Where can you still score a table for two on Valentine’s Day? These places. (But hurry.)

Where can you still score a table for two on Valentine’s Day? These places. (But hurry.)

What restaurants still have available Valentine's Day reservations?
(Images: Dave Gillespie)

No Valentine’s Day reservations? Don’t break out that that fail-safe bolognese recipe just yet. We called around to places that have made our Best New Restaurants lists over the past three years. As of Wednesday night, 15 of them still had some tables for two available (or walk-in space for stragglers), meaning there may still be time to arrange dinner with your loved one at one of Toronto’s top spots. Here’s where all the openings are at:

Tables Available

The Chase (#1 in 2014)
“Chef Michael Steh has revived surf and turf in a big way.”
Phone: 647-348-7000
Online: Website
Available tables: Reservations are still being taken for handful of bar seats.

Daisho (#3 in 2013)
“Mountains of food get demolished, fingers get licked, and everyone has fun.”
Phone: 647-253-6227
Online: Website
Tables available: A limited number of reservations are left.

Drake One Fifty (#4 in 2014)
“Chef Ted Corrado grills status steaks and a mean burger.”
Phone: 416-363-6150
Online: Website
Tables available: 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.
Walk-in chances: All bar seats are open for walk-ins.

Hopgood’s Foodliner (#4 in 2013)
“There’s Canadiana kitsch at work (the donairs are cheekily served on paper bags), but it’s done lovingly.”
Phone: 416-533-2723
Online: Bookenda
Tables available: About eight tables are available after 10 p.m.
Walk-in chances: A few spaces at the bar are being saved for walk-ins.

Aria (#5 in 2012)
“Glamorous yet approachable, rustic yet refined, Aria reclaims fine dining for our post-recessionary city.”
Phone: 416-363-2742
Online: Website
Tables available: A handful of openings are left between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 

Geraldine (#6 in 2014)
“A Prohibition-era menu of oysters, game and mushrooms on toast.”
Phone: 647-352-8815
Online: Bookenda
Tables available: 5:00 p.m.
Walk-in chances: Twelve bar seats are being saved for walk-ins (only the oyster bar menu will be served at the bar).

Barque (#6 in 2012)
“There’s no limit to what chef-owner David Neinstein will load into his magnificent smoker.”
Phone: 416-532-7700
Online: Website
Tables available: A few left at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. (for a special Valentine’s Day menu)

F’Amelia (#7 in 2012)
“Warmed by the rosy glow of the clay pizza oven, the charming three-room space feels like a farmhouse in Tuscany.”
Phone: 416-323-0666
Online: Open Table
Tables available: 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Kingyo (#8 in 2013)
“Kingyo’s ramen sets the standard in the city: the complex broth unfurls chili, roasted garlic, miso and sesame around springy noodles.”
Phone: 647-748-2121
Online: Website
Tables available: Only one left at 8:45 p.m.

Agave y Aguacate (#10 in 2014)
“A Mexican restaurant where there’s not a taco in sight.”
Phone: 647-748-6448
Tables available: 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Walk-in chances: Four bar tables are being saved for walk-ins.

Try Your Luck

THR & Co. (#3 in 2014)
“Cory Vitiello’s second restaurant is a bigger, better Harbord Room.”
Phone: 647-748-7199
Walk-in chances: Five bar seats will be available for walk-ins.

Electric Mud (#5 in 2014)
“It’s worth suffering the wait, the picnic tables and tinnitus for the saucy ribs and cheddar-thickened grits with gulf shrimp.”
Phone: 416-516-8286
Walk-in only: Co-owner Ian McGrenaghan says, “I’d say come like half an hour early and it’ll be fine—we have a heated patio to wait on. Saturdays are typically crazy, but Valentine’s Day I would say you can expect to be sharing the wait with alcoholic singles and other fun couples.”

Farmhouse Tavern (#5 in 2013)
“Unpretentious farm-to-table food, a quaintly shabby room and hoodie-wearing servers geeked up on Ontario ingredients.”
Phone: 416-561-9114
Walk-in chances: Six barstools will be reserved for walk-ins.

Rhum Corner (#8 in 2014)
“Jesse Grasso cooks the tastiest rice and beans this side of Port-au-Prince.”
Phone: 647-346-9356
Walk-in only: Owner Jen Agg says, “In general the only way to get a seat there is to come early, like before 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Before 7 is a pretty safe bet, but anytime after that it really does start to jam up for the whole night.”

Volos (#9 in 2012)
“You leave feeling satisfied yet light of step like you’re on an Aegean holiday, instead of garlic-logged like you’re trundling home from the Danforth.”
Phone: 416-861-1211
Walk-in chances: The reservation list is full, however there’s a first-come, first-served lounge area with a full-service bar and a few high-top tables.