Just months after announcing his departure from the high-end dining room LSL, where he worked alongside Masaki Saito and Christian Le Squer, chef Didier Leroy is making a quick return to the kitchen.
When he left the Avenue Road tasting counter late last year, the official line was that he was stepping back after 50 years to focus on mentoring younger chefs. Instead, Leroy is already back at the helm of a brand-new venture called The French Kitchen, officially set to open on June 25th at 3054 Dundas Street West.
The new location sits inside a historic building in the Junction where recent renovations uncovered a slice of neighbourhood history — a vintage advertisement preserved directly on the original brick walls. Ahead of the launch, Leroy has been getting to know the local independent food scene, sourcing ingredients like celeriac, while introducing himself to residents and business owners along the Dundas West strip.
“For me, cooking has always been about more than food,” Leroy shared. “There is no better way to show someone how much love you have for them than by cooking for them. It is an act of care. It is respect! Respect for the ingredient, for the people who grow it, for the team that prepares it, and for the guests who gather around the table.”
After decades dedicated to French culinary craft, he explains that this project feels especially meaningful as an opportunity to bring together everything he values most: tradition, discipline, generosity and the simple joy of sharing a meal. “To cook for others is a privilege,” he adds. “To create a place where people feel cared for is, perhaps, the most rewarding part of all.”
The French Kitchen will feature an intimate 20-seat dining room that skips the rigid structure of typical fine-dining menus. Guests will experience a five-course seasonal tasting menu priced at $148 per person, with the flexibility to choose between different preparations within each course. Optional wine pairings will be available for $80, alongside a premium selection for $115.
The restaurant will be open from Thursday to Sunday, starting at 5:45 p.m. until late, and reservations are currently live on OpenTable.
