Zagat Rates T.O.’s Top Restaurants & Nightclubs

One person didn’t do it all, of course. It actually took at least 1,700 surveyors to come up with the Zagat Restaurant Guide to Toronto. 

The company is known for its ratings worldwide, and compiles lists including best diners, best hotels and best nightclubs based on the ratings of locals.

It’s designed to steer tourists towards the premiere places in town when they visit but residents can use it as well. It’s the first time the rating service has ever set its sights on Toronto.

And that makes sense according to those behind the guide.

“The restaurant goers in Toronto go out to eat more substantially than do restaurant goers in the two other cities in Canada, Vancouver and Montreal, that we surveyed,” explains C.E.O. Tim Zagat. “Almost half the meals eaten by people in this city are now prepared outside the house, either in restaurants or in food service establishments. And that is compared to only about 43 percent in Vancouver and in Montreal.

And we also outclass our Canuck competitors in another area – although just barely.

“When it comes to tipping, they [Torontonians] give an average of 16.6 percent, which marginally, and only marginally, leads Montreal (16.5 percent) and Vancouver (16.4 percent).”

So what are Zagat’s ‘tips’ for the best in T.O.?  Here’s a look:

Best Restaurants

Most Popular and Top Food: Canoe (66 Wellington St. W.) won most popular restaurant (along with top décor)

North 44 Degrees (2537 Yonge St.) was second.

Scaramouche (1 Beneventuo Place) came in third overall. It also takes top billing for top service and second for food.

The winner boasts it’s not just the food, but the view that counts.

“We’re on the 54 floor in the T.D. Centre in downtown Toronto,” explains Canoe manager Paul Martin. “Our focus is on Canadian cuisine with an emphasis on local produce.The average price in the evening is about $40 for an entree.”  

Favorite Foods:

The category reflects our ethnic flavour – with an accent on the flavour:

• Italian: 23%
• French: 18%
• Thai: 11%
• Japanese: 10%
• Chinese: 9%
• Indian: 7%

Service:

Attention restaurants. As the short-lived game show used to say, you are the weakest link. At least 64 percent of all Torontonians surveyed found poor service to be the biggest irritant to a night out.

Also making the poor grade:

• Bad food (13%)
• Too high prices (11%)
• Noise (5%)

Best Nightspots

The Drake (1150 Queen St. W.) was number one, with the Roof Lounge (4 Avenue Rd.) coming in second. The Panorama Lounge (55 Bloor St. W.) rounds out the top three.

“It’s always happening here,” boasts Drake DJ Dalia Cohen. “There’s always a lineup outside. I think this neighbourhood in general has really come up with people coming out…to Queen West these days.”

Top Attractions

The birthday boy, the CN Tower is rated ‘don’t miss’, with the Science Centre and the Metro Zoo coming in second and third respectively.

Also making the Zagat grade: The Hockey Hall of Fame and the Toronto Islands.

You can find the Zagat survey at most book stores. It retails for $8. But the information is priceless.

For more information on the guide, click here or call 1-888-371-5440.