The 30 Essential Restaurants in Toronto

Written By

Robin Winship

almost 3 years ago

Over the past two years, we have time and time again been confronted with the word essential. Essential workers, essential businesses, essential activities and the list goes on. Besides the fact that everything is essential when it comes to a person's livelihood, restaurants have been overlooked as essential businesses to an unrelenting point throughout the pandemic. Faced with having to grapple with the influx of restaurant closures, from longstanding institutions to barely one-year-old operations, the insecurity of hospitality forces us to reckon with the prospect of potentially losing a favourite restaurant (which all of us have).

An essential restaurant might hold a roster of impressive chefs, a revolutionary menu, an insider knowledge of cooking traditional dishes, years in business, a claim to fame or all of the above. But what deciphers the essential restaurants in our eyes is the ability to capture and hold the admiration and loyalty of the neighbourhood it resides in. Essential restaurants are integral pillars of the community, entities that help define the identities of Toronto's many neighbourhoods.

As one of North America's largest cities, with an incredibly diverse and multicultural population, there is no shortage of different cuisines that comprise Toronto's unique food culture. Whether it is your first time touching down in Toronto or you are a well-versed local, our 30 essential Toronto restaurants are guaranteed to give you a taste of what Toronto has to offer.

Note: Restaurants appear in no particular order, numbers do not designate rank.

1. Mildred’s Temple Kitchen

On any given weekend, be prepared to endure the long wait for a table at Liberty Village’s institution for decadent late-morning feasts, a beacon for Toronto’s tribe of devoted brunch-goers. Open since 1989, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen has managed to sustain its popularity, a true testament to the quality of food and its importance to the neighbourhood. Undoubtedly the signature dish on the menu and arguably the most photographed stack of pancakes on Instagram, Mrs. Biederhof’s Wild Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes might be the cause behind the three-hour lines.

Founded by the late Kevin Gallagher and co-owned by executive chef Donna Dooher, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen single-handedly catalyzed brunch culture in the city and remains a not-to-be-missed destination for any Toronto newcomer.

2. Edulis

Tucked away on a quiet street in the middle of Toronto's bustling King West area, the facade of this quaint restaurant looks more akin to a countryside cottage than one of Canada's 100 Best Restaurants.

Helmed by husband and wife duo Tobey Nemeth and Michael Caballo, Edulis (meaning 'edible' in Latin) has made a name for itself on both a local and international stage, with the 30-seat restaurant even landing a mention on The World's 50 Best. The menu changes often and is driven by seasonal ingredients and chef Caballo's passion for foraging, particularly mushrooms. Rooted in Spanish and French fare, Edulis' vast repertoire of dishes continues to excite patrons, whether it be the first time dining or the fifth. It is difficult to encapsulate the menu's identity in only a few words. Still, dishes like Poached White Asparagus with Fogo Island Snow Crab and Wild Garlic Mayonnaise or Poached Skate with a Mousse of Black Truffles speak to the breadth and depth of the cooking being done at 169 Niagara St.

3. Mamakas Taverna

With one of the largest Greek populations outside of the Greek diaspora, Toronto is home to several restaurants specializing in Aegean fare. With the majority of Greek restaurants concentrated in Toronto’s Greektown, or also known as The Danforth, it might come as a surprise to hear one of the most notable Greek restaurants resides on Toronto’s west end.

Mamakas Taverna, part of the Mamakas Food Group – which also consists of neighbouring Bar Koukla and Agora Greek Market – is a mainstay on the Ossington Strip. Founded in 2014 by owner and operator Thanos Tripi, the corner spot is often lauded as having Toronto’s best Greek food.

On the menu, find a selection of mezze like House Dips, Cheese Saganaki and the largest Spanakopita you have ever laid eyes on. The spiralling flaky pastry consists of phyllo dough stuffed with spinach and feta and drizzled with honey. With ingredients sourced directly from Greece, the Horiatiki features a giant block of P.D.O. Feta on top of a bed of freshly cut tomatoes and red onion. You’ll also find whole grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass, grilled octopus and succulent lamb chops, served with bulgur and tzatziki.

Representing such a large demographic of the city, Mamakas showcases elegantly and effortlessly all Greek cuisine has to offer.

4. Richmond Station

Opened in 2012 by “Top Chef Canada” winner Carl Heinrich, Richmond Station resides in the pulsing heart of Toronto’s Downtown Core and embraces everything it means to be a restaurant in a major metropolitan area.

“We love this city and we love meeting, hosting and cooking for people. We are honoured to see so many great guests visit and visit again, and to be considered one of Toronto's essential restaurants,” Heinrich says.

The menu is eccentric and is hard to pinpoint down to a singular influence, albeit the commonality of the cooking might just be refined dishes comprised of high-quality ingredients and executed to near perfection. When asked how to define the restaurant’s menu, Heinrich says, “The food is delicious. We focus on finding and growing high-quality ingredients, then showcasing them in their best form.”

5. Fresh

What started as a humble vegan restaurant and juice bar, dedicated to taking a modern and elevated approach to vegan dining, has grown into a brand with over nine locations in Ontario and one in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1999 by Ruth Tal, Fresh was a pioneer in the plant-based movement in Toronto. With several establishments now following in its footsteps -- Toronto has evolved into a Mecca for plant-based eating (even National Geographic mentions Toronto for its booming plant-based scene).

Fresh, in part, was responsible for dissolving pre-conceived notions that plant-based fare was one-dimensional and lacklustre. Fresh’s menu consists of everything from burgers, sandwiches, bowls, pizza, dumplings, desserts and more. A fan favourite on the menu, the Quinoa Onion Rings come coated in breadcrumbs and puffed quinoa and rival any non-plant-based version of the dish.

The plant-based movement would not be where it is today in the city without Fresh’s dedication to innovate and push boundaries.

6. Bar Raval

An integral part of any vibrant city neighbourhood would have to be a go-to bar. Now when your neighbourhood just so happens to tout one of the world's best bars within its borders, that is no small feat. On the corner of College St and Palmerston Ave, in Toronto's lively Little Italy, sits Bar Raval, a Mecca for Spanish tapas and pintxos (with a Raval twist), a wide selection of wines (both old world and new), cocktails, micro-brews and ciders. Consistently bustling, both a local haunt and a checklist for tourists, Raval is instantaneously recognizable as soon as you walk through the doors. The centrepiece of Raval, a striking mahogany bar that wraps around the entirety of the interior in swooping circular motions reminiscent of Salvador Dali, is reason enough to visit.