Toronto may be wrestling with late-winter blues, but the city’s dining scene is as lively as ever. A new crop of restaurants and menus are perking up the dreariest season of the year.
A Japanese-accented restaurant in Yonge & Bloor made a splash with sky-high views. A hip global Israeli chain unveiled an outpost in Yorkville. In King West, a revered French bistro returned after a nearly two-year hiatus.
In a city where dining options seem limitless, these are the season’s hottest spots. Read on for a guide to Toronto’s six must-book restaurants right now.
AP Restaurant (Yonge & Bloor)
AP Restaurant brought some of Toronto’s most show-stopping rooftop views when it opened on the 51st floor of the Manulife Center in November. With acclaimed chef Antonio Park at the helm, it’s not just spectacular cityscapes that draw diners to AP. The Montreal chef (of Park fame) showcases his distinctive pan-Asian chops fueled by culinary training in Japan and a childhood spent in Argentina. Dishes such as snow crab tacos topped with Ossetra caviar and wagyu tataki with black truffle come with sophisticated flourishes worthy of the restaurant’s swanky setting.
The Toronto Beach Club (Beaches)
With its lakefront Woodbine Beach setting, Toronto Beach Club is chic and summery regardless of the season. The Mediterranean restaurant launched a coastal brunch in February with a new buffet spread on Sundays. Stations at the restaurant’s epic Oasis Brunch include a raw bar with salmon and freshly shucked oysters, a carving station featuring slow-roasted porchetta, plus Mediterranean-influenced mains such as harissa shakshuka and babka French toast. Diners can pair their mid-morning feast with bottomless mimosas or playful cocktails that star classic breakfast flavours such as cold-brew coffee and orange marmalade.
Florette (West Queen West)
After a successful pop-up at Dundas West’s Bar Mignonette last summer, cocktail bar Florette found a permanent home in fall 2022. Chef Mann Bijlani’s experience in kitchens across Italy, India, and Thailand surfaces through dishes including corn pakoras with romesco and roasted cabbage with tonnato. Cocktails such as the Al Pastor (avocado oil-washed tequila, corn milk, and chimichurri syrup) take cues from savoury dishes. With its tasteful flower-themed interiors, Florette’s digs are as eye-catching as its drinks and dishes.
Tutti Matti (Entertainment District)
This long-running Italian restaurant recently relaunched its lunch menu (a pre-pandemic favourite). Expect the same seasonal Tuscan fare that earned it neighbourhood favourite status such as soul-soothing ragu with fresh tagliatelle. The laid-back setting and chef-owner Alida Solomon’s devotion to traditionally prepared plates make Tutti Matti suited for a casual business meeting or a satisfying afternoon meal.
Miznon (Yorkville)
A global Israeli chain landed in Yorkville in February. Founded in Tel Aviv in 2011 by chef Eyal Shani, Miznon already has ten locations around the world, including outposts in New York City, Paris, Singapore, and Melbourne. Dishes are inspired by Mediterranean street food and change frequently, though the MVP is the charred, whole-roasted baby cauliflower. Diners can also expect meats such as slow-cooked beef sandwiched between fluffy pitas, plus a wide selection of vegan and halal options. Graffiti art and baskets stocked with produce add to the Tel Aviv-in-Toronto vibes.
Le Sélect Bistro (King West)
After nearly shuttering permanently during the pandemic, beloved French restaurant Le Sélect returned under new ownership in fall 2022. Fans of the long-running bistro—one of Toronto’s oldest—will be relieved to know that the resurrected version stays true to its roots. The new version also revived the lunch menu, a condensed version of the dinner offerings. Level up your midday meal with French staples such as moules frites along with an expanded selection of handhelds including a flank steak sandwich served on a baguette.
