Toronto’s Best Steaks

Chef Nuit Regular’s picks

In Toronto, chef Nuit Regular is known as the queen of Thai food. At her glut of restos — including Pai, Sabai Sabai and Kiin — she spins out sonatas of pad thai, panang beef curry or deep-fried soft shell crab with mango, all expertly spiced dishes that transport diners to (mostly) Thailand’s north. But when she’s not making magic in her kitchens, Regular fancies herself some steak. From a favoured Kensington haunt to an Argentine destination on Ossington, here are chef’s favourite Toronto steaks.

Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens, Jen Agg’s Kensington boîte, has been wooing diners with its New North American cuisine since day one. Think good food that grabs inspiration from wherever it pleases, with an eye to seasonality and a pretty-in-a-low-key-way room serving as the backdrop. Overseeing the kitchen is Mitch Bates, who climbed…

The Peasant Table

At this east end rustic Italian restaurant, chef Regular goes straight for the bistecca. Nebraska-raised black Aberdeen striploin is wet-aged for 30 days and then promptly dry-aged for another 30 days. Patrons can have the steak cut to their preferred size, be it a big meat kinda eve or just…

Le Select Bistro

When chef is in the mood for classic bistro fare, she heads to this Toronto institution. Inside the sprawling space boasting tiled floors and rich red banquettes, diners tuck into French faves, which emerge from the kitchen helmed by chef Laura Maxwell. The Pavé de Boeuf au Poivre is an…

Tanto

Found on the ever-buzzy Ossington strip, Tanto is the latest from the team behind Cava, Chabrol and Atlas. Tanto zooms in on Argentine fare that naturally includes steak. “I like steak that is medium rare with a smoky taste,” chef Regular says of her fourth pick. “This one is juicy…

Bacchanal

Tucked away on Sudbury Street, hidden from the hubbub of Queen, this bistro dishes out French fare viewed through a modern lens. Chef-owner Luke Donato gained his culinary tutelage at Campagnolo under Craig Harding before becoming a restaurateur himself. Steak frites is a major menu draw at Bacchanal and involves…