Gift certificate for a wine-knowledegable Toronto restaurant
I'm hoping to buy a gift certificate for my sister who lives in Toronto. She loves wine, so somewhere that does wine pairings, or just has staff willing to recommend good local bottles would be a plus. I am a student, so I can only spend around $75, which I know won't cover the whole thing, but I hope it will inspire her to get out for a nice night. That being said, a restaurant that isn't outrageously priced would be nice. Any suggestions for a restaurant with fun food and a good atmosphere that she can lose herself in for an evening?
By fiddlewise
on Dec 21, 2010 07:43 PM
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How old is your sister... and do you know where she lives in Toronto.
A $75 gift certificate at Cafe Taste (www.cafetaste.ca) or Swirl (www.swirltoronto.com) would actually be a pretty decent night. These are shabby chic sort of neighbourhood spots in the west and east ends of Toronto, respectively.
Crush Wine Bar (www.crushwinebar.ca) is more upscale and also in a more central downtown location. Red's (www.redsbistro.com) has a very corporate feel, but they have a have a big list and if she's a Bay Streeter then $75 would still get her a couple of glasses and a nice appetizer or two.
If you wanted to go the restaurant/wine bar route you could check out Enoteca Sociale (www.sociale.ca). The newly re-opened Salt Wine Bar is also getting pretty good press.
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Cafe Taste
1330 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K, CA
Enoteca Sociale
1288 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J, CA
Crush Wine Bar
455 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1K4, CA
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For a "wine bar" Salt has a bit of an odd list very heavy on Portugeuse bottles and not all that deep on wines by the glass. I think the "wine bar" tag is inaccurate.
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The Superior Restaurant across from the Eaton Centre has a very nice wine cellar and send their employees on sommelier courses from time to time.
www.superiorrestaurant.com
DT
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I don't this Superior is there any more. I'm pretty sure its an Arabic restaurant called Paramount in that location.
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You are correct chowow.
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Oh wow, I didn't know that. I was thinking it was last winter I was there but it was actually almost 2 years ago now.
Thanks
DT
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I think that Caren's Wine Bar would be a great pick considering your sister's love of wine, your budget, and the central location. Good wine list, knowledgeable staff, good food, all in a lovely room. I've never been disappointed.
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Excellent choice... I forgot about Caren's!
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My sister is 27, works on Bay St., and lives around Union Station.
There are some great suggestions here. Both Cafe Taste and Swirl seem like fun atmospheres with reasonably priced food and wine. Caren's doesn't have a lot of info online, but I will take your word on it. Reds is the best for location.
I also have looked at Eight Wine Bar and Wine Bar (on Church St.). Has anybody experienced either of these or know if they are good?
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Eight is a the bar at the Cosmopolitan, which is a little boutique hotel in the downtown core. Location would be great for your sister. It has prices probably comparable to Red's. It's not my personal favorite, but I have had some pretty luck there all the same.
Wine Bar is the former Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar. Kennedy is a local "celebrity chef" and he was doing the small plate thing at his wine bar before small plates were really a thing around here. It used to be one of my favorite restaurants in town, but I haven't been since ownership changed
Unless your sister is into exploring new neighbourhoods, I would probably pick something that has the convenience factor of popping by after work since Leslieville (Swirl territory) and Parkdale (CT territory) are both significant jaunts. Caren's is less so because it is on the subway line.
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Jamie Kennedy
9 Church St, Toronto, ON M5E1M2, CA
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