martines toronto

The people behind Bar Isabel and Bar Raval just opened a new restaurant in Toronto

The people behind some of Toronto's trendiest bars and restaurants, like Bar Raval and Bar Isabel are back with the latest addition to their fleet.

Founded by local restaurateur, Grant van Gameren, the mind behind not only Raval and Isabelle, but El Rey Mezcal Bar and Harry's Charlbroiled and now-shuttered projects like Tennessee Tavern and Pretty Ugly, it looks like Martine's Wine Bar, van Gameren's latest project, could be too big to fail.

The new restaurant, located in Little Italy where Woodlot and later Harry's once stood, opened this week, without a website or much of a social media presence at all — but backed by van Gameren and Chef Luke Haines (Bar Raval), the marketing bells and whistles are unneccesary.

The menu, a few dishes of which have been previewed on Haines' Instagram account, seems to lean towards French-inspired cuisine with international flavours, crafted with local ingredient — with some dishes using produce grown at van Gameren's Prince Edward County property, Cressy House.

Expect to select from a number of seafood-based options like mussels in sambal broth and razor clams with oyster mushrooms and wild leeks, as well as heartier options like garganelli with fennel lamb ragout and wood oven roasted chicken.

Martine's Wine Bar is located at 293 Palmerston, and is open from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. So far, the restaurant is walk-in only, so be sure to get in quick before it inevitably becomes too popular to get in.

Lead photo by

Fareen Karim at Bar Raval


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Eat & Drink

We teamed up with local small business Cereal Box Cafe to give away 100 free ice creams

Two huge Caribbean food festivals coming to Toronto this summer

Toronto bakery is giving away hundreds of free patties before they close for good

Michelin-approved Toronto restaurant is closing to undergo 'transformation'

New Loblaws policy promises customers free produce if it isn't fresh

Canadians could soon cash in on $500 million Loblaw bread price-fixing settlement

Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski shares his love of Canadian chips

An American visited a Canadian Costco and shared their haul