Van Horne recently celebrated its second anniversary and I was delighted to try their latest cuisine prepared by recently-hired chef, John Winter Russell. I was already familiar with Van Horne as I had the occasion of dining at their tiny bar while on a photo assignment for a Toronto lifestyle magazine. My meal was impressive then and although the chef had changed, my second meal was just as memorable. What I appreciate most about Van Horne is its contemporary elegance and creative, but not overly fussy cuisine. The sleek and small restaurant is decorated with a totem pole named Bill, the doors from the Iranian pavilion of Expo ’67 and a wall of paper plates designed by Roy Lichtenstein. Any art lover will love the space and the equally artistic dishes that reflect the avant-garde aesthetic of the space. There are also two new dining concepts at Van Horne that I think will intrigue you…
Veggie Sunday
Sylvie Lachance (shown here with myself) and Urs Jakob, the visionary duo who own the restaurant, decided to cap off each month by offering a completely vegetarian meal. That means that this Sunday, June 30th, you can enjoy a meat-free tasting menu for $45.
Sobriety Society
Not only can you now eat an entirely meatless meal at Van Horne, they also offer an avant-garde juice-pairing flight ($14) to accompany any meal. Perfect for a date with your with-child friend, your teetotaler pal, or simply as a delicious detox treat for yourself!
Contemporary Cuisine
Winter Russell’s plates are made up of in-season and locally-sourced ingredients, like the sea buckthorn, yellow beet and scallop dish that I so enjoyed. Or the parsnip hazelnut and brown sugar cake for dessert that was also a favourite. For those of us who like to enjoy a nice glass of wine with our meal, Van Horne thankfully still offers excellent wine pairings.
Van Horne Restaurant
1268, avenue Van Horne
(514) 508-0828
