street location in 1959. Accolades from local and American publications poured in. It was one of the few spots in the city that stayed open after theatre performances, attracting a late-night but sophisticated crowd. Toronto Life food writer James Chatto described his dinner as a “delicious, garlic-rubbed, charcoal-broiled strip loin” when he dined there in 1977.
Recently, though, customers’ reviews of the carnivorous cuisine have been mixed, and diners have headed elsewhere for their beef fix, leaving the Victorian-style steak house more a relic of better days amid an ever-changing neighbourhood. Here’s hoping the nostalgic steak house that survived for half a century can get its act together and reclaim some of its former glory when it reopens in the fall.
I’m not surprised! My freind and I had dinner at Carmens in early April. Our steaks were disapointing, to say the least. When I called the next day to discuss this with a manager, I was told my business was not wanted nor deserved, then hung-up on! Perhaps a summer course at Charm School?
May 29, 2009 at 10:39 am | by Amy Ruddellwhat i remember in his hayday, about Carmens is that he was always complaining about the fact the dishwashers would quit and go on pogey. How this fact was known was because it would be in the papers or tv news.
May 31, 2009 at 1:20 pm | by mikeI first went to Carman’s Club in 1976? with my parents and friends up to see the grey cup. It was awesome, I was 14. I remember having to wear a jacket and tie the smell of garlic and cigerette smoke. Everyone was happy smiling joking. I remember the huge room the kool pictures and decorations and all the movie star pictures. I had a great time.
2006 I returned with my husband and we ate in the small front dining area where I had remembered that heavy door and the pictures were still there, awesome and the food still great.
2007 I returned with my sister and we ate in the big hall chatting and enjoying our wine for an hour before dining, great food great service, can’t beat it.
2008 I returned with my husband, my sister who was also there in 1976 and her daughter. We sat in the big room and I could feel the connection still.
August 2, 2009 at 7:11 pm | by AndrewWe had a blast chatting about everything we remembered. We also had dinner for two but each of us ordered it so lol u can tell the wine was working the same as when our parents had first brought us, big bill so what great fun and well worth it. We can’t wait till fall when it reopens
Many years ago a friend introduced me to Carmen’s. When I first walked in I couldn’t help but smell the aroma of garlic like I’d never smelled garlic before (I loved it.) The garlic bread, pickle trays and cottage cheese, steak, the ambiance including fireplaces and the different rooms. The staff were excellent (photographs of movie stars that had dined there over the years was interesting to look at too). I’ve always wanted to return and have told many friends that it was excellent and expensive, but worth every penny. Probably one of the best, if not the best restaurant I’ve dined at in Toronto. I’m disappointed to hear some people are dissatisfied lately. I’m looking forward to a similar experience that I had years ago. Thanks Carmen’s and I hope things will be just as great in every way when I visit again this year. Can’t wait…
September 22, 2009 at 8:54 am | by SheilaSheila
Our family has always loved Carman’s, especially our son and daughter-in-law; it was their absolute favourite place for dinner. Carman’s are now closed permanently, and we are so sorry, will miss it very much. I have an unused gift certificate from Christmas which we will never get to enjoy; I’m sure there will be many others as well with gift certs that cannot be redeemed. Too bad there wasn’t a warning and an opportunity for a ‘last dinner’. Mmmmm, loved those olives, the tatziki, the garlic bread, the steaks…and for my husband, the lobster!
November 17, 2009 at 8:45 am | by CarolIn 2002, Toronto Star did a review of all Toronto steak houses, and concluded they would return to only one, Carman’s, for both quality and value…
November 26, 2009 at 1:56 pm | by Rosie WebsterIn 2005, Toronto Life rated Carman’s “Best Value” and the same star rating as Harbour 60, Morton’s, Ruth Chris, and Barbarians.
In 2006, Carman’s won “Patron’s Pick” (from unadvertised reviews) and also rated Carman’s 92 on food and 77 on service.
In 2007, Where Magazine awarded Carman’s “Most Memorable Meal” chosen by the readers.
In both 2006 and 2007, “Best Steak in Toronto” was awarded to Carman’s by dine.to and Carman’s has excelled within dine.to’s category ever since.
As you can see by these, and other reviews (check out Fodor’s reviews torontoplus.ca), Carman’s hasn’t been deteriorating for years – he’s been delivering the same consistent BEST STEAK in Toronto, a title I’m sure his competitors would love to hold. I’ve been going for 30 years and wish I could go for another 30. Nothing will ever compare to the Carman’s Steakhouse experience, service, food, and above all Carman himself.
Rosie,
If you want to say you love Carman’s, just say it.
But please, you’re not helping your argument by listing what you have above.
*First, are you serious? You’re quoting The Star from 7 YEARS ago???
*Then, fine, at least you got a little more current and quoted 4 YEAR old stats. OK. (Even though I have to say that Jacobs & Co. the current BEST steakhouse wasn’t around)
*Patron’s Pick is the biggest joke in the industry. It’s a bought review. Check your facts please, because you are uninformed about this.
*Where Magazine is another “bought” review. It’s not that hard to get into Where – also an industry known fact.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed going there for 30 years. It’s great when we can find institutions that we love and support. And it is too bad he’s closing but all good things come to an end eventually. That’s life.
But I did want to clarify your above assertions because I think it may mislead others who don’t know the truth about these publications.
November 26, 2009 at 4:33 pm | by Blanche Hunt