Looking to try a new dish or restaurant with friends and family this fall? City Life has curated a mouth-watering list of the top five places to visit.

Our inner foodies are jumping for joy! It’s time to step away from the usual mundane dinners and switch it up by exploring fresh new flavours this fall. City Life visited a handful of Vaughan’s top eateries to see what specials their top chefs are serving up. Each of the five chefs took a moment to share with us their concept for the dishes and the ingredients that make them so irresistible.

1. FARRO RISTORANTE

“The main ingredient is our namesake. Also known as spelt and emmer, farro is an excellent source of protein and fibre. Not only does it look and taste great — it’s good for you! Farro Ristorante is a great place for a quick lunch or relaxing dinner, offering unique, authentic and classic selections in a friendly and casual, yet elegant atmosphere. Spelt, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are also available. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekends and holiday seasons.”
www.farroristorante.com

2. COPACABANA BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE

“Copacabana offers a variety of mouth-watering cuts of steak, which includes both traditional favourites and our own signature creations. One of those signature steaks is the Prime Rib with cheddar cheese, the perfect comfort steak to try this fall. The steak is lightly seasoned with salt before being put over a charcoal fire, where the outside sears as the cheddar cheese oozes out, coating and caramelizing the steak with rich flavour. Go ahead and feel the warmth of Copacabana this fall.”
www.thecopa.ca

3. TRIMANI RISTORANTE

“Our Roasted Ontario Cornish Hen is wrapped with double-smoked bacon and filled with rosemary focaccia, mozzarella and parmigiano cheese, then served with Trimani vegetables and Marsala wine sauce. This particular dish was created for one of our valued customers and has become very popular. Our menu changes daily and with the changing seasons, as it is important to us to always use fresh and local ingredients.”
www.trimani.ca

4. THE GRILL AT GLOBE MEATS

“Our authentic butcher shop has been a destination for more than 40 years and now more than ever, crowds come from all over the GTA to taste the authentic, succulent, signature Porchetta Sandwich, among other specialty items. It starts from the highest grade of local Ontario pork, slow-cooked for 12 hours with a house seasoning. The moist meat is then packed within a delicious bun that is specially made for this sandwich. Toppings such as rapini, caramelized onions, smoked cheddar and even a fried egg can be added as flavours. When melted together, it creates this incredible sandwich — mouth-watering, comforting and filling!”
www.globemeatsmarket.com

5. SARPA RESTAURANT

“The Grilled Whole B-Liner Snapper is prepared with tomato fennel cucumber salsa, grilled lemon, saffron roasted potato, locally sourced vegetables and O Life olive oil. Sarpa is a fish-focused restaurant in the northern GTA. We take our role in what we offer the surrounding community very seriously. Ultra-fresh seafood and fish are readily available, so it became a natural progression for our menu. Whole fish, in particular, provides immense health benefits that, at Sarpa, can be paired with a night out. Sourcing interesting line-caught or sustainably farmed fish has us even more excited to offer these dishes.”

www.sarparestaurant.com

photos by carlos a. pinto