Have you made plans yet for Valentine’s Day? This is one of the busiest days in the restaurant year and local dining establishments are pulling out all the stops to woo you as you woo you know who. Today we are having a look at six places that are really getting into the spirit of things, offering special menus to make the evening as lovely and romantic as it should be. Make sure you reserve that perfect table for two at your favourite place now.
The Oliver & Bonacini empire is always a good bet for an exceptional dining experience, and here we look at two of their flagship restaurants, Canoe and Biff’s Bistro.
Canoe
Let’s start at the top, at least location wise, the tippity top of the TD Bank Tower, with stunning views of our beautiful city. What can we say about this landmark that hasn’t already been said? Consistently one of the best restaurants in Canada, Canoe is offering a fabulous tasting menu for a cool $150, wine pairings extra. That sounds pricey but when you glance at the dishes – cocoa butter poached halibut, tea smoked duck, wagyu beef tri tip, foie gras smores and cinnamon heart semifreddo. It has to be one of the most innovative and decadent Valentine’s menus in the city.
Biff’s Bistro dining room
This elegant and sophisticated bistro is right across from the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts; a great double whammy should you decide to see the smash hit celebrating all things Beatles, Let it Be. Biff’s is offering a three course prix fixe menu for $65, $95 with selected wine pairings. Here’s their Valentine’s menu, you can see it is a little more down to earth featuring applewood smoked oysters, beef bourguignon and maple apple chômeur among its offerings.
This Parkdale gem is on a real roll these days, recently having been selected by Playboy.com as one of The City’s best bars. But Geraldine is more than a place to wet your whistle. The food is innovative and sublime, the cocktails are among the best in the city, the ambience is first rate and the service is impeccable. Chef Alex Molitz presents Valentinos and Valentinas with a sumptuous tasting menu (the regular menu is unavailable on the 14th) featuring Acadian Sturgeon ceviche, seared foie gras and braised veal cheeks.
Geraldine
Another exceptional dining room that graces Queen West, Nota Bene has been named Canada’s best new restaurant, and is a permanent resident on top ten lists. Chef David Lee showcases his talents on Saturday with a 89$ Valentine’s Day menu featuring tuna tartare and seaweed salad, lobster bisque, Perth County Beef Tenderloin, Grilled Sea Bass and more.
Have you been to the Drake 150 http://www.drakeonefifty.ca/
This dazzling downtown joint-the first offspring of the iconic Drake Hotel- caters to the suits & expense account bigwigs that characterize the Bay Street scene, but that doesn’t mean the food and cocktails are out of reach for the rest of us, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to check it out and wow your significant other. Chef de cuisine Jon Pong has rolled out an 80$ four-course menu for Valentine’s day that has all the right moves, including starting you both off with a glass of sparkling and offerings of a seafood platter, lobster ravioli and a choice between pan roasted duck magret with foie gras torchon or black cod with hazelnut gremolata and hen of the woods mushrooms.
Nota Bene
For the beast in you both, Chef Scott Vivian presents a fantastic three-course prix fixe for 45$, with another 35$ getting you selected wine pairings for each course. Choosing between Ontario Trout, grilled rooster breast or flat-iron steak just might be the second most difficult decision you make this Valentine’s Day.