Toronto’s dining scene has been a whirlwind of dynamic, diverse and eclectic this year, as evidenced by our curated list of the 12 best new restaurants. We believe in getting the real scoop from insiders, which is why we tapped into the city’s culinary elite, from Michelin stars to celebrity chefs, to bring you their top picks.

Next on our list: Laura Petracca, a culinary powerhouse who’s wielded her magic at Toronto’s top spots like The Rabbit Hole and Lena, now reigning as Executive Chef at Cibo Wine Bar. We asked her to share her thoughts on the best new addition to they city’s dining scene. Keep reading to discover his exciting selection.

Chef Petracca’s Pick: La Plume

“For a lovely, seasonal menu that takes us to the sun-kissed south of France, I love La Plume, located on The Well,” Petracca recently told us. “A classic French bistro but with a laid back Brasserie feel, they focus on fresh coastal flavours, slow cooked classic and seafood, executed simply. Their menu suits any occasion and has become a staple for date night for us.

La Plume

Le Sélect Bistro reopened in Toronto in the summer of 2022, and the city rejoiced.  Frenchy, which opened in February at the Hilton, brought bouillabaisse closer to Bay Street than ever before. Clearly, Union missed its chance to franchise, and now, La Plume, located inside the Well and serving Giannone chicken ($36) and spaghetti vongole ($32), charms with its southern French cuisine. Bringing Marseille a breeze up the block from Union Station is no small feat, but Oliver & Bonacini — from Canoe to Canteen, Auberge du Pommier to the Rabbit Hole — know experiential dining and how to pull the gastronomic trick of making you forget where you are. La Plume’s kitchen, offering trout tartare ($32) and Hudson Valley duck breast ($49) succeeds at making itself destination dining. It would be a shame to make the journey and not explore its surroundings: perhaps start with a drink at the Dorset, another new Oliver & Bonacini bistro at the Well?  Either way, attention to detail on the plate and in the light fixtures, combined with energy from the front of the house to chef John Horne’s knife, has created something sparkling — the terrace at La Plume is the coveted dusk reservation this spring. 453 Wellington St. W.

FUN FACT:  Through a washroom stall is a boudoir-style speakeasy named Bonne Nuit.

To find out which restaurant Michelin-recongnized chef Anna Chen picked, click here. And for chef Michael Bonacini’s pick, click here.