Where to eat in Toronto

Need to find a place to eat in Toronto? Look no further.

Restaurant reviews to help you choose.

Canadian

These are restaurants that don't really fit into any one ethnic style of food and serve a mixture of different types of dishes.

Barootes: 220 King Street West. In the heart of the Theatre District, Barootes situates itself in an old Edwardian building. Casual atmosphere and a mixed bag of pub fare, eclectic dishes and Cajun inspired meals.
beerbistro: 18 King Street East. This restaurant takes its mandate seriously by incorporating beer into about 80 per cent of the fare. As a matter of fact, it's the beer selection that will wow you. Menu offers many casual food favourites like pasta, pizza and mussles. Many elements are in the right place, like a service team who work together harmoniously and seem to genuinely enjoy their job.
Bier Markt: 58 The Esplanade. You guessed it, beer! And lots of it. The beer menu is about 20 pages long. Tons of people head here for drinks after work on Fridays, so it might be hard to find a table. It gets pretty loud.
Bocca on Baldwin: 26 Baldwin Street. Beautiful corner patio in Baldwin village, food is pretty good, service isn't the best.
The Boiler House: 55 Mill Street. Referred to as Building 46, the Boiler House is now a dazzling restaurant with live jazz music, vaulted ceilings and whiskey racks. It features an eclectic choice of ostrich, veal tongue, glazed lobster, and Alaskan cod. Sundays always feature the Jazz Brunch with a great medley of sounds, smells and flavours to tantalize the senses.
Brasserie: 133 John Street. Great place for after work drinks and eats. Large patio with tons of street traffic to watch.
Carens Wine & Cheese Bar: 158 Cumberland Street. Stylish and unique addition to exclusive Yorkville. Serving a deluxe selection of cheeses from Bleu de Benedictin to Queso Fresco, plus pastas and such fromage-inspired mains as a Stilton-stuffed burger. Put together your own cheese plate or take one of the suggested pairings. Entrées: $14-$26.
Eggspectation: 220 Yonge Street. Eggspectation is so busy, it could single-handedly revive the B.C. poultry industry. From the moment it opened its doors, lineups have become as commonplace as the construction at its Yonge and Dundas locale. Add to that, a surprisingly suburban mall feel that seems to fit nicely with its renewed urban environment and Eggspectation owners must be just eggstatic.
Fran's: 200 Victoria Street.
Originally started with a flagship restaurant at the intersection of Yonge and St. Clair, cozy diner Fran's was introduced to Toronto back in 1940. Started by one Fran Deck, the restaurant was carried by his family after his death in 1977. Sold to independent investors the restaurant's College Street location stayed alive through the years and spawned the Victoria Street location recently. Located in the thick of the Yonge and Dundas area of Toronto's downtown core, it's filled to the brim with old-style hospitality and diner atmosphere.
Hard Rock Cafe: 279 Yonge Street. Total tourist trap. Right next to the Eaton Centre, so it's convenient if you're right there and hungry.
Milestones: 132 John Street. Super restaurant for all occasions in the entertainment district. Not to casual, but not extravagant with a really great menu with tons of selection.
The Only Cafe: 972 Danforth Avenue. The Only Café serves up lunch, snacks, beer, and more. Brunch is served up on Saturdays and Sundays. It's probably the only place in the city where you can eat under the watchful eye of the Beatles, Vincent Van Gogh, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. There are mismatched framed portraits of the famous and not-so-famous covering every inch of the dark green walls. It's very dark inside, romantic and cozy, the mood set by miniature lamps present at every table.
Richtree Market (formerly Marche): 42 Yonge Street. Interesting restaurant in BCE place, you pick up your own food from various serving stations around the restaurant and they stamp your card. The one drawback is picking up so many items and realizing later that you've racked up a hefty bill.
The Red Tomato: 321 King Street West. Below Fred's Not Here, menu is all over the culinary map, patrons are a youngish mix of business types, theatregoers club-hoppers and ball fans. Go at happy hour for cheaper eats.
Remy's: 115 Yorkville Avenue. It's a pick-up place; it's a cool hang-out for young downtown hipsters; it's a snacky afternoon stopover. It's many things to many people; for lunch, there's a choice of basic sandwiches in the casual lounge, while pasta is served in a more formal dining room. Or have pizza on the patio overlooking Yorkville gold-card shoppers. After sundown, Remy's rocks if you're into a night of debauchery; start with draft beer and the seafood combo, then dance up a storm in the clubby interior.
Toast: 993 Queen Street East. A quintessential brunch spot in Leslieville, Toast has been around on the Queen Street East strip for years now and it hasn'tlost its appreciative food fans. Voted 'Best Brunch' numerous times by local weeklies and brunchers in this city, this little café with the cool décor packs 'em in on the weekends.
Tundra: 145 Richmond Street West. Main floor restaurant at the Hilton is decorated with themes from across our great country. Rather pricey, but definitely worth it.
Turf Lounge: 330 Bay Street. Situated in the heart of the financial district, Turf impresses from the moment you step into the ante room/bar. Its lofty elegance parallels the Tanenbaum Sculpture Atrium at the AGO. But Turf really takes off in the dining/wager room. Decorated like the exclusive boys' club it is (albeit women also drop in), it's dark and masculine, aiming to please even the most strait-laced Bay Street conservatives. As racing-focused as Turf Lounge may be, you can bet food is no afterthought.
Wayne Gretzky's: 99 Blue Jay's Way. Within walking distance from the Roger's Centre, the Air Canada Centre and most theatres, Gretzky's is a big draw for tourists. Great place to take the kids after a hockey game and admire the memorabilia on the walls.

Japanese

Aki Da: 1911 Queen Street East. Located in the Beach area of Toronto, Aki Da Japanese Seafood House offers traditional Japanese fare, featuring Teppanyaki tables, Tatami rooms and a sushi bar, Aki Da can provide an intimate dining experience or dinner for a gathering of friends and family.
Benihana: 100 Front Street West. Located inside the Royal York on Front Street, quite expensive for japanese food, but well worth it if you're willing to splurge.
HoSu Bistro: 254 Queen Street West. Arguably the best sushi in Toronto. Great selection of sushi combos for a great price. Also serves Korean specialties.
Izakaya: 69 Front Street East. A sushi-less society is something Toronto diners will probably never have to worry about. But, if they expect to find this popular Japanese cuisine served up at Izakaya, they'll be disappointed. This trendy but casual Front Street find does what is customary at izakaya-style restos in Japan. Literally meaning "nice place," Izakaya is all that, plus it's cheap 'n' cheerful.
Kon-nichi-wa: 31 Baldwin Street. Tiny sushi restaurant in Baldwin Village. The gyoza dumplings are awesome here. Sushi is good but nothing special.
Mochizuki: 655 Bay Street. You won't have to guess what's on this menu. Mochizuki is famous for bringing in Toronto's first rotating sushi bar. Simply have a look, point and eat. Enjoy fine dining Japanese style, with extensive sushi and sashimi menus, fresh ingredients and creative presentation. Located in the heart of the downtown financial and business districts.
Shogun: 154 Cumberland Street. Daily lunch specials of shrimp and vegetable tempura or salmon teriyaki are a great deal at $6.50 a pop. Dinner prices climb to $20 for popular plates like Shogun's sushi dinner. Patrons can sit at a table or watch the knife-wielding theatrics at the sushi bar.
Sushi Time: 339 Queen Street West. Across the street from HoSu, sushi time offers equally good sushi with less selection for smaller meals. Go with a friend, share a platter and some sides.

Tapas

Style of restaurant where everything comes in appetizer-sized portions meant for sharing.

Cayo Coco: 304 Richmond Street West. A cozy converted Victorian in the heart of Clubland, this darkly romantic Spanish cantina offers a modestly priced 40-item tapas menu from lunch until very late in the evening, 3 am on Friday and Saturday. Bonus: 2-ounce martinis are $3.99 Thursday and $4.50 Sunday
Embrujo Tapas Bar: 97 Danforth Avenue. Famous for their weekly live flamenco dancing and traditional regional Spanish recipes. Claims to be the only authentic spanish tapas restaurant in the city.
Supermarket: 268 Augusta Avenue. Tapas style restaurant in the heart of Kensington Market, great place to stay after dinner, have a few drinks and get down.
Li'ly: 656 College Street. International tapas menu in the heart of little italy. Not incredibly cheap for Tapas, I'd recommend not being incredibly hungry before going here.
Segovia: 5 St Nicholas Street. Among Toronto's growing list of Spanish restaurants is Segovia. In its new location, Segovia specializes in paella, a classic Spanish dish of rice with saffron and chicken, garnished with mussels and shrimp ($28 for two.) Upstairs in Picasso's tapas bar, casual diners can drink wine and share a variety of tapas, like garlic shrimp, tortillas and spicy sausage. Ole!

Mexican

Bandidos: 371 King Street West. A warm and friendly atmo with a touch of kitschy nostalgia. More tourist cliche than authentic run-down Mexican cantina makes the plastic cacti and an abundance of sombreros fit right in. Service is amazing, come with a large group and be nice to the servers and they start throwing the freebies around.
The Boulevard Cafe: 161 Harbord Street. This popular Annex hangout is known just as much for its romantic little alcove with an upstairs fireplace as for its shaky tables on the crowded patio. But that's what's charming about it. It's one of the few flavorful finds in the city that offer authentic Peruvian cuisine, a fusion of African, Spanish and Incan flavors.
Burrito Boyz: 120 Peter Street. If you're going for lunch, go early because the lineup extends outside every day, and with good reason. The burritos are fabulous and cheap. Also gets pretty busy around 3am when all the clubs kick their patrons out and people are hungry for an alternative to street meat.
Margaritas: 14 Baldwin Street. Tucked away on Baldwin Street, Margarita's Fiesta Room is a hidden Mexican treasure that serves up authentic food and great drinks. If you have never tried a Margarita before this is a great place to start.
Sneaky Dee's: 431 College Street. Favoured by university students and just about anyone else shaggy and tattoed who isn't scared away by the decor, Sneaks has become a Toronto institution. One of the few really good places to hit for some late-night eats.

Belgian

Fat Belgian: 115 John Street. The Fat Belgian designs itself to serve the finest in Belgian lagers including Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Inbev, and Alken Maes. John Street's newest restaurant denizen has a beer garden with patio set up in the middle of the Entertainment District.

French/Mediterranean

Bistro 990: 990 Bay Street. Stomping ground for hollywood stars, regularly appears in the tabloids as the place celebrities are seen dining at in the city. The food is classic bistro style with a provencal influence.
Bodega: 30 Baldwin Street. The elegant Victorian manor is located on one of Toronto's more interesting streets. With attentive, friendly service, the restaurant with the Spanish name is home to French cuisine. Enjoy the spacious patio or cozy fireplace while enjoying one of the finest meals the city has to offer. Derek Kennedy is at the helm of this kitchen.
By The Way Cafe: 400 Bloor Street West. This Annex mainstay offers choices that run the gamut from falafel to delightfully seasoned chicken entrees. My fave is the Mediterranean plate of hummus, falafel, babaganoush and tabouli. The patio is a great viewing gallery where one can sit gawking at the motley crew of passers-by while sipping on great cafe au laits or one of the many beers on tap. Get here early for brunch on weekends. It fills up fast.
Cafe California: 538 Church Street. Service is always great, it seems as though everyone knows each other at this place. Great summerlicious menu.
Coco Lezzone: 602 College Street. Somewhat upscale in price, the romantic ambience makes it place to take a date. Despite the rumors that plague this venue as being owned by the mob (it's been blown up twice), it remains a hot spot for celebrities during the film fest.
Hot House Cafe: 35 Church Street. Have never heard a bad word about Hot House. Sunday brunch is pricey but amazing.
Kensington Kitchen: 124 Harbord Street. Great restaurant right near the university serving mediterranean cuisine, primarily vegetarian, with some interesting combinations.
La Maquette: 111 King Street East. Why do people call this the most romantic restaurant in the city? Maybe it's the impressive architecture, the elegant staircase, high ceilings, and huge chandelier. Maybe it's the artful lighting and fresh flowers. Maybe it's the patio and upstairs solarium with a view of a waterfall. Maybe it's the fireplace, indoor trees, or nightly live jazz. While most restaurants would be happy with one of these, La Maquette has them all, making it a number 1 choice come Valentine's Day. On the menu, appetizers and entrees (including pastas, risottos, seafood, poultry and meats) are described so beautifully you'll want to sample everything. The extensive wine list is continually updated to ensure patrons have the choicest vintages.
Le Petit Liban: 580 Church Street. Serving Greek, Italian and International cuisine, this 120 year-old Victorian house has been converted into a fine-dining establishment with two elegance fine-dinning patios. This culinary cottage is a perfect spot for anniversaries, birthdays and other candlelit occasions.
Le Saint Tropez: 315 King Street West. On the King Street restaurant strip in the theatre district, this is a great place to head to after a show if you can handle hearing "La Vie en Rose" a minimum of 3 times during your dinner seating.
Oro: 45 Elm Street. Oro offers it all from Mediterranean and contemporary to new Canadian cuisine prepared fresh each day. There is also a strong emphasis on fresh market produce. Owners are always on hand to greet guests and guarantee knowledgeable service.

Chinese

Asian Legend: 418 Dundas Street West. Entrees range from $10-$20 Canadian, while northern Chinese dim sum dishes start at $1.75 Canadian each and top off at $6.99 Canadian.
Bright Pearl: 246 Spadina Avenue. Serving all day dim sum and traditional cantonese dishes. This restaurant right in the heart of Chinatown has won many awards for food and service.
Dynasty Chinese Cuisine: 131 Bloor Street West. Dynasty Chinese Cuisine offers authentic Chinese cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Dim sum is served daily, as well as popular dishes Dynasty Peking Duck, Szechuan Orange Peel Beef, and General Tao's Chicken. For a unique spin on fresh seafood, try the Braised Shark's Fin Soup, Fresh Oysters and Vancouver Crab. Open for lunch, dinner and, of course, dim sum.
Golden Chop Suey: 3 Baldwin Street. For really cheap chinese food check out their meals for $5. Ask for less or no rice, otherwise they load it on and you get much less meat or veggies.
Grand's Seafood House: 615 Gerrard Street East. Grand's Seafood House specializes in authentic Chinese cuisine. Dim sum, noodles, rice, fresh seafood, chicken, meat, dumplings and peking duck are key items on the menu. The restaurant can seat around 300 people and dinner for two costs between $30 to $40. Lunch for two ranges from $15 to $25.
King's Noodle House: 296 Spadina Avenue. Superb fresh noodles to sate even the noodliest canoodlin' noodler. Entrees range from $6 to $10.
Lai Toh Heen: 652 Mount Pleasant Road. The uptown sister of the successful upscale Chinese dining room Lai Wah Heen in the Metropolitan Hotel, has recently opened in what used to be Square on the Mount Pleasant strip just south of Eglinton. With a room that harkens back to 1930s Shanghai, it's a lovely space with exquisite table settings
Lai Wah Heen: 108 Chestnut Street. Housed in the Metropolitan hotel, Lai Wah Heen is more upscale than your average dim sum joint. Prices are from $4-7 per dish but you pay partly for the ambience (tranquil) and the ordering method (pen n' paper, not the traditional dim sum cart n' shout).
Lee Garden: 331 Spadina Avenue. ermapacked upper-scale cuisine. Chan loved the seafood dishes, the Shanghai noodles and the deep-fried boneless chicken in chili Szechwan sauce. Entrees are about $12-$20.
Matahari: 39 Baldwin Street. The MataHari Grill serves a Chinese/Malaysian menu with everything from spicy seafood to chicken and lamb. Choose from noodle and rice recipes that are spiced just right. Private dining and catering services are available. The downtown restaurant holds 50 diners comfortably indoors and 16 on their patio. Dinner for two runs around $80. Reservations are recommended.
Rol San: 323 Spadina Avenue. Always a late-nite favourite with the clubbers. Most dishes are incredibly good even at 3am. Stay away from anything with shrimp, it doesn't come deveined.
Sky Dragon Restaurant: 280 Spadina Avenue. This six-floor restaurant above the DragonCity Shopping mall boasts the city'sbest dim sum; a patio overlooking Toronto's skyline; and beef balls, chicken feet and sticky chicken rice for between CA$2.10-3.60 per dish.

Thai

The Bowl Fine Asian Cuisine: 522 Yonge Street. The Bowl, located on Yonge Street, offers an extensive list of tasty Asian cuisine menu options in a casual setting. The restaurant, which can seat more than 50, is frequented by the university and tourist crowds. It boasts a large menu of more than 75 Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai food items including Shanghai noodles, veggie chow mein, and Thai basil chicken as well as exotic drinks like lychee martinis. A hidden gem in the heart of downtown.
Linda: 335 Yonge Street. Linda, the recently-opened upstairs dining room to Salad King, is a fine-dining alternative to the revolving-door ado of downstairs for those who wish to spend a bit more cash for a calmer, quieter finer-dining experience with well-trained waiters.
Salad King: 335 Yonge Street. Cheap Thai food just off of Yonge street near Dundas. Atmosphere is very casual with cafeteria-style seating, so get friendly with your neighbours.
Spring Rolls: 40 Dundas Street West. Really good thai food, amazing pad thai, service is excellent and atmosphere is all great for the price.
The Friendly Thai: 678 Yonge Street. Great place to sit in the window and people watch. This place has won multiple awards for it's food and with good reason. Pretty cheap, but then again most thai places are.
Real Thailand: 350 Bloor Street West. This restaurant presents a huge selection of authentic appetizers and main dishes from Thailand. On the menu at Real Thailand are plenty of fish, chicken, beef, lamb and vegetarian dishes to please any palate with recipes that are spiced just right. The dress code is casual and reservations are recommended on weekends and for groups of 10 or more.
Thai Basil: 467 Bloor Street West. Located in the Annex, Thai Basil opened in 2005 but owner Kenneth ran several successful Thai restaurants on the west coast. Thai chef Nuk has had more than 15 years experience cooking in Thailand and South East Asia and created a menu that includes more than 100 dishes. Sample Thai spring rolls, prawn and fish cakes, clams, sweet and sour chicken, pad thai and interesting salad options such as an Asian grapefruit salad and a citrus papaya salad. Open for dinner and lunch, with a lunch menu starting at $5.95.
Thai Paradise: 35 Baldwin Street. Thai Paradise is an oasis of delicate and scintillating flavours of lemongrass, curry, and basil, all combining together to form a taste of Thailand. Located on the eclectic Baldwin Street, the restaurant features the best in satay, soups, lamb, chicken and beef dishes. Lunch, dinner, takeout, and a party menu are all available as well as an extensive wine and beer menu.
Urban Thai Bistro: 1959 Queen Street East. Located in the Beaches, the Urban Thai Bistro serves authentic Thai cuisine to customers journeying along the boardwalk. The restaurant itself is small and cozy; the inexpensively priced menu, with specialties like spicy peanut vegetable stir fry, features entrees at $9.95 and dinner for two runs around $50. During the summer months, the Urban Thai Bistro has a terrace located in the back of the restaurant. Delivery and takeout available.

Southern

Baton Rouge: 216 Yonge Street. In the Eaton Centre. Specializing in cajun dishes, supposedly has the best ribs in the city. A little more upscale, but still casual.
Joe Mamas: 317 King Street West. Restaurant with live entertainment specializing in motown and R&B. Southern style menu that tastes great. Service is a little shoddy.
N'Awlins: 299 King Street West. Jazz bar/restaurant with a touch of the Cajun-Creole hospitality only found deep in the heart of Louisiana.

Greek

Avli: 401 Danforth Avenue. Let the aroma of fresh herbs and exotic spices, and Greek and Mediterranean culinary traditions entice you to try Avli. Dine in or take out.
The Friendly Greek: 551 Danforth Avenue. Great food, super fast service. You can't go wrong with the souvlaki dinners. The steak isn't the greatest.
Kokkino: 414 Danforth Avenue. Kokkino Restaurant & Lounge is a Greek and Mediterranean style restaurant located in the Danforth/Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto. This place may look familiar because it was just renovated on the TV show, Restaurant Makeover. The menu is tapas-style, and dinner for two usually costs around $80. DJ's provide entertainment from Wednesday to Sunday.
Mezes: 456 Danforth Avenue. Multiple award-winning neighbourhood restaurant with a casual, family feel. Authenic, Greek dishes, with what's rumoured to be the best calamari in the city.
Myth: 417 Danforth Avenue. Myth is a beautiful bar where beautiful people go to relax and look at each other. For all that, it's not an attitude bar. The decor is minimalist, with austere, art piece lighting plunging from the high ceiling and three discreet televison sets showing old films. There's an attention to detail here that can't help but make you feel more attractive. The mostly Greek menu is delicious, and sharing a few appetizers with your friends is recommended, even if you aren't there for the food. Summer nights the place is absolutely hopping and the front patio fills up quickly.
Ouzeri: 500 Danforth Avenue. The Danforth is a haven for Greek food and culture. Ninety per cent of the entrees are served a la carte; large servings of lamb, chicken and beef are brought on one platter for the table. Wines are available by the glass. Garlic is a major ingredient, so have a breath mint after dining.
The Palace: 722 Pape Avenue. The Palace Restaurant, located in the heart of Greektown, offers homemade meals created with fresh ingredients. Menu items include authentic Greek meals, seafood and a complete wine list which includes wines from Greece.
Penelope: 225 King Street West. Staff are quick and friendly, and the place is cavernous. Ceilings are high, with white stuccoed walls and plants hanging everywhere. The menu includes a vast selection of hot and cold appetizers, the classic Greek soup Fasolada, various souvlakis, a famous roast lamb, and a surprisingly large number of seafood dishes. All entrees come with vegetables, rice or potatoes, and bread. Penelope's Platter, suitable for large groups of Olympic-size eaters, includes nearly all the menu favourites.
Tomi-Kro: 1214 Queen Street East. Leslieville is clearly an area that's fast persuading foodies to leave King West for a change and shlep all the way to T.O.'s very own Lower East Side. Tomi-Kro (Greek for "the small place") is a tastefully idiosyncratic, 34-seat room filled with artsy neighbours who just can't get enough of its charm. Not surprising, the menu is equally eclectic, hitting a veritable United Nations of culinary reference points brought together with a tonne of ambition

Indian

Aroma: 287 King Street West. Aroma, serving authentic Indian cuisine is central to some of Toronto's biggest attractions in the theatre district. Though it's primarily a dinner restaurant, they offer an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.
Dhaba: 309 King Street West. Great Indian food in the heart of the theatre district. Service is excellent. Ask for your meal to be done the way way the cook would do it for himself.
Kama: 214 King Street West. Traditional Indian recipes, tucked in the heart of the theatre district. Sample the delicious buffet and a la carte menu options, in a modern and colourful atmosphere. Enjoy buffet lunches and dinners and daily seafood specials.
Mantra: 31 Elm Street. Mantra serves up Indian-French fusion in the Dundas Square area of Toronto, with seating for up to 144 in the restaurant and lounge bar. All seafood is market fresh and varies according to availability and an extensive wine and cocktail list, some made with indian fruits and spices is available. Brunch, and vegetarian dishes are available as well as catering and delivery.

Seafood

Big Daddy's Crabshack and Oyster Bar: 212 King Street West. Perfect place for a casual dinner before seeing a show. Specializing in Cajun and Creole with all types of seafood and tons of spice.
Bluepoint: 291 King Street West. Bluepoint is a three level restaurant and lounge specializing in seafood with emphasis on oysters. It offers a lounge and bar atmosphere for late night revelers as well.
Captain John's: 1 Queens Quay West. Kitschy seafood restaurant on an actual boat. Prices aren't expensive at all for seafood, but you get what you pay for. I'd rather go to Red Lobster.
cFood: 2419 Yonge Street. The nautical-themed resto in the upscale Yonge and Eglinton area gives the appearance of dining in the captain's quarters without having to actually step on a boat. There's a steady parade of diners in the little resto, though the wait isn't too long and starts to die down early in the afternoon. The tiny patio out in front is covered by a large orange awning that protects patio perchers from the strong rays. Inside, the décor has a carefully coordinated boat theme. The servers are young, wearing jeans and white t's to set a more casual tone. The service is cheerful and quick.
Mediterra: 133 Richmond Street West. Decor is reminicent of a fishing village on the adriatic coast. The all-seafood menu is priced to cater to the guests of the Hilton and the Sheraton, which it sits in between.
Pure Spirits: 55 Mill Street. The charm of this restaurant, set in the distillery district is undeniable. Thankfully the menu lives up to the expectations set by the decor. Pricey but romantic.
Red Lobster: 20 Dundas Street West. Chain restaurant with pretty cheap prices for seafood. Great service, always friendly.
Rodney's Oyster House: 469 King Street West. Freshness: that's Rodney's signature for shellfish -- and its pretty close to perfection. Save for Oyster Boy, few other eateries offer such a variety of live oysters (about two dozen to choose from), lobsters, crab and shrimp. From tank to table, freshness is never a problem. A raucous pub-like atmo prevails: hanging lobster traps, wooden benches, chipboard tabletops, knotty pine menus, and exposed brick -- and the bathrooms are divine.
Starfish Oyster Bed & Grill: 100 Adelaide Street East. This little oyster bar makes waves on the east side of Yonge. With a fantastic team behind him, and service and ambiance down pat, proprietor (and world oyster-shucking champion) Patrick McMurray takes top honours. Starfish is as rare as a South Sea pearl.

Bistros

5th Elementt: 1044 Bay Street.Located across the street from the University of Toronto campus, 5th Elementt provides customers with a cuisine combination of Indian meets Mediterranean. Offering an extensive menu selection for lunch and dinner, 5th Elementt creates a tantalizing effect on all five senses. Dishes offered on the menu include: baby pork ribs, coriander crusted halibut filet, tandoor red chicken, Goan-style sirloin steak, stuffed paneer tikka, and pineapple halwa on filo cup.
222 Bistro: 222 Richmond Street West. Nestled in between massive Inside and Seven nightclubs, it's an anomaly for Richmond West. Ambience is much more sophisticated than its pub-like exterior suggests.
360: Restaurant at the top of the cn tower. Great views, great atmosphere, the food leaves a little to be desired.
1055: 1055 Yonge Street. With a committed culinary team, 1055 could easily succeed where others have failed in a location that seems to swallow up restaurants like a great white shark eats seals. When and if 1055 brings back the heyday of Cibo is anyone's guess -- after all, the '80s are long gone. But come to 1055 if you worry less about being scene and care more about fine neighbourhood cooking.
Avalon: 270 Adelaide Street West. Avalon has one of the most inventive kitchens in the city, and it demonstrates its creativity through pairings of flavors rather than a showy multiplicity of ingredients. Main courses favor fish and fowl, such as steamed Boston fluke and Alaskan king crab with a sweet-pea sauce, or lightly smoked Moulard duck breast with pommes Anna and a black currant coulis. Desserts include treats like pear-and-elderflower sorbet and a wide selection of cheeses. The globetrotting wine list represents New World and Old.
Bistro 333: 333 King Street West. A warmly lit, well-spaced interior provides the perfect atmosphere for discreet romantic dinners or casual drinks at the bar. Casual chic.
Brant House: 1 Brant Street. Overall, Brant House is bang on. Surprisingly, the 7,000 sq. ft. space is a cozy one. Mixing the old with the new, the restaurant gives off a rare warmth for a resto lounge while maintaining the must-have trendiness for today's barfly.
Brassaii: 461 King Street West. Named after the famed 1920s photographer Gustave Brassaii, the corner of King and Spadina is now picture-perfect.
Housed in a building that dates back to 1904, a long, airy room, conceived by Toronto's Terrelonge Design, is a vision of good taste. Brassaii draws together the elegance of a new-world bistro with the comfortable feel of a New York diner. Two private areas available for all occasions, both social and corporate.
Cafe La Gaffe: 24 Baldwin Street. Tiny little restaurant with great food and excellent service. Perfect place to take a date. My evening, however, was ruined by the cockroach climbing up the wall.
Courtyard Cafe: 18 St Thomas Street. Inside the Windsor Arms hotel, this restaurant's decor is nothing short of breathtaking. Unfortunately, they're probably hoping that the luxurious decor overshadows the less-than-amazing food. You may be disappointed.
Far Niente: 187 Bay Street. The new Far Niente is a playful-yet-professional place, where service is genial and efficient and the menu encourages diners to smile when they eat. A rumoured $2 million was spent on the 9-year-old Bay Street fixture, doubtless in an effort to help the restaurant cast its net beyond the expense-account crowd to draw more regular diners from outside the financial district. Dinner for two: $150.
Fred's Not Here: 321 King Street West. Upstairs from the Red Tomato, it's a formal bistro-style destination in the heart of the theatre district. Menu is identical to that of The Red Tomato.
Joy Bistro: 884 Queen Street East. Joy Bistro is the cornerstone of the newly hot Queen Street East strip. With its cozy feel and candlelit warmth, Joy delivers a diverse menu with generous portions, modest prices and big, big flavors. A curved, red granite bar completes the look. Service is friendly, knowledgeable and unpretentious.
Olivia's: 53 Clinton Street. Absolutely adorable restaurant off the main strip in little Italy. Set in an old victorian home, with only 6 tables in the whole place, you get the feeling as though you are dining in somone's living room. Perfect place for a romantic date.
One Up: 130 Dundas Street West. The modern warmth of the One Up invites patrons to relax while they eat, as lounge music plays in the background. One Up doubles as both a restaurant and a martini lounge. The lounge sports a mammoth line-up of more than fifty types of martinis. Featured entrees on the menu include veal chop, lamb shank, filet mignon, chicken, duck, and New York striploin.
Perigee: 55 Mill Street. In the distillery district. Menu is based on the Japanese dining concept Omakase (meaning trust me). Tasting menus are prepared combining French techniques with Mediterranean flavours while incorporating a wide range of ethnic influences. They converse with each guest to determine what type of dining experience they desire and then cook for them accordingly.
Rain Lounge: 19 Mercer Street. Crowned with '70s-inspired chandeliers, the focal point of Rain's substantial reception area and lounge establishes the interior's recurring circular motif. Part Valley of the Dolls, part Barbarella, the style blurs the lines between fine art and furniture. Even the washroom area is lounge-like -- another groovy space to hang with a cocktail.
Sassafraz: 100 Cumberland Street. In trendy Yorkville, posters of celebrities that have dined there adorn the walls and make you hope that maybe...just maybe you'll see one. I never have. Oh yeah and the food is disappointing.
Splendido: 88 Harbord Street. Apparently the prices aren't even listed on the menu. It's that expensive.
Superior Restaurant: 253 Yonge Street. This cozy, old-style restaurant seems almost too good to be true, considering its location in the midst of the Yonge Street chaos between Queen and Dundas Streets. The menu consists of tasty appetizers, salads and unique sandwiches. A 6 oz. burger with interesting optional items, is a particularly good deal.
Susur: 601 King Street West. One of the best, if not the most expensive restaurant in the city, run by world renowned chef Susur Lee. Five course tasting menu runs from $65-$90, the seven course menu ranges from $75-$110.
Trapezzi: 505 Danforth Avenue. Trapezzi, located on the Danforth, takes its inspiration from some of the finest European supper clubs. Run by owners Paul and Angelos, the selection on the menu includes appetizers, pasta, risotto, and brunch. Other specialties include gnocchi, duck confit risotto, New York steak, pan seared cod, mascarpone stuffed chicken, Trapezzi benedict, frittata, chorizo eggs, French toast and more.
Ultra Supper Club: 314 Queen Street West. Ultra strikes the perfect posh/playground balance, seamlessly mixing delicious design and delectable food with loungy relaxation. Not to mention, adding a touch of a class and elegance to a street that long ago lost its cachet for finer food haunts in favour of fashion retailers.
Urban: 303 King Street West. Great little patio on the King strip. Offering semi-permanent prix fixe dinner at $30 a person. Food is good, but not incredibly inspired.
Wish: 3 Charles Street East. Elegant and trendy hotspot that any NYC restaurateur would be proud to call their own. Wish is so hip, it hurts: Sex and the City's Carrie and Samantha would feel totally comfortable having Manolo monologues and vagina dialogues, here.

Asian Fusion

Kubo Radio: 894 Queen Street East. The best word to describe Kubo is cool; it's a funky, Asia-fusion eating experience and the Leslieville locals have definitely taken to this place Asian bottles and food products (like coconut milk and jars of dried onion) lined up on the walls -- products which are all used in the kitchen itself. Soothing, cool tunes play in the background. The dim lighting makes it easy on the eyes. Young, relaxed female servers sport cute pink t-shirts with the phrase "shut up and eat" on the back; you won't be rushed out so take your time.
Monsoon: 100 Simcoe Street. Japanese style combined with the comfortable modernity of 1960s lounge makes for a hip interior at Monsoon, an upscale, Asian-inspired restaurant in Toronto's downtown entertainment district. Monsoon's menu offers a wide range of Asian-esque dishes to satisfy any discriminating foodie. Catering and event design available for meetings, gatherings and other special occasions. dinner for two: $175.

Pubs

Allen's: 143 Danforth Avenue. A Toronto legend, Allen's restaurant specializes in Irish American fare. With no less than eight potato recipes on the menu, and such Celt-inspired recipes as steak, carrots, onions, and mushrooms braised in Guinness Stout, this restaurant is an unabashed romp in Irish culture. The all-VQA wine list has won the Ontario Wine Council Award of Excellence, the Cuvee Gold Award as the Best Ontario wine list and the Royal Bank of Canada Award for the Best Ontario VQA wine list. For a full Irish reel, sample some of the 355 different whisky's (278 Scotch Single Malt), 140 bottled beers and 15 draught. An old-fashioned, family-friendly delight, it's not to be missed.
Dominion on Queen: 500 Queen Street East. Historical Dominion on Queen, established since 1889. The club serves up snacks, meals, and has 12 microbrewery beers on tap as well as other lagers and ales. A relaxed place to meet friends after work, play pool or listen to great jazz and blues music, Dominion on Queen also has professional comedy held on Sunday nights. Relax on the heated patio or inside.
Elephant & Castle: 212 King Street West & 378 Yonge. Nicer version of your standard pub. Both locations are set in old buildings with enormous vaulted ceilings. The spinach-artichoke-cheese dip is to die for.
Fionn MacCool's: 70 The Esplanade. Pretty standard pub, good food. More laid back alternative to the Bier Markt next door.
Foggy Dew: 803 King Street West. King West Village's greatest Irish thrill is located east of Stanley Park. The classic pub menu includes many common staples such as fried calamari, Irishman's bread, perogies, baked brie, peppercorn steak salad and their very own dish: Liberty Village Nachos. Irish classic brunches are also offered, ranging from apple walnut pancakes to Foggy omelettes and eggs benedict.
Gabby's Grill & Bar (King west): 309 King Street West. Nice patio, more casual choice with cheaper eats on the King restaurant strip in the theatre district.
Hemingway's: 142 Cumberland Street. Tucked away in the heart of Yorkville is rooftop bar Hemingway's. The double-decker patio is heated in winter and misted in summer. The popular patio and bar is a great place to meet for a night on the town or a drink after work with friends
Hooters: 280 Adelaide Street West. Clearly the draw here is...well...the hooters. The food is incredibly disappointing, especially the wings. Unless you're really into orange shorts, I'd skip this one.
Irish Embassy: 49 Yonge Street. Nestled at the corner of Yonge and Wellington, in an old bank building built in 1873, the award-winning, upscale Irish Embassy Pub is the grandest choice for Irish hospitality. With a spacious interior, brilliant décor and original tile floors, its location is pivotal to any visitor to Toronto. The pub features a vast collection of beers on draught and a mammoth selection of food, covering brunch, lunch, bar and dinner.
P.J. O'Brien's: 39 Colborne Street. P.J. O'Brien's combines a friendly atmosphere with spectacular surroundings. The Irish pub and restaurant serves up pub fare, fine food as well as Irish cuisine.
The Pour House: 182 Dupont Street. Located at the northern tip of St. George Street, The Pour House is a favourite of college and university crowds looking to eat in Toronto's Annex. A member of Toronto's best Irish pub family, the alehouse pays close attention to every Irish-based tradition in many of the watering holes across the pond. Grab a pint of Guinness to water down your Irishman's bread or chicken potpie. The menu is also full of many great dishes from around the world. Kids eat free on Mondays.

Italian

7 West: 7 Charles Street West. Centrally located restaurant with great drinks and desserts. Favoured by the late-night crowd, as it's open 24/7.
65 Degrees: 584 College Street. From the proprietor of Cocco Lezzone, this sultry new restaurant is named for the ideal temperature to serve red wine. A bring your own wine restaurant ($10 corkage fee).
Alice Fazooli's: 294 Adelaide Street West. Solid choice for an after-theatre restaurant with a group of people. Can occasionally get loud. Tons of food for a good price.
Autogrill: 345 Adelaide Street West. The Autogrill is a modern Italian restaurant that serves up a huge menu selection for brunch, lunch and dinner. This restaurant serves everything from fresh sandwiches, spinellos, wraps and salads to gourmet pizzas and risottos.
Cafe Diplomatico: 594 College Street. This casual Italian restaurant has been around since Italians actually lived in little Italy. Popular with locals and tourists alike, Sophia Loren has been known to come here when she's in town.
Caffino: 1185 King Street West. A hidden gem in Toronto's downtown west end, this European-style restaurant is the perfect locale for business professionals to enjoy a serene and peaceful lunch, away from the stress of their daily lives.
Capitol Trattoria Pizzeria: 597 College Street. Described as being as cozy as "the kitchen of a Tuscan Nonna," Capitol Trattoria is fittingly located in the city's famous Little Italy, with a beautiful patio looking onto scenic College Street. Enjoy authentic homemade Italian cuisine, such as crisp pizzas, in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Dimmi: 140 Cumberland Street. This restaurant and bar offers the traditional pizza and pasta of a trattoria along with risotto, fried calamari and clams. Patrons rave about the casual and relaxed atmosphere.
Giovanna Trattoria: 637 College Street. I had a bad date here, and I still enjoyed the restaurant, so that says a lot. Real Italians eat here and enjoy it. Little Italy staple.
Grappa: 797 College Street. This Little Italy diner offers a homey feel and excellent service to go along with the fresh Italian cooking. Seating up to 75 people within its walls, the restaurant serves a wide variety of dishes to sate the palate. Menu specialties include the hummus, rack of lamb, porcini mushroom risotto, linguini Capri, and calamari. The restaurant also offers daily specials of fresh fish, pastas, and homemade Italian desserts. An average meal for two costs $120.
Hey Lucy: 295 King Street West. Nice but still casual restaurant on the King strip. Food is pretty good, standard Italian fare, but the service is notably bad.
Il Fornello (waterfront): 207 Queen's Quay West. Great views, good food. Casual italian.
Joe Badali's: 156 Front Street West. At Joe Badali's not only the food is prepared from scratch. The 100-year-old, 17,000-square-foot brick and stone building has also been done up to create a homey feel with several distinct rooms topped by two-storey-high ceilings and 13-foot-high windows. Gourmet lunch and dinners are served on white tablecloths in the dining room.
John's Italian Caffe: 27 Baldwin Street. Located on the quaint and cloistered sidestreet known as Baldwin, John's Italian Cafe has a long and distinguished history of offering affordable Italian food and great ambiance for U of T students and local bohos.Lined by old-fashioned storefronts, this treed street resembles a mini Greenwich Village. The dark forest green walls, dark wood, candle light, chipped paint and tattered bar stools make for a cozy retreat. Its legendary pizzas run the gamut of gourmet toppings.
Kit Kat: 297 King Street West. You see the cows hanging off the building facade? That's Kit Kat. Casual setting with amazing southern Italian specialties.
La Fenice: 319 King Street West. Candlelit dining room provides a romantic atmosphere. Award winning Italian cuisine and great service make this a great choice.
La Forchetta: 613 College Street. Small restaurant in little Italy, absolutely great food. Try the butternut squash-filled ravioli. Amazing.
Little Anthony's: 121 Richmond Street West. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Little Anthony's specializes in Italian cuisine, such as homemade pastas, provimi veal dishes and AAA Angus steaks, plus fine wines.
Modo: 122 Avenue Road. Part hip industrial loft, part 1920s opium den, with a dash of industrial chic juxtaposed with unabashed romance, MoDo seduces with its Moulin Rouge-meets-Rent vibe. Who can look bad lounging on curvy, velvet-upholstered furniture, surrounded by the glow of dozens of flicking candles and the jewel-like light of huge crystal chandeliers? As MoDo delights the eye, it does similar service for the palate, serving small plates, the current darling of dining styles.
Old Spaghetti Factory: 54 The Esplanade. Found a dead mouse under the table there once. Never going back.
Seven Numbers: 307 Danforth Avenue. The real name of this restaurant is its incorporation number and that's what it says on the sign, but everyone calls it seven numbers. The restaurant is put together with chairs and tables that were found a garage sales. None of the plates, cutlery or cups match and it's decorated like the inside of your italian grandmother's house, and it's totally incredible. Super hot place for 20-somethings to hang out, grab dinner and a couple drinks. Who knew?
Sotto Sotto: 116A Avenue Road. Seems as though it's hidden, but everyone who lives here knows that it's where celebrities go to dine in the city. Quite expensive, but the food is good.
Spuntini: 116 Avenue Road. Toronto has no dearth of upscale, high-quality Italian restaurants--and Spuntini is no exception. With its rustic Mediterranean interior of rough plastered walls in dark hues of terra cotta, brown and grey and a cool stone water fountain, Spuntini provides an intimate, southern European oasis in which high-income, hard-working diners can shed their urban angst. Flavourful creations will transport you to the north of Italy, without the cost of sending you to Italy!
Toni Bulloni: 156 Cumberland Street. Italian food with large servings and a famous Tiramisu for dessert. They feature bring your own wine, with a $25 corking fee per 750 ml.
Vaticano Trattoria: 25 Belair Street. Vaticano Trattoria is an upscale Italian style restaurant located in Yorkville. Born and raised in Italy, Chef Felice and staff prepare authentic gourmet Italian meals in one of Toronto's chic neighbourhoods. The restaurant is open 365 days a year for lunch and dinner. There's also a great patio offered during the summer. Dinner for two runs about $100.
Veni Vidi Vici: 650 College Street. Look for the massive stone carved face around the doorway that makes it look as though you're walking into its mouth when entering the restaurant. Wait staff are awesome, and the high-backed booths give a cozy, romantic feeling.
Verona: 335 King Street West. Italian fine dining, superior cuisine and top notch customer service is just steps from the city's theatre district. Warm atmosphere, whether you want to cozy up at the bar, on a bench or at one of the quaint dining tables.
Vertical Restaurant & Bar: 100 King Street West. Formerly The Tasting Rooms, Vertical serves up mostly seafood to the Bay Street crowd. There's a 70 seat dining room, two private dining rooms, and a separate bar and lounge. Chef Tawfik Shehata is at the helm and the menu includes foods inspired by southern Italy and the Mediterranean to serve for lunch and dinner.
Vivoli: 665 College Street. Without question, Vivoli gets full marks for hospitality. Every effort is made to accommodate. It's also a great place to people watch and have a beer from its two-storey patio.

Steakhouses

Bardi's: 56 York Street. In business for more than 30 years, Bardi's is all about steak, steak and more steak. Serving only certified Angus beef, steak cuts and sizes range from the classic filet mignon to the Flintstone-size Bardi Special, an 18-to-20 ounce prime rib cut served with baked potato, french fries or rice. If you're beefed out, the house recommends the fresh grilled Atlantic salmon. A semi-formal upscale restaurant, Bardi's is full of suits during the day and mellows to a slightly dressy crowd at night. During sporting events or when the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is booked up, make sure you have a reservation.
The Keg Mansion: 515 Jarvis Street. Interesting twist on an already great restaurant. Set in a historical mansion, it's a more upscale version of The Keg.
Harbour Sixty Steakhouse: 60 Harbour Street.Harbour Sixty Steakhouse, a relative newcomer to the steaks stakes is done up to the nines as a classic trad steakhouse in the former Toronto Harbour Commission building. Restrained, yet tasteful opulence, befitting the beautiful 1917 historic building that once actually graced our waterfront. A long deep blue awning, four-storey Corinthian columns and plush carpeted stairs greet you as you step into the grand foyer. Service is pleasant and efficient and the steaks are sublime.
JW Steakhouse: 525 Bay Street. JW's certainly plays the part of a steakhouse perfectly. The décor contains dark woods, wing-back chairs and heavy broadloom. Tables are blessedly well-spaced for corporate lunches or intimate dinners. And in true steakhouse fashion, a wall of photos document which celebrities have dined there. From its décor to a skilled, professional service team, a straight-ahead menu and vintage wine list, this hotel dining room gives its customers exactly what they want.

Korean

Korean Grill House: 214 Queen Street West. Dining out is supposed to be a treat so why consider cooking your own food at a restaurant -- and pay for the chance to boot? The Korean Grill House is betting on it. And judging by the many munchers that fill up the place at all hours of the day and night, it appears this cook-it-yourself concept is being eaten up by Toronto's trendanistas. Think of it as meat fondue, only instead of cooking with hot oil, a gas-powered grill does the job. Terrific entertainment value that's cheap-as-borsc

Moroccan

The Sultan's Tent & Cafe Moroc: 49 Front Street East. Its sophisticated, even elegant, Moroccan style provides a nice framework for the edible exotica. And even if its new downtown digs are also in a tourist location, locals will also want to indulge. What was merely mediocre Moroccan is now something marvelous. Jordan C. Slade is now the chef at the helm of this kitchen.