Sometimes venturing outside of downtown is worth the trek and A La Turk is an example of that. As you may have guessed, this North York restaurant serves up authentic Turkish fare. Its specialty is wood-fired pide (flatbread) and charcoal-grilled kebabs. While complimentary bread baskets are a thing of the past, here you are treated
Amal Toronto is a decadent restaurant from INK Entertainment, the hospitality group behind notable Toronto spots like Byblos and Patria. As INKโs first Lebanese restaurant, Amal is a particularly personal project for the brandโs Beirut-born CEO Charles Khabouth. โItโs all the hits from my childhood,โ says Khabouth of the menu. With much of its decor
Imagine if Canada got the same sun as the Mediterranean all year round. At least weโre privy to Mediterranean food all year round in Toronto. And Aviv Restaurant is a great place to help with that. Located along the St. Clair West strip of the Wychwood area, Aviv Restaurant pulls from Spanish, Italian, Israeli and
Bang Sue is a cozy 50-seat bar on the second floor above Khao San Road restaurant. The barโs moniker is a nod to Bangkokโs main train station. If you had ever driven past the restaurantโs former location on Adelaide, you will have seen the line-ups out the door. That's why Bang Sue is a great waiting area where people can nibble on Thai-inspired bar snacks and sip on cocktails before they make their way down to the main event.
This family-run Iranian eatery has been turning out some classic Iranian fare for 15 years. Run by the Mohyeddin siblings, Banu is a sleek and stylish restaurant accented with nods to Persian and Iranian culture.
Bar Batavia is a midtown cocktail bar located upstairs from Indonesian eatery Little Sister. It claims to have no-nonsense cocktails made with precision, quality ingredients and a smile. The food menu consists of a couple of snacks, including shrimp chips and Balinese spiced chicken, but if you’re looking for dinner, the place to be is
At Bhoj Indian Cuisine, there’s no BS when it comes to good Indian food. The restaurant is small with a cosy and relaxed atmosphere, making it a great place to bring the whole family. The menu is pretty straightforward and allows you to choose your level of spice. If you can handle it, try some
Across the street from the Toronto landmark the St. Lawrence Market sits Bindia Indian Bistro. With a modern approach to classic Indian cuisine, Bindia is reclaiming what it means to cook real Indian food, while still cultivating the essence of India. Remaining in touch with the deep historical and cultural values of Indian food, Bindia
Eating off the menu at this fast casual restaurant will have you feeling like youโre dining on homemade Mediterranean cuisine. True Lebanese tastes merge with a modern and local twist at Boustan, which is why it’s become a household name across Quebec. With the success of Boustan’s Toronto locations, surely it will be all over
In continuing their steady takeover of Torontoโs dining scene โ following the openings of the hugely successful Weslodge Saloon and Patria โ restaurateurs-du-jour Hanif Harji and Charles Khabouth had originally planned to open a seafood restaurant as their latest venture. Then, Harji took a business trip to the Middle East, where he experienced food that he knew he had to bring to Toronto.
Byblos Uptown Toronto represents a marriage of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine with strong influences from both traditional and local ingredients.
Chances are, those who have been to Israel (birthright, anyone?) are familiar with Cafe Landwer. The popular Israeli cafรฉ, which got its start back in 1919, finally opened its very first Canadian outpost in Vaughan earlier this year.
College Falafel has been keeping west enders happy for some time now with its irresistible sandwiches and wraps, all complete with that trademark saccharine sauce. Hailing from Halifax the East Coast original donair wrap is something to marvel at here. The donair ($6.99) begins with a pile of well-spiced, shaved beef that’s cooked on a
It’s so hard to leave the Junction when everything you need is right there. Curry Twist is an easy night out, with its homey environs paired with a people-pleaser of a menu. Snack on crunchy onion bhajji and spiced paneer before tucking in to mains. Baigan bharta (smoked eggplant with tomato and caramelized onions) and
Darna Middle Eastern Kitchen looks to create a dining experience with authentic flavours that rival any home-cooked meal created in a Middle Eastern kitchen. Darna, which means “our home” in Arabic, is owned by Marwan Carmi, who relocated to Toronto from Jerusalem. The menu features Middle Eastern favourites like baba ghanouj, kebab skewers, falafel and
Popular Middle Eastern restaurant Dr. Laffa — recently the subject of a glowing Globe and Mail review — has announced plans to expand. A second incarnation of Dr. Laffa is set to open near Bathurst and Lawrence by early 2013, and we’re also told that plans are in the works to franchise the business.
Drom Taberna is the place to go for everything eastern European. The owners reimagined the space of the legendary Tortilla Flats into an all-day homage to the old country. The large interior is collaged with posters brought home from Poland by the owner’s wife, along with an old piano and a stage for nightly live
In India, “khau gully” refers to an eating street, a place that hungry people flock to, knowing that there will be something delicious there. In Toronto, Khau Gully is a place where hungry people should flock to if they want authentic, healthy Indian eats. Located on the busy strip of Yonge between Davisville and Eglinton,
This fluorescent-lit room located at a chaotic intersection is not a great place to sit down for a romantic meal, but the Pakistani cuisine is outstanding and ideally suited for takeout or delivery from at King Place. Owner Mehood Meer (known as Mr. Butt) has a deft hand with ginger, coriander, butter, cumin and fenugreek.