Former Restaurant Makeover chef Lynn Crawford is back in town and she's brought a daily-changing prix fixe menu, with an emphasis on local ingredients and shared-plate dining to Queen and Broadview.

Dinner is fabulous, and features a salad course, a main with a variety of sides, a cheese course and a dessert - all prepared on the chef's whim, for $49.

See my review of Ruby Watchco in the restaurants section.

West Queen West's Harlem Underground is chef Anthony Mair's latest effort to convince Torontonians that we need a little more soul food in our lives. Based on his delicious jambalaya, fried chicken and candied yams, I'm pretty sure he knows what he's talking about.

Check out my review of Harlem Underground in the restaurants section.

The best onion rings in Toronto prove that the formerly fast food staple can be refined into something more than just an occasional stand-in for French fries. Broadly speaking, the key parameters for an onion ring are the cut, the coating, and the seasoning. Some people prefer the relative crispiness of a thin-cut ring versus the meatier thick cut. On the topic of coatings, the big choice is between a doughy batter or panko breaded rings.

It may not live up to the pedigree of our Olympic city's Salt Tasting Room but this Queen East spot still impresses with its choose-your-own-assortment of charcuterie plates, delicious sandwiches, and an extensive wine list. The long, narrow space features exposed brick-walls, a low, communal table, and a chalkboard wall listing a variety of cured meats on offer.

Read my review of PicNic Wine Bar in the restaurants section.

The best huevos rancheros in Toronto takes lovers of the Mexican breakfast staple from Parkdale to Leslieville and points in between. But it's still a rare find in the city with most brunch places preferring to stick to more proven offerings like eggs benedict, pancakes and waffles.

But done correctly, huevos like this really hit the spot. How can you not love a dish that combines the heartiness of eggs and beans with the hangover-subduing power of spicy salsa? Layer in guacamole, fresh tortillas and perhaps even some corn bread and you have something worth waking up early on the weekends for.

Earth takes over in the beleaguered Rosedale space that was formerly home to Cibo and many other here-and-gone predecessors. It's been given a fresh start by Globe Bistro impresario Ed Ho and Chef Kevin McKenna's simple bistro card - which pays homage to local, seasonal foods - might just successfully lift the location's curse.

The menu includes interesting fare such as spiced Quebecois pork pate, pork tenderloin served over a beluga lentil and sausage ragout with macerated cherry tomatoes, and maple sugar tarts with bacon cream. (My visit was particularly pork-themed, but the menu diversity is decent.)

See my review of Earth in the restaurants section.