Home » Special Features » The World’s Best » Best Local Food Specialties Toronto
New York? Pizza. San Francisco? Dungeness crab. Mexico City? Tacos. Los Angeles? Food trucks. What better way to explore the world’s coolest cities than through the foods they are best known for? Here are Night+Day’s hotlists for the destination dishes (and one beverage) that define our favorite places.
Best Local Food Specialties in....
Best Local Food Specialties: Ice Wine
Toronto
Blowfish Restaurant + Sake Bar 668 King St. W., Entertainment District, 416-860-0606 blowfishrestaurant.com
The Draw: Inhabiting a former bank building, this trendy spot is a draw to those curious about Japanese cuisine with a Canadian twist. The Scene: From bar-hopping 30-somethings to seafood-loving gourmands, this warmly lit, sleekly designed Japanese restaurant bustles all week, indulging diners their tastes for sushi, sashimi, sake, designer martinis, and, yes, its comprehensive list of local ice wines, all under soaring ceilings and crystal chandeliers. Hot Tip: Switch from sake cocktails to a glass of 2006 Vineland Estates Vidal, always a sweet finish to the night.
Crush Wine Bar 455 King St. W., Entertainment District, 416-977-1234 crushwinebar.com
The Draw: Located in the heart of the entertainment district, this wine bar is the perfect post-work watering hole for the fashionable epicure looking to unwind with the perfect glass of vino. The Scene: Popular for its Cinq A Sept, this resto’s extensive wine cellar is the reason many a patron becomes a regular. With its extensive offerings of Niagara wines (many available by the flight) and its knowledgeable sommeliers, locals know this is the only place to explore both old and new world vintages alike. Hot Tip: Finish dessert and the evening with a glass of 2006 Inniskillin Vidal.
Epic Restaurant 100 Front St. W., Financial District, 416-860-6949 epicrestaurant.ca
The Draw: Thanks to its commitment to sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients, the wine list includes many vintages from the Niagara region. The Scene: With seasonal offerings beckoning diners for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, chef Ryan Gustafson’s sustainable menu attracts an unpretentious mix of business district elites, enlightened foodies, and hungry tourists. Hot Tip: Try a glass of the 2006 Pillitterri Vidal, available only at Epic.
