These Toronto restaurants are the most in-demand during TIFF

While any restaurateur can tell you that traffic ebbs and flows, certain events in Toronto bring in ravenous crowds, and TIFF, which kicked off on Sept. 4 and runs until the 14th, is one of those events.

While people might converge on the city to see (and promote!) movies, they tend to stay to eat, and for good reason: the city boasts a wide array of cuisines and offers locals and visitors everything from cheap and delicious tacos to high-end fare prepared by acclaimed chefs. 

In fact, it’s safe to say that while Toronto has been known for food for a long time, the city’s dedicated chefs and restaurateurs are finally earning their flowers in the form of Michelin stars, which were only recently awarded to top-tier hotspots in 2022 and 2024.

Interestingly enough, one TIFF film, Still Single, chronicles a few years in the life of Chef Masaki Saito, the toque behind Sushi Masaki Saito, Canada’s only restaurant to boast two stars. 

While a lot of people wander past top-tier hotspots such as the Ritz-Carlton, Alo, Nobu and anywhere in Yorkville hoping to see an A-list celebrity, a lot of restaurants that run the cost spectrum from affordable to eye-watering receive a lot of traffic from not just Hollywood types, but anyone who happens to be in the city. 

Other places no one sleeps on? New restaurants with buzz. 

“During TIFF, both ends of the dining spectrum move quickly,” Jennifer Tremblay, CEO of DINR, a reservation company that allows users to get rare same-day bookings, tells INsauga.com in an email. 

“Classic steakhouses and French or Italian institutions are magnets, but at the same time, buzzy new spots are just as in-demand. Whether it’s a chef-driven tasting menu or an innovative new concept, Toronto dining culture has matured to a point where ‘heritage’ and ‘hype’ are equally in demand.” 

While TIFF is certainly a busy time (a look at the throngs of movie lovers and stargazers on the night of any big premiere shows that it’s not just business as usual on King Street), Tremblay says that popular hotspots tend to book up year-round and that places that are notoriously tough to grab a table at can be riskier choices for a last-minute booking. 

“The best restaurants are in demand whether TIFF’s in town or not,” Tremblay says, adding that DINR’s system can unlock exclusive tables or offer early access to in-demand eateries.

“Typically, booking two to two-to-three weeks out is the sweet spot; however, many folks are too busy to plan that far in advance or simply want to go with what they feel like in the moment.” 

As for what restaurants generally get a lot of attention from stars and TIFF-goers, Tremblay says acclaimed destinations such as Osteria Giulia, Quetzal, and Alobar Yorkville typically attract a crowd. 

As for places that appeal to stars, Tremblay says a few places come to mind. 

“Henry’s is a standout and feels like the kind of place celebrities would love. I can also see stars gravitating toward intimate, casual dining rooms like RASA, SARA, La Banane, or the sultry Bar Banane,” she says, adding that MIMI Chinese is also a mainstay. 

While a lot of downtown restaurants generate a lot of interest during the festival because they’re closest to the action, people do tend to venture to neighbourhoods that are a little further out if the food is known for being top-notch.

“Ossington may sit outside the TIFF core, but its energy and people-watching make it a natural draw,” she says. 

“Lunch Lady and Linny’s are both fantastic new additions, while SAMMARCO, from Rob Rossi and David Minicucci, is a brand new downtown gem destined for attention.” 

While certain restaurants tend to book up, a lot of people in town for the festival are looking for a particular cuisine and will settle on places that cater to their cravings. 

Sushi and modern Middle Eastern dishes are having a moment, as are tasting menus and sophisticated mixed drinks that eschew alcohol. 

“Globally influenced comfort food is having a moment, such as refined pasta, elevated sushi, and contemporary Middle Eastern,” Tremblay says. 

“At the same time, Toronto diners are chasing tasting menus that push boundaries without making you feel like you’ve over-indulged. We find that diners are loving interesting beverage programs – whether that’s wine, cocktails or [non-alcoholic] drinks. There’s a lot of demand for strong non-alcohol programs.” 

One restaurant DINR has noticed is AKin, a relatively new Asian fine-dining resto helmed by celebrated chefs Eric Chong and Alvin Leung. 

“Incredibly impressive on so many levels,” Tremblay says. 

While Tremblay says that great restaurants don’t need to reinvent themselves for TIFF or celebrity diners because “the cream always rises to the top,” some restos have decided to have a little fun during the festival. 

Reign, situated inside the city’s landmark Fairmont Royal York hotel, has a TIFF tasting menu with cocktails, hamachi caviar, seared seabass, and a beef tenderloin, while Amano Trattoria has turned seven famous films into pasta dishes inspired by the themes of each movie.

Louix Louis, a high-end restaurant in the five-star St. Regis Hotel, has also gone all-in on TIFF’s 50th anniversary with the release of a “culinary masterpiece:” a 50oz Australian Wagyu Tomahawk, Halal-certified steak with a gold-plated bone that’s served flaming hot (literally) to offer diners “an unforgettable dining performance.” 

The meal costs $1,500 and serves two to four diners. 

As for whether restaurants outside the city see increased traffic amongst attendees who spend extra time exploring Ontario, Tremblay says that while it’s tough to connect TIFF to traffic, there are places outside Toronto that are more than worth the drive.

“There are some incredible dining destinations just outside of the city. From Restaurant Pearl Morissette [in Niagara], to No. 8 in Burlington, to Langdon Hall [in Cambridge], or Naagan [in Owen Sound], there’s no shortage. And we haven’t even talked about what’s east of the city.”