Last night in a glittering awards ceremony, The Michelin Guide unveiled its 2024 awards, and while most of Toronto’s previously recognized restaurants held onto their stars, two establishments — Alobar Yorkville and Yukashi — were not so fortunate this year, while the once-acclaimed Nordic eatery, Frilu, officially closed its doors in July. Despite the changes, chef Patrick Kriss shines on, maintaining a Michelin star for his flagship restaurant Alo.
Despite the losses, the evening brought exciting news for local food enthusiasts, marking the first recognition of Toronto & Region by the Michelin Guide. Four restaurants received their first stars: Hexagon (Oakville), Restaurant Pearl Morissette (Jordan Station), The Pine (Creemore), and DaNico (Toronto), the sole representative from the city. Restaurant Pearl Morissette also earned a Green Star for its commitment to sustainability and local sourcing.
Toronto and the surrounding region now boast 15 restaurants with one Michelin star, along with Sushi Masaki Saito, which retains its prestigious two-star status.
The newly awarded stars highlight an eclectic range of cuisines. At DaNico, chef/partner Daniele Corona cooks Italian food with a global influence in a stylish former bank. In Oakville, chef Rafael Covarrubias is cooking up “beautiful, soigné works that are refined, original, and substantial.” Over at The Pine in Creemore, chef Jeremy Austin years spent working in China: “A meal here draws on authentic flavours delivered with striking creativity and conviction on an ever-evolving menu.” And according to the Michelin inspectors, at Restaurant Pearl Morissette: “chefs Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson make the most of their surroundings to enhance their spontaneous tasting menu’s dishes.”
The evening also welcomed four new additions to the Bib Gourmand list: Berkeley North in Hamilton, Conejo Negro in Toronto, Guru Lakshmi in Mississauga and Rasa in Toronto. These restaurants are praised for delivering excellent meals at great prices, proving that fine dining can be accessible to all.
Four special awards were also presented: the Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award went to Shayne Herbert from Azura, while the Michelin Sommelier Award was awarded to Ashleigh Forster of DaNico. Lamine Martindale from Conejo Negro received the Michelin Outstanding Service Award and Rafael Covarrubias of Hexagon took home the Michelin Young Chef/Culinary Professional Award.
For more details on the Michelin Guide and a complete list of star recipients across Toronto and region, click here.
