Our Favourite Toronto & GTA Restaurant Dates of 2022

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In true foodie fashion, the past year was filled with date nights at some of the city’s newest and hottest restaurants, plus some hidden gem favourites that we’re definitely carrying with us into the new year.

Whether you’re looking for a new casual favourite, or a fancy night out for a special occasion, here are some of our favourites spots we’ve tried in 2022!

We can’t wait to see what’s next for the new year, and if you have a spot that you want to see featured on datenight, hit us up here.

Our top 15 Toronto restaurant dates of 2022 are…

LOUIX LOUIS 

The views of the interior of this whisky-inspired hotel restaurant is just as beautiful as the city views you get to see through the windows. Located on the 31st floor of the St. Regis hotel in the heart of downtown, LOUIX LOUIS is perfect to celebrate an anniversary or special occasion, or pair with a staycation at the luxurious hotel. 

Some of our favourites here include the table bread (a must), Tuna Crudo, USDA Prime Cowboy Steak, Truffle Mac & Cheese, and of course the 13-layer King’s Cake.

Pizza e Pazzi

Right on the corner of St. Clair and Dufferin, also known as Corso Italia, Pizza E Pazzi is the intimate authentic Italian restaurant you need in your life. One of the only restaurants in Toronto officially certified Vera  Pizza  Napoletana, the true Neapolitan Pizza Association from Naples, Italy.

We would DEFINITELY be impressed to be taken here on a date.

Nuna Kitchen & Bar 

This romantic Parkdale spot offers delicious, authentic Peruvian dishes, some modern inspirations, and multiple flavours of the best Pisco Sours in the city!

They’ve added some new, perfect-for-cozy season menu items that will warm you right up, like their braised short rib gnocchi and shrimp sliders, must-tries. They also offer daily specials and half price bottles of wine on Thursdays & Sundays!

Mademoiselle

Enjoy seafood towers, steak, sushi, caviar, extravagant cocktails and bubbly. You’re in for a date you won’t soon forget at Mademoiselle on King Street West!

We absolutely LOVED the tuna tartare, the jumbo tempura shrimp roll, and the crab legs! Definitely make sure to wash it down with a bottle of the finest Moët & Chandon. During TIFF, spot celebs here for extravagant nights out.

OEB

A popular brunch restaurant in Canada, OEB opened its first Toronto location this past summer in Liberty Village with their cute, bright, breakfast-themed interiors and a mix of classic brunch dishes, and inventive elevated creations that are sooo tasty.

Truly a great brunch date spot, try their breakfast Carbonara, savoury crepes, or breakfast bowls with their duck fat potato wedges. Everything was seriously so tasty and if you love mimosa, order their flight!

Offworld Bar

Now, this menu is full of cocktails and bar snacks so if you’re looking for a structured sit-down dinner restaurant with entrées, we wouldn’t totally go for that. BUT, the interior of Offworld, Queen West’s space-themed bar is so cool and the outer-world vibes actually make it very romantic. 

The small menu compliments an evening of sipping on cocktails and is more elevated than you’d expect from a bar with Burrata, plant-based sliders and more!

Madrina Y Tapas

This was an amazing summer patio date night, bringing us back to the streets of Barcelona with this tapas menu full of authentic Catalonian and Spanish dishes with an elevated, Toronto spin on them. 

This Distillery District restaurant has everything you’d want in a date: intimate romantic interiors, a beautiful patio that would immediately impress a date, fun and tasty cocktails, amazing service, and fun dishes to try together.

The Opium Bar

We love this Dundas West Asian-inspired tapas restaurant with a very cool cocktail menu. Sitting inside or on their small storefront patio  (in the summer of course) both offer immaculate vibes and you won’t go wrong ordering any of these menu items!

If you love bonding over shareable and drinks, this one is a must-try for 2023.

Piccolo Piano Pizzeria

This dreamy date spot is the pizzeria, small plates, and cocktails-on-tap extension to the original Piano Piano restaurant with a totally unique vibe.

Their menu changes frequently which makes it the perfect spot to come back to again and again for date night in Harbord Village.

We got the Ezzo Pepperoni and Ham & Cheese pizzas – both still on the menu, and HIGHLY recommend getting those dips!

Casa Madera

This dinner date spots transports you to a tropical beach vacation. Casa Madera is an exciting dinner experience inspired by Tulum beach clubs with a Latin and Mediterranean-inspired menu.

Enjoy your upscale dinner and artistic cocktails among live entertainment, music, and stunning decor.

Sotto Sotto

We absolutely love the team here (and the food); did you know Sotto Sotto is female founded, owned, and operated by the amazing Marisa Rocca since its opening in 1993? 

What we got:

  • CARPACCIO with fresh black truffle from Norcia & burrata Stracciatella cheese
  • LA CARBONARA Artisanal Zaccagni spaghetti tossed with crispy pork cheek from Amatrice, eggs, Sarawak black pepper, and Pecorino Romano *DOP
  • PENNETTE VIA FRATTINA Artisanal Zaccagni Penne, vodka-smoked salmon and fresh asparagus in rosé sauce

Lobster Burger Bar

A unique dinner date for sure! Everything here either has Lobster in it, or has lobster flavours (except the cocktails of course, that just wouldn’t work). From their appetizers with lobster gravy, to their sliders and iconic Lobster Roll, the food quality here will impress you for a downtown King West restaurant in a typically ‘touristy’ area. 

We’ve recommended this spot to loved ones and It’s only been met with good reviews!

TAPS Mississauga

This was even more impressive than expected! TAPS is a local spot nestled in the Mississauga suburbs brings such a cool vibe to the city with interesting interiors, tons of cool booths and tables, and really good menu items!

We ordered the Big Daddy Burger and the Miso Carbonara on our first visit and were blown away and immediately listed this as a spot we’d return to.

Farzi Cafe

For a fancier date night or special occasion, or just fuelling up after a day of shopping, Farzi Cafe was exceptional from the meals to the presentation, to the elevated cocktails (think bar chef-level). The inside is adorned with string lights, booths, a beautiful bar, high top tables and an olive tree.

They do cocktails curated after all of the star signs and it’s the perfect spot to take a loved one for their birthday to order the cocktail that goes with their sign!

Kebab 49

This Turkish restaurant just outside of Toronto’s core, by Kipling subway station, was one of our favourite new spots of the year!

They have a small parking lot and spacious interiors that smell amazing while you’re waiting to order, the portions are absolutely massive, and everything is so infused with flavour that you’ll keep this on your regular rotation list.


We hope you have an amazing end of the year and we can’t wait to see you all and share even more date ideas come 2023! Check out some ongoing winter dates that you can enjoy even after the new year ball drops.

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