Today, Toronto's selection saw the addition of 4 new One Stars, four new Bib Gourmands, and a new Green Star.
Among the new One Stars are Chef Daniele Corona of DaNico and Chef Jeremy Austin of The Pine, where Italian food infused with global influences (think house-made basil bottini filled with smoked burrata) and authentic Chinese flavors (like carrot jiaozi and dried fried string beans) await respectively.
Leading the way the sustainability the front is Restaurant Pearl Morissette and their 42-acre property of winery, regenerative farm, vegetable/flower garden, herb plot, and a local peach orchard.
Keep reading below to catch up on Toronto's latest gastronomy scene and see for yourself just how delicious The Six is getting!
New One Stars
DaNico
Cuisine: Italian
Wondering if DaNico is worth a stop? You can take it to the bank—quite literally, as the restaurant is nestled inside a former bank building. Inside, dark colors, linen tablecloths, and plush seating set a sophisticated tone, but the irreverent artwork proves they don't take themselves too seriously.
Chef/partner Daniele Corona cooks Italian food with a global influence. Choose from a multicourse prix-fixe or a chef's tasting menu to enjoy items such as wild Pacific crab served over thin, noodle-like vegetables, garnished with trout roe, and finished tableside with a Sicilian green olive coulis. Then, house-made basil bottini filled with smoked burrata is nestled in a creamy sauce for a dish that delivers dialed-in flavor.
Hexagon
Cuisine: Contemporary
This stylish restaurant in downtown Oakville could get by on looks alone with its sliding patio doors, wrap-around terrace, and an interior that is at once cool and casual. But for Chef Rafael Covarrubias, he’s got a lot more in mind. The menu reads familiar – beef tartare, oysters, fish – but what emerges from the kitchen are beautiful, soigné works that are refined, original, and substantial. Potato foam, brown butter, and roe are clever pairings with Hokkaido scallop. Pasta is a highlight, like corn agnolotti with Manchego, but so too is the short rib. And for dessert, cheesecake is surprisingly light and savory thanks to strawberries and a nutty almond cookie. To see this kitchen at its most ambitious, guests can book a tasting menu in advance.
The Pine
Cuisine: Chinese
Located in charming Creemore, north of Toronto in Simcoe County, find this culinary landmark housed in a chic space that was formerly a gas station. Run by Chef Jeremy Austin and his wife, Cassie, The Pine is a distinct dining experience that is informed by the chef's years working in China. A meal here draws on authentic flavors delivered with striking creativity and conviction on an ever-evolving menu. A gorgeous tea egg kicks things off; the Sichuan-favorite dried fried string beans arrive as a cold salad; and the carrot jiaozi is a delightful dumpling; but those are merely a few of the treasures on offer.
New One Star & Green Star
Restaurant Pearl Morissette
Cuisine: Contemporary
This 42-acre destination in the picturesque Niagara region is the full experience. A restaurant, winery, orchard, farm, and bakery, Restaurant Pearl Morissette is a powerhouse. With great pride for Canadian ingredients and respect for the seasons, Chefs Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson make the most of their surroundings to enhance their spontaneous tasting menu's dishes, as in free-range pork, slow roasted over a peach wood fire, glazed with sweet potato miso, and plated with hazelnut jus. Yes, there is plenty of wine available, but don’t miss the accomplished juice pairing either. The meal may conclude sweetly, with a buckwheat sable cookie, honey whipped cream, honeycomb-shaped tuile, and honey ice cream. Meanwhile, the warm team keeps the tasting moving at a friendly clip.
One Stars
Aburi Hana
Cuisine: Japanese
Alo
Cuisine: Contemporary
Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto
Cuisine: Italian
Edulis
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Enigma Yorkville
Cuisine: Contemporary
Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto
Cuisine: Japanese
Kappo Sato
Cuisine: Japanese
Osteria Giulia
Cuisine: Italian
Quetzal
Cuisine: Mexican
Restaurant 20 Victoria
Cuisine: Comteporary
Shoushin
Cuisine: Japanese
Two Stars
Sushi Masaki Saito
Cuisine: Japanese
Green Star
White Lily Diner
Cuisine: Creative
Hero image: Gillian Jackson / Hexagon
Thumb image: aniella K / Hexagon
