Start your foodie engines! Toronto’s Winterlicious is back for another year with more than 220 local restaurants participating in the event. Running from January 27 until February 9, the participating restaurants include some of the city’s best, who will be offering three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at six varying price points.
Reservations are now open —and they’re known to go fast — so to help narrow down your choices, here are the top 10 restaurants to visit for Winterlicious 2023.
Michelin-recognized spots
Indian St. Food Co.
A recent recipient of the Bib Gourmand, Leaside eatery Indian St. Food Co. is serving up a delicious menu of street food favourites like tandoori chicken tikka salad and pan fried masala fish. A homage to the old-school Indian coffee shops of Mumbai and Delhi, expect bold flavours and a wide selection of innovative dishes. 1701 Bayview Ave.
R&D
Esteemed chef and Masterchef Canada judge Alvin Leung, who made a name for himself in Hong Kong at his 3 Michelin star restaurant Bo Innovation, founded this restaurant with mentee Eric Chong. Included on the eclectic menu which features modern Canadian Asian cuisine is a fried chicken an egg waffle, king salmon poke, and for dessert, a choice of three vegetarian options including sticky toffee pudding. 241 Spadina Ave.
La Bartola
Another Bib Gourmand recipient La Bartola features a unique menu that highlights authentic Mexican flavours for a modern interpretation of the classics. Vegan options include braised hibiscus tacos, Mexican mushroom soup and pistachio pipian — a type of mole sauce made with roasted celeriac, white yam and artichokes. 588 College St.
Luxurious hotel restaurants
Joni
Both lunch and dinner menus are on offer at Joni, a new restaurant situated in Toronto’s iconic Park Hyatt. Expect elevated fair like beef tartare and foie gras parfait — and those are only appetizer options. For mains, there are classic dishes like duck breast and cod. 4 Avenue Rd.
Lai Wah Heen
Lai Wah Heen can be found in the Metropolitan Hotel bustling with suits and tourists alike all looking for their dim sum fix. The dining room is split into two levers by granite steps complete with a solarium-style glass wall and 12-foot ceilings. On the menu is a curated selection of dishes both land and sea like the deep fried crab claw, butterfly-cut lobster and Kung Po chicken. 108 Chestnut St.
Reign Restaurant and Bar
Tucked away inside the prestigious Fairmont Royal York, Reign Restaurant and Bar is a culinary gem in the heart of the city. The culinary team is known to craft seasonable menus through local partners and sustainable farmers. Their prix fixe menu is a reflection of this and diners can opt for dishes that include trout and Ontario striploin. 100 Front St. W.
Vegan Eats
Rosalinda
A fully plant-based menu of Latin-inspired fare dominates the menu at Rosalinda, nestled in the heart of the financial district. Rosalinda’s fresh interior is illuminated by natural light and accented with vibrant green furnishings and nods to Mexican culture. Diners can opt for tacos, flautas empanadas and tostada, and for dessert, drunken pineapple made with coconut sorbet. 133 Richmond St. W.
Oseteria Du
Italian and vegan? Where do we sign up? Choose from garlic knots, creamy tomato gnocci, egggplant parmigiana or pizza —all options on the Queen West’s dinner prix fixe menu. Plus, the space is gorgeous with a bird-inspired mural by Canadian graffiti artist Alexander Bacon and a botanical ceiling bursting with pops of green. 536 Queen St. W.
New and Notable
Il Padrino
Il Padrino is the first restaurant from Concetta Amaral, a Bari-born chef who attended culinary school in Milan. The goal of the family-oriented restaurant is to bring back what’s been lost — the authentic, rustic, homestyle Italian food that Amaral feels is missing from the landscape. The restaurant serve unique dishes from the southern Italian city of Bari. 579 College St.
Pizza Wine Disco
This place is serving up exactly what its name promises: pizza, wine, disco. Pizza Wine Disco is built for a party with the full-scale bar and spacious luxury leather booths. Off the main interior, guests won’t want to miss the chance at a photo op in the room with disco lights and walls that mimic a classic disco floor. Along with (you guessed it) pizza, menu items also include lasagna, seared trout and mussels. 788 King St. W.
