Night Out at East Thirty-Six

Last month on St. Patrick’s Day weekend (when the kids were whisked away for the entire weekend by my parents!!) we ended up at East Thirty-Six randomly. After a day spent by the water drinking Jameson at the epic Amsterdam Brewhouse party, the hubs and I along with two of our guy friends were eager to enjoy a nice meal out. I remembered grabbing a few nibbles at East Thirty-Six with a girlfriend over a year ago and we had also enjoyed some barnacles at a pop up we attended last fall, so I thought we should try a whole meal there.

That’s how we ended up at East Thirty-Six for dinner on that Saturday night. We scored a table for four through Open Table and when we arrived the place was fairly quiet. What I love about this spot is that they have a very cozy look and fit in perfectly with the mystique of the Esplanade area in downtown Toronto. There’s a throwback feel with the nod to old Hollywood (they have an accent wall featuring Hollywood stars from the golden era of film making) and the lantern-like chandeliers. Their restaurant and bar concept focuses on house-made ingredients for craft cocktails and a gourmet menu of shareable dishes, making it a great spot for a date night as a couple, a group gathering and of course catch up with a girl friend.

We opted for a couple bottles of wine after spending the day with beer and spirits and so sadly, I didn’t get to sample the cocktails here. The food we ordered shone and is the main reason I’d return to this spot. Most dishes are shareable and have a bit of a French twist to them and below are the highlights. I’m still dreaming of that Foie Gras we added to our Rib Eye! Mmmmmmm…. gotta love a spot that allows you to add a slab of Foie Gras to anything you want (for $20!).

If you’re a squid lover, be sure to order the Humbolt Squid here because it’s done to perfection and is absolutely gorgeous as well! The hubs loved the grilled mushrooms and of course I also enjoyed the Bone Marrow (one of my all time faves as you know!) but neither of us were over the moon with the Albacore Tuna (though the coconut broth was a nice touch!). I’m totally getting the Burrata the next time I visit!!

The next time you’re looking for a cozy spot by the Esplanade , close to Lawrence Market and the Sony Centre, take a look at these guys!