In a few weeks, the latest edition of the Michelin Guide will be unveiled in Toronto. It will showcase the latest sites deemed worthy of recognition by the guide, with a lucky few receiving a star.
I’ve called the city home for a good portion of my life, so if Michelin lures you to Toronto, consider some of the food and drink destinations not included in the guide. Here’s where I was repetitive.
Follow bar
Dozens and dozens of beer names are written on the chalkboard behind the bar at Volo, each corresponding to a different tap pouring eclectic or unusual (but all delicious) beers from around the world. It’s also a great spot for date night and a destination for an afternoon with a drink in hand.
Taverni Bernhardt
At this neighborhood restaurant, expect roast chicken made with rotisole, the Rolls Royce of the rotisserie. While the chicken is the main event — paired with plenty of broth and fries if you like — the vegetable dishes and salads are thoughtful and unique (and don’t go beyond light service).
family Baldassari
A weekday-only pasta table serving two different types of pasta daily. what are they? Well, it depends on what Leandro Baldassari feels inspired by. It can be sweet corn tortelloni. Potato gnocchi may be mixed with wild morel. It could be a neon green cup swimming in pesto Genovese. They’re all handmade daily, so no matter what, come hungry and order one of each.
Sakai bar
Slip into this 22-seat venue for udon—creamy and topped with tomato dashi and seafood—and pair it with quintessential Japanese dishes, like Quebec snow crab sunomono, sweet potatoes topped with trout roe and bagna coda butter sauce, and steak-fried katsu. Sit at the bar and let the owner, Stuart, pair your meal with sake.
Bokchangdongson Tofu House
You don’t need to make many decisions here: just choose your protein and wait for a smoldering bowl of tofu stew and a side of stone rice. It’s warm, steamy, always spicy and full of flavour.
Dim sum king
Every Sunday, my family and I climb a few flights of stairs to camp at a table at Dim Sum King, the go-to place for stuffed rice dumplings and sticky rice pockets. There is no menu, just staff walking around with carts laden with steamer baskets.
Chinese Sunny
Nearby, Sunnys Chinese Restaurant offers a more modern nod to the city’s Chinese roots, in the form of a lively, neon-hued dining room serving Sichuan, Guangdong, Dongbei and Hakka dishes. Think dan dan noodles sprinkled with peanuts and pork, seared chicken thighs drizzled with chacao seasoning, and swirls of soy sauce and smooth caramel. If your flight permits, make a reservation on a Monday – the team prepares an exotic and always excellent tasting menu.
Grape paradise
Arguably one of the best places to spend a hot summer day in Toronto is Paradise Grapevine, a wine bar and winery with a few outposts within the city. Both locations feature a generous amount of wine (including natural offerings and their own Rootburger). excellent Courtyards.
Collimated
When you’ve finished your wine, head across the street for big plates of silky homemade hummus, crispy babaganoush, and oven-toasted bread. Order a selection of dips and get your hands dirty, just be sure to order a side of the spicy herbal dip.
Randy Rootes
One of Toronto’s bright spots is the kaleidoscope of cultures that call the city home – in a single day, you can snack on Filipino, Indonesian, Chinese and Tibetan cuisine. One of my particular favorites are Randy’s fluffy doubles stuffed with spicy chickpeas.
Mineral
In Rosedale, Toronto’s home for the affluent, Chef Danny Cansino serves up hearty Filipino dishes with a fine dining twist. There’s pineapple carpaccio topped with black garlic and puffed rice for a crisp, light-as-air dish with truffle butter on the side for dipping, and inari scallop pockets topped with pattarga.
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(Tags for translation)Toronto