Not gonna lie, I felt like a complete savage when I walked into this dainty and refined tea room, designed to look like “a cottage of the English countryside.” Like a clumsy and uncoordinated bull in a china shop. With their collection of vintage fine china tea sets, that’s a pretty apt metaphor. But the cozy, intimate space was just what the doctor ordered for a rainy afternoon and my roommate and I managed to snag the light-filled corner table.

Must Eat:

+ Jam and Tea Service: Only available on weekends, treat yourself to  a tiered tray of delights that arrives to the table with a personal pot of tea that you choose from an extensive menu.

The buttermilk scones are massive, dense, crumbly masterpieces upon which you generously slather double Devon cream (yes, DOUBLE!) before selecting from the accompanying flight of seasonal jams. I loved the classic strawberries and cream jam but they had inventive flavours like baked apple and brown sugar as well as banana, bourbon and vanilla bean.

Of Note:

+ This 10-seat tea room only offers their Jam and Tea Service on weekends so you’ll have to make a reservation well in advance. I made one about a month and a half prior to going.

+ Their intricately detailed logo that graces their jam labels was designed by the same creative agency (Chad Roberts Design) that did some of my favourite Toronto haunts, past and present – Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, Campagnolo, Boralia, etc…

Kitten and the Bear | 1414 Dundas St. W.

If there’s one thing holding me back from living my best bikini-body life, it’s noodles. And I can live with that. I’m constantly on the hunt for new noodz to become addicted to so when my roommate recommended Niuda Noodles, I high-tailed it over to the bright space on Queen Street West, formerly home to Ebisu.

Must Eat:

+ JaZhang Noodles: I’ve tried a couple dishes here but these were my favourite! Also known as zha Jiang mien the generous portion of noodles are coated thickly in a sauce of soybean paste, ground pork, sliced cucumber, scallions and bright green bok choy. Add a fried egg on top for extra protein and drizzle spicy chilli oil on top for a kick!

+ Braised Beef Shank Noodle Soup: If you’re more of a noodle-soup kind of person, this bowl will warm your belly. The noodles are submerged in and soak up a delicate, umami-filled wagyu soup broth and topped with hearty chunks of braised beef shank, bok choy, radish, onion and cilantro.

+ Spicy Oil Chicken: I know we’re talking about noodles here but this dish has always called out to me….looks so yum.

Of Note:

+ No matter what you order, the star of the show is undoubtedly the Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodles. Freshly stretched on site, they have the perfect amount of chew and springiness.

Niuda Hand-pulled Noodles | 204 Queen St. W.

To be hailed by my Dad (the infamous Mr Yum-Yum) as “the best Mandarin restaurant” in Downtown Toronto is HIGH praise. While a general rule of thumb is that the prettier a Chinese restaurant is (meaning it’s not tacky and the tables aren’t covered in plastic), the worse the food, BAO is definitely the exception. Located on the first floor of Dragon City in Chinatown, it’s rather stylish with orange seats, deep blue booths, marble tables and gold cutlery.

Must Eat:

+ Peking Duck: If you’ve ever had this spread, you’ll know that it’s comprised of two parts. The first is crispy duck skin with slivers of scallion, cucumber and a smear of hoisin sauce wrapped in thin crepe-like pancakes.The second varies from restaurant to restaurant but Bao did the best I’ve ever had, stir-frying the rest of the duck meat till it was flavourful yet still juicy.

+ Stir Fried Noodle With Seafood: Thick egg noodles are stir-fried with tender squid, plump shrimps, chicken and crunchy bean sprouts and greens. Perfect mix of flavours!

+ Xiao Long Bao: I’m pretty much a connoisseur of these juicy soup-filled dumplings now. These arrived to the table in the typical bamboo steamers and were the ideal soup:meat:dough ratio.

Of Note:

+ BAO is an extension of one of the oldest brands to come from China. With another location in Richmond Hill, Goubuli is well known for their ‘baozi’ (Chinese buns).

BAO | 270 Spadina Ave.

When it came to planning the holiday dinner at my office, who is better suited than I? Rhetorical question. You need a restaurant that has impeccable customer service, spacious enough to accommodate 15 hungry designers, a festive vibe and of course, amazeballs cuisine. This international Japanese-Peruvian spot checked all the boxes. The interior blended clean lines and graffiti –inspired by urban Tokyo – and jungle-esque foliage hanging from every corner.

Must Eat:

For the sake of ease, we opted for the tasting menu and everything was delicious but these were standouts for me:

+ Pollo den miso: Finger-licking chicken smothered in a sticky miso sauce with thin shavings of carrot and daikon for crunch and a yellow chilli salsa.

+ Sea bass ceviche: Tender slivers of sea bass sashimi in a vibrant puree of sweet potato, a smattering of Peruvian corn and coriander with a zesty citrus sauce to brighten up the flavour.

+ Nikkei gyoza: This was a favourite of my colleagues – classic dumplings stuffed with pork, prawn and cassava in an aji Amarillo potato purée.

+ Tentaculos de pulpo: Mr. Yum Yum’s octopus is definitely better but for those of you who aren’t invited to Sunday dinners, this dish was tender with a hint of yuzu.

Of Note:

+ The standout cocktail of the night was hands down the Lychee Picante! Delicious lychee mixed with white tequila, lime and chia seeds with a stinging bite of chilli and a dragon fruit garnish.

+ Bring your phone to the bathroom because the hallway leading there is a black light photo opp as it’s bedecked with a UV-light  art piece by Elaine Defibaugh.

Chotto Matte | 161 Bay St.

The best part about working downtown is my proximity to mind-blowing restaurants that I can frequent on my lunch breaks. Right on the bustling corner of Queen and Spadina, Aloette is a chic, bistro serving up elegant train carriage vibes and elevated comfort food. Whether you sit at the sleek booths under the barrel-vaulted ceiled or at the counter atop vintage stools, you’re treated to the friendliest staff and mouth-watering fare.

Must Eat:

+ Aloette Burger: Everything is amazeballs here but I have dreams about this simple yet so, SO satisfying burger with Beaufort cheese, onion, lettuce and pickle served with golden fries.

+ Brussel Sprouts: They changed this offering a bit to have more of an asian flair, but if it’s anything like when I had it (toasted hazelnuts with a sherry vinaigrette) then it’s definitely not to be missed.

Of Note:

+ Aloette is the laidback “little sister” of the award-winning Alo which sits two floors above. Word on the street is that it is NEXT LEVEL. You’ll be lucky if you can snag a coveted reservation less than 3 months in advance.

Aloette | 163 Spadina Ave., 1st Floor

Obviously I’ve eaten at WAY more places that I’ll ever have the time to share…unless I write a Scene + Eaten post every week. But these are spots that really stood out for me and after writing this, I’m craving these foods all over again!

For more recommendations for where to eat in Toronto, check out the first part of Scene + Eaten.

Keep your stalking game strong and follow me @teriaki if you aren’t already!