First date or tenth date — it's hard to constantly come up with romantic restaurants. And our wallets can only handle visiting the best restaurants in Toronto about once a year. Dating is no fun if you have to declare bankruptcy afterwards. There are a lot of great bars in the city, but (at the risk of sounding ancient) some of them are just too loud for the soft, lilting conversation that goes along with the early stages of dating.
Casual and comfortable, the new Toronto restaurant Wolfie on College has earned itself the title as my new go-to date spot for an easy night of sharing snacks and sipping cocktails.
Wolfie: The vibe
The relaxed bar room atmosphere immediately sets us at ease. It's been a long time since I've been on a first date, but I can imagine how valuable this would be if I was with a stranger rather than my partner. While it does look like an old school pub, Wolfie has a lot of cute touches (hello, pink neon rose) and modern finishings that prevent the words "dive bar" from even crossing your mind. It's polished, but casual.
Wolfie: The menu
The food menu is all over the place; it touches down in a few different countries but never really lands anywhere. I have to admit, I'm skeptical until the first few bites of tuna tartare that taste incredibly fresh. The large cubes of tuna, chunks of cucumber, avocado and green onions seem more like what you would find in a poke bowl, but I'm here for it. We scoop up every last bite with the super crispy wonton chips.
Whipped feta topped with juicy, tart pomegranate is encircled by almost a dozen slices of pita — no skimping here. Warm, melty and savoury, the crowd-pleasing dish is an easy hit, as long as you don't have to talk to your date about double dipping.
Initially, we had skipped over the Szechuan Cauliflower, but our server insists it's a must-try, and we're so glad that we do. It's lip-tinglingly spicy, with great flavour and just the right amount of breading.
We expect the pork bao to be tiny bite-sized handhelds, but they're substantial sammies with a big hunk of pork and plenty of daikon slaw.
By this point we're stuffed, but the desserts still reel us in. Incredibly fluffy, warm Italian doughnuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar remind me of a high-end version of the beloved carnival food. The soft and gooey Drunk Cookie is covered in ice cream and sauce for the ultimate indulgence.
Wolfie: The drinks
There are a few local beers, a handful of wines by the glass and a couple non-alcoholic options on the menu, but the signature cocktails are where it's at. The list is concise, but it has a nice variation of base spirits and flavour profiles.
My favourite tipple is the fruity 4 O'Clock Sour, made with earl grey-infused gin. Blueberry, lemon and orange give this foamy cocktail its sweet and tart flavour. On the sourer side, the 8th Regimen is a rum-based serve with floral lavender notes.
For more of a kick, the zesty and spicy Old Flame (get it?) features habanero-infused gin, while the Strega Nonna is a booze-forward and bitter tequila cocktail with undertones of pineapple.
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Read moreEverything about Wolfie is easy, from the cocktails and large snack plates to the soft rock hits floating out of the speakers and the dim lighting that makes your date easier on the eyes. It's the perfect spot for when you want to go out but you don't really want to go out. And it's a low-stakes dinner option for dates and mates.
Dinner and drinks for two: around $80 before tax and tip.
