Listed in Restaurants
Planta is a restaurant where everything is 100% plant-based. When I ask venerable local chef David Lee (of the reputable Nota Bene) what that means, he says it's just as it sounds: no animal products are used whatsoever. But you won't find any nut "meat" or "milk" here: it's more about finding versatility using only plant-based ingredients.No one is more up to that challenge than Lee. Apparently one of his customers at Nota Bene often made requests to alter menu items so they would fit his strict diet, and Lee complied, happy to take on the challenge. Not long after, he started eating a plant-based diet as well, and partnered with Steven Salm, who had been doing the same thing but for a little longer.
The interior speaks to this blend of hip and heart, not for a second sacrificing the luxurious wow factor that Yorkville customers likely expect. Candice Kaye custom designed their funky jungle plant printed wallpaper. Couches and comfy chairs are everywhere, along with eye-catching light fixtures. Tisha Miles, who painted the six murals in Kasa Moto, did the giant leaf on one of their walls.
Appetizers here are artful, delicate creations. The watermelon poke ($13) is gluten-free, served floating in a bowl of ice. It's smashed avocado, watermelon that's been sous vide in kombu, toasted nori, and their house-made citrus soya crumble, finished with large rice paper chips.
Another appetizer is the coconut ceviche ($13). Lee explains he could make this exact same dish with fish: young coconut has a very similar texture to sea scallops. The coconut is marinated in lime juice, chilis, and onion, topped with sliced avocado and smashed organic corn nuts, and dotted with a date puree. 
The cauliflower tots ($9) are cauliflower and potato topped with truffle soy milk and vegetable oil mayo and truffled nut "parmesan," and served with a lemon wedge which actually offsets the truffle.
As for mains, the 18 carrot dogs ($17) use smoked organic carrots finished on a plancha instead of hot dogs. They're surprisingly hot-doggy, served in a house-made bun that uses flour from K2, a local Ontario mill, and turmeric which gives the bun a surprising yellow colour. The dog is topped with sauerkraut, dill pickle, mayo, and mustard, and served with spiced fries.
Our other main is the Habibi salad ($17), and incorporates David Lee's grandmother's split pea recipe. All salads are gluten free, so it's cauliflower "cous-cous," lentils, parsley, mint, coriander, currants, sumac, za'atar, and tahini. 
Planta does cocktails with cold-pressed juice bases from Village Juicery, too. We try the Beauty and the Beet ($11) made with the special beet-based Planta Punch Village Juicery designed just for them, incorporating dark rum, coconut, lemon, and agave nectar as well. 
Photos by Jesse Milns
Uniqlo has landed in Toronto bringing all of its multi-hued, basic glory to the corner of Yonge and Dundas. The Japanese retailer is cozying up inside a 27,400 square foot space located between 
From light-weight, packable down parkas (starting at around $89.90), to Argan oil-infused Heattech undershirts that'll keep you toasty in the winter months ($19.90-$29.90), the price-points are seriously approachable here.
The store spans two storeys and features men's and women's clothing on the first floor, with more merchandise as well as the children's section on the second level.
There's plenty to browse through, with clothing stacked all the way to ceiling in certain areas. Apparently Uniqlo prides itself on trying to have items in various sizes and colours available at all times.
To introduce itself to the Toronto market, this Uniqlo takes on a distinctly Canadian vibe. A table full of plaid shirts greets me at the front of the store and one wall showcases four Toronto brands, including the 
It's the first time Uniqlo's ever featured local companies in one of its stores. Uniqlo Canada COO Yasuhiro Hayashi tells me he and his team will switch up which brands they highlight about every two to three months based on a seasonal theme. 
Along with this unique section, the store has some of the Uniqlo's more well-known capsule collections, including Ines (by Ines de la Fressange) as well as Uniqlo U.
Hayashi describes this line, by Christophe Lemaire (a former artistic director at Hermes), as elevated basics. And indeed, this collection features pieces that are a bit more playful than what you might usually see at Uniqlo. 
With winter just around the corner, Uniqlo's showing lots of jackets and coats, along with cold weather accessories, such as stoles ($29.90) - these are really just super soft blanket scarves with a fancy name.
There also lots of chunky knit sweaters, including some priced under $50 for those of us who don't want to splurge on cashmere.
With Nordstrom next door, Uniqlo provides a nice change of pace with colourful clothing that won't induce sticker shock.
Photos by Hector Vasquez.
MoRoCo Chocolat used to be in Yorkville where they did full service sit-down meals like brunch and high tea, but have since narrowed their focus at this location to just chocolate. Each chocolate sold here is handmade, hand-molded and decorated completely uniquely.
This isn't a drip coffee place on the way to the subway station: they only serve espresso-based drinks here, along with tea from Canadian company 
Their hot chocolate is all made from the melted sipping chocolate constantly whirling in tubs behind the counter. The milk chocolate was infused with chai when I visited (yum!) and fun fact: the dark chocolate has no dairy, so if you order a hot chocolate with coconut milk, it's actually vegan. These rich, addictive hot chocolates go for $4.95 - $5.95.
MoRoCo is known for their gourmet truffles (six for $13.25, twelve for $24.95, or twenty four for $48). Pictured here are the 62% dark "Full Throttle" truffles made with espresso ganache, and their "Sub'Lime" white chocolate truffles made with a vodka lime ganache that clinched the 
The other thing they're known for is their macarons ($2.40 each), in twelve flavours every day with two that typically rotate out, like Oreo. They're too delicate to ship, so if you want to get your hands on them you'll have to do it in store.
Llook for other inimitable rarities like this "McQueen Cake" for $8.95 topped with one of MoRoCo's handmade golden chocolate skulls.
Photos by Hector Vasquez
Love Chix is a restaurant serving up some really great roasted chicken. Who doesn't love chicken? The concept behind this place is as simple as that, but there's a great deal of thought being put into the food by team of chefs Paul Marshall and Punit Sehgal. They first worked together at Toronto's 
The interior is super spacious, with a pick-up counter at the back for take-out orders. That's also where the magical 
Love Chix has an extensive alcohol selection, and what I like best are the fourteen feet of tall boys kept in fridges behind the bar, all with matching glassware. However, they also do cocktails like the Drake & Stormy ($13), inspired by our fave Toronto it couple, Drake and Rihanna. It's made with 
Appetizers are upscale and off the beaten track, like popcorn cauliflower ($8) soaked in buttermilk, dredged in seasoned flour, deep fried in brown butter, and piled atop a pool of buttermilk ranch and garnished with edible flowers. 
Another app is the tuna tartare ($12), a date night no-brainer. It's albacore with a soy ginger vinaigrette, mixed with shallots and anaheim chilis and topped with microgreens and rice crisps.
The thing to come here for is unarguably the chicken. They use "yellow chicken," antibiotic and hormone-free from the best supplier they can find for the best price point so it doesn't get into the unaffordable territory of organic free-run chicken. Cold rather than typically hot water is used for the defeathering process, apparently much better for the meat.
They serve it with their personal secret version of a Chalet sauce, and the "Small Family" combo ($32) comes with two sides, which you choose from eight options, four hot and four cold. I recommend the brussel sprouts ($7 on their own), a recipe popular with Marshall's patrons in Vancouver, fried and topped with grana padano, lemon juice, and "a little special something."
You'll also want to try the bird prepared as a butter chicken dish ($18): though the naan isn't house-made and this item is everywhere in Toronto, the spice blend makes it a standout. 
Photos by Hector Vasquez
Peace Collective has a flagship store for their clothing brand at Ossington and Argyle. Well-known for their apparel featuring graphic tees with a minimal, mostly black-and-white colour story, the pride represented by the slogans on their shirts (such as the now-famous "Toronto Vs. Everybody") runs deep: Peace Collective is an offshoot of the 
The interior is big, white, blocky, and industrial. Black clothing racks and tables are set off by white walls. Dominating the front part of the space right near the entryway is in-store gourmet milkshake bar 
When we visited, it was the beginning of a Jays baseball season that debuted with a lot of hope left over from our last, more-successful-than-most season. The same "Toronto Vs. Everybody" slogan with familiar branding is still everywhere on these garments, but in the bright blue and white Jays colours with discreet Jays logos.
Peace Collective is looking to rep Canadian pride without resorting to the typical Canadian stereotypes such as maple leaves and syrup. The streetwear without too much colour is designed to be easy for anyone with Torontonian pride to wear, and therefore participate in supporting their community. Tees aren't too pricey (about $29.99) but a jacket like this could set you back about $169.99.
You can always go for a much cheaper tote ($18.99) or other accessories. Their hats are pretty pricey too, in about the $30 - $50 range, but spending a little more isn't so bad when the products are local and support charity, and the looks are fly. In addition to this flat brim cap, they stock other curved-brim caps and toques, for whatever weather or style.
Peace Collective caters to even the littlest Torontonians, too, so you can match your baby in similarly badass streetwear with the same slogans as the adult apparel, or give the gift of Canadian pride. This cool black-and-white onesie and kids tee both go for $32.99.
Everything in the store is designed to be pretty much unisex, though there is a small "women's" section that has some intimates and bamboo fabric tanks and tees made with a softer material in a slimmer build, though anyone could still buy them. Clothing is sorted more by colour than slogan or size, so dig for the perfect item!
Photos by Jesse Milns
Lee Restaurant is one of Toronto's most venerable dining institutions, headed by star chef 
The signature drink here is the Mandarin Monkey ($18), a vodka-based cocktail made with mandarins strained with their rinds as well as fresh-squeezed orange juice. They also add Soho lychee liqueur and Golden Pear pear liqueur, shake it and strain everything into a martini glass, topping it with a mandarin foam and a lychee, goji berry and basil leaf garnish.
As for Lee's signature dish, the Singaporean-style slaw ($25) is composed of nineteen ingredients: julienned carrot, cucumber, jicama, daikon, and tomato; pickled ginger and onion, and green onion; basil, coriander, daikon and celery sprouts; crushed roasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds and ume (plum) dressing, all topped with crispy shallots, vermicelli, taro root and edible flowers. 
Our stunning main course is the rack of lamb "Thailandaise" ($38). The lamb is marinated in a dry green curry rub before getting a quick sear and then going into the oven. It's then plated on concentric pools of stewed tomato cumin lentils, chili mint chutney, and carrot cardamom coconut chutney, surrounded by banana fritters. Make sure to get all these elements in one bite.
Dessert ($18) is similarly spellbinding. Chinese rice dumplings are filled with dark chocolate ganache, crumbled peanut and hazelnut, shredded coconut and black sesame, topped with a chocolate crumble, creme anglaise and raspberry puree and passion fruit sauce. Pop a dumpling in your mouth all in one go using the spoon it's served in.
On the side are little shells made of pani puri pastry dipped in chocolate and filled with creme brulee, topped with diced strawberries and garnished with a mint leaf. On the side is some rose peach water which you dribble into the pastry cup yourself. Eat these all in one bite, too.
Photos by Jesse Milns
Kitson and Co. is a sandwich shop in the condo development that also houses 
The condo development Kitson is housed in with its hip black-and-white circular logo and industrial interior is a sign of the gentrification sweeping this community: this corner used to be home to a weird strip mall that had a divey Indian restaurant in it. There's no real seating, just long ledges against the walls where you can chow down. There's standing room above the main area, too.
The variety of offerings here doesn't just extend to sandwich fillings: there are a range of breads, too. The roti ($12.50) is a secret recipe from Ava's grandmother, made from scratch and rolled out to order. This is the only vegetarian sandwich on the menu, but it's satisfying, filled with curried cauliflower, sweet potato, and chickpeas, finished with yogurt tahini and cilantro.
The fried chicken sandwich ($13) is a contender in Toronto's fierce chicken sammy game. The chicken is marinated in buttermilk, hot sauce and a few spices for twenty-four hours, and gets a simple spiced flour dredge. It's deep fried and topped with a red and green cabbage slaw along with raw jalapenos, house pickes and Louisiana hot sauce mayo on a charred bun.
That and the Philly cheesesteak ($15.50) are on 
Unlike a lot of sandwich places, the sides here are nothing to sneer at, and they'll knock 40% off if you bundle them with a sandwich. Elena and Kitson both lived in Montreal, so they know what real poutine should be: hand-cut fries, homemade gravy, and squeaky curds ($8 alone). 
Photos by Jesse Milns
Goldstruck specializes in freshly roasted coffee and innovative ways of brewing different types of drinks. The subterranean cafe in Yorkville has a relaxing environment, the basement playing nicely off the sort of prospector theme they've got going on throughout the space.
You can get small baked goods and espresso-based drinks made with care here, but they only serve smaller baked goods so don't expect more than a light breakfast or snack if you plan on eating. This is a great place to work on a laptop or catch up with friends over excellent java, and with its central Yorkville location moments from Bay station, it's easy for many to get to.
There are some stools outside on a small patio during warmer weather, and a bit of bar seating near the front window, so if you're not down with the windowless aspect of the rest of the long cafe, you can cozy up nearer to the front. 
There's also an even darker, more isolated area in the back with funky lighting if you need to crack some serious books or spread out while working on a project.
They roast their coffee at 
This carefully roasted coffee is given the royal treatment with a 
They have a good variety of standard drinks, but standouts are the cayenne and halva latte ($4.5). They don't necessarily come with pretty latte art, but the taste is something rare. The cayenne reminds me of the Mexican hot chocolate flavours that have been sweeping the States. I hope this is an indicator of a cayenne/coffee/chocolate flavour combos gaining prominence in Canada.
All their pastries are $3.50, flat out. Not only does it look pretty, but if you're a spinach lover like I am you'll find this spinach and parm croissant a satisfying, flaky and savoury nosh. 
If you're sitting around for an extended time period, try to catch the baked good you want as it's just coming out of the oven: they heat up each new batch of pastries throughout the day.
They also have free dog treats for furry friends! 
Photos by Hector Vasquez
Janie Jones is the place to go for a relaxed and funky reggae brunch. Located on 
And while Janie Jones is somewhere you can go to get a classic full English breakfast, the theme is actually "British mods on holiday," meaning British items get a bit of a kick from an exotic influence.
A good example of the theme is the vindaloo caesar ($8). Masterminded by Love, it's a surprisingly gluten free take on a caesar that incorporates his own vindaloo spice mix with garden vegetable cocktail, Lukosowska potato vodka, and Henderson's relish instead of worchestershire. The spice mix is in the rimmer, too.
Behind the bar, however, is Sara Reay, who worked tons of bars in Calgary before moving here and working at the 
The theme immediately snaps into focus when we're brought the Tahiti Toast ($15), basically a deep-fried breakfast sandwich with two house-made crumpets, smoked ham, swiss cheese and a grilled pineapple ring, served with coconut passion fruit maple syrup and toasted macadamias. 
A slightly lighter but still jovial option is the Benny Sherman ($15), named for Jewish tailor Ben Sherman. Appropriately, it's roasted potatoes topped with braised red cabbage, smoked salmon, two poached eggs, dill and a house-made horseradish creme fraiche. 
Last but not least, even though those last two dishes were super filling, we try the Eggs Ibiza ($15). A house-made lemon and fennel torta bread is topped with house-made grilled chorizo, two poached eggs and a romesco sauce composed of almonds, ancho chilies and roasted red peppers. It's served with mixed greens.
The interior is all British mod with a giant blown-up print of band The Specials on the wall opposite a fun wall designed with lyrics from their song "
Photos by Hector Vasquez
Montgomery's is a restaurant all about keeping things simple. Dishes are super minimal here, even with asterisks indicating items are "not for the squeamish," so don't expect steak and potatoes. The menu is divided into "bread and butter," "cold," and "hot" sections, so you could easily come here for a bottle of wine and conversation while simply sharing some bread and ordering a few small plates.
The kitchen is at the front as soon as you walk into the restaurant, lending a sense of excitement at first, which cools as you proceed to the back dining area.
Husband and wife owners Guy and Kim Rawlings have devised an eclectic seasonal menu meant to highlight what Canadian cuisine has to offer. Ingredients are sourced locally. Every week Guy visits an Amish farm in the Kawartha Lakes, weeding their fields scouting for something interesting.
A whole section of just bread might seem quizzical, but it goes with the restaurant's core concept of showcasing real cuisine, done right from scratch using whole foods. All the bread is made in-house using flour from the Amish Hoffman community. 
Montgomery's seafood is sourced from 
The lettuce in broth ($3.50 pp) seems ludicrously simplistic. Curly endive leaves sit, however, in a complex blend of chicken, beef, and pork broths, spritzed with chamomile malt vinegar and completed with drops of smoked beef fat.
Montgomery's works with foragers like 
Photos by Jesse Milns
Barberian's is one of Toronto's 
The greatest hits on the menu at Barberian's don't mess around, giving you large portions for what you're spending. Their jumbo shrimp cocktail (a whopping $29.95) is anything but shrimpy, three giant prawns served with homemade cocktail sauce.
The tomato and onion salad ($10.75) is a big, beefy basic, a bed of lettuce with red onion, blue cheese, parsley, and huge slices of tomato. The tomatoes ripen downstairs until they're perfect for the salad.
A rotating menu of sides accompany the red-meat-based mains, such as asparagus and sauteed spinach, though they've also served corn pudding or shishito peppers. Sides typically run around $8.25 or so.
The fifty-plus years of ownership show in this fabulously historical space that history buffs are sure to get a kick out of as much as food lovers. 
Countless antiques from the family collection cover the walls, and rare original paintings and photographs by the likes of the Group of Seven adding to a feeling of awe and exclusivity. The four-seat bar is packed with such eye candy.
No one else in Toronto has a wine cellar like theirs, and it's booked every single night. 1800 wines are managed by on-staff sommeliers in one of the largest cellars in the country. The upper private area here seats fourteen, whereas the lower area seats thirty.
If you're completely unfamiliar with the finer things but still want a splurge night out, the great thing about the wine here is it's guaranteed to be good and the staff can easily recommend an accompaniment to your meal. 
Photos by Hector Vasquez
Poutini's on 
That said, if you want to get great poutine but don't love loud atmospheres and crowds, try hitting it up for some lunch or even midday hangover breakfast. The party is always going at Poutini's, playing the latest 
While we're here...gotta sample some poutine, right? I've eaten their creations dozens of times in as many states of mind, and they're always satisfying. The teeny size is still sixteen whopping ounces of poutine, definitely a whole meal, even if it's just the traditional ($5.30 for teeny). They use fries you can watch them hand-smash while ordering at the counter in all their poutine.
The potatoes are russet, and there are three options for gravy with each poutine: regular gravy made with beef stock and butter, vegetarian gravy made with veg stock, and a vegan gluten-free gravy with no butter or flour. And c'mon guys: no ordering the vegan gravy with extra cheese curds. Go whole hog and have "the works" ($7.50) instead, topped with bacon, sour cream and chives.
I love how they smush the exact right amount of curds onto the poutine here, putting them into four ounce (teeny) or six ounce (regular) containers to measure them out beforehand. Owner of 
So I mentioned the so-called "teeny" is sixteen ounces of poutine: well, the "regular" doubles that for thirty-two ounces, making a regular layered thirty-two ounces of poutine that contains twelve whole ounces of cheese curds. I dare you to give that a shot. Poutini's does little dipping sauces like bleu cheese mayo and hickory smoked mayo, and sriracha, vinegar, ketchup and mustard are available. 
Photos by Hector Vasquez
Nonna's Place is known for their hearty Italian sandwiches. They serve veal and eggplant sammies and others along with pasta, fried ravioli, and other Italian classics, and are always ready with the coffee and baked goods should you stop by at their early opening time of 9 a.m. This family business closes promptly at 5 and is never open on weekends, so time your visit wisely.
She still runs it with her husband and son, the latter of whom wanted to name it Nonna's Place after Francesca. Joanne is a nonna (grandmother) herself by now and the face of this mainly grab-and-go shop. Due to its long history and conversion from a grocery store, the dining area is technically a waiting area and there's no washroom available to the public.
The takeout here is done outstandingly, though, and never goes cold on me. Not only do these fried ravioli ($5) come in a cute little box, they're also perfectly molten on the inside and crispy with a light coating of breading on the outside. Stuffed with ricotta and a little spinach, they come with tomato sauce on the side because Joanne likes it with sauce whereas her boys like it without.
If you're curious, try the "L'Originale" ($7), named because it's the way the family started out eating veal sandwiches at home. A veal cutlet with spring mix, balsamic dressing and parm, it represents the typical leftovers the family would have from an Italian dinner the night before that were then thrown together the next day for the perfect lunch.
Though Joanne and I like the veal, the boys' favourite is the chicken sandwich ($6.75). You really can't miss with any of these sammiches, though: the classics all use house-made breadcrumbs, and tomato sauce and meatballs are made fresh every single day. 
Though crumbless, I feel I also have to mention the tuna sandwich ($6 - get it with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and mustard) and the breakfast sandwich: both occasional life savers.
Photos by Jesse Milns
California Sandwiches has been a Toronto institution since 1967, especially this original location on Claremont, one of the proponents of what remains of Toronto's true old school Little Italy, not far from other heavyweights like 
With an army of impressive or just impressively large cars outside, sometimes running and with a couple guys hanging out around one, and a brick facade, this old school joint can present an intimidating face. Yet the updated interior has plenty of space for everyone with plenty of tables and chairs in a new clean, white look. Thankfully, they've kept Twister and Ghostbuster pinball machines.
Expect to wait a while for one of these sandwiches as big as your head, because there's a perpetual lineup. They used to cut all the meat in the back for thirty-four years as a partial butcher shop, but the renovations did away with that. They also get their buns from Villa di Mama, but have ensured as they've adjusted to using suppliers that the products would be the exact same as always.
The sandwiches all go through the same rigorous assembly-line process, though made with much more care than that term implies. Dozens of eggs are hand-cracked for their egg wash, and every sandwich gets its own separate double-dredge in Villa di Mama bread crumbs and Italian pecorino. Everything is pan-fried here so every sandwich turns out perfectly crispy.
The eggplant sandwich ($7.75) is also excellently crispy but cheesy too, with Provolone topping our peeled, breaded eggplant. 
Its polar opposite is the steak sandwich ($9.25) which we get with some complementary mushrooms and onions.
They also import olives ($3 - $5) into the store, usually from somewhere like Greece, and marinate them in the store with raw jalapeno, onion, olive oil and chili pepper.
Photos by Hector Vasquez
The Belsize Public House is a pub that does elevated bar classics like house-made burgers and sausages. It's owned by John Oakes of 
The interior is full of touches that bring the cottage to the city, like photographs by Oakes himself of nature scenes on the walls. He also brought in pieces of driftwood that he preserved and varnished himself, placed at the bar and in various nooks around the restaurant. 
The taps are always changing, and they're not afraid to play around within their model at the Belsize. The key factor is, the farthest beer they pour is a 
When we come in Oakes pours us a Durham's "L.A." Pale Ale from the cask ($7.05 for 20 ounces). It's a super light beer good for lunchtime drinking, and at only 3.8% it's golden, refreshing, and hoppy.
Their food is nothing to sneeze at, headed up by chef Jimmy Fu, formerly of 
If you want something lighter but still sophisticated and nourishing, try the smoked trout nicoise ($19). A generous filet of smoked trout from 
The grilled calamari ($12) lands between a snack and a light meal, whole squid scored into rings draped with a caper tomato salsa and resting on a bed of greens with an olive oil, lemon juice, onion and parsley dressing. 
The food is meant to be recognizable yet exceed your expectations...kind of like everything else at the Belsize.
Photos by Hector Vasquez
808 Social is a coffee bar on Pape Avenue a few blocks north of Pape subway. They serve espresso drinks and pastries to commuters on the go, but also have plenty of space and free WiFi.
The front space is dominated by a large Lovebot mural. Invented by local artist Matthew Del Degan, Lovebot originated as cast concrete sculptures placed around town guerilla-style, and this spray paint version depicts an eight-armed version of that character. 
Beyond the front room is a quieter back room with old church pews for furniture and a functioning record player. It almost feels like a living room, with a vibe that would be great for working or relaxing in.
They brew using Mississauga's 
Their espresso machine is from Italy, but the real magic actually happens in the expensive, top-of-the-line Mazzer coffee grinder. The grinding blade rotates at a low RPM, as opposed to some grinders that operate at an extremely high RPM, sometimes burning the beans. This grinder is high-powered for quantity, but with a lower RPM to preserve the beans.
They serve classic espresso, no bones about it. It's $2.25 for uno espresso, and $2.75 for a doppio. You can even wash it down the traditional way with complimentary San Benedetto sparkling water. Their milk drinks are reasonably priced as well, a cappuccino going for just $3.50 - $3.75.
They also sell pastries like this croissant ($2.50) from Circles and Squares. They chose this brand because they represent the highest commitment to consistency, delivering their goods fresh at 6 a.m. every day.
Nik is an aficionado of both coffee and music, but has another passion as well: for high-quality, rare, and small-batch tequilas and mezcals. There are bottles on display in the back room right now, and one day when you pass by on your way back from the subway at the end of the day, you might just find they're open and available to sip on something even a little more potent than espresso.
Photos by Hector Vasquez
Terroni is a well-established Italian restaurant that was opened in 1992 by Cosimo Mammoliti and Paolo Scoppio way back before West Queen West was on the radar as one of the 
The patio has a nice terrasse feel in the summer with vines and umbrellas, there are plenty of great booths, and I've always adored the old-school bar.
Odds are if you're at Terroni you're there for classic pizza or pasta, though they have excellent appetizers, specials and a fantastic standard salumi plate. They do a standard grilled calamari appetizer ($17) on mixed greens with balsamic dressing, tomatoes and capers.
One of the special pizzas is a crudaiola, a pizza bianca or white pizza (no tomato sauce). It's a summery dish topped with arugula, fresh cherry tomatoes, and ricotta salata. Pizzas usually don't run over twenty bucks.
For example, the Don Corrado is $18 and I'd love to see someone finish it. If you come hungry it's a possibility, but loaded with fingerling potatoes, housemade spicy sausage, gorgonzola, mozzarella, and rosemary, this pretty pizza bianca might show you your eyes are bigger than your stomach.
All pizza dough and pasta is made in house at next-door bakery and sister project 
The gnocchia alla simmi ($17) is a simple standby too, ooey-gooey potato dumplings in a light tomato sauce served with fresh ricotta, parmigiano and basil.
Don't miss the cocktails here: along with more Italian classics like the negroni ($14) they also have a build-your-own gin and tonic menu.
Be sure to make a reservation if you're planning on eating here: a quick lunch for one or two will probably get seated right away, but if you want to have dinner with a larger group you're going to have to plan ahead. That said, there's plenty of space in this original location of Terroni with a sprawling downstairs, upstairs and patio that's perfect for events.
Photos by Jesse Milns
Calii Love serves up Californian-style poke and health-based dishes on King West. With an emphasis on organic and healthy ingredients that are vegan and gluten-free, there's lots to feel good about eating here. That's appropriate, because although there are distinct options Calii Love offers, the menu is organized by feelings.
The inside is super spacious - most seating is in the form of long tables. I think I can say with confidence that you'll always be able to find a seat here alone or with friends - we plopped down in some bucket chairs for a second, and they were super comfy. 
Opening early at 7 a.m., they offer coffee from 
The "Loved" acai bowl ($9.95) is a best seller, perhaps because of the emotional support it promises but it's also a combination of beloved ingredients: a base of blended acai, mango, berries and banana with granola, coconut, banana, strawberry, blueberry, and honey.
Cold-pressed juices are from 
We try a regular-sized "Confident" poke bowl: for $14.95, it's trout, pickled ginger, wakame, green onions, avocado aioli, and wasabi peas on black rice. The black rice is really healthy, more than brown even, and often sells out as a favourite of one of their bases.
We also sample a small-sized "Hopeful" bowl ($10.95), one of the most popular. This portion size could easily be wolfed down on a lunch break, and can keep you going with salmon, avocado, sweet onions, jalapenos, sriracha aioli, pickled ginger and cherry tomatoes, also on black rice. 
Everything is customizable and you can create your own bowls in whatever combination you please, and also have the option of adding extra toppings, including extra healthy ones like protein powder and chia seeds.
Photos by Hector Vasquez