A hidden French bistro is opening inside a pastry shop in Toronto

A brand new French bistro will soon be opening in an unexpected place in Toronto: hidden inside a French pastry shop.

You may know Nadege for their tasty pastries, executed to French perfection with exquisite detail in the presentation. They’ve become known for their creations like eclairs and macarons over the years, but now they’re branching out into the exciting world of savoury dining with a new project called Chez Nad.

“This bistro is a passion project, rooted in my childhood and inspired by Lyon, brought to life in Toronto, where comfort, tradition, and technique meet,” reads the caption to a post from Chez Nad on social media.

The restaurant will apply their pastry expertise to the savoury world when it comes to the Chez Nad menu. Small plates should include options like house bread and pickles, as well as gougeres and fries.

Other plates will include French onion soup, beef tartare, meat and cheese plates, escargot, ratatouille, duck and steak frites.

They’re also going to be serving up some lesser known French dishes that you may not see on every restaurant menu in Toronto, such as a “Quenelle de Maman avec sa Bisque de Homard” which the Chez Nad menu describes as “an old-world classic.” The dish consists of a local pickerel quenelle in a lobster bisque, finished with roasted mushrooms and green olives.

Of course, they have to have dessert, and options at Chez Nad should include a lemon pavlova and a kind of molten chocolate cake, plus a selection of Nadege’s famous cake, ice cream and sorbet.

“Chez Nad is the natural evolution of 17 years of gastronomy with Nadège Patisserie—a full-circle moment in my family’s culinary journey. Tucked behind our flagship at 780 Queen Street West, this space is deeply personal: an extension of my home and my story. From my great-grandparents and grandparents owning a pastry shop, to my parents running a restaurant, food has always been the language of our family,” reads a part of the Nadege website signed by Nadege Nourian (AKA Nad) herself.

“Chez Nad is an ode to that heritage. ‘Nad’ is my nickname, and when you step inside, you are truly entering chez moi. This is an elevated French bistro rooted in bistronomie—where thoughtful, locally sourced ingredients meet exceptional French cheeses. Classic Lyonnais and French dishes are reimagined with a modern, playful twist.”

Chez Nad located at the back of the Nadege pastry shop should be opening on Feb. 6.