Toronto Dining

From chic and upscale to affordable and family-friendly, the dining options in Toronto are as diverse as the city itself. Here are some top picks that will suit those looking to splurge as well as foodies seeking more frugal yet flavourful fare.

Canoe

Named the number one restaurant in the city in 2009 by Toronto Life magazine, Canoe is a perennial favourite with gastronomes. Perched on the 54th floor of a bank tower in the city’s financial district, this restaurant offers a sleek setting with stunning city views. Highlights from Chef Anthony Walsh’s modern Canadian menu include B.C. honey mussels, Alberta lamb loin and milk-fed suckling pig from the acclaimed St. Canut Farms. Entrees range from $38 to $44 (Canadian). Canoe’s menu can be found at parent company Oliver and Bonacini’s website www.oliverbonacini.com.

Canoe is located at 66 Wellington Street West at Bay Street. Call 416-364-0054 for reservations.

Mistura

Chef Massimo Capra's midtown Toronto hotspot offers a contemporary Italian menu with dishes such as Ontario rabbit, Nova Scotia scallops and Alberta lamb ribs. Highlights include beet risotto and wild boar agnolotti with sour cherries. Head upstairs after dinner to sister restaurant Sopra for some live jazz. Entrees are priced in the $30 to $50 range. Visit www.mistura.ca for the most current menu.

Mistura is located at 265 Davenport Road at Avenue Road. Call 416-515-0009 for reservations.

Conviction

Chef Mark Thuet’s bistro offers fine dining with a twist. From the front of the house to the back of the kitchen, Conviction is staffed with former inmates. Determined to give reformed ex-cons a chance to turn their lives around, the unconventional staff work under the guidance of Thuet and his wife and business partner Biana Zorich. The opening of the restaurant was filmed as a reality TV series titled Conviction Kitchen. The menu showcases Thuet’s commitment to local ingredients and features French favourites such as choucroute and cassoulet. Entrees are priced between $20 and $40, and tasting menus are available. Visit www.convictionrestaurant.com for more information.

Conviction is located at 609 King Street West. For reservations call 416-603-2777 ext. 1.

Pizzeria Libretto

Craving some real Italian pizza? Head to Pizzeria Libretto in Ossington Village. With its lively dining room packed with cozy booths and communal tables, this loud, fun and family-friendly eatery draws foodies from all over the city with its authentic Neopolitan wood-fired pizza, often touted as the best pizza in Toronto. Chef Rocco Agostino brings in fresh San Marzano tomatoes and Ontario Fiore di Latte mozzarella for his pies each day, which are then baked in a wood burning oven that was built in Naples especially for the restaurant. There is a pizza to suit every taste on the menu, from the Prosciutto and Arugula to the Rapini topped with black olives, mozzarella and goat’s cheese. Pizzas are priced from $10 to $16.

Pizzeria Libretto is located at 221 Ossington Avenue at Dundas Street West. Reservations are not accepted. Visit www.pizzerialibretto.com for more information.

El Trompo

This taco bar in Toronto’s vibrant Kensington market is popular with both locals and tourists looking for a delicious lunch under $15. Traditional Mexico-city style tacos with marinated pork are served on corn tortillas with onion and pineapple coriander; the menu also features beef, mushroom and spicy tinga chicken versions as well as horchata, the traditional Mexican cinnamon-flavoured sweet milky rice drink.

El Trompo is located at 277 Augusta Avenue. Visit www.eltrompo.ca for hours of operation.

Toronto Restaurants

Whether you are looking for a great meal on a casual patio or in a formal dining room, the restaurant scene in Toronto offers something for everyone!