What's the vibe?
Specializing in lobsters, burgers and salads, Yonge and Adelaide’s newest addition is called lbs. It's pronounced "pounds," but savvy diners will note that the name is also a play on the spot's super-streamlined menu offerings. With 140 seats and a luxe interior by Pencil Design, the ground floor restaurant fits right in with the elite hustle and bustle of Scotia Plaza. As you'd expect in the Financial District, there's custom lighting, a trendy open kitchen and—most importantly—a well-stocked bar. Restaurateurs Jonathan Gonsenhauser and Will Tomlinson have even installed a take-out window for those PATH-dwellers too overbooked to sit down for a bite.
What to drink?
The horseshoe bar—a central fixture of the restaurant—is the best place to catch 360-degree views of the swanky interior. More importantly, it's where the magic happens. Holly Caverly (Bar Isabel, Momofuku) leads an inspired cocktail program that includes citrusy cocktails and seasonal sodas. Most cocktails have no more than four ingredients, but their simplicity is deceptive. The slushy Negroni certainly packs a punch—not to mention, it makes a great companion to that must-try lobster roll. Feeling fancy? (It is a lobster restaurant, after all.) Check out the champagne list; there's a good variety available to complement your food.
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What to eat?
The restaurant imports a whopping 625 lbs of Nova Scotia lobster per day, so as they say across the pond, it would be rude not to... All four menu items are priced at $22, which means that at 1.25 lbs, an order of lobster delivers serious bang for your buck. Not a lobster purist? Lbs offers enough flavoured butters and sauces to customize your crustacean to your exacting taste. Pro tip: order the bacon butter for a taste of the good life. If seafood's not your thing, the premium beef burger is a no-brainer; it's all Ontario beef and is hormone- and antibiotic-free. Apart from the mains, you'll also find sharing plates like lobster claws and lobster poutine, perfect for pairing with those after-work drinks.
Dinner and drinks for 2: Around $80
100 Yonge Street; 647-351-4747; lbstoronto.com
