Pre-Theatre: Victor

In the heart of Toronto's entertainment district is a posh hotel with an equally fancy restaurant and bar. Located on Mercer St, Victor Restaurant & Bar is hidden away from the hustle and bustle of King St W (just one street north), making it a prime dining location for those looking for a more private experience.

This was going to be the day that we watch The Book of Mormon, so we needed something that was close, quick, and delicious. Luckily, Victor offered a pre-theatre menu, making it an easy choice. The restaurant itself is located inside the Hotel Le Germain, with the interior designed in an upscale modern fashion.

Pre-show Dinner: Luma

A couple weekends ago, we decided to visit Luma for an early Sunday dinner before going to see Wicked at 7PM.  Luma is located on the second floor of the TIFF Bell Lightbox in the Entertainment District.  Coincidentally, the Toronto International Film Festival was on at the time so a portion of King West was closed off and the streets were jam-packed with people.  The restaurant itself is very spacious with modern decor.  We were seated right by the window overlooking King West so we could see the crowds down below.

Dinner started with some warm focaccia that came with a hummus dip.  The hummus was delicious and left me wanting another serving of bread.  But.. since we wanted to stay awake for the show later in the evening, we decided to skip right to the mains!

Steakhouse: The Meat & Wine Co.

Business travel is a bittersweet affair. On the one hand, I receive the opportunity to dine with my superiors for the fine price of free. On the other hand, I am tragically torn apart from my co-blogger and dining partner of choice. Perhaps the upshot is that I won't be entirely clueless the next time we're in town together.

In this particular instance, I was whisked away to the distant, coastal city of Sydney, Australia. Having endured two grueling, long-distance flights, it was safe to say that a proper meal was long overdue. Thankfully, the invitation to join my colleagues for dinner couldn't have come any sooner.

Like cattle being led to water, one of the locals herded the group to the nearby Meat & Wine Co. Located along the beautiful Darling Harbour, this upscale steakhouse was stylized with both modern and rustic influences. Lighting in the dining area was appropriately dimmed such that dining guests would be able to view the moonlit harbour unobstructed through the glass-paned storefront.