Ahh, Valentine’s Day. The one day of the year where overpriced boxes of chocolate and ruby red roses get tossed around faster than a plastic bag in a hurricane. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a day for you and that cute guy or girl in your 2 pm tutorial to enjoy a night out on the town. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of go-to date restaurants that, if you play your cards right, guarantee a night of fun and excitement for you and that special someone.
Guu Sakabar
Guu Sakabar — 559 Bloor St. W.
The newest addition to the Guu Izakaya family of restaurants in Toronto, Guu Sakabar is one of those restaurants that is an experience for both your palette and your soul. Based on the idea that dining is about self-enjoyment and happiness, this Japanese landmark restaurant has already seen massive success in its barely two years of business. Diners are greeted as they enter by screaming and applause from both the servers and chefs. A word of warning to those of you hoping to go out for a nice, quiet date night: go somewhere else. If you’re not one for loud and energetic environments, this place is going to feel a lot like dining at the stock market.
The menu features a variety of beers and sake, alongside a selection of Japanese and Asian-themed dishes. The sashimi salad ($7.80) features a variety of fresh fish, thinly sliced and tossed with greens in an Asian style dressing. The restaurant’s takoyaki ($5) is an adventurous assortment of fried octopus balls served with tonkatsu sauce (similar to Worcestershire in flavour), and karashi mayo (similar to mustard). Less adventurous eaters can still enjoy a variety of simpler vegetarian options.
Reservations needed? The restaurant only takes reservations Sunday to Thursday, 5–10 pm. Weekends require a bit of waiting for a seat, but it’s worth it.
Can’t get a seat? Go enjoy a heaping plate of buttermilk-fried chicken at The White Brick Kitchen (641 Bloor St. W.), which serves up classic American comfort food.
Hawker Bar — 164 Ossington Ave.
An unassuming and humble restaurant inside and out, Hawker Bar serves up Vietnamese-style street dishes with refinement and class. The menu, written on squares of cardboard that once housed 24-packs of beer, is focused yet adventurous. The drink options are plentiful — draughts, bottles, and wines are all available, but the real thrill is found in their list of $9 cocktails that embrace the flavours of Vietnam. One of the house specialties, a crowd-pleaser known as “Evan’s Revenge,” combines bourbon with flavours of ginger, orange, and palm sugar, along with thin slices of red chilies.
Each dish on Hawker’s menu pays tribute to the exotic and formidable flavours of Vietnam, The Son in Law Eggs ($7) offers up two soft-boiled, deep-fried eggs on top of prik nam pla (a tangy combination of hand-pureed chilies and a variety of special ingredients), crowned with Thai basil and cilantro. The restaurant’s one-pound serving of sweet-chili chicken wings ($10) is simply addictive.
Reservations needed? It couldn’t hurt to call ahead, just to be sure. Thanks to its size, the dining area can fill up in the blink of an eye during dinner.
Can’t get a seat? Head across the street and split a pizza at Pizzeria Libretto (221 Ossington Ave.). While it’s a bit of a departure from Asian cuisine, who’s to say you can’t embrace some wood fired, Neapolitan-style goodness every once in a while?
Sidecar Restaurant — 577 College St.
Sidecar’s elegant dining space and perfectly-groomed servers and bartenders may leave you screaming “GOOD GOD, MY WALLET!” But fear not, date-master: this fresh-to-order, feel-good dinner spot is surprisingly forgiving on your bank account. Nestled in the heart of Little Italy, Sidecar’s premise is simple: use only the freshest ingredients, in simple yet flavourful dishes. The dining area is sophisticated yet welcoming, complete with dim lighting, exposed-brick walls and an impressively stocked bar.
All of the dishes on the menu feature components made in-house — Sidecar even bakes its own bread and churns its own butter. The menu features dishes inspired by simplicity, from the house-cut sea salted frites ($4), to the fresh tagliatelle noodles tossed in sheep’s milk feta and house-pickled banana peppers ($16), to the intimidatingly dark, flourless chocolate cake served with salted caramel sauce and brandied cherries ($7). They also offer a prix fixe menu Sunday to Wednesday, allowing diners to choose from a selection of an appetizer, a main course, and dessert for $25.
Reservations needed? Definitely. Sidecar is becoming widely known for its alluring ambiance and exciting menu, which means date night will usually be pretty packed. And don’t forget to dress nicely!
Can’t get a seat? Hey Meatball (719 College St.) always guarantees a wonderful dining experience. Be sure to try one of their homemade soda flavours while you’re there.
7 West — 7 Charles St. W.
It’s 2.30 in the morning — you and your lovely date are full of drinks and tired out from a long night of dancing. You would love to plop into your bed, yet deep in the back of your mind, all you want to do is go sit down and enjoy a damn good piece of cake.
That’s where 7 West has got you covered. Nestled between a handful of shops just off Yonge Street, this multi-storied all-night hotspot serves up some of the best dishes you could hope to eat at such an ungodly hour. The decor is eclectic yet soothing, and provides a calm and relaxing ambiance where a couple can sit and unwind.
Perhaps the most satisfying dishes can be found in 7 West’s selection of tantalizing desserts, shipped in from a top-secret bakery (seriously, I was given the whole, “If I tell you, I have to kill you” speech when I asked). From the decadent Double Chocolate Fudge Cake ($6.50), to the tangy Red Velvet ($6.50), there is no way that your sweet tooth will go unsatisfied. If you’re looking for something more substantial to soak up those Whiskey Sours, try one of the hearty Pita Pizzas ($9–10.95), or a plate of nachos with mouth-watering pulled pork ($15.95/$12.95 vegetarian).
Reservations needed? Absolutely not. For the record, though, 7 West is committed to refusing service to diners that are too intoxicated or unruly.
Can’t get a seat? If you seriously couldn’t find a table at a place that’s always open, there’s a Fran’s Restaurant (College and Yonge), where you can find all the classic diner dishes you know and love.
