This must be the place!…read more Our first trip to Toronto and boy did we have fun. From delicious food to sipping wine, and everything in between, Toronto was a city to explore. Ladybug Wine Bar is a cute but also sophisticated wine bar located on King Street, steps away from shopping and restaurants. We stopped in here on a snowy Sunday before our flight home. They also serve Sunday Brunch. We grabbed a few open seats at the comfy bar. They do not offer wine flights, which made this experience pretty darn expensive but SOOOO worth it. We had such a fun time and the people working were so nice, we honeslty did not want to leave. They were willing to help with our selections. We actually ordered all their Reds by the glass. I know, but there were only about 6 and we had to try them all. I like to say "go big or go home" LOL! We loved almost all except for maybe a few. We ended up also ordering a charcuterie while we sip. And of course I brought a bottle home with me. If you are ever in Toronto, please check out Ladybug wine bar, it is fantastic, you won't want to leave. Cheers!

A Hidden Gem for Brunch!!…read more I came here with 3 of my girlies that love brunch. Everything we ordered was fresh, light, and absolutely delicious. We started with some drinks which were super affordable compared to other brunch places. The espresso martinis weren't too sweet and had the perfect balance. As for the dishes the standout for me was the smoked salmon toast. The combination of the eggs, fresh dill, and sliced salmon on top of toast was so yummy. Service was nice and the place was cozy/bright. Highly recommend this spot for a girls' brunch or casual date.

My party of four visited during Taste of Oakville, and in hindsight, the evening foreshadowed…read moreitself early -- the restaurant's website was down with a 404 error, and we kept finding two different addresses (one apparently their old location). We eventually found it. Upon arrival, the door swung open and struck a seated guest -- a sign of just how small the space is. The restaurant was full except for one four-top (clearly ours), and we stood awkwardly in the entrance -- which is essentially inside the dining room -- waiting to be acknowledged. When greeted, we were asked if we had a reservation. We said yes. "Table for eight?" we were asked, which felt impossible given the size of the room. We clarified four, and were pointed to the only open table. No name was requested; we realistically could have just walked in and taken it. The space is starkly lit with aggressive bright white lighting that feels more clinical than cozy. The artwork is interesting and gives a gallery-like feel -- it seems the restaurant is aiming for a downtown Toronto wine bar aesthetic, but it doesn't quite land. Our table was missing water glasses, and the stemware was mismatched -- not in an intentional, charming way, but more in a "we ran out" way. Once seated, we weren't acknowledged or offered water for nearly 20 minutes. Not rushing guests is one thing; leaving them feeling forgotten is another. When our server finally arrived, the service set the tone for the evening. One glass of water was poured before he realized another was missing. He disappeared, returned with a glass, inspected it mid-pour, then walked away again (dirty glass). After several more trips and long gaps, everyone eventually received water -- about 15 minutes later. He was polite and friendly, just clearly untrained. He shared that the owner is also the sommelier, cook, and server, and that he liked working there because he wasn't expected to know much about wine -- an interesting admission for a wine bar. The owner greeted us warmly but asked only one guest about wine preferences -- ironically the only non-wine drinker at the table. The concept appeared to be sommelier-led, though this was never explained. If that is the intention, engaging the entire table is essential. That said, the wines themselves were enjoyable; the service surrounding them was not. The Taste of Oakville menu promised three curated 3-oz pours paired with a charcuterie board for two. The pours arrived unevenly and slowly, with little explanation of the pairings. The charcuterie boards were plain and inconsistent between tables despite containing similar items -- basic fruit, crostini, simple cured meats, small portions of brie, and two slices of truffle cheese. No crackers, spreads, or thoughtful touches elevated the experience, and presentation varied noticeably. Our second wine pour didn't arrive until our mains, and service moved so slowly we requested a wine list to order a bottle. We were told there is no wine list -- "we're not that kind of restaurant." Instead, all reds are $80 and all whites $70, and the owner selects the bottle for you after asking only red or white. The concept might work if explained upfront; without context, it was confusing. At one point, noticing my empty glass, our server poured me a random red -- which turned out to be the same wine as our first pour -- and then left without serving anyone else. We had to remind staff we were still waiting for our second curated pour. Nothing about the experience felt curated. The most surprising moment of the night came when our mains arrived. As we lifted our appetizer plates -- still holding olive pits, fruit rinds, and crumbs -- the servers told us not to worry about clearing them and proceeded to place our main dishes directly on top of the used plates. I'm still shocked. I wouldn't do that at home, let alone expect it at a Lakeshore, or quite frankly, any restaurant. Two of us ordered the tagliatelle, which was tasty but contained only two small pieces of short rib -- and was difficult to enjoy while staring at discarded rinds beneath the plate. The other two ordered brisket sliders: two sliders, no sides. They tasted good but left diners hungry. One guest joked they kept thinking the fruit rinds were fries -- unfortunately accurate. We tried to make the best of the evening, but it never delivered the cozy wine-and-charcuterie experience we had anticipated -- dim lighting, thoughtful pairings, something special. After finishing our meal, we requested our bills and reminded staff we were still waiting for the third curated pour. We were told "five minutes." Those five minutes never came. Eventually, wanting simply to leave, we paid a single combined bill and sorted it out ourselves. Dinner for four totaled $460. This was not the boutique Lakeshore dining experience we expected, and ultimately, it was deeply disappointing.

As an Oenophile, I was excited to check out The Wine Bar in my neighbourhood. The door was open, In…read morewalked in at 4:55 to be "Greeted" by the Owner, "We don't open till 5 o'clock".......Attitude from the get go. I looked at the menu, interesting but very pricey for the offering. I looked at a row of wine bottle partially open and simply corked, no nitrogen or air extraction.....no telling how long the wine had been "Breathing"....Days? I am puzzled by the discrepancy 5 Star vs 1 Star reviews. I have no confidence in the 5 star reviews....Friends?...Self reviewed? No serious wine enthusiast would visit this establishment...bad attitude, poor value, insufficient wine care and presentation.

This place is my absolute favourite. So coffee costs 6$ but isnt it the same at starbucks? They…read moremake the coffeeeee SO good here, and until recently and now when you ask they will do shaken iced coffees and therefore you dont have chunks of ice taking over the whole cup. Its divine. This almond crossiant cost like 7$ which was especially expensive, was it worth it? Absolutely not. But not everything can be a 5/5. However the service is good, they also have a bar to spicd things up. They have cookies and other treats. Theres a cute patio, and many sitting areas upstairs and downstairs and lots of privacy. I think its worth checking out!

Last Saturday a friend and I decided to visit this venue. We'd both previously been to their…read moreFinancial District location and I'd also visited their Harbourfront venue a couple of times as I live close by. We arrived around 3:30 pm when it was fairly occupied; they feature 'Happy Sour Hour' from 4 to 7 pm, during which all of their sour beers are reduced in price to $7.00. We ordered and shared two beers, the first a lager, the second a sour beer in order to take advantage of the discounted price. The venue is long and narrow, with two floors and a distinctive looking back patio. Our service was fairly prompt and they are located in a quite convenient location, literally across the street from the subway and the historic, flagship LCBO location. So I can recommend a visit if you're in the area and desire a drink and/or snack.

Cute wine bar!…read more Extensive list of wine by the glass available and bottles for purchase. The staff was super helpful and knowledgeable in their recommendations. The space is laid back and unpretentious. A glass will run around $17 but good opportunity to try wines you usually can't get from LCBO. More space available in the patio (heated and slightly insulated in a tent.

Cute wine bar with patio in the back. $20 corkage fee. It's a bar only service and you seat…read moreyourself. Will definitely be coming back here.

My favourite local spot on Main Street to hangout. This gem is truly one of a kind - I love the…read moreself serve wine concept. It gives you the opportunity to be introduced to new, different wines. They have happy hour menu during the week - their charcuterie boards are phenomenal. I'll try their sandwiches next! Owners are welcoming and friendly.

Not so much a wine bar as basecamp for a journey…read more The highlight of this hidden gem is its unique self-serve system, where you can try a variety of wines by the glass, portion or sip. This allows you to experiment and discover new favourites without committing to a full bottle. You may not like everything you try, but it's always INTERESTING. The selection of wines at Wine on Main is always rotating and expertly curated, offering a range of styles and regions that wonderfully move you out of your comfort zone. The owners, a knowledgeable and curious couple, are passionate about exploring different wines and sharing their discoveries with their guests. Their passion is contagious and you can't help but be swept up in their excitement. The best shop of it's kind in York Region.

Grape Witches located inside the Waterworks Food Hall is their second location in the city (their…read morefirst location is located along Dundas St. W.!). This bottle shop has a unique variety of natural, organic, and biodynamic wines that may rotate depending on the season. The space also has a wine bar where you can try different wines by the glass or treat yourself in a wine flight or a whole bottle. The by the glass menu changes weekly where you get to have a chance to try new and exciting wines from different regions. I've been to Grape Witches several times but I was able to sit down at their wine bar this time and enjoy a wine flight (three 1oz pours featuring wines from Germany) and a glass of wine. Having the wine flight, I was able to find a new rose that I really enjoyed that I ended up getting a glass of it afterwards. Staff are extremely friendly, personable, and knowledgeable about wine where they can give you suggestions based on your preferences without being pretentious. You are also able to taste any wines you're interested in on the menu to see if you like them as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Grape Witches enjoying the delicious selections where I even found new favourites. Overall, a great new wine shop and bar at Waterworks Food Hall. If you love all things wine this is the place to go. They have unique bottles you can purchase and friendly staff to help you with selecting your wines. Will definitely be back to try other glasses of wine in the future!

Bar Niro is a hidden gem on Dundas! A warm, welcoming embrace amidst the busy life in Toronto…read more Stepping into Bar Niro feels like a Roman getaway straight to l'ora d'aperitivo. "A ritual centered around gathering over small bites and pre-meal drinks," is how they describe themselves. I discovered them on their 1-year anniversary. Live jazz music from a 3-piece band greeted me upon arrival. The bartenders were warm and congenial, and welcomed me with a celebratory glass of Moet in honor of the occasion. I ordered a perfectly chilled gin martini with olives. Expertly mixed and perfectly poured, the lead bartender (MJ) surprised me halfway through my drink when he swapped my glass for a fresh ice-cold replacement. Truly top notch, I've never experienced this before. The small bites included freshly-baked focaccia served with imported Italian olive oil, thinly sliced prosciutto (sliced in house) & Castelvetrano olives. The Ubriaco al Prosecco from Veneto & Manchego from Spain were standouts. Finally, my Negroni nightcap was superbly bitter and expertly balanced. I loved my experience so much, I returned the next night and discovered another live jazz band warming up when I entered. I ended up losing track of time amidst the good energy and superb cocktails. It genuinely felt like I was back in Italy. Tell all your friends, Bar Niro is the local Italian home away from home. I cannot wait to return with friends & family!

Food 5/5 Service 5/5…read moreAmbiance 5/5 Food: I ordered the Tagliatette alla bolognese & hubby had a charcuterie board. For dessert we had the nutella pizza. I also ordered some take out: a funghi pizza, bruschetta & papardelle al boscaiola. Everything was so delicious! Sip is one of our favourite restaurants because the food is always good & it's not overpriced. The Tagliatelle was perfectly cooked and the bolognese sauce so yummy. Hubby enjoyed the charcuterie board. And the nutella pizza is a little messy but still delicious. At home I shared the bruschetta with hubby. I don't know how they get the pizza crust so thin. However they make their pizza I still think it's the best pizza I've ever had in Toronto. Service: We had a lovely lady serviing us. She has always been there when we have come in the past. She is so efficient & graceful too. The dishes came out quickly and we were soon eating. We came on Valentine's Day for lunch & it wasn't busy. Ambiance: The restaurant was decorated for Valentine's Day with red balloons. It was pretty but if you're going to the bathroom (which is downstairs) I had to duck so the ribbons didn't get in my hair. The restaurant has a cozy & comfortable vibe. But at the same time it's classy. The lower level can be used as a private room. I've seen families holding celebrations down there.The washrooms are clean & well maintained. I would definitely come back here again for a meal. It's too bad it's on a side street. It would probably get more attention. I think the food at Sip is better than Grazie actually, which is also nearby.

Quiet environment and the staffs are nice. Price is a bit expensive. I ordered prosciutto which is…read moreok. In general, no surprise

Great wine selection. Wonderful small plates. Lovely ambiance. It's everything you need from a…read morewine bar!

Paella anyone? I bet you haven't heard that in a while. And…read morehonestly, who knew it was such a Portuguese thing too? We all know Spain made it famous, but Portugal? INSANE. Back to why I do this. I'm endlessly curious about food, people, and the magic that happens when great meals meet good music. Friendships just seem to evolve naturally around a table. And thank you, E, for another incredible photo -- your choices are always perfect. Mercado on St. Clair is a hidden gem. What was once beside my mom's flower shop downtown has now found a home in a slightly more industrial setting on Caledonia -- and somehow, it works perfectly. Cozy seating inside, a great covered patio outside, and that village-style European restaurant vibe you hope to stumble across. First off, the waiter was phenomenal. He walked us through the menu, explained everything perfectly, and genuinely elevated the whole experience. The menu is massive -- meat, seafood, everything you could want -- but we came for the paella. We were told it takes time because they make it the proper way. Not overly crispy, just authentic, rich, and layered with flavour. Worth every minute of the wait. To start, we had the gambas / shrimp in a rich red garlic and herb sauce plus extra toasted bread for dipping, per our waiter's recommendation. Absolute rockstar move. The other appetizer was a delicious beef stew served over crunchy rustic bread. Simple, hearty, and top notch. Now... drum roll please. This may have been the best paella I've ever had. Okay okay, maybe somewhere along the coast in Spain I've had one fresher... but this was absolutely off the charts. Zero fishy smell. Just beautiful saffron-infused rice with that perfect slight crisp, loaded with mussels, clams, octopus, calamari, shrimp, and more. Built for two people to share and completely unforgettable. A few glasses of house white later and bam - there was absolutely no chance I was going back to work. And dessert? I kept telling myself: "No dessert, Frank. No dessert." But there's a rule in life ; if you see crème brûlée on a menu, you order it. This wasn't exactly crème brûlée, but a cheesecake-inspired version of it. Two spoons, four bites, and thank you very much. Favourite meal of the year so far. Completely blown away by this place. Mercatto -- go now. Go fast.

I was there for my birthday and this place didn't disappoint, even on a Monday…read more The atmosphere was calming and refreshing with an upbeat fun whimsical garden. Service was friendly and prompt. The food was delicious. We were a party of thee and ordered a plater that served us well. All ate from the Beira Mar platter and all meats and seafood were cooked well to order. Fantastic place for a night out or a get together with other friends family or special occasion.