Top Ten Restaurants 2009

These are the places of proven and consistent quality that set the city’s fine-dining standard: the stars in our gastronomical firmament By James Chatto

Image credit: Ryan Szulc

One

CANOE

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe saw God in the details. On the 54th floor of one of his timelessly beautiful towers, chef Anthony Walsh and the Oliver Bonacini team have assumed responsibility. Recession or no, every cog of the restaurant’s mechanism is currently whirring in perfect sync, pampering and seducing Bay Street suits, courting couples and A-list gourmets alike. The surprise is the edgy intensity of Walsh’s food. Building an imaginative menu around artisanal Canadian ingredients gives an evening at Canoe substantial artistic backbone—righteous passion plays all the more powerfully in such a suave and sophisticated key.

STANDOUT DISH: Thick slices of rare, amazingly tender squab breast and juicy beech mushrooms are spaced on the plate like a delectable archipelago. Alongside sits a confited squab leg (dark, woodsy meat), jerusalem artichoke quenelle and a bittersweet parcel of black kale leaves. Tiny pools of purple chokecherry and dots of green laurel oil colour a subtle sauce spiked with Newfoundland screech. Such original flavours, but they still allow the squab to rule the roost. 66 Wellington St. W., 416-364-0054.

Read our full review of Canoe >>

Originally published April 2009

7 Comments

Comment on this story

Hey I'd love to go have a meal at Eigensinn Farm or Langdon Hall, so how about one of you Toronto Life guys post here how I get to either of them via the TTC.

I mean, nobody would be so stupid as to include restaurants that aren't even in the city on the list of the city's best restaurants, right?
March 29, 2009 | by P88

I'm still waiting for an explanation why 2 of the "top ten restaurants in Toronto" aren't even located in the GTA.

Will I get one?

Or do so few people visit this site that Toronto Life staff don't give a sh1t about the comments?
April 1, 2009 | by P88

I can't believe the lack of imagination or thought that went into this trite article. It should have been titled "top 10 restaurants for pretentious wannabes". I'm not arguing that many of them are great restaurants, but really, there's definitely been a very limited perspective taken here.
For instance, given the never-ending line-ups outside Terroni, I suspect the dining masses of Toronto, know a little more than this writer.
Please, try and put a bit more effort in next time.
May 1, 2009 | by jps2009

Hi my vote goes to http://www.originalmotorcycleburgers.com... New & Vintage look, rare motorcycle art, detail &branding style in every way including Fuss's new hand picked playlist, it's an experience You have to try!!! Featuring "The Original Steak Burger", AAA Ground Fresh on Site,highest quality ingredients, everything is made to order, variety of Original Steak Burgers, Free Range Chicken, Veggie Burgers, Fussy Wings, Soup & Salads, Original Fries, Sweet Potato Fries & Onion Rings.
August 18, 2009 | by cookee

Of course, any such list like this is very subjective. But I think that "Stonegrill" Restaurant in Cabbagetown (Parliament and Winchester) is unique enough in its own right to be on any top-ten list. Any top-10 list needs enough variety to not seem boring or repetitive. Hence Stonegrill.

The Stonegrill method presents your selection on a heated lava stone from Australia, and cooks before your eyes to the exact level you want. The ambiance and wine list are luxurious enough to qualify for fine-dining, while the pricing ($25 and up per entree) is manageable enough to invite most through its doors. I highly recommend.
Here is their website: http://www.stonegrillonwinchester.com/ho...
April 20, 2010 | by david_maurer

Haha, I have to share some funny story which happened to me yesterday: I decided to introduce my elderly mother to the magic of the Internet. Our first move was to access the popular Ask Jeeves website, and I told her it could answer any question she had. My mom was very skeptical until I said, “It’s true, Mom. Think of something to ask it.” As I sat with fingers poised over the keyboard, she thought a minute, then responded, “How is Aunt Helen feeling?”
here is their website http://www.shoppingzone.cc/
June 22, 2011 | by mbtonsale

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July 4, 2011 | by mbtonsale

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