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All restaurants or bars are licensed, take debit or credit cards and are open seven days a week unless otherwise indicated.
Uptown: St. Clair West
Catch
744 St Clair W, at Arlington, 416-658-0568, catchit.ca. See feature, page 42.
The last time we caught up with Catch, the ethical seafood-focused spinoff of the Rushton across the way had just thrown open its doors. Since then, chef Nigel Finley has jumped ship for the soon-come Chase on Temperance, replaced by Charlotte Langley. The ex-Ottawa toque has also done time at Café Belong, the Atlantic and Hooked, so knows all about sustainable fish. You’ll find it in her Ocean Wise clam bake thick with pork belly and chorizo, and one of the best lobster rolls around. Why, she’s even been known to serve chicken-fried tuna over cornbread waffles. Whatever will she think up next? “I see a lot of crudo. And it’s summer, so anything light.”
Dave’s…
730 St Clair W, at Homewood, 416-652-2020, davesonstclair.com. Low-key neighbourhood local with pub grub, regular live music and large beer selection.
El Cafetal
1006 St Clair W, at Appleton, 647-344-1216. Latin American bakery/café with a sizeable west-facing deck. Closed Monday, holidays.
Novecento
1228 St Clair W, at St Clair Gardens, 416-654-9900. Stylish Corso Italia caffe known for its extravagant desserts and first-rate gelato.
Rushton
740 St Clair W, at Rushton, 416-658-7874, therushton.com. Miami-style lounge complete with couches and afternoon sun from the team behind nearby Ferro and Catch.
Uptown: Forest Hill
Bi Bim Bap
950 Eglinton W, at Rostrevor, 416-787-7423, stonebowl.ca. Health-conscious Korean cantina serving inexpensive meal-in-one rice bowls that appeal to both carnivores and vegans. Closed Monday, some holidays.
Edo
484 Eglinton W, at Tarlton, 416-322-3033, edosushi.com. Better than average sushi spot gets a sidewalk terrace.
Frida
999 Eglinton W, at Glen Cedar, 416-787-2221, fridarestaurant.ca. Inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, this upmarket Mexican cantina skips the usual Tex-Mex clichés for relatively authentic starters and mains. Closed Monday, holidays.
Hero Certified Burgers
413 Spadina Rd, at Lonsdale, 647-748-4800, heroburgers.com. Local burger chain at the centre of the village in the former David’s By Day/Southside open 24/7.
Uptown: Yonge & St. Clair
Boccone
1378 Yonge, at Rosehill, 416-960-1500, boccone.ca. Dead-cheap old-school Italian dished up cafeteria-style on a narrow sidewalk terrace. Closed Sunday, holidays.
Cava
1560 Yonge, at Heath, 416-979-9918, cavarestaurant.ca. Chef Chris McDonald goes the Barcelona-style tapas route in the courtyard of Delisle Court.
Fox & Fiddle
1535 Yonge, at Glen Elm, 416-967-3400, foxandfiddle.com. Toronto’s only tri-level terrace with daily food and drink specials. Other patio locations: 280 Bloor W, at St George, 416-966-4369: 535 Danforth, at Carlaw, 416-462-9830.
John & Sons Uptown
1 Balmoral, at Yonge, 416-515-0551, johnandsonsoysterhouse.com. Seafood resto in the old Terroni not at all unlike Rodney’s, with smallish outdoor noshing zone.
Scallywags
11 St Clair W, at Yonge, 416-922-3737, scallywags.net. Rowdy sports bar boasts a third-storey deck open year round where you can catch live UK football matches on several tellies as early as 7:45 am – sadly, pint-free that early in the morning.
Uptown: Yonge & Eglinton
Coquine
2075 Yonge, at Manor, 416-322-6767, coquinerestaurant.com. Anodyne French bistro bar with pretty south- and east-facing patios.
Falasca SPQR
2059 Yonge, at Manor, 647-352-5155, falascaspqr.com. Terrific designer pizza by the slice. Show up early at lunch or join the conga line!
Tabule
2009 Yonge, at Glebe, 416-483-3747, tabule.ca. Affordable prices, friendly servers and well-executed Israeli-style Middle Eastern grub.
Uptown: Leaside
Cafe Belong
550 Bayview, at Pottery Rd, 416-901-8234, cafebelong.ca. Open seven days a week from dawn till dusk, Brad Long’s eco-minded beanery at the Brick Works celebrates the seasonal harvest with corn-crusted local perch over tossed rainbow chard.
Duff’s Famous Wings
1604 Bayview, at Millwood, 416-544-0100, duffsfamouswings.ca. Buffalo-style chicken wings ranging in heat from non-existent to nuclear. Other patio location: 558 College, at Manning, 416-963-4446.
Granite Brewery
245 Eglinton E, at Mt Pleasant, 416-322-0723, granitebrewery.ca. Roomy brew pub that makes its own small-batch preservative-free suds, including Hopping Mad, Hazy Daze and fruity Peculiar.
Hollywood Gelato
1640 Bayview, at Manor, 416-544-9829, hollywoodgelato.ca. A madhouse during heatwaves, this Leaside ice cream parlour mixes tradition (Sicilian pistachio) with innovation (crushed Oreo cheesecake). Unlicensed.
Uptown: Beyond
Auberge du Pommier
4150 Yonge, at York Mills, 416-222-2220, oliverbonacini.com. A taste of Provence hidden away in Hogg’s Hollow, this upscale French resto from O&B offers a Continental card in a lush garden set between two stone cottages. Closed Sunday, holidays.
Garden Cafe
777 Lawrence E, at Leslie, 416-392-6190, torontobotanicalgarden.ca. You don’t have to be a member of the Toronto Botanical Society to enjoy a bite to eat in this delightful stone lodge on the park-like grounds. Unlicensed.
Golden Star
7123 Yonge, at Doncaster, 905-889-6891. The Burger’s Priest may inspire religious epiphanies, but this old-school Thornhill drive-in has had a cult following since the 60s.
