Old or new!
I keep a running list on my phone and star some places on a Google map. I also bookmark some places and follow others on instagram or Facebook. I thought it would be nice to have a thread I could bookmark here.
Which places do you want to visit?
Off the top of my head, I hope to try Luna Junction in the Junction
and Island Oysters on Bloor near Dufferin in the near future.
We have a long running list of places for consideration, not all of which are priorities but at least possibilities. These are a few of the ones that we’d have to make a trip for or make reservations for. There are also various ones local to us that are cheap and cheerful.
Mhel
Restaurant 20 Victoria - we were underwhelmed at Brothers and have sat on the fence about trying here.
Ca Phe Rang
Dreyfus
Sushi Masaki Saito - probably nothing here is sustainable, so we have not strongly considered it
Prime Seafood Palace
FK
SumiLicious
Itacate
Mostly casual places for me, but none of them priorities. I may visit on a whim, depending on mood. lol.
Honestly, these past few years I am more into repeating those I enjoy (which I have a list too but also getting shorter) … I mostly frequent restaurants where the “owner chef(s)” is/are still either cooking or in the restaurant chatting with diners. I enjoy listening to how their brain/vision works. I also like that after we get used to each other more over time, food on my plate gets better and not as “generic” … plus quite often get to try “off-menu limited items” too.
I’ve been repeating a little more lately, too, compared to how I dined out 5 years ago.
I’m not often in the west end - would like to visit:
Giulietta
Enoteca Sociale
Bar Vendetta
Favorites
And don’t hate me - I want to have a Shake Shack burger.
Probably not for many here but really looking forward to Sushi Momo (vegan sushi) from Montreal. Supposed to be taking over Hello 123 space downtown but i don’t know where that was (I’m in Charles’ neighbourhood and rarely dine out but happy to lurking vicariously here lol).
It’s a pretty good burger. Worth trying.
AFAIK Julie Hyde did not work at Brothers? I’m not 100% but I read somewhere she was new. It was our first tasting menu after the shutdowns and we loved it. Very clean and unadulterated flavours.
Restaurant 20 Vic I actually prefer the bar a la carte menu than their tasting. LOL
I had a great a la carte at the front part, then returned for a disappointing tasting menu.
Stick with the bar (or front).
Interesting, we dined pre-Michelin star when they didn’t have a bar menu.
More accurately it was “a la carte”
If and when you decide to give Sumilicious a try. Do let me know, I would love to join up with you for a mini-chowmeet ( preferably lunch time? ). Meet, chat and eat!
…remember to ask for the semi-fat to fatty cut!
LSL…based on curiosity, the resume and reputation of the owners/chefs
But with only a tasting menu option of $680pp excluding beverages, tax and tips! That is STEEP even by European 3* standard!!
For $5 less, I can even eat at the Paris hottest table right now…the 3* Plenitude!! 
OK then!
I found Sumilicious to be pretty meh. The last time was the last time when they pulled a sandwich off a rack rather than carving to order. No thanks.
In the wilderness of Whitby, A Tavola has been stellar over 3 dinners. Chef’s sauces are show-stopping.
http://www.atavolabistro.com/About-Us.html
At the low end price-wise, Lebanese provisioner El Gourmet in Pickering makes perhaps the only credible shawarma in Durham. Big flavours, small bill, and a seating area in the hub of activity. I no longer yearn for Shawarma Empire.
https://www.instagram.com/elgourmetmarket
The place we’d like to try next is not exactly a place we haven’t tried before. We’ve tried Daisuke Izutsu’s cuisine at various locations all the way back to 2006 at Kaiseki Sakura. He has consulted at various places but unfortunately the people executing his dishes aren’t up to par. Don Don Izakaya is an example of a disappointment, but this problem is prevalent in many restaurants in Toronto. Yukashi is our next place. Sure, it was recognized with a Michelin star but back in his Kaiseki Sakura days, it was also one star worthy. And our many meals there were cheaper to boot!
