Belle Isle is named after an island park in the Detroit River, sitting between Windsor and the “country that shall not be named” (according to Zac Schwartz). While the co-owner didn’t dive too deeply into the naming inspiration, one thing was immediately clear: Zac is funny, and that energy set the tone for a laid-back, laugh-filled Toronto Life event.

After breezing through the obligatory “legal” housekeeping, we were introduced to the full team, including Chef Ronan Shaftoe and the other Ronan, before settling in for a special tasting menu ($125; regular à la carte dishes also noted below).

Chef Keith Siu had me hooked the moment he explained that the contemporary Chinese dishes we’d be eating were inspired by his childhood growing up in Scarborough. Say no more, he was speaking my language.

The drunken foie youtiao was an interesting opener. The Shaoxing wine was restrained (thankfully), letting the sweetness of the foie gras come through rather than overpowering it. The crunchy youtiao worked nicely as a crostini stand-in.

Curry and hamachi sounded like a tricky combination, but the HK curry crudo ($20) somehow pulled it off. Fresh, layered, and flavourful without leaning on acid or soy, it was one of the more surprising successes of the night.

You couldn’t see all the tendon and beef shank hiding under the silky rice noodle sheet, but trust me the cheung fun ($22) delivered. he confit onion gave it a French onion meets Taiwanese beef vibe, and the rice noodles had a chewy, almost al dente texture. One of my favourite bites of the evening.

Shrimp toast ($16) has made a comeback in modern Chinese restaurants, and Belle Isle’s version came with a spicy shrimp mayo that was undeniably umami-packed… though it slightly overshadowed the shrimp itself. I preferred my second piece plain and appreciated that it wasn’t greasy, but I would’ve loved a heavier hand with the shrimp paste.

Chef Siu joked that his inspiration for the lemon pepper hidden chicken wings ($16) came from strip club wings - an experience I can’t personally verify. Despite the pile of red chilies, the heat was surprisingly muted unless you bit into one directly. The lemony notes didn’t quite work for me either, so I guess I’m not a strip-club-wing kind of gal.

The typhoon shelter steak was cooked closer to medium-well than I’d prefer, but the fried chili, garlic, shallot, and black bean topping added a crunchy, savoury punch. If you love onion frizzles, this is your dish.

On the flip side, the mushroom rice could’ve used more time. Some kernels were undercooked in the centre, likely from being stir-fried raw rather than pre-cooked. That said, the grains had a plump, glutinous quality and absorbed a deep mushroom flavour that I enjoyed.

Fuyu with yu choy isn’t something I would’ve expected, but fermented tofu usually plays well with most greens. Since the dish was steamed, the fuyu flavour felt diluted and didn’t fully shine.

The mango pudding jell-o shot duh ($14) remains on the menu, but Chef Siu gives it a nostalgic twist: more pudding than jello, inspired by something his mom might’ve made (minus the Malibu rum, of course). The boozy kick was strong, but once I added cream from the accompanying steamed cake, it mellowed out nicely.

Belle Isle’s steam cake has such a rich coconut taste. A delicious take on ma lai go the delce de leche frosting went so nicely without it and was just sweet enough to satisfy.

And if that weren't enough, we ended with apple and orange slices. If you're a 80s/90s child, a visited a Toronto Chinese restaurant, these were the desserts of our days.

I’d be remiss not to mention the libations from James McCole. After sampling two cocktails and two wines, the cocktails clearly stole the show. The names alone, tramp stamp + sandal tan = a life well-lived ($20), had me hooked. Cheerful and pink, with an unexpected leathery undertone that genuinely evoked sandals.

Still, it was the strawberry foam in I’m just a boy who loves berries and cream that won me over. If I could order a bowl of that foam with fresh berries, I absolutely would. Cold-foam lovers, take note.

Even though Belle Isle has been around since October 2024, this was my first time hearing about it, a sister restaurant to Lake Inez. Maybe it’s the discreet signage, but for now, it still feels like a well-kept secret. Belle Isle feels like a restaurant that’s still revealing itself and is worth discovering before everyone else does.

Good weather screams for a long boozy lunch. Sometimes when nice weather, no bugs, and no traffic align, even on a patio. When Legend Spirits Company opened in Parry Sound this summer, locals and cottage goers rejoiced to find a place that not only made their own alcohol but operated a restaurant where you can sample it with food.

Their cocktails are a bargain at $13, but the reasonable price point also means the bar gets slammed and backs up during the lunch period. Don’t be surprised if your food hits the table before a tipple.

Both the Great North mule and spicy vodkarita were well balanced with enough alcohol to create a kick that reminds you there’s 2oz in the drink. And while the pink raspberry lemonade looks and tastes refreshing, the fake raspberry flavour just didn’t cut it for me.

We all agreed that their fries rock. The parmesan truffle fries ($12) feature cut potatoes that arrive sizzling hot and covered with enough grated parmesan to create a melted crust on top. The truffle oil was a bit muted but I’m fine with it not being so overpowering. Their sweet potato fries ($12) are one of the best I’ve sampled, fluffy and cut thinly so there’s a lovely crunchy crust to encapsulate the sweet soft interior.

The fries going wonderfully with the buffalo chicken dip ($15), a gooey creamy sauce that has quite the cheese pull as well as large chunks of chicken breast. I only wish it was served with the “warm flat bread” noted on the menu instead oily fried pita that was so heavy paired with the dairy. I just stuck with the fries for dipping.

In between a starter and a main lies the seafood chowder ($20), which arrives hot with a few scant slices of toasted baguette. The soup has a wonderful flavour but is more potato than seafood… I tasted some white fish and perhaps a bay scallop but little of the lobster and wild salmon that is touted on the menu.

If you’re looking for something to soak up the booze, their handhelds are the way to go. The turkey burger ($23) features a surprisingly juicy patty (when compared with their beef burger) that gets a bit of extra flavour from the feta and spinach that’s mixed into the pulverized patty. The sweet and savoury tomato preserve was an interesting condiment that lends the burger a hint of cranberry sauce taste.

Legends creates their own whisky, vodka, gin and liqueurs. Whether you’re waiting for a table (they do not accept reservations) or don’t want to leave just yet after your meal, their gift shop allows you to sample the spirits (for free!) and purchasing a beautiful bottle to go. Here’s your chance to get creative with their peanutty Nutski whisky. 

With a name like Pink Sky, I’m expecting a café, bubble tea shop, or maybe even a candy emporium. What I’m not expecting is a seafood restaurant. Hence, I’ve walked by the storefront on many occasions but never seriously planned a visit. I chalked it up to a place to be “seen” and party, but not for real meal.

Remnants of the former Weslodge are still apparent: the expansive bar and (on occasions) the unobtrusive DJ spinning beats on the second floor. Yet, Pink Sky has a coziness to it that feels different. The ease of making reservations, not being rushed with seating limits, and sit-a-while comfortable chairs – there’s even an element of hospitality that the former restaurant was missing that exists now.

If you’re in the mood for some light bites, their menu includes a selection of hot and cold appetizers that are great for sharing. For a simple crispy calamari ($24) the appetizer was tasty, the light breading incorporating salt, pepper, and sumac adding flavour so the spicy mayo wasn’t even required. And if you’re feeling adventurous, take a bite of the deep-fried lemon slices, my friends found this surprisingly tasty.

The beef tartare ($22) needs more than four pieces of too oily toasted sourdough to go through meat mixture. Yet, it had a lovely freshness from the bits of apple and tarragon incorporated into the recipe. Still, it’s not overly heavy in comparison to the predominantly seafood focused menu.

I preferred the beef to the tuna tartare ($26), which contained so much puffed rice that I half expected the dish to go snap, crackle, and pop. What little fish remained was completely drowned out by the watermelon and other ingredients.

Pink Sky offers a host of fish on their menu. The whole branzino ($85) was disappointingly small for the price and contained too many stray bones. And while I enjoyed the crispy skin, it might have sat under the broiler for too long as it was slightly overcooked.

Personally, I’d skip the branzino and go for the grilled salmon ($32), which also had a lovely crackling skin but was still flaky and moist. Served as a nice thick slice, the main was surprisingly filling despite it being sparsely served with sautéed spinach and grilled fennel. The dish was a little salty, especially with the lemon butter sauce. Be careful to dip and not pour.

Without any grains, you could augment the fish with a side of frites ($9) to share. They’re hot, thin, and crispy… my kind of fries.

Indeed, the best bang for your buck would be the fish and chips ($32) that arrives as a ginormous piece of beer battered haddock. While the breading was too thick for my tastes, you certainly won’t leave hungry since it also arrives with a generous portion of thick cut chips.

In fact, pair the fish and chips with a wedge salad ($21) and you’ll have enough food for two. The starter uses almost an entire head of iceberg lettuce slathered in a rich and tangy buttermilk ranch dressing, topped with cherry tomatoes, grilled corn, fried onion, and huge chunks of bacon that should be called pork belly pieces. The salad normally also contains blue cheese, but we had it removed and the salad was still hearty and flavourful.

Another sharable dish is the truffle lobster mac and cheese ($46) that has a cheese pull that’d make any dairy lover swoon. Big tubes of rigatoni were tossed in a spicy pickled jalapeño cheese sauce and topped with bread crumb and chives. It’s an interesting decision to include the jalapeno, I found it balanced out the truffle oil, which can sometimes be overwhelming. If anything, it just needed more lobster as there wasn’t much to go around.

Pink Sky’s seafood risotto ($34) has a spicy tomato sauce base, so the dish ends up tasting like a cioppino risotto. It’s a twist that I don’t mind given I love the hearty seafood stew but could be disappointing if you’re expecting a more traditional saffron taste. All in all, it incorporated a passable portion of seafood (mussels, shrimp, and whitefish) although the mussels could have been fresher.

Located in the bustling area of King West, Pink Sky is an ideal pre-clubbing dinner destination. Their varied menu means you can choose a lighter dish to avoid sporting a food belly or go big with the fish and chips to soak up the liberations to come. One thing is for sure, it isn’t a frilly café, you’re coming for the food.  

Shakespeare’s famous saying proclaims, “If music be the food of love, play on.”  It aptly reminds me of Bar Poet, a restaurant that blends top 40 tunes from past and present, an eclectic comfort food menu, and arcade games. And by the end, the 2-hour seating limit flies by and all we want to do stay longer.

The arancini ($15) was seriously good. Made with mushroom risotto, there’s an earthiness to the creamy rice ball that’s stronger than the cheese only versions. But add in sambal cream and chili oil and that hit of heat goes so well with the comforting starter.

Somehow, we ordered a lot of dishes incorporating chili. The NYC spicy rigatoni ($18.95), an item so highly recommended in Google reviews, was surprisingly plain: pasta tossed in a spicy rosé cream with a fine dusting of Parmigiano. While it was tasty, a few spoonsful were sufficient, I can’t imagine having an entire dish to myself.

Even the Dovercourt and Queen ‘sweet’ calamari ($19) had a zing. The menu describes the sauce as being tomato based (pomodoro aioli) but tasted like the spicy rigatoni. Regardless, it’s a flavourful dish as goat cheese, chives and pickled peppers mingles with the squid. Even though the ingredients do detract from the calamari’s crispiness.

Bar Poet is known for their pizzas (all $22). If you like pepperoni, you’ll love the Hot Rod, a pie covered with tiny pepperoni with hot honey creating a sweet, salty, and spicy bite. For me, it was a bit greasy and heavy, but likely wouldn’t bother a pepperoni aficionado.

I preferred Rob’s Favourite Pizza, which sounded like a hodgepodge of ingredients, but they work together so nicely. A white pizza made with alfredo bacon sauce, it combines pulled chicken, brie, kale, spinach, caramelized onion, hot honey, chili flakes, and Parmigiano. Despite all the spicy elements, the pizza was the least spicy of the dishes we ordered, likely the chili and hot honey calmed by the creamy ingredients. Rob knows how to create an interesting meaty pie.

The pizza crust stays dry on the bottom despite an ample number of toppings. While it doesn’t have the requisite crispiness I enjoy, there was a lovely chewy consistency and sour dough finish that makes it tasty even without dipping sauce. Additionally, I love the inclusiveness of Bar Poet’s pizza menu with pies available gluten-free as well as vegan.

Everyone raves about the tiramisu ($9). While it wasn’t terrible, it also wasn’t great. It incorporated too much cream (didn’t incorporate enough mascarpone) and not enough of the espresso ladyfingers. While the Skor bits adds a unique element, left in chunks it was too crunchy and would be better in powdered form.

We were intrigued by the peanut butter espresso martini ($19), which emits a faint aroma of peanut butter but none of the taste. A decent rendition of the drink, it’s really sugary given it’s mostly made with Tia Maria and no vodka. Ultimately, one is enough, and I was glad that I switched to their other cocktails like the white negroni ($19).

Amongst the foliage ceiling and twinkling lights, Bar Poet creates a unique environment. Somehow, amongst the blasting music and Skee ball machines, there’s a romantic aspect to makes you want to eat, drink, and play on.