A lot of people have a bucket list of exotic places that they would like to visit. I have a bucket list of restaurants, cafes, and bars that I need to experience. Ever since I discovered Toronto-based FIGO on Instagram, I knew that I had to stop by for a meal. During my last visit to Toronto, I had made it my mission to fit it into my busy schedule and it was absolutely one of the highlights of my trip!
FIGO offers Italian inspired cuisine in a stylishly elegant setting. Using the freshest and finest ingredients, FIGO offers a distinctive take on Italian cuisine using contemporary techniques and features such as, house-made ricotta, wood-fired pizzas, and made-from-scratch pastas. At FIGO, our approach is simple; source the best ingredients possible and prepare them in an uncomplicated and modern way.
First, I was taken with how beautiful the space is. The restaurant is located at the bottom of a highrise, and features a large sign, flower-adorned windows, and a unique pastel pink door.
Upon entering, I was greeted by a jungle of tropical plants and a friendly hostess. It was brunch time and the restaurant was packed. Wait times for a table were up to 45 minutes, but our hostess offered us an alternative spot at the bar area right away. Our table was curved glass, with high chairs, and a gorgeous bouquet of coral-coloured flowers (very in tune with Pantone’s new colour of the year!)
The interior was absolutely stunning. Bright and airy, the decor at FIGO is a blogger’s dream:
- A huge, beautifully decorated bar
- Floral ceilings
- Creative wine storage
- The kitchen on full display
- Different kinds of seating
- White, everywhere. With pastel pink.
- Lots of plants
- All surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, letting in lots of natural light.
It’s eye candy and it photographs well.
I was impressed with their brunch menus. They ranged from more traditional breakfasty options like porchetta and eggs to more lunch-type dishes like pizzas and salads. They also had a 3-course prix fixe menu, which is what I decided to order.
I started my meal with a mimosa (using freshly squeezed orange juice! and nc mionetto prosecco) and a creamy cappuccino. For my first course, I had house-made ricotta with truffle, honey, and black pepper on crostini. This dish was so good that I could have had three courses of this alone!
Choosing a main was tough because everything sounded delicious. But, I opted for the brunch classic: eggs benedict. This one came with peperonata, tomato focaccia, peperoncini hollandaise, and arugula salad with balsamic vinaigrette. I loved the sweet and salty contrast between the red peppers and the eggs. The portion size was perfect and the meal was surprisingly light – I didn’t feel overly full after having two courses and a cup of coffee.
For dessert, I has a choice between panna cotta or affogato – talk about a hard decision! I chose the panna cotta, which was topped with strawberries, aged balsamic, and mint. It was delightful and reminded me of summer. It was flavourful, but not too sweet. Plus, the colour of the topping was so pretty.
Overall, I had a lovely experience at FIGO. From the friendly staff to the delicious food, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for contemporary Italian-inspired cuisine, or to anyone in Toronto looking for a great restaurant in general. I am already planning on visiting for either lunch or dinner on my next visit!