Six Toronto restaurants are serving fancy tasting menus for under $100

Tasting menus at upscale restaurants typically demand a steep price tag, but a growing handful of Toronto spots are proving you can experience fine dining refinement without the premium cost.

The Rosebud on King Street East in Corktown has transformed from a greasy spoon into a retro-chic establishment offering a five-course seasonal tasting menu for $90 per person. The menu pairs lighter, refined touches with neighbourhood comfort — the kitchen recommends ordering potato bread on the side for dipping, and the banana tart stands out as one of the city's better desserts.

Jamil's Chaat House in Parkdale serves a six-course tasting menu for $70 per person (requires full table participation). The charming space features a baby-blue backyard patio when weather permits. Signature dishes include dahi puri as a opener and cardamom sticky toffee pudding for dessert. The restaurant describes itself as "unconventional" Pakistani, and the wine and cocktail list supports that angle.

Down the street on Queen West, Curryish Tavern offers Chef Miheer Shete's take on regional Indian cuisine. The six-course tasting runs $88 for vegetarian and $98 for the standard menu. The popcorn fried-chicken tikka is a standout. Through the end of August, Shete is offering a challenge: finish his spiciest curry and the meal is free.

Mimi Chinese in Yorkville received a makeover earlier this year that included new dishes and drinks. The Chef's Choice feast spans three courses plus dessert for $99 per person, drawing mostly from the main menu but occasionally sneaking in surprises like turnip cake or char siu ribs. The shrimp toast and sizzling steak are worth manifesting.

Actinolite on Ossington just north of the chaotic retail stretch operates a backyard that feels idyllic for the city. Their Neighbourhood Menu offers a three-course tasting of restaurant staples and seasonal dishes for $60 per person. The menu rotates constantly, but the bread alone justifies a visit.

Hawker in Kensington Market is a fully plant-based restaurant serving a six-course vegan tasting menu for $85 per person. The menu shifts seasonally, but a delicata squash dish appears often enough to seek it out.