Every time Matty Matheson announces a new restaurant, Toronto holds its breath. His latest, Prime Seafood Palace, is an entirely new concept that’s been 6 years in the making for the celebrity chef.
True to Matheson’s love and care for all things meat, Prime Seafood Palace pays homage with a menu of modernized staples inspired by iconic steakhouses.
“It’s a juxtaposition in what people perceive me as versus what they’re going to walk into,” Matheson tells the NYTimes Style. “I’m 40 now, and Prime Seafood Palace is a very mature, beautiful, thoughtful restaurant.”
Brought to life by architect Omar Gandhi, the elegant interiors are clad in soft wood and maple tones, finished by a grand, arched ceiling reminiscent or an “airy wood cathedral,” as Aliza Abarbanel writes in NYTimes Style.
At Prime Seafood Palace, meats, fish, and other seafood are given special treatment to match its elevated interiors.
Under the Chill Seafood section of the menu, you’ll find a classic Shrimp Cocktail as well as other more curious dishes, like the Dungeness Crab Cocktail and the Sea Urchin Mille-Feuille. There’s also a section entirely dedicated to varying kinds of Caviar with all the accompaniments.
The Warm Seafood section has just a few items that are tossed on the grill, including a Scallop dish and Humboldt Squid with Stracciatella and White Asparagus.
Appetizers include Matheson’s Molasses Bread with Kippered Mussels, Lobster and Ricotta Dumplings, Steak Tartare with Buttered Toast, and Grilled Palace Bacon.
Finally, the Meats & Fishes menu, a three-column section that really has it all: 20-oz. Bone-In Striploin, 9-oz. Filet Mignon with Au Poivre Sauce, 40-oz. Côte de Boeuf, Prime Rib Roast (Sliced or served with the “Palace Cut”), Fluke Fillet with Trout Roe Beurre, Chicken, and Pork Chop. All of these can be accompanied by a small list of sauces that can be added to your meal: Palace Sauce, Au Poivre, Béarnaise, and Chimichurri.
Even the Vegetables here deserve special mention. Mashed potatoes, a staple in any steakhouse, is elevated here with chicken démi and parmesan cream. There’s also a hearty four-ingredient dish of Morels, Peas, Ham, and Foie Gras.
The desserts here are just as iconic and beautiful. So far, there’s a Neapolitan sundae, a tall chocolate cake, and a dish resembling a lemon meringue pie.
The menu isn’t currently available on their website, but what little we do know about Matheson’s grand Palace is enough to give us major food envy.
Nestled right off the busy Ossington strip, Prime Seafood Palace is located on 944 Queen St. W. Right now, they’re still hosting friends and family tastings, but they’ll be open to the public soon on May 25. Though reservations are already booked up, the calendar allows you to book up to exactly one month in advance, which means new spots are opening up every day.
