As the chill of winter sets in, we’re prompted to take some time to enjoy that favourite of fares, steak. Many argue over what are the best cuts and the best spots but perhaps most exemplified in a great steakhouse is a combination of atmosphere and aged meat… a little scotch doesn’t hurt either.

Here are 5 of our favourite spots to sink into a great steak…

THE KEG MANSION

A Toronto mainstay in steaks for over 40 years, The KEG mansion serves up the classic KEG food menu of steaks and seafood in one of the best locations in Toronto. Apparently haunted, the atmosphere here can’t be beat!

HARBOUR 60 STEAKHOUSE

Another iconic Toronto building, Harbour 60 offers a glamorous setting to enjoy some more high-end options including truffle steak and eggs, A5 Japanese Kobe and bone-in NY strip loin.

STK TORONTO

Situated in the heart of Yorkville, this luxury steakhouse chain serves up some mighty fine steaks in an uber sophisticated atmosphere that will please even the most choosey restauranteur.

MICHAEL’S ON SIMCOE

This locale is easily the priciest of the bunch but they do it all so well. Look out for 2 types of Wagyu and A5 Japanese that could cost over $1,300! Good thing they’ve got their own dry aging chamber to ensure quality.

BLUEBLOOD STEAKHOUSE

Again with the ambiance! Blueblood keeps it regal by holding court in Casa Loma, which makes the whole experience rather opulent. But they don’t skimp on the steak and certainly not the rest of the menu; jumbo scallops, a seafood tower and amazing short rib ravioli to name a few. Definitely a place worth celebrating.

Wherever your bloodthirsty appetites take you, be sure to let us know! Enjoy!

CONGRATULATIONS!

You (or your child) has graduated high school! Where to throw an amazing shindig? Here’s 5 venues that will transport you from those hallowed halls in style…

THE APERTURE ROOM

Aperture Room is a stylish event space located on the third floor of The Thornton-Smith Building in downtown Toronto. The name is derived from one of the building’s most prominent tenants, Toronto Camera, which occupied all four floors in 1966. The space features original exposed brick walls, three magnificent skylights, hardwood floors, plaster ceilings, LED lighting throughout and a refined heritage flare. Aperture Room also offers built-in AV equipment including state-of-the-art screens, projectors and architectural lighting, lending itself to all types of social and corporate events. The space can accommodate 120 guests for a seated event and 180 guests for a standing reception.

DISTRICT 28

District 28 is a boutique events company located in Toronto's iconic studio district. You can choose from three unique studios, an in-house screening room, restaurant, and reception area. The white, blank canvas of the event venue allows for your own creative input into hosting your own corporate event, high-end fundraiser, and more. 

GEARY LANE

Toronto’s hub for culture and creativity. Nestled away on a seemingly industrial stretch of Geary Avenue at Dufferin & Dupont, the Geary Lane studio is centrally located in an area of the city that is ripe with creative drive and youthful energy.

Housed in a 3000 square foot professional film studio and former recording studio, Geary Lane is a multi-purpose space that can magically transform to suit the needs of your creative projects. Whether you are looking for a state of the art location to shoot film or photography projects, a comfortable and accommodating space for intimate music or theatre rehearsals, or to educate the community through workshops, exhibits, or screenings, Geary Lane is the ideal space to let your creative ideas run wild.

THE COSTUME HOUSE

The Costume House is another venue situated in the Geary Avenue arts district. Originally built in the early 1900's by the Eaton family as a horse stable, this newly restored, turn of the century hard loft features a 13ft ceiling, original post and beam construction, textured brick, east-facing windows, and original oak flooring. This epic blank canvas provides the ultimate space for bringing your bespoke event creations to life. 

LONGBOAT HALL

Located in the uber hip West Queen West area, LongBoat Hall is part of The Great Hall. This lower level space offers over 5000 sq. ft of event space with 20 foot ceilings and cast iron beams. Grand, modern and classic all at once, this is a great venue for those who need to accommodate a larger crowd.

Imagine stepping off the King St. car on your way to catch the Yonge line north to your meeting/job/appointment. You’ve got a few extra minutes to grab a coffee and snack before you get on the Yonge line. This is the situation that led me to wonderful Dineen Coffee Co. in Commerce Court at Bay St. and King.

The otherwise austere facade of the financial district might lead one to feel this cafe’s location would be stuffy or cramped but quite the opposite is true. It’s set just so beyond the King entrance in a beautiful lobby with lots of comfortable seating around and at the bar and is run by some really great cashiers and baristas!

For this experience, I tried one of my favourite coffees for the morning; a brevé cappuccino (all cream/no milk). It’s kind of like my test coffee to see how good the baristas are; if done wrong, it’s usually very foamy or overly hot and makes for a kind of weak coffee with too much hot cream. But when done correctly (as it was here), it’s a beautifully rich and less sweet alternative to a regular cappuccino. I paired mine with a nicely buttery jalapeño and cheddar scone; delicious!

Next time you’re close to King and Yonge, do yourself a favour and check out this great coffee spot. You won’t be disappointed!

There are currently 3 locations for Dineen. See the map below for the one closest to you!

Here's where Dineen Coffee Co. is in Toronto