The Dish Power Rankings: Happy Valentine’s Day Edition
In this week’s roundup: lovers scrounge the city for chocolate, and two major restaurant spin-offs spell delicious things for 2014.
1. 416 Snack Bar
Another day, another huge new restaurant spin-off likely to forever alter the city’s culinary landscape.
2. Soma Chocolates
Anxious lovers lined up at 9 a.m. to stock up on praline-filled chocolate hearts and hibiscus rum truffles.
3. Fonda Lola
The Star’s Amy Pataki hailed Fonda Lola as “The next generation of Mexican restaurants in Toronto.” (We’re not sure if she had a chance to sample everything on the menu.)
4. The Chase
The pescatarian powerhouse announced the forthcoming launch of Colette Grand Café and Bakery, a new double-restaurant at the Thompson Hotel. In less positive news: Post City’s Joanne Kates found The Chase’s service sucky and the food “ho-hum.”
5. Bar Buca
Mark McEwan tweet-reviewed his weekday lunch at the new Buca spin-off. His assessment: “Very tasty.”
6. Barque
Canadian Sochi sweetheart and Olympic bronze medalist Mark McMorris ate ribs at the Roncey smokehouse, which will soon add home delivery to its repertoire.
7. Auberge du Pommier
The uptown bungalow might qualify as Toronto’s most genuinely romantic restaurant. Unsurprisingly, it’s booked for Valentine’s Day and through the long weekend.
8. Barrio Coreano
Also very booked: the rowdy, grungy, Mexico City–style taco joint from the Playa Cabana team. Singles have to eat, too.
9. Agave y Aguacate
Yelpers, Facebookers and Urbanspooners are firmly united in their approval of Francisco Alejandri’s Kensington cantina.
10. Daishō
Downtown suits, welcome to your new standby for powerful weekday business lunching.
Honourable Mentions: George chef Lorenzo Loseto’s ahi tuna dish won first prize at last weekend’s Gold Medal Plates Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, B.C.; The Black Hoof enticed and revolted Twitter users with its animal-heart-based Valentine’s Day feast; and The Grid’s Karon Liu gave a standing O to under-the-radar Sushi Nomi on Roncey.
4. The Chase
The pescatarian powerhouse announced the forthcoming launch of Colette Grand Café and Bakery, a new double-restaurant at the Thompson Hotel. In less positive news: Post City’s Joanne Kates found The Chase’s service sucky and the food “ho-hum.”
5. Bar Buca
Mark McEwan tweet-reviewed his weekday lunch at the new Buca spin-off. His assessment: “Very tasty.”
6. Barque
Canadian Sochi sweetheart and Olympic bronze medalist Mark McMorris ate ribs at the Roncey smokehouse, which will soon add home delivery to its repertoire.
7. Auberge du Pommier
The uptown bungalow might qualify as Toronto’s most genuinely romantic restaurant. Unsurprisingly, it’s booked for Valentine’s Day and through the long weekend.
8. Barrio Coreano
Also very booked: the rowdy, grungy, Mexico City–style taco joint from the Playa Cabana team. Singles have to eat, too.
9. Agave y Aguacate
Yelpers, Facebookers and Urbanspooners are firmly united in their approval of Francisco Alejandri’s Kensington cantina.
10. Daishō
Downtown suits, welcome to your new standby for powerful weekday business lunching.
Honourable Mentions: George chef Lorenzo Loseto’s ahi tuna dish won first prize at last weekend’s Gold Medal Plates Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, B.C.; The Black Hoof enticed and revolted Twitter users with its animal-heart-based Valentine’s Day feast; and The Grid’s Karon Liu gave a standing O to under-the-radar Sushi Nomi on Roncey.){kind=link}