Toronto reacts strongly to its first-ever Michelin Guide restaurant picks
The first restaurant selections have been revealed for the Michelin Guide Toronto and people have some strong reactions.
A total of 74 restaurants made the inaugural Toronto selection.
Twelve were awarded one star: Aburi Hana, Alo, Alobar Yorkville, Don Alfonso 1890, Edulis, Enigma Yorkville, Frilu, Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto, Osteria Giulia, Quetzal, Shoushin, Yukashi.
One only restaurant in Toronto received two stars: Sushi Masaki Saito.
The Twitter reactions to the restaurant picks sparked some pretty strong opinions.
One user laughed at Aburi Hana and its expensive plates. “Pure gimmick and shit food for $380 a plate, please,” they wrote.
Lmao Aburi Hana was pure gimmick and shit food for 380 a plate, please
— Greg. T (@GtTherapist) September 14, 2022
Then there’s user @pseudeauriche who didn’t criticize the food at Alo so much as the “snooty” diners.
toronto finally got some michelin recognition and now everyone at alo has an excuse to be even snootier
— UFO (@pseudeauriche) September 14, 2022
Actor Ali Momen chimed in to say he wasn’t surprised to see Alo get a star. “Alo was expected!”
Alo was expected! I was happy for Osteria Giulia as I went there last year and said, “this food could win a Michelin”. Otherwise I haven’t been to any of these places! The gourmand picks are good too. Ace and Fat Pasha are great! What you think?
— Ali Momen (@alimomen) September 14, 2022
One user spoke up and said how Fat Pasha, the Middle Eastern eatery in the Annex, should have received one star and not just a Bib Gourmand.
While I agree with most of what you say Ken, I’m not so much perterbed at the heavy Japanese influence in the list but the near lack of anything authentically Chinese or Deshi anywhere close to downtown.
Also, Fat Pasha, only Bib Gourmand? Should have gotten a star.
— Zach Aysan (@zachaysan) September 14, 2022
On a more positive note, there are plenty of people who think highly of Edulis, a cozy spot on the west end serving elevated Canadian dishes. User @EustaceStJames raved about the restaurant’s “great service, great ambiance, great drinks, and most importantly, great food.”
Edulis just won a Michelin star. It’s maybe my favorite dining experience ever. Great service, great ambiance, great drinks, and most importantly, great food.
Well deserved recognition.
— Eustace St. James (@EustaceStJames) September 14, 2022
Toronto resident David Fleischer took to Twitter to complain about one-star restaurant Frilu’s tasting menu. He says the restaurant does not allow flexibility for those with dining restrictions.
Frilu is in my neighborhood and I always want to try it but the tasting menu doesn’t seem to allow flexibility when you have dining restrictions.
It’s such a small place, I expect this star rating will keep them full for a while anyway. https://t.co/YrmO8RgrHY— David Fleischer (@Fleischmarket) September 14, 2022
Meanwhile, user @Her0fCanada appears turned off by the outrageously expensive price point (it’s over $500 a head) at Sushi Masaki Saito.
If I try sushi masaki saito In yorkville, it definitely would not be me paying for it.
— The Amazing Jamaican (@Her0fCanada) September 14, 2022
When Sushi Masaki Saito received its stars, the website crashed due to high volume, as one user pointed out.
Y’all crashed the Sushi Masaki Saito website pic.twitter.com/jaH0swSz6b
— Matt (@mattrice_) September 14, 2022
What do you think of the Michelin Guide restaurant picks? Let us know in the comments below.