This year’s must-try spots for Summerlicious in Toronto
Each July, this Toronto food festival rolls into town, inviting chefs of top-of-the-line and beloved-by-locals restaurants to create prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus. With over 200 restaurants participating, the selection process can be overwhelming. So we took on that burden for you – our Toronto City Editor drooled, sampled, and sipped to get you The List. Check out these guaranteed delicious spots for Summerlicious 2015.
Cluny Bistro and Boulangerie
35 Tank House Lane, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4Classy meets accessible at this sprawling French bistro and boulangerie in the historic Distillery District. Industrial cement beams juxtapose a baroque-style decorative ceiling and stained glass skylights, while overhanging orb lamps resemble old-school Parisian street lights and cast a romantic hue upon the tables. The posh atmosphere is paired with classic French fare with a breath of modern taste and process (read: it’s a little lighter than traditional butter-cream-cheese-heavy French cooking). Start with a ricotta caprese salad or smoked trout rillette (code for open-faced sammie), and on to a triple cream brie and grilled asparagus crepe or Moroccan-style pork shoulder.
Hawthorne Food and Drink
60 Richmond St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1N8Enjoy nouveau-Canadian flavours and locally sourced ingredients at this downtown hotspot for a taste of a little something they like to call “South Ontario cuisine”. The economic pricing as well as the ingenious menu scored this Entertainment District tough-guy-bistro a spot on our list of go-to faves. Among a smattering of internationally inspired offerings, local smoked pork ribs with buttermilk corn bread cosies up to roast brisket and endive, rounded off by chicken skin tacos garnished with carrot kimchi and an intriguing cheddar ice cream.
Nuit Social
1168 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J5A wonderfully economical option, this hybrid resto on West Queen West takes on the $25 menu, the most affordable tier of the Summerlicious offerings. In part known for their intensely bloggable charcuterie boards, Nuit Social takes it up a notch with house-smoked salmon and fried artichoke heart appetizers, while mains are distinguished by their comfort-food aesthetic (think gnocchi, P.E.I. mussels, and balsamic glazed pork ribs served alongside a smoked mozzarella mac ‘n’ cheese). The cozy space is warmed by a glowing stained glass bar and subtle hanging pendants, making the intimate spot a perfect stop-in for date night.
Fabbrica
38 Karl Fraser Rd, North York, ON M3C 0H7Don Mills hosts this rustic Italian restaurant, currently scoring cross-city attention with its authentic menu and stunning modern space, complete with futuristic pendant lighting and a gorgeous bar of stainless steel and white marble (maybe the sexiest spot in Toronto to sip on a Negroni). Thin-crust pizzas are slung from a wood-burning brick oven hailing from Naples, while those looking for a heartier meal can tuck in with a rhubarb-accompanied bacon chop or putanesca-inspired chicken piccata. Finish off with a tiramisu ice cream sandwich (go ahead and read it again, you did not imagine that), or a quintessentially Italian cannoli.
America Restaurant
325 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5H 3C2A chance to dine on the 31st floor of the Trump Hotel? Why not. Velvet tufted booth tables and stunning architectural lighting provide the VIP vibes in this purple-hued nightclub-esque spot, while the updated American classics on the menu set you up for a hearty-meets-chic dining experience. Start off with the fried chicken and matcha waffle appetizer or sweet corn chowder and jerk pork belly, followed by locally sourced beef strip loin and BBQ brisket, or a lighter salt-baked King salmon. The standout dessert star is the American cheese and chocolate board, which includes lavender crisps and pistachio bark.
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