The hottest new restaurants in Toronto can attribute their popularity to more than just food and drink. Sure the brisket, pasta and brunch options are on point, but more than that, these places also boast lively dining rooms, killer patios and party vibes that everyone seems to want in on.

Check out my picks for the hottest new restaurants in Toronto.

Piano Piano
Chef Victor Barry's casual Italian restaurant replaced the high-end Splendido earlier this year. The well received menu boasts pizza, pasta and family-style feasts.

The Dime
The Dime has just opened and it's already attracting a crowd. The newest bar from the Warehouse group offers a punk rock party vibe along with its signature $4.95 menu.

J&J Bar-B-Que
Don't snooze on this new Kensington Market smokehouse. I mean that literally. Go early in the day or you might just find out that the melt-in-your-mouth brisket and peppery ribs are sold out.

Lavelle
This rooftop restaurant and bar on King West offers an air of exclusivity in addition to soaring views, cabanas and a menu of seafood platters, tuna tartare and dry-aged rib eyed steak.

Rolltation
This Little Tokyo eatery won Toronto's race to open the city's first bricks-and-mortar sushi burrito joint. You can get massive, handheld maki rolls packed with ruby red tuna, sweet tamago, avocado and lotus root chips.

Her Father's Cider
The bar at this Harbord Village restaurant is devoted to craft cider, while the kitchen supplies thoughtful accompaniments to the fruity brews. Sample flights from the collection of 80-plus ciders along with deviled eggs, pork rilettes and mini raclette.

Platito
Filipino soul food in Baldwin Village became an instant sensation when images of Platito's ube waffles and fried chicken started to surface. Initially, this place couldn't even keep up with demand, but it's finally found its footing.

Cherry Street Bar-B-Que
In this sparsely populated area near Cherry Beach, the patio and menu of slow smoked BBQ has proved a major draw for this joint. During peak hours, you might even need to eat your beloved brisket and ribs, gasp, inside.

Belfast Love
King West has truly embraced this West Coast transplant. Find the place bustling at lunch, dinner and brunch as locals pour in for the 40 craft beers on tap, menu of elevated pub grub and lovely corner patio.

Three Hands
This Dundas West restaurant is a popular new destination for drinking and dining. Look forward to bowls of mussels loaded with parm fries, snackable fried olives, and ultra hot wings smothered in Death Mango sauce.

Ardo
This sophisticated Southern Italian restaurant on King East is winning over locals and tourists with its pizza, house-made pasta and freshly piped cannoli.

Gyu-Kaku
This Japanese BBQ joint debuted in Toronto this summer and has attracted an instant following for its meaty offerings grilled at the table. Standouts include the Kobe-style rib eye steak and DIY s'mores for dessert.

What did I miss? Add your favourite new restaurants to the comments.

Photo of Belfast Love by Hector Vasquez.