928 Dundas Street W
Toronto, ON M6J 1W3
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods (416) 551-8854
honestly - the food at the black hoof is absolutely amazing. but i had such horrible service there and i would not even think twice about going back again. NEVER !!!!!!
i started off at the hoof raw bar as we waited a table and tried the raw scallops (complimented by granny smith apples - genius) and the ocean trout carpaccio (paired with browned butter and salmon roe - also delicious)
we were informed that our table at the black hoof was ready so we headed over. we ordered the spicy horse tartare, the bone marrow, beef heart & mussels, and the tongue & brioche.
again, i'd like to reiterate that the food was spectacular.. but here's where my experience turns sour. i had picked off a bit of the beef tongue and began to chew... everything seemed normal except this 1 bit wouldn't break down. thinking this was supposed to be the texture i kept chewing a few more seconds before i gave up and spat it out. to my disgust, it was a clump of short black hairs... i begin spitting on my tissue to get the remainder of the hairs out and then went to rinse my mouth (i had lost my appetite by this time)
i informed the waitress about the problem and she quickly cleaned it up apologized and offered us another one - i politely refused - didn't complain, didn't make a scene.. i just did not want to eat anymore.
shortly after another staff member approaches our table and says "so i heard about the problem you had about the tongue... there is absolutely no way that could have came from us. nothing in our kitchen looks like that and i find it so weird because there is just no way that it can be in the tongue" i'm a little stunned at this point because 1st of all.. i didn't complain... i thought most restaurants would just apologize and remove it off my bill... i wasnt here asking for discounts / other freebies albeit how disgusted i felt about the situation... but this was the icing on top of the cake.. she then preceded to say in a condescending tone "we can remove this from the bill.. IF YOU WANT... but like i said... there is no way that this could have been us"
yes.. because ofcourse the short little black hairs came from my head of blonde hair.. i sat there feeling accused of making this up and i was so appalled i just asked for the bill and left immediately after. i had never had such terrible service in my life.
to all you black-hoof visitors. good luck. if all goes well you will have a fantastic time with this unique culinary experience but god forbid anything goes wrong with your food because you might get the same horrible treatment i did
