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Best Dining Bets
Perigee, 55 Mill St., at the Distillery District (tel. 416/364-1397): This is dinner as theater. The kitchen is in the center of the dining room, and the chef's tasting menus are individually prepared, so no two diners will have the same dish.
Edward Levesque's Kitchen, 1290 Queen St. E. (tel. 416/465-3600): Located in Leslieville, an up-and-coming neighborhood, this small, unpretentious bistro offers cooking so sophisticated and service so smooth that it caught the attention of the New York Times.
Canoe Restaurant & Bar, in the Toronto Dominion Tower, 66 Wellington St. W. (tel. 416/364-0054): Defining Canadian cuisine is a tricky task because the country has absorbed a wealth of cooking styles and techniques from around the world. Come to Canoe to see how these are blended with Canadian produce; it's a recipe for a perfect meal.
Susur, 601 King St. W. (tel. 416/603-2205): Dining at this downtown fusion restaurant would be a highlight of any trip to Toronto. Simply put: Great chef plus great food plus great service equal one magical meal.
Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, 9 Church St. (tel. 416/362-1957): My favorite wine bar is still one of the best bets in Toronto. All of the plates are tapas-size and moderately priced.
Best Brunch: Who would imagine that the place to go for gourmet omelets and pancakes would be an Indian restaurant? But Xacutti, 503 College St. (tel. 416/323-3957), is full of surprises.
Best for a Celebration: The atmosphere at Rodney's Oyster House, 469 King St. W. (tel. 416/363-8105), is lively every night (and in good weather, the patio is the place to be).
Best for a Romantic Dinner: I'm the first to admit that I'm biased, but the Rosewater Supper Club, 19 Toronto St. (tel. 416/214-5888), is my idea of perfect romance (it's where my husband proposed). Relax and let the pampering begin.
Best Bistro: Bistros often do well with comfort foods, but Edward Levesque's Kitchen, 1290 Queen St. E. (tel. 416/465-3600), takes it up a notch with farm-fresh ingredients, sophisticated pairings, and smooth service.
Best Cheap Lunch: It's impossible to beat the deal at Asia Republik, 372 Bloor St. W. (tel. 416/921-6787), with its Zen-like setting, friendly service, and C$5.95 (US$5.70/£2.70) lunch combo.
Best Italian: Il Posto, 148 Yorkville Ave. (tel. 416/968-0469), serves fine modern Italian cuisine in elegant digs -- and the efficient, knowledgeable wait staff makes everyone feel at home.
Best Greek: The cooking at Pan on the Danforth, 516 Danforth Ave. (tel. 416/466-8158), will convince you that Pan was actually the god of food, not forests. This is Greek cuisine updated with panache.
Best Out-of-Towner: Talk about catching on like wildfire -- the Elements Restaurant, Culinary Theatre & Lounge, at Taboo Resort in the Muskoka region (tel. 705/687-2233), is a work of art. Give yourself over to the genius chef by having one of the three-, five-, or seven-course tasting menus.
Best for Families: Millie's Bistro, 1980 Avenue Rd. (tel. 416/481-1247), is a family favorite with sunny dining rooms and a special children's menu. A more casual choice is deli-style Shopsy's, 33 Yonge St. (tel. 416/365-3333).
Best for a Red-Meat Fix: Barberian's, 7 Elm St. (tel. 416/597-0335), has boosted the level of protein in Torontonians' diets since 1959. It also serves great martinis and desserts, but everyone comes here for the meat.
Best Pizza: A small local chain, Terroni, 106 Victoria St. (tel. 416/955-0258), makes even the simplest margherita pizza a delight.
Best Sushi: Hiro Sushi, 171 King St. E. (tel. 416/304-0550), has Chef Hiro Yoshida offering up classically prepared sushi as well as a few unique specialties. But there is competition from Blowfish Restaurant & Sake Bar, 668 King St. W. (tel. 416/860-0606).
Best Afternoon Tea: A very tough call. Afternoon tea in the lobby lounge at the Le Royal Meridien King Edward, 37 King St. E. (tel. 416/863-3131), has been called Toronto's most authentic English tea, but I'm partial to the lavender-and-rose-infused Rooibos Provence tea that you'll find at Annona at the Park Hyatt, 4 Avenue Rd. (tel. 416/924-5471).
Best Alfresco Dining: The lovely patio at Biff's, 4 Front St. E. (tel. 416/860-0086), is just about perfect. Set well back from the street, it affords terrific people-watching possibilities.
Best Desserts: It's a tie. Dufflet Rosenberg bakes up a storm at Dufflet Pastries, 787 Queen St. W. (tel. 416/504-2870). You'll find her name on the dessert list at some of the city's top restaurants. And then there's the Senses Bakery, 2 Queen St. E. (tel. 416/364-7303). Resistance is futile.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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