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The Joneses: The vibe
Ever since we first heard about The Joneses, we were desperate to try the new spot. Just a short walk away from our office in downtown Toronto, the Yonge and Wellington restaurant is primed for work lunches, afternoon meetings and post-work outings.
We stroll over on a Thursday afternoon, and the atmosphere is bumping. Warm, soft lighting illuminates the natural wood arches that curve around the modern, comfortable restaurant. Inspired by mid-century modern America, the space is designed by Solid Design Creative.
Co-workers take a load off in the cozy banquettes and cushy chairs outfitted in deep, earthy tones. Scattered around the large, open space, TV screens showcase art during the day, but can flip to the Leafs game at a moment's notice. Eye-catching touches like the horseshoe bar and an accent wall sporting magazine covers give the space character and charm.
The Joneses is the kind of place where you instantly feel relaxed and at ease — like stepping into a friend's house, where you know the door is always open and you're always welcome. By the time we're seated, we forget all about the stressors of the morning and lean right into having a laugh and sharing stories.
The Joneses: What's on the menu
Working at a food magazine, you'd think choosing our dishes would be the easy part, but we have our fair share of picky eaters, allergies and dietary restrictions on the team. We're pleasantly surprised by the range of The Joneses' offerings. The restaurant specializes in quintessential American classics with an elevated chef-driven twist, and the eclectic menu runs the gamut from salads, Detroit-style pizzas and handmade pasta to pressed sushi and premium steaks.
We start with the Warm Cheese Bread, a garlicky, cheesy, pull-apart roll that resembles the shape of a cinnamon bun but oh, so savoury. Everyone vows to try to recreate at home because we just can't get enough. We won't tell you what the "M" stands for in the Big M Beef Tartare (because legally, we're not allowed to) but the meaty dish with shredded iceberg lettuce, onion, pickles, toasted sesame, mac sauce and crispy sesame bread is a mouthwatering homage that outshines its inspiration.
As a team that often fights over the best pizza joints in Toronto, we had to try one of The Joneses' Detroit-style pies. The Proper Pepperoni is proper indeed, with a thick, chewy crust, perfectly crispy pepperonis and jalapeños. We can all agree that the crunchy, lightly battered onion rings are some of the best we've ever had.
The All Dressed Smash Burger, which comes in a delightfully squishy bun with a one-two punch of flavourful cheddar and mustard mayo, is a crowd-pleaser. The crunchy fries on the side are cooked in beef fat for the ultimate indulgence comfort food. On the other side of things, the Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl is a light and fresh medley of flavours and textures.
The highlight of the meal is the 6-oz Bacon-wrapped Filet. It has a perfect combination of smoky flavours from the grill and the bacon, and it is cooked to absolute tender perfection. For those who want to indulge even more, we highly recommend trying one of their house-made sauces — the Béarnaise is a personal favourite.
The Joneses: What's on the drink menu
The Joneses' drink menu is exceptionally long. We flip through pages of signature house cocktails, well-loved classics, an entire martini section and non-alcoholic options — and have to ask our server to come back twice while we decide.
The Taylor is a boozy, gin martini-esque drink that makes us wish we didn't have to go back to the office after this. Meanwhile, the Passion Pit is a juicy, fruity serve without being overly sweet, and the Heart of Darkness is a sultry, dark berry flavoured mix of bourbon and chambord.
On the classics side, the Clover Club and the Hemingway Daiquiri are exactly what we expect in all the right ways.
Team members who don't want to imbibe go for the selection of non-alcoholic serves, so they can still get in on the fun. If you can order the Snuggle Pups with a straight face, it's a bright and tasty sipper. The effervescent and refreshing Nick of Thyme gets its lovely aromatics from its namesake thyme.
The Joneses: What else
New to the Financial District, The Joneses is now open for lunch and dinner at Yonge and Wellington. Swing by Monday to Friday from 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. – close, and Saturday from 9 p.m. – close for a Happy Hour featuring select $6 beer, $9 glasses of wine and cocktails, and more great drink deals.
Dinner and drinks for two: around $150 before tax and tip
