In the month since Yours Truly – a new restaurant on Ossington at Dundas – opened, the inspired space has attracted a crowd of foodies and chic-sters alike. It’s no wonder: The room is a fusion of rustic industrial and repurposed beauty, the energy slightly frenetic, and the beautifully executed menu a complete smash hit.
Chef Jeff Claudio’s four-course prix fixe dinner – available for vegetarians and carnivores alike – is a welcome addition to the Toronto restaurant scene. It’s one part fine dining, one part down home comfort. The idea is the menu will continually change, offering the best of seasonal ingredients. (Think Ruby Watchco, except significantly more laidback.)
Presently, the courses on offer represent a look at fusion gastronomy. Starting with a couple superb amuse bouches, our meal went from great to fantastic throughout the evening. A first course of poached turnips was earthen yet sweet, with whipped honey contrasting the typically bland root vegetable. Trout with hazelnuts and an absolutely perfect brown butter emulsion followed – the epitome of flavour heaven – before Duck in Violets was served – slightly gamey at first, though with the proper mix of the plate’s varied elements on a forkful divinity was reached.
The dessert was interesting conceptually, meant to portray the idea of a hidden landscape beneath clouds, but a little less sweet than we’d typically desire for a final taste…still delicious and a very conscious course, though.
Yours Truly also features an excellent selection of wines and cocktails. (The Old Fashioned being a great incarnation of the classic bevvie.) A small selection of share plates/snacks is also present, with items like the Deviled Eggs (delicious), Salt Cod, and Lobster Rolls. Throughout or dishes, a definite Asian twist was evident, quite interesting and welcome in a city who loves Mediterranean fusion so much.
If Yours Truly is able to maintain such consistency fostered but a month into its tenure, it will no doubt be a contender for best new restaurant of 2012. The service staff was some of the best we’ve ever witnessed and all well-informed of the menu and each dish’s intricacies. We can’t wait to check back into Yours Truly on the next menu update, grab a cocktail, and nosh on some truly notable grub.