Citizen

Whether you love a toboggan or a person, the Citzen is a worthy Valentine's destination. Citizen Kane came out 66 years ago. It's time that Charlie stopped being the citizen. For the new the citizen, Riverside's The Citizen seems an obvious candidate. Sure, it doesn't have a sled, but it does have youth. Also, with its Riverside location, it has a cutting-edge cred (don't kid yourself, the East is the future). Though the area has had a variety of culinary births in the last year (the Burger Shoppe, Prohibition, Soma, the Comrade), the Citizen best captures the neighborhood’s prevailing zeitgeist: it's cozy yet refined and affordable but subtly upscale. It retains the area's old-school inclusiveness while adding a dash of progressiveness via its contemporary, comfy cuisine (i.e. well-appointed meat and posh-ish pasta). As an added bonus, bringing anyone East of the river gives off a priceless in-the-know vibe; it's cool currency by way of a resto. 730 Queen Street East, 416-465-0100




Colborne Lane

For those needing predetermined justification in order to spend hard-earned coin at a trendy bistro, Valentine's is a perfect excuse. You've been hearing about Colborne Lane for months and now is as good an excuse as any to try it out. Colborne Lane is not just a chef's restaurant; it employs an edgy setting to showcase the lofty upper limits of local wunderkind, Chef Claudio Aprile. The extravagance of Aprile’s cuisine and attitude imbues the lush restaurant at every turn, from the plating to the décor. Refurbished refrigerator coil art, antique mirrors, fourteen seat communal tales, dark wood, original brick and pumping seventies’ rock beats fill the space. The cuisine is fraught with the same amount of detail and work as the front of the house. Take for instance the lobster bisque that comes to your table in pieces. Your server then adds the bisque to a bowl of fresh-cooked lobster dumplings, mussels, oxalis leaves and tofu. An experience not to be missed, when you’re looking for some good food and a lot of action, pay Colborne Lane a visit. 45 Colborne Street, 416-368-9009




Corner House

It's not just you. Everyone in the room is equally entranced. The food, the cottage surroundings and your magnificent date magnify the romance levels to record highs. The air in these four small rooms just begs you to get down on the floor to propose this or that (hyperventilating yet?); at the Corner House you'll quite often see that very scene played out. Corner House doesn't feel much like an It restaurant, and that's a good thing. In fact, you’ll keep forgetting that it's even part of the Toronto landscape. Outside, the two-story house looks like a European bed and breakfast. Inside, the small, narrow dining areas are casual and comfortable; it's cozier than a formal restaurant. With unfailing Lamb, Steak and Fish staples, the Corner has a solid card with subtle variations. Bring a toothpick, a calming paper bag, and an elusive schtick. 501 Davenport Road, 416-923-2604




Didier

Despite a well-pedigreed Chef and fairly obvious location, Didier still has a freshly-minted cachet that will add to your Valentine's Day cool cred. Didier should be treated as a reward for those times in life when you have been very good. Didier is proof that fine dining doesn’t have to be predictable. Credit goes foremost to Chef Didier Leroy himself, who, perhaps in a weirdly, unconscious tribute, left the space (formerly Rhodes) virtually unchanged. As one of Toronto’s most talented chefs, Leroy has shown he has the skill to orchestrate his own place. His menu is filled with signature dishes reminiscent of his days at The Fifth, or perhaps earlier at Auberge Gavroche, with each dish including at least one surprise ingredient that makes you want to try everything. 1496 Yonge Street, 416-925-8588