Your visit to Canada's business capital is incomplete without dining at Queens Harbour, the New Heartbeat of Toronto's Waterfront
By Prabhjot Singh
I was not even born when the partition of India and Pakistan took place in 1947. As I grew up in Ludhiana, the so-called Manchester of modern India, I always nursed a great desire to visit Lahore in Pakistan, as youngsters like me, passionate about travelling, were often taunted with the saying, "You are not even born if you have not visited Lahore." I took it up as a challenge and frequented Lahore and Pakistan till I had been to almost every important and historic site in one part of unified India.
I narrated this incident for a purpose. Early this year, I moved to Harbourfront in Toronto. This time I was confronted by my close friends, colleagues, and even family members with a question that really embarrassed me. Less than a hundred meters from my apartment has come up an added attraction, acknowledged as one of the biggest sitting restaurants. And I had not visited it until the end of November.
One of my professional colleagues jokingly told me that I cannot call myself a true Torontonian for missing a 23,000-square-foot dining destination with 800 seats.
Accepting my ignorance, I did not waste any time to learn about Canada's largest retractable rooftop, less than 500 meters from the country's first indoor stadium with a retractable roof--Skydome (Rogers Centre) at Queens Harbour.
Unmindful of the "tariffs" war unleashed by the big brother, USA, this restaurant reflects the changing face and skyline of Toronto while keeping face with the high-demanding and increasingly competitive restaurant industry.
The brainchild of the restaurateurs Ali Badreddine, Kevin Jazexhi, and Iris Jazexhi, Queens Harbour was conceptualized to serve with one unwavering belief: to always put the guest first at the city's biggest new restaurant, showcasing modern design, waterfront scenery, and CN Tower views, setting a new standard for atmospheric dining.
It offers versatile dining spaces for every guest. Upon entry, a grand bar, earth-toned banquettes, intimate tables, towering trees, and soft textures are surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows covered by white velvet hangings with Christmas trees covered by snowy tops, giving the dining halls a true festive look.
At the heart of the restaurant is an open kitchen and sushi bar, where chefs prepare dishes with fresh ingredients using precise techniques. Once through, enter Queens Garden, a two-level area with a custom-engineered operable roof that blends indoor comfort with open-air dining. Queens Garden delivers a late-night atmosphere with the same menus but a distinctly different vibe.
Even before I could make a reservation to celebrate the birthday of my wife, my son and daughter scored over me in making the reservation for the family's big event.
The only thing common that we came out of the restaurant with after our dinner-turned-into-birthday celebration was admiration for everything, from hospitality to quality of food and service, including drinks. And our hostess that night, Oriana, was just amazing. She made sure that we had an enjoyable and flawless party, including the special birthday treat. The special décor of the "white garden" was a reminder of the white mantle that the city has been wearing for the past few days to mark the advent of a snowy winter. read more