Earlier this summer, I kidded myself with the notion of doing the 100-mile diet, only to realize that I was broke and, well, beggars can’t be choosers. But, if my bank account starts looking happy again (unlikely after Summerlicious), here’s where I’d be eating:
Affordable:
Big Mamma’s Boy – 554 Parliament Street
Il Fornello – 491 Church St., 214 King St. W., 207 Queen’s Quay W.
Edward Levesque’s Kitchen – 1290 Queen St E (very far east)
Czehoski – 678 Queen St W
Magic Oven – 360 Queen St E, 6 Wellesley St W
Live Organic Food Bar – 264 Dupont St.
Fresh – everywhere
Fressen – 478 Queen St W
Urban Herbivore – 64 Oxford St.
Fresh Wood Grill – 197 Baldwin St
Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner – 111 Queen’s Park
Pulp Kitchen – 898 Queen St. E.
Trapper’s – 3479 Yonge St. (between Lawrence and York Mills station)
Pizzeria Libretto – 221 Ossington
Not as affordable:
Cowbell – 1564 Queen St W (very far west)
Conviction by Thuet – 609 King St. W.
Pangaea – 1221 Bay St.
Epic – 100 Front St. W.
Globe Bistro – 124 Danforth Ave.
Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar
Veritas – 234 King St. E
Harbord room – 89 Harbord St.
Sequel – 3362 Yonge St. (Yonge and Lawrence)
Cello Supper Club is a swanky resto-lounge in downtown London that has quickly become my favourite place for a late-night dinner and drinks. Not only is the decor modern chic, comparable to the best Toronto lounges, they also boast a menu of over 30 martinis. The first time I came to Cello, we were seated in the lounge area with leather couches and were presented with two martini glasses full of gummy worms and fuzzy peaches. I was in love.
Despite my enthusiasm for candy-themed martinis in the colour of the rainbow, the skills in the kitchen were more than adequate to get my attention. With the first bite of sweet and tender spiced lamb kafta, I knew these chefs were not banking on our inebriated state to serve us less-than-delicious food.
Normally, I avoid lamb like the plague. From my Chinese background, I knew lamb to have a distinctive “aroma” that did not sit well with me. But this lamb did not have that aroma. Instead, it was unbelievably tender, cooked until the sinews had caramelized and the meat could easily be pulled apart, marinated with a sweet sauce and a spicy rub.
The next appetizer we tried was a bruschetta, which was not as memorable. But that is a good thing in my books, because the only memorable bruschettas I’ve had are bad ones.
The catch of the day was rainbow trout, with a buttery risotto and caramelized vegetables. The dish was perfection. The rainbow trout was well-cooked and subtly seasoned. The risotto had a creamy texture, juxtaposed against the more solid, caramelized potatoes and carrots.
The lamb entree was outstanding, although comparably less seasoned than the lamb appetizer. The sauce was flavourful and very complementing to a less-seasoned meat. The meat was soft and tender, and I could see that the chefs had taken care to cook it at the right temperature to leave a golden shell with pinkish flesh.
The entree I had been looking forward to the most was duck breast, which turned out to be flavourful with a crispy outer shell. The duck was not as tender as it could have been, especially considering all the fat sitting under the skin. Perhaps it was a little under-done, or perhaps it was the way my friend ordered it. The duck was sitting on a most delicious mound of mashed potato that was so smooth it could have passed for cream itself.
The beef-phyllo entree was most unique. The beef was subtly seasoned, and sat in a mushroom and escargot sauce that reminded me of a wine reduction. The escargot, mushroom, and herbs resulted in a very interesting taste.
Their classic martini (the “dirty cello”) came with three olives and a very smooth Bombay sapphire gin. There were several cream-based martinis to select from but real dessert came in the form of cassis ice cream on creme brulee, and a banana extravaganza I can no longer remember the name of. The creme brulee was far too sweet but the cassis ice cream made up for it. The banana extravaganza consisted of several banana-flavoured components (sorbet, cream, etc.) that all tasted heavenly.
On weekends, they have a DJ and the music can get quite loud, but weekday nights are more intimate. The dress code fares on the side of club-wear, especially later in the evenings, with girls in tights and men in blazers, but there are no bouncers so it is not like you would be turned away for being under-dressed. The servers are very attentive and accommodating, and give great martini recommendations.
Overall, this place has a great vibe, whether you’re with a date or a party of friends. With attentive service, top-notch food, the most extensive martini list in London, and gummy candies galore, what’s not to like?
Rating: 
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One Up is a chic restaurant/lounge in the heart of the entertainment district. It’s categorized under “Italian/International,” but due to its attempt to be “po-mo” (post-modern), it is really just another resto-lounge with an Italian flair in its menu. The atmosphere is much like many other resto-lounges in downtown Toronto these days, with its sleek furniture and peculiar light fixtures and big glass windows and prominent bar. The actual lounge area is tucked away into a different room though, so you don’t have to worry about disturbances during your meal.
The waitress was very attentive and brought a round of drinks promptly soon after we’d sat down. The Baby Mix Greens were boring, even for a salad, and the Gazpacho (a soup, it turned out), was very strange, and we could not figure out what it was. The Penne Pesto was a delightful surprise of just enough taste, but not overdone and not too salty (like some pastas tend to be), with a healthy ratio of chicken breast to pasta. Unfortunately, the chicken breast was a bit burnt, but it still tasted good. The ravioli was rather saucy and cheesy, but enjoyable nonetheless. The best was the dessert – Ice Cream Truffle. Absolutely heavenly. And the Apple Strudel was surprisingly similar to the authentic bakery kind. All in all, a nice meal that was perfect in serving size, in a very pleasant ambience for relaxed conversation. It was a little on the expensive side though, but then again, this is an upper class restaurant.
Rating:
One Up
130 Dundas St. W.
Toronto, ON
(416) 340-6349