Apparently the city’s summer fling with seafood is turning into a long-term relationship. Toronto diners can now look forward to one (but sort of two) more major player in the restaurant game, with the opening of The Chase and The Chase Fish and Oyster in the Financial District, slated to officially open tomorrow evening. Located in the historic Dineen Building, the two restaurants will serve North American cuisine with European inspiration and seafood, respectively.
Although the restaurant(s) are new on the block, the people behind this venture are far from fresh off the boat in the hospitality industry. Executive kitchen duties will be handled by award-winning chef Michael Steh, who made a name for himself working in some of Toronto’s most elite kitchens, including Splendido, and Reds Bistro (now Reds Wine Tavern). Chef Nigel Finley, of the critically acclaimed seafood restaurant Catch, will serve as chef de cuisine at The Chase Fish and Oyster. Wine lovers will also rejoice knowing that one of Toronto’s best sommeliers and former owner of the beloved Niagara Street Café, Anton Potvin, will be bringing his extensive knowledge to the operations as general manager and sommelier.
Finally, the man charged with facilitating this team of talent is restaurateur and New York transplant Steven Salm. Salm got his start in New York, working as a general manager under famed chef Laurent Tourondel in the BLT Group of restaurants. After a stint working with the MLSE at e11even, Salm decided to make his mark on the growing Toronto dining scene with this duo of restaurants that is sure to stir things up in the downtown core. With The Chase Fish and Oyster set to open Friday, August 8th at 5pm, and The Chase slated to open Monday, August 12th at 11:30am, we’re excited to see what’s in store from this powerhouse team.
