Toronto restaurants that have gone underground
There’s something special about lower level restaurants. When you descend the stairs to them, you sort of feel like you’re in on this secret: that most people wouldn’t look down here, so you’ve got the jump on this great place, and that can make your dining experience all the more special. Of course, it helps that all the places on this list actually are really fantastic.
Reservoir Lounge
44 Wellington St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C7Has been a jumpin’ joint for a long while now, with its live lounge music and folks killing it on the dance floor. They’ve got great sharing plates and pizzas, and their martinis are divine. Definitely worth a stop here.
Fune Japanese Restaurant
100 Simcoe St, Toronto, ON M5H 3G2Has been down the stairs in the Entertainment District for almost 20 years, and what sets it apart is the sushi bar. The bar is surrounded by a little moat that has boats floating by with dishes of sushi that you can choose. Fun, right?
Bymark
66 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5K 1K2Only a few steps down in the TD Centre, but it gives the dining room a cozy, cavernous feel. They don’t do anything on their menu halfway, with a primo $35 grass-fed burger and lobster poutine, but it’s all worth it.
Under The Table
568 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M4X 1P8Located in Cabbagetown underneath another restaurant, and while it’s an unassuming little place, the food — what can best be termed as comfort food with some Jamaican-influenced dishes — is of very high quality and lovingly made and served.
C'est What
67 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1B5The place is far enough downstairs that there aren’t any real windows looking outside, and that gives it a cozy atmosphere. The brew pub has always had a solid menu with great vegetarian options, as well as shareables that you can dig into at a table or on one of their easy chairs.
Sotto Sotto Ristorante
120 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2H4Actually means “under under,” which of course refers to the restaurant’s location underneath the first floor of the building. Probably the most famous of all restaurants on this list, they make some fantastic Italian food, and virtually every celebrity in the last two decades has been here, if the photographs on the walls are any indication.
