Winterlicious happens every year in Toronto and is a great way to get out there during the colder months and try a new restaurant with a fixed price menu for lunch or dinner. Of the 200 participating restaurants this year, four offer 3 courses of vegan items for either lunch or dinner and one offers a vegan menu for both.

I do like that Winterlicious offers a vegan filter on their site, but I do not really care about seeing the other menu items, since I have no interest in eating them. And of course, comparing a fruit plate with a fancy multistage dessert is always a bummer, so why not just not even look at it.

I put together this list last year, and people seemed to find the whole endeavor helpful, so here is my attempt for Winterlicious 2016. Winterlicious has been on since January 29th, so there aren’t many days of Winterlicious left – it ends on February 11th, so get out there!

Avoid disappointment and do confirm with the restaurant that they are still offering these things –  you can find information about all of these places and their current listings on the Winterlicious site.

I’ve ordered these in order of most exciting menu to least exciting, but of course, if you like salad or sorbet, then maybe the others will be your jam.

Living Room

WindsorArms Hotel
18 St Thomas St (map)
416-971-9666
Yorkville

Accessible

Lunch – $28 – make a reservation on OpenTable

• Benzenella Salad (vegan) – with Focaccia Croutons
• Zucchini and Carrot Linguini (vegan)
• Chocolate Tart (vegan) – with Sorbet of the Day

Dinner – $45 – make a reservation on OpenTable

• Roasted Baby Beets, Peppery Citrus Salad (vegan) – with Aged Balsamic Reduction
• Cornmeal Crusted Tempeh Steaks, Spiced Sweet Potato Coconut Mash, Steamed Greens (vegan) – with Caramelized Onion and Cherry Tomato Relish
• Vegan Truffles

Frank

Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St W (map)
416-979-6688
Downtown

Accessible

Lunch only – $23 – make a reservation on OpenTable

• Winter Greens (vegan) – Chicory, confit potato, pickled cranberries
• Open Lasagna (vegetarian/can be made vegan on request) – Smoked Sicilian eggplant, mushroom Pugliese, grana padano
• Pear & Le Rassembleu (can be made vegan on request) – Walnut sable

La Maquette

111 King St E (map)
416-366-8191
Downtown

Accessible

Lunch Only- $23 – make a reservation on OpenTable

• Mesclun Baby Organic Salad (vegan) – tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette
• Vegetarian Risotto (vegan) – grilled vegetable and dried fig and black olive, olive oil, shallots, garnished with marjoram
• Seasonal Fresh Fruit Bowl (vegan)

The Tavern by Trevor

147 Spadina Ave(map)
416-546-3447
North Toronto, Entertainment District

Lunch only – $18 – make a reservation on OpenTable

• Rainbow Kale Salad (vegetarian/vegan) – horseradish dressing, garlic croutons, jicama, apple
• Two choices for the second course:
  • Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup (can be made vegan)
    aged Ontario cheddar, baguette
  • Heirloom Beet Salad (vegetarian/can be made vegan)
    chevre, candied walnuts, sherry vinaigrette
• Sorbet (vegan)