Valdez is almost single handedly succeeding in bringing me back to an area of the city I have tried to avoid for several years! Most of this is attributed to their philosophy of a venue that embraces and combines the multicultural and trendy aspects of nightlife in Toronto. More impressively, you can feel a sense of camaraderie amongst the staff who really seem to be enjoying what they do whether behind the bar or the grill. I have not yet met the man behind the idea, but nearly all other staff I have interacted with have left a very positive impression. Rafael, one of the sous-chefs is a truly down to earth, humble and talented individual, and I am fairly certain the same is true for his counterpart Andre! I have regularly been impressed by the food I have tried here, which is rarity for venues where many come to drink / party. On that front, Corey has proven to be a barkeep of considerable skill! While the bar is primarily armed for making tequila based cocktails, this chap does a fantastic job of improvising off menu when faced with the challenge.
In brief, you know you have found a good spot when you regularly meet other restauranteurs and industry folks having a drink at the bar. The blog by Steve Gonzalez (http://valdezrestaurant.com/blog/) and Valdez's involvement with initiatives such as the Underground Chef Cartel further proves that this team knows and enjoys what they are doing. Hopefully this fresh approach will be embraced by others on the block.