Zen Hostel

Note: Temporarily closedThe air is charged, and as you descend underneath Yorkville, you sense that your evening is headed somewhere interesting. Minimalist in design, Aburi Hana saves the drama for the plates, using handmade Arita pottery that has a history tracing back to the 1600s.Chef Ryusuke Nakagawa presents a modern take on the history-steeped Kyō-Kaiseki menu. His cooking is personal and intricate, weaving multiple techniques and colors into every dish. The signature maguro flower, a rose made from pieces of akami and chutoro, is stunning, as is the duck breast meatball with foie gras,

Even if you lived next door, omakase with Chef Masaki Saito would still feel like a faraway adventure. The foyer's marble staircase, a 200-year-old hinoki counter and traditional Japanese paneling and woodwork set the stage as he slices, scores and sauces the great treasures of the sea. For a serious sum, you will find Botan shrimp with uni sauce and hanaho, and eat melting slices of toro burried under a blizzard of white truffles. Fish comes exclusively from Japan, and for the nigiri, he uses a prized varietal from Niigata prefecture, warm and tinged with his special blend of aged vinegars. L

Old school diners are rare creatures these days, but ones that smoke their own bacon, make their own biscuits and donuts, bottle their own hot sauce and grow their own vegetables? Even rarer. A culinary unicorn, this bright yellow nook sets the standard not just for diners but for any restaurant that aspires to serve both people and planet. Breakfast is the main draw, but guests will be happy at any hour of the day. Verdant green salads, fantastic sandwiches on homemade bread, and a stunningly light hash brown make for a grand meal that gets all the details just right.

It seems nearly impossible to have a bad time at Chef Rob Rossi’s Italian stunner. Flickering candlelight bounces off cream-colored walls and blond-oak tables running down the length of this restaurant that feels, at all times, totally under control thanks to a suave staff. And whereas many Italian menus can look the same, Rossi narrows in on the seafood-rich traditions of Liguria. A superbly light vitello tonnato and a piping hot Ligurian flatbread stuffed with stracchino offer promising starts. There must be pasta, like wild snow crab tagliolini with smoked bottarga, and there must be tirami

Chef Eric Chong has set out to do what few others in the region dare to. Drawing inspiration from across Asia, he taps into his own heritage and delivers a modern tasting menu that reimagines what is possible using top-shelf ingredients sourced from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. Tables run down the length of a stylish room framed with gold-leaf finishes, and an intimate, four-seat chef’s counter offers an even closer look at the refined excellence coming out of this kitchen. Past highlights include a single raw PEI oyster with rice wine vinegar foam; jellyfish complemented by a tableside po

Located on a quiet stretch of downtown Toronto, this tiny-but-mighty restaurant enters a new era under Chef Rafa Covarrubias. Ideal for intimate dates and built around a carefully run open kitchen, the dimly-lit restaurant offers a refined, contemporary tasting menu flecked with Mexican influences. A custardy tamale with salsa roja and snow crab has few equals, but the scallop with mole verde is excellent as well. The main event is a dry-aged roasted duck, first presented with a bit of tableside flair and later served with a glossy jus and chimole negro. Service is warm and personable, and tho

If you had to describe Ricky + Olivia in one word, it would undoubtedly be "fun." From the look (think eclectic, with distinct areas and whimsical touches) to the menu (with nods to nostalgic childhood favorites and playful dishes subtly referencing other restaurants), Chefs Ricky Casipe and Olivia Simpson have fashioned a decidedly clever spot. Take the carrot and ice cream, a savory plate of roasted carrot tucked with chickpeas and topped with bay leaf ice cream over a bed of melted brie. It doesn't need to make sense—it's delicious. Whether you tuck into the shareable appetizers like tartar