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Best Dining Bets
Best Dining Bets
Best Alfresco Dining: The lovely patio at Amuse-Bouche, 96 Tecumseth St. (tel. 416/913-5830), is perfect. Tecumseth is a quiet, mostly residential street, so you can talk without shouting over traffic noise -- and away from exhaust fumes.
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 Healthy Fare: I'm not into health food, but I can't resist the delicious but calorie- and health-conscious fare at Four, 187 Bay St. (tel. 416/368-1444).
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 Tapas: The cooking at Torito Tapas Bar, 276 Augusta Ave. (tel. 647/436-5874), is delicious, and it's served with a sense of humor.
Best Cheap Lunch: It's impossible to beat the deal at Crystal Rolls, 372 Bloor St. W. (tel. 416/921-6787), with its Zen-like setting, friendly service, and C$5.95 (£2.98) lunch combo.
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: Grano, 2035 Yonge St. (tel. 416/440-1986), is an Italian restaurant that knows how to treat the ragazzini. 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 for a Celebration: The atmosphere at Blowfish, 668 King St. W. (tel. 416/860-0606), is lively every night of the week.
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: While I enjoy a traditional English tea, I'm fascinated by the Chinese-themed afternoon tea at Annona at the Park Hyatt, 4 Avenue Rd. (tel. 416/924-5471).
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.
The Most Unforgettable Dining Experiences
Amuse-Bouche, 96 Tecumseth St. (tel. 416/913-5830): Dining at this downtown restaurant, located on a quiet, mostly residential street, 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 always one of the best bets in Toronto. All of the plates are delicious and moderately priced.
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.
Four, 187 Bay St. (tel. 416/368-1444): Located in the heart of the Financial District, this moderately priced restaurant serves up healthful food (no entrée is more than 650 calories) that tastes divinely decadent.
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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