Next, we made a pit stop at 529 Uptown for lunch. The setting was sleek and modern, tucked away inside the entrance of 201 Portage ave. As we sat and took a look at the menus, the light-up menus were a fun touch but didn't make deciding on a dish any easier—there were too many great options to pick and choose from.

We started with the incredibly fresh tuna tartare, which had a slightly sweet and salty flavour thanks to their ume plum sauce. Then came the mushroom ravioli with rose sauce. The dish was deep, umami-packed and seriously comforting and filling. We also shared a crisp 'little gem' salad (Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette, Candied Berkshire Bacon, Parmigiano Reggiano). and dug into the king crab and tiger prawn sandwich (think of a lobster roll but even better). The dish was exactly what you'd expect, fresh and tasty served on top of a pillowy potato roll. Two mocktails tied it all together. Refreshing, a little fancy and totally worth it.

The tourtière is a classic. It is a French Canadian meat pie made with local pork and mushrooms, served with garlic mashed potatoes, peas and Caribou Liqeur gravy. This dish was incredibly hearty, with a flaky crust that held everything together. The mash? Silky, buttery and perfect for soaking up that gravy.

The chicken Paillard was another standout. The chicken breast came topped with a wild mushroom sauce, served with arugula, roasted tomatoes and potatoes that were salted to perfection. The sauce brought a deep earthy flavour, balanced out by the sweetness of the roasted tomatoes.

We ended the meal on a high note with their tiramisu. Creamy, light and just the right amount of sweet. We paired that with two tart cocktails that balanced out all the richness - a great match for the meal.