Val, where do I go for a tasty, upscale dinner in Toronto?

Don't spill your coffees ladies and gents – there is good food in Hogtown. And by good I of course mean by Toronto standards, NOT Montreal standards. Toronto is many a thing (large, multi-cultural, predominately English-speaking), but gourmet epicenter it is not. But eh, we still gotta eat when we're there eh?

Blowfish 
333 668 King Street W. (at Bathurst), and now also at 333 Bay St., reservations: 416-860-0606, major cards accepted. 
Beautiful people and multi-syllable cocktails abound at this sleek Japanese restaurant where the music is loud, and the food is surprisingly delightful. The panoply of creative, mainly seafood dishes may be overwhelming at first, but relax because you virtually can't go wrong at Blowfish.
Try: Miso marinated black cod and all the rolls!

Nota Bene
180 Queen St. W., 416-977-6400, major cards accepted. 
Voted Canada's best new restaurant by enRoute in 2008, Nota Bene prides itself in serving seasonal, Canadian cuisine with an emphasis on meat dishes. While the dinning room is visually stunning, the restaurant isn't pretentious, and the kitchen will even go out of its way to accommodate dietary restrictions. There's a reason why they say Torontonians are nicer than Montrealers.
Try: Crisp duck salad, big eye tuna tartar, stilton beef brisket burger, beef tenderloin, French fries with pecorino

Lucien
36 Wellington St. E., 416-504-9990, major cards accepted. 
I'll admit, I've only eaten at Lucien once and it was during"Summerlicious", a food festival where participating restaurants offer discounted three course prix fixe menus to the "masses". Though the portions were on the small side, both the quality of the food and the service impressed this finicky Montrealer. Plus, the Montrealer who ate with me has since been back and said his meal was excellent. Like Nota Bene, Lucien wins automatic brownie points for highlighting Canadian ingredients, using BC salmon, Ontario red deer,  BC black cod, Ontario pickerel etc., Unfortunately, what I ate that day is no longer on the menu, so you're on your own. Bon appetite!

The Drake Hotel Dining Room + Raw Bar
1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042, major cards accepted.
The hipper-than-thou Drake Hotel just so happens to house one of the city's most happenin' and tasty restaurants. The hodgepodge of a menu features everything from sushi, to lobster nachos, oysters and burgers. It's eclectic, but in the best possible way – i.e. delicious. What's more, it gives you the option of eating light, or taking the comfort food route which is especially nice when you're out with a big group. Try: sashimi salad, lobster nachos, fresh dungeness crab cakes, french fries, firecracker maple shrimp

Pizzeria Libretto
221 Ossington Ave., 416-532-8000
It takes swallowing some of my Montreal pride to say this, but, Pizzeria Libretto serves some of the finest Neopolitian pizza outside Italy. I can't believe it either, but alas, after waiting nearly 45 minutes (calm down, they take your # so you can chill at a nearby bar), I was floored by the grilled eggplant, tomato, basil, chili flakes and ricotta salata pizza. Thin crust and bursting with flavour, I truly forgot I was in Toronto – not an easy feat. Libretto shouldn't really be in the "upscale" category because of its price range and laid back vibe, but it's unquestionably gourmet, and truth be told, I couldn't think of a fifth eatery for this post. Eh, that's Toronto for you.