Winterlicious on the waterfront

Get your calendars out and mark Jan 15 right now, if you want to make reservations at Winterlicious participating restaurants in Toronto. You can make reservations from Jan 30 to Feb 12 (two days before Valentine's Day, of course).

Lunches typically range from $15 to $30 and dinners from $25 to $45 and you can choose from a set menus

Toronto.com neatly categorizes the restaurants into neighbourhoods and Harbourfront restaurants, well, there are three. And all three are hotel restaurants. Of course, there are a lot of gems in the full list, like Globe Bistro on Danforth and Lai Toh Heen on Mount Pleasant and tonnes of other options in the Distillery District, Queen West and downtown.

But this is the neighbourhood blog, so here's a list


Arriba Restaurant
Renaissance Toronto Hotel Downtown
1 Blue Jays Way
416-341-5045

$15 Lunch
plus taxes and gratuity

Roasted Corn Chowder (vegetarian)
or
Romaine Hearts
Garlic Dressing, Smoked Bacon, Shaved Asiago
or
Steamed Mussels
Shallot, Saffron, Tomato, White Wine

Arriba Club Sandwich
Herbed Chicken, Smoked Bacon, Arugula, Tomato and Spicy Mayo
or
Green Pea Risotto
Wilted Spinach, Grano Padano, Truffle Oil (vegetarian)
or
Pan Seared Salmon
with Tomato, Olive and Caper Ragout and Garlic Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Homemade Bread Pudding
Warm Caramel Bourbon Sauce
or
Chocolate Pecan Flan
or
Banana Crepes
with Whipped Cream

$25 Dinner
plus taxes and gratuity

Roasted Corn Chowder (vegetarian)
or
Romaine Hearts
Garlic Dressing, Smoked Bacon, Shaved Asiago
or
Chorizo Sausage, Peppers and Onions, Red Wine Reduction

Green Pea Risotto
Wilted Spinach, Grano Padano, Truffle Oil (vegetarian)
or
Chicken Confit
with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Organic Carrots, Tarragon Glaze
or
Pan Seared Salmon
with Tomato, Olive and Caper Ragout and Garlic Roasted Fingerling Potatoes



Homemade Bread Pudding
Warm Caramel Bourbon Sauce
or
Chocolate Pecan Flan
or
Banana Crepes
with Whipped Cream

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Toula Restaurant & Bar (At the Westin Hotel)
1 Harbour Square,
38th Floor
416-777-2002

$20 Lunch
plus taxes and gratuity

Grilled Jumbo Sea Scallops Chowder with diced Celery, roasted Butternut Squash and sliced Mushrooms
or
Venetian Doge Caesar Salad with slices of oven-roasted Pheasant Supreme on aromatic Herbs
or
Steamed White Asparagus in Truffle Sauce and Parmigiano Crostini

Hand-made Butternut Squash Ravioli with Rose Sauce, sautéed Cherry Tomatoes and Parmigiano Reggiano
or
Sautéed Chicken Breast Medallion with White Wine, fresh Pear and shaved Parmigiano
or
Encroute Atlantic Salmon Fillet with Spinach in a delightful Cream of San Giminiano Saffron, on a bed of Red Cabbage, Apples and Calvados Essence
or
Hand-made Pappardelle with fresh Wild Mushrooms, aromatic Herbs and Parmigiano Reggiano

Classic Venetian Tiramisu
or
Classic “Lemoncella” Toula Cheesecake
or
Baba with Rum and Vermouth Sauce filled with Custard, covered with Whipped Cream

$35 Dinner
plus taxes and gratuity

Grilled Jumbo Sea Scallops Chowder with diced Celery, roasted Butternut Squash and sliced Mushrooms
or
P.E.I. Lobster Tale Salad with Potato, Cherry Tomato and Romaine with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Red Wine Vinegar
or
Venetian Doge Caesar Salad with slices of oven-roasted Pheasant Supreme on aromatic Herbs
or
Steamed White Asparagus with Truffle Cream Sauce and Parmigiano Reggiano Shavings
or
Parmigianino “Tricolore Tower” with Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella on Balsamic reduction

Black Angus Rib Eye Steak with Barolo reduction and Parmesan Roast Potatoes
or
Grilled Sea Bass Fillet on a bed of “Peperonata Romana” with Red and Yellow Pepper, Eggplant and Rosemary Potato
or
Washington Rack of Lamb with Sun dried Tomatoes and Olives Encrust with Vinsanto Couli and Vegetable Caponatina
or
Sautéed Chicken Breast Medallion with White Wine, fresh Pear and shaved Parmigiano
or
Hand-made Tagliolini with Lobster Tail on light, spicy roasted Plum Tomato with fresh Herbs
or
Hand-made Butternut Squash Ravioli with rose Sauce, sautéed Cherry Tomatoes and Parmigiano Reggiano


Classic Venetian Tiramisu
or
Classic “Lemoncella” Toula Cheesecake
or
Baba With Rum and Vermouth Sauce filled with Custard, covered with whipped Cream

The Mizzen Restaurant
The Westin Harbour Castle
1 Harbour Square
416-361-7454

$20 Lunch
plus taxes and gratuity

Locally farmed three mushroom Bisque, chive foam
or
Warm vine tomato & baked boconcini bruschetta
or
Mixed baby winter greens, roasted fruits, walnut raisin crostini,
crumbled goat cheese, cabernet vinaigrette

Crispy skinned chicken thigh, roasted squash ratatouille,
seasonal vegetables, natural reductions
or
Pan seared red meat trout, corn, leek & baby spinach fricassee,
crushed fingerlings, smoked pepper gazpacho
or
Pumpkin Gnocchi, roasted winter vegetables, sage cream sauce

Winter fruit cobbler, maple cinnamon ice cream
or
Chai spiced Brule
or
Spy apple crumble tart, warm caramel

$35 Dinner
plus taxes and gratuity

Roasted corn velour, crispy pancetta, tarragon foam
or
Selected greens & sprouts, roasted beets & apples,
cranberry foccacia crisps, roasted fig & white balsamic vinaigrette
or
Molten Brie risotto cake, chunky vine tomato & purple
basil stew, fresh seedlings

Slow Braised Alberta beef, forest mushrooms, double smoked bacon,
herb risotto, seasonal vegetables, shiraz reduction
or
Crisp skin Ontario Pickerel, butter poached
warm vegetable salad, organic carrot vinaigrette
or
Giant Boursin & spinach ricotta tortellini, grilled vegetables,
Vine tomato basil cream

Ontario Spy apple crostada, maple cinnamon ice cream
or
Duo of Flourless Chocolate silk & crème Brule scattered sauces
or
Lemon cello pudding, warm strawberry stew, spun vanilla cream