The restaurant is in the details. Increasingly Instagram-happy, when I visit a restaurant I like to be wowed by all of the visuals, not just what’s coming out of the kitchen. Gorgeous decor, stylish washrooms, or stunning light fixtures can all be part of your experience. Some restaurants do very well with minimal design details, but I’m here today to celebrate those that go the extra mile to please the eye as well as the tastebuds. And when I’m picking which delectable item I’m going to devour, a well-designed menu is a great visual cue that tells my brain: what you’re about to eat is really special. So which restaurants in Toronto have come up with the best menus? Read on to find out…
Cocktail Parlor
New to the scene, Cocktail Parlor is already killing it. Their confidence is expressed with a menu that presents like an Art Deco magazine. Some lucky graphic designer must have salivated after being assigned the project, and the result – with large display font detailing and sepia-toned photographs – is stunning and original.
+ Check out our sneak peek post on Cocktail Parlor.
Smith
Also celebrating the legacy of the printed word is Smith, which presents its guests with giant menus to be opened and read like newspapers. Luckily, it’s all good news inside. The rest of the room is equally dreamy, striking a balance between industrial wall pieces and exquisite antique-y plates.
+ Check out our dinner vlog at Smith.
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Touro Steakhouse
While the last two restaurants stylishly evoke the past, Touro Steakhouse has firmly planted itself in the here and now. And of course, that means a brilliant use of technology. Grab their iPads and click on different parts of the digital globe to choose the wine that’s best for you by country, region or grape.
+ Check out our Touro Churrascaria experience with designer Glen Peloso.
Mideastro Yorkville
Named one of the best new Toronto restaurants of 2012, Mideastro has a reputation to live up to. As a result, they’re definitely not going to compromise on anything – and that includes mood lighting. So how to address the issue of customers not being able to read the menu properly in the low, romantic ambiance? Menus that light up when you open them, of course! Simple, smart and effective. What more could you ask for?
+ Catch the vibe of Mideastro Yorkville.
