Best Restaurants for Anniversaries in Yonge and Dundas Square

Had an awesome time celebrating an anniversary here!

Quiet, great ambiance, music not too loud, amazing interior design. The aubergines are a must and the olives are great. Service is impeccable as well; Jamie was very funny and great to chat with. The cocktails are beautiful and full. Top restaurant in Toronto despite the small crowd.

DaNico, ranked the 3rd best Italian restaurant worldwide outside Italy, is a remarkable collaboration between twice Michelin-starred Chef Daniele Corona and Nick Di Donato of Liberty Entertainment Group. We had the pleasure of meeting Chef Corona during our visit, and he was incredibly down-to-earth and welcoming. His passion and dedication to providing an exceptional experience were evident in our delightful conversation. We reserved a table for two at the bar, and on the day of our visit, we received a call from the restaurant to confirm any food allergies or special occasions. Upon arrival, our coats were promptly taken, and we were shown to our table. The staff were exceptionally friendly and hospitable. We began with cocktails and were presented with both an à la carte menu and a Tasting menu, complete with innovative lighting upon opening. We opted for the à la carte menu. While awaiting our meals, we were treated to warm, freshly baked focaccia with olive oil and butter. For appetizers, we chose the "TONNO-TONNATO" and "CERVO, CASTAGNE E MELOGRANO." For our main courses, we delighted in the "RISO ALLA PESCATORA CON CRUDO DI MARE" and "SPAGHETTONI AI FUNGHI LOCALI E TARTUFO NERO." Lastly, we enjoyed the "IL MANZO" and "CAPRETTO LOCALE CON PEPERONI ARROSTO” from the Secondi menu. Each dish was impeccably marinated, cooked to perfection, and beautifully presented. Our favorites were the Venison and Wagyu. We were also treated to complimentary dessert canapés and ordered the "PANE E GIANDUJA" to pair with our dessert. The desserts truly made our meal an unforgettable experience. A charming detail about the restaurant's location is that it was formerly a bank, and they have transformed the safe box into a wine cellar. They also use a 55-year-old Italian coffee machine to brew coffee, which adds to the excitement.

We were there for an early post-theatre dinner so were seated promptly and greeted by our server. Our server was very attentive and topped out our water frequently. My husband and I had the linguine with tiger shrimp and piri-piri chicken respectively and both were good, but we expected more at that price point. I also had the Lisbon old fashioned which was just okay. Overall the service was great, food was good.

The occasion of this visit was a pre-Christmas lunch with some colleagues and friends. There were four of us. Two of us had the veal special, one the veal parmigana, and the fourth had the chicken. We shared a sampling of appetizers including the carpaccio - a favorite of mine. Everything was excellent. In fact, over the years that I've dined at Carisma, I have never had anything less than an excellent meal. The service always complements the food in quality. Looking forward to my next visit, in 2025.