Nota Bene is an island in the middle of a stormy sea. Tucked away in the slightly gritty Queen St. West theater district of Toronto, you almost wonder how it found its home there. But a home it’s found and it’s one that Chef David Lee is most likely proud of. The dining room is international in feeling, a huge expanse of white supported by rectangular light columns and museum quality art. The crowd is young, cool and hungry, all the more because Chef Lee’s inspired menu is a godsend for ravenous theatergoers and night owls. Plus, the staff goes out of their way to make you comfortable with the offerings, both food and wine. And what offerings.
Beautiful wines by the glass are poured from a decanter and can be paired with each course along with artisanal Canadian beers. The Squire went with the flow and placed our trust in our server, which proved to be an excellent decision. The staff at Nota Bene knows the menu inside and out. They can tell you which local beers (like the Mukoka Brewery’s offerings) pair best with the ravioli or which of the seafood dishes are the freshest. Our courses were perfectly timed by the kitchen and included the ever-popular Nova Scotia Lobster Salad and the Braised Tunisian Octopus with an incredible red pepper aioli.
By the end of dinner, we were satiated. But, taking a cue from the rest of Nota Bene’s patrons, we decided we had a little room left for dessert. Plagued by indecision (all the choices looked so delicious!), we again turned to our server for a recommendation. When he brought out the Sticky Toffee Pudding with Spotted Dick Ice Cream, we weren’t disappointed. With its warm sweetness and accompanying pecan praline, it’s no wonder this popular dessert has gained an almost cult following along Queen St. West.
Since it first opened, Nota Bene has been considered one of Toronto’s best restaurants by Queen St. West’s trendy crowd and the experts at magazines like Toronto Life. This past August the restaurant celebrated seven years in business, proof that Toronto’s legions of fine dining followers have found their temple.
