Because we enjoyed Sara, we decided to try Rasa next. The vibes are definitely similar with the…read moretasting menu of small bites. The food had some tasty components and interesting combinations, but when comparing directly to Sara, I think Sara still wins for me. A couple plates here landed slightly salty for my taste. The cocktail menu is also very creative. The service was amazing. Everything came out quick, the team was friendly, and the pacing was great. Overall still a lovely evening. However, Sara is still my favourite of the two.

Cute little spot on Harbord. We got a spot at the bar cause it's usually more interactive, but it…read morewasn't here. Next time we might just do a table. But if you want to see how the kitchen works and drool over dishes comes out, this is the perfect spot. The service was ok. We did the classic tasting menu with wine pairing and our wine pairings kept coming later and later, which was also disappointing. I also got their award winning cocktail, down by the bay. It was fantastic! But the food was great. As part of the classic tasting menu you get 6 savory dishes and a dessert (to share). They start you off with an amuse bouche of bread with tomato cream. I could eat a whole basket of those. The courses are broken up into 3 pairs, so for the first we got the chopped salad and spicy ceviche. These are two of their best dishes and I wouldn't miss getting them. For the next course we got the chickpea fritters and country style ribs. These dishes were ok. The chickpea fritter was good but the ribs were overcooked, dry, and didn't have the greatest flavor. It would've been more flavorful with a good glaze. I would skip these dishes next time. And for the third course we got the rasa burger and truffle gnudi. The burger was good, but it was just a burger. The gnudi would be something I get again. For the final course we got the sticky bun. These bun was a very dry at the bottom, but otherwise good. I might try the ice cream sandwich next time. Cause it looked amazing too. Overall, great experience and a place I'd come back to. I'm glad I did the tasting menu, but if you're coming with a larger group, just order the whole dishes a la carte.

Solid cocktails overall. The space is pretty small, but we were able to get a table easily right…read moreafter work. I had a Shelly in Athens and tried a friend's Lady Jang. Both cocktails were well made. I tend to prefer drinks with sharper contrasts, and these leaned more toward flavors that blended together. Based on the ingredient lists, I was anticipating more distinct notes, but instead, everything kind of melded together (not in a bad way). I'd be curious to try other drinks if I were to go back to see if I feel the same.

We made a reservation on a weekday and when we arrived, our table was ready. The bar has both…read morecounter tables inside and heated patio. We were seated inside and enjoying the beautiful wood carved decorations. The drinks menu offers great variety of cocktails, wine, beer and liquor. The food menu includes great tapas options for sharing. The staff are friendly and the service is fast.

The space is intimate and cozy, and perfect for lingering over shared plates and drinks. The staff…read moreare genuinely friendly and caring, and they're great at guiding you through the menu, especially when it comes to cocktail recommendations. The tapas are really good, though dishes did come out a bit on the slower side. But honestly, it fits the whole experience here: order a few cocktails, enjoy the atmosphere, and let the night unfold at its own pace (within the seating time limit of course). One of those spots that makes you want to order just one more plate. We got: * Half Octopus * Mussels Escabeche * Jamón Croqueta * Shishito Peppers * Sea Bream Ceviche & Chips * Grilled Beef Tongue & Mojo Rojo * Sobrasada & Foie Gras

Rating this a 4/5 overall because I did enjoy my experience here, but I will say the food itself…read morewas more like a 3/5. Came here on a Thursday night and was surprised at how busy it was for a weekday. Despite that, the service was excellent! Staff were friendly off the bat and very attentive after each dish was finished, making sure to wipe off the table or exchanging the plates which I was really impressed with despite how busy they were. We decided to go with their tasting menu where you gave them a price range you wanted to stick to - I believe it was $85-$200, and you can mention some dishes you definitely want to try and they curate the rest for you which I thought was so unique! I loved the idea of that. The dishes we really wanted were the octopus, bone marrow and scallops. The only standout dishes to me were the scallops, and a salad I cannot remember the name of but was so shocked at how good just a simple salad could be. Other than that, the other dishes were still good, but nothing extraordinary to be honest. The octopus was a bit too charred which was disappointing as it was what I was looking forward to the most. The tasting menu we got also had mainly vegetable dishes (other than the ones I just mentioned), so was hoping to get a few more meat dishes. This is definitely a great spot for vegetarians as it had a lot of veggie dishes. I would still come back to maybe try some of their other more meat focused dishes. Overall, I still had a great time and can't stress enough how lovely our waitress and the rest of the staff were!

Located on the rooftop of Park Hyatt Toronto, you can find this beautiful bar, Writers Room…read more Came on a Thursday evening without a reservation after diner and was able to snag the last walk in spot. Overheard everyone behind us was expecting a 1+ hour wait - so we got pretty lucky! We got seated on their patio which overlooked the Toronto skyline - it was a beauty! Service was lacking a little, as we weren't able to ever flag anyone down for anything. However, we only came for drinks so it wasn't too big of an issue for us. Came here for their famous sour topped with egg white with the art printed on top of your drink. It was absolutely beautiful and tasted amazing as well! The staff were nice enough to give us blankets since it was chilly on their rooftop. Overall, I would come back from more drinks here. Vibes were immaculate, drinks were even better!

Don't go here for cocktails, it's by far the worst place for it. If you're only interested in the…read moreview, then go grab a glass of wine and get some food and dessert instead. We showed up with a reservation for about 14 for a birthday and they set us up at two separate tables. However, once requested they created a makeshift table for our group. The service was terrible. There was one server who made me feel extremely uncomfortable but at the same time knew nothing about the menu or cocktails and was kind of blunt and rude when asked questions. We order a bunch of drinks and the few I tried were a disgrace to be called cocktails. The clarified rum cocktail was so watered down I couldn't taste anything. They agreed to change it for me. I then got plot twist, which was also pretty terrible but I stuck with it. Someone in our group requested for a Manhattan with a specific rye and then used crown royale instead. However, the only decent thing about the place was the food. We got the Korean fried chicken, fries, fried mushroom, burrata, and a few dessert options. All the food and dessert was delicious. But if you want quality cocktails, go somewhere else.

I arrived just before 2pm on a Saturday looking forward to a place I had a previous wonderful…read moreexperience. I ordered the signature smoke. It arrived and took a bite. I was surprised by the taste of fennel and a complete lack of smokiness. I proceeded to finish and ask about the fennel. I was informed this was in the smoked dates. It was suggested that somehow I had a great plate to have discovered this, fennel was the dominant flavour, not subtle. Would try again in the hopes the signature smoke is both of those.

I made reservations and was genuinely excited to support this vegan restaurant. The space feels…read moreintimate and comfortable, with beautiful touches like fabric draping and dried herbs and flowers hanging from the ceiling. Alex, one of the owners, introduced himself shortly after we were seated, offering a warm welcome that immediately made us feel at home. The cocktail program is creative, with a thoughtful lineup of drinks, beers, and wines. We tried two cocktails--both delicious, though quite small for the price. A bit of a Toronto theme, it seems. We chose the six-course vegan prix fixe. Each plate was a true piece of art, crafted with precision and intention. You get to experience a range of flavors and techniques, though the dishes lean more toward tasting portions than filling plates. We left a bit hungry, and the pricing felt high for the amount of food. The best way to think of it is as investing in edible art--beautiful, expressive, and memorable, though not necessarily hearty. I'm not sure I'd rush back based on value alone, but I'm genuinely happy to see a vegan restaurant like this thriving. Grateful for the chance to experience it.

416 Snack Bar is a hidden gem at Queen and Bathurst with a cool, laid back atmosphere and lots of…read morecharacter. The communal seating gives it a lively, social feeling, and the menu is full of creative Asian inspired bar snacks at very reasonable prices. My favorite dishes were the steak tartare on crisp sourdough and especially the Octos Bravas, which had crispy potatoes, tender octopus, grilled shishitos, and an amazing sauce that tied everything together. The Banquet Duck Wrap was tasty but too small, and the Korean fried chicken was just okay. Overall, this is such a fun place for drinks and sharing interesting snacks with friends, and I can absolutely see why locals love it.

After years of wanting to try this place and not getting in, I finally made it for a cute little…read moredate night. The vibes were cozy and romantic, the wine was flowing (they have an excellent selection) and the tapas were great. We tried at least half the menu, and the standout for me was the korean fried chicken. Everything else was good, only real miss for me was the flauta. Definitely would come back here!

I really enjoyed this restaurant. Service and food were excellent…read more Cozy local spot that made you feel welcome. Looking forward to coming back!

You can rely on The Wood Owl to come through with a spectacular meal and the best short rib I've…read morehad in my entire life. Go there, order it and enjoy it. All of the appetizers are also unique and incredibly good. Stop reading this lame review and make a reservation now

I loved Short Turn. The food was edgy and whimsical and super delicious. The ambiance was hip. The…read moreplace was hopping on a Wednesday night, filled with lots for first daters. The Lox+Schmear and Tots was some of the best smoked salmon I've had in a while. The hamachi was delicious. The Steak and potatoes was divine. The steamed black cod was superb. The CocoChoco cream pie was sinful. The service was excellent. It's not a huge bang-for-your-buck, but definitely worth visiting.

Short Turn located along Queen St. W near Bathurst is a cocktail bar opened by 416 Snack Bar right…read morearound the corner. The ambiance of the space is moody and intimate where there is a creative cocktail list as well as an extensive wine/spirits list. There is a list of bar snacks for you to choose from, like some classics from 416 Snack Bar. I stopped by Short Turn on a Wed night around almost 6pm for a quick drink and bite. It looked like there was a hosted party towards the back of the space, upstairs from the main area. The rest of the bar was already half filled with customers. I grabbed a table facing the bar. For my drink I got the "Emily in Tokyo" (cachaca, house midori, yellow charfalse, lemon). For a quick bite I got the steak tartare. Both items arrived at a reasonable time. The cocktail was refreshing and delicious. The steak tartare was a good size portion where the tartare was on 2 slices of toasted sourdough bread. Service wise, the staff there were attentive and friendly, coming around multiple times making sure that the customers were doing good. Service was great. Overall, a great cocktail bar at Queen/Bathurst! Would not hesitate to return to try more cocktails/drinks and small bites.

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.