There are steak houses, and then there’s Barberian’s. There’s no selfie wall or wannabe-witty hashtag associated with this joint — just a couple of Group of Seven paintings (no big deal). This is a proper old-timey dining experience and an institution in Toronto’s food scene. Now in the second generation, the family business reaches back

The food now is classic bistro with a luxurious twist. There’s plenty of personal Boulud touches (the beignet de calamar include deft Southeast Asian flavours) and nods to Toronto (the quenelle de brochette is made with Ontario-sourced pike.) In short, the rethink worked and Café Boulud is in a class by itself.

For over 30 years, Café Polonez has been a family-run restaurant in the heart of Toronto’s Polish community. The name comes from the French word “polonaise,” which is a ceremonial Polish dance similar to a waltz. Café Polonez is known for their homemade lightly-breaded schnitzel, alongside plenty of other authentic Polish cuisine such as herring

Walk by this Parkdale space after dusk on a weekday and the scene recalls something you’d see in a nostalgic flick starring Cate Blanchett. With floor-to-ceiling windows opened up, the bistro’s insides feature a wraparound bar and teeny kitchen. Since chef Jon Poon went off to focus on his fancy bars, Jacob Wharton-Shukster, the other

This North York steak house promises an unforgettable experience that combines exceptionally prepared authentic steak and seafood inside one of Toronto’s most historic landmarks. Located on 4.25 acres of land near the corner of York Mills Road and Don Mills Road, diners have the choice of eating on a scenic outdoor patio, inside the restored

A trio of restaurateurs will be opening a new steakhouse, Harry’s Steak House, in Etobicoke, in tribute to two of Toronto’s classic meat-loving institutions. Arron Barberian and Pasquale Orgera came up in the legendary Barberian’s Steak House (a local landmark since it first opened in 1959) on Elm Street just north of the Eaton Centre

Hy’s bills itself as the ultimate place to celebrate life’s great occasions or enjoy everyday pleasures of great food and drink in timeless, elegant surroundings. Hy’s has been around for decades and has relocated from its Adelaide location, where it was for 20 years, to the current Bay Street location. Aside from steak, the dinner

Maison Selby is the newest addition to the Oliver and Bonacini family of fine dining locales, and the project has reinvigorated the historic Gooderham House at Sherbourne and Bloor. You’ll be able to get a little bit of everything here, as the skillful world of French cuisine meets a devotion to serving the multifaceted desires

In a location that opened as the York Mills Hotel in 1857, the Miller Tavern was originally designed as a roadhouse for travellers looking for a beer and a place to rest their horses. Now, it offers casual fine dining, featuring an oyster lounge and one of the city’s largest outdoor patios, as well as

Located on Dundas, Milou Cafe is a Parisian-influenced café-bistro. The changing menu consists of a rotating selection of sandwiches served up on bread from Toronto’s beloved Blackbird Baking Co., including a classic French ham sando with Dijon on a baguette. One step through the doors shows off the French inspiration of this corner-or-the-street bistro. Inside,

The midtown neighbourhood around Belsize and Mount Pleasant has a new local.

Since its opening, the Federal has become a well-known destination for the west end brunch crowd. Matching a homey interior with comforting grub, the eatery is the creation of friends Zach Slootsky, Duncan MacNeill, Joe Zabukovec and Adam Janes — most of whom still work other gigs on the side. At the Federal, they serve

Billed as offering premium comfort food in a sophisticated and warm setting, the Octagon has been serving Thornhill locals as well as visitors since 1974. The Octagon has all of the traditional steak house features, such as caesar salad, which is prepared at your table, and seafood for when you might not be in the

What other restaurants do you know of where a maple charcoal grill is the culinary staple? From the surf to the turf, mostly everything served up at Wildfire Steakhouse & Bar hits the grill and gets infused with that special smoke flavour. The perfect steak starts with in-house 40-day aged certified Angus beef and, like

Windfields is one of the friendliest, family-focused eateries in the York Mills and Leslie area. It features a massive menu with all the comfort food classics done up right. Standouts include a classic triple-decker clubhouse sandwich with genuine turkey breast as well as an authentic open-faced hot sandwich of the beef or turkey variety. Windfields