10 Best Romantic Restaurants in Toronto, ON

Remember when going out for dinner was a no fuss thing to do? Remember when going out for dinner didn’t require you checking your bank account to see if it was really, truly feasible? If you and your significant other have gotten into the takeout and Netflix habit, Dandylion is a good place to go to brush off the cobwebs of your relationship. Dubbed as « refreshingly vegetable-forward and inexpensive » by the Globe and Mail, Dandylion has brick walls, an open kitchen and most importantly, house baked bread that will remind you why you left your couch. It’s the kind of place that maintains a lightness that will allow you to utter words different from, « Not tonight, honey. I’m stuffed. » In other words, the food of love.

When it comes to keeping the romance alive, one nugget of advice that is often circulating is to try new experiences together. Although Bar Isabel falls into the « safe » category of restaurant, it does have menu options that you likely haven’t tried before (such as bone marrow) which may help to keep things spicy. Open until midnight (and on weekends until 2am), it is the perfect spot to wile the night away. To wash down the carnivorous bounty, sample from their impressive (and lengthy) cocktail list. It’s cozy, it’s delicious and it requires weeks of advance reservations. In other words, just perfect for date night.

Scaramouche has one of the best dining views of Toronto. The sublime food has been receiving raves for over 30 years, as this is one of the rare restaurants that keeps impressing. The tables by the floor-to-ceiling windows are a hot commodity, so if you plan on acquiring one, call well in advance. First courses are filled with extravagant yet seasonal ingredients, such as ravioli with sweet potato filling and duck confit. Subsequent courses continue to tempt, if you have a wallet as big as your heart. Orders are sizeable, including the oysters that wash down nicely with the impressive wine list. If you would prefer to bring your own wine, corkage is available for $45 a bottle.

Simple, honest and handmade is not a bad thing to aim for in any diet, especially when the night may take a romantic turn. Woodlot adheres to a « simple is best » philosophy and after tasting their dishes composed of high quality ingredients, you may have to agree. Situated in the heart of Little Italy, Woodlot cooks filling dishes without overloading them with unnecessary ingredients. Their bread is worth the visit alone, with 7 varieties of sourdough, organic, wood-fired and warm. Woodlot doesn’t shy away from fat, with flat iron steak topped with corn butter. However, fat is used as an accent rather than the star of the show. (There is a fully vegetarian menu for those that would prefer an entree along the lines of a pan roasted oyster mushroom.) Moderate eating at its finest. Nothing sexier than that.

Canoe is appropriately situated above TD bank in the centre of the entertainment district. This splurge of a restaurant is impressive through and through, from the artful handling of the food in the immaculate open kitchen, to a menu by chef John Horne that showcases local ingredients. The view is spectacular and as soon as you step in the door, you will be aware that you are about to embark on a top dining experience that has been showcased in many TV shows and movies. From deep bellied wine glasses to exquisitely garnished mains, the details are there to enjoy. Every dish is exquisite, from short ribs to venison to fois gras. The food will make an impression on you well beyond your mealtime. It is a must see and a must eat. A perfect location for courting your beloved.

Somehow Enoteca Sociale manages to take basic ingredients and elevate them. Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe sounds simple enough, but the sheep milk’s cheese and perfect portion of coiled pasta strands sprinkled with freshly cracked black pepper go well beyond a home kitchen. The pasta is made in house, as are many other dishes, included the freshly baked bread whose smell wafts through the restaurant. If you like the experience of eating off of your date’s plate, a la Lady and the Tramp, sharing dishes under the menu column « Piatti Sociale » are all unique and delectable. The wine list has over 80 selections from Italy but also includes fine Ontario reds and whites. Normally you have to splurge on a bottle to sample the good stuff, but Enoteca offers tastes, glasses, quartinos (a carafe that can hold a quarter of a litre of wine) or bottles. You won’t forget this dinner.

Not all of Toronto’s best restaurants are downtown, and Auberge Du Pommier proves that. Chf Tim Schulte joined the team in 2019, bringing European flair through his cuisine at this North York neighbourhood restaurant. Auberge has been constructed around two 1860’s woodcutters cottages and exudes rustic charm. Enjoy the roaring fireplaces in the winter and the quaint terrace in the summer.

The a la carte dinner menu is seasonal and may include exceptional choices like gnocchi with roasted sun choke, onion soubise, parsnip and crispy kale. If you and your date decide to indulge in the tasting menu, Chef Campbell’s selections will not disappoint. The winter selection has coffee rubbed aged strip loin, eggplant and brown butter Hollandaise. The considerable wine list provides a nice selection of cocktails, wines by the glass or half and full bottles. More than 500 choices means that you might want to bring your reading glasses.

Multilingual as Toronto may be, there are also a lot of people who speak bad French. We can make up for the fact that we butcher our country’s official language by taking romantic partners to French restaurants. If we are dating the person we accompany, we can be upfront with our shortcomings. If we are newly treading romantic waters, we can show off the fact that we appreciate beautifully presented French food. Atop a heritage building in Toronto, Alo has blind tasting menus or a walk-in cocktail bar where you can drink wine and eat oysters (if you are into that sort of thing). Expect white jackets on the chefs and food so stunning, it will take everything in your power not to whip out your cell phone. (Nothing less romantic than being too attached to your cell phone.)

Cluny Bistro takes French food and makes it unfussy. You can have your caramelized onion soup and steak frites but you don’t need to have a side of snobbery. Even so, the backdrop for your dining experience will be absolutely stunning. Imagine the look of an elegantly decorated French cookie. High ceilings will have you convinced that the Eiffel Tower is within walking distance. The boulangerie tempts patrons on the way out the door, with all things pastry waiting to be fawned over and taken home in a paper bag. But make sure to enjoy the classic French dishes as small plates, like the fois gras eclairs and the fried frog’s legs. It is romance on a plate.

George is the kind of fine dining that is becoming less common in our modern age. The food itself almost demands formal attire, with chef Lorenzo Loseto committing his evolving menus to seasonal and local produce. The food is presented beautifully with swiftly executed service. Tasting menus can be five, seven, or ten courses with a vegetarian option and wine pairings on offer. Many menus are blind, but can be catered to preferences should you have allergies or extreme dislikes. During the summer, take your date outside to the romantic garden patio, decorated with twinkly lights and made private by cloth umbrellas. You will feel so well taken care of during your meal at George, that it will be hard to return to real life.