Earlier this week I met up with Dan and Abtin for dinner at Aera, a new steak & sushi place on the top floor of the new Well complex at Front & Spadina. By the time I fought my way through Toronto traffic, the lads had squeaked an order of Champagne in under the happy hour wire. Good thinking.
The view was pretty tremendous — we were sat right at the window, staring at the CN tower, the lake, etc. Apparently the tables on the other side get the sunset, but we weren’t bothered. It was busy — between the view and it making Toronto Life’s list of best new restaurants there were crowds of people as interested in being seen as eating. But it didn’t feel douchey or crowded at all.
The best part of the night was seeing them both and catching up, of course. Dan even brought a bottle of 2016 Domaine Queylus ‘Summus’ for us to share. I like that we all keep wines tucked away with the idea of sharing it over a great steak.
Here’s what we ate & drank:
- Bubbles
- NV Veuve Clicquot, Brut, Champagne
- Appetizers
- New Brunswick oysters
- spicy scallop roll: avocado, spicy scallops, chipotle mayo & tobiko
- 2022 Domaine de la Pépière, Muscadet Sur Lie, Loire
- Mains
- 16oz US Prime ribeye
- 8oz Australian A8-9 Wagyu
- whipped potatoes w/ buttermilk, butter
- crispy brussels sprouts w/ garlic, chili, sherry
- wild & tame mushrooms w/ thyme, pearl onions
- 2016 Domaine Queylus ‘Summus’ Bordeaux blend, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
- 2008 Olga Raffault ‘Les Picasses’, Chinon, Loire
- Dessert
- 2019 Château Coutet, 1er Grand Cru Classé Sauternes (for me; the other two were still finishing their red)
Skirl | Dan Dickinson 