The 38 Essential Toronto Restaurants

"Chef-owner Patrick Kriss of Alo Food Group has amassed an empire of restaurants across the city, starting with his flagship Alo in 2015 and moving on to sister diner Aloette, Alobar Yorkville, delivery operation Aloette Go, and Alobar Downtown. While it’s virtually impossible to land a reservation at Alo these days, Aloette is more accessible, and friendlier on the pocketbook, too. Kriss’s oxymoronic “upscale diner” features the usual suspects, such as chicken wings, fries, and burgers, but everything is finessed and fancified. Confit chicken wings are dotted with XO dashi jus; beet salad is invigorated with fresh burrata; and golden spuds are saddled up with bloody mary aioli." - Tiffany Leigh