A casual dinner in Toronto, ON

The classic restaurant date. It’s a safe bet, allowing for optimal conversation, minimal awkwardness, and best of all, a tasty meal. If it's date night and you're finding yourself wanting to avoid the downtown core, try these neighbourhood favourites and off-the-beaten-track gems, instead.

When choosing a restaurant feels more akin to choosing what to watch on Netflix (read: an hour or two of scrolling, scrolling, scrolling), be thankful that maxed-out, relaxed-out dining is something that Toronto does best. With an emphasis on soulful, filling food and chill vibes, surprisingly free of pretense, put on your best fashion sweats and check out some of the city’s best spots for a casual dinner date.

2015 was a busy year for Toronto’s east end, from Riverdale to Cabbagetown to the Distillery. Fresh new businesses are popping up everywhere, and among them are some of the finest eateries in the city. Whether for brunch with pals, a dinner date, or dessert, there are many places to indulge without the hustle and bustle of downtown.

As winter rears in the 6, Torontonians cower to their couches, armed with an extra wool blanket and a space heater close by. But with the city’s blossoming selection of restaurants and watering holes offering fireplaces, crushed velvet sofas, and lively, rosy-cheeked crowds to rub elbows with, there’s no reason to retreat into solitude this winter – these resto-bars will keep you plenty cozy. [Photo courtesy of Kanpai]

Now Donna! Now Dashiell! Now Pauline and Veronica! The holiday season is upon you Toronto – it’s time to gather friends and family dear for some comfy cocktails and cozy dinners, and these chummy diners, trendy bistros, and historical spots are sure to fit the bill. Read on as we take you for a carriage ride through the frosty streets of Toronto and some of the city’s most charming venues to gather during the holidays.

Indian food spells comfort, and few things complement a night in with friends or a Netflix marathon more than ripping off a piece of melt-in-your mouth naan bread and dunking into a plate of rich, warm butter chicken. But, if you’re north of Bloor, you don’t need hit Little India when a craving strikes. Here’s our top Indian delivery spots for the mid to uptown crowd.

Attention sports fans! If you’ve scored yourself tickets to this weekend’s basketball, hockey, or baseball showdown, chances are you’ll be looking for a good-vibes place to grab a bite before the action starts or a pint to celebrate the result. We’ve got the goods on Toronto’s favourite go-to spots around the ACC and the Rogers Centre to pre-game, party afterwards, or just catch the event on a big screen.

Mediterranean cuisine hails some of the tastiest dishes on the planet. A breakfast shakshouka, warm pita dipped in labneh, iskander, Turkish tea…the list goes on and on. Thank the heavens that Hogtown has jumped on the bandwagon, giving birth to a number of establishments to satisfy our cravings. And for those who have traveled and tasted the goods firsthand, I’m sure you’ll agree that Toronto does Mediterranean food justice.

There’s nothing more wholesome than a bowl of hot noodle soup on a cold Toronto day. Japanese comfort food has captured the attentions of the city’s culinary elite, making way for a slew of bustling ramen hotspots to appear throughout the city. So, while you dream of visiting the ramen noodle museum in Osaka, warm up, and sharpen your chopstick skills at one of these gourmet spots.

Home to about half a million South Asians, Toronto hosts a scene for Indian cuisine that caters to cravings well beyond a standard butter chicken. Arm yourself with a spoon and get ready to stir the Indian pot and let the aroma of spices flow – these gourmet spots will deliver right to your door.

While Toronto may be home to plenty of Thai and Asian-fusion restaurants, finding an authentic pad Thai with that perfect blend of crunchy, sweet, salty and sour isn't always easy. From the most non-traditional of places to a few downtown hotspots, here’s our top pad Thai picks in the city, west of Bangkok.

Torontonians have long treated their Sunday morning hangovers with an indulgent brunch and a boozy Caesar, thus making the city’s selection decisively competitive. If you’re still reeling on your bar tab from last night, keep calm, because knocking back a glass of the beloved Canadian cocktail doesn’t have to break the bank. Here’s are some of our fave spots in Toronto offering unconscionably cheap Caesars.