For over a century, MICHELIN has been the food world’s benchmark to the best restaurants, now offering a wider scope of picks than ever before! Last year, 17 Bib Gourmands joined the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Toronto making for delicious and affordable date night options and we couldn’t wait to see what this year’s list would be.
This year, the tire company turned culinary kingmaker added two new One Stars, four new Bib Gourmands, and two new Green Stars to the MICHELIN Guide Toronto.
One Star
So what does this designation mean? The restaurant is considered “very good in its category” having a quality menu and prepares cuisine to a consistently high standard.
Restaurant 20 Victoria
A highlight of this year’s results include a new One Star for chef Julie Hyde‘s seasonal tasting menu at Restaurant 20 filled with original dishes (smoked beets with oyster cream). This spot was also deemed Canada’s best new restaurant in 2022.
The team uses top-notch local produce, pristine seafood and refined sauce work make for a delicious trifecta on a seasonal tasting menu that boasts originality in spades.
Located at: 20 Victoria St, Toronto
Kappo Satto
Chef Takeshi Santo‘s open kitchen chef’s counter also was awarded a One Star on the MICHELIN Guide this year. This experience is truly art on a plate, with ingredients mostly flown in from Japan. Meaning to cut and to cook in Japanese, Kappo is a multi-course experience that is a must-try for date night.
Located at: 575 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto
Previous One Stars include Aburi Hana, Alo and Alobar Yorkville, Don Alfonso 1890, Edulis, Enigma Yorkville, Frilu, Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto, Osteria Giulia, Quetzal, Shoushin, and Yukashi.
Green Stars
The MICHELIN Green Star is an annual award which highlights restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainable practices. They hold themselves accountable for both their ethical and environmental standards, and work with sustainable producers and suppliers to avoid, reduce, or completely remove waste from their supply chain.
Frilu
In 2020 the owners of Frilu restaurant started their own farm called Willowolf Farm which they used to produce fruits and vegetables for Frilu to use throughout the seasons.
All of their kitchen waste goes back to the farm’s compost program to enrich the soil used. Frilu also uses local Canadian ingredients throughout the year buying from local markets and farmers. Chef Troiano hand picks the produce from the farm every morning especially during Spring, Summer, and Fall to ensure the guest experiences a true sustainable farm to table experience.
Frilu also maintains their One Star on the MICHELIN Guide.
Located at: 7713 Yonge St, Thornhill ON
White Lily Diner
The duo behind White Lily Diner bought their 10-acre hobby horse farm and turned it into a no-till working farm where they exclusively use hand tools for a grass roots, holistic approach. They use greenhouses to mitigate disease. In addition to supplying their own restaurant, the duo’s farm also provides produce for more than 15 other restaurants, including some in the MICHELIN Guide.
That, paired with being a perfectly cozy place to have a brunch or dinner date, and White Lily Diner should be on your list of go-to date spots.
Located at: 678 Queen St E, Toronto
Bib Gourmands
To add to the list of Bib Gourmands in Toronto, MICHELIN Inspectors combed the capital of Ontario to discover everything from groovy Filipino to energetic Chinese. This designation looks for restaurants where a diner can have two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for less than $60 making for an affordable date night!
BB’s
Start your morning or fire up your evening at this groovy Filipino diner bursting with colour and coolness. Sea foam green tile, pink booths and turquoise stools set the stage for a hangout that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Whether you’re heading to this incredibly cool spot for brunch for a dinner date, add it to your list!
Located at: 5 Brock Ave, Toronto
Sunnys Chinese
Don’t be fooled by this spot down a hallway that nearly looks like a dead-end… walk a little more and you will find the door to this high-energy hotspot! The hard-to-book and packed room is constantly buzzing with groups huddled around Chinese homestyle dishes pulled from Sichuan to Guangdong.
Located at: 60 Kensington Ave Units 6-14, Toronto
Tiflisi
Tiflisi is family-owned and they’ve spent years collecting the recipes of authentic Georigan dishes to celebrate the culinary diversity of the regions. Portions are even built to share so bring a friend or two. This hearty food is seasoned beautifully, prepared with care and brings all the comforts of home, wherever that may be.
Located at: 1970 Queen St E, Toronto
White Lily Diner
Yep, White Lily Diner made the guide in two different areas! They put both sustainability, and a high-quality yet affordable experience at the forefront.
Located at: 678 Queen St E, Toronto
Two Stars
The only restaurant that has a previous Two Stars on the MICHELIN Guide in Toronto is Sushi Masaki Saito. This designation means the restaurant has excellent cuisine delivered in a unique way, and has something exceptional to offer — it’s “worth a detour” to visit while traveling.
There are currently no restaurants on the guide with Three Stars in Toronto.
Build your dinner date list for the upcoming seasons and don’t miss out on checking out the existing Bib Gourmands list for date nights under $60!
