A long, narrow space lined with vinyl banquettes and a bar with round seats, this 24-hour diner has been serving up all-day breakfast, potent Caesars and greasy spoon favorites since 1932. Those are the menus that stand out, but so far none bests Sht. The main seafood dish is the Haly Butte, Young Plume with halibut, Ontario plum, black garlic. Grilled squid served atop romesco is a favorite, as is the fish sandwich. This course at Frilu was the star of the night, a mindblowing dish made with charcoal duck breast with koshihikari rice, furikake, burnt onion. The dish is finished with a little prosciutto oil. The restaurant names Frilu is short for friluftsliv which refers to the Scandinavian lifestyle of being outdoors and one with nature. Add to that one of Canadas most exciting sommeliers, Jake Skakun, and manager David Greig, the mastermind behind some of the citys best cocktails, and youve got the unexpected jewel in Aggs Toronto restaurant empire. By using this site you agree to Zomato's use of cookies to give you a personalised experience. There's only 22 seats in the dining room, so the vibe is decidedly intimate. Toronto's multitude of cooking traditions collects in Joni's tasting menu. They actually earned one Michelin Star on the 2022 Toronto Michelin Guide! You can only get one thing for food, and that is the tasting menu thats available for the season. The student has become the master. OT. The College St. restaurant serves up classic French dishes where everything is made from scratch -- even the plates. Before that became a buzzword, this Wellington Street gem was sourcing ingredients locally and sustainably and turning them into exquisite, creative dishes year after year. Alida Solomon who spent years cooking in Montalcino, Italy has cultivated a stunning landmark in the form of Adelaide Streets Tutti Matti (Italian for were all mad), where the focus is on simple food done exquisitely. Claimed. The menu showcases ingredients from the North through more bold and earthy dishes to evoke a sense of comfort and warmth for the season. Explore menu, see photos and read 400 reviews: "I am a massive fan of this place, and so is my partner, we have been there a few times. Cest magnifique. Theyre also located inside of a heritage Victorian building just outside of Chinatown. This progressive Canadian restaurant in Torontos Brockton Village serves a 10-course seasonal vegetable-focused tasting menu for $140 (with a $50 deposit). The Frilu smores are made with Hojicha marshmallow, smoked chocolate ganache, toasted graham cracker. This husband-and-wife-owned restaurant on King West puts a heavy focus on seasonal ingredients for their Mediterranean-inspired set menu. They can prepare a vegetarian, pescatarian, or vegan tasting menu with advance notice, as well as halal requests with one weeks notice. Created by Studio Munge, the charcoal black interior, outfitted with black marble columns and layers of gold detailing underneath a curving blue graphic ceiling is absolutely stunning. And if you've saved room for dessert, ask if there's Coco Kasu Pie available. $85 plus $45 for wine pairings. Pop in for a glass of rare Sauternes and a snack after work (no reservations required), or come with a friend to linger over dinner in the back dining room (reservations only). content focusing on where to dine, what to eat, and trending food Sign up for our newsletters to receive the latest and greatest on all things travel. Two hours. This time it was the $95 winter tasting menu called Icy Water, Snow Pine Trees. Let the good times roll and live out those postponed Europe plans with cocktails like the Rambla Highball or the Spanish Fizz, and do not (we repeat, do not) skip the basque cake, slathered with piping hot sherry cream. 5.0. This course was paired with Gyokuro Gokou, a first harvest organic green tea from Japan. Chef Justin feeds you honest, fresh, delicious food. Book a Table Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. The main meat course at Frilu Toronto is Aged Duroc Pork done two ways: Northern Ontario Duroc pork tenderloin is aged in-house for 6-7 days and fried pork belly. Liu, who grew up as the son of Hakka parents in Canada, frequently wows palates with a unique brand of Chinese food made with French cooking flair. Toronto's foodies clamber over each other for a reservation at Dreyfus, which is nestled into a Victorian townhouse on Harbord Street. Take note that these are in order from least to most expensive tasting menus! Its also a double-sided experience, so up to 20 different dishes can appear for the meal. By signing up you agree to our WebSignature Tastings Courses 5 | 7 | 10 135 | 155 | 175 Vegetarian 5 | 7 | 10 100 | 115 | 135 Wine Pairings 5 | 7 | 10 110 | 125 | 135 On September 13, 2022, Frilu was awarded One Michelin Star in Torontos Michelin Guide, making it one of the first Michelin restaurants in Toronto and Canada. Come and. Catalan cuisine enthusiasts marvel at Bar Isabel's tasting menu. I wish Frilu can explore the same for the non-alcoholic pairing by having crafted mocktails instead of just juices and teas. His showstopper is a Nordic-themed plate of Kolapore Springs trout he smokes with boughs of juniper and serves with tiny cubes of beet pickled in a house-made juniper-infused vinegar. People come here to celebrate major milestonesgraduations, birthdays, proposals. The best of them are usually at pocket-size places where a chef-proprietor riffs on seasonal ingredients, flexing his culinary musclestasting menus are almost exclusively a peacocking male chef thing. Their $125 set menu is a constantly evolving tasting experience that is directly influenced by the seasonal produce, wild-caught seafood, and carefully reared animalsthe restaurant procures. Chef Yasu built the first Omakase sushi bar in Canada. We've rounded up10 of the city's best restaurants with tasting menus, along with some of the dishes you'll find there. You might enjoy these posts: Hong Shing is one of Torontos best Chinese restaurants, serving up everything from Americanized Chinese dishes to more traditional Chinese dishes. This is typically what I look for in a tasting menu. Beyond the glowing service, consistently delicious food and robust wine offering, the friendly neighborhood spot is also flying the flag for sustainable eating. The raw sea scallop is paired with sake gelee, Italian cucumber, musk melon ice, lime juice and shaved fresh horseradish. Prix fixe menus are really fun to try, because you get to try a bunch of different dishes! If youre ordering takeout, you can choose between their At Home Tasting Menu ($88 per person) or Vegan Tasting Menu ($82 per person), which changes weekly and can be ordered on Tock! 32 tips and reviews, 2766 Victoria Park Ave. (at Van Horne Ave.), Toronto, ON, 307 Danforth Ave. (at Bowden St), Toronto, ON. One typically doesnt enjoy mowing the lawn or pulling weeds. LOCATION: 66 Wellington St W 54th floor, Toronto, ON. The tasting menu changes seasonally, a total of five times: one per season, plus a Holiday menu during December and January to reflect Christmas and New Year. Fromsushi spots with delicately crafted nigiri and Italian joints withheavenly plates of pasta tovegan eateries that routinely blow our mind with their seasonal selections and culinary wizardry, the best restaurants in Toronto are some of the best in the world. OpenTable Diner. Read on for our picks for the best restaurants in Toronto. Head up to the third floor at Momofuku Toronto for a seasonally-inspired tasting menu that will leave you speechless. If the dining room feels like something out of Barcelona, owners Grant van Gameren and Robin Goodfellow has done their jobs; after all, they used Raval, a neighborhood in the Spanish city, as inspiration for the sexy vibe and colorful decor. Here are Toronto's best multi-course meal takeaway options! And yes, the food here is just as good as the real estate. Situated on a side street off Dundas near Dovercourt, Hanmoto doesnt look like much from the outside, but stepping into this divey snack bar under the glowing red lights feels like youve been transported elsewhere. Set aside at least two hours for the multi-course tasting menu priced at $89 person. There are four savoury courses and dessert, but guests should expect a few The bottom line is that you've got a lot of choices. It is then topped with dirt made of lavender and brown butter shortbread crumbles. Terms of Service and Note, there's a$150 non-refundable deposit. Closed now : See all hours. Lightly roasted halibut paired with a young, green plum miso sauce. We received a Sourdough Bread made with hard whole wheat flour, white flour, buckwheat, and barley. DineSafe: Grocery store flagged for 13 infractions by Toronto health inspectors, A stick-to-your-ribs soup, a succulent saut and a one-pan wonder: Heres what cooking this week, Toronto's annual culinary festival, Winterlicious, launches on Jan. 27, Zellers set to open 25 stores, including locations in Scarborough and Mississauga, French-language school board byelections open for voting Jan. 21, Registration for Toronto summer camps opens on Feb. 11, 'I'm not lazy, I'm a warrior': Scarborough woman with long COVID one of thousands still living with symptoms, LIVE NOW: Your Wednesday, Jan. 18 updates on traffic, weather and school bus cancellations in Toronto. Some would say its strong suit is the diversity of cuisines; others would point out the Canadian influence across all categories, which emphasizes foraged ingredients and provincially sourced meats and produce. The menu is constantly changing and developing, taking into consideration seasons and food availability. For discreet luxury that makes you feel like a member of a private club, few spots top The Hazelton, in the upscale Yorkville neighborhood. Hes also put together a brilliant list of imported sakes, including rare and sparkling sakes you won't find literally anywhere else in the world outside of Japan. Chef Antonio Soriano offers up his signature blend of haute-meets-whimsical international fare at the newly renovated Park Hyatt in Torontos posh Yorkville neighborhood. The tasting menu is $380 per person, so its definitely a spot for a special occasion (unless youre rollin in the dough). content focusing on where to dine, what to eat, and trending food What are some other great Toronto restaurants with prix fixe menus? Their thoughtful approach stems from Japanese tradition, an Italian influence and their close partnership with Willowolf Farm. news & events. Mirroring its downtown locale, Richmond Station offers dynamic and passionate fare. Tasting menus feature the best a kitchen can muster, its technical merit and creativity. In the months after David Chang opened Sht, every semi-ambitious chef in the city became a tasting menu convert, serving a dozen small courses, plus intermediary amuses or tastesa pervasive foodie noun. Enjoy khao soi, with beautifully braised short ribs; pad gra prow, a holy basil stir fry; or their best-selling pad thai in PAIs colourful dining room. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. $85 plus $65 for wine pairings. The menu here is hyper-seasonal and prone to changes based on what's freshand how the chefs are feelingbut you can always expect perfectly seasoned dishes that allow each ingredient's natural flavors to shine. Got a comment on this article? There was no bread course this time, but we did get a petit four. You are fearless in your plight for flavour, and that journey continues with Toronto's best tasting menus. Chef Rindinella's menu at Enoteca Sociale is a window into Italian tradition, offering refined Roman cuisine. Webstuffed chicken wing, prairie grains, foie gras, apple ontario lake trout champagne sauce, white fish croquette, poached onion aged rib eye lobster, burnt carrot, smoked bacon, From chef Akira Back, who garnered a Michelin Star for his restaurant in Seoul, his namesake Toronto restaurant offers an incredible experience, from the expertly crafted food and beverage program and the exceptional service right down to the show-stopping design. This intimate Michelin-starred restaurant near King and Niagara run by husband and wife team Michael Caballo and Tobey Nemeth serves a tasting menu that starts at $185. Connect to customize your food & drink discovery. Chef Julian Bentivegna offers a vegetable-forward, multi-course tasting menu to ten guests seated at the Kitchen Counter. His coriander-dusted roasted squash fritters, served with a dollop of whipped coconut cream for dipping, were exquisite mouthfuls. Copyright 2023 Diary of a Toronto Girl Inc. | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Torontos first edition of the Michelin Guide, 10 Best Restaurants in Torontos Liberty Village, 12 Most Instagram-Worthy Spots in Hamilton, Searching for more upscale eats? This course at Frilu Toronto reminded me of a vegetable version of the Chinese rice-stuffed cornish hens that I used to enjoy as a child. For a greasy spoon, The Lakeview's menu is refreshingly non-greasy, and offers all the classic diner favorites with a few off-beat additions. By signing up you agree to our The restaurant delivers crowd pleasing Southern Italian classics, including a near-perfect rendition of cacio e pepe. TasteToronto is a community of foodies offering experiences and rich Frilu RestaurantWebsite / Address: 7713 Yonge St, Thornhill, Ontario L3T 2C4Hours: Tuesday Saturday from 5pm. 20 courses: 10 composed plates, 10 amuses. Chef Saito's specialty is Edomae sushi, which explores not only fresh raw fish, but also aged fish. All rights reserved. LOCATION: 1 Harbour Square, 38th Floor, Toronto, ON. Alo is a guiding star for Toronto's restaurant landscape and offers contemporary French cuisine. This iconic fine dining restaurant in the Financial District serves up amazing Canadian-inspired dishes. As one of the most culturally diverse cities on the planet, Toronto evades categorization. Few places in town can compete with Barberian's top-quality, dry-aged, butchered-in-house steaks. Instagram Facebook. Some were pretty unique and uncommon like the 2007 vintage Kirakucho Jukusei Junmai (aged sake) and Xixarito Manzanilla Wine from Spain that tasted like whiskey. This next dessert was a medley of refreshing, savoury and nutty. This course was paired with sparkling grapefruit juice with a rosemary simple syrup. The restaurant seats a total of 28 people inside: 6 on the bar and 22 in the dining room. The much-loved Leslieville restaurantinvites you into their home to sample hearty, home-style dishes. Standouts include the grilled halloumi with chickpea fritters and a healthy shmear of labneh, the braised rabbit pappardelle, the roasted sweet potatoes with fresh figs, and the creamy fire-roasted eggplant. Dined on December 29, 2022. From the whimsical Big Mac Bao, a steamed bun stuffed with ground beef, pickles and chefs secret sauce, to the more sophisticated tasting menus that excited gastronomically starved Torontonians mid-pandemic, this cuisine has carved out a cultural blueprint for the city that others can only try to emulate. You can find their beautiful restaurant right in the heart of Little Italy! If you make reservations, ask for a window seat table with CN Tower views so you can snap all the best photos for the Gram! This was my least favourite course as I found the lemon overpowered the entire dish. Looking to amp The hojicha is cooked into the sugar syrup and whipped it into the gelatine and water base. Famiglia Baldessare is a small-scale factory for handmade pastas, and includes a number of Toronto's favorite restaurants as clientsexcept from noon to 2 P.M. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays when the shop opens a small lunch counter where pasta fanatics line up to indulge in the city's best handmade pastas. TasteToronto is a community of foodies offering experiences and rich Praising the Canadian landscape like no other, Chef Ron McKinlay is exceptionally creative, and his tasting menu offers the restaurant's best. But Frilu Toronto will make you enjoy Pulling Weeds with this palate cleanser course. Stepping into The Lakeview is like stepping into the Toronto of the past. 797 College St. View on Instagram. Chef Jonathan Williams elevates recognizable classics with a nod to Park Hyatt Toronto's global guestbook. If youre looking to get the ultimate tasting menu experience, try the Ky-Kaiseki Tasting Menu at Aburi Hana. With marble tables and white brick, the atmosphere here is polished yet relaxed sink into a glass from their curated wine list or a craft cocktail and let the night take you away. TasteToronto is a community of foodies offering experiences and rich Marben was one of the city's first farm-to-table restaurants. Sitting in the broth is Farina Plus Chitarinni pasta, topped with fresh Dungeness crab that was mixed with a seafood bisque made of fermented tomato, crab shell, and shrimp shell. This course is a cold dish made with crab, Farina Plus chitarrini, sea urchin and tomato. Theres a special time and place for white tablecloth dining, but not a day goes by when we wouldnt crush Aloettes jiggling slice of heavenly lemon meringue or that iceberg wedge salad (if you know, you know). The vibe is right, the crowd is cool, the food is French without the fuss, and it's hard to think of a better date night spot in Toronto right now. Turn right and youll find the bar with the small kitchen right next to it. Other standouts include the chicken wings, which come in a smoked guava barbecue sauce, and the OG Duck Chaufa, duck confit rice prepared tableside with edamame, egg, corn, chili, and flying fish roe. The 5 course tasting menu is $135 per person, 7 course is $155, and 10 course is $175. In other words, don't expect to find any burrata on the menu here. Their 4-course Chefs Tasting Menu is $125 per person, and you can add wine and sake pairings for $40. By subscribing to our newsletter(s) you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Seven courses, one or two snacks. You wouldn't expect to find a French-Cantonese restaurant on College Street in Little Italy, but that's part of DaiLo's fun. Were just gonna come out and say it: Bernhardts is the most fun you can have with your pants on. Honest Weight, in the Junction feels a bit like a New England clam shack. One meal there began with a shooter of potato and dashi broth topped with a parmesan foam, followed by Dungeness crab, sandwiched between discs of apple and compressed yogurt, then adorned with dots of Thai basil jam and diced pomelo. But I highly recommend the alcoholic pairing if you enjoy drinking and can afford the extra cost. The resulting seasonal fare and innovative takes on veggie dishes make skipping meat a no-brainer. This family-run restaurant been around since 1997, and theyve recently launched a $60 set menu offering and newly-designed private dining room that seats 25. The Dyno Wings deboned chicken wings stuffed with gyoza filling are a bite of crispy, juicy heaven served in an old-school takeout box. Tableside, they poured a cucumber, dill and wood oil vinaigrette on top of the dish. Few restaurants can swell the The menu at Frilu Toronto is very simple. You're relinquishing control to the restaurant, so bring guests with few aversions to particular foods and savour the adventure of Chef's Choice. with premium pairings Available Monday to Friday from 59:30pm As autumn unfolds in Toronto, explore Canoes seasonally driven eight-course tasting menu, celebrating uniquely Canadian ingredients. The Northern White course featured cod with horseradish and cabbage. Wine pairings are also available if youre looking to go all out! Back when Greek taverna-style restaurantsfelt a little gimmicky (styrofoam Ionic columns, giant murals of the Acropolis), Mamakas blew us all out of the sea with their refined, yet approachable homestyle cooking and not-in-your-face coastal atmosphere. Start with either the Ontario burrata with birch-pickled cucumbers and prairie seeds or the Quebec foie gras with rhubarb, pink peppercorn, and sumac meringue. Canoe has the best view in Toronto: CN Tower standing to one side, planes landing at City Airport to another, and Toronto's glittering skyline sprawling beyond the horizon. He wraps thin slices of roasted celeriac around leek hearts, uses hemlock twigs to skewer twisting curls of squid and drapes lightly cured venison over reindeer lichen (worth trying once for the peculiar bristly texture). Ten courses. Load Here are some of the best restaurants in Toronto offering prix fixe menus. A restaurant named after the wrongly convicted French artillery officer at the centre of a political scandal (the Dreyfus Affair) might not sound like the most romantic locale for dinner, but our feelings for this Harbord Village spot are particularly warm and fuzzy. He has worked at Noma in Copenhagen, where he interned, 3-Michelin Star Benu in San Francisco and 1 Michelin Star Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto in Toronto, where he shadowed Chef Masaki Hashimoto for three years. Imagine a quintessential red sauce Italian jointGiulietta is the polar opposite of that. Nestled inside a red-brick row house, the cuisine served could best be described as French-ish expect meaty marvels from an impressive larder, as well as seafood forward plates, veggie dishes like green bean almondine and maybe even a madeleine or two for good measure. Those lucky enough to secure a seat will be treated to a$225multi-course contemporary French experience that could include wagyu, truffles, uni, and caviar. What started as a food blog committed to popping the hood on the citys under-the-radar culinary offerings is now a decade-old institution making some of Torontos most iconic dishes. You Voted This Airline the Best in the WorldDoes Their Food Match Up? The interior of the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, with hanging florals, vibrant teal curtains, and leather banquette seating. One and a half hours. Posted on Last updated: September 26, 2022. Forget fancy garnishes and Jackson Pollock-esque squirts of molecular gastronomy: rustic, homey plates of lovingly made pasta are what were in the mood for 99 per cent of the time. And the wine list, dominated by super Tuscans along with a couple of frizzy Franciacortas has a lot of quality, if pricey offerings. This was my view from the right-most seat at the bar. Travelling Foodie Tip: There is free parking behind the restaurant. At this Ossington hideaway, the Agean summer is endless even when it's negative-something and the outside air hurts your skin. The best time to come is during the Toronto International Film Festival during the first half of September when you might be seated next to an A-list actor. They work closely with farmers, fishers, foragers, and suppliers to source the best ingredients, which is amazing! Though, pastured beef and a stunningly house-cured charcuterie board give carnivores a guilt-free reason to keep coming back. On the surface, this is just an old school diner, but look closer and youll find a dual menu with French bistro faves like smoked trout rillette, sole meunire and steak frites on one side, and comforting classics featuring fish sticks, and pork chop with applesauce on the other. Actinolite Seven courses, one or two snacks. $55 plus $45 for wine pairings. Here, guests can watch the two-person kitchen team prepare their meals using bothSouthern Ontario goods with seafood. The Pulling Weeds course is paired with lavender-infused sparkling water. Sign up to our newsletter below. 597 College St, Toronto, Ontario M6G 1B5 Canada +1 416-516-1111 Website. $55 plus $45 for Actinolite Seven courses, one or two snacks. Toronto. For more recommendations, read our full Toronto travel guide here. WebTen is a progressive Canadian restaurant located in the west end neighbourhood of Brockton Village. A unique dessert at Frilu featuring hazelnut tofu, sunchoke, chocolate. See: the quirky mismatched plates, vintage record player, and potted plants. Ive been such a big fan of the unique pasta courses at Frilu Toronto. The sushi here goes way beyond your average maki, with rolls like the Brother from Another Mother, unagi topped with ponzu aioli and foie gras. Posted on Published: September 18, 2022- Last updated: January 18, 2023. Also, pickerel is quite a popular local fish from Lake Erie in Ontarios Southwest. Crack a bottle of champagne and order a medley of multicultural handheld delights from jerk fish and Argentinian BBQ to curried fried potatoes and foie gras, you wont get bored of this menu for another ten years. The restaurants output hasnt been as consistently brilliant since Lachlan Culjak took over a year ago, when head chef JeffClaudio left to travel the world, but the kitchen is still capable of mind-bending stuff, like a duck fat confit potato coated in leek ash that cracks open to reveal a runny duck yolk, which has been injected into the cooked spud with a syringe. Music blasts and panache-filled dishes (hello, theatrically stabbed octopus) swirl around diners in such fashion that its scientifically impossible to dine at Bar Isabel and not want to keep the party going. They recently expanded from their original King West taqueria and opened up a new, even cozier spot on College St. At both locations you'll find traditional, Mexico City-style tacos made with fresh-pressed corn tortillas. Going back to a lighter course, the next one is Ground and Sea, made with celeriac, scallop and beef garum. Enjoy the DaiLos Choice tasting menu for $95 per person, with optional wine pairings. Thats the sound of us ruminating fondly on the last meal we had at Edulis and Toronto collectively sighing with relief at the restaurants endurance. comments. Did you know? Because it is a pretty fancy spot, they have a dress code of business casual attire! Zellers is opening 25 stores across Canada in partnership with Hudson's Bay this spring. 's 5 favorite Canadian (New), Modern European Restaurants, and Asian Fusion Restaurants around Toronto, ON. You'll find a friendly team led by Chef Julian Bentivegna, who showcases veggies, their versatility and sustainability. If you like your fine dining without the attitude, head east for neighbourhood vibes, beautifully balanced libations and some good old fashioned fun. There are many Mexican restaurants scattered around Toronto, but no one does tacos better than Campechano. Eight to 10 courses. A restaurant helmed by a Top Chef Canada winner might sound like a glitzy, flash-in-the-pan, but almost a decade on, Carl Heinrich is still serving some of the bestfood in Toronto. Order the hakka wontons and truffle fried rice, sip on a well crafted cocktail in the moodily chic dining room and watch your worldly worries slip away. The cuisine expertly balances the teachings of past generations while embracing modern touches for some truly remarkable dishes from land and sea. And you haven't really tasted feta until you've tried their barrel-aged brick. news & events. Therustic-yet-refined cuisine draws on Spanish cooking traditions and features the best ingredients showcased in theseasonally-driven dishes. Baijiu is Chinas national liquor and the oldest hard liquor in the world its been produced since the Han Dynasty around 200 BC! The impressive wine list purports to be one of the most robust in Canada. It offers a rotating menu, usually with a shape of the day prepared in two different wayssuch as cavatelli with broccoli rabe and pecorino, or cavatelli with homemade sausageas well as a burrata starter, a basic salad and perhaps a crudo.