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Food & Drink

5 best patios midtown

1. La Societe

131 Bloor W, at Avenue Rd, 416-551-9929, lasociete.ca. Sitting next to Eurotrash – and their bratty children – who sport shoes that cost more than the rent on most apartments could put some off their supper no matter how lovely the surroundings. Luckily, servers dressed in crisp whites know to treat us plebes the same as the big-time spenders. Don’t be put off by the sticker shock of $149 seafood towers (for two, granted) and $34 glasses of champagne. Stick to the $17 burgers and terrific $20 moules frites and live la vie en rose. Who’d have guessed Charles Khabouth would bring cachet back to the Colonnade?

2. Tati Bistro

124 Harbord, at Major, 416-962-8284, tatibistro.com. Back when Laurent Brion’s secluded rooftop aerie was known as Kensington Kitchen, it regularly won NOW’s Readers Poll for best patio. And second-best tree. Both are still there – though significantly spiffier – but the student falafel platters of old have been replaced by date-friendly plates of classic steak frites and duck confit. Sometimes new is better. And you’ve got to love a bistro whose logo is Monsieur Hulot riding a bicycle.

3. 180 Panorama

55 Bloor W, at Bay, 416-967-0000, eatertainment.com. Located high above Mink Mile on the 51st floor of the ManuLife Centre, this striking resto-lounge’s two rooftop decks, one facing south to the skyline and harbour beyond, the other looking north over Rosedale and Forest Hill, make a great place to impress a date, unless they’re terrified of heights. But once the view, the booze and the altitude kick in – not to mention the sky-high prices – who’s going to notice?

4. Wish

3 Charles E, at Yonge, 416-935-0240, wishintoronto.com. Sister to 7 West down the block, Renda Abdo’s sweetly chic sidewalk oasis might look like a typical Yorkville haunt – all white linen sofas and whitewashed brick walls – but is anything but. Not only are the prices more in line with funky Dundas West, but the kitchen also bravely breaks away from the tony nabe’s regulation Cal-Ital playbook. And any lounge that has Roxy Music in a continuous loop on the CD player is all right in our books.

5. One

116 Yorkville, at Hazelton, 416-961-9600, onehazelton.com. Hang around long enough at this wraparound curbside terrace at the swanky Hazelton Hotel and you’re bound to spot a celebrity. No wonder the paparazzi are parked here permanently come TIFF. But rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-listers will cost you: TV chef Mark McEwan’s prime USDA Whoppers go for a whopping 29 bucks!

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