Black rabbit
838 College Street, 416-637-3868
Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood is home to a new restaurant inspired by the Caribbean, Creole and Latin America, Conejo Negro. Chef Alycia Wahn, who lived in Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans in her 20s, returned home with Latin comfort food in mind: “After tasting Creole, I noticed similarities between the three cuisines and always imagined they would pair beautifully.” Popular dishes include the firecracker shrimp ($18), tuna and shrimp ceviche ($22) and the squash ravioli ($24) which is a vegetarian option.
Danico
440 College Street, 416-715-1200
“At this point in my career, with my Italian background and culinary traditions, I wanted to explore new cultures and incorporate new local and Japanese products without distorting my Italian roots,” says chef Daniele Corona of the new Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant in a former bank on trendy College Street. Diners at DaNico can opt for a $150 three-course a la carte menu or an eight-course signature tasting menu. At the end, espressos and candy Of course, there might well be some handshakes over this movie deal.
Deauville Club
92 Peter Street, 416-596-2810
Housed in the Revery Hotel on Peter Street, this restaurant offers classic French cuisine with subtle modern touches. Popular dishes include Drost Farm Muscovy duck with black truffle Madeira sauce ($48) and sea bass with sweet potato hash ($41). “Every dish tells a story,” says chef Tom Chlebek. “My goal is to offer guests more than just a meal; it’s to provide a unique dining experience that reflects my passion for food and the memories it creates.” Festival-goers during the first weekend should also try the brunch.
Rope
181 Wellington Street West,
416-585-2500
The lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, just steps from the TIFF Lightbox and Roy Thomson Hall, is now home to Lano, short for Milano, an all-day café and wine bar that pays homage to northern Italian cuisine. “From coffee to gelato, we offer a wide variety for every palate in a beautiful, open space designed for socializing,” says chef Alessandro Panattoni, who hails from the Milan area. Top picks include the ciabatta primavera ($14) and the fregola e carciofi salad ($24).
Mott 32
190 University Avenue, 647-467-0032
Mott 32 opens after Vancouver and Las Vegas. Specialties of Cantonese, Sichuan and Beijing cuisine include triple-cooked Black Angus beef short ribs ($92), 42-day applewood roasted Peking duck ($180) and smoked black cod ($58). Executive chef Kin Ming Yeung says, “By understanding both foreign and local ingredients and sourcing locally when possible, we developed a menu that incorporates a rich culinary and cultural experience.”
This article first appeared in the September 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
