The wait is over. Famed Montreal chef Antonio Park’s anticipated new restaurant is finally open, high atop the 51st floor of The Manulife Centre in Toronto’s prestigious Yorkville neighbourhood.
The celebrity restaurateur is the founder and owner of famed restaurant, Park in Montreal’s affluent Westmount enclave, known for its fish-centric Japanese menu with Korean and South American influences
“I wanted to do something different here, something personal, something that’s all about who I really am. Park is my background. It’s my roots. It’s me,” said Park on the restaurants’ website.
The chef-driven menu will highlight Park’s unique approach to classic Japanese and pan-Asian cuisine. There will also be a extensive selection of premium sakes and Japanese whiskies.
“The chef wanted to call on his different experiences and with his roots being in Argentina, it will be a reflection of all those things,” said a representative for the restaurant.
The menu is broken down into nine sections including hot starts, cold starts, gyoza, sushi, Tokyo style tamaki, maki, wagyu, mains and AP Classics.
Standout dishes include the surf & turf maki ($65) made with shrimp tempura, torched prime beef filet mignon and avocado as well as the 5A Japanese Wagyu ($65).
As for mains, there’s octopus ($32), a marinated black cod ($43) and classics like egg on egg on egg ($120) made with hokkaido uni, salmon ikura, quail egg uzura, koviari caviar, fresh wasabi, AP soy and sushi rice.
Expect “traditional Japanese cuisine with some fun fusion options,” said the representative.
The space, designed by Block Plan Studios exudes luxury beginning with the private custom-finished elevator that takes you directly to the restaurant’s foyer. Along with spectacular north and south views of the city, the interior features subtle nods to Asian influences including a unique ceiling installation that envelopes the centre of the space. The main dining room seats 82, while the private dining room seats 30-40. On Friday and Saturday nights, guests can sip sake while a DJ spins the latest tunes.
AP is located at 55 Bloor St. W. Reservations can be made through OpenTable.
