Ossington has a new secret spot for cocktails and Asian bites

Does Ossington really need another speakeasy cocktail bar serving Asian-ish plates? The newly opened Don’t Tell seems to think so, and I'm inclined to agree.

With half of the GTA descending on Ossington every weekend, a spontaneous drink on the buzzy strip is getting harder to come by, so it’s nice to have another option for solid sips and bites in an atmosphere that feels both refined and casual.  

Don't Tell: What's the vibe?

Don't Tell is an easy spot to saunter into or plan a whole date night around. Painted deep red and outfitted with illuminated archways filled with mirrors and plush curtains, it feels like the show is about to begin at any moment, even on nights when they don’t have live music. A gold bar adorned with red laurels draws eyes to the front of the space, while a large mural of a woman in her own embrace pops at the back of the dimly lit space. 

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Don't Tell: What's on the menu?

Asian flavours and French technique seem to be the themes tying together a menu of creative plates that range from lobster eclairs and crab croquettes to duck teppanyaki. While some dishes are tastier than others, at the very least, all of the items are interesting. 

The Tuna Nicoise Salad is the sleeper hit. Thinly sliced tuna carpaccio is drizzled with a creamy potato salad, topped with a savoury olive tapenade and punctuated with two tasty little quail eggs. It feels like it shouldn’t work, but it does. On the other hand, the grilled squid is overpowered by the savoury flavours of the Ibèrico pork that's stuffed inside it. 

Hamachi sushi pizza is a filling option that leans heavily on a large, crispy rice cake with raw Hamachi and tuna on top. Lobster gyoza is one of the larger plates, and is as delicious as you would expect. My favourite plate, and the most unexpected, is the eggplant katsu. It’s breaded, fried and sliced just like the more familiar chicken katsu, but with juicy eggplant inside and served with tangy tonkatsu sauce and kimchi.

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Don't Tell: What's to drink

As expected on Ossington, the cocktails here hold their own. Lighter drinks like the citrusy and silky Cloud Nine, and the eponymous Don't Tell, a floral spritz, are refreshing and easy to drink. Then there are serves with a little more intrigue, like the Yuzu Sesame Sour that blends savoury black sesame with juicy citrus and creamy egg white foam for a tasty sipper that leaves me wanting more.

Don't Tell is a welcome addition to the growing Ossington strip arsenal of hotspots for cocktails, a snack and a little entertainment. 

Drinks and snacks for two: around $90 before tax and tip.