Restaurant 20 Victoria

Located on a quiet stretch of downtown Toronto, this tiny-but-mighty restaurant enters a new era under Chef Rafa Covarrubias. Ideal for intimate dates and built around a carefully run open kitchen, the dimly-lit restaurant offers a refined, contemporary tasting menu flecked with Mexican influences. A custardy tamale with salsa roja and snow crab has few equals, but the scallop with mole verde is excellent as well. The main event is a dry-aged roasted duck, first presented with a bit of tableside flair and later served with a glossy jus and chimole negro. Service is warm and personable, and thoughtful, esoteric wines are served with genuine passion in a room buzzing with excitement. Reservations are scarce so plan accordingly.