The Dish Power Rankings: Waiting For The New Playa Edition
In this week’s roundup: Pearson airport becomes an official foodie destination (again), Toronto’s perennially packed taqueria gets ready for its fourth expansion, and Rob Schneider eats subs.
1. Playa Cabana (back this week)
The Twitterverse is buzzing about Barrio Coreano, the newest addition to the Playa taco empire, which makes its formal debut next week. Meanwhile, the existing Playas are busier than ever: only a handful of tables are up for grabs this weekend at Cabana, Hacienda or Cantina.
2. Bar Isabel (↓1)
Still swamped. If you can’t score a reservation, fear not: the restaurant leaves room for walk-ins (we recommend showing up extremely early or extremely late).
3. Bent (back this week)
Susur Lee’s next new venture: a French-Asian fusion restaurant at the ever-more-glamorous Pearson airport. Meanwhile, his Dundas West eatery is booked solid on Friday and Saturday, thanks to the extremely popular bento-box dinner series.
4. Rhum Corner (↓2)
The cheery Haitian dive is quickly becoming everyone’s favourite way to escape the impending Dark Months. Our favourite boozy treat: the Fresco, a cozy spiced sno-cone.
5. The Chase (back this week)
Toronto Life restaurant critic Mark Pupo gives the seafood restaurant props for making the downtown core cool. Globe critic Chris Nuttall-Smith concurs.
6. Glas Wine Bar (new this week)
The Leslieville restaurant is booked through the weekend. The main draw: the new Veggielicious menu, which is both totally vegan and totally devoid of textured vegetable proteins.
7. Edulis (↓3)
Food photos from the King West restaurant made international headlines earlier this week. Unfortunately, they were snapped by the world’s worst food photographer, Martha Stewart.
8. El Catrin (↑1)
The cast of new Mirvish musical Aladdin partied at the Mexican restaurant, which is once again fully booked all weekend. Part of the draw, we’re sure, is the fabulous heated patio, which includes a giant central fire pit.
9. The Whippoorwill (new this week)
The cozy Bloordale diner has been generating steady buzz in recent weeks, including an enthusiastic endorsement from Gabardine chef Graham Pratt.
10. Touhenboku Ramen (new this week)
Chowhounders are reporting lineups out the door at the city’s newest ramen shop.
Honourable Mentions: A new restaurant from Ruby Watchco chef Lynn Crawford and two new outposts of Caplansky’s deli are among the raft of new eateries coming to YYZ; Canadian beauty and one-time Smallville resident Kristen Kreuk was spotted hanging out at Café Diplomatico on College; and The Belly Buster Submarine got a thumbs-up from one-time European Gigolo, Rob Schneider.
, Toronto’s perennially packed taqueria gets ready for its fourth expansion, and Rob Schneider eats subs.
1. Playa Cabana (back this week)
The Twitterverse is buzzing about Barrio Coreano, the newest addition to the Playa taco empire, which makes its formal debut next week. Meanwhile, the existing Playas are busier than ever: only a handful of tables are up for grabs this weekend at Cabana, Hacienda or Cantina.
2. Bar Isabel (↓1)
Still swamped. If you can’t score a reservation, fear not: the restaurant leaves room for walk-ins (we recommend showing up extremely early or extremely late).
3. Bent (back this week)
Susur Lee’s next new venture: a French-Asian fusion restaurant at the ever-more-glamorous Pearson airport. Meanwhile, his Dundas West eatery is booked solid on Friday and Saturday, thanks to the extremely popular bento-box dinner series.
4. Rhum Corner (↓2)
The cheery Haitian dive is quickly becoming everyone’s favourite way to escape the impending Dark Months. Our favourite boozy treat: the Fresco, a cozy spiced sno-cone.
5. The Chase (back this week)
Toronto Life restaurant critic Mark Pupo gives the seafood restaurant props for making the downtown core cool. Globe critic Chris Nuttall-Smith concurs.
6. Glas Wine Bar (new this week)
The Leslieville restaurant is booked through the weekend. The main draw: the new Veggielicious menu, which is both totally vegan and totally devoid of textured vegetable proteins.
7. Edulis (↓3)
Food photos from the King West restaurant made international headlines earlier this week. Unfortunately, they were snapped by the world’s worst food photographer, Martha Stewart.
8. El Catrin (↑1)
The cast of new Mirvish musical Aladdin partied at the Mexican restaurant, which is once again fully booked all weekend. Part of the draw, we’re sure, is the fabulous heated patio, which includes a giant central fire pit.
9. The Whippoorwill (new this week)
The cozy Bloordale diner has been generating steady buzz in recent weeks, including an enthusiastic endorsement from Gabardine chef Graham Pratt.
10. Touhenboku Ramen (new this week)
Chowhounders are reporting lineups out the door at the city’s newest ramen shop.
Honourable Mentions: A new restaurant from Ruby Watchco chef Lynn Crawford and two new outposts of Caplansky’s deli are among the raft of new eateries coming to YYZ; Canadian beauty and one-time Smallville resident Kristen Kreuk was spotted hanging out at Café Diplomatico on College; and The Belly Buster Submarine got a thumbs-up from one-time European Gigolo, Rob Schneider. ){kind=link}