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Eat it, Toronto!
Just in case push comes to shove, and we have to flee the country, seeking basic human rights, it’s comforting to know that there’s really good food in Canada.
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The 360 is a revolving, circular restaurant in the CN Tower. It gazes down on downtown Toronto’s Entertainment District from a 1150-foot perch. If my calculations are right, that’d put it about seven floors higher than the observation deck of the Empire State Building. The main difference is that when you look down from the Empire State Building, the people look like ants, but when you look down from the CN Tower, the people look like they have universal healthcare. The other difference is that at the top of the CN Tower, there’s really good food.
After taking down the Christmas tree, after several weeks of “breakfasts” that consisted of holiday cookies and cappuccino, after making soup from the Christmas Eve turkey, and after at least a dozen ways to use up leftover cranberry sauce (one of which was “…just eat it with a spoon”), the miLam team felt a celebration was in order: food that someone else cooked. We dragged ourselves over the snowy border, navigated our way through the maze they call The Path, crammed ourselves into a speedy elevator, and ate like royalty. Here’s what we had:
Appetizer. CA$24
- POACHED SHRIMP “COCKTAIL” Mary rose and cocktail sauce. I was really in the mood for an old-fashioned, big-fat-shrimps-hanging-off-the-side-of-a-big-ol-glass-goblet affair. This was more nuanced than that.
3 Course Prix Fixe. CA$79
First Courses
- ROASTED BEETS and HEIRLOOM CARROTS with frisée lettuce, first pressed canola oil and verjus dressing, and crispy red onions
- PINE MEADOW FARM’S BEEF TARTAR with Kozlik’s mustard, house pickles, and charred habanero aioli. You should try this. I could’ve eaten the tartar all night long, especially with the mustard.
Main Courses
- QUÉBEC PORK TENDERLOIN with caramelized Brussels sprouts, chestnut purée, crumbled chorizo; Grower’s Blend, Tawse Winery braised red cabbage; and orange cardamom jus
- NIAGARA PANCETTA WRAPPED FOGO ISLAND COD with pickled spruce tip tapenade, Sweet Potato confit, Henry of Pelham Estate Winery charred broccolini, tomato thyme jus. I’d have a hard time choosing between these two as my favorite dish of the evening. They were both fantastic. Everything – everything – from the pork and the cod to every little tidbit on the plates – was delectable.
Cheese Course. CA$8 prix fixe upsell (Apparently, the prix isn’t literally fixe.)
- CANADIAN CHEESE SELECTION: St-Albert 5-year-old cheddar, Castellon smoked gorganzola, Mountain Oak 2-Year-Old gouda, Upper Canada’s comfort cream, with raisin walnut toast, pears, maple glazed pecans.
Dessert
- DARK CHOCOLATE TOWER: farm fresh cream with toffee liqueur, preserved berry compote
The ambiance at the 360 is incredible. Subdued, elegant, everything you want “fancy” to be. I’m not aware of a dress code; people were dressed casually but well. The entire circumference of the restaurant is floor-to-ceiling glass. There’s a ring of tables along the glass. There’s a second ring, just inside that. If there is a secret to getting a table right next to a window – if that’s what you want – it may be this: get an early reservation. They don’t guarantee window seats with any reservation, but they do seem to seat along the window first, and then fill in the inner ring. An early start time – 4:45 – not only got us a seat next to a window, but also had us starting dinner before mid-winter sunset, and finishing in the nighttime glow of Toronto’s colorful city lights. Having dinner that early has a nice side affect: you have all night afterward to hit up comedy clubs and stylish little bars.
Do you enjoy a nice walk after dinner? for a small fee, they’ll let you step outside and walk the perimeter of the tower in a harness.
Dinner comes with a complementary pass to the observation deck, one floor below the restaurant; but the views in the restaurant are so stunning, the atmosphere so serene, and the food so good, that the observation deck is a definite step down. You might feel that the seating is a bit tight in the restaurant, but if you really want to see a crowd as unruly as grade-school kids at recess, yet as packed as a Wal-Mart on a Saturday, see the observation deck. It’s a hot mess.
The service doesn’t rush you, but the courses come astonishingly quickly. I swear that as soon as we ordered the appetizer, and waiter waltzed off and immediately returned with it, as though someone in the kitchen had the ability to see the future, and had already prepped our plates. Coincidence, you might think … but this happened with every order. Order a cocktail, you get it in 30 seconds. Order your entrée, and it’s there within a minute or two. I did not feel rushed. But I also didn’t feel as though I could linger, and I really wanted to linger and take in that magnificent view.
360 Restaurant CN Tower
As it was, our dinner took about one-and-a-third rotations, but I could’ve gone for a full two.
I’ve listed the prices, so you can come to your own conclusions about how affordable it is. I’ll say three things: first, I was fully satisfied. Second, compared to restaurant prices in Chicago … let’s just say I’ve eaten fried chicken on picnic tables for the same price. Third, at the time of my trip, the exchange rate was in my favor by about 30%.
You’d think this place’d be a tourist trap. It isn’t. We were thoroughly pleased with the entire experience, from start to finish. 
(5 / 5)
Credit for images on this page: Make It Like a Man! Clicking on images will enlarge them. This content was not solicited, nor written in exchange for anything. 360, the CN Tower, Toronto, Canada, the Queen of England … none of these people, places, or things invited me to write this post, nor did they comp me in any way. They don’t even know miLam was there unless they’re reading it here, now, like you are. For further reading, we recommend The Star and The Camera Eats First. Featured image credit: Affluence Avenue
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What fun!
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Definitely!
Laughing at the “universal healthcare” remark. Priceless.
There’s something a bit nostalgic about revolving restaurants, for me. Maybe it reminds me of heading up to Sydney’s smaller version of this tower, when I was a wee tacker. Although I’m sure I only had a slice of black forest cake and a strawberry milkshake.
John | heneedsfood recently posted…Fugazzeta rellenos con jamón y queso
It’s a novelty, for sure – but what a great time we had.
It sounds like you had a great meal but I don’t like service where the next course comes the minute you plate is clean. We always ask the servers to please not rush our meal as we like to eat leisurely.
Yeah, I agree. I felt somewhat sympathetic, since we were occupying a window seat that I’m sure they wanted to turn over before the end of the night. However, once the waiter understood just how many courses we were going to order, he slowed down dramatically. And we thanked him via the tip.
Man, I live in Toronto and haven’t even been up to the CN Tower. If I did though, I would definitely go to the restaurant. Sounds delicious 🙂
You should treat yourself!
Wow, what a view. Wow, what a meal. Wow, how I’m flooded with memories of my prom. We went to the revolving Hilton on St. Peterburg Beach, FL. As teens do, we ran in a pack that night, we ate good food and even tricked the waiter into a Manhattan or two. The fare was nowhere near as fabulous as this post illustrates. But we teens were impressed. However, the evening turned scary when I noticed that most of my “very good friends” ditched out before the bill came. Here am I (the only male… who made that dumb rule that the boy pays?) I was left with my date and a couple other girls without dates staring at a check I had no way of paying. We sat and chatted casually and waited for our table to revolve to the elevator. Then we dined and dashed. I’m not proud of it today, but I swear it’s the reason I was (almost) voted King of the prom. (I made the court). GREG
What a story! I know that hotel. I love St Pete Beach. High school was such a nightmare, wasn’t it?
Because I have acrophobia, I never ride anything other than the Ferris wheel at the amusement park. But I wish one day I can stand at The 360. So sad
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Love this outing, Jeff! Canada really knows how to do things, right? I mean, I have no problem with cookies and cappuccinos for breakfast…but after a while, you really need to mix it up. With some cocktail shrimp…Canadian style! I’ve been to the CN Tower as a kid, but we certainly didn’t eat in the restaurant. Now I need to go back.
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You do! Probably not too far of a trip for you.
I haven’t dined in a revolving tower in years! They’re always fun — great view if nothing else. Although I’ve been lucky — I’ve never had a bad meal in one. Anyway, this sounds wonderful. I haven’t been to Toronto in years — such a great city. I could live there. And may have to one of these days! Good post — thanks.
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That’s the kind of restaurant I’d like see down here, but alas none ot be found here in San Diego. What a view and fun idea. I just have been to one in Vegas, but the description you gave sounds like a wonderful time and dinner. What meal, good on you guys!
BTW, you always kill me with your humor, love it… “The main difference is that when you look down from the Empire State Building, the people look little ants, but when you look down from the CN Tower, the people look like they have universal healthcare. ” Too funny AND true.
Kevin | Keviniscooking recently posted…Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Yes, sad but true. And thank you.
Great post, Jeff, and loved the healthcare joke. Should things take an ugly turn, I’m more fortunate than most. I’ve relatives in the Republic of San Marino where I have dual-citizenship. Whether I go there by choice or am thrown out by rising anti-Sammarinese immigrant sentiments, I’ll be fine. 😀
How fortunate!
Wow, what a nice view. I’ve travelled to Toronto before but never been to this place. So pity! Well, hope I will get a chance to come back to Toronto and have dinner here. Thanks for the review 🙂
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Hi Jeff, thank you for commenting on my blog. Toronto is my city, and I was so pleased that you had a positive experience at the 360. When I worked at the design firm several years ago, one of our Christmas Parties was held at the 360 and it was awesome! They like to get in three or more seatings, that’s why the courses come out so fast. When the CN Tower first opened (many years ago) the kitchen was on the main floor and they had to cart the food up in the elevators, it was a nightmare. A few years ago, they renovated and moved the kitchen upstairs so it’s much more convenient. Next time you come up to the big smoke, send me a note and we’ll meet for a coffee.
A good friend of mine is part of the Toronto Greeters and she does wonderful tours of the PATH system. There are others who specialize in different areas of the city too. The City of Toronto, also offers free walking tours (in the summer only) that are usually excellent.
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Thank you! What an awesome note! Next time I come to Toronto, I will definitely take you up on that.
I recently dined there to celebrate my wife’s birthday and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The views of the city were breathtaking and the food was absolutely delicious. The service was top-notch, with the waitstaff being attentive and accommodating the perfect balance of being friendly yet professional.
So glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!