Toronto is about to get two new Indian restaurants with impressive pedigree
Two new Indian restaurants are gearing up to open their doors in Toronto, and they're both extensions of already-respected restaurants in the city.
Adrak Yorkville, with its Michelin recommendation and celebrity fans, easily falls among the best-respected high-end Indian restaurants in the city. If anything, it tops the list.
Since 2022, the restaurant and its founder, Ambica Jain, have been synonymous with a calibre of Indian food that sets itself apart from other popular mom-and-pops serving the cuisine in the city, both through its menu and its slick experience.
But Jain isn't content to rest on her laurels. Soon, she's upping the ante even further with her latest concept, Raani, which is slated to open at 360 Bay St. in the coming months.
The restaurant describes itself as "a bold Indian dining room inspired by the opulence and grandeur of India's 18th and 19th century princely states," and, though the menu and opening date are still under wraps, it's clear that Jain is ready to give diners the royal treatment with her new venture.
Raani isn't the only opulent Indian spot making its way to the city, though.
Shaaz, a contemporary Scarborough institution that serves Hyderabadi cuisine, is also gearing up to open a second location, this time taking root closer to downtown Toronto.
With sights set on Danforth, Shaaz isn't straying too far from its east-end fanbase, but it is bringing its distinct cuisine to a whole new neighbourhood, which is something to be celebrated nonetheless.
Diners can expect stylish interiors and sublime service, paired with fragrant, flavourful dishes hailing from Hyderabad, like masala-spiced chicken lollipops and mutton roasted in ghee.
Is Toronto entering its upscale Indian dining era? It certainly looks that way to me, and I couldn't imagine a city more willing to embrace it.
Fareen Karim at Shaaz
