Toronto Sky Dining at Toula Ristorante & Bar

Photo courtesy of Toula Ristorante and Bar

What better way to dine, than sky dine?
Recently I had the opportunity to savour the succulent Italian dishes at Toula Ristorante & Bar located on the 38th Floor of The Westin Harbour Castle.
This is one stunning restaurant!

Offering 360 degree, panoramic views with large windows overlooking the Toronto Skyline or beautiful Lake Ontario, tea light candles on every table and subtle sounds overhead while indulging in delicious Italian delicacies, Toula Ristorante boasts mellow and intimate vibes and a great place to dine for all.
Whether it's a party of two lovebirds, a family or group of friends, you definitely want to try the Toula experience.

To get to the restaurant, you'd have to take the elevator from the main lobby of The Westin Harbour Castle.
They have one specific elevator that you're going to want to take both to and from the restaurant (if you're not afraid of heights). It's the scenic elevator with a large window so that you can see Toronto as you travel up and down.

We arrived just after 6:30PM so it wasn't too dark outdoors yet. Still does not take away from the ravishing view you get from your seat. We had amazing seats facing downtown Toronto.

The reception immediately upon arriving was quick and complaisant. The lady that greeted and seated us was very cordial.
The encounter one gets upon entering a restaurant with reservations should always be like this. Usually tends to be a make or break for me how a staff treats you during your dining experience.
Every staff member was greatly professional and polite.

Just when you enter, you have the bar to your left, a cozy lounge area right in front of you, a gorgeous piano and a wine bar slightly to your right and the seating/tables wrap around the entire restaurant right by the large windows. It's open concept but warm and comforting.

While we ordered, we were served water, complimentary prosecco (a favourite of  mine) and delicious small buns with butter.

Their menu is vast and the dishes were priced in the slightly higher price bracket; however, you are not only paying for the food, you are also paying for the views and overall dining experience.
I still found the prices to be reasonable after receiving our dishes as they were not miserly servings.
And of course, the ingredients to create each dish are all superior quality products.

For appetizers, we ordered Scallops "Lido" and Venetian Tapas Trio “Ciccheti”.
Delizioso! 

They were both very good; I especially loved the Scallops Lido. One of my new favourites!

The Scallops "Lido" ($22) is made with East Coast Giant Scallops Seared with Thyme and Chardonnay Essence and topped with Warm Eggplant and Fresh Herb Mousse.
The scallops were indeed quite large, had to cut them in half to eat and the aged balsamic on the side paired so well with everything. A new CAC favourite!

The Venetian Tapas Trio “Ciccheti” ($18) offered a tasty trio of tapas of thinly-sliced Salmon Sashimi with Capers, Prosciutto with grated fresh Parmigiano and an Insalata Caprese (Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil).
This was very yummy! Paired so well with the prosecco, but would also pair well with a nice white wine.

For the main course, we tried the Seafood Risotto "Via Collalto" and the Triple A Beef Tenderloin Filet Parmigiana Style.

I appreciated how honest and informative our server was when ordering. He knew the dishes very well and explained what each was and what we would expect. That really helped us in choosing what we would go with.

As we waited for our main courses to arrive, we savoured the wonderful view below us.

My order was the Seafood Risotto ($29) which consisted of Mussels, Scallops, Clams, Baby Shrimps in a Toula Secret Risotto Recipe.
It was a very generous serving size. The bowl it was in was deep, so there was a lot put in there.
The seafood was cooked very well with the exception of a few mussels. Some of them were extremely tiny to the point where there was none to eat. I would have loved to have those done better as I love mussels. The shrimps were massive!
The risotto was perfectly al dente and that special sauce... amazing!

The Triple A 8oz Beef Tenderloin Filet ($45) was topped with Parmigiana Cheese, Black Ground Pepper in an Amarone Reduction and served with Sautéed Rapini and Roasted Potatoes.
We ordered it medium-well and it was done perfectly. The beef tenderloin filet was delicious with the fresh Parmigiana, Amarone Reduction and Rapini. The roasted potatoes however we did find to be a tad bland. Would have loved to have a bit more flavour on them and also perhaps a bit more fillers on the side, especially given the price.

For dessert, we ordered the Baked Peach Torte with Hazelnut Gelato.
I really enjoyed this dessert.
The Baked Peach Torte, a rich multi-layered cake, was buttery and scrumptious. Warm and drizzled with a chocolate and caramel drizzle, sprinkled with powdered sugar it was complemented very well with the fresh fruits and especially the hazelnut gelato. Hazelnut gelato is one of my favourite flavours of gelato; I love gelato. This one in particular was absolutely divine!
I highly recommend you try this dessert when you're here at Toula.

We really enjoyed our dishes; they were satisfying and I can tell that the utmost care was taken during preparation.
We were never left to wait for long in between dishes, and asked at the perfect times if we needed anything.

After 8PM when the evening skies dimmed and the lights of the city took over, the atmosphere changes completely in the restaurant.  I actually much prefer the later evening dining because of the more romantic atmosphere. Very picturesque!

Stunning!

Isn't it just stunning? Such a lovely difference at night as opposed to the daytime.
It's also a great location to consider for small to mid-sized events. Very chic and your guests would really appreciate the view they get while wining and dining.

We had a marvelous dining experience at Toula and appreciate the accommodations.
I strongly urge you to reserve a table here for dinner (preferably later in the evening), if you haven't already.  It's a restaurant, that despite the more extravagant pricing, I would most likely come back to again and again.
Fabulous atmosphere, exceptional and courteous staff, exquisite dishes and one of the best Dining Views in the City!

To learn more about Toula Ristorante and Bar, visit them at www.toularestaurant.com.

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A Heavenly Stay at The Westin Harbour Castle Toronto

Let's just revel in this view for now, shall we? (Click on the picture to see a larger view)

Imagine waking up to this view in the morning during a delicious and freshly made in-room breakfast, or melting into a comforting Heavenly Bed® at night gazing out into the glistening waters, the moonlight and boat lights bouncing off the reflection of the lake.
It's no wonder Heavenly is the word used to describe Westin's signature product line-up.

This past weekend, my husband and I caught up on some much needed R&R at perhaps one of the best (and now one of my favourite) hotels in Toronto, The Westin Harbour Castle.
The view you get alone is worth the booking. Make sure you choose a room facing the Lake! It's absolutely breath-taking.

Check-in was a breeze and even though we were a bit early, we were accommodated.
Valet was quick and courteous and the Concierge was polite and professional.
Checking into a hotel should be nothing less than that.
We had a Junior Suite with King Bed on the 15th Floor facing Lake Ontario.
This is what we walked into.

Contemporary and Simple Decor including a chaise lounge and armchair, a desk with chair should you need to catch up on some work or make a phone call, a large stand with drawers and a small fridge to keep drinks and non-perishable food items cool, a mounted flat-screen TV, a King Size Bed, and in a seperate area near the hall of the entry way, a large closet and the bathroom.

I'd like to talk about the bed first. Or as they call it, Heavenly Bed®.
Billowy down blankets, five plush pillows and sumptuous pillow-top mattress, only until you experience it for yourself will you understand why they call it that.
*sigh* Once I lay on it, I did not want to get back up.
Westin designed every detail of the Heavenly Bed® to evoke superior slumber - from the crisp, white 250-thread count sheets to custom mattresses.

Seriously check out the view you get when lying in bed. Amazing!

On top of the comfort of the bed, everything was just so super clean!
The linens smelled so fresh -- you would think they never re-use them after it's been used.
That matters very much to me.  Nothing turns me off more in a hotel then odour, especially coming from the bedding.

The Bathroom was also spotless! I loved the way everything was laid out - easy to grab and find items you need. And the lighting was perfect! Ladies, getting yourself prepped and proper in this bathroom was a dream.

I didn't get a chance to snap a picture of the Bath and Body Product provided but the Heavenly Bath® White Tea scented Products smelled incredible! 
I usually find hotel bath and body products sub-par, but I can honestly say this is the first hotel bath products that I really, really loved. The scent of the body lotion was fantastic! I regret not purchasing some at the Harbour Gifts Shop before leaving. I will make sure to next time I'm back (and that will be soon!).
Also, their custom-designed velour bath robes are extremely cozy!

Before I go on, I have to share the divine spread that greeted me when I entered my room.

Thank you, Westin Harbour Castle and Staff! And to Valerie... merci mille fois!
They really know how to make guests feel special at The Westin Toronto.

Aside from the obvious comfort, lovely view and accommodations and great service, there are two other major reasons why The Westin Harbour Castle has made it to the top of my Favourite Hotels List:

1) They are extremely Family-Friendly
Offering some wonderful Family Packages (You can view them here) and even a Westin Kids Club which features: Nintendo® Wii™, Board games, Karaoke machine and a Play area on the pool deck.
There's something to satisfy every member of your family - no matter the age!
This includes your furry family member too! They offer a Heavenly Dog Program providing your pet with their own Heavenly Dog bed as well as treats. They don't forget anyone!

2) Clean and Green
The Westin Harbour Castle thrives on being green and even offers rewards for guests that choose to "Make a Green Choice" (Conserving water, electricity, etc.). Their main floor lobby lounge is even powered by 100% green power.
They also have a Breathe Westin® initiative. Being the first major hotel brand to convert to a smoke-free policy, they set the stage for an industry-wide shift in thinking. Now, more than 115 Westin hotels are smoke-free, providing healthier and cleaner environment for their guests.

Health and Comfort are truly number one priority to Westin.  

For those that love working out (hopefully I will fall into that category soon...), you can stay fit while travelling and take advantage of their Gear Lending Program in partnership with New Balance. They provide you with shoes and athletic wear for a nominal fee of $5.25. Also, their workout area located on the 5th floor is newly renovated with an indoor pool, fitness centre, squash and tennis courts (equipment provided). They also have yoga and personal training available.
Also on the 5th Floor, you can unwind and pamper yourself at the Votre Beaute European Day Spa.

Aside from the list of wonderful restaurants and bars they offer including: The Mizzen (Buffet Breakfast & Lunch), Chartroom, Coffee Bar and Toula (Italian Restaurant *Separate review to come*), they also offer 24 hour Room Service which includes In-Room Dining.
And for those that tend to get quite busy, this may be a good option. I love in-room dining!

I wanted my egg whites and they were able to do that. They also offer Gluten-Free meal options!

Delicious Pastries!

Ready to dig into a delicious and hearty breakfast!

Great way to start your day, don't you think?
I had a very busy morning and although I wanted to try out the Mizzen Restaurant, I had to go with the In-Room Breakfast, with absolutely no complaints of course.
Our deluxe breakfast was more than amazing and extremely gratifying. Filled us up for the entire day ahead!  Their menu is extensive with some really unique and tantalizing dishes.
If you're pressed for time or would just much rather enjoy your meal in the comfort of your room (in your comfy Westin Robe!), highly recommend the in-room dining!

Plus, it's not very easy leaving such a fabulous view.

We had such a remarkable and satisfying stay at The Westin Harbour Castle. They not only met our expectations, they exceeded it.
Thank you to The Westin Harbour Castle and Staff for making my weekend smooth, relaxing and pleasurable.
I will definitely be back again, and this time I will be bringing the children and taking advantage of the great Family-Friendly Packages they have.

Next time you're planning a stay in Toronto, a heavenly stay awaits if you choose The Westin Harbour Castle. You will not be disappointed!
 

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