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| - Gather around, friends, and let me tell you a story...
My first experience with One Restaurant happened by accident. A few years back, after trying (unsuccessfully) to bluff my way into an Alliance Atlantis TIFF party with a pair of producer friends, someone suggested that we make our way up to Yorkville and see what was happening. Yorkville (despite being the trendy part of the city) has a strange small-town feel to it - lots of cobbled walkways and small businesses that make it a haven for tourists, celebrities and hipsters alike.
Our group soon found ourselves at the front entrance of a CBC bash being held inside the restaurant. With a little bit of exploration (and the help of a pair of programmers from the station), we walked right past security and got inside without a hassle.
We were immediately handed legs of lamb as we stepped inside. It was probably the best lamb I've ever had at a restaurant - succulent and full of flavour. We proceeded to spend the next eight hours at that party, in a whirlwind of celebrity encounters and amusement. Standing on the patio and watching Chantel Kreviazuk have a drink with her friend while "Dreamweaver" blasted in my head. Seeing Kiefer Sutherland shotgunning mineral water with a girl on each arm. Having a waitress give us half a bottle of vodka for no reason. Watching my friend get into a shouting match with John Lyman (The Sex Pistols) in the middle of the dance floor. Hors d'oeurves for days.
It's a party that, five years later, my friends still use as the metric for amazing parties. I've been to the restaurant twice since then (most recently a month ago, as of this writing) and the quality and consistency was still very high. The calamari was a particular highlight, and the server was very prompt and polite.
One Restaurant is definitely a place you should check out if you're in the neighborhood. If not for the "see and be seen" atmosphere, do it for the amazing food.
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