Restaurant
Rosedale Diner
Set in an old Victorian row house in Toronto's tony Yonge and
Summerhill district, the Rosedale Diner has been a Toronto landmark
for more than twenty years.
Real Food for Real People
With the original tin ceiling, the Diner sports a clean and cosy
front room decorated in the French bistro style, with a row of
tables on one side and on the other, the bar and an inviting fireplace.
The intimate back room is outfitted with Tiffany lamps and a dark
wood china cabinet and is much sought after by couples on a romantic
first date. With the motto, "serving real food to real people,"
the Diner's menu carries such staples such as six ounce certified
Angus beef hamburgers so craved that a client once requested one
specially prepared and flown into Venice where she was summering.
The Diner also offers such diverse items as grilled citrus-glazed
Atlantic salmon and grilled French red deer venison as well as
popular brunch items such as their famous eggs Dostoyevsky with
smoked salmon and orange Hollandaise sauce. The wine list shows
variety and good value with four reds and four whites below $40,
and eight to 12 by the glass.
Flare for Fusion
Defining fusion before it became the buzz word in North American
cuisine, the Rosedale Diner also offers such playful dishes as
a decadent poutine with off-the-bone beef short ribs and real
cheese curds doused in veal demi-glace gravy. Presented with a
bottle of Veuve Cliquot champagne, it is served with much flare.
ROSEDALE DINER ***
Two rooms offer complementary atmospheres. In the back, white table linens provide a warm, intimate setting. The less formal front is more appropriate for the casually minded. The menu plays on Mediterranean themes with the whimsical exception of a well-loved hamburger. A full head of roasted garlic ($7) makes for a sweet and pungent spread for toasted cornbread. Appetizers include calamari picante ($10), lightly fried to uncommon tenderness. The picante comes via a drizzle of lemon-caper aïoli. A whole deboned chicken ($20) with accompanying veal jus virtually bursts with chorizo sausage, porcini and sage stuffing, alongside a delicious handful of gnocchi. Traditional homemade bread pudding ($7) takes a sumptuous turn with chocolate distributed throughout. A strong wine list draws on labels from around the world.
The
Comfort Zone
Toronto's best diners
Rosedale Diner
Though it sounds like an oxymoron, Rosedale's answer to the greasy
spoon is a faithful homage to the '50s diner, complete with Formica
booths. Given the neighbourhood, though, the comfort food is upscale:
the Rosedale Angus burger ($13), for instance, is available with
such toppings as roasted garlic, goat cheese and roasted peppers.
