NatureWurks Where To Eat Tips   NatureWurk's staff is always being asked about our favorite places to dine,  we are happy to share with you some of our experiences. If you have any comments, please contact us Below we hope you will find some helpful advice for dining & traveling   in   Toronto, Ontario, Canada       The city has more than four thousand eating establishments offering a spectacular range of foods from all over the world, you can eat high-quality food of almost any ethnic origin. One cautionary note is that many restaurants are closed on Sundays, telephone ahead before you start a major excursion.           La Bruschetta  1317 St Clair Ave W City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M6E 1C2 Phone 416-656-8622 Chef:  Benito Piantoni Food Type / Nationality Italian, Soups, Grill, Pasta, Veal, Seafood  Dining Style Casual Dining, Family-friendly Star sightings are common in Toronto, but at La Bruschetta they're almost an everyday event. The entryway is covered from floor to ceiling with plates decorated by celebs , race car drivers (Emerson Fittipaldi is there!). It's a surprise then to find the kitchenlike dining room, unrelieved in its homeliness but for vases of fresh-cut flowers. Owner Benito Piantoni, who charms patrons with tales of Italy and Hollywood gossip, provides local color. A real family-run restaurant - the whole family works there - from the Kitchen to the Cashier with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The menu lists a dozen pastas, with cream sauces ranging from brandy to Gorgonzola. Mouth-watering main courses include veal medallions simply presented in white-wine sauce with garlic and mushrooms. After a rich meal, you'll welcome the delicate lemon ice for dessert. An impressive variety of grappas.         Sotto Sotto 116-A Avenue Toronto, Ontario Phone: 416/962-0011  Another driver's favorite. A coal cellar in a turn-of-the-century home was dug out, its stone walls and floor polished, and a restaurant created in what has become a dining oasis for locals and international jet-setters alike. The menu gives a tantalizing tug to the taste buds. Of the 14 pasta dishes, appetizer or main-course size, orecchiette (tiny, disk-shape pasta) with a toss of prosciutto, mushrooms, black olives, and fresh tomatoes is a symphony of textures. Gnocchi are made daily. Cornish hen is marinated, pressed, and grilled to juicy brownness; swordfish and fresh fish of the day are beautifully done on the grill. Lots of nooks and corners and flickering candles cast uneven shadows in these charming, cavelike rooms. AE, DC, MC, V.     Canoe   Toronto Dominion Bank Tower, 66 Wellington St. W.  364-0054 Chef:  Anthony Walsh At this spectacular 54th-floor venue, casually clad tourists, visiting starlets and Toronto's own rub shoulders. Given 3.5-stars (excellent+) by Toronto Life in the 1999 and 2000 Guides. Given "Top for Business" for Toronto's best restaurants in 'Gourmet' magazine's "America's Top Tables for 1999". Runner up for "Best Ambience", "Best International", "Best Fine Dining" and "Best Overall" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. The nightfall view of the islands is awe-inspiring. Only about a third of wines actually held show up on a list especially strong in non-European bottles.  Menu Sampler : Herb stuffed Breast of Ontario Pheasant on hand thrown Spaetzle with Maple Poached Dates, Cremini Mushrooms and a Newfie Screech Jus; Grilled Veal Grilled Atlantic Sea Bass with baked Butternut Squash, Peameal Bacon & a Ginger enriched Vegetable Jus; Roast Hind of Wild Yukon Caribou with a Forest Mushroom, Celeriac & Bannock Crusted Cobbler, sauteed Spinach & a Partridge Berry Jus; Prairie Grain Crusted Rack of Lamb with Potato & Parsnip Pie, Green Beans & a sweet baked Garlic Jus.       Auberge du Pommier      4150 Yonge St., Phone 222-2220 Chef:  Paul Benallick Auberge du Pommier offers enchanting French country dining...in the city. Joanne Kates, Restaurant Reviewer for the Globe & Mail recently wrote "Auberge du Pommier is an ineffably beautiful restaurant, made a decade ago from the remains of two 1860's woodcutters' cottages brought back to life with a keen esthetic and an eye for romance. We love its looks. Every time we go there, a different extravagance of flowers greets us at the door-sometimes tulips, sometimes hydrangeas, always seasonal. Everything speaks of a French country restaurant: the fat wooden beams, the stucco, the French-style windows, the stone arches, the wood burning fireplaces, the terra cotta tiles and above all, the ultra smooth service."The space exudes French country charm--cosy with fires in winter, spilling out onto a canvas-covered terrace when nights are warm. The menu leans to classic French tastes in nouvelle North American presentation, edible towers on oversized plates. A plum tomato, hollowed out, gets stuffed with garlicky goat cheese, then baked with chopped tomato, eggplant and artichoke on the side . A daily special of grilled halibut, wonderfully moist and flavourful on a bed of steamed spinach, disappoints only in its few accompanying gnocchi. The sleeper on the dessert card-arguably the sleeper dessert in all Toronto-is what the restaurant calls its Israeli couscous pudding, not oversweet, spiced something like a rice pudding, but to most rice puddings as lightning is to a lightning bug. A long but not daunting wine list, most bottles north of $50; eight choices by the glass.       Avalon 270 Adelaide St. W. 979-9918 Chef:  Chris McDonald Bisque walls provide background for paintings that suit so well they might have been colour co-ordinated. Seating is comfortable, table linens crisp, the staff proficient and attentive. Supplemented by a seven-course gastronomic menu, the list of dishes is broad enough to please all. The main course offers the homey charm of herb-roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, haricots verts and mushroom jus; and grilled extra-large dry-aged rib steak with garlic potato skins, fresh horseradish and a mélange of vegetables. Dessert might be malted-milk chocolate praline with a wing of dark chocolate rising from its icing. The wine list is stunning; cognac, eaux de vie and grappa can round off the evening.       Bellini's Ristorante  http://www.bellinisristorante.com 101 Yorkville Ave City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5R 1C1 Phone 416-929-9111 Food Type / Nationality Northern-Italian, Pasta, Seafood, Veal, Chicken, Duck, Osso-Buco Dining Style Fine Dining, Upscale-Casual Dining, Romantic. From the street, it's a few steps down to this comfortable, flower-filled, romantic spot. Never mind the hopelessly out-of-date decor--the whole scene is retro-romantic, complemented by pampering service.The beef carpaccio and the warm, herb-crusted goat cheese and grilled eggplant are excellent. Try the Provimi veal osso buco with garlic mushroom risotto, or the special Bellini chicken with roasted artichokes, wild mushrooms, and baked polenta. Service pampers, and a friendly host greets you at the door A warm, cozy, and soft lit dining room. "Retro-romantic complemented by pampering service." New York style. Private dining rooms available. Given 2.5-stars (inventiveness/balance+) by Toronto Life in 1999. Runner up for "Most Romantic" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. Open for dinner on Sundays. Menu Sampler Vodka cured Atlantic Salmon; Ravioli stuffed with mushrooms; Provimi Veal Osso Bucco; Grilled Atlantic Salmon; Roasted rack of lamb; Grilled jumbo shrimp; Angel Hair Pasta with Grilled Chicken Breast.         Bistro 990 Bay St City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5S 3A8  Phone 416-921-9990 Food Type / Nationality French, Steak, Seafood, Chicken, Rack-Lamb, Duck, VealHeart, Dining Style Cafe/Bistro, Fine Dining, Romantic, Take Out, Martini Bar, Wine Bar Known as a Hollywood star hot spot. Enjoy country French dining in a warm, inviting straight from France bistro setting in a century old house with an inviting summer terrace. Stenciled faux stone walls, upholstered chairs and tiled floors add to the ambiance. Closed Sundays. Given 2.5-stars (inventiveness/balance+) by Toronto Life in 1999.  Menu Sampler Curried Tiger Shrimp on a Sesame Crusted Rice Cake in a Citrus Beurre Blanc; Rack of Lamb au jus stuffed with Camembert and Roast Garlic; Medallions of Veal Tenderloin wtih Oyster Mushrooms in a Madeira flavoured jus; Filet Mignon with a Stilton and Port jus.         Courthouse Market Grille 57 Adelaide St. E.  tel.: 416/214-9379   Downtown East - Cuisine International - This hangout for the suited set boasts gargantuan fluted columns, sky-high ceilings, swinging chandeliers, and miles of marble. Pretty good for an 1850 building that used to be a jail. Financial District types lap it up, along with the generous martinis. The menu features grilled and rotisserie meats of excellent quality, though daring palates will not be pleased by timid seasoning. Appetizers are uniformly fine, with simple but well-executed numbers like steamed Prince Edward Island mussels in creamy white wine sauce. There are some impressive vintages on the wine list, though most of the prices are equally grand. Open: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10:30pm. Reservations recommended.         Fred's Not Here Smokehouse And Grill   321 King St W City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5V 1J5 Phone 416-971-9155 Food Type / Nationality Canadian, Eclectic, Steak, Pasta, Chicken, Seafood, Lamb, Duck, Game, Dessert Dining Style Upscale-Fine, Cafe/Bistro. Located in Toronto's entertainment district, it's a warm, intimate and formal bistro-style setting with a feast for the eyes and a feast for the palate with fusion cuisine and friendly service. Fine dining in a casual setting. Open for lunch Monday to Friday and dinner daily. Menu Sampler: Rack of lamb in Creole mustard crust; Grilled marinated salmon; NY State foie gras with burgundy poached pear and port vinaigrette.         North 44°  2537 Yonge St. .    Phone 416-487-4897    Chef:  Mark McEwan  Flawless, unobtrusive service. A wine list with important collections of French and U.S. reds and whites, some producers in depth, regional Italians. Re-tweaked by Yabu Pushelberg, the room presents serious glamour. A controlled imagination absorbs notions from the Mediterranean, the tropics, a little from Asia, some Americana, balancing busy combinations with admirable clarity. Pastas and pizzas recall the old Cal-Ital canon; seafood is more adventurous. Pan-fried oysters are crusted with cornmeal and ground nuts, served with silken wilted greens, creamy smoked-corn sauce, pepper relish. Desserts play quiet games with the classics.           Sarkis  67 Richmond St. E., 214-1337 Chef:  Greg Couillard.       The menu represents Chef's best work to date, a tour de force of intense, exuberant, unexpected flavours and slyly juxtaposed textures. Juicy butterflied prawns bathe in a rich coconut-curry spiced cream, its discreet heat cooled by ripe Japanese pears, cactus pears, shredded mango and papaya. A garlicky tandoori marinade becomes a delicate crust for wonderful baked salmon, the fish seeming to melt in the mouth; a sweet-tart cream of coconut and lime is not too obtrusive. Desserts seem relatively subdued after such exceptional fireworks. Owner Sarkis Tossounian has assembled a list of splendid wines, most from California, few costing less than $40. Well-chosen digestifs prompt one to linger in the serene little room, dim lighting muting a red-orange-yellow colour scheme.           Agora  Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 979-6612   Chef:  Anne Yarymowich.    Sheer size and airiness of space, the abundance of glass and cathedral stillness renders the AGO's Agora a sanctuary for food and thoughtful conversation. Menus change with exhibitions. Fixture dishes include Atlantic salmon, duck confit, braised lamb shank with rosemary. A "Still life" starter ($9) of poached pear with grilled figs, Stilton cheese and crisply baked pancetta in a fig and port coulis emerges a perfection. The kitchen falters on mains: a splendid hunk of sea bass ($17) towers over bland red-pepper purée and leathery crepes stuffed not with zesty caponata, but plain eggplant mash. Dessert, a variation of tarte tatin with caramel ice cream, soothes the sweet tooth. A dozen well-chosen wines by the glass, a blessing at lunch. Tuesday to Friday, lunch only; Saturday and Sunday, brunch only.           Centro  2472 Yonge St. 483-2211 Chef:  Marc Thuet  Grand, even exhilarating, whether the focus be the royal blue of a soaring ceiling, the great flower-stem lights arcing upward, or a $500 bottle of California cab. A series of glass-fronted cabinets dotted round the room moves the fabulous wine list closer to the customer. Food critics have consistently rated Centro as one of Toronto's top dining experiences over the past 10 years. There's a deliberate focus on meats and innards, working foie gras, duck and beef into the lists of starters and mains;  there's also a little pasta corner. This is cooking of quiet serenity and long-practised expertise, with just a few forays into exotica. Game may be represented by a caribou chop with spätzle, juniper berry oil and a cloudberry sauce. Fabulous desserts, judging by a caramelized pear tartlet supporting a triangle of milk chocolate fondant and a scoop of nut-laden pecan ice cream.         Chiaro's Le Royal Meridian King Edward Hotel  37 King St E City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5C 1E9  Phone 416-863-4126  Fine dining with flair in a cozy size room with a giant reputation. A Formal, elegant and stunning venue with a meticulous kitchen and presentation to match. Enjoy a memorable evening at the Chef's Table where you will be served from an 8-course menu at a specially placed table (parties of 8-10 only). Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA). Given 3-stars (Excellent) by Toronto Life in 1999. Voted "Best Service" and "Best Overall" in Where Magazines Most Memorable Meal Awards for 1999 and Runner Up for "Most Romantic", "Best Ambience", "Best Food" and "Best Fine Dining". Constantly voted Toronto's #1 restaurant for food, and a host of other awards including Wine Spectator Award for one of the world's best wine lists. Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. Closed Sundays. Menu Sampler:Roasted Quail with Apricot and Parsley Couscous; Pan-Seared Foie Gras with Rhubarb Sauce; Organic New York Steak; Oven-Baked Sweetbreads; East-Coast Lobster with Citrus Honey Sauce.           Far Niente Napa Grill   187 Bay St (Commerce Court Station) City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5L 1G5 Phone 416-214-9922 Food Type / Nationality American, Continental, Pasta, Seafood, Grill, Steak, Heart wise Dining Style Upscale-Casual, Romantic .  A hangout favored by the suited set, this restaurant offers fine cuisine in a casual setting. The setting is intended to invoke sunnier climes, with an earthy palette, mounds of greenery, walls of wine racks, and simple wooden tables and chairs. The kitchen uses plenty of garden-fresh ingredients and a light touch. Many menu staples--including tuna steak, teriyaki chicken, and even a Caesar salad--are designated as "living well" dishes, which have reduced fat, cholesterol, and calories. Almost every dish is available in small and whole portions. You might try Sonoma salad of tomato, goat cheese, and avocado; a pumpkin ravioli with cranberries and pecans in an apple cider butter sauce; or New Zealand lamb chops with rosemary-garlic mashed potatoes and veggie ragout. Steaks are a specialty, with filet mignon and New York strip loin available in 6-to 14-ounce cuts. Downstairs is Soul of the Vine, a wine bar that looks as if it was built in the middle of a wine cellar. It has its own menu, which features mainly appetizers and pasta. The room can get loud and smoky, so serious eaters should stay upstairs. A warm glow, airy and comfortable setting with cedar planks, and lots of surrounding greenery and an extensive collection of North American artwork. Unpretentious and relaxed. Californian grill cuisine. A 10,000 bottle cellar. Seasonally changing menu. Given 2-stars (inventiveness/balance) by Toronto Life in 1999. Runner up for "Best International" and "Best Overall" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. Open Sundays. Menu Sampler: Herb-Seared Atlantic Salmon, mashed potatoes, cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas and lemon beurre blanc, Pacific Salmon marinated in teriyaki, ginger and mustard seed; Grilled Muscovy Duck Breast and classic duck leg confit, sundried cranberries, wild mushroom bread pudding; Charred Vegetable Kebab with radicchio, goat cheese, zucchini, portobello mushrooms, onion, tomato, saffron rice.             Filet Of Sole Restaurant 11 Duncan St City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5H 3G6 Phone 416-598-3256  Food Type / Nationality Seafood, Steak, Lobster, Chicken, Steak, Dessert Dining Style Semi-Casual, , Fine Dining, Family-friendly A bustling restaurant with a nautical theme near the CN tower and theatre district. There are approx 25 kinds of fish. Given 1-star (Good-Recommendable as a meal out) by Toronto Life in 1999. Closed Saturday to Tuesday lunches.         Millie's Bistro  1980 Avenue Rd., 481-1247 Chef:  Gary Hoyer     A splendacious Mediterranean restaurant with a menu that sweeps round from southern France and Italy to Spain and Morocco and points east. Both appetizers and main courses can be grouped on handsome, hand-painted ceramic platters for sharing. Four vegetarian mains include a memorable tagine of seven vegetables in intricately spiced charmoula saucing with featherlight couscous. Blissful sweets, including coconut-cream flan with fresh fruit. Un-self-conscious winespeak annotates the globe-trotting list; over 30 vintages (only one VQA), plus two bubblies; 10 by the glass.         Scaramouche   1 Benvenuto Pl., 961-8011. Chef:  Keith Froggett. Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA). Given 3.5-stars (Excellent+) by Toronto Life in the 1999 and 2000 Guides. Ranked #3 and "Top for Romance" for Toronto's best restaurants in 'Gourmet' magazine's "America's Top Tables for 1999". Runner up for "Most Romantic" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. Open for dinner Monday through Saturday. Menu Sampler Roasted Rack of Lamb; Warm Salad of Char Grilled Lamb Tenderloin; Crisp Breast of Chicken Chicken; Fresh Arctic Char; Grilled Rowe Farm Filet Mignon. Steadfast, substantial, much loved by customers who appreciate attention to detail, the smart, angular room retains its place as an establishment favourite. The menu is studded with oysters, foie gras, caviar and other high-end treats, but equally rich in invention. One of its signature dishes is grilled smoked salmon, a light, moist fillet on a crisp-surfaced pancake of rösti potatoes; echoing the delicate sweetness of the flesh are soft white onion rings, diced apple, and wonderful golden and white beets, delicious with a creamy horseradish and white-wine sauce. For dessert, marsala petit pot de crème-think fab zabaglione turned into custard with three kinds of biscuit. No duds mar a broad, interesting wine list, strongest in Burgundy, Alsace, California with 17 by the glass. Tempting selections of sherries and spirits.         La Fenice 319 King St W City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5V 1J5 Phone 416-585-2377 Chef:  Luigi Orgera.  Food Type / Nationality Italian, Mediterranean, Seafood, Pasta, Risotto, Chicken, Rack-lamb, Heart wise, Dining Style Fine Dining, Romantic, Take Out Understated decor of terracotta tiles, marble tables, stylish artwork and classical music. Enjoy fine, traditional Italian cuisine, seasonal recipes and fresh fish grilled Mediterranean style. Great variety of pastas both imported and homemade. Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA). Given 3-stars (Excellent) by Toronto Life in 1999. Smooth service and accomplished, conservative cuisine are just the pre-theatre ticket for a smart crowd in this long, angular room. Of the treats on the menu, grilled shrimp in their shells are a must, full of flavour, juicy and tender; carpaccio is just as good. Four risottos add weight to a long list of pastas, most of them available in appetizer size. Fettuccine, for instance, is a safe and sound choice, tossed with an unctuous cream sauce flavoured with flecks of leek, dill and marinated salmon. Whole fish can be inspected tableside before the chosen is carefully grilled. Veal scaloppine, pounded, floured and lightly braised, is tender enough beneath a heap of wonderful sliced oyster mushrooms, barely cooked through. Desserts merit serious consideration, as does a noble list of reds from Piedmont and Tuscany backed up by a decent international chorus line.         Filet of Sole 11 Duncan St., 598-3256 Chef:  Wayne La.   Decorated in Entertainment District brick 'n' beams, with a bar-restaurant (Whistling Oyster Seafood Cafe) below and a dance club-restaurant (Cha Cha Cha) overhead, Filet of Sole feels less like a serious seafood restaurant than a pit stop in theatre- and singles-land. Simpler is always better in such places, as a grilled swordfish steak special confirms, bringing along crowd-pleasing spinach-ricotta gnocchi in lighter tomato sauce, though a bland fillet of whitefish reveals only why whitefish is usually smoked. No blandness problem in the caesar salad however; fish specialists not being timid about anchovies. About 30 Ontario whites are listed on its card.         Bistro 990 990 Bay St., 921-9990. Chef:  Ricardo Roque.      The room exudes Gallic charm over a full crowd of big spenders and assorted stars: vaulted ceilings, whimsical line drawings, leafy plants. The menu is comfy and unpretentious. Gallic rarities include bouillabaisse, rabbit fricassee, flank steak with Roquefort sauce. Sweets are the weakest link. Too few bordeaux in a long list. Pleasant, attentive service.         Marche Movenpick Restaurants  BCE Place 42 Yonge St (Yonge and Front St) City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5J 2S1 Phone 416-863-0108 Food Type / Nationality Eclectic, Sandwiches, Italian, Bakery, Breakfast Food, International, Seafood, Pasta, Pizza, Steak, Chops, Chicken, Sausage / Dining Style Casual Dining, Family-friendly .  Self-service restaurant with an old-world market square ambiance. 13 market stations offering everything from salads to Italian panini sandwiches. Something for everyone. No reservations-sitting on first come basis. Entrance at Yonge and Front.         Prego Della Piazza 150 Bloor St W City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5S 2X9 Phone 416-920-9900 Food Type / Nationality Italian, Pasta, Pizza, Seafood, Chicken, Steak, Pork Dining Style Fine Dining, Cigar Lounge, Wine Bar .A bright, sophisticated, friendly, beautifully modern Italian eatery. Has both a formal dining room and a more casual bistro on the side. See-and-be-seen at this pulsating midtown scene. Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA). Closed Sundays. Given 3.5-stars (excellent+) by Toronto Life in 1999 and 3-stars (excellent) in the 2000 Guide. The newer Black & Blue next door is stunning in design, taste, and cigar selection. Then there is the third room next door called the Enoteca della Piazza, a design award-winning wine bar with a list of several hundred labels. Menu Sampler:Roast Garlic Gnocchi with Fresh Peas, Pancetta and Yellow Tomato; Pizza Bianca with Sweet Onion, Potato and Rosemary; Filet of Halibut with an Oriental Vinaigrette; Pork Tenderloin with Oven Dried Tomato and Grilled Red Onion; Prego Signature Steak Tartare with Frites.         Truffles  (Four Seasons Hotel Toronto) 21 Avenue Rd City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5R 2G1 Phone 416-928-7331 Food Type / Nationality French, International, Seafood, Pasta, Lamb, Veal, Game, Heart wise, Dessert . Dining Style Upscale-Casual Dining, Fine Dining, Romantic . Through the impressive wrought-iron gates of Truffles, pale wood walls glow in the reflected soft light of handcrafted candelabra. This restaurant, one of the finest in Canada, has won the hearts of discerning gastronomes with dishes like giant sea scallops wrapped in maple-cured bacon, seared and served with crisp baby spinach. Dover sole becomes a provocative swirl of design textured with lobster and accessorized with baby vegetables. Leave room for esoteric desserts. Reservations essential.  Airy, grandly sophisticated design and lavish setting to compliment the equally chic cuisine. Included in the 1998 and 1999 Guide to Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA). Given 3.5-stars (Excellent+) by Toronto Life in 1999. Ranked #5 for Toronto's best restaurants in 'Gourmet' magazine's "America's Top Tables for 1999". Runner up for "Best Ambience", "Best Fine Dining" and "Best Overall" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999.Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. Menu Sampler:Crispy Bass Fillet; Baby Lamb Rack in a Lemon Thyme Jus; Brace of Quail with Berry Chutney.         Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant 99 Blue Jays Way  City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5V 9G9 Phone 416-979-7825 Food Type / Nationality Steak, Continental, Eclectic, Grill, Californian, Pizza, Chops, Ribs Dining Style Casual Dining, Family-friendly, Sports Bar, Take Out .  A dynamic Broadway-style diner, bar and rooftop patio decorated with hockey artifacts galore. Runner up for "Best Restaurant Bar" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999.           IL FORNELLO 55 Eglinton Ave. E, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Phone: 416/486-2130 Pizza aficionados especially love the thin-crust pie, baked in a wood-burning oven. Orchestrate your own medley from more than 100 traditional and exotic toppings that include braised onion, capicolla, pancetta, provolone, and calamari.  Where else can you get fresh basil leaves, prosciutto, chevre goat cheese, Pastas, veal dishes, and salads are available, too. Menu Sampler: Grilled Seafood Salad; Fettuccine with Smoked Salmon, Fresh Dill and Snow Peas in a White Wine Cream Sauce; Chicken Stuffed with Spinach and Asiago; Spring Lamb Chops Grilled in a Red Wine Rosemary Sauce; Provimi Veal Cutlet Sauteed in a Mushroom Cream Sauce.         Ematai, 30 St Patrick St. 340-0472.  My Japanese pals usually suggest Ematai. They know raw fish like I know a grilled cheese sandwich, and they swear by the sushi and sashimi prepared here by chef/owner Yuji Takano. Reserve a day or two in advance, for something special: Lobster sashimi, for example, or the Chef's "omakase," a seven-course surprise tasting menu. Tonight, we're in luck. The tatami room at the rear is available. We slip off our shoes, climb a few stairs up, and sit around the table on straw mats, letting our feet dangle comfortably into the well below. Japanese green tea is brought at once and poured into pottery glasses, and tiny bowls of vinegared salad -- today bean sprouts and shredded carrot with vinegar and sesame dressing -- are provided to nibble while we study the menu, Japanese cuisine is full of surprises, first for the eye, then for the palate. Konchi Tsuboyaki, shiitake mushroom and conch meat soup comes in a lovely coral conch shell with a natural spout, firmly set in a bowl of rock salt. Pour the fragrant, clear soup from the shell into a little cup and drink, then eat the nubbins of conch and mushroom with chopsticks. An appetizer called Shiitake Butter is a wonderful array of large mushrooms sauteed in a flavourful sauce. Seaweed salad, which we keep thinking is so healthy for us, is a colourful array of curly greens and reds with a sweetish dressing. It all makes us feel like virtuous eaters. Particularly when we read that the life expectancy in Japan is among the highest in the world. Diet must count for something. Chef Takano is a traditional chef -- he believes in serving the freshest foods available each day -- and works without a long-term plan. Here, you will not find Japanese fusion, or new Asia trans-ethnic cuisine. He does, however, bow slightly to the local dairy industry with a tuna/cheese roll, by deep frying tuna and cheese together and rolling it up.         Barberian's Steak House   7 Elm St City / Province / Postal Toronto, ON    M5G 1H1 Phone 416-597-0335   Food Type / Nationality Steak, Seafood, Capon, Rack-Lamb, Lobster. Dining Style Fine Dining. An old-style steak house with wood bar and panelling and burgundy toned accents. Late dinner menu (after 10pm) includes such pleasures as: Cheese Fondue; Beef Fondue Bourguignonne; Baked Alaska; Grand Marnier Souffle and Crepes Suzette. Given 3-stars (Excellent) by Toronto Life in 1999. Runner up for "Best Service" and "Best Overall" in Where Magazine's Most Memorable Meal 1999. Open for dinner Sundays. Menu Sampler: Marinated Grilled Peppers; Roaste Prime Rib of Beef; Filet Mignon wrapped in Bacon; Chateaubriand for Two; Grilled Atlantic Salmon Steak; Lemon Grilled Free Range Capon.         Indian Motorcycle Café and Lounge   Indian Motorcycle Café and Lounge is also a dance club, pool hall and nest of relatively covert boy-meets-girl or boy-hopes-to-meet-girl activity. Even the washrooms oblige--a thin partition between the men's and ladies' gives the traffic an Ally McBeal-ish twist. In the bar area, pods of couches discourage mingling, which is probably why most people hang around the perimeter or take to the tiny fenced-in dance floor, shaking their booty to funk, R and '80s and '90s soul.  Mostly 30-ish, mostly in black, mostly the upscale downtown office crowd.  Black and white archival shots of the elegant Indian motorcycle, first manufactured in 1901.         Lone Star Cafe   295 Enfield Pl City / Province / Postal Mississauga, ON    L5B 3E2 Phone 905-848-4044   Food Type / Nationality Tex-Mex, Mexican, Steak, Burgers, Chicken, Sandwiches, Ribs, Seafood, Pasta Dining Style Casual Dining, Family-friendly, Bar/Pub, Take Out Texas style eating in a casual, fun, lively and rustic setting.  Menu Sampler: The Texas Club Sandwich with Mesquite Grilled Chicken; Fajitas Enchiladas; Smoked Long Pork Ribs; Blackened or Mesquite Grilled Louisiana Catfish; Big Bubba's Centrecut 15oz New Yorker Steak; .....             Enjoy Your Dining  &  Safe Travels                          Photographic & Printing Equipment by     Copyright © 2006 NatureWurks Information: e-mail Info@NatureWurks.com P.O. 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