By Jennifer D'Agostino
You can dine on gourmet cuisine for a lower price all Winterlicious long! Whether you’re going for a fun dinner with friends, a romantic evening for two, or a bite after work, these Toronto restaurants will have what you’re looking for this Winterlicious season. Here are the best Winterlicious dinner menus in 2018. [Photo of Carmen’s Steakhouse by Karen Lloyd]
The Carbon Bar
The Carbon Bar is staying true to its roots this Winterlicious season. The all-American menu features delicious eats at an amazing price. Dine on bay scallop poke with Peruvian peppers berries, spicy miso mayo, sesame nori rice crackling and kombucha vinegar, or crispy BBQ pork belly with purple coleslaw, pickled cucumber and BBQ dusted crackling. The meal continues with options of blackened Atlantic salmon, roasted cauliflower and USDA prime beef brisket. Finish with your choice of burnt basque cheesecake, a delicious rocky road sundae or an almond and caramel pear tart.
Carmen’s Steak House
Carmen’s Steak House, housed in a Victorian-style cottage, is the place to go if you’re craving steak for a great price. This Winterlicious its serving up some signature dishes from the dinner menu. Try the steak tartare, or the famous Caesar salad as an appetizer. The entrée menu offers something for everyone, from a 10 oz New York striploin, to maple glazed pan seared salmon and a vegetarian wild mushroom risotto. The decedent dessert options include classic items like New York Style cheesecake, carrot cake with cinnamon caramel syrup and panna cotta.
Pukka
For a modern take on Indian cuisine, Pukka offers a truly delicious dinner menu during Winterlicious this year. The prix-fixe menu showcases creativity with items like garam masala smoked trout, pukka chaat with vegetable strings, pomegranate, green apple and puffed rice. The meal continues with options like lamb shank Roganjosh, coconut fish curry, stuffed paneer and butter chicken. All the mains are served with a side of fluffy basmati rice. The desserts include chili chocolate torte, mango panna cotta and rice pudding.
Speakeasy 21
The Winterlicious dinner menu highlights what makes Speakeasy 21 a go-to spot for those looking for delicious meals and a fun night out. The menu includes truffle mac and cheese filled with cremini mushrooms, broccoli, truffle butter and crispy shallots. You can also dine on Achiote Chicken Mole – spiced chicken thighs with bacon and plantain mashed. For dessert there are options of apple cobbler, strawberry and rhubarb brownie parfait and churros ‘n’ chocolate.
Barnsteiner’s
New York meets California in the dining room at Barnsteiner’s. The dinner menu is packed with tonnes of options showcasing local ingredients in a refined and delicious way. Start your dinner with items like caramelized onion flatbread with arugula-pear-apple salad, or a tuna tartar with sesame, ginger, jalapeno and white soy crisps. Mains include grilled veal tenderloin served with sunchoke, parsnip puree and toasted winter root vegetables, or a whole toasted black Angus striploin with a port wine cognac reduction. Dessert includes warm chocolate cake, Grand Marnier orange semifredo or an apple and walnut bread pudding.
Café Boulud
Take a culinary journey through Paris this Winterlicious season with a prix-fixe meal at Café Boulud. Located in the Four Seasons in Yorkville, Café Boulud’s menu is inspired by Chef Daniel Boulud’s roots and the rotisseries of France. The dinner menu is filled with delicious dishes like the signature lamb shank served with coco beans and tomato ragu, as well as steelhead trout served with rapini, pomme boulangere and preserved lemon gremolata. The dessert menu offers sweet treats like a grapefruit sundae, profiteroles with vanilla ice cream and lemon tarts.
Los Colibris
Mexican cuisine is not just tacos and guacamole, and one of the the best places to discover all the flavours is Los Colibris. The Winterlicious dinner menu showcases everything Mexico has to offer, serving items like empanadas, tamal en salsa verde, Arroz a la Tumbada, Mexican rice with tomato sofrito and seafood, epazote and lime. For dessert you can pick from dulce de leche flan, Helados y Nieves, an ice cream dessert, or Sunshine, layers of tropical fruit mousse.
Morgans on Danforth
A popular spot among locals, Morgans on Danforth is serving up a massive Winterlicious dinner menu this year. Offering five different options on both the starter and main course menus, there is sure to be something to satisfy everyone’s tastes. Items include wild boar and mushroom ragu, baked fillet of trout, tempura of shrimp, feta and spinach tart, and more. The dessert menu includes three options: carrot cake, key lime tart and white and dark chocolate mousse.
Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill
Located in the Distillery District, Pure Spirits is one of the most popular seafood joints in the city, and come Winterlicious it’s one of the city’s top dining experiences. This year the dinner menu offers lots of options, like Rainbow trout, flank steak and ricotta gnocchi. On the dessert menu Pure Spirits is offering delectable treats like vanilla crème brulee, chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, and a duo of raspberry and mango sorbet.
Local Kitchen Wine Bar
Italian eatery Local Kitchen and Wine Bar has one of the most extensive wine lists in the city. Any of the wines would be a great compliment to the Winterlicious offerings this year. Dine on items like freshly-pulled mozzarella and roasted vegetables, beef tartare with black truffles, bone-in pork chop parmigiana, gnocchi and more. The dessert menu is a sweet tooth’s dream with options like apple fritters and maple syrup, coffee and Sambuca pana cotta, and chocolate torte with vanilla gelato.
