People looking for a place to eat in
Toronto are faced with an almost endless number of restaurants from which to choose.
The following list of restaurants represents the best places to eat in Toronto and covers a wide range of dining styles, cuisines - from steakhouses to Asian - and price ranges - from cheap eats to breaking the bank.
Bar Mercurio
70 Bloor Street West (North West corner of Bloor and St. George),
416.960.3877
Simple Italian bistro fare.
Bistro & Bakery Thuet
609 King Street West,
416.603.2777
The name implies cheap and friendly but this is one of Toronto's finest French / European eateries, complete with bakery and food store.
C5
100 Queen`s Park (top floor of the Royal Ontario Museum), (416) 586-7926
Restaurant / lounge at the ROM.
Cluck, Grunt & Low
362 Bloor St. W. (The Annex, at Walmer Rd.), (416) 962-5050
Slow cooked, southern-style barbecue. CG&L has not lived up to the hype surrounding its opening in 2007 with inconsistent service and sold-out menu items cited as the biggest problems.
Cowbell
1564 Queen West, 416.849.1095
Organic and locally grown - menu changes accordingly.
Foxley
207 Ossington Ave, (416) 534-8520
Hip bistro that is always crowded but doesn't accept reservations. Chef Tom Thai serves up world fusion cuisine. Favorites include duck prosciutto dumpling or sea bream ceviche. Not the best choice for a crowd.
George
111C Queen St E (near Jarvis), (416) 863-6006
"Devoted to making everything from scratch with the freshest seasonal ingredients obtained locally when possible." Lovely patio.
Harbour 60
60 Harbour Street (waterfront between York & Yonge), (416) 777-2111
Grand yet inconspicuous steakhouse.
Il Gatto Nero
720 College St. (at Crawford St.), 416-536-3132
Charming Italian eatery. Unfussy and authentic.
Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse
12 Brant St (King West neighborhood), (416) 366-0200
Swanky, Rat Pack-type steakhouse. Pricey.
Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner
111 Queen's Park (third floor of the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art), (416) 362-1957
One of three restaurants of celebrated Toronto chef Jamie Kennedy.
Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar
9 Church Street, (416) 362-1957
More casual, tapas-style than Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner.
Joso's
202 Davenport Rd, (416) 925-1903
Exquisite Mediterranean cuisine in fashionable Yorkville. The lush, intimate interior has wall murals celebrating the female form.
Lai Wah Heen
108 Chestnut Street (in the Metropolitan Hotel), (416) 977.9899
Especially popular for its dim sum.
Lai Toh Heen
692 Mt. Pleasant Road (one block south of Eglinton Ave., (416) 489-8922
Sister restaurant to the famous Lai Wah Heen.
Lee
603 King Street West (b/w Portland and Bathurst), (416) 504-7867
The more casual, tapas-style restaurant of celebrity chef Susur Lee.
Lucien
36 Wellington Street East, (416) 504-9990
Some say pretentious, but most say one of the best new restaurants of 2008. Creative and flavorful with gracious, friendly service.
Marben
488 Wellington St. W. (at Portland St.), (416) 979-1990
Creative, global menu in chic setting with great music. Frequented by urban professionals to a pre-club crowd.
Monsoon
100 Simcoe Street (Between King and Adelaide), (416) 979-7172
Contemporary "Asian with a twist" cuisine. Hip, loungey interior.
Niagara Street Cafe
169 Niagara Street (King and Bathurst), (416) 703-4222
Warm and comfortable atmosphere. Menu features local, organic produce, uncommon fish, naturally raised meats at reasonable prices.
Perigee
55 Mill Street (The Distillery District), (416) 364-1397
Highly recommended restaurant offering 5, 6 & 7 course dinners.
Prime
18 St. Thomas St. (in the Windsor Arms Hotel), (416) 971-9666
Opulent steakhouse and seafood restaurant in one of Toronto's most luxurious hotels.
The Rushton
740 St. Clair Ave. W, (416) 658-7874
French / Italian bistro with hip, urban flair.
Sassafraz
100 Cumberland Street (Museum subway station), 416 964-2222
True foodies dismiss this place as a has-been, but the airy interior of this Yorkville eatery has seen more celebrities than possibly any other Toronto restaurant.
Scaramouche
1 Benvenuto Place (4 blocks south of St. Clair), (416) 961-8011
Consistently hailed as one of the great Toronto restaurants, but it will cost you. Pasta lounge offers less expensive fare. Seats with a view fill up weeks in advance.
Sotto Sotto
116A Avenue Road (Yorkville area), (416) 962-0011
Romantic, candlelight-bathed Italian eatery.
Splendido
88 Harbord Street (just off Spadina), (416) 929-7788
Eclectic, Mediterranean fare hailed as some of the best in Toronto.
Susur
601 King Street West (b/w Portland and Bathurst), (416) 603-2205
The namesake restaurant of celebrity chef Susur Lee received a Restaurant Worlds 50 Best Restaurants Award.