Where to eat in Toronto 2001

Well, with its large immigrant population, Toronto prides itself on the 
diversity of its cuisine. The city has more than four thousand eating 
establishments offering a spectacular range of foods from all over the world 
and is one of Canada's few cities where you can eat high-quality food of 
almost any ethnic origin. One cautionary note is that many restaurants are 
closed on Sundays, telephone ahead before you start a major excursion. 
Ciao, :-) Kika

La Bruschetta *** Address 1317 St Clair Ave W City / Province / Postal 
Toronto, ON M6E 1C2 Phone 416-656-8622 . Food Type / Nationality Italian, 
Soups, Grill, Pasta, Veal, Seafood Dining Style Casual Dining, 
Family-friendly. Chef: Benito Piantoni. Average Price $21-$30 This is  MY 
FAVORITE ITALIAN, Father Mike Camilli took me there for the first time in 
1995 and now is like visiting relatives. I already call for reservations. 
Star sightings are common in Toronto, but at La Bruschetta they're almost an 
everyday event. The entryway is covered from floor to ceiling with plates 
decorated by celebs , race car drivers (Emmo is there!). It's a surprise then 
to find the kitchen like dining room, unrelieved in its homeliness but for 
vases of fresh-cut flowers. Owner Benito Piantoni, who charms patrons with 
tales of Italy and Hollywood gossip, provides local color. You will also see 
his wife and 2 daughters working hard,  making sure everything is  The menu 
lists a dozen pastas, with cream sauces ranging from brandy to Gorgonzola. 
Mouth-watering main courses include veal medallions simply presented in 
white-wine sauce with garlic and mushrooms. After a rich meal, you'll welcome 
the delicate lemon ice for dessert. A family-run restaurant with a friendly 
and relaxed atmosphere. Given 3-stars (Excellent) by Toronto Life in 1999. 
Wines list is short, though rather long on price (only one bottle under $30). 
An impressive variety of grappas. 

Auberge du Pommier ***1/2 Zagat - The Best-French Cuisine 
LOCATION: 4150 Yonge St., 222-2220 Chef: Paul Benallick. 
Auberge du Pommier offers enchanting French country dining...in the city. 
Joanne Kates, Restaurant Reviewer for the Globe & Mail recently wrote 
"Auberge du Pommier is an ineffably beautiful restaurant, made a decade ago 
from the remains of two 1860's woodcutters' cottages brought back to life 
with a keen esthetic and an eye for romance. We love its looks. Every time we 
go there, a different extravagance of flowers greets us at the door-sometimes 
tulips, sometimes hydrangeas, always seasonal. Everything speaks of a French 
country restaurant: the fat wooden beams, the stucco, the French-style 
windows, the stone arches, the wood burning fireplaces, the terra cotta tiles 
and above all, the ultra smooth service."The space exudes French country 
charm--cosy with fires in winter, spilling out onto a canvas-covered terrace 
when nights are warm. The menu leans to classic French tastes in nouvelle 
North American presentation, edible towers on oversized plates. A plum 
tomato, hollowed out, gets stuffed with garlicky goat cheese, then baked with 
chopped tomato, eggplant and artichoke on the side ($13). A daily special of 
grilled halibut ($28), wonderfully moist and flavourful on a bed of steamed 
spinach, disappoints only in its few accompanying gnocchi. The sleeper on the 
dessert card-arguably the sleeper dessert in all Toronto-is what the 
restaurant calls its Israeli couscous pudding ($9), not oversweet, spiced 
something like a rice pudding, but to most rice puddings as lightning is to a 
lightning bug. A long but not daunting wine list, most bottles north of $50; 
eight choices by the glass. 

Sotto Sotto ++116-A Avenue Rd.Toronto, Ontario Phone: 416/962-0011. Another 
driver's favorite. A coal cellar in a turn-of-the-century home was dug out, 
its stone walls and floor polished, and a restaurant created in what has 
become a dining oasis for locals and international jet-setters alike. The 
menu gives a tantalizing tug to the taste buds. Of the 14 pasta dishes, 
appetizer or main-course size, orecchiette (tiny, disk-shape pasta) with a 
toss of prosciutto, mushrooms, black olives, and fresh tomatoes is a symphony 
of textures. Gnocchi are made daily. Cornish hen is marinated, pressed, and 
grilled to juicy brownness; swordfish and fresh fish of the day are 
beautifully done on the grill. Lots of nooks and corners and flickering 
candles cast uneven shadows in these charming, cavelike rooms. AE, DC, MC, V. 
No lunch. 

Canoe ***1/2 LOCATION: Toronto Dominion Bank Tower, 66 Wellington St. W., 
364-0054. Chef: Anthony Walsh. At this spectacular 54th-floor venue, casually 
clad tourists, visiting starlets and Toronto's own rub shoulders (FYI: Some 
drivers and Team Owners are not crazy about restaurants that are on high 
buildings or that keep turning around )  Given 3.5-stars (excellent+) by 
Toronto Life in the 1999 and 2000 Guides. Given "Top for Business" for 
Toronto's best restaurants in 'Gourmet' magazine's "America's Top Tables for 
1999". Runner up for "Best Ambience", "Best International", "Best Fine 
Dining" and "Best Overall" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. The 
nightfall view of the islands is awe-inspiring. Only about a third of wines 
actually held show up on a list especially strong in non-European bottles. 
Menu Sampler : Herb stuffed Breast of Ontario Pheasant on hand thrown 
Spaetzle with Maple Poached Dates, Cremini Mushrooms and a Newfie Screech 
Jus; Grilled Veal Grilled Atlantic Sea Bass with baked Butternut Squash, 
Peameal Bacon & a Ginger enriched Vegetable Jus; Roast Hind of Wild Yukon 
Caribou with a Forest Mushroom, Celeriac & Bannock Crusted Cobbler, sauteed 
Spinach & a Partridge Berry Jus; Prairie Grain Crusted Rack of Lamb with 
Potato & Parsnip Pie, Green Beans & a sweet baked Garlic Jus.
 
Avalon ****LOCATION: 270 Adelaide St. W., 979-9918. Chef: Chris McDonald. 
Average Price $170.00 
Bisque walls provide background for paintings that suit so well they might 
have been colour co-ordinated. Seating is comfortable, table linens crisp, 
the staff proficient and attentive. Supplemented by a seven-course 
gastronomic menu ($80 per person; $120 with glasses of suggested wines), the 
list of dishes is broad enough to please all. The main course offers the 
homey charm of herb-roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, haricots verts and 
mushroom jus; and grilled extra-large dry-aged rib steak with garlic potato 
skins, fresh horseradish and a mélange of vegetables. Dessert might be 
malted-milk chocolate praline with a wing of dark chocolate rising from its 
icing. The wine list is stunning; cognac, eaux de vie and grappa can round 
off the evening. 

Bellini's Ristorante http://www.bellinisristorante.com/ Address 101 Yorkville 
Ave City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON M5R 1C1 Phone 416-929-9111. Food 
Type / Nationality Northern-Italian, Pasta, Seafood, Veal, Chicken, Duck, 
Osso-Buco Dining Style Fine Dining, Upscale-Casual Dining, Romantic Average 
Price $50+ From the street, it's a few steps down to this comfortable, 
flower-filled, romantic spot. Never mind the hopelessly out-of-date 
decor--the whole scene is retro-romantic, complemented by pampering 
service.The beef carpaccio and the warm, herb-crusted goat cheese and grilled 
eggplant are excellent. Try the Provimi veal osso buco with garlic mushroom 
risotto, or the special Bellini chicken with roasted artichokes, wild 
mushrooms, and baked polenta. Service pampers, and a friendly host greets you 
at the door A warm, cozy, and soft lit dining room. "Retro-romantic 
complemented by pampering service." New York style. Private dining rooms 
available. Given 2.5-stars (inventiveness/balance+) by Toronto Life in 1999. 
Runner up for "Most Romantic" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. 
Open for dinner on Sundays. Menu Sampler Vodka cured Atlantic Salmon; Ravioli 
stuffed with mushrooms; Provimi Veal Osso Bucco; Grilled Atlantic Salmon; 
Roasted rack of lamb; Grilled jumbo shrimp; Angel Hair Pasta with Grilled 
Chicken Breast.

Bistro 990 + Address 990 Bay St City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON M5S 3A8 
Phone 416-921-9990 Food Type / Nationality French, Steak, Seafood, Chicken, 
Rack-Lamb, Duck, VealHeart, Dining Style Cafe/Bistro, Fine Dining, Romantic, 
Take Out, Martini Bar, Wine Bar Average Price $50+ 
Known as a Hollywood star hot spot. Enjoy country French dining in a warm, 
inviting straight from France bistro setting in a century old house with an 
inviting summer terrace. Stenciled faux stone walls, upholstered chairs and 
tiled floors add to the ambiance. Closed Sundays. Given 2.5-stars 
(inventiveness/balance+) by Toronto Life in 1999. Menu Sampler Curried Tiger 
Shrimp on a Sesame Crusted Rice Cake in a Citrus Beurre Blanc; Rack of Lamb 
au jus stuffed with Camembert and Roast Garlic; Medallions of Veal Tenderloin 
wtih Oyster Mushrooms in a Madeira flavoured jus; Filet Mignon with a Stilton 
and Port jus. 

Courthouse Market Grille 57 Adelaide St. E. tel.: 416/214-9379 . Downtown 
East - Cuisine International - Price Category: Expensive This hangout for the 
suited set boasts gargantuan fluted columns, sky-high ceilings, swinging 
chandeliers, and miles of marble. Pretty good for an 1850 building that used 
to be a jail. Financial District types lap it up, along with the generous 
martinis. The menu features grilled and rotisserie meats of excellent 
quality, though daring palates will not be pleased by timid seasoning. 
Appetizers are uniformly fine, with simple but well-executed numbers like 
steamed Prince Edward Island mussels in creamy white wine sauce. There are 
some impressive vintages on the wine list, though most of the prices are 
equally grand. Main courses C$13-$30. Open: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10:30pm. 
Reservations recommended. 

Fred's Not Here Smokehouse And Grill + Address 321 King St W City / Province 
/ Postal Toronto, ON M5V 1J5 
Phone 416-971-9155 Food Type / Nationality Canadian, Eclectic, Steak, Pasta, 
Chicken, Seafood, Lamb, Duck, Game, Dessert 
Dining Style Upscale-Fine, Cafe/Bistro Average Price $31-$40. Located in 
Toronto's entertainment district, it's a warm, intimate and formal 
bistro-style setting with a feast for the eyes and a feast for the palate 
with fusion cuisine and friendly service. Fine dining in a casual setting. 
Open for lunch Monday to Friday and dinner daily. Menu Sampler: Rack of lamb 
in Creole mustard crust; Grilled marinated salmon; NY State foie gras with 
burgundy poached pear and port vinaigrette.

North 44° **** LOCATION: 2537 Yonge St. Chef: Mark McEwan. Phone 416-487-4897 
What gives it the edge? Flawless, unobtrusive service. A wine list with 
important collections of French and U.S. reds and whites, some producers in 
depth, regional Italians. Re-tweaked by Yabu Pushelberg, the room presents 
serious glamour. A controlled imagination absorbs notions from the 
Mediterranean, the tropics, a little from Asia, some Americana, balancing 
busy combinations with admirable clarity. Pastas and pizzas recall the old 
Cal-Ital canon; seafood is more adventurous. Pan-fried oysters are crusted 
with cornmeal and ground nuts, served with silken wilted greens, creamy 
smoked-corn sauce, pepper relish. Desserts play quiet games with the 
classics. 

Sarkis **** LOCATION: 67 Richmond St. E., 214-1337. Chef: Greg Couillard. The 
menu represents Chef's best work to date, a tour de force of intense, 
exuberant, unexpected flavours and slyly juxtaposed textures. Juicy 
butterflied prawns bathe in a rich coconut-curry spiced cream, its discreet 
heat cooled by ripe Japanese pears, cactus pears, shredded mango and papaya. 
A garlicky tandoori marinade becomes a delicate crust for wonderful baked 
salmon, the fish seeming to melt in the mouth; a sweet-tart cream of coconut 
and lime is not too obtrusive. Desserts seem relatively subdued after such 
exceptional fireworks. Owner Sarkis Tossounian has assembled a list of 
splendid wines, most from California, few costing less than $40. Well-chosen 
digestifs prompt one to linger in the serene little room, dim lighting muting 
a red-orange-yellow colour scheme. 


Agora ***1/2 LOCATION: Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 979-6612 
Chef: Anne Yarymowich. Sheer size and airiness of space, the abundance of 
glass and cathedral stillness renders the AGO's Agora a sanctuary for food 
and thoughtful conversation. Menus change with exhibitions. Fixture dishes 
include Atlantic salmon, duck confit, braised lamb shank with rosemary. A 
"Still life" starter ($9) of poached pear with grilled figs, Stilton cheese 
and crisply baked pancetta in a fig and port coulis emerges a perfection. The 
kitchen falters on mains: a splendid hunk of sea bass ($17) towers over bland 
red-pepper purée and leathery crepes stuffed not with zesty caponata, but 
plain eggplant mash. Dessert, a variation of tarte tatin with caramel ice 
cream, soothes the sweet tooth. A dozen well-chosen wines by the glass, a 
blessing at lunch. Tuesday to Friday, lunch only; Saturday and Sunday, brunch 
only. 


Centro ***1/2 LOCATION: 2472 Yonge St., 483-2211. Chef: Marc Thuet. Grand, 
even exhilarating, whether the focus be the royal blue of a soaring ceiling, 
the great flower-stem lights arcing upward, or a $500 bottle of California 
cab. A series of glass-fronted cabinets dotted round the room moves the 
fabulous wine list closer to the customer. Food critics have consistently 
rated Centro as one of Toronto's top dining experiences over the past 10 
years. 
There's a deliberate focus on meats and innards, working foie gras, duck and 
beef into the lists of starters ($9.55-$20.95; caviars, $75-$145) and mains 
($21.95-$42.95); there's also a little pasta corner. This is cooking of quiet 
serenity and long-practised expertise, with just a few forays into exotica. 
Game may be represented by a caribou chop with spätzle, juniper berry oil and 
a cloudberry sauce. Fabulous desserts ($8.95-$15.95), judging by a 
caramelized pear tartlet supporting a triangle of milk chocolate fondant and 
a scoop of nut-laden pecan ice cream. 

Chiaro's (Le Royal Meridian King Edward Hotel) Address 37 King St E City / 
Province / Postal Toronto, ON M5C 1E9 . Phone 416-863-4126 . Fine dining with 
flair in a cozy size room with a giant reputation. A Formal, elegant and 
stunning venue with a meticulous kitchen and presentation to match. Enjoy a 
memorable evening at the Chef's Table where you will be served from an 
8-course menu at a specially placed table (parties of 8-10 only). Included in 
the 1998 and 1999 Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America 
(DiRoNA). Given 3-stars (Excellent) by Toronto Life in 1999. Voted "Best 
Service" and "Best Overall" in Where Magazines Most Memorable Meal Awards for 
1999 and Runner Up for "Most Romantic", "Best Ambience", "Best Food" and 
"Best Fine Dining". Constantly voted Toronto's #1 restaurant for food, and a 
host of other awards including Wine Spectator Award for one of the world's 
best wine lists. Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. Closed Sundays. 
Menu Sampler:Roasted Quail with Apricot and Parsley Couscous; Pan-Seared Foie 
Gras with Rhubarb Sauce; Organic New York Steak; Oven-Baked Sweetbreads; 
East-Coast Lobster with Citrus Honey Sauce.

Far Niente Napa Grill Address 187 Bay St (Commerce Court Station) City / 
Province / Postal Toronto, ON M5L 1G5 
Phone 416-214-9922 Food Type / Nationality American, Continental, Pasta, 
Seafood, Grill, Steak, Heart wise 
Dining Style Upscale-Casual, Romantic . A hangout favored by the suited set, 
this restaurant offers fine cuisine in a casual setting. The setting is 
intended to invoke sunnier climes, with an earthy palette, mounds of 
greenery, walls of wine racks, and simple wooden tables and chairs. The 
kitchen uses plenty of garden-fresh ingredients and a light touch. Many menu 
staples--including tuna steak, teriyaki chicken, and even a Caesar salad--are 
designated as "living well" dishes, which have reduced fat, cholesterol, and 
calories. Almost every dish is available in small and whole portions. You 
might try Sonoma salad of tomato, goat cheese, and avocado; a pumpkin ravioli 
with cranberries and pecans in an apple cider butter sauce; or New Zealand 
lamb chops with rosemary-garlic mashed potatoes and veggie ragout. Steaks are 
a specialty, with filet mignon and New York strip loin available in 6-to 
14-ounce cuts. Downstairs is Soul of the Vine, a wine bar that looks as if it 
was built in the middle of a wine cellar. It has its own menu, which features 
mainly appetizers and pasta. The room can get loud and smoky, so serious 
eaters should stay upstairs. 
A warm glow, airy and comfortable setting with cedar planks, and lots of 
surrounding greenery and an extensive collection of North American artwork. 
Unpretentious and relaxed. Californian grill cuisine. A 10,000 bottle cellar. 
Seasonally changing menu. Given 2-stars (inventiveness/balance) by Toronto 
Life in 1999. Runner up for "Best International" and "Best Overall" in Where 
Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. Open Sundays. Menu Sampler: Herb-Seared 
Atlantic Salmon, mashed potatoes, cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas and lemon 
beurre blanc, Pacific Salmon marinated in teriyaki, ginger and mustard seed; 
Grilled Muscovy Duck Breast and classic duck leg confit, sundried 
cranberries, wild mushroom bread pudding; Charred Vegetable Kebab with 
radicchio, goat cheese, zucchini, portobello mushrooms, onion, tomato, 
saffron rice.

Filet Of Sole Restaurant + Address 11 Duncan St City / Province / Postal 
Toronto, ON M5H 3G6 Phone 416-598-3256 
Food Type / Nationality Seafood, Steak, Lobster, Chicken, Steak, Dessert 
Dining Style Semi-Casual, , Fine Dining, Family-friendly 
A bustling restaurant with a nautical theme near the CN tower and theatre 
district. There are approx 25 kinds of fish. Given 1-star (Good-Recommendable 
as a meal out) by Toronto Life in 1999. Closed Saturday to Tuesday lunches. 

Millie's Bistro *** LOCATION: 1980 Avenue Rd., 481-1247. Chef: Gary Hoyer. A 
splendacious Mediterranean restaurant with a menu that sweeps round from 
southern France and Italy to Spain and Morocco and points east. Both 
appetizers ($4-$9) and main courses ($12-$22) can be grouped on handsome, 
hand-painted ceramic platters for sharing. Four vegetarian mains include a 
memorable tagine of seven vegetables in intricately spiced charmoula saucing 
with featherlight couscous. Blissful sweets, including coconut-cream flan 
with fresh fruit. Un-self-conscious winespeak annotates the globe-trotting 
list; over 30 vintages (only one VQA), plus two bubblies; 10 by the glass. 
Half the prices remain in the lower atmosphere ($25-$35). 

Scaramouche *** 1/2 LOCATION: 1 Benvenuto Pl., 961-8011. Chef: Keith 
Froggett. 
Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North 
America (DiRoNA). Given 3.5-stars (Excellent+) by Toronto Life in the 1999 
and 2000 Guides. Ranked #3 and "Top for Romance" for Toronto's best 
restaurants in 'Gourmet' magazine's "America's Top Tables for 1999". Runner 
up for "Most Romantic" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. Open for 
dinner Monday through Saturday. Menu Sampler Roasted Rack of Lamb; Warm Salad 
of Char Grilled Lamb Tenderloin; Crisp Breast of Chicken Chicken; Fresh 
Arctic Char; Grilled Rowe Farm Filet Mignon.
Steadfast, substantial, much loved by customers who appreciate attention to 
detail, the smart, angular room retains its place as an establishment 
favourite. The menu is studded with oysters, foie gras, caviar and other 
high-end treats, but equally rich in invention. One of its signature dishes 
is grilled smoked salmon, a light, moist fillet on a crisp-surfaced pancake 
of rösti potatoes; echoing the delicate sweetness of the flesh are soft white 
onion rings, diced apple, and wonderful golden and white beets, delicious 
with a creamy horseradish and white-wine sauce. For dessert, marsala petit 
pot de crème-think fab zabaglione turned into custard with three kinds of 
biscuit. No duds mar a broad, interesting wine list, strongest in Burgundy, 
Alsace, California with 17 by the glass. Tempting selections of sherries and 
spirits. 

La Fenice *** + Address 319 King St W City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON 
M5V 1J5 Phone 416-585-2377 
Chef: Luigi Orgera. Food Type / Nationality Italian, Mediterranean, Seafood, 
Pasta, Risotto, Chicken, Rack-lamb, Heart wise,
Dining Style Fine Dining, Romantic, Take Out 
Understated decor of terracotta tiles, marble tables, stylish artwork and 
classical music. Enjoy fine, traditional Italian cuisine, seasonal recipes 
and fresh fish grilled Mediterranean style. Great variety of pastas both 
imported and homemade. Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to Distinguished 
Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA). Given 3-stars (Excellent) by Toronto 
Life in 1999. Smooth service and accomplished, conservative cuisine are just 
the pre-theatre ticket for a smart crowd in this long, angular room. Of the 
treats on the menu, grilled shrimp in their shells are a must, full of 
flavour, juicy and tender; carpaccio is just as good. Four risottos add 
weight to a long list of pastas, most of them available in appetizer size. 
Fettuccine, for instance, is a safe and sound choice, tossed with an unctuous 
cream sauce flavoured with flecks of leek, dill and marinated salmon. Whole 
fish can be inspected tableside before the chosen is carefully grilled. Veal 
scaloppine, pounded, floured and lightly braised, is tender enough beneath a 
heap of wonderful sliced oyster mushrooms, barely cooked through. Desserts 
merit serious consideration, as does a noble list of reds from Piedmont and 
Tuscany backed up by a decent international chorus line. 

Marche Movenpick Restaurants - BCE Place Address 42 Yonge St (Yonge and Front 
St) City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON M5J 2S1 Phone 416-863-0108 Food Type 
/ Nationality Electic, Sandwiches, Italian, Bakery, Breakfast Food, 
International, Seafood, Pasta, Pizza, Steak, Chops, Chicken, Sausage / Dining 
Style Casual Dining, Family-friendly . Self-service restaurant with an 
old-world market square ambiance. 13 market stations offering everything from 
salads to Italian panini sandwiches. Something for everyone. No 
reservations-sitting on first come basis. Entrance at Yonge and Front. Given 
1-star (good-recommendable as a meal out) by Toronto Life in 1999. Runner up 
for "Best Family Restaurant" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. 

Prego Della Piazza (Black & Blue) Address 150 Bloor St W City / Province / 
Postal Toronto, ON M5S 2X9 
Phone 416-920-9900 Food Type / Nationality Italian, Pasta, Pizza, Seafood, 
Chicken, Steak, Pork Dining Style Fine Dining, Cigar Lounge, Wine Bar .A 
bright, sophisticated, friendly, beautifully modern Italian eatery. Has both 
a formal dining room and a more casual bistro on the side. See-and-be-seen at 
this pulsating midtown scene. Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to 
Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA). Closed Sundays. Given 
3.5-stars (excellent+) by Toronto Life in 1999 and 3-stars (excellent) in the 
2000 Guide. The newer Black & Blue next door is stunning in design, taste, 
and cigar selection. Then there is the third room next door called the 
Enoteca della Piazza, a design award-winning wine bar with a list of several 
hundred labels. Menu Sampler:Roast Garlic Gnocchi with Fresh Peas, Pancetta 
and Yellow Tomato; Pizza Bianca with Sweet Onion, Potato and Rosemary; Filet 
of Halibut with an Oriental Vinaigrette; Pork Tenderloin with Oven Dried 
Tomato and Grilled Red Onion; Prego Signature Steak Tartare with Frites.

Truffles (Four Seasons Hotel Toronto) Address 21 Avenue Rd City / Province / 
Postal Toronto, ON M5R 2G1 
Phone 416-928-7331 Food Type / Nationality French, International, Seafood, 
Pasta, Lamb, Veal, Game, Heart wise, Dessert . Dining Style Upscale-Casual 
Dining, Fine Dining, Romantic . Through the impressive wrought-iron gates of 
Truffles, pale wood walls glow in the reflected soft light of handcrafted 
candelabra. This restaurant, one of the finest in Canada, has won the hearts 
of discerning gastronomes with dishes like giant sea scallops wrapped in 
maple-cured bacon, seared and served with crisp baby spinach. Dover sole 
becomes a provocative swirl of design textured with lobster and accessorized 
with baby vegetables. Leave room for esoteric desserts. Reservations 
essential. Airy, grandly sophisticated design and lavish setting to 
compliment the equally chic cuisine. Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to 
Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA). Given 3.5-stars 
(Excellent+) by Toronto Life in 1999. Ranked #5 for Toronto's best 
restaurants in 'Gourmet' magazine's "America's Top Tables for 1999". Runner 
up for "Best Ambience", "Best Fine Dining" and "Best Overall" in Where 
Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999.Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. 
Menu Sampler:Crispy Bass Fillet; Baby Lamb Rack in a Lemon Thyme Jus; Brace 
of Quail with Berry Chutney.

Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant Address 99 Blue Jays Way City / Province / Postal 
Toronto, ON M5V 9G9 Phone 416-979-7825 
Food Type / Nationality Steak, Continental, Eclectic, Grill, Californian, 
Pizza, Chops, Ribs Dining Style Casual Dining, Family-friendly, Sports Bar, 
Take Out . A dynamic Broadway-style diner, bar and rooftop patio decorated 
with hockey artifacts galore. Runner up for "Best Restaurant Bar" in Where 
Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. Great accommodations for disabled. 

IL FORNELLO Location: 55 Eglinton Ave. E, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Phone: 
416/486-2130
Pizza aficionados especially love the thin-crust pie, baked in a wood-burning 
oven. Orchestrate your own medley from more than 100 traditional and exotic 
toppings that include braised onion, capicolla(spicy Italian sausage), 
pancetta, provolone, and calamari. Where else can you get fresh basil leaves, 
prosciutto, chevre goat cheese?? Pastas, veal dishes, and salads are 
available, too. Menu Sampler: Grilled Seafood Salad; Fettuccine with Smoked 
Salmon, Fresh Dill and Snow Peas in a White Wine Cream Sauce; Chicken Stuffed 
with Spinach and Asiago; Spring Lamb Chops Grilled in a Red Wine Rosemary 
Sauce; Provimi Veal Cutlet Sauteed in a Mushroom Cream Sauce.

Ematai, 30 St Patrick St., 340-0472. Dinner for two with tax, tip and sake: 
My Japanese pals usually suggest Ematai. They know raw fish like I know a 
grilled cheese sandwich, and they swear by the sushi and sashimi prepared 
here by chef/owner Yuji Takano. Reserve a day or two in advance, for 
something special: Lobster sashimi, for example, or the Chef's "omakase," a 
seven-course surprise tasting menu. Tonight, we're in luck. The tatami room 
at the rear is available. We slip off our shoes, climb a few stairs up, and 
sit around the table on straw mats, letting our feet dangle comfortably into 
the well below. Japanese green tea is brought at once and poured into pottery 
glasses, and tiny bowls of vinegared salad -- today bean sprouts and shredded 
carrot with vinegar and sesame dressing -- are provided to nibble while we 
study the menu, Japanese cuisine is full of surprises, first for the eye, 
then for the palate. Konchi Tsuboyaki, shiitake mushroom and conch meat soup 
comes in a lovely coral conch shell with a natural spout, firmly set in a 
bowl of rock salt. Pour the fragrant, clear soup from the shell into a little 
cup and drink, then eat the nubbins of conch and mushroom with chopsticks. An 
appetizer called Shiitake Butter is a wonderful array of large mushrooms 
sauteed in a flavourful sauce. Seaweed salad, which we keep thinking is so 
healthy for us, is a colourful array of curly greens and reds with a sweetish 
dressing. It all makes us feel like virtuous eaters. Particularly when we 
read that the life expectancy in Japan is among the highest in the world. 
Diet must count for something. Chef Takano is a traditional chef -- he 
believes in serving the freshest foods available each day -- and works 
without a long-term plan. Here, you will not find Japanese fusion, or new 
Asia trans-ethnic cuisine. He does, however, bow slightly to the local dairy 
industry with a tuna/cheese roll, by deep frying tuna and cheese together and 
rolling it up. (I've not been tempted to order that as yet.) 

Barberian's Steak House + Address 7 Elm St City / Province / Postal Toronto, 
ON M5G 1H1 
Phone 416-597-0335 Food Type / Nationality Steak, Seafood, Capon, Rack-Lamb, 
Lobster. Average Price $50+ Dining Style Fine Dining .An old-style steak 
house with wood bar and panelling and burgundy toned accents. Late dinner 
menu (after 10pm) includes such pleasures as: Cheese Fondue; Beef Fondue 
Bourguignonne; Baked Alaska; Grand Marnier Souffle and Crepes Suzette. Given 
3-stars (Excellent) by Toronto Life in 1999. Runner up for "Best Service" and 
"Best Overall" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. Open for dinner 
Sundays. 

Indian Motorcycle Café and Lounge + 
Indian Motorcycle Café and Lounge is also a dance club, pool hall and nest of 
relatively covert boy-meets-girl or boy-hopes-to-meet-girl activity. Even the 
washrooms oblige--a thin partition between the men's and ladies' gives the 
traffic an Ally McBeal-ish twist. In the bar area, pods of couches discourage 
mingling, which is probably why most people hang around the perimeter or take 
to the tiny fenced-in dance floor, shaking their booty to funk, R and '80s 
and '90s soul. The owners of the booty? Mostly 30-ish, mostly in black, 
mostly the upscale downtown office crowd. Best decor feature? Black and white 
archival shots of the elegant Indian motorcycle, first manufactured in 1901. 

Lone Star Cafe + Address 295 Enfield Pl City / Province / Postal Mississauga, 
ON L5B 3E2 Phone 905-848-4044 
Food Type / Nationality Tex-Mex, Mexican, Steak, Burgers, Chicken, 
Sandwiches, Ribs, Seafood, Pasta Dining Style Casual Dining, Family-friendly, 
Bar/Pub, Take Out 
Texas style eating in a casual, fun, lively and rustic setting. Be sure to 
visit the People's Review on this restaurant. 
Menu Sampler: The Texas Club Sandwich with Mesquite Grilled Chicken; Fajitas 
Enchiladas; Smoked Long Pork Ribs; Blackened or Mesquite Grilled Louisiana 
Catfish; Big Bubba's Centrecut 15oz New Yorker Steak; Mesquite Grilled 
Chicken and Rib Platter.