Hawthrone
Toronto in the winter is almost universally terrible, except for two weeks in January and early February during Winterlicious when restaurants decide open their doors and keep us warm with affordable prix-fixe meals.
From $18 lunches to $45 dinners (and other price points in between), Winterlicious puts a lot of restos within our price range. This is the 13th year for the event, and over 200 eateries are participating this year — a long list to wade through if you're looking for a dinner spot.
This year, instead of only focusing solely on the food we also decided to appreciate atmospheres, restaurant hype and booze. There's recommendations if you're going for a night out with the girls and for the best spot with live music.
One warning, though: If you plan to eat at these restaurants between Jan. 30 and Feb. 12 but aren't interested in the prix-fixe menus, you may be out of luck — call the restaurant ahead to find out about dining volume. And for all of you Winterlicious-goers, you can start making reservations on Thursday.
Here are our 15 picks of the year. Which restaurant will you try? Let us know in the comments below.
Winterlicious 2015: Where To Eat
If you're a vegetarian(01 of67)
THE SPOT: TabülèLunch $18, Dinner $25. Lots of the restos on this list say they offer vegetarian food, but they often include only a few dishes. Mediterranean spot Tabülè serves a lot more than that. A big chunk of their three-course lunch and dinner menus are composed of veggie dishes. We're most excited about the flash-fried cauliflower and the akaawi cheese. (credit:Tabülè/Instagram)
If you want something simple(02 of67)
THE SPOT: CoppiLunch $23, Dinner, $35 Just north of Yonge and Lawrence, the Italian mainstay is a bit further afield than some of these other choices, but it apparently has a loyal following. The restaurant says it serves uncomplicated meals that don’t overwhelm diners with flavour. Try the fresh-made pappardelle with cherry tomato and porcini mushrooms. (credit:Coppi Ristorante/Twitter)
If you're looking for something new(03 of67)
THE SPOT: Los Colibris Lunch $23, Dinner $35Chef Elia Herrera’s spot on King West just opened last year, but the Globe and Mail’s Chris-Nuttall Smith has already deemed it the first upscale Mexican restaurant in the city to offer “genuinely uncompromising cooking”. When you pair that review with this year’s prix-fixe offering, it’d be a shame to miss it. (credit:Los Colibris/Instagram)
If you want to go all out(04 of67)
THE SPOT: Nota Bene Lunch $28, Dinner $45. Nota Bene is back for Winterlicious, and reservations are likely to fill up quick. But if you want to experience food that regularly makes Canadian top-ten lists, this year’s menu likely won’t disappoint. We’re most excited about the sweet potato and Ontario ricotta ravioli. (credit:Nota Bene/Twitter)
If you're on a date(05 of67)
THE SPOT: WishLunch $23, Dinner $35The Yonge and Wellesley spot, popular for brunch, offers a laid-back atmosphere with varied and interesting dishes. It's cozy and not too pretentious — the perfect setting to get to know someone.
If you're having lunch with girlfriends(06 of67)
THE SPOT: ClunyLunch $23, Dinner $35Cluny, another hyped recent opening, promises to offer casual French dining with some Asian-Moroccan influences. The lunch, which offers up an intriguing-sounding almond milk pumpkin bisque and a comforting choucroute sandwich, seems classy enough for a midday meal without busting anyone's lunch budget. Also, the decor looks adorable. (credit:Cluny/Facebook)
If you're vegan(07 of67)
THE SPOT: Grasslands Dinner $25The cruelty-free joint, run by the owners of Urban Herbivore, is mostly an updated Fressen, which occupied the spot at 478 Queen W. for many years. We drool over their menu regularly, but the prix-fixe dinner looks just superb, with mains like the grilled seitan steak with grilled Ontario tomato salsa and butternut sage risotto. (credit:City of Toronto)
If you want some good Greek food(08 of67)
THE SPOT: Estiatorio VolosLunch $23, Dinner $35Toronto is home to a lot of great Greek restaurants, but one of the best isn't in Greektown. Estiatorio Volos is the "real deal", as one Globe food critic called it. The joint puts modern twists on traditional Greek food, according to the city's website. (credit:Volos/Facebook)
If you're feeling cheap(09 of67)
THE SPOT: Sarah's Cafe and Bar Lunch $18, Dinner $25This author may be biased towards Sarah's, but the east-end favourite also has great food. It's nothing fancy, but portions are reasonable, the dishes are diverse and the staff are always friendly. The dinner gives you a lot of options. They also have a wide selection of craft beers. (credit:Sarah'[s Cafe And Bar/Facebook)
If you want to eat local(10 of67)
THE SPOT: Globe BistroLunch $23, Dinner $35. This restaurant on the Danforth prides itself on sourcing a lot of local ingredients. Just take a look at the menu and swoon. (credit:Globe Bistro/Facebook)
If you always want a boozy night out(11 of67)
THE SPOT: Bier MarktLunch $23, Dinner $35. The Esplanade location not only has notable food items like oysters as starters and chocolate, pecan and bacon waffle for dessert, you can also enjoy one of the spot's 150 beer options — maybe not all at once.
If you want some good ol' comfort food(12 of67)
THE SPOT: InsomniaLunch $18, Dinner $25. This cozy little food spot in the west end features everything from pulled pork tacos to wild mushroom and lentil Shepherd's pie to fried chicken and waffles. You know, the perfect foods to distract you from winter.
If you want dinner and a show(13 of67)
THE SPOT: Harlem EastLunch $18, Dinner $25. With bands and artists lined up for months ahead, why not enjoy both dinner (everything from deep-fried pickles to Caribbean curried vegetable stew) along with live entertainment? (credit:Instagram/harlemrestaurant )
If you want to experiment on your own(14 of67)
THE SPOT: Hawthorne Food & DrinkLunch $18, Dinner $25. If you really don't feel like making plans with other people or just prefer eating on your own, Hawthrone has great seating arrangements for solo diners. We suggest starting with the sweet potato gnocchi fritti and treating yourself to crème brûlée.
If you want to feel fancy in the city(15 of67)
THE SPOT: The Drake HotelLunch $23, Dinner $35. You've probably walked by the Drake in the past and questioned whether or not to go in or maybe you're a Friday night dance party advocate — either way, the Drake is a classic Toronto venue for Winterlicious. This year the restaurant portion is offering up truffled cauliflower risotto and a burnt caramel custard.
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Agave Y AguacateWhere: 35 Baldwin St. (Spadina and Dundas)The food: MexicanThe reason to go: "[Chef Francisco] Alejandri’s tostada de tinga – tinga translates loosely as “beautiful mess” – is exactly that: pulled chicken spread over a crispy tortilla, slathered in a chorizo and piquin sauce and topped with beans, avocado, crema and pickled onions." — EnRoutePrice range: Shareable dishes from $7 to $15
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The Atlantic(note: the restaurant has been open since 2010, but the concept behind it changed this year)Where: 1597 Dundas St. W. (Dundas and Dufferin)The food: No menu. According to chef Nathan Isberg, "I choose the best ingredients I can find every day." But don't expect much gluten, dairy or other allergens, and no red meat.The reason to go: "The mad, challenging, soulful, seriocomic Atlantic was without question the most brain-affecting restaurant I encountered in a joyful, food-filled week in Toronto." —Giles CorenPrice range: Pay what you can — chef Isberg can even been known to take barters.
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Bar BucaWhere: 75 Portland St. (King and Spadina)The food: ItalianThe reason to go: "Those bianchetti are tiny fried smelt dusted with fennel salt, and you could eat about a thousand of them, but pace yourself. The cuore is a skewer of Chianti-marinated beef heart cubes with vermouth-spiked cipollini onions and a robiola cheese sauce, tangy and chewy and bloody." — EnRoutePrice range: Shareable dishes from $3 to $1 (credit:Instagram/Bar Buca)
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Barsa TabernaWhere: 26 Market St. (St. Lawrence Market)The food: Spanish tapasThe reason to go: "Barsa Taberna nails the vibe of an Old World Spain, blends in new twists on classic Spanish tapas dishes and tops it all off with a must-try red sangria." — HuffPost Canada editorsPrice range: Shareable tapas from $9 to $13; mains $13 to $32
(20 of67)
ByblosWhere: 11 Duncan St. (University and King)The food: Middle-Eastern varietyThe reason to go: "The octopus is excellent: it’s cut into rounds and set over a Turkish salad: tomatoes, cucumber, mint, chiles, superb olive oil and pomegranate seeds. They do a very good shakshouka here also, that classic Middle Eastern and North African dish of bubbling spiced tomato sauce with eggs." — The Globe and MailPrice range: Small dishes from $6 to $17; large from $13 to $42 (all shareable)
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The Carbon BarWhere: 99 Queen St. E. (Queen and Church)The food: So much meatThe reason to go: "Whether you're there for the after-work bar scene and its accompanying cocktails, or the all-carnivore 'Master Platter' that includes pork ribs, beef brisket and fried chicken to get a taste of everything, this place is geared towards satisfaction." — HuffPost Canada editorsPrice range: Snacks and appetizers from $5 to $15; mains $19 to $27
(22 of67)
Cluny BistroWhere: 35 Tank House Lane (Distillery District)The food: Modern FrenchThe reason to go: "Frog's Legs: These were lightly fried and so delicious that the meat almost fell off the bone. The drizzle atop them was spicy and slightly sweet with a side of Celery kimchee." — YelpPrice range: Appetizers and snacks $8 to $21; mains $12 to $28 (credit:Facebook/Cluny)
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DaiLoWhere: 503 College St. (College and Bathurst)The food: Chinese meets FrenchThe reason to go: "[Chef Nick] Liu steams rice with star anise, ginger and cinnamon, fries it with egg and chili-barbecue tofu, then adds truffle paste, truffle oil and black truffle shavings — it’s sweet, spicy, funky and wholly addictive. — Toronto LifePrice range: Appetizers $4 to $13; mains $16 to $39
(24 of67)
DandylionWhere: 1198 Queen St. W. (Queen and Gladstone)The food: Fresh, seasonally oriented offerings that rely on international tastesThe reason to go: " From the delicate rice paper menu, to the hand-made wool bread basket, to the aptly chosen utensils - everything felt precious and well-thought-out." —ChowhoundPrice range: Appetizers $13 to $16; mains $19 to $22
(25 of67)
Eastside SocialWhere: 1008 Queen St. E. (Queen and Carlaw)The food: East Coast comfort foodThe reason to go: "Moist salt-cod balls dipped in tomatillo salsa or romesco make an irresistible starter, as do brandy-buttered mushrooms on toast." — Toronto LifePrice range: Shareable dishes $3.50 to $21
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Farmer's DaughterWhere: 1588 Dupont St. (Dupont and Dundas)The food: Casual seafood dining, and brunchThe reason to go: "Rashers of crumbly lamb bacon and stalks of spring asparagus criss-cross the plate, the lot finished with a toss of baby red radish sprouts and a butterless hollandaise that borders on foam. I don't know what to do first - slowly inhale or upload a snapshot to my Instagram account." — NOW magazine (RIP Steven Davey)Price range: Appetizers $9 to $17; mains $18 to $25 (credit:Facebook/Farmer's Daughter)
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Fat PashaWhere: 414 Dupont St. (Dupont and Bathurst)The food: Jewish comfort foodThe reason to go: "[Couscous] never had it so good. It’s smooth from butter, hot from harissa and garnished with apricots, figs, dates, prunes, charred onions and olives." — Joanne KatesPrice range: Appetizers and sides $7 to $19; mains $24 to $37
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King PlaceWhere: 236 Sherbourne St. (Dundas and Sherbourne)The food: Pakistani and IndianThe reason to go: "The channa masala, the staple Pakistani/Indian dish that is often so boring was absolutely excellently executed here. Great depth of flavour with a lovely amount of heat." —YelpPrice range: Dishes from $6.99 to $10.99
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Kwan Dim Sum + Chinese CuisineWhere: 1496 Yonge St. (Yonge and St. Clair)The food: Dim sum and Chinese food, of course!The reason to go: "Homemade har gow and siu mai — delicate bundles of steamed shrimp and pork, respectively — are sensationally moist and flavourful." — Toronto LifePrice range: Mains $10 to $20
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Mamakas TavernaWhere: 80 Ossington Ave. (Queen and Ossington)The food: Greek tavernaThe reason to go: "Should you like briny little fish (like I do) the opportunity should be seized when it presents itself. These ones are coated delicately, well seasoned and fried to a pale yellow. Half a lemon and aioli dip come on the side." — BlogTOPrice range: Shareable snacks and appetizers $6 to $22; mains $18 to $24
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Patois TorontoWhere: 794 Dundas St. W. (Dundas and Bathurst)The food: "Caribbean meets Asian soul food"The reason to go: "The winning dish for me is none other than the juicy jerk chicken, done churrasco-style and it lives up to its name." — YelpPrice range: Shareable dishes from $5 to $15 (or the whole menu for $99.99, which feeds three to four people) (credit:Twitter)
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Sea Witch Fish and ChipsWhere: 636 St. Clair Ave. W. (St. Clair and Christie)The food: Fish and chips (along with onion rings and poutine)The reason to go: "The Sea Witch’s battered fish comes out of the oil puffed and sizzling, richly golden mostly, but blistered in places to the colour of stout. The crust is gloriously crunchy and just the right level of greasy, seasoned perfectly." — The Globe and MailPrice range: Mains $10 to $14
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The Good SonWhere: 1096 Queen St. W. (Queen and Dovercourt)The food: ItalianThe reason to go: "The atmosphere, service and decor were great, as was the food (pizzas are the standout, but they also make a mean burger). A place that's easy to return to again and again." — HuffPost Canada editorsPrice range: Snacks and appetizers $7 to $19; mains $14 to $34 (plus a $79 rib eye)
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Wilbur MexicanaWhere: 552 King St. W. (King and Spadina)The food: MexicanThe reason to go: "Besides the extensive choice in salsas and hot sauces, the chicken tinga tacos at this new casual dining spot are flavourful and packed, while the guac can only be described as addictive." — HuffPost Canada editorsPrice range: Appetizers $3.50 to $5; mains $3.75 to $13
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YasuWhere: 81 Harbord St. (Harbord and Spadina)The food: Authentic Japanese sushiThe reason to go: "[What's] extraordinary about eating here, beyond all the fish’s tastes and textures and remarkably different characters, is how the focus and the pace of the meal – one piece at a time – encourage you to do something that people too often forget when eating sushi: to think about what you’re eating."— The Globe and MailPrice range: $80 per person tasting menu
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Small Town Food Co.Where: 1263 Queen St. W. (Queen and Dufferin)The food: British and French-inspired comfort foodsThe reason to go: "[The] menu is made for sharing, with offerings including trendy cauliflower, throwback Oysters Rockefeller and boast-worthy Scotch eggs (a serious egg researcher told us they're the city's best)." — PostCityPrice range: Dishes from $5 to $17
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The ForthWhere: 629 Danforth Ave. (Danforth and Pape)The food: Modern Canadian, with plenty of meat and fishThe reason to go: "The roasted dry-aged duck breast ($28, lead photo) is crusted with coriander, savoury and honey, the skin rendered perfectly crispy while the flesh is moist and just slightly pink." —BlogTOPrice range: Snacks and appetizers $8 to $18; mains $26 to $39 (plus family-style options)
#10: Edna(38 of67)
WebsiteCity: HalifaxType of food: ContinentalThe quote: "Jenna Mooers' North End bistro digs up treasure from the fertile soils of Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley and hauls it out of the brisk Atlantic waters."
#9: Légende(39 of67)
WebsiteCity: Quebec CityType of food: Quebecois culinary heritageThe quote: "Northern Quebec is the culinary hunting ground that Frédéric Laplante mythologizes at his capital-city bistro. Cornish hen gets a boreal accent from balsam fir fleur de sel."
#8: Ayden Kitchen & Bar(40 of67)
WebsiteCity: SaskatoonType of food: Comfort food and hand-crafted cocktailsThe quote: "Top Chef Canada winner Dale MacKay gambled that Saskatoon was ready for lime- and lemongrass- and ginger-dusted chicken wings. Ayden isn't about showing off Prairie cooking to the world – it's about bringing the world home."
#7: The Chase(41 of67)
WebsiteCity: TorontoType of food: Fish and oysterThe quote: "Chef Michael Steh doesn't lean on molecular trickery or audacious ingredients to wow. His food is more direct and more delightful than that, in an atmosphere that makes you want to say yes to things."
#6: Bar Buca(42 of67)
WebsiteCity: TorontoType of food: ItalianThe quote: "Rob Gentile's restaurant likes to pretend it's a simple bar for sipping Barolo. You're here to drink, sure, but you're also here to eat things like tiny fried smelt dusted with fennel salt."
#5: Mallard Cottage(43 of67)
WebsiteCity: St John'sType of food: Newfoundland and Labrador, with an emphasis on seafood and gameThe quote: "Todd Perrin spent two years restoring a heritage property in Quidi Vidi Harbour for this brilliant mash-up of fine dining and comfort cuisine on the outskirts of St. John's."
#4: RGE RD(44 of67)
WebsiteCity: EdmontonType of food: Local and seasonalThe quote: "The heart of Blair Lebsack's kitchen is a wood-burning oven that consumes birch and maple at 700oF, curing honey ham and smoking Salt Spring Island mussels or even dehydrated local milk during the off-hours."
#3: Le Vin Papillon(45 of67)
WebsiteCity: MontrealType of food: Wine barThe quote: "Long-time Joe Beef guru Vanya Filipovic fills massive chalkboards with organic wines to run with a vegetable-focused cuisine from boyfriend and chef Marc-Olivier Frappier."
#2: Farmer's Apprentice(46 of67)
WebsiteCity: VancouverType of food: Vegetable forward/sustainably farmedThe quote: "Each small plate – more often, a bowl – conjured by owner David Gunawan is a precise jumble of textures and flavours. Digging in is a sort of black magic."
#1: Wolf In The Fog(47 of67)
WebsiteCity: TofinoType of food: Local and seasonal seafood and foraged itemsThe quote: "On the extreme west coast of Vancouver Island, where rainforest meets ocean, you stumble up a flight of stairs and into a soaring cedar-clad room above a surf shop where chef Nick Nutting leads a crew trained in the precise details of fine dining."
Fat Pasha(55 of67)
WebsiteCity: TorontoType of food: Middle Eastern and European Jewish dishes
Little Jumbo(58 of67)
WebsiteCity: VictoriaType of food: Local food and hand-crafted drinks
Woodwork(67 of67)
WebsiteCity: EdmontonType of food: Wood-fired cooking and barrel-aged spirits