As 2012 quickly approaches I sit here on a gloomy November afternoon twiddling my thumbs, scratching my head and reflecting. I figure I’ll have been to just over 300 Toronto restaurants by the New Year (my lord that’s a lot). I constantly get asked what my favorite restaurants in the city are: friends, colleagues, family, Twitter peeps, Facebook fans, other food writers, random people on the street who recognize me from my twitter profile picture and oddly enough waitstaff who inquire while I’m reviewing their restaurant!

As everyone knows I love lists. So I had to actually laugh at myself when I realized I had never formally announced what restaurants are my favorite: the ones I visit with friends from out of town, suggest to family and friends and more importantly visit more than once myself. As many of you know I’m not that foodie who has a local watering hole where you can find me once a week. My motto is “live life as an adventure” and am always looking to try something new. So, if I’m eating at a restaurant for a 2nd or 3rd time it has most certainly pulled at my heart strings.

When developing my list it is important to note a few things. I tediously went through each of my Toronto restaurant reviews and reflected on the experience in a holistic way: quality of food, ambiance and service. These are the restaurants in Toronto that @dobbernation LOVES. Now go out and eat yourself silly.

HOT TIPS: Click on the Restaurant Name to be directed to my review of the establishment. I will be updating this list throughout the year when I am inspired. Feel free to bookmark this page and use it as a “where on earth should we eat out this weekend,” reference.Dailo

Carmen

Parcae

The Drake Hotel 

Electric Mud BBQ

Maha’s Egyptian

Cluny Bistro

El Rey Mezcal Bar

Bar Raval

Mamakas Taverna

DaiLo

Korean Village Restaurant

Nao Steakhouse

Pai

Byblos

Luckee

Lahore Tikka House

The Carbon Bar

Momofuku daishō

Bymark

Patria

The Black Hoof

Barque Smokehouse

Grand Electric

dBar at The Four Seasons

Momofuku Noodle Bar

Bestellen 

Banh Mi Boys

Kings Noodle Restaurant

Mistura

Okonomi House

Mothers Dumplings

Country Style Hungarian Restaurant

Enoteca Sociale

Burgers Priest

Golden Turtle

Guu Izakaya