“This is more than a job for me. Cooking has always been my way of expressing how I feel and think,” says chef Miheer Shete. “The best part about cooking is that learning never stops. You keep evolving and learning. I believe the moment you stop learning is when your downfall as a cook begins.” He owns The Curryish Tavern, a contemporary Indian restaurant where he experiments at the intersection of seasonal Canadian ingredients and Indian techniques.
Curryish is one of the few restaurants in the city that celebrates Indian food in a creative, playful, storytelling-forward way, according to Shete, who serves up dishes like yellowfin tuna tartare pani puri, Canadian oysters chaat, aloo gnocchi cauliflower curry and samosa eggs benny. “We emphasize educating diners that Indian food is not limited to butter chicken and naan but is far more diverse than that,” he says. “The menu is an evolution of Indian food from its past, present and where I wish to see Indian food five or 10 years from now in Toronto.” (And if you’re still craving butter chicken, they do a seasonal take on it, offering up green tomato and butternut squash variants.)
Here, Shete shares his own go-to spots for pure deliciousness across the city.
Best date-night spot
Casa Paco, 50 Clinton St.
“It’s so beautiful — perfect for an intimate date night. Chef Rob and Chef Caroline cook some of the most delicious and honest food.”
Best bakery
Asters Patisserie, various locations
“They specialize in mousse cakes. The mango passion fruit and hazelnut are my absolute favourites.”
Hidden gem
Trinity Market, 768 Queen St. W.
“They have an amazing wine list at a great price. It’s a great neighbourhood spot.”
Repeat reservation
Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, various locations
“I have been a big fan of Chef Nuit and Jeff. They are amazing people and I have been going to Pai for the last 10 years. It’s a very special place for me and my family.”
The last best thing you ate
Lola’s Gelato, 14 Brookers Lane
“I love crunch and texture in my frozen treats. The Sassy Sea Turtle has the right amount of crunch and a bit of sea salt makes it extremely addictive. I can finish a tub of that as my meal.”
Current obsession
Guru Lukshmi, 7070 St Barbara Blvd.
“I love South Indian food; the tastes are simple yet flavourful. Guru Lukshmi serves authentic dosas, idlis and medu vada. The sambar and chutneys are on point, too. It’s as good, if not better, than some Udupi restaurants in India.”
Fancy dinner
Linny’s, 176 Ossington Ave.
“They have incredibly talented chefs. They really focus on quality ingredients cooked with precision. The dining room is also very stunning, with an incredible wine list.”
Comfort food
Ramen Isshin, various locations
“I love thick noodles in my ramen, and the noodles are one of the best. The broths are extremely delicious, light yet very flavourful.”
Lunch spot
Parallel Brothers, 217 Geary Ave.
“They have the best falafel and hummus in the city. They make fresh tahini in-house right in front of you — super-fresh and super-delicious.”
Best late-night craving spot
Rol San, 390 Spadina Ave.
“This has been my go-to late-night spot ever since I moved to Toronto 15 years ago. You can never go wrong with the all-day dim sum.”
Best takeout
Gaucho Pie Co., 346 Westmoreland Ave. N.
“Their empanadas, tres leches and alfajores are so fresh and so delicious all the time. (Make sure to add the chiminasty sauce.) They have rotating flavours so you never know what you’ll get, but they are all amazing. My favourite is the classic and jerk chicken.”
Favourite weekend breakfast place
Yellow Cup Café, 225 The East Mall
“This small neighbourhood spot offers a great selection of breakfast dishes. What impressed me was that they have sweet and savoury crepes. They’re so perfect, fresh, thin and soft.”
Best cocktail bar
Goodnight Cocktail Club, 488 Wellington St. W.
“I don’t like sweet cocktails, but am very open to experimenting, so I normally ask the bartender to make me a non-sweet option. But I always like to finish my night with a well-made negroni.”
