Sometimes venturing outside of downtown is worth the trek and A La Turk is an example of that. As you may have guessed, this North York restaurant serves up authentic Turkish fare. Its specialty is wood-fired pide (flatbread) and charcoal-grilled kebabs. While complimentary bread baskets are a thing of the past, here you are treated
Holed up on an off-the-radar strip of Ossington, this contemporary Canadian restaurant turns out eye-opening fare. The level of respect chef-owner Justin Cournoyer has for the land, for the seasons and for the climate is palpable in every dish. All is local and seasonal, at Actinolite and the ethos permeates every aspect of the business.
Aris Place has one of those old-school signs that makes you think twice about stepping inside, but those who dare to venture are in for a surprise. They’ve been serving up souvlaki in Roncesvalles for 30+ years in addition to being an all-day breakfast spot for locals. You can feast your eyes on black and
The café and cafeteria-style restaurant has become extremely popular for its guilt-free take-away and delicious Israeli-style breakfast. The hearty and homey shakshuka, which originated in Tunisia and means "mixture," is usually associated with a dish belonging to the Sephardic Jewish people.
North York's beloved Artisan Noodle has opened up a cool and cosy downtown outpost with Artisan Plus. This spot is home to northern Chinese delicacies that are often rare to find in Toronto, like the hand-pulled noodles or a jia mo, which can best be described as a Chinese hamburger.
Since its Chinatown location opened its doors in 1988, Asian Legend has spread across Toronto to give all diners a taste of northern Chinese dim sum and stir-fry. Their cooking motto is "northern flavours with a traditional style," which has allowed for its chefs, all from reputable dining locales in Taiwan and mainland China, to fine-tune the menu and bring diners dishes like the especially flavour-rich kung pao chicken.
Imagine if Canada got the same sun as the Mediterranean all year round. At least we’re privy to Mediterranean food all year round in Toronto. And Aviv Restaurant is a great place to help with that. Located along the St. Clair West strip of the Wychwood area, Aviv Restaurant pulls from Spanish, Italian, Israeli and
In the heart of Toronto’s downtown Chinatown, Awas Tea Noodle is a Taiwanese eatery that knows exactly what its doing. The teas Awas offers, which are imported from Taiwan, are served in glass bottles that have been refrigerated overnight so as to reduce the caffeine but keep the same amount of antioxidant benefits. Really, though,
At the Backyard Smokehouse, good barbeque starts with solid marinating techniques. All of the meats are marinated overnight in signature spices before undergoing a 30+ day minimum aging process. Once perfection has been attained, Chef Faris Awwad allows the smoke from the oak fire to begin slowly but surely burning all ends over a 16-hour
Since 1979, Bagel Plus has been serving all Torontonians classic Jewish comfort food from its location at Bathurst and Sheppard. They will always have you covered for when that bagel and schmear craving hits, but the menu also includes options such as eggplant Parmesan and fish and chips, branching outside the shtetl world of blintzes, pickled herring and rugelach.
Baker and Scone is wholly dedicated to the numerous ways in which the scone can become a beacon of sweet, tender goodness or savoury, rich nourishment. The scone menu boasts nearly 50 flavours, including exciting options like orange, cardamon and date and pear hazelnut. There is also a small café menu that includes a few pre-made salads, seasonal soups and savoury tartines.
Inspired by the street food scene of its namesake city, Bangkok Buri (Union Station food court) is making a name for itself right in the core of downtown Toronto. The menu was carefully crafted with the memory of Bangkok's piping hot noodles, green curry and grilled meats in mind, but the founders wanted it to fit in its urban city centre.
Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants’ newest endeavour, Bannock, keeps with the O&B tradition of serving unapologetically Canadian cuisine (à la Canoe) and, as you might expect, serves bannock. Oliver & Bonacini’s chef Michael Bonacini and corporate executive chef Anthony Walsh developed the menu, going back to the basics of what bannock is meant to be: “a round flatbread traditionally cooked on a griddle or stone, brought to Canada through Scottish explorers and traders, adapted by Indigenous people and settlers.”
This hotspot should be named Experience Aperitivo because it’s more than just a bar. David Rocco’s Bar Aperitivo will transport you from Yorkdale to Italy with the decorative photos of Napoli that surround the entrance of the storefront. Bar Aperitivo is the type of place you stop for a Spritz on your way home from
Some restaurateurs get into business for the money, for others it’s a passionate affair and a way of life. Michelle and Herbert Barnsteiner fall safely into the latter category and have recently opened the next chapter of that love story at Yonge and Balmoral Avenue.
The newest sibling in the growing Oliver & Bonacini family opened yesterday. Beaumont Kitchen matches restaurant with retail at its location inside the brand new Saks Fifth Avenue in Sherway Gardens.
At Bhoj Indian Cuisine, there’s no BS when it comes to good Indian food. The restaurant is small with a cosy and relaxed atmosphere, making it a great place to bring the whole family. The menu is pretty straightforward and allows you to choose your level of spice. If you can handle it, try some
The King West Bier Markt has got the patio of every bar’s dreams: seated and absolutely huge. It gets further check marks for a strong, Europe-leaning beer list (including a few cellared bottles) and food — think wursts, schnitzel, mussels and flammekueches — that deftly match the suds. The food is made from scratch and
This chain took its native China by storm before beginning its rapid expansion in Toronto. It serves up one-of-a-kind crispy Chinese burgers, called roujiamo, which were invented rooughly two millenniums ago in the Qin dynasty and have been popular in the country ever since. They can be stuffed with beef, chicken, pork and vegetables, and
Bistro on Avenue has been a local favourite for some 40 years. Louis Nemes, the owner is Toronto’s Lord of the Wings, having founded The Chick’N Deli as well as the first St. Louis Bar and Grill. So it comes as no surprise that the wings and ribs are the star here. The wingers here