Anthony Rose's new restaurant on Dupont melds Israeli and Jewish cuisines, offering mixed grill platters alongside roasted cailiflowers doused in tahini. The hand-chopped liver, tossed with chicken skin crackling, hard boiled egg and fried onions, was easily my favourite thing I ate all year.

Nuit Regular's subterranean Thai restaurant on Duncan Street opened this summer, and has quickly become the beacon for authentic Thai street foods served in a bohemian setting. While the pad thai is touted as the best in the city, other highlights include deep fried squash fritters and rich Pad Gra Prow over fragrant rice.

Best known for their food truck, but also widely acknowledged as one of Toronto's top catering companies, The Food Dudes opened this restaurant on Harbord, where the eclectic menu offers shared nibbles like po'boy bites and jalapeño poppers - along with dishes you might want to think twice about sharing, like beef tongue cheese steak sandwiches and Vietnamese-style chicken wings.

The introduction of Indo-Dutch cuisine to Yonge and Davisville feels like a big win for not just the neighbourhood, but Toronto as a whole. Best of all, this place is designed to imitate the street hawkers of Kaki Lima, so kicking back with cocktails or a pint is encouraged while snacking through the menu of satay skewers, lettuce wraps, curry bowls and fried rice dishes.

Middle Eastern cuisine emerged as a major trend in Toronto in 2015, and this beautifully-embellished two-storey restaurant will prove that it's not just a flash in the pan. The menu boasts kibbeh, manti dumplings and hand-rolled couscous along with fragrant cocktails infused with fresh herbs.

Chef Nick Liu introduced a contemporary take on Cantonese cuisine to College Street this summer with original dishes like roast duck and scallion tacos, fried watermelon, and truffled fried rice among the delectable menu offerings. Aside from the food, look forward to the vibrant Chinoiserie chic decor and cocktails like the lemongrass gimlet.

The casual Italian eatery is a welcome addition to the dining scene in The Junction and the warm atmosphere and expansive menu will appeal to a wide spectrum of eaters. Standouts on the menu include fresh pastas and long, stretched pizzas meant to be shared at the table.