8 Best Restaurants in Toronto, Ontario

Sensuous paintings of nudes and the sea and signed celebrity photos line the walls at this two-story seafood institution. The kitchen prepares dishes from the Dalmatian side of the Adriatic Sea, and members of the international artistic community who frequent the place adore the unusual and healthy array of seafood and fish. The black risotto with squid, served in a shareable portion size, is a must, as are the grilled prawns with lemon garlic butter.

You'd never know this St. Tropez--inspired seafood restaurant and raw bar with an indoor garden decor was once an infamous lady bar. Full-fledged beluga caviar and blini experiences, a 45-ounce tomahawk steak served on enormous sharing platters, and extravagant sushi rolls layered with luxuries such as torched Wagyu beef, foie gras, truffles, lobster tempura, and gold flakes make up part of the menu. Champagne girls can be seen parading the fantastical garden interior with sparklers in hand to announce milestones like college graduations and marriage proposals. 

Whether you get them baked (in one of four different ways), fried, or raw, oysters are the thing at this casual neighborhood spot. A chalkboard spells out what's fresh and available, along with sizing and price for the beauties. There's a pleasing array of house condiments with which to slurp your choices. Other treats include beer-battered fish-and-chips, lobster rolls, and excellent onion rings. A nice selection of wines and beers, as well as cool, friendly servers, makes for a fun night out.

Whether you order them baked, fried, or raw, oysters are the thing at this casual neighborhood spot. A chalkboard spells out what's fresh, along with sizing and prices for each, and there is an excellent selection of house-made condiments. The main thing here is obviously the bivalves, but the seafood chowder is also excellent.

This neighborhood staple has been serving fresh and delicious seafood dishes for more than 15 years. Oysters make up the backbone of Pearl Diver’s menu, alongside popular menu items like pan-seared steelhead trout, the PD burger, and the mouthwatering seafood tower adorned with oysters, pickled mussels, crab legs, and more. The black walnut old-fashioned and the lychee lime margarita—created to replicate a pearl in the water—are must-order drinks.

A pink sky at night makes for dining delights at this extravagant eatery with surrealist schooner elements and wall-sized wood carvings. The captain's bounty of a menu features a gooey eight-cheese lobster mac with oversized rigatoni, tuna tartare prepped tableside scooped into Bibb lettuce leaves, and succulent octopus that bursts in the mouth like pomegranate candy.

A den of oceanic delicacies, this playful basement raw bar is frequented by solo diners and showbiz types. Among the options are soft-shell steamer clams, a variety of smoked fish, East Coast lobster rolls, plus a rotating list of more than 20 varieties of oysters (including perfect Malpeques from owner Rodney Clark's own oyster beds on Prince Edward Island). A zap of Rodney's in-house line of condiments or a splash of vodka and freshly grated horseradish are eye-openers.

Ask about the daily "white-plate" specials.

On the fifth floor of the historic Dineen Building, overlooking the Financial District, the Chase's marvelous lighting fixtures and floor-to-ceiling windows are a glamorous setting for the fish-and-oyster-focused menu. Dishes like whole fish or whole grilled octopus (also available as half) are meant for sharing, as are opulent seafood platters layered with shrimp, oysters, and king crab.