ish, the ultra-hip spot near Yonge/Bloor, has given this area that much-needed infusion of Coastal cool. What it is, is a tidy, salonish dining room - a study in clean lines and whitewashed walls.

The first room houses an overtly sexy but smallish bar, stained very dark. A tiny kitchen is housed discreetly behind the bar, abutting both dining spaces. Comfy couch-like "pods" are strategically placed around the perimeter of the dining room with throw cushions in leopard and cow faux fur. Wish is simply two well designed rooms seating about 40 in total.

Just past the host stand is a contemporary-cool bar; a popular hangout post-midnight, when most T-dot restaurants have locked their doors. The space, which was home briefly to the undercapitalized Chez Cappuccino, is petite, done in white and pastels with a clean backdrop, then romantically lit by dialed-down halogen lights and soft, frosted-bulb wall fixtures.

The music, loud enough to energize the place, but not to obliterate conversation, morphs from Bjørk to Tricky to more trancey tracks. In summertime, Wish faces the street with hot and shiny patio with metal chairs, all around a spouting fountain, but as this is winter (albeit, not much of one), the whole deal is behind a white plastic sheet. Bookish, media type (turtleneck guys and chicks with slick hair) gather here for drinks and the weekend brunch.

Expect food that some deem "mediocre," iffy service, and a scene that screams College Strip, even though we’re straddling Yonge/Bloor. Peter McNight is the young chef du jour here, and doing fine, considering the heavyweight contenders he's had to replace (Gregg Couillard, Mook Sutton.) His menu has a wide array of options, as in something-for-everyone. Roast rack of Lamb with rosti potato, Shrimp satay, Beef carpaccio, Squash and Gorgonzola Ravioli, Salade Niçoise, Filet of Beef with mashed potatoes and Sea Bass with parmesan crust are some of the improving-with-time options on the menu. It's an intimate den with savory aromas from the open kitchen flavouring the air.

The verdict
Renda and Remy Abdo who brought you 7 West, everyone's favorite late night eatery, are behind this endeavor. The restaurant's fresh look reflects its unassuming yet transporting spirit, buoyed by an attentive and surprisingly polished waitstaff. Complete dinners for $60 per person ($25 at lunch or brunch) Open Sunday and Monday 11 am to 1 am, Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 2 am. Brunch Saturday and Sunday.



Reader Reviews

perfect for a date or a pre-club drinks.
Iman, Toronto,
October 23, 2004
I agree with the previous review. Wish is a great little place to go for drinks or a light dinner. It's small and cosy, and they have a covered loungey smoking area with a little fountain. The drinks are good, the service is good and the food is surprisingly good too- I personally order a bunch of appetizers and nibble on those between drinks. The shrimp martini is great, as is the asparagus and goat cheese salad. The portions are small though, so do not plan on sharing your food. Really. All in all, I like Wish a lot- perfect for a date or a pre-club drinks.


Ok, Edyta. You're scaring me.
dorian, u.s.a
December 30, 2003
Either you're trash-talking Wish because (1) you're a competitor, or (2) you tried and failed to get into one of the staff member's pants, or (3) you don't know what you're talking about. In any case, folks, let's not take restaurant advice from someone who can't spell "martini". I've been going to Wish for about two years. It's an incredibly warm and foodie-friendly place, and my favorite bartender there knows how to mix a drink better than any other person I've met. And I've been just about everywhere. Peter McKnight (correct spelling), the chef, is one of Toronto's best young talents. The decor isn't what it used to be, now that they've painted some parts of it black. Still pleasant, but that star decor appeal has faded. Or darkened. Whatever. But I come back for the imaginative food, the service, and the ambiance. Maybe it's so good because people like Edyta-the-Spelling-Deprived-Wannabe-Editor aren't sitting at the next table.


Culinary perfection
Posted by An Anonymous User on Jan. 15, 2002
How cute is this place? I had dinner there last night; I went in being a true believer you could only achieve such culinary utopia in an austere stuffy setting such as Scaramouche (which I also love), and left a changed woman! :) Everything was incredible; the attention to detail regarding the food's complementary accents was innovative yet impeccable, the service was helpful and friendly, and the atmosphere was tight but cozy. And for the quality, the bill was surprisingly satisfying. Definites: grilled shrimp appetizer, seabass, and a wonderful take on the Cosmopolitan. I count the days until I return!


Let's give it a try
Joy, Toronto,ON
Jan., 29, 2002
Just the other day, my colleagues and I were looking for a new place to go for lunch. Someone suggested Wish, none of us had ever been there before, so we thought, "Let's give it a try!"
When we arrived by cab to 3 Charles Street, I was surprised to find that it was the old Two Chez Cafe, a favorite nighttime java stop for me a few years back. The atmosphere is the same, cozy and dark, but with a fresh coat of white paint, a new ceiling, chairs and tables.
The menu was brought by the lone server who's hair dangled freely past her shoulders. She gave us the specials and opened our menus to the one page with lunch items for us to choose from. The selection was dim. 10 items or so to choose from: 2 salads, 2 sandwiches, 2 pastas and so on. My eyes couldn't help wandering over the dinner menu which boasted a much more exciting fare. We ordered some martini's and lunch and waitied. The maritini's were a healthy size, but $10 for grey goose is a little pricey- I guess they have to charge as much as they can to make up for the fact that they only have 10 tables in the place. Overall- food was good, service was good. WOuld I go back there again? Not for lunch.

@ Wish
Frank Darmon, Toronto, On
Feb 21, 2002
Maybe being part of what is known as "seen and be seen" crowd is the reason why you did not enjoy Wish. From experinces I've had @ Wish, I cannot believe this reviewer and I are talking about the same restaurant. Perhaps you mistook Gorgonzola Ravioli for all they offer. It is truly the best pasta experience I've ever had anywhere, including The Fifth and Centro. There is no "Seen" to be seen here as there are no blaring techno music. The atmosphere here caters to patron's pallets, not their ears. I learn something new everytime I eat here from servers+ the chefs alike. I have to totally disagreed with reviewer’s comments. Give it a try for yourself and you'll see that it's definitely worth it!


Take it from me and pass.
Edyta, Toronto, ON
Feb 25, 2002
The snobbery is amazing! Just read these quotes... how a place can be this polarizing is beyond me. Must be that the staff is writing in a bunch to keep their jobs. Listen, you don't have to be the biggest nartini drinker in the world to know what good tastes like. Unfortunately, Wish does not trust this simple rule. My only solace is that I know that 12 months from now this place will in a likelihood be closed. Obviously, this web site is meant to make Wish seem more controversial than it really is in the hopes that you will be forced to try for yourselves. Take it from me and pass.