Fine Dining uptown

[red dragon]

Would like suggestions for fine dining, steak, Italian or seafood uptown (Markham, Richmond Hill preferred, or North York). Anything but French food.

We'll be in the area of Warden/7 on a week night, so we don't want to drive downtown. I'd rather something with a nice ambience rather than old school (such as Octagon or David Duncan House) and we'll be bringing our appetites!

I've come up with these so far....

The School of Fine Dining
Miller Tavern
Marlowe's
Terra

Thanks in advance!

[Sadistick]

At some point a chef will realize the huge untapped market north of say Finch/Steeles between Leslie and Bathurst and make an absolute killing.

[Attknee]

Here's hoping!!!! If you are not into Chinese it is a pretty major culinary wasteland.

[Sadistick]

Well there are other options besides Chinese, but they are more often than not of the Asian or South East Asian variety.

It really would be a gold mine.....not sure why someone has not jumped on it.

[kwfoodiewannabe]

Have not been personally, but I have heard good things about the Richmond Grill on Yonge St. north of Major Mac.

Not sure though if it might be too casual?

[Attknee]

Richmond Grill I don't think is too casual. However, had a reservation to go at 7 on a Friday night in September. Called to extend to 7:30 and was told it was so slow they were closing the kitchen at 8:30. Decided to opt out and went to Scorpion in Aurora instead. Have to unfortunately agree about the Miller. Had high hopes when it opened and find the food to be overpriced and not so great. Nice patio though.....won't help much now. I used to take my staff to The School each year for Christmas. Haven't been for a few years but definitely liked it in the past.

[mike00000888]

So, fellow hounds, why not direct OP to one of the places in Unionville? Just curious.

[T Long]

In Unionville and meeting the OP's criteria, the closest I can think of would be Day & Night on Carlton Road, but I think it pales in comparison to The School Fine Dining (my rec) in Milliken Mills which is just as convenient to get to from Warden/7. I'm interested in learning about alternatives you might suggest in Unionville.

[1sweetpea]

Terra is definitely pricey, but the food is quite good. Tutto Bene, just a block or so south, is pretty good Italian. Much farther north, in Aurora, is Joia Ristorante. Chinook, also in Aurora, is more casual, but also nice.

[shekamoo]

Marlowes is not good. not good at all. it is not fine dining really either. maybe drive down to Auberge?

[prima]

Agree. Auberge is likely the best choice for fine dining in North York. While it might be too French for the OP, Auberge's food is as contemporary/continental as it is French.

http://www.oliverbonacini.com/OliverB...

[shekamoo]

Frankly I hadnt noticed OP's wish to avoid French food, but I agree with you in any case re Auberge. Furthermore, North American fine dining comes inevitably with some French slant most of the time anyways...Auberge is probably a good case in point, while it is more continental than straight French, surely there is a lot of French influence, right?

[jlunar]

Auberge would have been my suggestion too, if not for the "no French" request. I agree they should take a look at it.

[juno]

Auberge du Pommier, on Yonge St. just north of York Mills Rd., is the best of the bunch mentioned so far, assuming the OP is prepared to pop $200-$250 a couple with wine, all in. And, as has also been mentioned, you can make like it's more continental than French. Still, it's a helluva drive to Auberge from the OP's starting point at Warden and Hwy. 7. I wish I could offer something closer, but I am bereft. Maybe Diana's, a pretty good fish, oyster and seafood joint hard by Diana's retail fish store near Warden and Lawrence Ave. E., but it's also a shlep.

About the Miller Tavern, dismissed out of hand by Sadistick as "garbage": kinda harsh, my friend. Agreed, it's not worth driving across town for, but the food is perfectly acceptable middle-of-the-road nosh in a spacious, comfortable dining room. Mind, prices are about 20% higher than they should be - $20.50 for a Cobb salad? Yikes! - and some of the snacks and starters aren't up to much, but once you get to know the menu, and the kitchen's strengths and weaknesses, you can dine quite well and leave eminently satisfied, if not exactly thrilled by the experience. In short, a boring menu but an acceptable local favourite - its parking lot is packed most nights by locals brandishing the $25-off coupons with which the Miller regularly papers the neighbourhood. Not nearly as accomplished and adventurous, but considerably less expensive than the Auberge almost diagonally across the street. And $1 corkage for bring-your-own-wine on Mondays, which is when the smart money goes.

[T Long]

My vote would be for the School....but it is old school dining in an old school. I like it a lot better than David Duncan or the Miller. Have had no experience with Marlowe's or Terra. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/865441

[Googs]

I've heard Casa Victoria is quite good. I haven't made the trip myself, but I don't think you could find a place closer to that intersection. Perhaps someone else could tell you what to expect.
http://www.casavictoria.ca/indexTC.asp

[Sadistick]

Very good for Dim Sum.

Haven't been for dinner.

[red dragon]

I've been to Casa Victoria before, it's very nice, but I'm not looking for Chinese cuisine. Tried to edit my post to say no Chinese or French food, but I wasn't able to.

Thanks for your reply though.

[Sadistick]

Miller is garbage, don't waste your time.

Terra is extremely overpriced.

My MIL likes the Octagon for Steaks/Ribs, I cannot comment as I have not been there myself.

[red dragon]

Ugh, scratch Miller and Terra off my list. I've been to Octagon once, but it was about 10 yrs or more. Thanks!