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Home > Where to Eat Toronto

Where to Eat Toronto

Luminato Festival: Sit at the Kids’ Table with Future Tastes of Toronto

Schoolkids don chefs' toques for the Luminato Festival's Future Tastes of Toronto event

Schoolkids don chefs’ toques for the Luminato Festival’s Future Tastes of Toronto event

JUNE 15 & 16  The opening weekend of Toronto’s premier multidisciplinary arts festival features, among other things, a truly unique culinary event. As part of Luminato’s education and outreach efforts, the festival matched some of the city’s top chefs with elementary school students to create a variety of collaborative food offerings. Having worked alongside the professionals, the youthful apprentices are rolling out their culinary masterpieces for Future Tastes of Toronto: At the Kids’ Table. Not only will the youngsters be hawking their gastronomic delights at more than 25 food stalls, they’ll also be sharing their stories and experiences at a communal eating space. Distillery Historic District, noon, free admission ($5 for each food item); call 416-368-4849 or navigate to luminatofestival.com for more information.  —Laura Sabatini

Grant van Gameren’s Bar Isabel is Already One of Toronto’s Best Restaurants

The intimate dining room at Bar Isabel (photo: Ian Lefebvre)

The intimate dining room at Bar Isabel (photo: Ian Lefebvre)

For most foodies, the title of Toronto’s most hotly anticipated 2013 restaurant opening was long ago bestowed on Bar Isabel. Why, you ask? It’s the brainchild of Grant van Gameren, whose virtuoso work with cured meats and offal at The Black Hoof marked him as one of the city’s most exciting young chefs. His reputation drew immediate crowds to his cozy new space; the spread of Mediterranean-inspired tapas dishes—executed by van Gameren and fellow Black Hoof alumnus Brandon Olsen—is what keeps those diners coming back. Among the meat- and seafood-focused menu’s must haves? Spanish blood sausage, salt-cod arancini, and if you’re with a group, the whole grilled octopus and potatoes.  —Craig Moy

• Bar Isabel, 797 College St., 416-532-2222; barisabel.com
• Map and reviews

Father’s Day Dining: 5 Tasty Toronto Restaurants for Dad

BY CRAIG MOY

Take dad for a tasty Father's Day dinner (or brunch) this Sunday in Toronto

Treat dad to a tasty Father’s Day dinner (or brunch) this Sunday in Toronto (photo: Boston Public Library)

He might do his best to downplay the occasion, but even the gruffest papa bear deserves to be celebrated every once in a while. This Father’s Day, raise a glass to your dad at one of these Toronto restaurants.

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Weekend Events Roundup: June 7 to 9

THESE WEEKEND EVENTS AND PERFORMANCES ARE GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOUR TIME IN TORONTO EVEN MORE MEMORABLE!

Broken Social Scene Headlines the Field Trip Music and Arts Festival this weekend (photo: Danielle St. Laurent)

Broken Social Scene Headlines the Field Trip Music and Arts Festival this weekend (photo: Danielle St. Laurent)

A Decade in the Making
The record label that brought us Broken Social Scene, Feist and many others is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. This Saturday it marks the milestone by throwing a huge birthday bash—the Field Trip Music and Arts Festival. Taking place at historic Fort York, the festival offers two stages of non-stop tunes from Arts and Crafts’ roster of musicians, as well as many other family-friendly attractions, including artist tents and gourmet street food from the Toronto Underground Market.

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Toronto Pride 2013: Best 12 Restaurants Near Toronto’s Gay Village

 

Toronto-Pride—Gay-Village-Restaurants

Toronto Pride 2013: Where to eat near the Gay Village (Photo: Sweet One)

On Toronto’s Pride weekend, it’s nearly impossible to get a table at any restaurant—let alone a good one—in the Gay Village. Plan ahead with our handy guide to the best restaurants near Pride’s main attractions on Church Street. All 12 of these restaurants are in the Village or within walking distance of Church and Wellesley, allowing you to eat well without missing a moment of fun.

• Skip to the list of best 12 restaurants near Toronto’s Gay Village »
• Skip to the map of the best 12 restaurants near Toronto’s Gay Village »

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Get a Sake Education at Toronto’s Ki Modern Japanese + Bar

Ki's sake program is one of Toronto's largest

The sake program at Ki is one of Toronto’s largest

Though enjoyed in Japan for centuries, sake is only starting to make waves here in Canada. Best known to the western world as a rice wine that is served warm, the fermented sugar beverage actually boasts numerous varietals and is as vast in its selection and breadth as wine. Michael Tremblay, an advanced certified sake professional—only one of five in the country—is the national sake sommelier at Ki Modern Japanese + Bar. Earlier this year, he spent three weeks in Japan learning the art of crafting sake from start to finish: milling the rice (there are 100 strains that can be used to produce sake), diluting the water, fermenting, brewing and bottling the finished product. There are 56 different sakes on the menu at Ki, 20 of which are offered by the glass. If trying to decide between a Hakkaisan “Eight Peaks” Honjozo or a Wakatake “Onikoroshi” Demon Slayer Junmai Daiginio to have with your sashimi seems overwhelming, don’t fret. Ki hosts two sake dinners this month on May 15 and 29 with experts who will walk you through an assortment of blends, or request a personalized tasting of your own with your meal.  —Linda Luong

• Ki Modern Japanese + Bar, 181 Bay St., 416-308-5888; kijapanese.com
• Map and reviews

Enjoy Treats from the Deep at These Toronto Seafood Restaurants

Fresh mollusks and other delicacies are on the menu at John and Sons Oyster House (photo: John and Sons Oyster House)

Fresh mollusks and other delicacies are on the menu at John and Sons Oyster House (photo: John and Sons Oyster House)

Meaty mains still reign supreme in this city, but these recently opened seafood restaurants provide sanctuary for fish-favouring diners.

1  Gussied up Summerhill residents abandon decorum as they slurp the seasonal spread of mollusks from John and Sons Oyster House. But don’t just fill up on raw fare. Dishes like seared diver scallops ($25) and lobster poutine ($19) are also available.

• John and Sons Oyster House, 1 Balmoral Ave., 416-515-0551​ (plus one other location); johnandsonsoysterhouse.com
• Map and reviews

2  Vancouver-trained chef David Friedman brings a bit of the West Coast to Red Fish—a number of his offerings have a whiff of Asian influence. A seafood-focused brunch satisfies weekend crowds.

• Red Fish, 890 College St., 416-733-3474; redfishresto.com
• Map and reviews

3  Chef Matt Dean Pettit first made his name at Toronto Underground Market events. Now he’s got a hip restaurant, Rock Lobster, at which to shill his popular lobster rolls ($14), jerk crab and shrimp ($13) and more.

• Rock Lobster, 110 Ossington Ave. 416-533-1800 ; rocklobsterfood.com
• Map and reviews

Skin + Bones Wine Bar Uncorks Fine Drinks and Fare

Skin and Bones Wine Bar has quickly become a popular food-and-drink stop in Leslieville

Skin and Bones Wine Bar has quickly become a popular food-and-drink stop in Leslieville (photo: Lisa Clarke)

Leslieville isn’t exactly lacking in wine bars, but when one pops up boasting not only drinks, but food as good as at Skin + Bones, the market has a way of extending its welcome. Patrons who pack this sizable dining room are treated to chef Matthew Sullivan’s eclectic but well edited menu of dishes designed with wine in mind. Seeking a quick snack to match an internationally sourced glass or two? Try the foie gras and chicken liver terrine with elderberry and apple or marinated squid salad. More involved meals might call for the likes of slow-cooked chicken in white wine sauce or a luscious beef cheek bourguignon.  —Craig Moy

• Skin + Bones, 980 Queen St. E., 416-524-5209; skinandbonesto.com
• Map and reviews

Toronto’s Best Coffee Shops: Single-Serve Edition

BY MACRINA SMART

(photo: CoffeeGeek)

(photo: CoffeeGeek)

To enthusiasts, coffee is more than just a drink; it’s a lifestyle. The pleasantly bitter brew provides the wickedness in your wit, the pep in your step, and helps put the smile on your face. For true believers, the where of the coffee ritual is as important as the beverage itself. Over the past few years, Toronto has seen a significant proliferation of independent coffeehouses competing against mass-market heavyweights like Starbucks and Tim Horton’s. Some of Toronto’s best coffee shops have been so successful that they’ve fostered mini-chains of their own: Dark Horse Espresso Bar now has four locations; award-winning barista Sam James boasts a trio of eponymous outlets; Crema Coffee Co., Lit Espresso Bar and even I Deal Coffee also operate a bevy of shops across the city. To be sure these are all excellent cafés, but their brand expansions put them somewhat at odds with what it means to be truly “indie” in this day and age. So, below, we honour a few of Toronto’s smaller, really independent coffee hangouts that pack a big caffeinated punch.

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Hawthorne Food & Drink Mixes Local and Global Fare

Hawthorne Food & Drink features fresh ingredients in cosmopolitan dishes (photo: Craig Moy)

Hawthorne Food & Drink features fresh ingredients in cosmopolitan dishes (photo: Craig Moy)

The recipe for drawing crowds to a new Toronto restaurant has a few variations, but none are particularly complicated. The formula followed by Hawthorne Food & Drink? Open near a busy strip that’s nevertheless wanting for fresh eating options, then deliver distinctive fare highlighted by a novel feature offering. For chef Binh An Nguyen, that means a menu of fusion dishes like ponzu-glazed Berkshire pork belly ($19) and East African–spiced roast chicken ($19), plus a fresh-daily #foursquare meal ($16 for lunch, $22 at dinner), which presents a quartet of small plates meant to comprise a well-rounded meal—vegetables, carbs, a protein and dessert. All-natural house-made sodas add a little extra to the experience.  —Craig Moy

• Hawthorne Food & Drink, 60 Richmond St. E., 647-930-9517; facebook page
• Map and reviews

Mothers Day Dining: 5 Fabulous Toronto Restaurants for Mom

BY CRAIG MOY

Mothers Day Dining Toronto Restaurants Brunch

The Drake Hotel features a Mother’s Day prix fixe and more (photo: Connie Tsang)

It’s likely that your mom has cooked you more meals than you (or she) can count. Return the favour by treating her to a fabulous Mother’s Day dining experience at one of these great Toronto restaurants.

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10 No-Fail Spots to Treat Mom on Mother’s Day in Toronto

By CAROL SPODE

Mothers Day Toronto

Mother’s Day in Toronto could include charming mid-afternoon refreshment at the Red Tea Box (Photo: Nathal)

No one can take a mother’s place, but you can take her places in Toronto this Mother’s Day that are as special she is. The following is a list of Toronto destinations that have been tried and tested by an actual mom. You probably can’t get to all of these on Mother’s Day, so keep the list handy for future family outings!

See the list of top Mother’s Day destinations in Toronto »

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