These are Toronto’s 23 best new restaurants of 2023

This year, Toronto welcomed numerous amazing new restaurants, making it a challenge to pick the best among them. With ongoing exciting developments, including notable moves from big names, the city’s dining scene is reaching new heights. It’s an exciting time to eat out in Toronto, and we’ve got the proof.

These are Toronto’s 23 best new restaurants of 2023.

Bar Prima 

Craig Harding and Julian D’Ippolito have joined forces to bring a unique blend of old-world charm and modern flair to the city’s dining scene. Bar Prima is more than a restaurant; it’s an expression of the chefs’ love for the art of dining. Inspired by their globetrotting adventures, Harding and D’Ippolito wanted to create an exclusive yet timeless setting, a place where you feel undeniably special. Under the expert guidance of chef de cuisine Nicholas Iaboni, Bar Prima’s kitchen promises a polished journey through Italian classics with cheeky yet calculated twists. The menu takes a modern/minimal approach to Italian cuisine, focusing on handmade pasta and carefully curated mains. Be prepared for a tantalizing “Rockefeller,” featuring East Coast Diver Scallops and other modern takes on Italian American classics.

Ristorante Sociale 

Get transported back to a time of elegant dinner parties and secret rendez-vous with the opening of Ristorante Sociale. A King West convivial experience, at Ristorante Sociale, guests can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in an elevated setting before the venue turns into a vibrant space of immersive entertainment from dining room dancers and DJs who spin well into the night. The upscale dining and entertainment space is the latest venture from the team behind the Michelin Bib Goumand award recipient Enoteca Sociale.  Roman tastes and Tuscan influences combine for an abundant menu of fresh pastas, seafood, meats and steaks that pair perfectly with Italian wines and signature cocktails.

DaNico 

Located in a heritage bank building at 440 College St., DaNico is a nod to Michelin styled cuisine, service and award-winning design. The restaurant showcases the talent of executive chef Daniele Corona of Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto, and was created in partnership with international hospitality icon, Nick Di Donato of Liberty Group, multi-starred chef Ernesto Iaccarino of the Don Alfonso 1890 Group, and chef Corona. The eight course signature tasting menu of distinctively crafted dishes — produced with chef’s expert precision juxtaposing premium ingredients — is plated on one-of-a-kind serving vessels, designed to tell his story of the food in a presentation that stimulates all senses. 

Miss Aida 

Miss Aida reimagines Lebanese cuisine, uniting local ingredients into a shared culinary experience. From the minds behind J’s Steak Frites, try dishes like the Whole Sea Bass, topped with spinach, toasted almonds, and a touch of harissa, or the Knafeh —melding akkawi and mozzarella, baked in semolina, adorned with pistachios. Sip on the Stardust cocktail, a pink-hued blend of tequila, St. Germain, hibiscus, lemon, and lime.

Kissa 

Imagine an exclusive atmospheric haven where you can indulge in hand-crafted cocktails and savour seasonal flavours, all while a curated collection of timeless tracks sets the mood throughout the night. This is the experience awaiting you at Kissa, Toronto’s first Japanese-inspired vinyl-only listening lounge, located on King Street West. The restaurant’s name comes from “kissaten,” the name given to the 1920s Japanese teahouse speakeasies where people escaped to listen to American records at a time when it wasn’t allowed. The emphasis is on shared experiences, and every item on the menu has been give a Japanese touch. The extremely knowledgeable servers, impress guests with their knowledge behind each element, be it the origins of tequila or the rich tapestry of Japanese traditions.

Restaurant Lucie 

Lucie’s menu is curated by executive chef Arnaud Bloquel, a globally experienced, award-winning French chef. Open for both lunch and dinner, diners at Lucie can choose between the three-course Table d’Hôte menu, featuring an appetizer, main course, and dessert, or opt for the seven-course tasting menu. Appetizers  include a unique twist on a classic French dish with foie gras served alongside Ontario sour cherry gelée and smoked eel. Another popular choice is Les Gambas, a fresh prawn dish elevated with champagne sabayon. Highlights of the main course menu include the Nova Scotia lobster, made with an Armagnac and arabica sauce, which gives it a coffee-flavour

Casa Paco 

Little Italy’s new spot, Casa Paco, backed by Chef Rob Bragagnolo of Labora, Carver and Marben is a haven for Mediterranean cuisine influence by the tastes of Spain and Italy. Come for the extensive seafood options, like prawns in sherry and olive oil or opt for a warm and hearty paella. Or try Chef Bragagnolo’s Pasticcio di Funghi, a family recipe passed down for generations that features a delicate layering of crêpes, seasonal mushrooms, porcini béchamel & black truffle. Wash it down with expertly crafted drinks, like “Death In Exile,” a refreshing mix of Brandy, mint liqueur, absinthe, sparkling wine and lime.

St. Thomas

Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood is now home to St. Thomas, a new Spanish-inspired restaurant and wine bar led by Michelin-starred chef Quinton Bennett (Enigma Yorkville). Staying true to the culinary traditions of northern Spain’s Basque Country, the restaurant embraces simplicity and robust flavours. It sources high-quality, local ingredients to craft a menu that authentically captures the essence of the region. The seasonal A la Carte menu at St. Thomas highlights a carefully selected variety of fresh, seasonally changing dishes. Crafted by a Michelin-trained team, the menu offers small plates that are served when ready, creating a quick and relaxed shared dining experience. Diners can expect a selection of hot and cold dishes ranging from Hamachi crudo with mandarin jelly and pickled ginger to slow cooked Iberic pork neck with peach mint chilli jam and smoked aubergine chamoli.

Conjeo Negro

On College Street, a new restaurant, Conjeo Negro, draws inspiration from Caribbean, Creole and Latin American flavours. These diverse culinary influences shape the space’s menu, offering a fusion of spices and ingredients that marry all three cultures into tantalizing food and drinks. The food menu, curated by Wahn, features dishes like Brazilian Cheese Puffs made with tapioca flour (gluten-free), Caribbean-style braised beef with cheddar grits, squash dumplings, gumbo, and more. For dessert, guests can order a flourless chocolate torte, with a chocolate ganache, maldon salt, and mango and lime coulis.

Aera

High above The Well, on the 38th floor, Aera has entered Toronto’s dining scene.The city’s latest spot for fine dining, pays homage to 21st-century American cuisine. Perched 38 floors high, it effortlessly combines elevated classics, raw bar delights and steakhouse favourites. The result is a menu that beautifully captures the essence of modern American flavours, all while offering stunning views of the city. For those with a taste for seafood, Hamachi Sashimi and Broiled Maritime Lobster are clear standouts. The Hamachi Sashimi combines yellowtail, ponzu, pumpkin and maitake mushrooms for a burst of flavours. As for the Broiled Maritime Lobster, it’s a pure indulgence served with drawn butter. There’s also a lobster and scallop agnolotti served with bisque cream, tarragon, kale and crème fraîche.

MSSM Yorkville

Toronto’s sole two-Michelin-starred chef, Masaki Saito’s new restaurant, MSSM Yorkville, is a labour of love, aimed to introduce Toronto’s foodies to his cherished Edomae sushi traditions. The new restaurant offers a unique 14-course omakase menu incorporating appetizers, nigiri, soup and desserts for a fraction of the price at $98 per person. In contrast to Sushi Masaki Saito, which imports all its ingredients from top-tier sources in Japan, MSSM Yorkville adopts a different approach. By incorporating local and European ingredients along-side Japanese ones, the restaurant aims to provide a more accessible price point. Chef Saito guarantees that the utilization of Edomae style and technique brings out the “best in each piece of fish.”

 Chantecler

In November of 2019, the stylish restaurant, which first opened in Parkdale in 2012, was closed down after a three-alarm fire left the space unusable. Now it has rebuilt and is topping the best new restaurants list. Chantecler currently serves seafood, and large and small plates that all focus on French tradition, including a squash vol-au-vent, and steak tartar. With the expanded kitchen, Chantecler now serves baked bread and brioche and a full list of dessert items all made in-house.

 Afrobeat Kitchen

A few months ago, Victor Ugwuek took his eatery from a pop-up to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the west end. Now, Parkdale is home to some of the best West African eats in the city, thanks to Afrobeat Kitchen. Ugwuek’s widely popular recipes range from Nigerian jollof to Buka beef to oxtail pepper soup, each crafted with a fusion twist, which is inspired by his own upbringing in Lagos, Nigeria, where his mother owned restaurants. Afrobeat Kitchen‘s cuisine is inspired by part sauce part stew dishes, which are colloquially called soups in Ugeuek’s native Nigeria.

Contrada

Patrick Groves, Jessie Mak and Mike Vieira are set to make waves in Toronto’s culinary scene with the launch of Contrada, an Italian restaurant that recently opened its doors in Little Italy. Chef de Cuisine Mike Vieira curates a menu that reflects his passion for Italian cuisine and Toronto’s unique culinary vibe. Sous Chef Lif Kalikutty, fresh from Giulietta, adds pasta-making expertise to the mix. The bar, managed by Kevin Nitcheu, introduces imaginative cocktails, with the Nitro Garibaldi leading the charge — a modern take on the classic Campari and orange juice blend. Whether you’re indulging in crostini and marinated olives at the bar or savouring house-made pasta and indulgent mains like veal sweetbreads Marsala in the dining room, Contrada promises an authentic and elevated Toronto dining experience.

Chill Thai Bar

With a diverse culinary background that includes Thailand, Maldavia and Australia, CHILL’s Chef V has developed a tapas-style menu that combines elements of Thai and French cuisine, enhanced by molecular gastronomy techniques and focused on fried rice mains, red curry, seafood and Pad Thai dishes. Every detail of the restaurant—which will have you feeling like you’re drinking your Thai martini while lounging on a Malivian beach—were deliberately chosen to provide this sense of relaxation to their guests. From the wood-panelled walls and countertop awning, to the grass wall and floral decorations, the space depicts a natural comfort that’ll have you thinking your on vacation, right from Ossington Avenue.

Barkat

Step inside, take a seat in a plush, green velvet chair, and prepare to indulge in a gastronomic journey through India’s culinary history like no other. Run by chef and owner, Ravneet Singh, Barkat is a modern, Indian restaurant that showcases traditional cooking methods and techniques, flavours and presentation. The menu is packed with comfort foods including Mom’s Chicken Curry, which uses Singh’s mother’s recipe. Other must-try dishes include the amritsari fish tikka, which takes traditional fried fish marinated with beautiful Indian spices served on a bed of spicy mango salsa and topped with kaffir lime foam instead of lemons, and the palak patta chaat, a deep fried baby spinach tossed in sweet yogurt and housemade tamarind and mint sauce.

Savor Thai Toronto

Bar Bowie

Bar Bowie was opened by Adrian Juan Jose Joaquin, who is also behind Toronto’s iconic Lakeview Diner, Better Gift Shop and French bistro Milou. On the menu, which was designed by Michael Kim (Milou, and previously Uncle Mikey’s Inc.) you’ll find drinks and eats reminiscent of a no frills snack bar — beer choice is limited to a house Bowie lager, Stella Artois and a cider, and guests can have their pick of one red, white, rose, sparkling or skin contact wine by the glass or bottle. The food menu is broken down into bar snacks and small plates that range in price from $8 to $15, which include things like a classic charcuterie board, garlic prawns, sea bream crudo, cucumber salad, hot crab dip and more. A sole dessert, the pistachio tiramisu, can also be added for $8. 

Astoria

Som Tum Jinda

This Northern Thai restaurant is Michelin-recognized and the newest spot to hit Gerrard Street East. The sister (and next door) restaurant of Plearn Cafe, the speciality here is the Tum dishes, including the famous shredded green papaya salad found in central Thailand that has become synonymous with the term “som tam.” Chef and owner Jinda has been making mouth-watering Thai dishes since 1974 and on the menu you can find an abundance of rice and noodle dishes, soups and grilled dishes like pork sausage and chicken.

Black+Blue

A celebrated, upscale steak house opens in Toronto today  by way of Vancouver, with plans to “bring excitement” to the downtown core. Black+Blue is a hip and bustling restaurant on Alberni Street, considered to be the Rodeo Drive of Vancouver, and is owned by the Glowbal Restaurant Group. Known for its modern takes on the classic steak house, chic carnivores have continued to descend upon the three-level space since it first opened more than a decade ago. The 9,000-square-foot two-storey space will also include a 2,000-square-foot patio.The menu features the crème de la crème of meats in- cluding A5 and Miyazaki wagyu, certified Kobe beef, as well as a premium selection of steaks that are aged in Black+Blue’s salt cooler — the only restaurant in Canada that treats its meat in this style. Chef curated seafood options are also in abundance including selections of sushi.

Ultra

INK Entertainment Group and Harlo Entertainment have joined forces to open a new luxurious supper club just in time for the summer. Guests can dine in the main seating area called the Ochre Room, and sip cocktails on cozy chairs and sofas, while surrounded by dramatic gold décor and a custom-made, chainlink chandelier that expands the entire ceiling above. Or, diners can alternatively order a cocktail from the dimly lit cove of the Onyx Bar or enjoy their drinks al fresco from the New York-esque terrace that offers views of the city. Ultra opens on June 6.

Laylak

Laylak is a newly opened restaurant in downtown Toronto that emphasizes expert culinary techniques and authentic Lebanese dishes. Executive Chef Hazem Al Hamwi has created a menu that offers a range of authentic and Halal dishes from classic mezze plates to succulent grilled meats and seafoods. In addition, the menu features a selection of signature cocktails and an extensive wine list spotlighting both Lebanese and international brands.

Lao Lao Bar

Head downtown to Lao Lao Bar for authentic Lao hospitality in a vibrant and transformative environment serving delicious small plates. The shareable menu is designed to reinterpret the owner’s memories of home by providing a Toronto spin. Bold flavours and unique flavour combinations are the focus here with fresh and exciting dishes up for grabs including Som Tum Tod, a fried papaya salad with palm sugar, fish sauce, chili pepper, lime, mint, peanuts, shallots and bell peppers or Satay Chicken made flavourful with turmeric, coconut milk, served with peanut sauce, and a shallot cucumber vinaigrette.