Although inflation has caused the cost of dining out to soar, there are many standout restaurants in the city with quality food at reasonable prices. And when it comes to restaurant recommendations, who better to trust than a chef — and a Michelin chef to boot!

Television personality and celebrity chef Rob Rossi — who last year was awarded a Michelin star for Osteria Giulia, an upscale dinner spot in Yorkville with a focus on Northern Italian cuisine — recently gave us the goods on his favourite affordable restaurant in Toronto where two can dine with wine for under $100. Read on to find out which spot he selected.

Chef Rob Rossi wants to eat at: Stock Bar

“I love the food that chef Giacomo Pasquini has curated on the menu. It’s a fantastic restaurant to absolutely ball out on, but it easily can be celebrated for under $100,” he said. Rossi’s favourite dishes include the seared steak tartare ($19) and the pasta with crab and caviar butter ($25).

“The wine and food menus are extremely diverse and make for a great stay at the bar, plus, the design of the room is stunning — it’s the most elevated of the Terroni restaurants,” he went on to say. “On your way out, you will find a market stocked with all the usual suspects you would expect from Cumbrae meats as well as pretty much anything Italian to stock your fridge with. It’s a must see.”

Stock Bar

Stock T.C is a restaurant and marketplace housed inside an historical three-storey limestone building that dates back to 1936. The space was a joint project by Italian restaurant group Terroni and butcher shop Cumbrae’s. The ground floor level boasts a butcher, various cheese and dairy vendors, a fresh pasta station and a bakery. Here in the grocery section, you’ll also find an assortment of items from local vendors and pantry staples, from hand-whipped gelato and rotisserie chickens, to fresh-cut florals and fine wines. The second floor is home to Stock Bar, where guests can expect to find the best of Terroni’s Italian eats fused with the finesse of Cumbrae’s butchery, as seen in dishes like the agnolotti del plin (pork and beef filling, butter and black truffle). On the third floor of Stock T.C, you’ll find a gorgeous open-air terrace. Decked out in live plants and candles, it’s the place to be with a house-made cocktail once the warmer weather comes to the city. 2388 Yonge St.

The Michelin Guide’s 2023 announcement is coming on September 27 at History in Toronto.  That evening, local restaurants will find out who’s getting a Michelin star, a Bib Gourmand and other distinctions. The Michelin Guide has already given us a sneak peek by revealing 12 exciting new restaurants on their website.