A serious power lunch in Toronto begins and ends on Bay Street. Beyond the food courts and the look alike salad and sandwich operations, a whole other echelon of lunch exists, one marked with sky high ceilings, world class wine cellars and some of Hogtown's most ambitious chefs.

But do $37 burgers, $20 soups and $40 plates of seared fois gras still sell when stocks are sinking faster than, uh, the Toronto housing market? Even though the creations of uber gastronomes like Anthony Walsh or Mark McEwan might not be accessible to the average office worker, AIG shareholder or those who went long on oil, by the looks of things these restaurants will be just fine. For those talking mergers, celebrating a short position or rewarding a star employee, a take-out Thai combo just won't do.

So beyond the everyday eats in the Financial District, here are 15 restaurants to double down on when a power lunch is what's on the menu: