Diners' Choice: Contemporary Canadian restaurants in Toronto

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary Canadian cuisine in Toronto? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

CLAY

4.8

4.8 (608)

CAN$30 and under

Contemporary Canadian

Yorkville

About the restaurant

An original in-house restaurant at Gardiner Museum. Offering seasonal menus of fresh, local fare, inspired design that's deeply connected to the Museum's ceramic focus, and a seamless continuation of the impeccable service clients have to expect from the museum. Clay breathes new life into Yorkville's fine dining community.

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 4 days ago

Love the high ceiling and the spacing - a very relaxing ambience. The food was excellent and the presentation was artistic. One of us ordered Fish and Chips. The fish arrived very “vibrant” as opposed to just looking like a filet. The Bison Burger was very inviting. There were lots of mushrooms on my Warm Mushroom Salad. All four of us enjoyed our meals thoroughly!

Discover more

4.8

4.8 (469)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

Little Portugal / Dundas West

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Monica

Dined 1 day ago

Great food, experience and ambiance! I would definetly revisit. I appreciated a small menu and all of our dishes were delicious.

Discover more

Experience

New Year's Eve at Bar Vendetta!

Florette

4.8

4.8 (256)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Queen West

About the restaurant

An intimate place in the neighbourhood to eat, drink, and laugh. Funky sharing plates, culinary-inspired cocktails, and natural wine, all ever-rotating with what's local and seasonal.

Our space is inspired by your cool aunt's home -- dine under our floral ceiling arch, surrounded by good people and lots of colourful pickled veggies and fruits. Our cozy back patio is quaint and covered by the old trees of Queen West, Toronto.

Top review

Jonas

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food, perfect portion, ambience is fabulous, cocktails are amazing!!!!

Discover more

7-Course New Year's Eve Menu @ Florette

Alobar Yorkville

4.7

4.7 (199)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Yorkville

About the restaurant

Alobar Yorkville is tucked along a pathway in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood. It puts its foot forward as a cocktail bar, but it is a full-fledged Michelin starred à la carte restaurant, offering choice seafood with the finest accoutrements, fish and chops off of the charcoal grill, and world-class wines, all served with genuine hospitality. Alobar Yorkville boasts a comfortable courtyard patio merging warm skies with ice cold cocktails during the summer.

Alobar Yorkville received 1 Michelin Star in 2022 & 2023.

Top review

Varun

Dined 2 days ago

Start to finish - this was a dining masterpiece. Thoughtfully curated custom cocktails as we didn’t like anything on the list, beautifully paced courses, the seafood was phenomenal. Definitely get the hamachi and sea bream and get the brioche to soak up all the sauce.

Discover more

Experience

4 Course Menu - New Year's at Alobar Yorkville

Burdock Brewery

4.8

4.8 (103)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

High Park

About the restaurant

Burdock is a microbrewery, restaurant & music venue in the West-End of Toronto. Our restaurant features a tasty, seasonal array of locally sourced dishes and a welcoming community atmosphere. Swing by to try our selection of Real Nice™ beer & other delicious things. Open 7 days a week!

Top review

savm

Dined on 11 Dec 2024

I love Burdock, the beers are so great and the space itself wonderful. The service was really lackluster, a trend I'm seeing throughout the city these days unfortunately (but maybe understandably) - no enthusiasm, not consistent, not checking in if the food is good or if we have everything, a general "oh yeah you're still here" vibe. Not something I've experienced at Burdock before and was really excited to show my friend from out of town. Overall a fine, just fine, experience.

Discover more

Experience

Dinner & Dancing NYE 2024 at Burdock

Gallery Grill

4.6

4.6 (323)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

The Village

About the restaurant

Gallery Grill is closed for the holidays Dec 20 thru Jan 06 inclusive; reopens Tuesday Jan 07.

Gallery Grill serves lunch weekdays upstairs in historic Hart House on the University of Toronto's downtown St George campus. The restaurant is also a stunning setting for private events and receptions. Drop by for a quick bite, unwind over a cocktail, or celebrate a special occasion in one of the city's iconic spaces.

Top review

Jenny

Dined 3 days ago

The food at the Gallery Grill is always delicious, and today's menu was exquisite. The staff service was amazing and the entire experience was wonderful. Thank you for a beautiful lunch.

ONE Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1648)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

Yorkville

About the restaurant

With a variety of beautiful dining spaces and dishes that will delight the palate, ONE is sure to impress.
The restaurant’s stunning décor was fashioned by award winning design group Yabu Pushelberg. Low light and textured walls create a sumptuous ambiance, perfect for entertaining. The tree-lined candle lit patio is the perfect place to sit back and savour ONE's culinary creations and unique signature cocktails, all the while taking in Yorkville's bustling and exciting street life.
If it is private dining you are interested in, ONE Restaurant has two exquisite spaces to offer. The smaller and more intimate Neil Young Room, located off the main dining room and the grand and impressive Yorkville Room, situated just beyond the entrance to the bar lounge.
Whether the occasion be personal or business, the chic bar, al fresco oasis or lavish dining room will make for an immersive dining experience day or night.

Top review

LauraVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Always lovely to sit on the heated patio in the winter - it makes you feel that summer can't be too far away.

Discover more

4.6

4.6 (3552)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

Yorkville

About the restaurant

A beloved local landmark, Sassafraz has welcomed guests to enjoy its contemporary Canadian cuisine, warm hospitality, and unparalleled service for over two decades. Chef Geoff Webb's ever-evolving seasonal menu showcases our relationships with local farms and purveyors. Set in an array of Victorian rowhouses, Sassafraz has evolved through the decades to become a magical space in the heart of historic Yorkville. The iconic little house and its romantic interior make it one of the most stunning restaurants in Toronto.

Top review

SueVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Lately Sassafraz is my restaurant of choice for lunch or dinner due to their great menu and fabulous service! I reserved a table in the dining room but we were seated in the café. The staff were very responsive to our request to move to the dining room and Jeff the GM did everything possible to make amends. We were once again very happy with our meal at Sassafraz and we will be back!!

Discover more

Popular dish

Flourless Chocolate Cake

4.5

4.5 (48)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

King West

About the restaurant

Vela invites you on a culinary journey that blends modern hospitality with a nostalgic touch, offering a seamless fusion of contemporary style, flavors, and meaningful connections.

The restaurant's design captures the essence of the night sky, with an iconic illuminated feature reminiscent of the Milky Way, sea foam banquettes shaped like ocean waves, and a swooping bar and Chef’s counter that gracefully encircle the dining room. Vela is a Michelin-recognized restaurant for two consecutive years, offering an extraordinary culinary experience. Whether you are indulging in our exquisite tasting menu, enjoying a delightful brunch, or savoring a perfectly crafted cocktail, each visit promises a remarkable journey for any occasion.

Join us every Tuesday for Lobster Night! Dive into a sea of flavour with our exclusive weekly lobster specials, featuring a new and delectable dish each week. Don’t miss out on this delicious opportunity to indulge in the freshest lobster around!

Top review

JasonVIP

Dined on 13 Dec 2024

Their tasting menu was great. The pace in which the food arrived was good. The flavours of each dish was delicious. The drinks were very good! And service was excellent

Discover more

4.6

4.6 (561)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary Canadian

Yorkville

About the restaurant

Visit holtrenfrew.com/holtscafe to view the menu and call 416-355-2832 to place your order. We look forward to serving you!

Holts Café celebrates Canadian cuisine with a European influence. Our vision of the restaurants and their cuisine is focused on sustainability, quality-driven ingredients, locality, and seasonality.

The menus will pay homage to Holts Café classics and staples with a warm, inviting, fresh, and simplistic approach. Service times include brunch and lunch at all cafés, as well as afternoon tea and an expanded evening dinner service at select locations—all in a refined, contemporary environment.

Top review

Michelle

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

Servers were professional and knowledable and accommodated my friend who has a baby stroller. Overall the tea service was great. Some suggestions would be the scones are a little over baked and the petit fours are a tad decadent. Will come back again!

Discover more

FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Explore Diners' Choice best of Toronto