It's the most exciting time of the year for foodies: awards season. Earlier this fall, the best restaurants in Toronto, from high-end tasting menu experiences to spots slinging budget bites, raked up plenty of Michelin stars, recommendations and Bib Gourmands. But now the Michelin Guide isn't the only big awards show in town. For the first time ever, The World's 50 Best Restaurants has landed on our shores with North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 sponsored by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna — and Toronto, and Canada cleaned up.
Seeing Canada and Toronto's world-class food and drink scene recognized on the international stage is always an honour, but especially when we're ranked on such a legendary list. The World's 50 Best has been naming the crème de la crème for 20 years, and has only just launched its North America list this year with a whopping 11 Canadian spots being honoured. On top of that, Canada took three out of the five top spots. (Excuse us while we wipe away a tear of pride.)
Quebec City's Restaurant Tanière³ landed at number five on the list, while Niagara Region's Restaurant Pearl Morissette took number three, and Montreal's Mon Lapin was ranked the second best restaurant in North America. Canada also took home three of the individual awards: Normand Laprise of Toque won the Icon Award, Vanya Filipovic of Mon Lapin won the Best Sommelier Award and Tanière³ won the Best in Hospitality Award.
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Read moreAt the awards ceremony in Las Vegas on September 25, the energy and excitement was palpable. A room full of fresh faces represents a industry that's changing hands, from older, more established restaurants of the past, to a more modern dining scene, with awards recognizing some of the best new restaurants and talent as the future of 'fine dining.'
All three of the North America's 50 Best Restaurants in Toronto and beyond deserve to be on your foodie bucket list, so we've rounded up what not to miss at each one.
What not to miss at the North America's 50 Best Restaurants in Toronto and beyond
1. Restaurant Pearl Morissette
3953 Jordan Rd., Jordan Station
Number 3 on North America's 50 Best Restaurants list
It’s been a banner year for Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Lincoln, Ontario. The farm-anchored dining room not only nabbed a second Michelin star — the only spot in Toronto & Region with that bragging right — but also cracked the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list as Ontario’s top entry (at number three).
Chefs Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson keep things deliciously unpredictable with nine to 10 courses that change with the seasons. One week it’s chanterelles, pumpkins and edible flowers; the next it might be Dungeness crab or poached lobster nestled into just-picked beets and tomatoes. The meal usually kicks off with their cult-favourite sourdough and cultured butter.
Though it's easy to forget with all the restaurant’s fanfare, Pearl Morissette is also an acclaimed, low-intervention winery from Burgundian winemaker François Morissette. Sip along with Pearl Morissette’s own rule-breaking wine or a non-alcoholic “garden pairing.” Even dessert refuses to play it safe — no chocolate lava cakes here, just inventive finales like hogweed ice cream sandwiches and spiced ginger cookies.
Restaurant Pearl Morissette is making the best food in the province
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Read moreDon’t miss: To truly do a deep dive into Restaurant Pearl Morissette’s regenerative farm, we recommend taking a Garden Tour. Shane leads the agricultural program here, and his passion is evident as he guides guests through the unusual herbs and flower species. Ask him nicely, and he may even let you hold one of the farm's resident chickens.
2. Quetzal
419 College St., Toronto
Number 11 on North America's 50 Best Restaurants list
Steven Molnar’s Oaxaca- and Yucatan-inspired menu at Quetzal — a fiery blend of raw dishes, complex moles and vegetables kissed by coals — makes for one of the city’s most complete dining experiences. So it was little surprise when the Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant landed at number 11 on the North America's 50 Best Restaurants list.
Service strikes just the right balance: swift but never rushed, friendly without ever feeling pushy. The scent of smoke from the 20-foot open grill drifts through the low-ceilinged room, a constant reminder that fire is the heartbeat here. There’s no bad seat, but the bar is the sweet spot: sous-chefs working the flames, plating sea bream, charring shishito peppers — transforming dinner into theatre.
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Not long after it opened in 2018, the future of Quetzal seemed unclear. Today, it's one of the most complete dining experiences in the city and deserving of all the fanfare.
Read moreDon’t miss: While the food gets the spotlight, the drinks are just as impressive. The Michelin Guide praised Quetzal for its “wealth of imaginative agave-based cocktails,” awarding it the 2023 Exceptional Cocktail Award. House-made syrups and creative flavour pairings keep things fresh, with standouts like No Heather, It’s Heather’s Turn — a vivid green mix of mezcal, pisco, pineapple, green sauce and celery that’s tart and refreshing.
3. Mhel
276 Havelock St., Toronto
Number 44 on North America's 50 Best Restaurants list
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Since opening in 2023, Mhel has been scraping up awards left, right and centre. From Canada's 100 Best and AirCanada's Best New Restaurants to the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand and now North America's 50 Best, Mhel seems to be the new it-girl on every list. But the restaurant isn't named after a person — "mhel" 멜 means anchovy in the dialect of Jeju Island, South Korea, where co-owner Seung-Min Yi's mother is from. Along with partner in business and life, Young Hoon Ji, the duo serve dishes that blend Korean and Japanese flavours.
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Written on a chalkboard, the daily changing menu honours the seasons, made with ingredients sourced ethically, sustainably and often from small, Ontario farms. Served in a cozy and intimate, 30-seat dining room, the small plates are designed with sharing in mind, encouraging guests to try a variety of unique flavours.
Don't miss: Mhel's excellent sake selection makes for the best pairing with the restaurant's Korean-Japanese plates. If you're unfamiliar with sake, ask your server for guidance — sake runs the gamut from sweet to dry styles and everything in between.
