Introducing: The Forth, a new fine-dining spot on the Danforth from former Brassaii chef Chris Kalisperas
Introducing: The Forth, a new fine-dining spot on the Danforth from former Brassaii chef Chris Kalisperas
By Jackie Pal | May 20, 2014
By Jackie Pal | 05/20/2014
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Name: The Forth
Neighbourhood: The Danforth
Contact Info: 629 Danforth Ave., 416-465-2629, @TheForthTO, theforth.ca
Owner: Chris Kalisperas and The Signature Group
Chef: Chris Kalisperas, formerly of Brassaii and Centro
The Food: Chef Kalisperas’s contemporary Canadian cuisine blends Italian, French and Asian flavours, with some suprisingly playful twists. His hand-cut beef tenderloin tartare is served with Szechuan- and curry-flavoured potato chips, while an octopus appetizer is plated on a bed of puréed buttered popcorn.
The Drinks: The restaurant’s mostly Canadian and Mediterranean wine collection is displayed in a glass cabinet at the back of the restaurant. It includes sought-after local whites like the Megalomaniac Eccentric Savagnin from Twenty Mile Bench and the popular Benjamin Bridge Brut from Nova Scotia. Whiskey enthusiasts can choose from eighteen different kinds of Scotch.
The Place: The two-storey restaurant—lodged in the National Bank building at Danforth and Pape—has herringbone floors, an Art Deco–inspired hexagonal ceiling and crystal chandeliers. Two projection screens display historical photos of the neighbourhood.
274799 <strong>The Forth</strong> is located in the National Bank building at Danforth and Pape (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-01/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274800 The restaurant’s entrance feels a bit like a hotel lobby. There’s a welcome desk and an elevator, which whisks diners to either of the two dining floors (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-02/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274801 The two-storey restaurant/lounge seats 150 people (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-03/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274802 A big glass cabinet displays the restaurant’s wine collection (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-04/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274803 (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-05/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274804 Hand-cut beef tenderloin is topped with four kinds of house-made potato chips, plus deviled-egg drops, jumbo capers and slivers of Parmesan ($16) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-06/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274805 Octopus is cooked sous-vide and served on top of creamed-popcorn purée with lime vinaigrette and cilantro sprouts ($12) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-07/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274806 Cured steelhead trout comes with slivers of radish, fennel, pickled red chilies and roe ($17) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-08/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274807 House-made sourdough focaccia and ciabatta comes free at every table (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-09/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274808 Halibut with squid and lemon ($33) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-10/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274809 Dry-aged strip loin is served with hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, shallots, asparagus and braised shin meat ($36) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-11/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274810 The Tommy Margarita blends silver Patron, agave, lime juice and dried citrus rinds ($12) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-12/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274811 Lemon Tart with white chocolate foam and jasmine sorbet ($9) (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-13/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
274812 As a parting gift, each guest gets two complimentary petit fours with their bill (Image: Jackie Pal) Introducing: The Forth https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/the-forth-toronto-restaurants/slide/the-forth-toronto-restaurant-14/ the-forth-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
150 seats on the Danforth? Up stairs?Fine dining? I don’t know?Have fun. Good Luck!!