Here are my picks for the top 25 new restaurants in Toronto by neighbourhood.
See also:
The top 30 burgers in Toronto by neighbourhood
The top 30 pizza in Toronto by neighbourhood
The top 30 sandwiches in Toronto by neighbourhood
THE ANNEX
Chef Anthony Rose doubled his additions to Dupont this year with the openings of Fat Pasha and Schmaltz Appetizing. The hand-chopped liver tossed table-side with gribenes, onions and egg was one of the best things I've eaten this year.
BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
Sparrow Restaurant, from the same folks behind the neighbouring Kennedy Public House, opened in May adding a new all-day destination for brunches, lunches and dinners.
Ronnie B's Southern Kitchen opened this fall, introducing a vibrant atmosphere fuelled by jazz and a line up of po'boys, jambalaya and blackened catfish.
CHINATOWN
People's Eatery, a spin-off from the same team behind 416 Snack Bar, launched this utensil-free, late night eats destination with a nod to the Chinese and Jewish histories of the neighbourhood.
THE DANFORTH
Chicken pot pie bites and bangers 'n mash are among the house specialties at The Borough, a new Brit-style pub with a focus on sustainable, locally-sourced fare.
Cluny, the opulent new bistro and boulangerie brought a little Parisian flair to the Distillery District when it debuted this summer with an playful menu featuring modern takes on the classics. Expect to find tuna tartar nicoise and ginger-chili-fried frogs' legs.
DUNDAS WEST
There were a number of notable openings on this stretch of Dundas West this year (shout outs to Essen, Branca and Kadbanu) but Patois, the Asian-Jamaican mash-up, best captures the spirit of Toronto's melting-pot culture in dishes like pierogi-style kimchi potstickers and Jamaican patty double down sandwiches.
Big Butcher Barbeque on Kipling is more than just a burger joint. The fast food offshoot of Market Jolly boasts a from-scratch menu featuring a lineup of impressive burgers, plus Balkan specialties like chevaps (minced meat kabobs) and plyeska (pork burgers).
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
The newest outpost of Pizzeria Libretto has proved a popular pick amongst the throngs of office workers looking for casual pizza lunches.
Farmer's Daughter, the sister location to Farmhouse Tavern opened this past spring and quickly earned big points for chef Leonie Lilla's playful menu featuring beef heart tartare at dinner and eggs mollet at brunch.
KING WEST
Bar Buca, an all-day destination, transitions from espressos and brunch to cocktails and snacks. Expect to find an offal-friendly menu stocked with stuffed focaccia, spiedini and fried delicacies.
LESLIEVILLE
Coastal cuisine landed in Leslieville this summer with the opening of Eastside Social, a casual, cozy dining room and bar where the menu features comfort foods like clam chowder, Yorkshire pudding poutine and homemade Hamburger Helper.
LIBERTY VILLAGE
Local Public Eatery might be part of a chain of restaurants, but tailored to this specific enclave of the city, it fits in quite nicely - plus, it's hard not to like the 20 tap beers, hard liquor on tap and table-side made guacamole.
Maha's introduced Egyptian brunches to Greenwood this fall, and to be honest, I'm a little jealous that the novel cuisine isn't closer to my own home. Dishes include sunny eggs with foule and a "Pharaoh's po'boy".
LITTLE ITALY
Top honours go to chef Nick Liu's long-awaited restaurant Dailo and complementary cocktail lounge, Lo Pan. Launched in August, the two-storey spot offers contemporary takes on classics like truffle fried rice and roast duck and scallion tacos.
NORTH YORK
Han Ba Tang is a notable new addition in Willowdale, where innovative cocktails and Korean foods are the main event. Highlights on the menu include spicy shrimp tacos, kimchi fries and cheese fondues.
Mamakas Taverna brings a taste of Greece to Ossington with a menu of authentic, rustic fare including mezze, grill items and market specials.
PARKDALE
Duggan's Brewery is now fully operational in Parkdale, serving up the house brew and menu of beer-friendly foods like jerk fried chicken, Miami style beef ribs and daily tacos.
The provisions at Tavern by Trevor exceed expectations with menus offering Reuben sandwich-style pot stickers, steak frites and duck confit carbonara.
RIVERSIDE
The east side expansion of The County General saw County Cocktail & Snack Bar spring up on Queen East in March. The newest outpost brought over favourites like fried chicken thigh sandwiches and a strong cocktail menu.
SCARBOROUGH
Chris Jerk on Birchmount has garnered quite a buzz in the months since it opened. The Caribbean bistro isn't fancy, but the menu, featuring jerk chicken poutine and shawarma, has proven itself a winner.
Sea Witch Fish & Chips specializes in just five types of fish offered one or two pieces at a time with chunky fries, or on a bun.
WEST QUEEN WEST
Among the notable openings (including The Good Son and Nana) on West Queen West, the most notable might just be Brit-style pub The Bristol. After outgrowing its former home near Christie Pits, the perpetually-packed source for hangover-crushing brunches found a new home in the expansive space that was previously the Samuel J. Moore.
Little Sister, an Indonesian-Dutch snack bar, introduced a menu of satay skewers, lettuce wraps and nasi goreng to Midtown when it opened this July.
YORKVILLE
The third location of the Buca empire opened behind the Four Seasons this fall, debuting with a menu of handmade pastas, crudo misto platters and signature stretched pizzas.
What did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments.
Top photo of Eastside Social by Jesse Milns.
by Liora Ipsum via blogTO
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