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Ten under-the-radar restaurants worth visiting during Winterlicious

Including an Italian trattoria in Long Branch, a Thai spot in Moss Park and a Cajun kitchen in Cliffside

Deepi Harish
6 min readJan 30, 2025

It’s that time of year again when Toronto restaurants serve up set menus, allowing fans to enjoy their favourite dishes and the unfamiliar to sample a taste. While the popular spots downtown often draw the biggest crowds, there’s a number of older, often overlooked kitchens worth checking out. Here are 10 under-the-radar restaurants participating in Winterlicious and what to order at each. (Note: with the exception of Upper Beaches Bourbon House, the dishes have been selected from the set dinner menus on offer this year.)

Photo courtesy of Ambiyan on Yonge

Ambiyan on Yonge

1560 Yonge St., ambiyan.com

This Indian restaurant in midtown invites diners to explore the full spectrum of the country’s cuisine — from the light, tangy flavours of the south to the rich, bold dishes of the north. With a focus on sustainability, Ambiyan prioritizes locally sourced ingredients, partnering with suppliers within a 100-kilometre radius.

Menu highlights: You can’t go wrong with the bold and creamy butter chicken (or the paneer tikka masala, for vegetarians) as a main. Either option is served with…

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Deepi Harish
Deepi Harish

Written by Deepi Harish

Published Storyteller on Bon Appétit, The Food Network Canada, The Huffington Post, China Daily, Post City Magazines and more. Follow me at instagram.com/d33pi/

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