Comma

Should You Book Comma?

If you're weighing Comma against the better-documented Queen West options, here's the honest answer: Comma at 490 Queen St W is a venue with a real address and a real presence in one of Toronto's most food-forward corridors, but publicly available data on pricing, hours, and the current menu is thin. That's not necessarily a red flag — plenty of strong independent spots on Queen West run lean digital footprints — but it does mean you should call ahead or check in person before committing to a special occasion booking.

Queen West is a stretch of Toronto where ingredient-led, independently owned restaurants have carved out genuine reputations. Comma sits in that tradition. The neighbourhood runs from casual to quietly serious, and venues in this pocket tend to source with intention, keeping menus tighter and more seasonal than the downtown core. If that's the format you're after , a room where what's on the plate reflects what's available now rather than what photographs well year-round , Comma fits the profile. Whether it executes at the level of Edulis or closer to a solid neighbourhood regular is the question the current data can't answer cleanly.

For the explorer-minded diner who tracks sourcing and wants a room that feels current rather than comfortable, Queen West in autumn and winter rewards the kind of menu-driven curiosity Comma appears to invite. Seasonal produce from Ontario suppliers tends to define what's on the table at this time of year across the neighbourhood , root vegetables, preserved elements, cold-weather proteins , and a venue in this location is almost certainly working within that rhythm. That said, confirm the current menu directly before booking if sourcing specificity matters to your decision.

Booking difficulty is low. This is not a venue where you need a three-week runway or a contact at the restaurant. Walk-in or same-week reservations should be achievable, which makes Comma a practical option if you're building a Toronto itinerary and want flexibility. Compare that to Alo, where you're planning weeks out, or Sushi Masaki Saito, where the counter fills well in advance. Comma's accessibility is a genuine advantage if spontaneity is part of how you travel.

For context on what a strong sourcing-led independent looks like elsewhere in Canada, AnnaLena in Vancouver and Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Lincoln set a clear benchmark for ingredient-first menus at the serious end. Tanière³ in Quebec City shows what happens when hyper-local sourcing becomes the entire editorial point of a restaurant. Comma isn't operating in that rarefied tier based on available signals, but it doesn't need to , Queen West has its own logic, and an accessible, seasonal independent in this location fills a different role in your Toronto week than a $$$$ tasting menu.

Practical Details

For a broader look at where to eat in the city, see our full Toronto restaurants guide. If you're planning the rest of your trip, our Toronto hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide are worth checking before you arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Comma handle dietary restrictions? No confirmed dietary policy is available in current venue data. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if this is a factor , it matters more here than at larger venues with standardised kitchen protocols.
• Is Comma good for solo dining? Queen West independents in this format typically work well for solo diners, especially if counter or bar seating is available. The accessible booking situation means you're not locked into a reservation window, which suits solo travel. Confirm seating options when you book.
• Can Comma accommodate groups? No group policy or private dining data is confirmed. For groups of four or more in Toronto, Don Alfonso 1890 and Aburi Hana have more documented capacity for larger parties. Call Comma directly if group dining is your priority.
• What are alternatives to Comma in Toronto? For a sourcing-led tasting menu with a clear track record, Edulis is the stronger bet. For contemporary fine dining, Alo is the city's most consistently cited option. For something Italian-inflected, DaNico is worth considering. Each of these comes with more publicly available information to help you decide before you arrive.
• Is Comma good for a special occasion? Without confirmed pricing or format data, it's hard to position Comma confidently against Toronto's dedicated special-occasion venues. If the occasion matters and you need certainty, Alo or Aburi Hana give you more to plan around. Comma is worth the call if you want something lower-key on Queen West.
• What should a first-timer know about Comma? Verify hours and current menu before you go , the venue's digital presence is lean, and Queen West independents do change seasonally. The location is well-connected and the neighbourhood has strong options nearby if plans shift. Go with reasonable expectations and an open menu mindset, and Comma is likely a solid addition to a Toronto food week rather than its centrepiece.