Splashy new restaurant shows how expensive eating out is getting in Toronto

A brand new swanky Mediterranean-inspired restaurant called Margo is about to open at King and Portland, and its menu reflects the reality that dining out in the city is getting more and more expensive. 

This should come with little surprise between restaurants raising prices due to inflation, rising food costs, labour costs, and supply chain issues plus the fact that King West is best known for harbouring spendy see-and-be-seen establishments.

Just down the street at Mademoiselle the menu features a Salt Bake Tomahawk for $300 and a meat and seafood platter for $495. Fries are $18.

Who can afford to eat at all these places? It's hard to imagine that most people can stomach the prices at these restaurants even when it's a major splurge for a special occasion.

Located on the fourth floor of private members' club Clio (formerly the Galen Weston Jr.-owned Spoke Club), Margo is INK Entertainment Group's latest addition to its extensive portfolio. 

The restaurant's menu is curated by executive chef Marc Cheng, who previously worked at George, Patria, NAO Steakhouse, and Kōst, and chef de cuisine Jo Castrinos, known for his work at Splendido and Storeys. 

You'll find lots of seafood plates at Margo, from whole lobster linguine to grilled octopus, and Mediterranean sea bass but don't expect to go here without making a serious dent in your wallet.

A look at some of the menu at Margo shows that your meal here won't come cheap.

The restaurant's dinner mains range from $26 to $180 in price, with a half Cornish hen on the low end, and a 30-ounce prime dry age ribeye at the high end. 

There's also a two-pound lobster pasta for $130, or the lavraki, a.k.a, Mediterranean sea bass, for $65. 

Dinner sides begin at $12 for the truffle Greek fries and go up to $24 for the mushroom kosheri, which also gets some shaved black truffle on top. 

The restaurant will be serving brunch exclusively on Sundays, and you can expect plates like shakshouka and smoked salmon benedict to go for $22, while steak & eggs will run for $42. 

Located at 600 King Street, Margo opens on April 25 and you don't need to be a Clio member to eat here. No doubt it will be packed just like the nearby bars and restaurants in the area.

Come hungry and bring your credit card.