Another Hoof Alumnus, Another Great Bar: Grand Electric

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City Editions: Boston | Chicago | Las Vegas | Los Angeles | Miami | New York City | San Francisco | more Dec 01, 2011 RESTAURANT BAR OF THE WEEK Grand Electric Why? Hoofers take over Toronto, one Mexican bourbon bar at a time. Putting in time behind the burners at the Black Hoof is like working at Goldman before running for office -- an evolutionary runway to future success. In Grand Electric, we see one of the first restaurant bars to be opened by an ex-Hoofer and we expect that it will not be the last. In this dimly lit taco/whisky joint, there’s a big selection of brown liquor which brings a smile to all us A. List staffers, while beers like Dead Guy Ale and Red Racer are clearly popular with the throngs of people clamoring to this spot. Big hoofs to fill in GE? From our perch, looks like Tooke is up to the challenge.   ADDRESS: 1330 Queen St. W PHONE: 416-627-3459 WEB: grandelectricbar.com   PIZZA OF THE WEEK Pizzeria Libretto Why? Now taking reservations. We don’t need to go on about the taste of their already widely recognized pizza or traditional Italian food -- the lineups from Tuesday through Sunday speak loudly enough. All you need to know is that there’s another one open now, and (ta da!) it takes reservations. There, now you’ll never say you didn’t learn anything of value while A. Listing.   ADDRESS: 550 Danforth Ave. PHONE: 416-466-0400 WEB: danforth.pizzerialibretto.com   BURGER OF THE WEEK Holy Chuck Why? Holy Chuck - another burger joint. With the opening and reviews and food fights that have broken out over the city’s best burger, you’d think Toronto’s epicurean epicenter was somewhere off Queen between Carlaw and Brock, and only included menu items of $15 or less stacked in between two slices of bread. Rest assured it only feels that way. While it’s tough to feign enthusiasm for another one of “them,” Holy Chuck gets a mention for menu items like Go Chuck Yourself, and on portion size alone -- which we’re fairly certain, if eaten often enough, will shave days off your life. Nonetheless, next time your girlfriend requests a cheeseburger topped with Portobello mushrooms and ricotta, covered in panko bread crumbs and deep fried, you’ll know where to get it.   ADDRESS: 1450 Yonge St. PHONE: 416-962-4285 WEB: holychuckburgers.com   LAST WEEK'S TOP PICK Bravi Ristorante Why? Because don't be over Italian food. It's a bad look. Sometimes, Scarpetta aside, it seems like everyone's date-restaurant styles have scattered to the ends of the earth, and there's this strange assumption that Italian is played out, your dad's date cuisine, a tired and predictable mishmash of deep reds, corny low music and heartburn. All we're saying is, if you don't know what's good about sitting down by the flatiron, sharing a well-chosen red and, if not doing the feeding thing (fromage), then at least trading forks laden with wild boar cacciatore, baked portobello with chevre and yellowfin tuna crudo, then you might not know what you're doing. Have fun doing the one-year anniversary at the dosa place though.   ADDRESS: 40 Wellington St. E. PHONE: 416-368-9030 WEB: bravi.ca   If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by changing your preferences. To read about our privacy policy, click here. Copyright 2011 IGN Entertainment, 625 2nd Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco CA 94107. All Rights Reserved.