The best steakhouses in Toronto are a throwback to a more indulgent time, when a juicy hunk of red meat was guilt-free proposition (and that's not to mention the six cocktails served on the side). There's an unabashed masculinity that still defines the steakhouse, what with its dark walls, low lighting, and plush seating. Even the most modern of restaurants on this list can be fitted within their generic confines about two seconds after one passes through the front door. To a great extent, this almost anachronistic element is their very charm. Creamed spinach, Caesar salads made table-side, butter-soaked green beans, over-sized portions, bartenders who don't flinch when you order an Old Fashioned — these are the little delights one luxuriates in at a quality steakhouse.
And don't forget the wine. The mark-up is typically outrageous, but most high-end steakhouses boast wine lists that would make even the most timid oenophile drool. Dominated by big, age-worthy reds from Bordeaux, Napa and the Rhone (north or south, take your pick), decadent types who don't mind splurging on a meal will surely find something memorable with which to wash down their beef.
Although cheaper options like the Tulip didn't make the cut this time around, there's quite a bit of subtle variety among the restaurants here. Whether it be aging methods or the temperature at which the steaks are cooked, there's plenty of incentive to try a number of the city's beef-first institutions. And, for those who would argue that it's easy enough to cook a great steak at home, let's just say these guys still do it better.
Here are the best steakhouses in Toronto.
See also:
The best steak frites in Toronto
The best cocktails in Toronto
Photo from Morton's