Let's just say you don't need to travel to Barcelona when you have Bar Raval…read more Bar Raval is "a Barcelona-inspired pinxto bar with small plates to share and a variety of cocktails, beer, wine, and fortifieds." Luckily I have a friend who lives in Toronto and she recommended meeting us here for drinks and apps. You can't make reservations here, its a walk-in only bar, which is cool but just so you are aware, come early. We arrived around 4pm to meet my friend. The place (super tiny) was already packed. With lack of seats, people choose to stand around the small bar tables to drink, eat and converse. This is exactly what we did. It is also very loud but really fun and different from anything that I have been to before. We ordered a few different cocktails since they are known for them here as well as a bunch of tapas. Everything was excellent! The service was also great, always coming around from time to time asking if we needed anything. I would definitely come back here and if you are ever in Toronto, make Bar Raval one of your stops. You will love it! Cheers ~

Good, actually great vibes. Food was tasty and if I went with some friends or a partner, it would…read morehave been even better. I went by myself and had the "we'll make you a cocktail." It was a tasty and easy to drink mezcal drink with a bit of chocolate and topped with a lime leaf. I had the steak tartare with mushrooms. It was fun and slightly vinegar-ed. I had pan con tomate and unfortunately, it was a bit bland. I don't think the tomatoes were sweet nor flavorful enough so I ended up putting the steak tartare on top. I also had their smoked sardine and egg and surprisingly, it was my favorite. The sardines were quite good! The waitstaff is nice and always ready with a smile. There's limited space and even more limited seating.. as in half the people were just standing because there weren't any chairs. Seems like a great (first) date spot and pre bar hopping restaurant.

Spain might be out of reach to the most of us, but not when you're going to Bar Chica. Situated…read morealong the hip stretch of Portland street. Chica is nothing but concentrated flavor. The server, Kerima, was absolutely amazing. My wine glass seemed to fill itself. The food was equal parts star with the croquettes and crispy eggplant leading the way. The imberico ham was melt in your mouth and the Beef Picanha was a nice way to round out the meal. The vibe is great with on point decor and a DJ spinning great tunes. In the game of life there are throwaway meals and memorable ones. Let Chica be the canvas for one of the good ones.

I came here a while ago, so the menu items may not be current, but I believe some may still be…read morethere. I came here solo, and the staff was absolutely lovely. My waitress was so kind and helpful, and she was the perfect amount of attentive. The birria was good, but not the best I've had. It just lacked a little depth of flavor. The chicken skewers were well-seasoned but somewhat dry, but still enjoyable. For me the real star of the show was the popsicle dessert. It was floral, but in a pleasant way. This day was nice and warm, so the refreshing dessert was a perfect ending. A cute stop for a girls night out or a date night.

This is a great spot if you're looking for a fun night out with shareable small plates. The space…read morehas a really nice vibe, with a beautiful interior and plenty of tables, making it feel lively without being overcrowded. We ordered the ceviche, tartare, branzino, truffle gnocchi, and chopped salad. Everything was delicious, but the standouts for me were definitely the branzino, the ceviche, and the chopped salad. Those three dishes complemented each other really well and were the highlights of the meal. The truffle gnocchi was okay, but much richer and heavier than I expected, so it's probably best to share. The tartare itself was excellent, though I wasn't a fan of the chips it came with. The food came out quickly, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this place if you're looking for quality tapas style small plates, good drinks, and a great atmosphere.

Rasa's tasting menu is genuinely the move if you want a low‑key spot in the city that still…read moredelivers on flavour. It's a lot of food (in the best way), and the lineup lets you try a wide spread of the menu without having to commit to just one dish. Each course comes out with its own unique taste profile, nothing feels repetitive, and the pacing keeps it fun instead of overwhelming. The vibe is relaxed, the food is solid, and the tasting menu is absolutely something I'd recommend if you want variety without overthinking your order. Great pick for a chill night out with good food.

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.

This is the stuff that dreams are made of! Situated in the design district, in a place you would…read morenever expect, amongst the furniture stores and industrial landscape, is a remarkable Portuguese restaurant. Everything was splendid, from the ambiance to the food. The patio itself is simply stunning, with chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, mosaics and mirrors - the European atmosphere is nice to see in Toronto. This place has lots of soul and character. The food is melt-in-your-mouth delicious and decadent! We had the warm bread, the ribs, the steak and crème brûlée. I loved every morsel! The blueberry sour drink was heavenly. This is a super star restaurant! It packs a mighty punch. We will be back!

My birthday dinner at Beso by Patria was nothing short of exceptional- it turned out to be the most…read morememorable dining experiences we've had in Toronto. Every dish was beautifully prepared: bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. What truly set Beso apart, however, was the hospitality. Despite the restaurant being incredibly busy, Bryan, our mixologist and bartender, and Krisztina, the general manager and sommelier, took the time to chat with us throughout the evening. They shared their knowledge of the menu and wines helping us with our choices. They both transformed a fantastic meal into a truly memorable experience. The evening ended with a personalized birthday dessert! It's rare to find a restaurant that combines outstanding food with such authentic, heartfelt hospitality. Even on a packed night, the team made us feel like we were their only guests. We can't wait to return!

We had high hopes for this spot, especially since the ambience was beautiful--perfect for a lovely…read moredate night. We ended up ordering quite a few items from the menu. Our favourites were the oxtail pintxo, bravas, wagyu, churros, and flan--each of these really stood out and delivered on flavour. That said, I was especially excited for the paella, and it unfortunately fell short. I've had better paella from a food truck, and for much cheaper. Between the chicken and striploin, we preferred the chicken as it had a more cohesive flavour. The striploin was cooked closer to rare when we asked for medium rare, making it tough to eat, and the rice itself was quite bland. On a positive note, the service was lovely--attentive, warm, and accommodating throughout the night. Our server checked in often without being intrusive and made the experience feel polished and welcoming. Overall, while the ambience and service made for a great evening, the food didn't quite justify the price for me. Not sure I'd return, but still a nice spot if you're looking for a good atmosphere.

So fun! A colleague recommended this place and I walked by yesterday night (a Friday) and it was…read morepacked! Fun vibes leaking out onto the streets and lots of chatter and conversation. I was able to score a table for 4 today (Saturday) for lunch and had a great vermut with some fizz. We had three adults and a little baby. We got the prix fixe meant for 2 people and added a few other dishes to supplement. The prix fixe included: Shishito peppers, simply roasted and topped with flakey salt Pan con tomate, better than the ones I had yesterday... the sourdough bread they make themselves in house. Think, crusty, topped with great olive oil. We ended up ordering a side of just bread and olive oil because we loved it so much. Papas bravas, a touch spicy. Lots of scallions. I thought they were just alright, but my friend devoured them. We chose the manchego over the chorizo (one of my friends is a pescatarian) and we enjoyed that. The star was the octopus and our additional order of the mushrooms with cured egg yolks. The octopus was so tender and yet crispy at the tentacles. The mushrooms were just scrumptious!! My absolute favorite. Crispy, meaty, topped with some greens that went nicely with the oyster mushrooms. To finish, we had basque for dessert. Umm can't believe it's the first time I had this! Wow, so delicious.

Came here for a date night and I really wanted to love Bar Isabel, but was a little disappointed…read more There was a lot of hype around the restaurant, but the food was just average. We ordered the Sea Bream Ceviche and chips, quarter Octopus and Patatas Bravas. The highlight was the ceviche. The octopus was unfortunately a little overdone, which made it tough. I would absolutely not order the patatas bravas again. The potatoes were very dry and tasted as if they had been sitting out for some time. We also sat at the bar and had a few ordered of cocktails with the food. Be aware that the bar itself slopes down towards you. With that being said, my partner put her drink down on the sloped part and it fell all over both of us, with the bartender seeing it all unfold. He was nice in providing some extra napkins to dry ourselves off, but all he had to offer was "Yup that happens a lot" as opposed to maybe offering to remake the drink which was now 2/3 empty as a result. Was a little disappointed at that service in particular, especially when you're paying upwards of $18 for a small cocktail. The atmosphere was good, however. IF I were to give it another try, I'd probably just opt for drinks and skip the food, which was a little pricier for what you're getting portion-wise and quality.

I'd been meaning to check out 416 Snack Bar forever, but somehow I just never seemed to make it…read morehappen. After a couple of really enjoyable trips to their sister bar, Short Turn, I felt like I had no excuse to finally check the place out. I showed up and the place was pretty much packed, but I lucked out and somehow snagged a spot at the bar. I was in the mood for a gin martini, so I decided to go off menu and honestly? They nailed it. It was superb. For food, I couldn't help but order the Reuben Sandwich given that it's always been one of my favorites. And yeah, it's really good. The bread was maybe a little too toasty for my personal preference, but otherwise it was a seriously tasty version of the venerable dish. The service was terrific and the ambiance was loud and busy and exactly what I wanted. I can see why 416 Snack Bar's been such a success over the years.

I've been to 416 Snack Bar many times, and it's one of my favorite places when I'm in the mood to…read moreeat a little bit of different things. Their menu is built around small plates, which makes it easy to order a few dishes to share or sample different flavors in one visit. My favorite item is the lamb sandwich. I order it almost every time because it's just that good. Another reason I love this place is that it's open late into the night. After an event or a night out, it's one of my favorite spots to stop for something delicious when most kitchens are already closed. I also like that the menu changes from time to time. There are always some familiar favorites, but it's fun to come back and discover new dishes as well. The atmosphere is another highlight. The space is small and intimate, with dim lighting, candles on the tables, and sometimes a DJ playing music in the background. It has a cozy, relaxed vibe that makes it a great place to spend an evening. It's one of those restaurants I find myself coming back to again and again.

It was a cold and rainy day but when we stepped into Madrina, it felt like a hug with its cozy…read moreatmosphere and warm lighting. We didn't have a reservation and the host was friendly and welcomed us in. There were a couple menus to review and our server helped us narrow down the dishes we wanted to try. The tuna cones and shiso tuna taco were some of our favorites. My daughter loved the Patatas bravas and white sangria. We were also approached by the manager maybe? who offered us an off-menu item, anchovy fish that had just been flown in. He said they were looking for feedback and would discount the plate in return. We agreed to try and really enjoyed it with the toast. It was mild and had nice flavor and we told him we would recommend it for the menu. I think this restaurant is solid and a nice experience. It is a bit expensive, given the smaller food tapas amount but filled with much flavor. My only small suggestion is to maybe have smaller dabs of sauce so it still looks beautiful but personally, I just prefer smaller amounts. Overall a good experience and perhaps we will be back on a sunny day to enjoy the patio.

Good ambience for friends to get together . There is outdoor patio. Service is good. We order prixe…read morefor $98 with multiple tappas. I like half of them only. Hence I only give it 4 stars.

Hands down this is the best restaurant in Toronto. Came across Byblos on accident and now it is a…read morepermanent stop for me anytime I am in the city. I got the harissa roasted half chicken and it was excellent. I guess the secret lies somewhere between the recipe and their charcoal grill that they are grandfathered into having. Nothing on the rest of the menu misses either. Short rib Kebab, stuffed olives, everything. Great atmosphere, great service, and easily one of my favorite meals in Toronto.

Got to try a whole bunch of things here for a group dinner and that's the way I suggest really…read moregetting a feel for Byblos since it is tapas style dishes. We ordered assortment of dishes like their: -tuna tartare -labneh -Branzino -lamb -manti dumplings -octopus -wagyu lahmeh pide -jewelled rice Everything was so colourful & executed so well! Would return in a heartbeat with a group of friends just to enjoy as many dishes as we can again

Super solid place downtown. It's beautifully decorated on the inside and has a nice spacious patio…read moreon the street, with glass fencing around it. We had a pepperoni pizza, mushroom salad with arugula and frisée, and the pawn tagliatelle. We also had the prickly pear spritz and the lemonade. (The lemonade was better! Very refreshing with the addition of grapefruit.) The mushroom salad was fabulous. Nice and crispy, a healthy portion, and a light drizzle of balsamic.

I had been wanting to try Edna + Vita for a long time, and finally made it here for Summerlicious…read more The restaurant is located beneath an office building in Toronto's Financial District, so lunchtime was lively and filled with conversations from nearby office workers. My first impression honestly made me wonder if it was really worth all the praise. By the end of the meal, I had my answer. Arugula Caprese Insalata A creative take on a classic Caprese salad. Arugula replaces basil, while a rich Parmesan cream stands in for fresh mozzarella, giving the dish a deeper, more savory profile without losing the freshness of the tomatoes. The balsamic balances the arugula's slight bitterness beautifully, and the juicy tomatoes cut through the richness of the cream. Fried capers add a pleasant burst of Mediterranean saltiness at the end. Simple ingredients, thoughtfully combined. Chicken Scarpariello This was easily the highlight of the meal. The chicken skin was beautifully seasoned and roasted until fragrant. Instead of being overly juicy, the meat was incredibly tender, with a faint blush of pink at the center. The Italian sausage had a firm, satisfying bite and a rich meaty flavor. I rarely describe roasted potatoes as "melt-in-your-mouth," but these truly were. The sauce, made with white wine, onions, peppers, and tomatoes, was so flavorful that I ended up using bread to wipe the plate clean--and still wished there had been more bread. Italian Love Cake A layered dessert of chocolate cake, ricotta cheesecake, and chocolate mousse. Each layer offered a different texture: the mousse was smooth without feeling heavy, the cake slightly dry, and the ricotta layer pleasantly crumbly. The texture was more memorable than the flavor, but it was surprisingly light to finish despite being a chocolate dessert. Tiramisu Although it's priced at $19.50, the portion is generous--about one and a half times the size of a typical tiramisu. The mascarpone was silky, rich, and pleasantly creamy with a touch of sweetness. The ladyfingers were well soaked with espresso and carried a subtle hint of liqueur. It tasted like a textbook tiramisu: everything was executed correctly, even if it wasn't particularly surprising. Many years from now, I may no longer remember the wildfire that day--but I'll probably still remember this chicken.