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Ciao Roma

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Listed in Restaurants

Ciao Roma WoodbridgeCiao Roma brings Roman style Pizza al Taglio (by the cut) to Woodbridge. Owner Rob Federici has been in business for almost four years now, specializing in this less common style of pizza, which is characterized by a long, stretched dough that is baked into sheet pans then cut to order and sold by weight.

The walk-up counter is main attraction and while there are handful of seats, most of the floor space is left empty so that the steady stream of customers can crowd around the display case. The decor is sparse, but there's a wall made to look like some Roman ruins dividing the kitchen from the retail space - its just enough to evoke a sense of place.

Ciao Roma WoodbridgeThe menu posted to the wall goes largely ignored as most patrons just point to whatever they're after. The printed menu is best reserved for call-ahead orders for full pizzas, but the real joy at this place comes from walking in and discovering what's not listed. The roster changes frequently to cycle through about 30 different combinations.

Ciao Roma WoodbridgeI like Roman pizza for the opportunity it presents to try mini-slices of multiple styles in one sitting. Today's selection doesn't disappoint. There's the Rustic with rapini, sausage, mozzarella, garlic and red pepper flakes; another one is topped with mixed mushrooms, bocconcini, garlic and truffle oil.

Ciao Roma WoodbridgeThe dough yields light, medium-thin and focaccia-like crust, that's sturdy and a little crunch but not puffy and yeasty like I expect. The crust kind of disappears under the blanket of toppings - it serves mostly as the vessel to get combinations of toppings, cheese and sauce into my mouth.

Ciao Roma WoodbridgeArancini balls change flavours daily, too, and can be added on to any order for $2.21 each. Today the flavour is mushrooms and peas, though the kitchen will customize advance orders (that's days in advance) with any flavour specified.

Ciao Roma WoodbridgeSpecialty pizzas (not on display), like the self-explanatory carbonara or eggplant parmigiana pique my interest too, but they're made to order and can take up to an hour to cook. They'll be better saved for another visit when I can call ahead or for delivery if ever I find myself in the large zone that include Woodbridge, Kleinburg and Maple.

Ciao Roma WoodbridgePhotos by Jesse Milns

The Cavern Bar

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Listed in Bars

The Cavern Bar is a newly renovated bar located on the lower level of the Hostelling International Toronto hostel. Open seven nights a week, The Cavern hosts fun activities like open mics, trivia and live music.

I visited The Cavern late one Friday evening. Down a flight of stairs from the hostel lobby, The Cavern is made up of two narrow rooms, connected with a doorway. The main room has a small stage on one end, with a gorgeous mural of Toronto along one wall.

The decor is gritty but with Pinterest touches: There's a concrete floor but exposed brick. There are picnic tables but drinks are served in Mason jars. One person has on a full mask but there are lots of hot Australians.

With a small bar on one side serving saccharine drinks, people crammed to the brim and loud Weezer-esque music playing, it's exactly like a high school party, complete with people unfamiliar to the culture trying to figure out the computers in the internet cafe one floor above.

Fridays at Cavern include live music and despite this, there was no cover charge. Sometimes, getting in for free at a bar with live entertainment can indicate that the entertainment is going to be really bad, like every time you get a free software trial instead of paying for the real deal, and nothing works, and you hate everything and just want to live in a world where everything is designed in MS Paint and Notepad.

This was not at all the case at Cavern. The band was surprisingly good and seemed to be widely enjoyed by all of the bar patrons, even the sexily disinterested Australians. The bar was absolutely packed with different types of people, some from Toronto, some from afar, but all mostly within the Millennial generation.

There were a few older people, but they were almost certainly the parents of band members - they removed their hearing aids while the band played and still enthusiastically smiled and clapped despite their untouched G&Ts and stage-whispered conversation between songs: "So it's like a Holiday Inn, but not a Holiday Inn? Christ, Laureen, why?"

In addition to beer on tap and in bottles, The Cavern serves a number of interesting drinks in two sizes, Large Hobo Jugs ($10 for three shots plus mixer) and Mini Hobo Jugs ($8 for two shots plus mixer).

I asked for the most popular drink and was served a Kermit the Frog, a mix of melon liqueur, Malibu rum and sprite. It was cloyingly sweet, the type of drink children who were featured on Maury Povich for weight problems and McDonalds addictions would enjoy. I loved it, and drank the whole thing.

As the band played, the crowd cheered wildly. People danced, others clapped, the guy in the mask unsuccessfully tried to give someone an already-sipped beer.

I will definitely return to The Cavern. The live music, no cover, diabetes-inducing drinks and cool atmosphere are exactly the way I imagined a cool, underground bar to be when I was a young, Fear Street-reading, bar-imagining youth from Guelph.

As we left, the band was selling CDs and t-shirts out of a minivan in the parking lot beside the bar. The band was huddled around the minivan, with the parents standing on the side of the lot. "Christ, Laureen, when are we getting out of here? I got curling in the morning..."

Second Cup Coffee Co.

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Listed in Cafes

second cup torontoThe Second Cup Coffee Co. at King and John, located in the heart of Toronto's Theatre District, is the first location in the Second Cup chain to receive a complete overhaul. The total redesign and rebranding of the café is the company's attempt to bring life to their floundering financial state, and to renew the Second Cup standing as Canada's elite coffee chain.

With the current proliferation of cafes and high-end coffee culture, it's hard to imagine The Second Cup as a forerunner, but I have first hand-experience of the impression it once made.

second cup torontoMy first real job in my small town in Nova Scotia was at the Gourmet Cup. I thought it was terribly sophisticated at the time (it was the early nineties) with its brown laminate counter and jewel-toned accents, its Irish Cream and Noisette, its café au laits (no lattes yet), cappuccinos, and espressos (which we pronounced EX-presso). What I didn't know was all that la-de-da I was celebrating in my little town in Nova Scotia was just a rip on a fancy Ontario chain called The Second Cup.

second cup torontoFast forward 20 years and until just last week you would have seen much of the same, once sophisticated, now tired, look to the Canadian coffee chain: the same Irish cream scent would be the first thing you noticed when you walked in, the same wafting cup icon and brown and jewel tones, its status as 'fancy coffee' usurped by Starbucks and Tim Hortons in sales, and all those up-and coming indie cafes in cred.

second cup torontoThe Mississauga-based company isn't the only coffee company struggling to makes gains as coffee consumption is showing signs of capping, and growth slows in a heavily saturated market. Starbucks just recently opened a higher-end "reserve" store and roastery specializing in small-lot exclusive beans and high-tech brewing in Seattle-reportedly costing more than $20 million.

second cup torontoHere in Canada, Second Cup had been seeing financial losses for some time, and last February took on Alix Box, who held senior positions at Starbucks and Holt Renfrew, as new president and CEO. She's been aggressively trying to bring new life to the company ever since; if this new location's redesign is successful, all the franchises will see a revamp along these lines.

When I spoke with II by IV Design, the design group behind the new Second Cup Coffee Co., they mentioned the research tour a team took of the small boutique coffee shops in hotbed locations like New York, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and right here in Toronto, where they took note of the details of the emerging cafe culture.

second cup torontoThey responded to the new blend of art and science and the focus on authenticity. The results? The new Second Cup Coffee Co. has a lot of white marble, cream tiles, glass, white oak and walnut, a variety of seating (standing, perching, lounging). In an attempt to reflect the individuality of the franchises and the franchise operators, each location would have a corresponding mural, and the names of the owners on the door.

second cup torontoIn the centre is a horseshoe-shaped slow bar with a white porcelain pour over station and the crème de la crème - the Alpha dominche steampunk brewer, the first of its kind in Canada. They use a bright yellow La Marzocco machine.

second cup torontoCream, milk and water come from a tap station (too fast, I might add) and there has been a food menu change - they now feature tarts ($2.75), mini cheesecakes ($4.25), banana bread ($2.75) and scones ($2.50). Gone are the flavoured coffees, replaced by new varieties of beans, but not all the babies have been tossed with the bath water; favourites like the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate and Caramel Corretto remain.

second cup torontoThe space is an improvement - slick yet comfortable, and nice to look at, and I like the nod to the neighborhood with the new mural. But it reminded me of my old days at the Gourmet Cup, but now with the Second Cup in our old posturing position, chasing the proverbial "cool" in effort to secure the proverbial buck. The experience tried to strike at the efforts made by independents (Pilot Roasters comes to mind) who function with far less money, and dare I say, far more heart.

Where they put their money to good use is in the new wireless charging stations all over the café. The panic of a dead battery, particularly for a wandering tourist, is immediately remedied with these stations, and the shop on that alone could become an oasis for people.

second cup torontoI also witnessed several brand-loyal customers at the Second Cup stepping out of their comfort zone and excitedly participating in the new coffee brewing methods and varietals, and that gave me hope. That education on the benefits of smaller producers, on slower consumption, on the reduction of harsh chemicals can function on many levels. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks?

second cup torontoPhotos by Jesse Milns.

Linwood Essentials

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Listed in Bars

Linwood Essentials is located at Queen and Shaw, in the former home of celebrated noodle house A-OK Foods, a space long eyed by any number of savvy restaurateurs who might want to break into an increasingly celebrated neighbourhood.

With neighbours such as The County General, Carmen and Fonda Lola, anyone moving into the space could expect to be thrown into some pretty stiff competition. With that in mind, it came as something of a surprise when virtual industry unknown Jake Valianes opened up the post-speakeasy Linwood Essentials recently.

Fresh from a year of traveling around the globe, visiting around 30 of the '50 Best Bars in the World' list, Jake arrived back in Toronto full of ideas and enthusiasm, and, after raising investment, has put together a bar packed with ideas, tricks, and clever nods to molecular technique.

The space offers up a mix between Library Bar aesthetic with an industrial wrought-iron and leather sturdiness applied to the tables. There is also a real sense of sophistication incorporated into the lighting.

Jake himself dons an enormous leather apron as if to complete the look. There's a cheeky nod to West Queen West locals with the adapted photograph that adorns the East wall, and the back wall is a pixelated image of the Linwood (the prohibition-era smuggling vessel from which the bar takes its name).

Cocktails range in price from $13-$15, with some outrageous garnishes applied to several. The Artisanal Middle Finger ($15) mixes up Mezcal with Fernet Branca, passion fruit, and a PBR syrup. Containing 'ingredients that are trendy right now', the drink is served in a handle mason jar, is garnished with a pair of glasses and an orange zest cut into the shape of a moustache.

The Breakfast in Portland ($14) is a neat play on the classic Ramos Gin Fizz, shaking up Hayman's Old Tom Gin with Aperol, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg whites, and a 'Froot Loop milk' before topping with soda. It's served up in a mini milk bottle and a paper straw.

The Dr. V's Quick Fixer Elixir ($15) is a blend of grand marnier, becherovka, amaro montenegro, lemon, sparkling wine and served in a pill bottle with the matching box. It's reminiscent of an old snake oil salesman. A cute touch, and certainly something different.

Chef Ryan Law has also recently returned from travels in Spain, and brings a number of tapas-style touches to the menu. Dishes are a hit and miss affair, with the excellent crispy eggplant, goat cheese and arugula salad with a tahini miso vinaigrette ($8) the best of what we tried.

At the other end of the scale, the smoked salmon and spinach toast ($9), with tobiko was not especially enjoyable, with the pungently fishy components clumping together, leaving the dish texturally wanting.

Portions, however, are pretty decent given the prices, and the roasted chicken, chili, and blue cheese croquettes ($7) atop julienned celery and carrots are well worth grabbing.

Though the adage in Toronto is usually that people will come for the food, and stay for the cocktails, Valianes hopes to change all that, addressing what he perceives as a shortage in dedicated cocktail bars in the city. Aside from the cocktails, it's worth stopping in for an outstanding international bottled beer list, and well-priced, top-shelf liquor.

Istanbul Cafe

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Listed in Cafes

istanbul cafe torontoIstanbul Cafe is a wonderful new coffee shop at Eglinton and Redpath that celebrates the culture of Turkey. It brings a much-needed independent twist to otherwise corporate cafes in the area, and the neighbourhood is responding with a very understandable enthusiasm.

First there's the coffee. For those unfamiliar, Turkish coffee begins as a beans ground to a very fine powder, mixed with cold water and then heated to just before boiling, poured slowly into a warmed espresso sized cup, and at Istanbul Cafe, served with two Turkish delight.

istanbul cafe torontoThey use a very traditional Turkish coffee brand that is widely reported as 'the best'- Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi 1871. The resulting coffee is surprisingly bright flavoured with a high acidity and rich aftertaste, and the Turkish delight - so good. For espresso-based drinks, they use a custom Istanbul Café blend made for them by Social Coffee Co. on their La Marzocco machine, and make everything from espressos ($2.75) to a flat white ($3.40).

istanbul cafe torontoOwner Nurten Celikhan has created a warm and inviting space to linger over these great beverages. Her own photography, snapshots from various communities in Turkey, line the walls, while various types of seating, big comfy wingback tables, communal and smaller work tables and sofas form areas in with to relax.

Traditional hollowed, pierced and decorated gourds that hang over the tables and counters provide light, and there is even a fireplace whose surrounding chairs have kilim rug pillows.

istanbul cafe torontoYou can get the usual café treats like muffins ($2.50), sandwiches and scones (provided by Cinq) but why you would order those things when they have homemade Turkish pastries and savoury dishes is beyond me.

istanbul cafe torontoSome may recognize things like the baklava (pistachio or walnut $1.10 each), but they also carry some what less familiar pastries like Sari Burma $1.10, Sekerpare, a lemony semolina pastry ($2.50) or revani ($4.30) another semolina-based cake with coconut.

istanbul cafe torontoFor savoury items, Celikhan brings in stuffed grapevine leaves sprinkled with sumac (5 for $5.20), a casserole of rice and chicken studded with currants and covered with pastry ($4.40), cheese ($5.60).

istanbul cafe torontoThere's also spinach borek ($3.50) - layers of feta or spinach between philo and baked, a hot lentil soup dusted with sumac and mint, or the Pogaca, a kind of Turkish bagel or bread coated on top with Nigella seeds and stuffed with spinach.

istanbul cafe torontoShe even carries Uludac, a traditional Turkish pop. All of the Turkish food was well executed, comforting and delicious, and makes a perfect addition to an early coffee or a late lunch.

istanbul cafe torontoIstanbul Cafe, with its inviting interior, novel food and drinks and kind staff, should be a must-visit place for anyone in the area. Heck, I'd advise you make it a destination even if you are halfway across town.

istanbul cafe torontoPhotos by Jesse Milns.

Rush Lane

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Listed in Bars

Rush Lane, Queen West's new cocktail-focused nightspot, opened this summer to no small amount of buzz. Featuring a team of multiple owner-bartenders, the place appears ready to make a real splash in what is already a sizeable pool of talent, and has invested heavily in equipping itself for the challenge of establishing itself as one of Toronto's top cocktail joints.

Upon entering, one might notice the window to a laboratory in the back containing tools like centrifuges and evaporators. Bartenders routinely test the pH balance of their citrus juice to ensure consistency. Clearly little is left to chance.

That said, it's equally likely that one might notice the gorgeously-lit 1970's-themed decor, or the fish tank in what looks like an elevated mini-VIP section overlooking the bar.

The cocktail list is designed as a collaborative effort between the whole bar team, featuring Jordan Bushell, Simon Hooper, Doug Twigger (Thompson Rooftop), and Chris McCrabb (The Chase).

We tried the 'Not Your Average Joe' ($11), made with gin, cucumber-black pepper syrup, mint, and malolactic acid in place of citrus. It was bright and refreshing, and paired exceptionally well with the poached oysters ($10), served up on a bed of edible 'sand', and topped with compressed cucumber, salmon roe, and hollandaise.

Chris Scott (Ursa, Acadia) has been tasked with creating a range of bar snacks that impress as much as the drinks. Given his molecular background with spots such as LAB, it's not surprising to see some neat tricks and ideas working their way onto the plates.

A nod to the popular graffiti alley behind Queen Street (from which the bar takes its name) was found in the dessert on offer ($8), where milk sorbet, on a bed of cake crumbs, could be 'tagged' with sprayable flavours - aloe (green), pomegranate (red), and cotton candy (blue). Hopefully the interactive element doesn't discourage people from enjoying how tasty this was.

We also tried the molasses-glazed smoked turkey wing ($9), with puffed amaranth and fried kale. Sweet and smoky, it wasn't long before I forgot I was in a swanky nightspot, and had the whole thing in my hands to make sure nothing went to waste.

While Tiki culture is all the rage right now, Rush Lane's menu largely sidesteps much of that, with the exception of the Chai-Tai ($16), with Sailor Jerry, Grand Marnier, both pecan orgeat and chai-vanilla syrups, pineapple, and lime. This makes for a heady concoction that's topped off with a bowl of smouldering torched cardamom pods for dramatic, and aromatic, effect. Trader Vic would be proud.

The final drink we tried was the P.X. I Love You ($13): a much lighter, surprisingly creamy drink, comprising sherry, cachaça, umeshu, marmalade, and lemon.

I'm really impressed at what's on offer so far, but it seems that there's more in the works. Alongside beers on tap (Boneshaker, Blanche de Chambly, Okanagan Pale Ale) are taps to serve up to four draught cocktails, and a planned punch program that hopes to replace the tired convention of bottle service.

There's clearly a lot to like about Rush Lane, though I expect it may get seriously packed on the weekends. That said, the guys here seem to relish the challenge of providing to a bustling throng, and if the draught cocktails can help speed up service, it shouldn't be too much of a nightmare to get a quality cocktail even on the busiest of weekends.

Surfset Toronto

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Listed in Fitness Clubs

surfset torontoSurfset Toronto is the city's newest unconventional workout. While you may not be surfing actual waves, or are even able to take your board outside, once you climb on you won't even miss the sunshine and cool breeze (OK, who am I kidding - but it's pretty cool nonetheless).

When I walked into the brand new Yonge and Eglinton studio, I was greeted by co-owner Sofia Mok, who gave me the grand tour. I was super impressed by the fresh, light and airy feel of the whole studio. While the space wasn't large, everything was clean and white and actually quite pretty.

surfset torontoA few years back, Mok explained, the idea for the gym was presented on Shark Tank and took off in the United States from there. While there are multiple gyms and fitness studios in Canada that cover the Surfset workouts, there are only four actual Surfset studios (one in Calgary, two in Montreal, and one in Toronto).

surfset torontoWhat makes working out on the board so special? "The board is not stable - it's balanced on three stability balls - your body goes into working the supporting muscles groups right away, as well as your major muscle groups which allows you get that leaner look after," Mok explains.

They offer four different classes, depending on what you'd like to work out. Balance, which is a yoga-inspired workout; Burn, a sweat-inducing cardio class; Build, to work on your muscles; and Blend, a mixture of all the workouts.

surfset torontoI opted for the Blend class. Seeing as Mother Nature decided to dump 10 cm of snow on us that day (the things I do for fitness!), there were only four of us in the studio - two other class members and Mok. This was totally fine by me - the fewer people around to see me potentially fall overboard, the better. At maximum, a class can only hold 12 people, so you'll always get a more personalized workout.

surfset torontoBefore we started, Sofia asked us if we wanted to work on any particular body part during the 45-minute long class. Abs and butt were called out (it was all girls, in case you were wondering), but after (awkwardly) climbing onto the board, I realized every part of the body was about to be worked out.

She started us out with getting comfortable with our balance on the board and some stretching. There are three levels of resistance you could try out on the board (the less resistance, the more wobbly the board becomes). We all decided to stick to the easiest form with the most resistance (which was still a challenge and a half).

surfset torontoA quick tip/trick that I realized towards the end of the class, the more you relax on the board, the easier it is to keep your balance. At the beginning I was super concentrated on keeping the balance and it kept wobbling over to one side. But after I stopped trying to over-direct, it was smooth sailing.

We got into some cardio by doing burpees on the board. I'm not much of a sweaty Betty, but within a few minutes of these I was getting pretty toasty. Burpees can be hard on their own, but imagine trying to balance on a board while doing them. I was constantly trying to keep my core tight to balance myself.

surfset torontoSpeaking of core, Sofia also had us doing planks and various other forms of ab work. We moved on to legs and butt with leg raises and fire hydrants, then arms, with push-ups and resistance bands. The buns and guns were blazing (had to). We finished up with some yoga and more stretching, and pretty much every inch of my body was tired. Seeing as you can set your own pace and resistance, this is a great place to keep building and challenging your body.

surfset torontoA drop in class will set you back $22, or you can opt for a five ($95), 10 ($180) or 20 ($330) class pass. If you think you'll make Surfset your primary workout, you can also get a 6-month unlimited membership for $720 or a year for $1260 - both come with meal and fitness planning.

While I loved my first Surfset experience, I'd say the big drawback was the fact that for that price (which for me personally, is a bit expensive), you really only get the classes - there isn't any other equipment in the studio to work on. But if you want an intimate class and a solid workout, then Surfset is a great alternative to a straight-up gym.

surfset torontoWriting by Chynna Wilson. Photos by Jesse Milns.

Borealia

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Listed in Restaurants

Borealia TorontoBorealia on Ossington is a novel 45-seat restaurant devoted to revitalizing and modernizing the historic cuisines of native, early settlers and subsequent waves of immigrants to Canada.

Newly opened by proprietors (and husband and wife team) Evelyn Wu and chef Wayne Morris, the restaurant melds influences from across eras and updates heritage recipes with modern techniques.

Borealia TorontoThe concept is thoughtfully carried through the interior designed by Qanuk, but thankfully you won't find yourself dining in Pioneer Village. The setting is inviting and comfortable, and features contemporary details like cascading copper light fixtures that shimmer like the aurora borealis, wood beamwork referencing long-house construction, and tapestries that map out wildlife migration patterns.

Borealia TorontoThe menu opens with fun, familiar snacks like devilled eggs a with five spice, tea and soy marinade ($7), and panko-crusted arancini flavoured with mushroom and Chinese sausage that are billed as chop suey croquettes ($6).

Borealia TorontoThen there's a reimagined and refined interpretation of L'éclade ($15), plump mussels infused with a thick fog of pine needle smoke that's presented to the table under a cloche. Crusty house-baked red-fife bread ($3) and cultured butter on the side pair nicely to give the dish extra substance, but while the mollusks pleasantly resonate with the flavour of smoke, there's not a drop of sauce to sop up.

Borealia TorontoDelving into the arcana of native ingredients, there are dishes like braised whelk ($14), sea snails dressed in kombu beurre blanc over seaweed, carrot and burdock slaw. While rare on Toronto menus, these briny, clam-like delicacies are prevalent at pubs across Europe and Asia, though here, they're presented as precious two-bite skewers.

Borealia TorontoBison "Pemmican" Bresaola ($15) is a dish rooted in the jerky-like meat rations introduced by Cree to early explorers. Traditionally a coarsely pounded powder of dried meat and melted fat, here it's revamped into an unctuous cured meat, thinly shaved and served with lardo and juniper wild blueberry vinaigrette. By the time the dish is finished, my tongue is coated in fat, and earthy notes of juniper are all that linger.

The ultra-rich pigeon pie ($20) sees dark squab meat and root vegetables encased in a flaky lard and butter crust accompanied by roasted squab breast and buttery parsnips. The portion might look petite, but my, how hearty this dish proves to be.

Borealia TorontoSignature cocktails in the leather-bound bar menu include a raspberry cider shrub spritz ($12) with Aperol and Prosecco, while the list of beers and ciders features Bellwoods Grizzly Beer ($12) and large format Eric Bordelet Pear Cider ($48).

Borealia TorontoYou'll find the friendly waitstaff enamoured with the opening menu and willing to delve into the history and finer points of each dish. It's a journey into the past worth taking.

Borealia TorontoPhotos by Jesse Milns

Junction City Music Hall

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Listed in Bars

Junction City Music Hall has been described as a place where you feel like you're part of a secret club that only the cool kids know about. This inconspicuous underground - literally - venue can be reached via a narrow hallway and a steep set of stairs on Dundas St. W. in the Junction.

Owners and brothers Ben and Jack Wilkinson (who took over Hole in the Wall down the street in 2012) have made the most of this rectangular subterranean space, outfitting it with a small performance area in the back, cozy wood booths, a bar with a reclaimed wood log as its base, vintage pinball and arcade games (Comet! Track & Field! 1941!) and quirky decor pieces that are constantly being tweaked.

Ornate-meets-log-cabin designed bathrooms (there's a wood bench inside the women's - wonder what's in the men's?) make this one of the few venues where I don't dread going to the loo.

So far, General Manager and Jill-of-all-trades Chrissy Radford has been bringing in local DJs and bands covering all genres, from punk and classic rock to psych and R&B/soul. So far we want to keep it pretty Toronto, she says. As we grow though I will definitely be bringing in acts from everywhere hopefully.

Currently they've got a few regular nights going: live band karaoke with Good Enough is (usually) every first Saturday of the month while every third Saturday R&B/soul revival band The Mercenaries have a residency. There are also rotating semi-regular nights that include Peeler's Playhouse Burlesque as well as an all-female DJ and live band night called Bad Girls Club (check the venue's FB page for more up-to-date details).

Sundays are themed dinner-and-double-feature-movie nights; to give you an idea, the inaugural edition screened Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained and you could get a Royale with cheese and a pint for $15.

As for drinks, Radford comes up with creative on-tap cocktails tailored towards the theme of each night's event. For live band karaoke nights, they've had a Crooner's Cocktail, a whiskey and homemade ginger syrup concoction; on burlesque nights, there's Peeler's Punch, a mix of soda, vodka, grenadine and orange (basically an alcoholic Shirley Temple); during a hip hop night, there was gin and juice; and for a Sleazy Speakeasy weekend, an absinthe cocktail. All are priced to be easy on the wallet, and tend to go for under $10.

A 16-oz. pint of Beau's on tap is $6, and the plan is to stick with local breweries. Tall can offerings include Stiegl, Labatt 50, Coors Banquet, Lowenbrau, PBR, Conductor's Craft Ale, Guinness and Strongbow (each $6, except $7 each for the latter two). Bottles of Anchor Steam and Red Stripe go for $6, ditto regular well drinks (fancier stuff like Sailor Jerry goes for $8, as do glasses of wine).

This spot is definitely a welcome addition to the area, contributing to its burgeoning music scene. It's unclear if the venue will remain a secret for much longer, but it's clear it's gonna stay cool.

Photos by Jesse Milns

The Well

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Listed in Bars

The Well landed itself a coveted spot on Lower Ossington this past spring, taking over from the short-lived pasta place just down from Golden Turtle. Billed as a cafe and bar, The Well opens a little earlier to catch that early afternoon crowd, and offers some food, a full dessert list and espresso-based coffees, alongside wine, beer and mixed drinks.

The space is long, the walls mosaicked with salvaged wood ends and festooned with mirrors and paintings. They catapult on the beer and board game trends too, and tables are set up for playing, but the selection is limited, just the classics here - Sorry, Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly, Balderdash - that sort of thing.

There's also big screen TV running old movies above the bar, and to add one more element to the pseudo-schizophrenic vibe The Well has going, they also have a full DJ set-up, and featured DJs and DJ nights.

I arrive in the early evening the music is already pumping while a few people play board games, and a couple just watch the strolling traffic on Ossington from their seats at the window.

The food menu, written on the chalk wall as you enter, is simple and geared towards comfort- mac and cheese, pork spring rolls, or doubles with roti are $5.00 each, while a tray of three sliders runs you $8.00.

Somebody's got a sweet tooth; the dessert menu is twice as long. Try the cheesecake ($5.75), pie of the day ($4.50), cake of the day ($5.75), brownies ($3.00), pecan tart ($4.00), banana bread ($3.75), or throw in the towel and get the whopper dessert platter for $7.00.

Wash it down with a glass of wine or a basic beer (Tankhouse, Steamwhistle and Conductor's are some draft types), while tall cans include Sapporo, Steigl, Cobblestone, Magner's Heineken and Strongbow, all $6.50.

The cocktail list isn't wild - Negroni, old fashioned and martinis are featured, then I saw The Well's signature drink and I had to try. The Peanut Punch, made at The Well as either a shot or a full cocktail, is a tribute to the classic Trinidadian drink of the same name.

Here, it was a blend of peanut butter, milk, and what I thought was Kahlua and Vodka, though the bartender wouldn't reveal the secret recipe, making it a peanut heavy white Russian or Brown Cow. The Peanut Punch is thought to be an aphrodisiac in the Caribbean, and it did brighten overall impression of The Well, which until that point had left me a little confused.

Scratch Kitchen

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Listed in Restaurants

Scratch Kitchen TorontoScratch Kitchen recently replaced the short-lived Middle Eastern kitchen Cleo on Yonge Street north of Lawrence. It's a venture by chef/owner Dave Tucker, whose resume lists O&B, Cowbell, Brockton General and the Leslieville Cheese Market among an impressive list of previous employers.

Knowing he wanted to offer a made-from-scratch menu of farm-to-table goodness, but also appeal to the neighbourhood, he's settled on a simple concept that is bound to please: licensed brunches. It's a rarity on this stretch of Yonge, though Hazel's Diner a few doors down has also recently applied for a liquor license. While the bulk of the business deals in daytime fare, it's not the type of place that shutters promptly at 4pm, but offers bar snacks, fresh-shucked oysters and beers into the evening.

Scratch Kitchen TorontoAt only a week old, I stopped in to discover the menu scrawled in chalk across one wall. "This way, I can change it up as I feel like it," Tucker explains. It also offers the opportunity to tailor dishes with seasonal ingredients as they're in their prime.

The 55-seat room is sparsely adorned: The aforementioned chalkboard menu is the main focal point, while a view into the open kitchen and muted TVs mounted over the bar are the only other distractions.

Scratch Kitchen TorontoA stone oven inherited from previous tenants is put to good use baking breads and finishing dishes like the Fat Daddy pancake skillet ($7). As far as pancakes go, this one is excellent. The single, plate-sized flapjack is fluffy and perfectly crisped around its perimeter. The dough is studded with poached anjou pears and the whole thing is sprinkled with confection sugar, smothered in maple syrup then topped in house-made Concord grape jelly and a generous knob of butter.

Scratch Kitchen TorontoThe fried egg with chard ($7) is a lovely vegetarian option featuring eggs (any style) over wilted Swiss chard with earthy sautéed cremini mushrooms and sweet Chardonnay-soaked raisins over a toasty baguette. A little grana padano to finish offers a salty counterpoint that pairs great with plump raisins.

Scratch Kitchen TorontoThe Turkey Club ($11) on miche bread doesn't hold up if you wait too long (or say, take a million photos first). That's only a problem due to the supremely moist chunks of turkey crown, which are blanketed in bacon skin, then roasted in the stone oven before being reconstituted in a bath of stock to order. It's topped with house-cured bacon, thick slices of heirloom tomatoes, baby greens and olive oil mayo. It turns out to be a knife-and-fork affair, though that just makes it easier to dip in the pot of maple mustard supplied on the side.

Scratch Kitchen TorontoThe bar menu at brunch boasts Cava mimosas ($5) and the house Caesar ($8) rimmed with bacon fat and celery salt and garnished with spicy beans and a strip of bacon. On draught you'll find Mill Street's 100th Meridian and Left Field Eephus Oatmeal Brown Ale sold for $6, plus a selection of cans and bottles. Wines by the glass sell for just $1 an ounce.

Scratch Kitchen TorontoWi-fi and a choice of espresso or bottomless drip coffee add further to Scratch Kitchen's weekday appeal, though the two-man kitchen is going to have its work cut out for it on weekends when hordes of Midtown brunchers come hungry.

Scratch Kitchen TorontoPhotos by Jesse Milns

Penny's

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Listed in Bars

Penny's is one of the latest bars dotting the molting retail landscape of Bloordale Village. Located at Bloor and Lansdowne, the bar opened its doors earlier this year in a heavily renovated space, shedding the skin of its previous incarnation as Café Vatan.

Penny's describes itself as a dive bar with a touch of class. As for decor, it's hard to miss the giant art deco sign outside. Inside features an impressive sharpie mural along one wall of the neighbourhood storefronts.

The lights are not turned down - it's bright. But it's also clean, and bartender Eric Tanielu was welcoming and friendly. On a quiet Wednesday night patrons reflected the mixed crowd of that neighbourhood.

You can easily walk in and order a beer or cocktail and not feel any sideways glances either way; there's a variety of Ontario craft brews on tap, while cocktails stick to classics like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans.

Food offerings include an often-changing menu that might include items like pork sliders for $9.50, tuna salad lettuce wraps for $8 and samosas for $5.

Equipped with empty space in the back to accommodate live music, the bar has an open jam every Tuesday, but also books DJs and bands like Toronto blues act The Legendary Castaways.

This is owner Olivia Jewer's first bar, but she has been in the service industry for two decades, and you can tell that a lot of work has gone into something that is close to her heart.

Writing by Erin O'Born.

Gilt

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Listed in Bars

Gilt opened over the summer in the Entertainment District. Boasting bottle service and themed nights, the nightclub bills itself as Toronto's hottest patio.

I visited Gilt on a Thursday evening in August. From the outside, Gilt looks pretty impressive. The exterior of the building is bathed in royal purple light (taking inspiration from America's favourite oils and lubricants) and there are loads of staff members manning the door (taking inspiration from governments everywhere).

On the inside, Gilt is pretty standard. The space is on the small side for a club, and much of it is taken up by bottle service booths, decorated in purple upholstery. Chandeliers hang above the bar on the opposite side, and there is a giant altar on which the DJ spins. On the other end of the club sits a statue of Buddha in the blessing pose (a nice change from the usual nightclub religious iconography - crucifixes are so 2013.)

I decided to order a drink while I was downstairs. I asked the bartender if there was a signature cocktail ("nope"), and what most people ordered ("vodka soda but sometimes Red Bull") before eventually settling on the vodka soda ($8). I started to ask the bartender another question (second-guessing my hasty Red Bull rejection) but unfortunately the bartender walked away while I was mid-sentence.

This would be understandable if there were other patrons waiting to order (and even then, you should lie and say "sorry, be right back!" if the patron is mid-sentence even though you have no intention of coming back to the weird girl who is simultaneously taking notes about bar decor on her iPhone and playing Kim Kardashian Hollywood) but there was no one else ordering at the bar. The bartender just walked over and picked up her conversation with the other bartender.

To cover the fact that I was now talking out loud to no one, I loudly coughed and then escaped to the rooftop patio. Though my experience to that point was somewhat lacklustre, the rooftop patio is where Gilt shines. Their patio is large with split-levels and one full and one smaller bar.

The lower level has more tables for bottle service as well as a DJ booth. The upper level is really just an area to hang out, dance, and gaze longingly at the people who have bottle service on the lower level. There are trees and lights around the border of the patio to try and conceal the fact you're in Toronto, but the greenery is a little sparse on the upper level for full suspension of disbelief.

As the night went on, the patio filled with very attractive people in dresses and suits (and also one person was wearing a newsboy hat). A few people started dancing but for the most part, people just stood and talked. I was able to witness a math problem in real life ("If three women with vocal fry get together at a club, how many different orders can they stand in to get as many selfies as possible?") and the solution ("six Instagram posts, nine uses of the word 'cute', and one self-reflection on life with a 'man-chin'").

Overall, the patrons at Gilt seemed to be enjoying themselves, but it's not a club I would recommend for the average Torontonian. It's overly expensive without the payoff of a over-the-top venue, outstanding drinks or great service.

Gilt said it best themselves via their hashtags: Do you want to pay top dollar to be around #BeautifulPeople in #TorontoCity? Do you want to get #RichGirlWasted? If so, then Gilt is the club for you. If not, I'll see you with all the other #MediumToOkayLookingPeople in #Toronto #DrinkingResponsiblyWithBothTheBourgeoisieAndProletariats.

Baju at the Monarch Tavern

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Listed in Restaurants

baju monarch tavern torontoBaju at the Monarch Tavern is the newest venture by Zane Caplansky, Toronto's smoked meat maven, who has built something of an institution with both his celebrated deli and his ubiquitous blue truck. It feels like a distant memory now, but he got his start cooking in this tiny, box-like kitchen at Clinton St.'s Monarch Tavern.

Since he departed for greener pastures, the Monarch has transformed the downstairs event space into a snazzy venue with regular jazz and DJ nights, but the upstairs bar has remained in a constant state of flux, with a mixture of pop-ups, guest kitchens, and sometimes, basically nothing - allowing customers to wander in with a slice or sandwich from Bitondo's across the street.

baju monarch tavern torontoAnd so the prodigal son saw an opportunity for a return, of sorts. Zane has overseen the development of a BBQ concept (managed on a day to day basis by chefs Dan Green and Kyle Wyatt) with the hopes that it'll return the pub back to the same heights of popularity it enjoyed during his last stint there.

baju monarch tavern torontoThe menu sticks to BBQ essentials like side ribs and brisket, with staple sides such as cornbread and collard greens. While everything is available a la carte, there's a pig out option ($55) that gives you most of the stuff on the menu.

With no shortage of rock solid options in Toronto for fans of southern-style cooking (Stockyards, Barque, Electric Mud are a few names that come to mind immediately), there's not a whole lot of room for error with any new spot that tries to join the fray. Unfortunately, Baju's food isn't worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as any of those spots. In fact, it doesn't even seem worthy of leaning on Caplansky's reputation to drum up interest.

baju monarch tavern torontoWith only four meats and five sides to choose from, it was easy to work across the whole menu. Starting with the brisket ($9 per 1/2lb, $17 per lb), we were faced with a plain and greasy cardboard tray of under seasoned beef. Under seasoning is a bit of a theme here at Baju, so visitors are actively advised to rely on one of the three BBQ sauces on offer to get some flavour into their food. The Original sauce is made with tomatoes and dark chocolate, but unfortunately did nothing to help the brisket.

baju monarch tavern torontoRibs ($9 / $17) are served dry, and were probably the best thing we tried. Served on top of a slice of Wonderbread, they were moist and juicy, but again completely underseasoned. Worse still, there was a faint chemical odour to the smoke, which was there across all the meat. I can't be sure whether its the wood chips being used or something else, but it was an unwelcome addition.

Pulled pork ($8 / $15) is another flavourless offering. Unfortunately the recommended Carolina sauce is no more than a reduced apple cider vinegar, and even a liberal helping couldn't raise the meat from being a plain chore to eat.

baju monarch tavern torontoThe sides (all $4 / $9) were all a pretty serious let-down too. The deep-fried mac 'n' cheese bites were all mac, while the coleslaw was another victim of that criminal underseasoning, with nothing to taste beyond cabbage. The cornbread, however, took top billing for biggest waste - utterly bone dry, it needed to be slathered with the provided pack of butter. The collard greens with bacon sounded tempting, but the bacon was added as an afterthought, leaving the greens tasting of, well, greens. A sad day for southern cooking indeed.

baju monarch tavern torontoIt's still early days for Baju, yet after Monarch owner Michael Dorbyk had spent so much time trying to recreate the magic of the original Caplansky's, I can't help but feel that unless some fundamental surgery is performed on the recipes, it's not going to be any more than another footnote in the pub's never-ending transitional phase.

baju monarch tavern torontoPhotos by Jesse Milns

Bill Hicks Bar

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Listed in Bars

Bill Hicks Bar is a new rock-meets-dive-meets-tiki bar (basically, the bar version of a hypothetical love child between Dave Grohl, Gary Busey, and Matthew McConaughey in his bongo phase). Posthumously named after legendary comedian Bill Hicks, this bar is located in Leslieville.

I visited Bill Hicks Bar late on a Tuesday evening. The bar is located up a flight of stairs illuminated with flashy lights, guiding your way to a beer-filled paradise. At the top of the stairs are two small rooms, one with some seating, and the other with the bar.

Overall, the space is small, and not just bar small - think the first apartment you could ever afford in Toronto small. However, the space is well-used. The room with the bar is open, perfect for those of us who want to stand and chat, and the room with seating also has a tabletop PacMan, perfect for those of us who spent Saturday nights in college playing role-play games in the student lounge.

The walls are covered in albums, which not only look cool but are great conversation-starters. They range from great (Joan Rivers looking fabulous) to questionable (Bill Cosby looking like Bill Cosby) to simultaneously both terrible and amazing (Bruce Willis looking like he's having a stroke). In addition to the albums, the bar has cool tiki accents, reminiscent of summer, and bright Christmas lights, reminiscent of the horrible reality of Canadian winter.

The interesting decor is topped only by the drink situation at Bill Hicks Bar. Drinks are inexpensive (a PBR is $3), delicious (had that classic PBR sewer taste) and served by friendly and attentive bartenders. Other beers are also available for under $5 (but may not have that signature sewer flavour that only PBR can guarantee). The bar also serves rails plus mixer for $3-4 and as a complement to the drinks, Rashers sandwiches for $5.

As the night grew later, I found it hard to leave the bar. The small space, initially a drawback, made for a totally intimate experience. I ended up standing next to and chatting with a stranger who had recently moved to Toronto for nearly an hour, a totally unheard of experience for me (every time I have a good conversation with a stranger it ends in them asking me for money).

The sense of community and openness fostered from such a laid-back, interesting place was really cool. (Also the drinks were really, really cheap and it's hard to leave a bar when you still feel like Scrooge McDuck swimming in money instead of the usual it's-midnight-and-now-I'm-Leonardo-Dicaprio-in-Growing Pains.)

Bill Hicks Bar, similar to non-bar Bill Hicks, is fantastic, unique and deserves a cult following. The cool atmosphere, cheap drinks and intimate setting make it the perfect place to grab a drink in Leslieville.

The Derby

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Listed in Restaurants

the derby torontoThe Derby opened this past summer on Dundas West at Dufferin, and it's what I'd classify as a classy neighbourhood sports pub (if a bar has a banker's/library lamp as part of its decor, it qualifies as classy, no?). It's not so big as to feel impersonal, and every one of the 35-odd seats in the joint has a good view of at least one of the flatscreens playing up to four different matches at a time.

Although its name references horse racing (while also a nod to the now-defunct L.A. club featured in Swingers, which was part of a chain of Brown Derby restaurants that once included a Toronto location at Yonge and Dundas), this bar will air anything competitive/sports-related, as reflected by the range of sports memorabilia hanging tastefully on the walls.

the derby torontoA friend of co-owners Craig "Blackie" Black, Chris Watson (formerly involved with The Social) and manager Lawrence Bill (who also co-owns Bellwoods Barbers) went to Caesars Palace in Vegas and placed $10 bets on Toronto for the NHL, NBA and MLB, gifting the bar with the framed tickets. (For those wondering, odds for both the Leafs and Raptors winning it all are 40 to 1, while the Jays are 15 to 1. Oof.)

the derby torontoYou can be sure to catch all those games here, not to mention football - the North American version (Black likes the Seahawks) and the British/European kind (aka, soccer). Doors will even open at 8 a.m. on weekends if there's a good match of note playing that day (Bill is originally from England and the bar draws some diehard EPL fans).

the derby torontoBlack has noticed the Dundas West crowd mostly seems to prefer hoppy ales, but The Derby tries to have a variety of ales, lagers and ciders to choose from, with eight beers on tap ($7-8) - mostly Ontario selections from Beau's, Mill St. and Amsterdam. Tall cans ($6-7) include Magners, Strongbow, Kozel (a Czech lager), Kensington Brewing Co.'s Augusta Ale, Woodhouse Brewing Co.'s lager, and the inevitable PBR. There are $5 featured tall can specials on weekdays.

As for the eats, the menu is kept relatively simple and doesn't stray far from what you'd expect at a pub, but the aim is to do it better than the often-mediocre fare found in other sports bars. The kitchen likes to think local: bread is purchased from the Portuguese bakery down the street, and meats are obtained from the butcher nearby.

the derby torontoThe signature Derby Banquet Burger ($14) consists of a handmade patty on a Portuguese bun, loaded with all the fixings: smoked bacon, jack cheese, lettuce, pickles, roasted tomato, and house-made chipotle mayo, accompanied by a side of hand-cut Russet fries.

the derby torontoApplewood-smoked wings ($12) are smoked in-house and come with some veggie sticks and chipotle mayo dipping sauce. These are a fave among the pub's patrons, as are the nachos (chicken or chili, $12; chorizo or veg, $13), with house-made tortilla chips, guac and salsa; in addition to a three-cheese blend, diced jalapenos, cherry tomatoes and cilantro, bits of yam and corn add an unexpected but pleasant sweetness to the toppings.

the derby torontoVeggie-friendly mushroom-gravy poutine ($10; also available: Quebec style, $10, and BBQ chicken, $12) uses real cheese curds (although I could have used a handful more of 'em) and a house-made sauce that Bill tells me takes three to five hours to make.

the derby torontoBreakfast/brunch is offered on weekends, with dishes like huevos rancheros and BLTs/BELTs on offer. Weekly pop-ups from Smoke Signals Bar-B-Q, serving up Central Texas-style beef brisket, ribs, sausages and pulled pork, are the perfect accompaniment for watching Sunday NFL games.

The Derby isn't just a sports bar. It also hosts DJ nights and special events, like a recent sold-out Murdoch Mysteries screening for mega-fans, with stars of the show in attendance (Black and Watson both work in film and first met on the set of the CBC show). Black has lived in the area for around eight years, witnessing the gradual - and ongoing - gentrification of Little Portugal, but he believes there's still a real community feel to the neighbourhood, and he hopes this bar will contribute to continuing that vibe.

the derby torontoPhotos by Jesse Milns.

LoversLand

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Listed in Fashion Stores

loversland torontoLoversLand is a new shop catering to offbeat brides (and the people that love them, plus all their friends). Open just a few weeks on Ossington, the romantic, relaxed store is the brainchild of three women aiming to add a sense of laid-back fun to the wedding-shopping process.

"We just treat people the way we want to be treated," says Danielle Gulic, who founded the shop with Trish Spencer and Yvonne Reidy, all friends who, fittingly, met through their partners. "It's a selfish approach, basically. It was like, 'What do we want?'"

loversland torontoBetween the three of them, they've racked up retail experiences at J. Crew, where they met with brides-to-be and bridesmaids desperately seeking stylish, well-priced wedding attire; Urban Outfitters, where they realized the value of fun, irreverent gifts; and, most fortuitously, with Twobirds, a brand of convertible dresses that caters to brides and bridesmaids.

In addition, they also planned their own weddings or served as bridesmaids (13 times, in Reidy's case) and saw friends struggling with the planning process, being overwhelmed at wedding tradeshows and, occasionally, by overbearing sales associates.

loversland toronto"Couples have changed so much, and this industry has kind of stayed the same for so long," Gulic says, adding that today's brides and grooms want their wedding to be a reflection of who they are, not what their families want; they also tend to be more likely to pay for the festivities themselves, and grooms are more likely to take a hands-on approach to planning.

loversland torontoTheir more modern take on a bridal salon mixes a number of reasonably-priced bridal gowns ($1,000 to $7,000) with wearable, easy-to-fit bridesmaids dresses, a selection of neat products ready for grooms, groomsmen and guy friends, and other gift-ready knick-knacks.

loversland torontoThe all-white store is a far cry from the heavy, overstuffed, tulle-swathed vibe you might expect from the average bridal salon. For the most part, it's pared-down and sleek, like any other white-walled, industrial-chic boutique in town - save for the gigantic yurt-like tent that takes up the entire back of the shop, where the bridal dresses are kept.

loversland torontoThe shop stocks a half-dozen or so bridal designers. Nicole Miller offers a wide range of styles that trend toward more comfy, stretchy, wearable designs, with prices as low as $700 for shorter dresses. On the higher end of the scale, there's Rafael Cennamo's more glamorous designs, including a crystal-studded one they dubbed the "Elvis dress" ($7,000).

loversland torontoRebecca Schoneveld gowns are popular for their customization options - you can mix and match tops and bottoms of dresses when you order them - while Rue de Seine is a boho-oriented line out of New Zealand. In addition, there's headpieces and flower crowns by Little Doe and Lady Hayes and some bridal-appropriate jewelry.

loversland torontoThe trying-on process, Gulic says, can be as intense or as chill as you want it to be: "If you want to get the champagne, and be excited - because it is exciting - or if you want to do it by yourself, and it's like 'I need a white dress, we're going to City Hall' - whatever your schtick is, we just want to be like 'That's cool. Great.'" Spencer adds that they've had more and more grooms coming in to help their brides shop.

loversland torontoFor bridesmaids, there's the aforementioned Twobirds line, an exclusive to the shop in Toronto. The dresses, which come in only two sizes (but fit everyone), are made from a loose jersey material and can be tied in a vast number of ways, making for a super-easy solution to creating a cohesive look for bridesmaids and dressing tough-to-fit women.

loversland torontoThere's also a selection of shorter white dresses (for the reception, City Hall, or just 'cause), honeymoon-ready swimwear, and lingerie by local label Fortnight. (Another necessary honeymoon accoutrement: A beach towel printed with a portrait of Larry David. Yeah, that Larry David.)

loversland torontoIn the gift shop at the front, there's vintage cufflinks for gents ($40), scented candles, cards, and a few more unusual bridal wear ideas: A teddy-bear-fur coat from Ganni, as well as a sharp white tuxedo ($295) from the Danish brand.

"Wear a Ganni jacket over your wedding dress, and you could wear it with jeans and a T-shirt," Gulic explains. "This is what we want to do - is teach brides they can still be themselves on their wedding day."

loversland torontoPhotos by Jesse Milns.

Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse

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Listed in Restaurants

Jacobs and Co SteakhouseJacobs & Co. is one of Toronto's most distinguished steakhouses. It's the type of powerhouse restaurant where pro hockey players, celebrities and suits hold court and celebratory crowds gather to splash out.

While top cuts of meat served with unerring consistency are the main attraction, the recipe for its popularity also includes first-rate service and a dash of ceremony that diners expect when dropping a couple bills on a single dinner.

Jacobs and Co SteakhouseThe 180-seat restaurant is spread over two floors and comprises a main dining room, piano bar, private rooms, show cellars and walk-in aging room. In contrast to old-guard chophouses like the dark, brooding but kitsched-out Barberian's, this restaurant - bearing the same pedigree as the Buca empire of restaurants - is airy and modern, turning convention on its head by employing a light, muted, colour scheme accented by dark woods.

Jacobs and Co TorontoThe Caesar salad ($18) tops our list of best caesar salad in Toronto for good reason. Rolled over on a cart, it's prepared from scratch tableside with plenty of theatrics as ingredients are emulsified, cheese sprinkled and lettuce flipped.

Jacobs and Co TorontoThe result is, as anticipated, excellent, plenty garlicky and a little zippy from anchovies. It's not creamy, but the classic addition of an egg yolk adds richness, though they'll replace that with an avocado for a similar effect if requested.

Chilled seafoods are popular at the back bar, and the menu offers a few token mains for non-meat eaters, but meat is of course the main event.

Jacobs and Co TorontoThe list of farm-specific steaks changes daily depending on what feels right in the aging locker, but if price is no concern, skip the printed version entirely and have the waitrons parade out a tray of raw choice cuts and just marvel at the marbling.

Jacobs and Co TorontoWhen a thick, 14-ounce Canadian Piedmont Angus ribeye ($50) is set on the table sizzling, I kind of want to bow my head and observed a moment of silent appreciation.

Jacobs and Co TorontoThen there's the sides - almost a dozen familiar steakhouse favourites to choose from. Vegetables like sautéed spinach ($12), mixed mushrooms ($16), or slow roasted beefsteak tomatoes finished with crumbled feta cheese.

Jacobs and Co SteakhouseThere's also spectacular spuds like thick duck fat-fried potatoes ($14), mashed potatoes ($12), stuffed and baked potatoes ($13), au gratin ($14) or poutine ($17).

Jacobs and Co TorontoThe vanilla cheesecake ($14) makes for a suitably decadent finish. The rich, creamy dome over a graham cracker base is paired with bright, tart counterpoints like lemon curd, blueberry coulis and lemon tuile.

Jacobs and Co TorontoThe wine list is as thick as a book listing 850-plus labels, but the organizational system - by growing region - makes it hard to navigate. There is something for everyone at a wide range of price points but the price of bottles darts from $45 into the thousands.

Jacobs and Co TorontoJacob's & Co. is the classic steakhouse experience, complete with stellar service, premium wine list and unabashedly massive portions of meat. The only thing it doesn't have is a stuffy, dated room.

Jacobs and Co TorontoPhotos by Jesse Milns

Wise Bar

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Listed in Bars

Wise Bar is a haven for lovers of craft beer located along Bloor St. W. just west of Dovercourt Rd.

I go to visit late on a Thursday night earlier this year. I'm hoping it's quiet enough to chat, but not so quiet that I miss out on witnessing the personality of the joint while in use. My hopes come to fruition. Wise Bar is bustling with revelers already leaning in the direction of the weekend.

It's a pretty bare bones room, but has a warm and intimate vibe when the seats are full.

Owner Tamara Wise previously worked at Bellwoods Brewery, but she always wanted to run her own bar, so when the Wise Bar space became available, she decided it was time to try.

"I've been in the industry for 10 years," she tells me as she walks me through the beer selection and I sip a Muskoka Detour. "I've done other things in the middle, but I always came back." Yes, cocktails are on the menu. But Wise's true love is beer.

"You get me to pour a shot and it's absurd. But I can pour three beers at once."

She, her partner, and their dog live around the corner, so she says she lives in a sort of a triangle of being between her place and her apartment and downtown. The business, like so many entrepreneurial endeavours in Toronto, began with a lot of DIY work and a little pitching in by friends and family. In this case, they helped her with the painting. Or by feeding her pizza and beer, while she renovated.

Wise is super kind and chatty with me. She's patient, even as her beer knowledge vastly dwarfs my own. She stocks numerous, continually rotating options, many of which are not commonly found in the LCBO. Some of Wise's top picks include Liefmans, and Calabaza Blanca, a white ale crafted by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. On draught, you'll find a bunch of locals for about $6.50/pint. These switch up, but during my visit, Black Oak Pale Ale and Great Lakes Limp Puppet were top contenders.

Alongside the love given to Wise Bar's beer selection, there's a basic selection of top-notch spirits, and delectable snacks on offer, too, which work as a perfect complement to the hoppy beers on offer. Plates made up of triple-crème brie from Quebec, blue cheese, and extra old cheddar cheese, crackers and dates can be enjoyed at any hour of the day. Or if meat is more your thing, the sausage sandwich with pickle garnish (a mere $3) might be your pick of choice.

And because Wise has a sizable number of friends who don't drink, she has a election of ginger beer, iced tea, and gourmet sodas to choose from, so they don't need to be sober, responsible for getting their friends' drunk asses home, and bored all at the same time.

That's a nice touch from a place that's already worth giving kudos to for the friendly neighbourhood vibe it has on offer.

The Feathers Pub

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Listed in Bars

The Feathers Pub has been the local watering hole for British expats and Britophiles in the Upper Beaches community since 1981, and its patrons just can't seem to get enough of this place.

When you step inside, it's like you've been transported back in time to an olde style British pub, with its red velvet banquette benches, dark wooden furnishings and flowery wallpaper. There are framed photographs all over the walls documenting the bar's history and the Scottish homeland of its original owner, Ian Innes.

Innes decided to retire in 2009 and Reid Pickering bought the bar from him, taking over as publican. Pickering, who is also of Scottish heritage, grew up in the neighbourhood and liked that it was such a regular hangout for everybody in the area. He's been working in the bar biz since starting out as a dishwasher at 15, and for the most part, he's trying to keep what regulars love about Feathers intact.

Along with a few minor renovations (namely the carpet and the ceiling), one of the things Pickering has worked on improving is the pub fare. Everything is made in-house, with British staples on the menu like cottage (a.k.a. shepherd's) pie, which comes with a side of garden salad ($11.99), and on the weekends, prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and vegetables (6 oz. for $14.99, 8 oz. for $17.50).

There is also not-so-Brit fare like veggie quesadillas ($9.99), and weekly specials like striploin steak Thursdays ($12.50), with quality meat supplied by Close to the Bone across the street on Kingston Road, and fresh fish Fridays ($17.99) with product from De La Mer.

This was one of the first bars to take an interest in craft beers, and about half of its 21 offerings on tap are domestic and local brews, including its Feathers and Feathers Red house lagers ($5.50 a pint), by Great Lakes Brewery.

Pints of other domestic draughts (Double Trouble's Hops & Robbers IPA, Junction Craft Brewing's Conductor's Craft Ale, Mill Street Organic, etc.) are $6.10 while imported ones (Fullers London Pride, Tetley's English Ale, Guinness, Innis & Gunn, etc.) are $6.50. There is also always a cask ale that changes weekly for $6.85 (when I'm there, it's the Flying Monkeys' Muddy Wader Nut Brown).

However, what Feathers is most famous for is its impressive selection of single malt Scotch. Innes started with one shelf dubbed the "singles bar" and it expanded into one of the largest and best - if not the best - collections in the country, and possibly in the entire continent.

There are over 400 bottles from over 100 Scottish distilleries to choose from, and if you're as overwhelmed as I am by the Scotch "book" they present, you can opt for one of the tasting menus ($30-75) that offer half-ounce samples according to a theme.

You can tour through all the whisky-producing regions of Scotland; focus in on a particular area; try some of the rare ones that are down to the last bottle; or hone in on just the finest single malts. The bar even occasionally brings in experts from the distilleries to run tastings.

An interesting mix of clientele can be found at Feathers. If you arrive in the early evening, it looks like a lot of the people in here have been coming since the place first opened (as in, they are pretty old now); the next wave seems to be large groups of families who grew up in the area and are now bringing their kids along with them; and finally, younger couples who are newer to the neighbourhood and drawn to the pub's quirky charms arrive as the night wears on.

One of the regulars, Simon Cowe, a brewmaster and British expat (fun fact: he was one of the original members of Newcastle folk-rock band Lindisfarne back in the '70s) has been coming to the pub for the past 20 years or so. I strike up a conversation with him and learn he used to brew the Feathers house beers in the bar's basement.

Cowe's a walking encyclopedia when it comes to both the beers and the history of this place. "It's the most authentic British pub in Canada and the best one in Toronto," he tells me. That must be why everyone just keeps coming back.
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