Best of Toronto
The Best Steakhouses in Toronto
The best steakhouses in Toronto have an appeal that go beyond a superb cut of meat that you haven't the resources to buy or the skill to cook to perfection, though it's a good place to start. In the dark ages of Toronto dining - roughly any time from the '30s to the '70s - steakhouses were fine dining, the best places to get a quality meal, and a few of those places still survive, though many others (Le Baron, Cyrano's and, just recently, Bigliardi's) have gone the way of the three martini lunch and the dress code.
It's no surprise that new steakhouses will try to ape their ancestors' style - the plush banquettes, the dim lighting, the dark wood-paneled walls and even the jumble of oddball antiques and architectural salvage that suggest both a gentleman's club and a posh cathouse. Menus change at a glacial pace, which is why even a recently opened steakhouse will feature a menu item that dates back to the days when Mateus rosé might have been the best bottle on the wine list, and non-smokers were a very silent minority.
Today a quality wine list is a must, and the kitchen might even be able to slap something together for the vegetarian who tagged along with you. (God knows you tried to convince them to stay at home.) The list voted by readers of this site favours independent steakhouses, which explains the absence of big chains like Ruth's Chris, Morton's or The Keg - though there's one exception that slipped under the wire. The range of establishments chosen is a testament to the abiding appeal of the particularly masculine charms of the steakhouse.
See also: The best steak frites in Toronto
Barberian’s
This Elm Street landmark celebrated its 50th anniversary this month, in the dining room that remains unchanged from the day when Raquel Welch broke the no-jeans dress code. Founded by Harry Barberian and run today by his son Arron, it features an epic wine cellar and a staff that stays around for decades. All the classic cuts are there, but the 9 oz. centre cut top sirloin remains one of the city’s great dining bargains at $29.75. Retro menu item - Baked Alaska. More »
Harbour Sixty
Famous for its power-dining clientele as much as its pricey menu, this lake view establishment is on the verge of re-opening after a renovation and menu revamp. The old Harbour Sixty was classic steakhouse; the new incarnation promises an update of what the website calls its “old world aesthetic.” When you walk through the front door, it’s always amusing to remember that, not so long ago, Lake Ontario once lapped against the steps. More »
Jacobs & Co.
This clean-lined rethink of the classic steakhouse opened two years ago in a nightclub space that had seen a lot of churn, and features a piano bar, a high-end menu and a well-picked wine list. The meat selection is impressive, and the inventory is kept proudly on display in a glass-walled room. Its vicinity to the club district means that the Mad Men vibe is overshadowed by a Nip/Tuck tip. Retro menu item - Lobster Thermidor More »
Hy's
The Toronto location of this Calgary-born chain opened in 1962, when Dief was chief and the Beatles were turned down by Decca Records. A Financial District standby since then, it still gets its meat from Alberta, including a massive 22 oz. porterhouse that will give your doctor nightmares. Retro menu item - creamed corn. More »
The Fifth Grill
This fine dining adjunct of the club district stalwart has a speakeasy-like lack of easy access. Once the elevator deposits you on the top floor, however, you’re met by an elegant room and probably the most exquisite rooftop patio in the city. Originally a private club, it’s open to the public only on the weekends, and features a reasonable wine list to go with its striploin and ribeye. It’s only been a steakhouse for three years, which might explain eccentric sides like the panko onion rings and the lobster mashed potatoes. Retro menu item - chopped salad. More »
The Tulip
The east end’s workingman’s steakhouse replaces the oak paneling with formica, and serves up steak that might lack the high end finesse, but not the taste. A 10 oz. New York cut striploin is only $22.75, and where else does your choice of sides include spaghetti? Retro menu item - “escargo.” More »
House Of Chan
One of Toronto’s worst-kept secrets is the top steakhouse disguised by the lacquer red booths and walls of this Chinese food institution. The rib-eye and porterhouse take pride of place over the chow mein in Chan’s menu, but you’d be missing an opportunity if you didn’t order the egg foo yong to go with your sirloin. Retro menu item - jumbo shrimp cocktail. More »
The Octagon
Opened in 1974, Thornhill’s Octagon is the steakhouse-meets-Field-Of-Dreams - a rococo steak house fantasia born in what was once beyond the city’s far fringes, with the certainty that if you build it, they will come. A solidly mid-priced steak menu (NY cut for $34.95; rib-eye for $42.95) is married to a generous but well-priced wine cellar in a dizzying baroque maze of a dining room. Retro menu item - Oysters Rockefeller. More »
Tom Jones
One of Toronto’s surviving old guard of original steakhouses, Tom Jones has been in its charming little home in the shadow of the King Eddy since 1966, and serves up heaps of atmosphere with its NY sirloin and filet mignon. The name alone should make it a landmark, and both the Welsh singer and the hero of the eponymous Fielding novel would find themselves at home here. Retro menu item - Steak Diane. More »
Senior’s
Like The Tulip, Senior’s is an unprepossessing regular Joe’s steakhouse, opened in 1961 by Eddy Marlet. Downstairs is a standard-issue diner, but it’s the upstairs “dining nook” that serves the goods, including a 16 oz. NY sirloin for $37.50 and a host of hearty sides including the “pink caviar” (taramosalata.) Retro menu item - tomato juice as an appetizer. More »
Bardi’s
In the shadow of the Royal York since 1966, Bardi’s has served the business district crowd since before Trudeaumania, but got a new shot in the arm with the pre-game crowd on their way to their private boxes at the Rogers and Air Canada Centres. They were the first in the country to serve Black Angus, and have the magnums and jeroboams of fine wine in their glass-walled cellar if you need to celebrate. Retro menu item - Peasant Salad. More »
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However, I wouldn't waste my time heading up to Octagon if you don't live nearby.
I can whole-heartedly support your Seniors reco. That place is a true mans mean house. And the owners daughter will kick your ass if you get in her way... just as she should. I LOVE that place.
Bardi's was a huge disappointment the second time I went there. The first, it was sublime. The second, the Keg would have been better...
Err The Fifth is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - not exactly "weekends", the rest of the time it's for events only - and has been one of the top restaurants in the city for years. It does have a "club" in the basement which is now known as The Fifth Social Club and used to be Easy and the Fifth, but really?
Trivia - Marc Thuet was the chef at the Fifth and was abruptly fired during service one night. Toronto Life last year said that this was rumoured to have involved misappropriation of some truffles.
I eat out twice a week and have eaten there a least 20 times.
The food is never the same twice. I won't eat there anymore. I find Hy's better.
I have never had a bad experience at Morton's however. It's clean. The steaks are brilliant. And the people at the neighboring tables don't smell. Crass and overly boring? Please. That's more pretentious than my desire to dine with clean people.
There are others like Balck angus which are much better
Juicy, bloody, tasty, meaty goodness. oh.. I forgot about the HP sauce. haha
If you're going to go cheap, try Sneaky's steak. Wait for it to go on special ($12) and enjoy.
there having a steak feast from now untell the 23rd of feb. the best dinner that ive had in toronto.
Got exactly what I asked for (medium). The meat was fairly tender with no gristle. The mas was nothing to write home about but the veg were just right; not too crispy and not too soft with just the right amount of butter, salt and pepper.
Best part is it was only $12. For that price, I'd have two instead of a 12oz prime rib.
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