One of the best ways to travel a city is by its cuisine.

Toronto is a city of communities which host anything from Fine Dining to grab-and-eat meals, and some of the finest jewels of Canadian cuisine can be had for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nothing speaks of an urban community quite like the way it replenishes itself daily.

Whether you love to eat in style, need to find a good vegetarian restaurant, or want to be wined and dined, I have scoured the streets of Toronto in search of the best this city has to offer. So, in planning your staycation, include any one or more of these dining establishments that provide friendly, quality service and fresh, authentic food.

Click on the READ MORE sections of each restaurant to get the full story on what each eatery has to offer...

Where did I stay?

Strathcona Hotel

Cushioned between the Financial and Entertainment districts, The Strathcona Hotel may be over 125 years old but you would never know it; recently undergoing a massive face-lift, the rooms and lobby look like a cross between art nouveau style and modernist minimalism. If you love the look and feel of sleek then this is the place for you.

Conveniently close to the Air Canada Centre, the train station, and the CN Tower, The Strathcona houses two eateries – The York Street Cafe and a pub, both also recently under renovation. The York Street Cafe does a great breakfast buffet to get your day started, served from 6:30am. You can get an array of breads, cereals, fruit and hot breakfast foods like sausages, bacon and eggs. Also, take in the York Street Cafe during lunch time as well.

The ultra-mod establishment boasts flat screen TVs in each room and alarm radios with an IPod console. In a push towards green efforts, The Strathcona Hotel has a pamphlet in the room that lets the customers know some fantastic ways they can partner with the hotel to be environmentally kind for the duration of a stay.  (www.thestrathconahotel.com)

The Cuisine of Toronto...

Commensal (www.commensal.ca) – The Healthy Option – One of the most exciting things to come out of Quebec since Cirque Du Soleil is Commensal. A heart-healthy, all vegetarian small franchise with its only location outside of Quebec based in the centre of downtown Toronto on Bay Street. With over 100 items to choose from, your palette will be both enlivened and enlightened....READ MORE

Great Cooks on 8 (www.greatcooks.ca) – Where you can be the Great Cook! This trendy restaurant welcomes groups to whip up their own meal and share in the communal aspect of fine foods. Or you can come for lunch and simply have a great meal cooked for you during a busy lunch hour...READ MORE

Il Fornello (www.ilfornello.com) – With all the Italian chic of a Fellini film but the home-cooked wood stove meal of a roadside ristorante in Tuscany, Il Fornello pairs great prices, casual dining and flare in its nine Italian inspired establishments....READ MORE

Stumble Upon - About Cheese ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) – Casually strolling through the city streets after a delightful meal at Il Fornello, I stumbled upon a cheese lover’s heaven. About Cheese houses over 140 different cheeses internationally while managing to put the spotlight on the newest trend in the cheese market – Canadian cheese. Chef of EPIC restaurant at the Royal York Hotel also observed to me the impact of Canadian cheese on the international marketplace. About Cheese is a delightful little shop with a great European feel and a group of charming cheese connoisseurs who will allow you to sample the different flavours, but be sure to pick up a couple of new cheeses to your palette to take home with you and have the best grilled cheese sandwich Toronto has to offer on the way out the door.

The Bangkok Garden (www.bangkokgarden.com) – Being whisked away to Thailand could involve a 24 hour flight; for a more immediate connection to the essence of Thailand simply wander downtown Toronto to the authentic Bangkok Garden...READ MORE

Bar Mercurio (www.barmercurio.com) – With a blend of fine foods and cafe style environment, Bar Mercurio is an Italian ristorante located near the Royal Ontario Museum and The Bata Museum. Heading to the museums before or after lunch at Bar Mercurio is a great way to take in culture and a casual dining experience of Toronto....READ MORE

Lusso – Located directly on the harbourfront, Lusso is both casual and the hip place to be on a weekend. Over stimulate the senses with a stunning view of the lake, a community of light-hearted diners and meals that will have you raving to your friends who were unfortunate enough not to make it...READ MORE

La Maquette (www.lamaquette.com) – French cuisine and being dubbed the most romantic restaurant in Toronto seems to go hand in hand. A few doors down from the elegant King Edward Hotel, La Maquette is a unique spot to woo one’s amore.....READ MORE

EPIC (www.epicrestaurant.ca) – With a name like EPIC, a fine dining establishment has a lot to live up to. Fortunately for the customer, the restaurant at the heart of the Royal York Hotel lives up to its name. More than just haute cuisine, the service and star treatment is what will draw you into this experience...READ MORE

Of course, you may have found a gem or two hidden amongst the city landscape not mentioned here, or you are already a fan of one of my own finds, in which case, please leave a comment and let us know.

Written by :

Kindah

 

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