Where Black and Blue Steakhouse chef Morgan Bellis eats in Dovercourt Village

Morgan Bellis, the executive chef of Black and Blue, the swanky two-storey steakhouse at King and York, is feeling particularly appreciative of the restaurant’s guests, so this year he’s giving thanks to his regulars (and appealing to new diners) by offering a bunch of meal deals.

“Our three-course beef Wellington special on Mondays is $195 for two people; on Prime Rib Sundays, we offer a three-course meal that’s only $69 per person; and every Friday, you can get a beer and a burger for just $25,” he says. Bellis wants to flip the script on the steakhouse—it doesn’t have to be a pricey, special occasion spot. “You can come here almost every day of the week and find something to suit your palate and price range,” he says.

Related: Toronto restaurants offering amazing Monday meal deals

When he’s not feeding people in the Financial District, Bellis likes to explore Dovercourt Village. “My family doctor is in the area, so whenever I’m there for an appointment, I like to seek out great local spots,” he says.

Here are three of his favourite places to eat in the west-end neighbourhood.

Good Behaviour Ice Cream

342 Westmoreland Ave. N., goodbehaviourto.ca

“The co-owner, Michael, and I used to work at Lavelle together. We’ve stayed in touch since, and I’ve been a big fan of his talents—at Ascari and now at Good Behaviour, where I continue to support him and his business partner, Eric.”

Go-to dish #1: Classic assorted sub (with soppressata, genoa salami, prosciutto di parma, prosciutto cotto, mortadella, provolone cheese, house mayo, giardiniera, lettuce, tomato and red onion)

“This has a great vinegar hit. You also get spice from the soppressata, but it’s all mellowed out by the mustard and cheese. This is super messy—as it should be. You should be fighting with a great submarine sandwich because that means they’re not skimping on the fillings. Just have plenty of napkins on standby.”

Go-to dish #2: Chocolate peanut butter ice cream

“This tastes so satisfying. It’s creamy and rich, and it reminds me of what a Reese’s peanut butter cup would taste like in ice cream form. I love the solid chocolate chunks and how dense in texture this is because of all the peanut butter in the mixture.”

San Wich

616 Gladstone Ave., @sanwichto

“This is a great neighbourhood joint. It’s tucked away in a residential area, so it definitely gives you that sense of discovery when you find it.”

Go-to dish #1: Cubano (ham, chorizo, adobo pork, gouda, avocado, tomato, onion, mustard and mayo)

“You get the unctuous meaty flavour from the pork adobo, which is offset by the lashings of yellow mustard. The avocado is an unusual addition here, but I really enjoy it as it balances all the flavours out. There’s a nice amount of salt and pepper, and you get a sort of palate reset from the brightness of the tomatoes. Ultimately, it’s messy and greasy, which is precisely what you want here.”

Go-to dish #2: Taquitos (crispy tacos topped with adobo pork, tomato, onion and avocado, served with sour cream and hot sauce on the side)

“This is a sort of build-your-own experience, and it gives me nacho vibes. I like to add their house pineapple hot sauce on top—it lingers like a nice buzz but doesn’t scorch you like a scotch bonnet–based hot sauce does. The pork is tender as well. Overall, the dish has a great balance of sweet, heat and acidity.”

Related: Where Michelin-starred chef Vicky Cheng eats when he’s back home in Toronto

Filosophy Pastry and Espresso Bar

912 Bloor St. W., filosophy.ca

“This is one of those quintessential neighbourhood coffee shops that everyone needs in their life. The ambiance here taps into a lot of nostalgia for me. Growing up in Europe, I was surrounded by quaint spots like this, where you enjoy a pastry and an espresso-based drink then sit, relax and people-watch.”

Go-to dish #1: Peanut butter crunch bar

“This spot has so many fantastic treats because they source their products from bakeries all over the city. But my forever go-to will be the peanut butter crunch bar from Circles and Squares. They taste like a peanut butter Rice Krispie square—gooey, sweet and with a bucket-load of peanut butter flavour.”

Go-to drink: Cappuccino

“I always order one of these to temper the sweetness from the peanut butter crunch bar. And I’m a traditionalist when it comes to my cappuccino—a properly made one should never need sugar. If the barista has made it properly and has generated enough milk froth for the drink, they’ll have brought out the natural sweetness. And this one is done perfectly: it’s creamy-smooth in texture with a pleasant hit of caffeine.”