TO: Brant House

Most Torontonians have a love-hate relationship with the Entertainment District, the city’s clubbing hotspot for single 20-somethings looking for an excuse to throw on their sparkly minis and stilettos. I happen to love it.

Brant House is admittedly overpriced and a tad pretentious, but it’s a got a big city vibe with a deliciously attractive crowd and a lively dance floor. I’ve frequented many of King Street’s clubs, but Brant House stands out because of its sophisticated crowd. This might mean that you’re turned away if you’re below 25, so make sure you enter with an older group so you can swing yourself in.

Brant’s brick exteriors are absolutely charming and the soft wooden interior, complete with fluorescent aquariums makes for an urban retro vibe. Thursday nights here are especially fun, mainly because I love their choice of hip-hop and Top 20 remixes with innovative beats. Saturdays cater more to the house crowd, so make sure you line up early, because who in this city doesn’t love house?

DEETS: 522 King Street West, Brant House

TO: Tokyo Sushi

Photography by Viet Ha Pham

Finding great sushi in this city is an ongoing quest that many Torontonians never achieve. I’ve always been told to beware Ontario’s sushi and that the good stuff if all out in the west. And while I plan on making the quest out to Vancouver soon for their much-hyped sashimi, Toronto’s Tokyo Sushi will do for now.

Like most great restaurants (Sukho Thai case in point!), Tokyo Sushi is a tiny and non-assuming little place by Bay and Wellesley. I would never have guessed that the restaurant, which is located below an apartment complex and by a sketchy gelato-slash-baked goods store, would be the secret to finding fantastic sushi in Toronto.

I can never control myself when I’m at Tokyo Sushi, because everything tastes so gloriously fresh and flavorful. My friend swears that their secret weapon is a generous dousing of sesame oil, but I think it’s their perfectly balanced use of rice, fish and other ingredients. My biggest pet peeve with fast food sushi is that it’s usually too rice-heavy, but Tokyo Sushi’s rolls are delicately-sized and still bursting with flavor.

Photography by Viet Ha Pham

Their spicy rolls are especially worth highlighting – I can usually polish off their spicy tuna, hamachi and salmon rolls at one go and I’m not ashamed to admit it in public. Once you go Tokyo Sushi, you just can’t go back. Even Halle Berry and Sharon Stone agree, according to the signed photographs on the restaurant’s walls.

DEETS: 33 St. Joseph St, too authentic to have a website.

TO: Sukho Thai

I’m finally back from a blogging hiatus with fresh new recommendations on the best eats and entertainment in my two favorite cities. Since I’ve been working in Toronto for the past several months, the blog will be a little Canadian-heavy, but I’ll continue reminiscing about my favorite Chicagoan locations as well.

I’m a self-confessed Thai food snob given my family has spent over six years in Southeast Asia, so naturally I’ve been on the hunt for the best curry in Toronto. After some careful digging, I feel confident that I’ve found it in the charming family-owned Sukho Thai.

Though located inconveniently by Parliament and Dundas, making the trip to Sukho Thai is 100% worth it for its fresh and authentic Thai cuisine. Walk too quickly and you’ll almost miss the tiny roadside joint that barely seats four to five small groups. Blog TO gave Sukho Thai a much-deserved nod on its ‘Best Pad Thai in Toronto’ list, but I would recommend trying one of their traditional curries instead. Stay away if you’re looking for something offbeat or fusion, because Sukho Thai chefs specialize in classic curries for the soul ranging from green, red, yellow, penang and massaman. Their menu is simplistic and doesn’t stray far from the norm, but I promise you that the complexity of the flavors will make up for it.

And for those who are too lazy to make the trip out east, they deliver as well. Make sure to call in advance since they’re family-owned and have a very small staff. Mmm, I can smell those shrimp chips and basil already!

DEETS: 247 Parliament St, Sukho Thai

TO: Eight Wine Bar

I’ve taken a long, relaxing hiatus from my blog but I’m finally back with 1) an undergraduate degree (yay!), 2) a belly full of delicious home-cooked holiday food and 3) a peaceful state of mind after a month at my parents’ new home in Calgary.

In the past month, I made an important new transition relocating from Chicago to Toronto. I’ll still be blogging about my favorite Chi-city’s restaurant & nightlife scene, but first up is a review on Eight Wine Bar – a snazzy little Italian joint in Toronto’s financial district.

Though Eight Wine Bar is participating in Toronto’s Winterlicious 2010 festival (Jan 29-Feb 11), we arrived a few days too early for the special menu. The regular menu was simplistic, but we found enough interesting dishes to go around our five-person table.

We skipped the wine (sadly) and started off the meal with a stunning cheese platter accompanied with walnut bread, grapes and a heavenly chutney that made this platter an sure shot winner. The creamy goat cheese also deserves an honorary mention and was paired marvelously with the crunchy walnut bread.

My entree disappointed me, but it’s my own fault for being too adventurous with the Pan Seared Arctic Char. The fish, otherwise rather bland, had an off-putting citrus flavor and didn’t pair well with parmesan polenta. The Grilled Lime and Ginger Marinated Chicken Breast and Fried Eggplant Lasagna, on the other hand, were delicious and flavorful.

Despite full stomachs, we went ahead and sampled the desserts as well. How can you say no to Vanilla Creme Brulee with raspberries and gooseberries? For me, Eight Wine Bar was all about the cheese platter and dessert. And on a cold winter day, the plush red decor certainly helps lift spirits.

DEETS: 8 Colborne Street, lobby of Cosmopolitan Hotel, Eight Wine Bar

TO: True Restaurant

I’m a die-hard foodie, so organic cuisine isn’t exactly the stuff of my dreams. I know a ton of people who would have been thrilled to venture into this Yorkville-based eatery for its fresh green ingredients, but I was craving some creamy Italian pasta on my last night in Toronto.

Luckily, True revealed to me the bright side of green cuisine. This trendy Yorvkille joint stays true to its name by offering a wide variety of vegetarian and organic meals, but meat eaters have plenty to choose from as well.

The ambiance is simply stunning and quite romantic with plush white couches, translucent curtains and candlelit tables. The patio is bustling in the summertime, but I highly recommend grabbing a table inside for its elegant feel.

Make sure you order carefully, because the dishes were hit or miss for our group. To begin our hearty organic meal, we tried the Italian bruschetta with fresh goat cheese, spelt Flat Bread with hummus, and Grilled Calamari. Appetizers were average, nothing extraordinary, but the health conscious will definitely appreciate the freshness of the ingredients used in all of True’s dishes.

For entrees, I chose the Salmon Papardelle, a delicious blend of flavorful smoked salmon, homemade wide pasta and organic vodka rose sauce. Paired with red wine, my creamy (but healthy!) pasta was simply scrumptious and quite safe to assume that I had snagged the best dish of the group. Fresh, but with a touch of decadence thanks to the creamy vodka sauce.

Based on the rest of my group’s feedback, the Chicken Confit and the Mushroom Pizza were hits while the Linguine Primavera and Blackened Cod left my friends craving some dessert.

We were quite curious about the organic desserts offered on True’s menus, so we splurged with the organic Chocolate Torte, Creme Caramel, Creme Brulee and a classic Tiramisu. The Creme Caramel and the Tiramisu won hands down, though the Chocolate Torte had a very distinct dark flavor that is worth trying for chocolate connoisseurs.

True is the first organic restaurant I’ve checked out in Toronto, so I can’t rank it among the city’s best, but I’d suggest a visit simply based on my Salmon Papardelle!

DEETS: 69 Yorkville Avenue, True Restaurant

TO: Milestones Grill + Bar

Milestones: a much classier version of Jack Astor’s. Like I mentioned in my previous post, we decided to surpass Jack Astor’s entrees for dinner in Milestones, which my brother swore was the nicest outdoor patio in the city. And it really was!

We lucked out by securing an outdoor spot, even thought it was a ridiculously busy weeknight. Milestones’ patio really is gorgeous – very chic and urban. Wrapping around the entire restaurant, the patio is slender and surrounded by clear panes of glass that give a marvelous view of the city. No CN Tower here, but the ambience is just a lot more classy and upscale. And there’s also a charming cabana that I plan on sitting at on my next excursion…

Now for the food: pretty damn delicious. Please note that my expectations of Toronto’s dining are super low, since pretty much everyone who previously lived in the US warned me that the food is nothing compared to American restaurants. And it’s true – the food isn’t as tasty in most restaurants, but I love that the serving sizes are reasonable and not obesity-inducing. Milestones is also one of the better restaurants in terms of taste and variety.

I tried the Grilled Chicken Pesto Fettucini, which was rich and decadent, but definitely not as overwhelming as those huge plates you might get at Olive Garden. The fettucine was also slimmer than I’m used to, perhaps a sign of more authentic pasta? In any case, it received a thumbs-up from me. My dinner dates chose the Caesar Salad and the Grilled Chicken Penne Asiago and both received very positive feedback. Since we were so stuffed from Jack Astor’s, we skipped drinks and dessert, but Milestones looks like a good place for longer evenings. My brother’s had frozen drinks here before, and they seem quite delicious.

Loved the ambiance here – really transported me somewhere outside of Canada to a white, tropical paradise.

DEETS: 10 Dundas St. East, 4th floor; www.milestonesrestaurants.com (also a chain, so check the Web site for more locations!)

TO: Jack Astor’s Bar & Grill

Finally, more TO posts!

I might have become slightly slow in updating my blog, but that’s only because I’m so busy experiencing the fabulous social/nightlife of this city. And that only means more exciting posts for Chicato…

Like its sister city of Chicago, Toronto can be enjoyed to its max potential only in the summer. Initially apprehensive about spending my summer in the more “boring” version of Chicago, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the fun, international nature of this city. Sure, it’s a lot smaller than Chicago, but there’s actually lots to do, see, and eat here!

Dundas Square, a mini-Times Square (and a pretty lame attempt, in my opinion) is a good way to experience the city’s eateries from a tourist’s point of view. Located at the top of the AMC in Dundas Square, Jack Astor’s is a pretty typical Canadian mid-priced chain for hamburgers, pastas, Mexican food, etc. Its Yonge & Dundas location is unique for its prime view of downtown Toronto and the famed CN tower. Outdoor patios are huge in Toronto on summer evenings (when it’s not raining, that is) – everyone just wants to grab a couple of drinks and enjoy the much-anticipated sunshine.

Like other Torontonians, I went to Jack Astor’s for Happy Hour, so didn’t get a chance to sample the restaurant’s entrees. Instead, my brother and I split the Lobster and Crap Dip, an extremely rich and indulgent concoction also filled with cream cheese, mushrooms, peppers and onions. Yum! Now with that many delicious (and fatty!) ingredients, it’s hard for a dip not to taste so so good. The “appetizer” was accompanied with nacho chips and warm pita, which made the entire dish extremely filling and satisying.

As for drinks, we started out with Coronas, but I was soon tempted into trying one of the yummy-sounding cocktails on the menu. Now for the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the cocktail I sampled, and the online menu is outdated. So frustrating, because I highly recommend it! My peach-flavored martini was laced with sprinkles of cinnamon on top which saturated the taste of alcohol…very delicious indeed. I’m kicking myself right now for not remembering its name, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Overall, Jack Astor’s is a chill place for post-work, outdoor lounging. We eventually moved to Milestones (a restaurant opposite of Jack Astor’s) for dinner, which probably indicates that Jack Astor’s entrees are so-so. The view from the patio, however, is sweet

DEETS: 10 Dundas St. East, 4th floor; www.jackastors.com (see online for more of Jack Astor’s Toronto locations)

TO: Insomnia

If there’s one thing Torontonians are really good at, it’s brunch. Of all the meals I’ve had in Toronto, the most memorable ones have been at the overflowing, popular brunch joints. Whether it’s a dim sum feast in Chinatown (will post about the heavenly Bright Pearl SOON) or a trendy cafe on Queen St. West, brunch rules in Toronto.

When my brother took me to Insomnia Cafe on Bloor St. West, I found its name to be quite ironic for a brunch hotspot. Once I got to the cafe though, the energetic and youthful vibe of the trendy joing suggested that this place is indeed, well, an insomniac.

With mimosas, spiked smoothies, coffee and other cocktails on the menu, those entering Insomnia with a hangover can continue their morning-after festivities here. My brother’s friends and I, however, chose to forego the breakfast liquor and opted for some fresh OJ. Nothing special or extraordinary.

The breakfast entrees, on the other hand, were out of this world. I decided to be a little adventurous and went for the Eggs Charlotte, the smoked-salmon version of the classic eggs benny. Thank god I was feeling daring, because these eggs were delicious. The smoked salmon served as a surprisingly tasty complement to the eggs, and the entire concoction was topped off with the perfect amount of hollandaise sauce.

The rest of the crew went for the Citrus Spiked French Toast, the Waffles w/ fresh strawberries and a specialty omelet (can’t remember the name unfortunately!). There was a positive response all around the table and a whole lot of finger-lickin’. Our extremely theatrical waitress (struggling actress, perhaps?) was spot on with all her recommendations – the homefries and the sausages on the side were distinctive and flavorful.

Will be back this summer to sample the dinner menu. Also a major plus – its University of Toronto campus location.

Deets: 563 Bloor St. West, www.insomniacafe.com