Restaurants in Newmarket

Evidence of toronto.com’s enthusiasm about Tappo Wine Bar and Restaurant’s “thoughtfully presented” dishes and decor that marry "the past with the present” can be witnessed immediately upon entering the history-laden space, a converted whiskey distillery built in the 1830s. As affable servers bustle about the rustic stone walls of the dining room, chef Tyson Lambert and his crew of culinary gurus dash about the kitchen, architecting dishes that, like an opera about baba gannouj, fuse Italian classics with Mediterranean influences. Chefs’ fingers deftly construct meals featuring ingredients such as fresh herbs, seasonal vegetables, and truffle jus. Bathed in the romantic glow of candles, chandeliers, and wall sconces, Tappo staffers replenish dwindling wine glasses with red and white libations selected from the 13-page wine list featuring oenological quaffs flown in from around the globe.

At malls, atriums, and street locations across Canada, Feta & Olives counters stand like bright-green beacons, calling out to weary shoppers with the promise of authentic Mediterranean specialties. The kitchen crew fires traditional souvlaki and grilled, spiced meats and prepares specialties according to customer preferences. The menu includes falafel, salads, and Mediterranean chicken entrees, which may be served as dinner platters or wrapped in pitas for easy transport and last-minute anniversary gifts.

Elegant five-star hotels. The United Nations. Bustling cruise ships. For Chef Johnee Savarimuthu, no venue is too intimidating. Since completing his training at the Culinary Institute of America, he's prepared meals for international luminaries in kitchens around the globe. After years of wayfaring, he settled in Toronto, bringing his flair for food to the prep stations of 5th Element Restaurant. Open since 2006, the restaurant made a immediate splash with local diners when it was named an official restaurant of that year's Toronto International Film Festival. Praised at the time by the Toronto Star for its "primo location" and "trendy Indian-Mediterranean fusion food," the restaurant continues to turn out memorable meals today. Inside the dining room, the warm smell of curry wafts up from the sleek tables that line a long banquette. Menus change every 30-45 days to keep flavors fresh, but past praise-earning dishes include "Indo-Med dishes such as halibut, Goan-style strip sirloin and pork ribs marinated in mango chutney." No matter the dishes at hand, meals always pair well with selections from the wine list; behind the bar, resident mixologists also shake up lychee, mango, and French martinis.

Low lights, wood detailing, and comfortable chairs create a casual lounge vibe at Insomnia, which fosters its namesake with a late-night atmosphere, drinks, and eclectic bistro fare. Contemporary American and European fare populates the menu with dishes such as the new york strip steak in a peppercorn jus and the walnut penne with asparagus, roasted almonds, and asiago-cream sauce. Crispy pizzas call out local locales such as the Queen Street topped with pesto, smoked salmon, and chèvre, or the Annex with grilled eggplant, roasted garlic, and portobello mushrooms. Dozens of martinis give patrons a reason to linger, with sips of innovative Rivera martinis or top-shelf martinis such as a classic preparation with Hendrick's cucumber-infused gin. A cluster of fairy lights twinkles above the bar and guides patrons to their tables, which are often occupied by complimentary imaginary friends. Against one of the exposed brick walls, paintings from monthly featured artists hang above a long wooden banquette faced with tables.

On weekends, Insomnia serves brunch garnished with mimosas and martinis. Multiple variations on eggs benedict feature house-made hollandaise sauce and a Heaven on Earth french-toast sandwich channels dulcet divinity with a filling of wild berries and cream cheese drizzled in Canadian maple syrup.

Flames dance in the air at Omonia Restaurant, where servers light platters of kefalotyri fried cheese tableside for the restaurant's signature saganaki opa appetizer. Entrees include classic Greek dishes of mousaka, layers of eggplant, potatoes, and ground beef topped with béchamel cream sauce, and oven-roasted lamb. Patrons may opt to devour their meals in the modern dining room or outdoors on the patio.

Amid hanging lanterns and colourful murals, the dining rooms at Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant's two locations fill with the aromas of spicy berbere sauce, sizzling beef tips, and savoury vegetable stews. Diners scoop up each bite with pieces of injera, a spongy flatbread that combines the tangy taste of sourdough with the aerodynamism of pizza delivered by frisbee. Cast-iron pots conceal slow-simmered stews of chicken and lamb, and slices of Western bread conceal pieces of grilled chicken or kifto, a very rare minced beef. Servers celebrate the Horn of Africa's claim as the birthplace of coffee by roasting beans at the table, releasing the earthy aromas of a traditional coffee ceremony.