It’s hard to keep your taste buds up to date in this city. It seems like every night of the week there’s a hot new restaurant opening up that your mouth won’t forgive you for missing. And as fantastic as it can sometimes be, it’s also not a gamble we’re always up for taking. Sometimes we just want the guarantee of a great meal. So we thought we’d remind you of a few Toronto mainstays that never involve playing Russian roulette with your tongue. Below, you’ll find four of our favourite restaurants that should never be forgotten when it comes time to step out for a bite to eat.
Gio’s/Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant/The Nose – 1220 Queen Street East
Yes, it goes by many names, but whatever you decide to call it, the food and atmosphere will always be among the best in the city. Having moved from Yonge & Eg down to Leslieville, the simple family-style Italian plates feel right at home in their own hip neighbourhood. Mismatched plates and wine served in water glasses only add to the charm.
Must Try: The gnocchi. Seriously, if pasta were a drug this would be our carb of choice.
The Harbord Room – 89 Harbord St
If you’ve never tucked into this cozy space at Spadina and Harbord for a casual night of easy drinking and laid back gourmet eating, you should probably remedy that immediately. There’s something about the Harbord Room’s perfect combination of warmth and elegance that makes us feel like we’re visiting old friends – if our friends were capable of making a naturally raised beef burger that many claim is the best in the city. It’s the type of restaurant we want to linger in for days (we asked once but they mumbled something about not having an extra bed…)
Must Try: Did you see that part up there about the burger?
Le Select – 432 Wellington St W
Our bistro of choice. Whether for brunch or dinner, walking into Le Select feels like stepping off of Wellington St. and into Paris. Rich, well-prepared food that makes you wish you could get away with wearing a beret. There’s a reason people think of cheese and wine when they think of France, and Le Select doesn’t disappoint in either category. Of course, staples that included steam-roasted steelhead salmon, smoked rabbit, and duck confit don’t hurt the palate too much either.
Must Try: Choucroute Alsacienne (cabbage braised in white wine with pork hock, belly, Strasbourg and smoked Montebleliard sausages). Like a warm winter evening in bowl form.
Pizzeria Libretto – 221 Ossington Ave
Everybody loves a good slice and our ‘za of choice has got to be from Libretto. There’s a reason the line-up can be 90 minutes long when their pizzas only cook for 90 seconds. Luckily, Libretto will let you leave your name so you can grab a cocktail or two at any one of the Ossington strip’s swank bars. There’s nothing we’d rather be drinking up an appetite for than one of these Neapolitan-style pies – made under the official guidelines of the Vera Pizza Napoletana (VPN) Association. These guys are legitimately legit.
Must Try: Cremini Mushroom (Buffalo Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Roasted Garlic, Rosemary, Thyme, Pecorino). Add chili oil. Ingest. Enjoy. Repeat.
Top photo courtesy The Harbord Room