Reigning over Roncesvalles village, The Queen of Tarts is hailed across Toronto as one of the finest - and most decadent - bakeries in town. Friends who share my weakness for tarts (and pastries of all kinds, to be frank) have been urging me to go there for ages. Finally, I decided I couldn't wait any longer so I made a special trip just to sample the goods I'd been missing out on.
When I first stepped into the shop, I was hit with two immediate disappointments. First, the lack of selection. The lengthy, mouth-watering online menu had won me over. But so many of the tarts I'd been hoping to try were either sold out (Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Tart) or missing altogether (Milk Chocolate & Chai Spice Tart; White Chocolate & Balsamic Fig Tart; Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart with Chinese Five Spice & Candied Orange Zest). This let-down was shared with a slight shock over the prices: $4.25 - $4.50 per tart.
Thus restricted to a maximum of two tarts, but still undettered, I went about making my selections.
The first choice was easy: the Mexican Chocolate & Chipotle Tart (chipotle infused dark chocolate ganache with chunks of Mexican chocolate) was a no-brainer. It looked rich, tasty, and was exactly the kind of creative baking I'd been hoping to find here. I waffled a bit over the second choice, and nearly went for the Peppermint Patty Truffle Tart, but decided to fall back on an old favourite: the Coconut Cream Tart (which really needs no explanation).
I wish the Queen had made room in her quarters for a couple of tables or stools so I could enjoy my tarts then and there, but since she hasn't, I had to control my sweet tooth until I got home.
I went for the Mexican Tart first and was instantly won over. This tart was everything I'd hoped for: the chocolate was rich and smooth, and the chipotle infusion caused a gentle heat to rise up the back of my throat. A thick swipe of cinnamon decorating the top lent a warming, aromatic kick to the whole experience, and the pastry had a delicate crispness to it.
Nex up: The Coconut Cream Tart. This one was much less exciting, but it was good to see the bakers know how to handle a classic. The cream was light and fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness, and there was certainly no shortage of it - just the way it should be, in my book. I also loved the tender pastry and the crisp toasted coconut on top.
The tarts aren't cheap, but you're certainly not getting stiffed. These are tarts like you've never seen before: too big for one person to eat alone! Best of all, you can tell that the bakers take pride in their work. The menu offers both original creations and comforting favourites, each tart is presented with elegance, and you can taste the quality ingredients in each bite.
If this is monarchy, I say long live the Queen!
The Queen of Tarts
283 Roncesvalles Ave.
416 651 3009
Closed Mondays
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You guys are the 70727 best, thanks so much for the help.
BEST. TARTS. EVER.
I picked up a few of these and was floored at how flaky the pastry was. YUM.
I don't know what you mean about not having a good selction. When I went in there were so many, I couldn't make up my mind! These were super yummy and the staff was really nice and helpful.
I stopped by the Queen of tarts shop, and I have food sensitivities and I asked for a list of ingredients, but to my disappointment they could not produce one, so I asked some question, as I like to know what I am putting in my body, regardless if it's a sweet or something healthy. They do not use any organic flour, or real eggs, or butter, so if you like pastries of a lower quality in ingredients, but looks pretty enough to fool you into thinking there might be something good underneath it's the place for you. I say I'll Pass, rather go to Dufflet, at least they use real ingredients.
I truly disagree on this rating! I find this place way over priced on items that they don't even make! The tarts people are from Dufflet's, you could save yourself money by buying the same tarts at Loblaws or Sobey's. Don't make the extra effort to go.... save yourself time and money!
I think if you don't know the difference between the Queen's tarts and Sobeys tarts, than you should keep buying from Sobey. At least you can save some money, if that makes you happy. Until than, we may spend little more money, but we can enjoy trully our tarts...at the Queens tart.
You are mistaken. We have 4 full-time professional pastry chefs as well as a cookie designer/decorator on staff, whom you can see every day of the week and Saturdays at work in our open kitchen. We make everything in the store except for the St Urbain Montreal-style bagels and the Indian curries and samosas. We have never brought in pastries from Dufflet, nor do we wholesale our products, so it is impossible to find the same tarts at Loblaws or Sobeys.
We do not use organic flour or other organic ingredients, nor do we bill ourselves as an organic bakery. We are a small pastry shop and do not have ingredient lists for the hundreds of products that we make. However, our front-of-house staff are very knowledgeable about the products and if in doubt consult with one of the pastry chefs. Of course we use "real" eggs (what would we substitute for eggs?) and only pure unsalted butter in our tart doughs and all of our cookies. Our quiche/pie dough is the only dough that we make with half butter and half trans-fat-free shortening (for flakier texture), and there is canola oil in our carrot cakes (as all carrot cakes do). We do have an open kitchen where you can see our pastry chefs baking with "real" ingredients every day.
Not bad tarts, although I agree that the prices are a bit high.
My only real complaint is with regards to their food handling, though. The lady that prepared my order didn't bother to wash her hands nor were her hands gloved when she picked up my tarts. Her hands had just handled another customer's money, and now she was handling my tarts. Yuck.
I have been to the Queen of Tarts many times...I find there shop impressive and the produce beautiful. You can tell by the smell that the ingredients are of quality, only real butter, eggs and sugar can produce that sweet gentle aroma.
I have been going there occasionally for the past 6 years and my complaints are as follows; the staff are inconsistent with regards to there knowledge and food handling and I have had a few grumps. Rather a host that makes me feel that they have been disturbed by answering my questions, rather than someone who believes in the product and is happy to spend the time explaining it. And the other complaint is that it is very expensive. I sometimes feel justified shopping there but I know that can get an equal elsewhere for less money and with friendlier service.
This place is worth a visit for there whimsical gingerbread cookies and a chance to stroll along Roncesvalles
I live within 2 mins of this place and everyday on my way home from school the entire length of the block all you can smell is the wonderful aroma surrounding the bakery. I have to say it is a tad expensive but the tarts are well worth it. I had some form of penutbutter tart may have been snickers i dont remember.. all i remember was being stuffed and satisfied. and i love the gingerbread caracters they've created.
I'd suggeest it if your in the neighbourhood, also check out the film buff a 10 min walk south, their penut butter chocolate ice cream is addictive
My god... Every thing that I've tried at Queen of Tarts has been just heaven in my mouth. The classic Butter Tart is perfection. Ginger Melt cookies are gone too soon. And the Spiced Pecans are a wonderful touch to what we're having for dinner... I could go on. The woman working there could easily pass for a winery hostess - the whole experience is always welcoming, enticing... and DELISH!!
The Queen of Tarts to this day make the BEST DATE SQUARES EVER!!!!! Generous size and fantastic ingredients. YEP, THE BEST EVER! Now if only they would share the recipe then it would totally make my day!
Also, they had one of the best baking aromas in the city! Intoxicating!!!!! Can the aroma and sell it....it's a keeper!
Hope you return and perhaps take cues from the above....be more customer friendly as I too, found your staff condescending....not nice if you want return patrons or referrals.....
Sadly, very sadly - the Queen of Tarts has closed.
Dufflet/Queen of Tarts uses more BS ingredients than most places, why do you think their products have such a long shelf life???
ADDITIVES!
Dufflet/Queen of Tarts uses more BS ingredients than most places, why do you think their products have such a long shelf life???
ADDITIVES!