Introducing: Modus Ristorante, the plush new Financial District spot for upscale Italian
Inside Modus (Image: Gizelle Lau)
Modus Ristorante, a new restaurant in the Financial District, might serve Italian food, but refreshingly, no one’s anxious to label it “rustic.” Behind Modus is Sam Genkov, owner of the 16-year-old District favourite Bravi Ristorante, and chef Bruce Woods, formerly of Brassaii.
No stranger to high-end Italian cuisine, Woods worked at Il Posto in the late ’90s, becoming executive chef and co-owner of Centro after taking over for Marc Thuet. Modus’s menu shows Woods back in his element, reimagining recognizable Italian classics as fine-dining creations. Starters include carpaccio of veal ($19) or swordfish ($16), as well as a buffalo mozzarella pomodoro salad ($17). Pastas, most of which are made in house, include butternut squash ravioli with braised duck and shaved black truffle ($26) and spaghettini with mozzarella-stuffed prime beef meatballs ($24). For secondi, there’s osso buco with parmesan polenta ($29) and a handful of seafood dishes like baked halibut ($27) and pan-roasted pickerel ($26). The long dessert menu features classics like gelato ($8), rum and ricotta fritters ($10) or cheeses from the Cheese Boutique ($16 for a selection of three).
Behind the restaurant’s 300-bottle wine program is sommelier Ruben Elmer of Profile Wine Group, who has also previously worked at Canoe and Auberge du Pommier. The list offers 10 reds and eight or nine whites by the glass, with a heavy focus on Italian, Californian and South American wines.
If the space feels familiarly “Financial District,” it’s because the design is the work of Mackay Wong Strategic Design, the group responsible for Glow, Vertical and Far Niente, to name a few. Rich golds, textured wallpaper and giant chandeliers create a subtly elegant space. At the front, there’s a large bar and lounge area to accommodate the 5 p.m. rush of schmoozing suits. At the back is the showpiece kitchen—on display for guests as well as passersby on York Street—and the elevated chef’s table, where groups of six to eight can sit and watch Woods at work.
92447 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Gianduja budino ($10): hazelnut chocolate pudding with white chocolate truffles Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-chocolate-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-chocolate.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-chocolate.jpg 624 381 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-chocolate/ modus-chocolate 0 0
Gianduja budino ($10): hazelnut chocolate pudding with white chocolate truffles
92453 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Panini Gelato ($10): ice cream sandwich with salted caramel ice cream on brioche Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-panini-gelato-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-panini-gelato.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-panini-gelato.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-panini-gelato/ modus-panini-gelato 0 0
Panini Gelato ($10): ice cream sandwich with salted caramel ice cream on brioche
92456 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Saffron risotto carbonara with lobster and speck, grated pecorino cheese and spring onions ($29) Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-risotto-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-risotto.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-risotto.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-risotto/ modus-risotto 0 0
Saffron risotto carbonara with lobster and speck, grated pecorino cheese and spring onions ($29)
92455 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Buffalo milk ricotta–filled ravioli, golden tomato sauce and basil foam ($21) Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-ravioli-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-ravioli.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-ravioli.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-ravioli/ modus-ravioli 0 0
Buffalo milk ricotta–filled ravioli, golden tomato sauce and basil foam ($21)
92457 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Carpccio di pesce spada ($16): swordfish carpaccio, oven-dried cherry tomatoes, bottarga di muggine and lemon-basil oil Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-swordfish-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-swordfish.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-swordfish.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-swordfish/ modus-swordfish 0 0
Carpccio di pesce spada ($16): swordfish carpaccio, oven-dried cherry tomatoes, bottarga di muggine and lemon-basil oil
92446 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Carpaccio di vitello rossini ($19): veal carpaccio with truffled potato crema, terrine de foie gras and roasted mushroom salad Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-carpaccio-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-carpaccio.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-carpaccio.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-carpaccio/ modus-carpaccio 0 0
Carpaccio di vitello rossini ($19): veal carpaccio with truffled potato crema, terrine de foie gras and roasted mushroom salad
92448 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Another view of the dining room Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-dining-room-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-dining-room-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-dining-room-2.jpg 597 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-dining-room-2/ modus-dining-room-2 0 0
Another view of the dining room
92454 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The private event space, de rigeur for any self-respecting Bay Street restaurant Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-private-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-private.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-private.jpg 624 406 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-private/ modus-private 0 0
The private event space, de rigeur for any self-respecting Bay Street restaurant
92450 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The kitchen, domain of chef Bruce Woods, is visible from the dining room and York Street Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-kitchen-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-kitchen.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-kitchen.jpg 624 369 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-kitchen/ modus-kitchen 0 0
The kitchen, domain of chef Bruce Woods, is visible from the dining room and York Street
92449 (Image: Gizelle Lau) The dining room was designed by the same group responsible for Glow, Vertical and Far Niente Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-dining-room-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-dining-room.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-dining-room.jpg 656 436 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-dining-room/ modus-dining-room 0 0
The dining room was designed by the same group responsible for Glow, Vertical and Far Niente
92451 (Image: Gizelle Lau) In front of the dining room proper, there’s a lounge area to accommodate the 5 p.m. rush of suits Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-lounge-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-lounge.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-lounge.jpg 446 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-lounge/ modus-lounge 0 0
In front of the dining room proper, there’s a lounge area to accommodate the 5 p.m. rush of suits
92452 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Outside Sam Genkov’s new Italian restaurant on King Street Introducing: Modus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-outside-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-outside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/modus-outside.jpg 624 415 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-modus/slide/modus-outside/ modus-outside 0 0
Outside Sam Genkov’s new Italian restaurant on King Street
Modus Ristorante, 145 King St. W., 416-861-9977, modusristorante.com.
Excellent food, impeccable service…we will most definitely be back to try something else on this well-planned menu, there were so many appealing dishes……Good luck to Chef Bruce Woods and his team, you will have much success with Modus!!
Beautful ambiance and excellent service. Dishes are guite good but definitely not authentic Italian…contemporary nor traditional. Still enjoyed and would go back.
I think the ambience was nice but was not wowed by the food.