When it comes to fine dining in Canada’s major cities, the sky’s the limit – both in terms of taste and cost.
While there are extravagant meals to be found in every city, here are a few of the crème de la crème in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
The nation’s most populous city has a bevy of fine dining establishment to choose from but if you want a table at the most prestigious you’ll need the patience to wait on a reservation and deep pockets.
Located high above downtown Toronto on the 54th floor of the TD Centre, Canoe is one of the nation’s truly unique dining experiences. Billed as a restaurant that crafts inspired dishes reflective of the nation’s diversity, Canoe can run you anywhere between $56 for the Quebec red stag to $115 per person for the tasting menu.
Back down on earth, Jacob’s & Co. steakhouse is one of the city’s highest rated (and most expensive eateries). Depending on what type of cut you’re looking for, you can tackle a 16 oz striploin for $160 or go for the gusto with a 40 oz porterhouse at a cost of $400.
If you’re still feeling peckish you can head to Kaiseki Yu-Zen Hashimoto – a Japanese diner run by chef and owner Masaki Hashimoto. Reservations must be done at least one week in advance and there’s only one thing on the menu – the eight-course omakase dish. That will cost you $300 for dinner and $200 for lunch, per person.
On the west coast, there are also plenty of palate-pleasing venues, if you don’t mind parting with a substantial amount of money.
Pizza may sound like a relatively inexpensive option if you’re looking for something to grab and go. How about the Seenay at the Steveston Pizza Co.? It’s a medley of tiger prawns, lobster ratatouille, smoked steelhead and Russian Osetra caviar, snowed with Italian white truffles. It’s one size only (12 inches) and it will run you $850. Don’t forget to grab a Pepsi to wash it down.
More fresh seafood can be found at the Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar. Billing themselves as Vancouver’s premier seafood restaurant, Blue Water Cafe says their reputation is built on serving the freshest and most sustainable wild coastal species. To see specifically what that tastes like you’ll need to shell out $159 for their iconic seafood tower or you could simply go with a pound of chilled lobster for $150.
Not to be outdone, Montreal has it’s fair share of costly eateries as well.
Maison Boulud inside the Ritz-Carlton boasts elegant upscale French dining, with a view out over the gardens. The menu includes roasted Quebec lamb chop at a cost of $53, or you might prefer to tackle the $98, six-course tasting menu.
Toque! features fine wines, farm-fresh Québécois dishes and tasting menus from renowned chef Normand Laprise. The menu is constantly changing but one can get a taste of the best they have to offer with the $129 tasting menu.
