This season’s list of new restaurants reflects the diversity of our multicultural city. French, Jamaican, Chinese, Iranian, Greek, Indian – it’s all here, waiting to be devoured. Bon appétit!
The newest restaurant on the trendy stretch of West Queen West, between The Drake and The Gladstone, is Nuit Social. Though it’s a small space, the menu of shared plates and meat, cheese, and olive boards makes it a great place for friends or a cozy date. Try one of their signature cocktails or opt for one of the many craft beers on tap.
Cluny serves up French food the Parisian way. Don’t expect to find poutine on this menu! This is the newest restaurant in the Distillery District and the space is beautiful, designed with many modern French provincial touches. Try the French onion soup, but of course!
Patois is a way of using language in an irregular way, which is a metaphor that applies nicely to the Jamican and Asian soul food mix at this Dundas West restaurant. Both fried rice and jerk chicken feature on the menu. Check them out for brunch, dinner, or late nights.
Taking over the two-floor space formerly occupied by Grace Bistro on College Street is DaiLo, a new Chinese restaurant blending the traditional (pork and shrimp dumplings) with the new (Big Mac bao). The ground floor offers sit-down dinner and the second floor houses the bar and serves snacks all night.
The Sea Witch Fish and Chips Shop
With so much juicing going on in the city these days, sometimes it’s nice to indulge for a change. And sometimes there’s no indulgence more satisfying than greasy comfort food like fish and chips. Sea Witch on St. Clair Avenue West is the newest fried fish joint in town, serving up hefty portions of salty, crunchy, flaky goodness.
Banu, the long-standing Iranian restaurant on West Queen West now has a sister. Kadbanu is a casual spot, occupying an airy corner of the Dundas West strip. Try the mirza ghasemi (a garlic, tomato, and eggplant puree) topped with fried egg and served with toasted bread to sop it all up.
What would a new restaurant listing be without a new restaurant from the Ossington strip? Yes, there is a new kid on the infamous block – this one’s serving posh Greek food. Watermelon salad, saganaki, and lamb are staples of Greek cuisine, all present on this menu. The space is a bright ‘n airy white-washed room with an open kitchen at the corner of Ossington and Argyle.
The Tiffin Box
With so many restaurants in Toronto focused on décor and small plates, it’s a nice change to welcome a restaurant with unassuming design and hefty portions. The Tiffin Box in the Annex is serving Indian delicious curries and dosa. Dosa is a crepe made from a fermented rice and lentil batter, a staple of southern Indian cuisine. Fill yours with a choice of masala, paneer, or lamb curry (among other options) and dig in.
