Spin-offs of Toronto’s Top Restaurants

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This article is part of the FT Globetrotter guide in Toronto

In many cities, restaurateurs spread their brands to several locations. But Toronto has recently seen a surge in these small culinary kingdoms. Chef Anthony Rose was an early initiator. His Uptown territory ranges from Middle Eastern meals at Fatpasha to grab Schmaltz’s appetizing bagels.

My favorite front post base is always more casual and offers the best chef influence without suffocating or pretending. “If you’re riding a Blue Jays jersey or wearing a suit, I still want you to feel comfortable,” says Patrick Chris of Aloet, a casual derivative of the Michelin-star flagship Aro. says (see below) – a strong candidate for the best restaurants in Toronto. Chris wants her little brother, Aloet, to serve exceptional food and drinks in a gentle atmosphere. “You don’t have to expect to come and drop a big bill,” he says. “You can come and have a cocktail. The door is always open.”

I grew up in town, so I think there’s something distinctive about this leisurely approach to Torontonians. And I’d like to eat the second most inedible food without changing jeans for uncomfortable pants. Ironed white table clothes are for London or New York. Here it’s all about food rather than fantasy.

Aloet Bay

81 Bay Street, 4th floor, Toronto, M5J 0E7

Good: Hamburgers. Something like a local legend, Aloette Burger remains a popular favorite thanks to the spectacular volume of takeout being sold during the Covid-19 pandemic

Not very good: the atmosphere at the Bay location is inevitable, small business

FYI: ALO Food Group is growing rapidly from kingdom to empire. Also try Alo, Aloette Spadina or two Alobar locations

Price: Main, C$22-C$46 ($15.50/£12.50–$32/£26)

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 11:30am to 9pm. Saturdays, 5pm to 9pm

Website; Directions

The original aloet is located downstairs by the more luxurious brothers on Spadina Avenue, just off Everhip Queen Street West. But there is also a new downtown location. And if you venture out there, you might think you are heading to the right place. Aloette Bay is located at the entrance to the food court at the all-new CIBC Square Swyscraper. What it lacks in what appeals is, it is convenient. The location is perfect for those traveling through Union Station or attending events at the Scotia Bank Centre next door. Inside, green tiles and natural decorations do their best to guide the original aloet diner-inspired charm.

The quals about the neighborhood and atmosphere disappear when you read the menu and shove it in. Home Bread – Small leaves of featherlite cheese bread served with smoky roasted nutrient yeast butter – set up table for rising menus. Favourites like burgers and fried chicken are the realm of oat cooking. The beef tartare stands out with a bright mix of pickles, mustard seeds and lemon. The Koji Butter Scallops come with cracked rice, just a bit reminiscent of breakfast cereal. The cocktails are also great. I tried tequila-based Iceberg fiction. This was the first spicy cocktail your phobic correspondent actually enjoyed.

Julietta

972 College Street, Toronto, M6H 1A5

Good: Cocktails. Mezcal Negroni is even better than you think

Not very good: I’m wearing a new Blue Jays jersey. Julietta isn’t suffocating, but he’s chic

FYI: Depending on where you stay, the location can be a bit of a step. It is served by Toronto’s iconic streetcars. Frankly, it’s usually faster to walk. Otherwise, I recommend a taxi

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 5pm to 10pm

Price: Main, C$29-$48 ($20/£16.50–$33.50/£27); Pizza C$26-$28 ($18/£14.50–$19.50/£16)

Website; Directions

It’s a relaxed experience than Michelin star Osteria Julia, but Little Brother Julietta is a height-height dining experience that appears in the Michelin Guide. Chefs Rob Rossi and David Minickic wanted to offer a “real neighborhood restaurant.” We are the fact that softly lit dining room with its mellow music and glass walk-in refrigerator rooms is in Little Portugal, not in a more demographically appropriate Little Italy neighborhood on the road. Shed light on the Wherever this kitchen sets up, it’s enough Italian for me.

The menu is in Italian and is fingertips, but it is not very traditional and therefore not original. There are plenty of options, from generously divided appetizers, pasta, meat, seafood to pizza. The famous octopus is responsive to its reputation. The barbecue is soft, served with buttery cannellini beans and fresh green salsa. The food is excellent in texture. The artichoke fritters are crisply fried in a melted interior, and the signature Rajirietta pizza is an unexpected and fantastic combination of pistachio pesto, lard and smoked scamosa cheese.

Food writers are generally asked to say more creative things than “the food is really, really good.” But don’t get me wrong. This was one of the best meals I’ve had in a very long time.

Barald

169 King Street East, Toronto, M5A 1J4

Good: Fried. These are delicately cut and have incredibly delicious lemony mayonnaise

Not very good: Choice. There are a huge selection of small plates, but there are few options in the main

FYI: The restaurant also hosts events such as curated dinners featuring excellent wine tastings and Alan Nini cooking classes.

Price: Small plate, C$13-C$27 ($9/£7.30–$19/£15); Main, C$23-C$119 ($16/£13–$83/£67)

Opening hours: Rates from 11am every day

Website; Directions

Chef Roberto Marotta’s Sicily facility spans the boundary between a cocktail bar and a restaurant. Further west, King Street is known as the Toronto club brand. Baraldo is more mature, but still appealing. Guests are invited to order cocktails, small plates, or large dishes. The spacious restaurant is chic, but with bold contemporary art, comfortable ventwood chairs and simple whitewashed brick walls. Under the block, sibling ARDO offers a more traditional sit-in menu.

The stars on the Bar Ardo menu are among the extensive selection of creative little plates. The food is centered around high quality ingredients, adjacent to the restraint-austerity to make these shine. Scallops are the perfect example. Cucumber, green apple, orange and lemon olive oil add a delicate accent without overwhelming the natural flavor. It is an equally fantastic artichoke, sliced ​​in half, gently marinated and topped with mint, capers, breadcrumbs and pecorino. Warm, nutty marsala and stewed fennel enhance the mussels and create the perfect balance between the earth and the ocean.

Vinoteca Pompette

597 College Street, Toronto, M6G 1B5

Good: Dessert. You should order a vanilla soft serve with honey, olive oil and fennel pollen. I’ll ask for you

Not so good: people with dietary restrictions. It’s a bit difficult to try and avoid dairy products and meat on this menu.

FYI: This culinary family has several doors and a great bakery poppet nearby.

Price: Pasta, C$25-$29 ($17.50/£14–$20/£16; “Comfort Plate”, c$28-$29 ($19.50/£15–$20/£16)

Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm and 5:30pm

Website; Directions

If you don’t like the butter, skip Vinoteca Pompette. During my September visit, the menu was rich in autumn – from brown batter mayonnaise with wagyu beef carpaccio to buttery ravioli dunquin furi. But cooking is far from one note. The tuna Kurds are fresh and are spectacularly presented with edible flowers and palettes of tomatoes of different colours that actually taste different from each other.

With a large glass terrace, whitewashed walls and friendly staff in T-shirts and jeans, Vinoteca Pompette can easily be mistaken for a simple neighborhood favorite. But this atmosphere believes in the truly outstanding cuisine in this successor to poppet, recommended by Michelin. Its owner unexpectedly closed its popular eateries to add new Italian influence and reappear in more casual outfits (late poppets were strictly French). The menu section entitled “Comfort Plate” features Steak Au Poble-inspired burgers and breaded chicken breast alanese. We also recommend looking at the cocktail list, especially basil smash. This is slightly reminiscent of the sourness of whiskey, but is made from filtered burrata water and gin distilled with basil.

Do you have a spin-off of your favorite Toronto restaurant? Please let me know in the comments below. Follow FT Globetrotter on Instagram at @ftglobetrotter

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