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: Marc Cheng, the talent behind Margo’s Mediterranean dishes and the late-night vibes at Mr. Vander. Both spots are tucked inside Clio Toronto, the exclusive King West members club. We asked him to share his thoughts on the best new addition to they city’s dining scene. Keep reading to discover his exciting selection.

Chef Cheng’s pick:  Café Renée Bar

I recently ventured out for a field trip to Café Renee, conveniently located just across the street from Margo,” chef Cheng recently told us. “Seeking simple yet expertly prepared dishes, I found the beef tartare to be excellent, and the ricotta and spinach gnudi showcased bright flavours that hit the mark.”

Café Renée Bar

Another notch on this stretch of Portland, this is possibly the best half-block for dining in the province. With spots like Sara, Chubby’s and Gusto, there are so many great places to eat. And now Nick Liu rolls into downtown, bringing his fusion hipness to French cuisine. The neighbourhood is in for a treat — shrimp cocktail ($16), steak au poivre ($77) and $10 martini happy hour 5 to 7 p.m.? This half-block, already impressive, just got even better this spring. Meanwhile, Liu, Toronto’s most thrilling chef, emerges as an overnight sensation after a decade of hard work, rivalling Janet Zuccarini in her own domain. Late night bites like oysters ($36) and Pilsner Urquell ($12), plus spritz cocktail specials at 1:30 a.m., will leave you enchanted. One moment you’re savouring the escargot ravioli ($21), and the next you’re envisioning this block bustling when TIFF returns in September. It’s like Jurassic Park meets the 2019 Raptors, but swap basketball shoes for Manolo Blahniks and Kawhi Leonard for Nick Liu. 100 Portland St.

MUST-TRY DISH: The viral ravioli Dauphiné: a single sheet of ravioli pockets filled with Comté cheese and chives

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