The last year was a a busy and exciting one for the Toronto food scene, in which we saw electric openings that ranged from highbrow to low, including modest local joints and grand, attention-grabbing eateries.
To highlight the standout newcomers, we asked Michelin-recognized chef Anna Chen, recently awarded a Bib Gourmand for Alma— an intimate spot serving up an elevated take on comfort food— to tell us what she thought was the best new addition to the city’s dining scene. Read on to find out which exciting spot she selected.
Chef Chen’s pick: Dotty’s
“Love anything chef Carter cooks up. My favourites from the menu currently are the shrimp cocktail, oeufs mayonnaise and lemon squares,” she recently told us. “Beautifully casual and always on point.”
Dotty’s
The latest collaboration between former Dandylion owners Jay Carter and business partner Susan Beckett strikes an inviting balance between homey and hip. Take, for example, the restaurant’s decor: The soda stools and pastel-coloured schoolhouse chairs exude a retro vibe, whereas the clean design lines and eye-catching black-and-white mural hanging over the bar feel distinctly modern. Virtually every seat in the house offers diners a perspective on the gentle hum of activity taking place in the open kitchen. The intimate, 30-seat restaurant is named after Beckett’s mother, Dorothy, who ran a restaurant in Mission, B.C., throughout Beckett’s childhood. The menu, too, straddles the line between fresh and familiar, featuring unfussy dishes made with high-quality ingredients and a nuanced culinary touch. Snacks include a house-made pimento cheese that packs a spicy kick, served with a side of classic Ritz crackers. The drink menu is equally brief and unpretentious, emphasizing seasonal tipples that run the gamut from easy-drinking to spirit-forward. 1588 Dupont St.
To find out which new restaurant Michelin chef Eric Chong selected, click here, and if you’re curious about what new spot Tobey Nemeth and Michael Cabello of Edulis chose, click here.