Canadian Restaurants to Dine In this Valentine’s Day
From coast to coast, these restaurants offer everything for a romantic evening: atmosphere, moody lighting, and great bites.
Eloise
Inside Eloise, the Restaurant Where Design Meets Appetite
Just a block and a half down the road from the eponymous market in Toronto’s St. Lawrence neighbourhood, Eloise is serving up yet another reason why the area is a gastronome’s dream. At the sultry, wood-clad, midcentury-inspired restaurant—the latest venture from brothers Graham and Dan Hnatiw—chef Akhil Hajare (formerly of Alo) has designed a broad, globally informed menu whose dishes defy easy definition but tend toward light, clean flavours served over substantial proteins and carbohydrates.
___
Bar Bello: An Italian Social Club in Montreal’s Little Italy
Importing the aperitivo experience from the streets of Milan to Montreal’s Little Italy, Bar Bello is the latest bar from Kevin Demers, the head of Montreal mixology standard-bearers like the Coldroom, El Pequeño, and Bisou Bisou.
___
June Is Vancouver’s Hottest New Restaurant
From the team behind The Keefer Bar, June is bringing a much-needed dose of sexiness to Vancouver’s sometimes sleepy Cambie Village. The brooding space, designed by Mexican architect Héctor Esrawe, is anchored by monolithic booths, sweeping curves, and a starkly lit bar, blending French brasserie charm with the clean lines that define Vancouver’s design sensibilities. Led by head chef Connor Sperling, the kitchen turns out subtle reimaginations of French classics, such as frog legs, moules frites, and steak tartare. Downstairs, Lala, a 40-seat vinyl listening bar, keeps the party going with classic-meets-Cambie cocktails and a pared-back menu with highlights from its big brother upstairs.
___
Elio Volpe Brings Campania to Vancouver’s Cambie Village
Combining the finest ingredients from its Pacific Northwest home with the time-honoured traditions of Southern Italian cuisine, Osteria Elio Volpe is the latest addition to Vancouver’s culinary scene from Banda Volpi, the restaurant group behind Osteria Savio Volpe, Caffe La Tana, and Pepino’s Spaghetti House.
___
It’s Always Aperitivo Hour at Meo, Vancouver’s New Cocktail and Snack Bar
The cocktail bar’s owners (Tannis Ling, Joël Watanabe, and Alain Chow) are known for award-winning Chinatown restaurants Bao Bei (about a four-minute walk southwest of Meo) and Kissa Tanto (the Michelin-starred space right above the new spot). Ste Marie Studio, which designed both, was also on board.
___
Chefs Alvin Leung and Eric Chong Cook Up Culinary Excellence at Toronto’s aKin
Culinary excellence is rarely achieved with too many cooks in the kitchen, but at aKin, two acclaimed chefs have created a tasting menu that has Toronto diners drooling. Located at 51 Colborne Street, aKin is the brainchild of MasterChef Canada judge Alvin Leung and Eric Chong, who won MasterChef Canada at 21 before being invited by Leung to cook at Bo Innovation, his Hong Kong restaurant. The pair draw inspiration from Hong Kong, China, and Korea, as well as the simple culinary pleasures of their Toronto childhoods, such as chicken nuggets. Both wine and cocktail pairings are available to accentuate the inventive, modern Asian dishes.
___
An Iconic Toronto Steakhouse Makes Its Triumphant Return
Located in the monolithic early 20th-century Toronto Harbour Commission Building, the newly revamped restaurant is once again welcoming well-heeled diners. Helmed by chef Solomon Mason, the kitchen reinvents tried-and-true steakhouse traditions. The wine program, overseen by wine director Christian P. Hamel and master sommelier Alexander Powell, promises to be among the best in North America, offering cult bottles from Old and New World wineries tailor-made for pairing with steakhouse classics and innovative new dishes alike.
