Super-Size Me
Mind your manners: massive sharing platters are back By Claire Hastings
Comfort food isn’t going anywhere.
Staggering out of an economic hangover, Torontonians are still embracing the culinary equivalent of the Snuggie. Savvy chefs are upping the homey quotient with Flintstonian sharing platters. Here, the best of the biggest.
Roast for Eight ($150–$280)
The Queen and Beaver’s Sunday Feasting menu has been a hit since its launch late last summer. Meat lovers (and cramped condo dwellers) pre-order one of four roasts—pork, lamb, beef rib or beef Wellington—by Thursday. Patrons set up camp in the cozy private dining room, complete with heaping side dishes and a flat-screen for checking Arsenal’s scores. 35 Elm St., 647-347-2712.
Prime Rib for Two ($55)
The star of the Ossington strip, chef Teo Paul melds traditional French cuisine with the bounty of Ontario at Union. An enormous côte de boeuf with a hearty helping of smashed potatoes is an ideal pairing. Cooked French country style, the meat has a caramelized crust and is unbelievably juicy. 72 Ossington Ave., 416-850-0093.
Giant Game Stew for Two ($40)
At times, Oddfellows can feel more like a gallery than a restaurant, but the food at the communal table is reassuringly scrumptious. The stew—meltingly tender venison chunks and mushrooms in a red wine and stout sauce—provokes envious sniffing from neighbouring diners. 936 Queen St. W., 416-534-5244.
Multiculti Feast ($45 per person)
With its daily shared prix fixe dinners, Victor pays tribute to the favourite dishes of various Toronto neighbourhoods. Monday’s Christie Pits dinner—casseroles brimming with succulent smoked brisket and addictive chorizo tacos—elevates street food to a fine-dining fiesta. 30 Mercer St., 416-883‑3431.
Illustration by James Braithwaite
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