Advertisement

Food & Drink

Valentine vittles

This magazine might be called NOW, but I’m three weeks ahead of you. Such is my schedule, while you lot are stuffing yourselves with tofurkey, I’ve already eaten my way half-way to Chinese New Year.

As we speak, I’m knee-deep in romantic bistros in preparation for our upcoming Valentine’s Day Planner issue. Problem is, by the time the paper drops the week before VD, most of the restos I would have recommended will be long sold out. Don’t worry. We’ve found a ton of great little spots you’ll still be able to book for the big day and we’ll tell you about them on February 3rd.

And also keep in mind that Winterlicious runs through Sunday February 13th and that Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday, a day that many restaurants are closed. And don’t even think about lining up for Sunday brunch the day before unless you have reservations.

When it comes to romance the French wrote the book. It’s always l’amour toujours l’amour at Oliver and Bonacini’s Auberge du Pommier (4150 Yonge, at York Mills, 416-222-2220, aubergedupommier.com), especially in winter the 19th century crofter’s cottage nestled in Hogg’s Hollow comes swaddled in snow. Book a table for lunch or dinner as close to the fireplace as you can.

Closer downtown, both Le Select (432 Wellington W, at Spadina, 416-596-6405, leselect.ca) and it’s distant cousin La Palette (492 Queen W, at Portland, 416-603-4900, lapalette.ca) will be serving lunch and dinner. Sorry, Riverdale but Batifole (744 Gerrard E, at Howland, 416-462-9965, batifole.ca) is closed for the night but you still might be able to commandeer at table for either lunch or dinner at glitzy Globe Bistro (124 Danforth, at Broadview, 416-466-2000, globebistro.com). Ask for the upper mezzanine.

Not into the bistro scene? The Gallery Grill (7 Hart House Circle, at Wellesley, 416-978-2445, harthouse.utoronto.ca) always throws a lavish lunchtime spread in a spectacular setting – think Goodby Mr. Chips meets Good Will Hunting – as does lofty George (111 Queen E, at Mutual, 416-863-6006, georgeonqueen.com). George also will be throwing romantically themed dinners on the 13th and 14th. Susur Lee’s eponymous Lee (603 King W, at Portland, 416-504-7867, susur.com) is coming off Winterlicious that weekend but something tells me his hotly anticipated but yet-to-launch Lee Lounge next door just might be up and running though nobody’s saying anything officially yet.

And while neither of Toronto’s hottest new boites Woodlot (293 Palmerston, at College, 647-342-6307, woodlotrestaurant.com) or Campagnolo (832 Dundas W, at Euclid, 416-364-4785, campagnolotoronto.com) will be open on the Monday (though both do dinner Sunday night), Nathan Isberg’s iconoclastic Atlantic (1597 Dundas W, at Brock, 416-219-3819, atlanticondundas.com) is taking reservations for the 14th. Make sure to pre-order the crickets!

Vegetarians and romance go together like silk stockings and Birckenstocks but Jennifer Italiano’s recently overhauled Live Organic Food Bar (264 Dupont, at Spadina, 416-515-2002, livefoodbar.com) gives herbivores the opportunity to save the planet in style.

Me? I’ll be spending Valentine’s Day having blintz for breakfast at United Bakers Dairy (506 Lawrence W, at Bathurst, 416-789-0519) in preparation for our upcoming annual April 7th Brunch Guide.

Advertisement

Exclusive content and events straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Recently Posted