1. NEW! Ursa
924 Queen W, at Shaw, 416-536-8963, ursa-restaurant.com. Downtown’s hottest table just became that much more accessible now that innovative chef Jacob Sharkey Pearce and crew have launched a 30-seat backyard deck. Fancy the likes of raw BC spot prawns followed by seared water buffalo with asparagus à la Béarnaise in an elegant backyard setting? Needless to say, reservations are still mandatory. Coming soon: weekday lunch and Sunday lupper. Closed Monday.
2. Beast
96 Tecumseth, at Whitaker, 647-352-6000, thebeastrestaurant.com. Somewhat off the beaten track, Scott and Rachelle Vivian’s snout-to-tail bistro (beastro?) is never lovelier than in summer. There, on the last Wednesday of the month, vegetarians (!) can now chow down on the ex-JKWB chefs’ $100 six-course tasting menu with wine pairings. Carnivores will be glad to know that the former Lotus’s meat-centric Sunday brunch is available Saturday as well. Closed Monday, Tuesday, holidays.
3. Enoteca Sociale
1288 Dundas W, at Coolmine, 416-534-1200, sociale.ca. Ex-Black Hoof big-time chef Grant van Gameren’s presence in the kitchen of this Libretto-related trat hasn’t suddenly resulted in the appearance of pig-snout tetrazzini on Sociale’s southern Italian carte, as some had feared. Instead, he sticks mostly to classics – rabbit stew for two, fettuccine with grilled chicken livers – with only the occasional unexpected left hook. Sea bream crudo with fresh fennel pollen, anyone? But like nearby Libretto, the shady sidewalk patio is walk-in only – i.e., no reservations.
