Toronto
Toronto is the city in Canada I have been to the most often to visit. It is Canada’s largest city. There are some great restaurants in the city. One of my favorite restaurants of anywhere is located there – Buca (there are two locations) – I definitely recommend you eat there when in Toronto.
Restaurant Review
156 Cumberland
156 Cumberland serves Modern Korean food in a beautiful dining room in Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood.
It was delicious, and as you can see from the pic, we completely devoured it. However, one feedback I have is that the banchan, or Korean side dishes, were ridiculously small. Part of the thrill of eating Korean food is the usually unlimited and generous portions of banchan the restaurant will give you. Also, the amount of lettuce given could be increased as well. For dessert, banana milk tiramisu and roasted brown rice ice cream.
Restaurant Review
Bar Isabel
On a recent trip to Toronto we arrived mid-afternoon and wanted a quick snack. Bar Isabel was highly rated and open in the early afternoon (it seems like a lot of restaurants in Toronto are not open between lunch and dinner) so we decided to eat there. Its a Spanish Tapas bar and is also included in the Michelin Guide.
We ordered ceviche and chips, meat and cheese, and bone marrow. For dessert, the Basque Cake. The food was pretty good, but the service was bad.
Restaurant Review
Sushi Masaki Saito
Sushi Masaki Saito is a two Micheline star restaurant located in Toronto. It is the only restaurant in Canada which has been awarded 2 Michelin Stars (there are no 3 star restaurants in Canada). So, if you believe the Michelin Guide, then this would be the best restaurant in Canada. Lets find out.
The restaurant is hard to book with 2 seatings daily. One at 6pm which is limited to 5 seats, and the second at 8 (or 8:30PM), which seats up to 12 I believe. My assistant was only able to get us the earlier seating. The reason the capacity differs, according to the restaurant, is because ONLY the head chef can serve sushi.
Restaurant Review
ONE Restaurant
The third dining strike in Toronto was at ONE Restaurant at the Hazelton Hotel. First, the dining room and atmosphere is beautiful. Modern and buzzing. The problem is with the menu. There is no focus or theme. Its all over the place from Asian to Chicken Noodle Soup to Steaks. I get it. Its a “hotel restaurant” and they probably have to cater to many different tastes, but it still could use some refinement, especially in such a nice hotel.
I started with a Caesar salad which was ok.
Restaurant Review
Planta
After a couple negative dining experiences, I thought I should write about a positive one, in the most unexpected of places. Planta is a plant-based restaurant in Toronto (with locations in other cities) that my daughters have been asking me to try for a while now. I decided to give it a try and was pleasantly surprised.
I think that both visually and texturally, this was well done. The rice could use some improvement but in general, it was good. We also had the unagi eggplant:
Restaurant Review
Carisma
I was recently in Toronto to celebrate my daughter’s grad. She had reserved a place for dinner far ahead, but got last minute doubts. Like me, she takes where to eat very seriously. Scrambling last minute to find a good place to eat proved difficult. There were a ton of new places on the newly released Top 100 Restaurants in Canada list that looked like fantastic candidates, but unsurprisingly, they were all fully booked.
As I continued to search, I found a place with high ratings and space for 5. Could it be too good to be true? Due to a lack of options, I booked it – Carisma. The website describes it as “one of Toronto’s Best Italian Restaurants. Lets see.
Restaurant Review
Jabistro
On a recent trip to Toronto, I had the unfortunate experience of having 3 bad dinners and one home run. Having just come from the U.S.’s largest city with its abundance of great eating places, this was a huge disappointment for Canada’s largest city. Here was the first strike out: Jabistro. Jabistro is a Japanese (sushi restaurant). When I go somewhere, I do a lot of research and I use multiple sources. I have a process that I feel is successful most of the time. After all, my main business is in research.
Jabistro had fairly impressive reviews, but people I spoke to locally were split. Some said it was overrated, some said it was good.
Restaurant Review
Buca – Yorkville
There are two locations of Buca in Toronto. Both are outstanding. Its a restaurant I try to visit every time I am in the city. Someone from Toronto recently asked me where I like to eat when I am in town, upon responding “Buca” he responded “That’s a no brainer, its like saying you like Ferarri!” Its consistent, and the service is good.
We recently had dinner here and it was as expected, excellent.
First, they make salumi from fish. We had the salmon and tuna. They also serve them with gnocco fritto (made with squid ink) so you can make sandwiches like they do in Emilia Romagna.
Restaurant Review
Alo
For the past two years, I have been trying to get a reservation at Alo in Toronto. One morning, I woke up 2 minutes before they released their next round of reservations and was able to secure a table. Alo is currently ranked 90th, in the World’s 50 Best ranking.
The meal started well with an amuse. Everything packed a lot of flavor.
Next was the best finish I ever had. Kanpachi, with black truffle, dashi and watercress. The fish was cooked perfectly with a raw center.
Restaurant Review
Tachi
On September 14, 2019, I went back to Tachi, and while it was still good, it was not as good as the first time below. Apparently, they changed the rice they use. The first time, it was perfect, this time, a bit off. 8/10
Tachi is a stand up omakase sushi bar located in the Assembly Food Hall in downtown Toronto. This was my first time visiting Assembly Hall and won’t be my last. I observed a ton of interesting places to check out from ramen, to a full bar, to pizza etc.
Restaurant Review
Alobar
Alobar is a sister restaurant of the famed Alo in Toronto, widely regarded as Canada’s best, and most difficult to get a reservation at, restaurant.
We started off with a chilled lobster topped with lime aioli and a salad.
Overall, service was good, but almost too good because it seemed like every 5 minutes, every other server would come and ask if anyone needed a drink! The one flaw in the evening was when I asked the server who brought our steak where the meat was from, and he did not know.
Restaurant Review
Lake Inez
Lake Inez describes its food as Asian street and comfort food. The chef, Jay Moore, was the sous chef at Momofuku Ko in New York. The menu was pretty interesting.
We started with a Teriyaki Beef Tartare that was served with nori.
Service was ok. Not over the top friendly but not neglectful. The food was good and they put a lot of thought into creative twists on Asian dishes. When the menu changes, I would probably return to try new things. 8/10
Restaurant Review
Dinner With a View
Dinner With a View was promoted by AMEX and is a unique dining experience where you have dinner in an unusual setting. In this case, it was in a plastic igloo/bubble, under a highway bridge in Toronto, in an area called The Bentway.
You have to pay for rental of the bubble and dinners (up to six per bubble) separately, and in advance. The event only runs for a certain period of time, and I believe they are going to do them in other cities like Vancouver and Montreal.
Restaurant Review
Scaramouche
Scaramouche is a highly rated restaurant in Toronto on almost any platform. Here is my experience. The location is a bit unique. Its located in an older residential condo building. However, once you walk in, its a very nice, elegant venue with an amazing view of the city.
We started with four appetizers: Kushi oysters from B.C. (not so fresh); pea ravioli, was pretty good; La Quercia Speck (basically a house made prosciutto salad, also pretty good); and steak tartare (decent but nothing memorable).
Restaurant Review
Grey Gardens
On a quick stopover in Toronto, I had the opportunity to check out Grey Gardens. We were coming in late from Colombia and had a 10:30PM reservation on a Tuesday night. Shout out to the kitchen and staff who were so nice to maintain the service without feeling rushed even though we were the last guests in.
We started with the Smoked Fish. The chips were homemade and the dip was delicious. It was a great start.
Next we ordered some oysters.
Restaurant Review
Antler
Antler is a restaurant in Toronto which “…is a celebration of regional ingredients…to define Canadian cuisine highlighting local seasonal and wild foods”.
We arrived for our reservation at 9PM. Despite them calling us to confirm the reservation the day before, upon arrival, we were told that the table was not ready and they suggested we have a drink at the wine bar down the street. After about 20 minutes, we got a call that the table was ready.
There was some apology upon arrival but it still took a long time to bring menus, water, take initial orders etc. However, after the initial delay, service was very good.