6 Best Restaurants in Toronto, Ontario
Toronto’s calling card—its ethnic diversity—offers up a potent mix of cuisines. But with that base, the city’s chefs are now pushing into new territory. Gone are the days of chefs gunning for white linen tablecloths; now pop-up vendors such as Fidel Gastro’s Lisa Marie and Seven Lives Tacos Y Mariscos draw a cult following big enough to open up brick-and-mortar locations.
And it’s not enough to have consistently good food: kitchens are pushed to be creative and embrace food trends. Spanish tapas and Korean fusion have replaced French and Thai as the newest crazes in the city and izakayas are out while ramen is in. Farm-to-table shows no sign of slowing down, with many menus citing the source of their meats and produce. While Toronto is still young as a foodie travel destination, it’s drawing in the crowds, or at a minimum world-famous chefs such as Daniel Boulud and David Chang, who have landed in Toronto with Café Boulud and Momofuku. And as locals will tell you, first come the chefs, then come the savvy foodie travelers, always posting a tweet or photo to Instagram at the city’s newest hot spots.
Alder
Nearly every menu item here is kissed by the flames of the wood-fired oven that makes up the hearth---aka, the heart of the kitchen. Gigantic shareable cuts of porterhouse steak, creamy grilled horseradish beets, and house-made pull-apart brioche buns are some of the heartiest dishes on order. Executive chef Patrick Kriss is known for catching diners off guard with seemingly modest but stunning experimental dishes like a grilled habañero sea bream or a hydrating cucumber and fennel slaw that merges stringent vinegar, salty and crumbly feta cheese with earthy and crunch hazelnuts.
Papyrus
This Egyptian take-out spot is a welcome herbivore-friendly destination on this souvlaki-heavy strip. Many of the satisfying, delicious dishes here are vegan, with koshari (a savory lentil, pasta, and tomato dish), ful (spiced, slow-simmered fava beans) and tameya (crisp, herbaceous Egyptian falafel) the biggest draws.
Recommended Fodor's Video
Pizzeria Libretto
Authentic thin-crust pizzas are fired in an imported wood-burning oven at this pizza joint that adheres to the rules set by Naples's pizza authority. Go classic with the Margherita D.O.P.—with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, and fior di latte mozzarella—or branch out with nduja (spicy salami) or duck confit pies.
Terroni and Bar Centrale
Local Italian mini-chain Terroni has several locations around the city but this one, with the ground-floor Bar Centrale wine bar inspired by Italian train stations, is especially popular. Head upstairs to the bi-level Terroni for locally beloved thin-crust pizzas, seafood spaghetti, and Italian cheeses and mushrooms, along with stunning views. Service is particular: no substitutions, no cheese on seafood dishes, and they won't cut your pie for you. Some find it a deal breaker; others say it adds to the Italian authenticity.
Walrus Pub & Beerhall
The Walrus brings life, and a hodgepodge of quirks, to the typically buttoned-up Financial District, giving young cubicle tycoons a space to blow off steam amid loud music, funky lighting, and stone-sculpted bar tables. Health-oriented gluten-free options like quinoa bowls topped with buttery grilled avocado even out the surf, turf, and Asian fusion--styled menu.
