Mr. Toronto

Another year come and gone…last blog for 2011!  At times like these- when I count all my blessings, think of all my loved ones and feel all sentimental, warm and fuzzy- my mind turns to…food.  Specifically, restaurants I have discovered during the past year, and those I have on my list for 2012.  As an avowed “foodie”, I always keep a running list of places I’d like to try.  Toronto is blessed with so many fantastic restaurants, I rarely go back to the same place twice, as I love to experience new taste sensations. (Plus – and a bit of a “disclaimer” here – I only eat vegetarian, dairy and fish items, so my choice of menu items is usually quite limited). My other disclaimer is that the places I am discussing are open for lunch – a disclaimer only in that there would be many more on my list if I included those restaurants that are open for dinner only, which doesn’t help me because I only do lunch!

So without further ado, here is a list of my year-end restaurants I have recently been to that warrant mention, and a slightly longer list of places on my list for 2012:

Recently went to:
1)    Mirto (25 Toronto Street, 416-601-9444) – a bustling Italian place in a beautiful old building on a great hidden street downtown.  Makes up for mediocre food.
2)    Bannock (Corner of Bay and Queen, attached to the Bay) – no point giving you the phone number for this packed new addition to the Oliver and Bonacini restaurant empire, because they don’t take reservations.  Shame, because it is a beautiful, well-priced joint with great food – but not willing to wait half an hour or more for a table again!
3)    Leslieville Cheese Market (541 Queen St. West) – again, no phone number necessary, because not only does this place not take reservations, it is not even a restaurant!  But I had heard that it makes the best take-out gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches in the City, and it doesn’t disappoint.  Fantastic daily combos, and yummy soups as well.  But wait til the weather gets warmer so you don’t have to eat it on a bench in the snow like I did!

Holiday Carolers and Snowmen greet visitors in "Torontoland"!

Can’t wait to go to:
1)    La Societe (let’s switch to websites: http://lasociete.ca/) – a trendy new place to be seen on Toronto’s “Mink Mile” (Bloor St.) – authentic Parisian Bistro.
2)    Modus (http://modusristorante.com/) – supposed to be a fabulously chic Italian ristorante in the business/financial district
3)    Estiatorio Volos (http://volos.ca/) – Greek “fusion” food, funky and upscale
4)    F’Amelia (http://www.famelia.com/main.php?pg=14) – an adorable looking authentic Italian place in Cabbagetown, a wonderful (and slightly out of the way) area near downtown
5)    Screen Lounge (http://www.screenlounge.ca/) – see my last blog!

So there you have it.  May the new year bring you many wonderful meals with the ones you love (or at least like a lot)!

Mr. Toronto

PS. The picture is a non-related, but very cool Holiday photo I took at a Tourism Toronto event last week…what better way to end the year than with a picture of snowmen, carolers and the Rogers Centre?!