Toronto: Top Dining Choices

Published In Union Lighting & Home Furnishings Magazine

On Michael and Guy Rubino’s TV series “Made To Order,” the Toronto chefs can be seen cooking at their acclaimed restaurant Rain, or at their new establishment Luce (Hotel Le Germain 30 Mercer Street, tel. 416-599-5823, Dinner for two $200.00). Across the street from Rain, Luce offers a different dining experience. While Rain delivers Pan-Asian cuisine in a communal setting, Luce is more intimate and focuses on regional Italian dishes. Selections like Tuscan rib eye with porcini jus and gnocchi verde in a cored vine tomato demonstrate great attention to detail and complex flavors–something both Rubino Brother restaurants have in common.

The city’s new women’s club, Verity, also has a new restaurant, George (111 Queen Street East, tel. 416-368-6006, dinner for two $180), which is open to the public. The space, once a chocolate factory, now offers lunch and dinner guests a 19th century feeling with exposed concrete walls, wrought iron fixtures and candlelight. The mood gets even better when food arrives. Citrus braised rabbit, duck confit ravioli and black cod dusted with pecans are among the highlights skillfully conceived by executive chef Lorenzo Loseto, and may be paired with the many wines available by the glass.

Many Toronto restaurants sport open-concept kitchens, but none like the one in Perigee Restaurant  (55 Mill Street East, Suite 260, tel. 416-364-1397, dinner for two $280), which came to the Distillery District in 2003. At Perigee, guests sit around a dramatically lit kitchen, as star chef Pat Riley prepares each tasting menu item, like zucchini blossom fritter, pressed quail terraine and cumin fillet of Monkfish. From start to finish, Riley’s French- and Mediterranean-inspired techniques impress. Just don’t expect to see the menu. These are blind tastings, an amusement park for food enthusiasts.

Where the original Movenpick once stood on Yorkville Ave. is now home to Flow Restaurant and Lounge (133 Yorkville Avenue, tel. 416-925-2143, Dinner For Two: $150.00). Living up to its name, Flow exudes an airy, contemporary-yet-warm design cascades through three-levels, incorporating dining areas on two floors as well as a chic lounge and disco downstairs. In the kitchen is co-owner and chef, Richard Andino. Originally from the Philippines, Andino integrates Asian influences into specialties like Tikki charred shrimp and Pandon scented rice. Combined with other signatures such as braised beef short ribs, Flow is a welcome new addition to Yorkville.

Now, seven-years old, The Fifth  (225 Richmond Street West, tel. 416-979-3005, Dinner for two $250.00) remains on the A-List of restaurants in the city, open for dinner Thursday through Saturday only. Lyon native, Jean-Pierre Challet, who came onboard in 2004, now heads the kitchen with beautiful, contemporary French cooking. A Rossini of squab with foie gras and truffle ice wine vermicelli, venison rib eye with black trumpet mushroom crepes and conte cheese, and sweet potato crème brulee are just some examples of why The Fifth maintains its premier status.