Lake Inez
$$$$ | Little India
This low-lit dining room—presided over by murals of Kate Bush and Virginia Woolf—is an east-end cult fave, thanks to its warm service and nostalgic-yet-inventive small plates.
3 Best Restaurants in Toronto, Ontario
Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for Toronto right now.
Toronto’s calling card—its ethnic diversity—offers up a potent mix of cuisines. But with that base, the city’s chefs are now pushing into new territory. Gone are the days of chefs gunning for white linen tablecloths; now pop-up vendors such as Fidel Gastro’s Lisa Marie and Seven Lives Tacos Y Mariscos draw a cult following big enough to open up brick-and-mortar locations.
And it’s not enough to have consistently good food: kitchens are pushed to be creative and embrace food trends. Spanish tapas and Korean fusion have replaced French and Thai as the newest crazes in the city and izakayas are out while ramen is in. Farm-to-table shows no sign of slowing down, with many menus citing the source of their meats and produce. While Toronto is still young as a foodie travel destination, it’s drawing in the crowds, or at a minimum world-famous chefs such as Daniel Boulud and David Chang, who have landed in Toronto with Café Boulud and Momofuku. And as locals will tell you, first come the chefs, then come the savvy foodie travelers, always posting a tweet or photo to Instagram at the city’s newest hot spots.
Marbl
$$$$ | Entertainment District
The game will always be playing but this upscale, airy establishment is not your average sports bar. Show up post-game and you're likely to spot at least one of the Toronto Raptors or visiting team members dining on a platter of decadent appetizers like thick, creamy Dungeness crab cakes, or mounds of steak tartare decorated with a layer of silver-dollar-sized truffle shavings. The veal Parmesan steak is another creation in a class of its own, and gold-leaf-flecked cookies served with a butterscotch sauce make for a decadent way to finish things off.
Walrus Pub & Beerhall
$$ | Financial District
The Walrus brings life, and a hodgepodge of quirks, to the typically buttoned-up Financial District, giving young cubicle tycoons a space to blow off steam amid loud music, funky lighting, and stone-sculpted bar tables. Health-oriented gluten-free options like quinoa bowls topped with buttery grilled avocado even out the surf, turf, and Asian fusion--styled menu.
