California Restaurant & Bar

Hidden gem with nice atmosphere and great service. Food was very tasty, homemade and fresh with tons of flavour. Amazing homemade bread and fried calamari was awesome! Entrees (Schnitzel & GURMANSKA PLESKAVICA) were also very yummy. Highly recommended and great value.

November 19, 2024 on Google

After many months of searching for a new (to me) Balkan-style restaurant to try, I finally made the trek to California Restaurant & Bar, excited to give their various ethnic dishes a try. I don't know if we caught them on an off day- it was dead when we went-, but sadly, the Karadjordjeva schnitzel we were served was very near inedible. The cut of meat used was extremely lean and overcooked + under-seasoned, and further, extremely thick- much thicker than is required for the dish. Frankly, the piece of meat used was downright repulsive. Further, the stuffing inside is a far-cry from what the dish authentically calls for, which is kajmak, though I see they see on the menu they state it's a cream cheese interior, which this was- but it's just not authentic, and makes a big difference. Our shopska salad, which is hard to mess up, seemed to have zero seasoning beyond the low-quality feta scantly sprinkled atop it, with tomatoes which we seriously questioned the freshness of. And speaking of freshness, the complimentary bread served to us was extremely stale. I'm giving two stars and not one, because the cevapi and gurmanska pleskavica we ordered were considerably better than that poor excuse of a Karadjordjeva, but not good enough to salvage the score anymore. Even for those two dishes, there are other Balkan restaurants in the city I much prefer. On the plus, our server was very warm and attentive. Hoping we just hit it up on the wrong day, want to give benefit of the doubt.

November 4, 2024 on Google

Had a great experience at California restaurant on a quiet Sunday afternoon. The restaurant was empty and only one other family on the patio. The server was lovely - attentive and informative. First time eating Balkan food and it was great. The French fries are the frozen type but tasty. Cover your drinks on the patio due to traffic debris and overhead tree shedding. The bathroom was very clean. Not much of a view but definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area.

May 22, 2023 on Google

Balkan restaurant, with many options to choose from. Nice place and good service. I took an option what looks very balkan and was looking very tasty , gurmanska pleskavica. The dish is well made and seasoned, it comes with fries and diced onions. The side dish was not matching with the meat, everything was good, but together they was not so good. Maybe this kind of meat settle better with rice or pasta, but it is my opinion, I'm not european. Although my experience, my husband took a fresh fish, and he loved it. I recommend the place, even the dish that I took was well made.

February 19, 2023 on Google

Epic food, great service and even better patio. All you need to know is its worth a visit.

February 15, 2023 on Google

First time going to this spot, recommended by my brother. Traditional Balkan food, super delicious!!! The meats were well seasoned and full of flavor and the portions were large. Will be visiting again!

July 29, 2022 on Google

I was in Toronto for a couple of days; and it was an extremely hot and humid day. I was desperately looking for a place to sit down, relax and enjoy a meal until I stumbled upon this hidden gem! The owner is a wonderful woman from Macedonia and we had amazing conversations which made me forget the heat wave! Inside was cool, the beer was fresh and rejuvenating and dishes from Eastern Europe (Serbia, Macedonia, etc.) were incomparable. Definitely the spot to check out for all Torontonians and travellers =)

August 20, 2021 on Google

I went here with my family while dining was still permitted and we received excellent service. This was was my second time going back and having their Kebapi/Ćevapi which was delicious both times. Second time I had it with their Ajvar, Kajmak and a Shopska Salad on the side! I can't wait to go back! Great, traditional Macedonian restaurant! I highly recommend coming here and trying the authentic Macedonian cuisine as it is hard to find Macedonian places like this in the area! Definitely check it out!!

December 10, 2020 on Google