“Our culinary and service programs have matured”: What’s on the menu at the new-and-improved Alo

When Alo first opened in 2015, it set a new standard for fine-dining in Toronto with its tasting menus and service style. Toronto was in its rustic farm-to-table era, and chef Patrick Kriss, alongside business partner Zane Pearl, wanted to take a decidedly different approach.

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After a decade spent climbing to the top of culinary lists and earning a Michelin star, Alo closed—but only temporarily. It was time for a reset. “Our culinary and service programs have matured,” says Kriss. “The environment has to mirror that growth. We’ve been talking about this for a while and trying to find the right time, but if you’re holding out for the right time, chances are you’ve already waited too long.”

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The Food

During the restaurant’s closure, Kriss and his chefs tried out new ideas at Gallery, Alo’s experimental test kitchen inside Salon, the restaurant group’s private dining space in Yorkville. The pop-up served as a culinary sketchbook where the team explored new techniques, plating styles and service rhythms before bringing them back to Alo’s dining room.

Now, diners can choose between two tasting formats: a six-course menu that offers a concise expression of Alo’s cooking ($185 per person) and a 10-course one that moves through a broader progression of seasonal dishes ($245 per person).

The Drinks

In Alo’s adjoining cocktail bar, the experience is a bit more relaxed—despite the white tablecloths. The cozy room hums with energy, offering a front-row seat to bartenders shaking and stirring classic cocktails reworked with subtle tweaks and updated spirits. Guests can settle in at the bar and enjoy something from the à la carte menu alongside their cocktails or opt for the six-course tasting menu at one of the surrounding tables.

The Space

Toronto’s Commute Design Studio introduced curved walls, softer architectural lines and a more fluid sense of movement through the space. The dining room is moodier, with wall-to-wall textured burgundy carpet that anchors matching leather and suede seating. And the white tablecloths are gone (they’re in the bar now).