Florin: What's the vibe?
Among the sea of downtown condos, heritage buildings are an endangered species. So when I discover that Florin, a new chic Italian trattoria, is located inside the historic Victory Building, I know I’ve hit the jackpot. With both name and logo modelled after an ancient Florentine gold coin, Tuscan fare is a safe bet — but it’s quite the departure for Turner Hospitality Group, the collective behind Mother Tongue.
Inspired by a family trip to Tuscany, the family-run restaurant group hopes to set a new standard for Italian dining in the city: "Paying homage to the best trattorias in Florence, Florin brings a refined yet approachable dining experience to Toronto’s Financial District."
The Turners allowed the bones of this 1920s building to guide some of its design choices — like the original terrazzo floors — but Solid Creative Design helped to round out the Tuscan touches in the dining room. Tufted leather booths and velvet bar stools, wooden nooks for wine bottles, and a showstopping raspberry and marble bathroom will knock your socks off before you’ve even peeped the menu.
Florin: What's on the menu?
The menu, like the rest of the trattoria, aims to capture the spirit of Florence with a modern Toronto twist. Chef Brian Kang brings his Michelin-starred credentials to the table, fresh off the back of working at fine-dining spots Don Alfonso and DaNico.
Kick things off with the Carpaccio, a dish of thinly-shaved Wagyu, capers, hazelnuts and pearl onions — our favourite of the evening. Florin’s Naked sees spinach and ricotta rolled in delicate dumplings, coated in sage, lemon and brown butter. Smoked Macaroni is Kang’s spin on the spicy amatriciana, with smoked jowl.
The Florentine Steak elicits gasps when it arrives, and deservedly so. The Canadian prime T-bone comes at a minimum of 1.3 kg, so prepare to share these thick cuts of steak with the table. Sure, you could end things with a tiramisu, but real ones who wind things down with a panna cotta will be rewarded with Florin’s jam, strawberry and crumbly deliciousness.
Florin: What's on the drink menu?
Florin’s cocktail menu channels a touch of Florentine flair, offering modern riffs on classics like the negroni — fittingly, a drink born in the region. Among the highlights is a citrusy sour, made with lemon, orange cordial and egg white, as well as the elegant 1252, elevated with gold leaf and one of the world’s finest vermouths.
But the real showstopper, and most talked-about beverage, is the pepperoncini-infused martini. This briny twist on the dirty martini is garnished with three cheese-stuffed olives, serving as both garnish and essential pre-dinner snack to balance the boozy bite.
For something more aromatic, there’s the Martini Cathedral, which stirs up the usual suspects with bergamot liqueur for a cloudy, fragrant sipper. And for those who prefer lighter fare, several refreshing spritzes await — like the Estevia Bicycle, a bright mix of wine, Campari, amaro and grapefruit soda. The wine list is deep, Italian-leaning and ever-growing. Come back to explore more bottles — and enjoy a bit of downtown dolce vita.
