Rabbitz (with Rabbit-sister) had dinner at Harbour Sixty on Saturday night.

Made an 8:00 reservation on Thursday, and were told that we had the “last table.” Restaurant was indeed packed (and with all types… interesting crowd), but seemed not at all taxed or compromised by its own busy-ness. Service was flawless.

We arrived early and started with cocktails at the bar - a Manhattan, a Raspberry martini, and a glass of Niagara rose. Bartending (actually all service) at Habour Sixty was absolutely top-notch… refined, attentive and friendly but not overbearing. Cocktails were lovely, expertly prepared, and with generous pours. Rabbit-sister even enjoyed a champagne top-op on her fruity martini at the suggestion of the bartender. Said cocktails were put back while picking at generous spread of bar snacks (we’ve reported on this before)… bacon strips, a little plate of fruit, cheese and ham, olives and pickles-on-sticks.

We moved over to the dining room and picked at the bread basket (fab raisin and nut bread, French bread and focaccia) along with a tray of olives, sweet peppers and marinated feta, while deciphering the menu and encyclopedic wine list.

I started with a shrimp cocktail (I know, so 80’s, but obscenely fat shrimp with traditional sauce was gorgeous). Mr. Rabbit’s smoked salmon, served with the usual trappings, was also excellent. And the Rabbit-sister had a spinach salad with blue cheese and walnuts (pears too?). The blue cheese was exceptionally creamy and lovely, and the salad itself was quite enormous.
(Note: table-neighbours had a “seafood tower” to start, which was breathtaking… cannot imagine what the “for two” version would look like??)

For mains, Mr. Rabbit had the lamb chops, served with a potato pancake, which he reported to be quite perfect. My own 10oz filet (ordered blue rare) was similarly exquisite, and the same can be said of the Rabbit-sister’s NY steak. We ordered sugar snap peas (glistening, crunchy and gorgeous), along with onion rings (not too greasy, flavourful batter, total guilty pleasure) on the side. All of this went down with a big, red Cal-Ital (Mr. Rabbit wine-picked, sorry I don’t have particulars). Wine mark-ups are more-than-standard here, but wine list is astonishing, and the bottle we had was very enjoyable although admittedly on the “low end” of a list on which bottles sometimes well exceed $1000.

Moving along to dessert, we split a coconut cream pie, which was over-the-top great, and Fred Flintstone in proportion. We also had a cheesecake, another generous serving, presented with strawberry sauce… rich, dense and exactly what you’d expect - totally satisfying. The one let down was Mr. Rabbit’s rum raisin ice cream. The ice cream appeared on the menu as a “side” to the banana crepes, but Mr. Rabbit only wanted the ice cream. They gave him one little scoop, and charged him for the whole dessert. Next to the grandeur of the rest of the food, this little lone scoop of rum raisin was a little comedic – it just seemed so small and sad. (Note that we don’t care about the money, but of course would have just gone for the whole dessert, in hindsight - or skipped it)

So, cheque (with tip) was approx $500 (not counting pre-dinner drinks (about $65 with tip). Great old-world, traditional environment, charming and expert service, and absolutely perfect food. The only possible downside of Harbour Sixty is, for the adventurous eater, there will be no surprises. But if you want a perfect steak dinner in Toronto, I can’t imagine a better pick.

Posted on May 27th, 2007 by rabbit
Filed under: Toronto, Restaurant Reviews