Dinner Out: Alo

Dinner Out: Alo
By Scott Campbell

Welcome to Alo – the best restaurant in Canada. That’s a prestigious designation to be sure, but this little gem located on Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto has proudly earned it. In 2017 Alo topped the list of the 100 top restaurants in Canada. In 2018, it did it again.

Our culinary adventure began with yellow tail sashimi and tuna tartare. The fresh tuna in both dishes was bright and flavourful and seasoned perfectly. It was a perfect way to start our dinner. Next up was jamon Iberico and French cheese with pickled red onions and truffles. This was a bit of an international experience with the traditionally Spanish ham combined with the French cheese. The smooth silky texture of the jamon Iberico and warm cheese alongside the strong flavours of the onions and truffles were spectacular.

Our next dish was veal chop, scallops with pea puree, and Caesar salad. Again, the brilliant chefs at Alo didn’t miss the mark. The tender veal was cooked and seasoned perfectly but allowed to stand alone on its richness. The sweet familiar flavour of the scallop worked incredibly well with the pea purée and both were enhanced by the tangy brightness of the Caesar salad.

Our final treat for the evening was lamb tenderloin, sautéed chanterelles, and ricotta agnolotti. This course was saved for the end and was one of the richest meals I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying. The lamb was so tender it was literally falling apart. The chanterelles were an impeccable accompaniment to the lamb and the perfectly cooked agnolotti and deliciously smooth ricotta finished the meal off wonderfully.