BLD Restaurant Located at street level in an 1874 office building at the edge of the Financial District, BLD – an acronym for breakfast, lunch and dinner – is anything but old school. The T-shaped restaurant, designed by local firm 1point0, is formal, with service to suit. The white, red and black space – Chianti-hued glass partitions, Corian quartz tabletops and black banquettes – invites the neighbourhood’s hurried to take a seat.

The weekday crowd of tourists visiting Old Toronto and traders exchanging stock tips sit under a long lighting fixture made from fractals of translucent white plexiglass and order home-made soups ($6-8) or twisted classics like the grilled chicken sandwich with cranberry-pear chutney and melted Brie ($12). Come sundown, a nuevo-Med dinner menu is served as silent black- and-white films play in the background. A sure-win: the artfully plated bowl of white wine-steamed PEI mussels in a gung-ho ginger broth with diced chorizo ($14). BLD also offers drinks stiff enough to shake off the workweek (try the Manhattan garnished with brandied, amarena cherries, $9).

by Kelly Jones

BLD Restaurant

36 Toronto St (Map It)
416 777 0253
Breakfast: Mon-Fri 8-11; Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30; Dinner: Wed-Sat 6-10; Bar Menu: Wed-Fri 3-6 & Wed-Sat 10 til Close

Neighbourhood:

King Street East

Also listed under:

Restaurants & bars