The Fifth Grill

The Fifth Grill
225 Richmond St. W. (at Duncan St.) 416-979-3005
The freight elevator still ascends from the nightclub, and it still opens into a room of candlelit elegance, the feeling of space subtly increased by a recent makeover. Cocktails at the long bar give a chance to listen to the discreetly pitched crooning of a jazz pianist. But gone is the haute French prix fixe, replaced by a menu centred around five cuts of steak, including an impeccably tender bone-in delmonico. Choice of vegetables and sauces include dark, crisp frites, perhaps, or mashed potato with a pleasant wasabi fragrance; salty spinach with truffled shallots; and steamed broccolini with sweet oyster sauce. One night’s starters include a huge platter of build-your-own lettuce wraps with julienne mango and carrot, a stir-fry of baby shrimp. A rich puff pastry frame full of diced red pepper floats in a creamy corn chowder. The service and the list of well-handled wines match the sophisticated charm of the surroundings.
(Source: Toronto Life)

Morton's

Morton's Steakhouse
4 Avenue Rd. (at Bloor St. W.), Park Hyatt Toronto 416-925-0648

Since taking up residence in the Park Hyatt seven years ago, this space has become a home away from home for businessmen fond of the U.S. chain’s comfortable atmosphere and legendary consistency. Seafood dominates an old-school appetizer list thick with grand claims (colossal shrimp cocktail, jumbo lump crab cakes), but better is a traditional salad of plump beefsteak tomatoes and crisp purple onions in red wine vinaigrette ($9). Entrées feature USDA prime beef, cut in truly huge portions (14-ounce double-cut filet mignon, 48-ounce double porterhouse for two people) as well as in “slightly smaller” proportions, such as eight-ounce filet ($44). Best among meats is Cajun rib-eye ($43), a 16-ounce slab marinated in cayenne, cumin and garlic for a subtle, lingering heat. For post-repast, dense cheesecake straight out of the Bronx, and homemade raspberry soufflé, more pudding than fluff ($16 for two). An extensive wine list includes many heavy-hitting bordeaux. Corkage $25.
Dinner for 2 - $250
(Source: Toronto Life)

Harbour Sixty

My favorite~ Harbour Sixty
This tastefully restored 1917 property offers a room for every mood—an opulent yet romantic dining space, a lounge complete with marble bar, and an open kitchen gallery for the culinarily curious. So, too, the wine list: a far-reaching, leather-bound tome of bottlings and liqueurs that covers all the bases, with plenty of choice for big spenders, including a bottle of Fonseca Vintage 1963 port ($2,000). Appetizers set the tone with bold assemblies, simply prepared. The pleasant saltiness of a light, greaseless batter acts as counterpoint to a sweet tomato-caper topping over well-timed calamari rings ($12.95). More delicate but well balanced is a salad of lobster and mango served in a martini glass ($26.95)—the epitome of freshness. The short, succinct list of main courses keeps to the kitchen’s strengths. Ten-ounce filet (all steaks USDA prime), as bouncy and round as a softball, could not be more tender ($39.95). Less yielding but equally impressive is New York strip loin (16 ounces $47.95), its slight marbling contributing generous depth of flavour. A confident, practised server warns against large-portioned classic side dishes ($6.95– $10.95)—from wonderfully crunchy matchstick frites to garlic-heavy, unevenly sautéed broccolini. Gild the sugar lily with molten chocolate cake or embrace that inner child with just-right arborio rice pudding (both $10).
(Source: Toronto Life)
Dinner for 2 - $290
Harbour Sixty
60 Harbour St. (at Bay), Toronto Harbour Commission Building • View on map »
416-777-2111

Keg's big bro - Hy's

Hy's
120 Adelaide St. W. (at York St.) 416-364-6600
The Keg’s more glamorous big brother is still topping up Bay Street business lunch expense accounts with its unique brand of garish opulence and decadent cuts of meat. But as with many steak house chains, perfect meat is tarnished by achingly mediocre everything else. A plate of escargot, smothered in butter and pesto, is just so-so. Hy’s special barbecue sauce struggles to counterbalance dryness in long pork ribs. Main attractions are much more satisfying, with triple A aged Alberta beef saving the day. Both a tender, juicy 14-ounce New York strip loin and delectable inch-thick slice of prime rib will take your breath away. Skip soggy onion rings and stick instead to fresh side dishes, such as grilled beefsteak tomatoes. Wines, with a reasonable sel­ection between $40 and $60, feature both the popular and obscure. Desserts are no match for the glut of after-dinner drinks, including a full page of cognacs. By the end of it all, cleats may be needed to extract yourself from the sumptuous velour banquettes.

Auberge Du Pommier

Auberge Du Pommier
4150 Yonge, North York ON, M2P2C6
Phone: (416) 222-2220
Fax: (416) 222-2580
Situated in a 19th century cottage, Auberge is a very formal, very upscale tribute to modern French dining. This class-with-a-capital-c restaurant caters to an establishment crowd by day and a theatre crowd by night. Very grown up, this is the restaurant for a special dinner. Of the more than 100 wines to choose from, the selection is largely French and Californian.
(Source: Toronto Life)
It’s cheaper than airfare to France, with all the stuccoed stone walls and fireplaces of a country inn, unflaggingly meticulous service and inspired updates of French classics. Agonizing choices among starters: foie gras sauté, cappuccino de truffe, steak tartare, perhaps? A delicate option, two chèvres warm on marinated roasted heritage beets garnished with fresh pea sprouts has considerable allure. Monkfish rissolée, wrapped in tissue-thin ham and served over du Puy lentils in veal jus with salsify chips and roasted pearl onions, arrives with optional foie gras nuggets, gorgeously crisped and topped with a luscious, translucent wafer of candied lemon peel. Among the half-dozen uptown desserts, the crêpe du jour could be a purple, Lilliputian half moon, blueberries inside, with a wee scoop of wild blueberry ice cream alongside. Wines ravish—many options are below $50, without thievish markups. Plenty of French bottles, sectored regionally.

Bymark @ TD Centre concourse level

Bymark
66 Wellington St. W. TD Centre concourse level
Tel: 416-777-1144
Lunch and Dinner Mon-Fri. Dinner only Sat. Closed Sun.
Dinner for two with tax and tip $160

The Concourse Level



The Bar


(Source: Dine.To)

Toro on Bloor

With Toro, Bloor West Village finally has a bistro to call its own.
Serving high quality bistro cuisine and fine wines at great prices, this casually sophisticated locale offers Black Angus steak, a multitude of mussels, innovative risottos and delicious pastas.

Whether for a quick tapas or a four course dinner, Villagers enjoy relaxing within Toro’s engaging décor. The interior of Toro exists amidst inviting tones and organic elements – suede, stone, warm woods – to create a relaxed and comfortable dining experience.

Toro showcases a passion for blending the traditional with the contemporary, fully complementing the modern evolution of one of Toronto's oldest neighborhood villages.

Toro has both a boulevard patio and a private dining area that accommodates up to 40 guests. A very popular brunch is served both Saturday and Sunday.

For a bite out – or a night out – Toro is Bloor West Village’s rendezvous point for modern city dining.


(Source: Dine.To)
Toro
2469 Bloor St. W.
Toronto, ON
M6S 1P7
(416) 767-8540

Lolita's Lust

martinis that are the restaurants namesakes; the absolute lust – really the marguerita of martinis, and the Lolita – a new twist on the old French martini, both delish at $8.95.
The menu is a la carte, presented as small plates $8 - $21, large dishes $15 - $30, and sides $4 - $6. large dish “crespelle”, a lemon scented crepe filled with feta and spinach and topped with fresh basil rose. I think it sounds like a strange combination of flavours, but when it arrives it is wonderful, the lemon providing a fresh hint in delightful contrast with the home-style Italian sauce. But, before I go on, the feta cheese in her beet salad must be mentioned – so creamy!

Lolita’s Lust
513 Danforth Ave. Toronto
Open for Dinner 7 Nights
416-465-1751
(Source: Dine.To http://www.dine.to/page.php?PageID=232&RecordID=311)

NYE @ Nectar?

Bebe, rmbr we had such a wonderful time the last time we were at Nectar~~

NEW YEARS EVE 2007

First seating at 9pm :

Champagne on arrival.
DJ at 11pm.

$125.00 excl. taxes & gratuities


appetizer

corn broth
coconut foam | quail dumpling

or
foie gras mouse
poached pear | smoked duck

or
kobe beef ravioli
port demi | oyster mushroom

trou normand

green apple sorbet | cider jelly

main course

lobster
corn risotto | caramelized chorizo | razor clams

or
filet de boeuf
provencal vegetables | potato gratin | pork belly

or
vegeterian
vegetables | grains | legumes

dessert

Online Booking
http://www.dine.to/page.php?PageID=252&establishmentid=2612

Nectar Restaurant
488 Wellington St. W.
Toronto, ON
(416) 979-1666
http://www.dine.to/restaurants/nectar/weblink.php